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Consider This: Social media licensing — Digital democracy at risk?
15 August 2024
Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Awani on 13 August 2023 Malaysia’s new regulatory framework for social media platforms and internet messaging services will kick into effect on January 1, 2025. It will require platforms that have at least eight million registered users in the country to apply for an annual operating licence with the…
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Pakar bimbang cabaran kuat kuasa undang-undang lesen media sosial
06 August 2024
Harris Zainul was quoted in Free Malaysia Today, 2 August 2024 Pakar keselamatan siber mempersoal sama ada penguat kuasa sudah cukup arif dan terlatih mengenai rangka kerja kawal selia baharu itu. By Chia Wan Rou PETALING JAYA: Pakar keselamatan siber bimbang dengan cabaran dari segi penguatkuasaan undang-undang susulan langkah mewajibkan perkhidmatan media sosial dan pesanan…
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Bumpy road to good intentions?
22 July 2024
By Harris Zainul and Samantha Khoo DEBATE is rife following reports that the government is planning to regulate social media platforms. On one hand, proponents argue — and sometimes quite rightfully — that social media platforms have not been diligent enough in removing harmful content such as scams, child sexual abuse material and hate speech,…
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Binary or zero-sum discourse risks ignoring the realities of the development of countries like Malaysia
15 July 2024
"There is no clear consensus of whether the ongoing trade war results in a net negative for Malaysia." In the midst of this uncertainty, Harris Zainul proposes nuanced approaches through which Malaysia can be a beneficiary of the ongoing trade wars and its negative effects on development of Malaysia as a big palm oil exporter.…
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Caution needed in approaching social media licensing
03 May 2024
IT was recently reported that the Ministry of Communications, together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), are planning to regulate social media platforms. This will ostensibly be done through a licensing regime where social media platforms will require a licence to operate legally in Malaysia. While exact details remain scarce, there are two…
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Ensuring transparency in govt's social media removal requests
15 March 2024
COMMENT | Recently, the issue of content moderation on social media platforms came under the spotlight, particularly surrounding government removal requests. This followed allegations that the government had requested the removal of content unfavourable to it. In response, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said in Parliament that the government lacks the authority to do…
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Govt task force on AI must involve stakeholders, says expert
27 February 2024
Harris Zainul was quoted in Free Malaysia Today, 25 February 2024 Harris Zainul of the Institute of Strategic & International Studies warns against knee-jerk reaction to developments in the technology. By Chia Wan Rou PETALING JAYA: An expert has advised the government to tackle current concerns with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and use the technology…
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Malaysia to work with Meta on wiping ‘undesirable content’ from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
05 July 2023
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post, 5 July 2023 Social media giant Meta is set to help Malaysian police combat online crime and remove controversial posts touching on race, religion and royalty Online gambling was another major concern, said Malaysia’s communications ministry, which had earlier appeared to threaten Meta with legal…
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After legal threat to Meta, observers say better for Putrajaya and social media platforms to get on same page
30 June 2023
Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malaymail, 25 June 2023 by Keertan Ayamany and Zarrah Morden KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The government should sit down with social media platforms to agree on what counts as improper content in Malaysia, several mis/disinformation and free speech experts said after Putrajaya threatened legal action against Meta Platforms Inc. The observers…
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Tech giants should be more transparent about content moderation
23 June 2023
Responsible political discourse rests on balance of free speech, objectivity As Malaysia heads into six state elections, it is imperative for social media platforms to step up their game in moderating harmful content. There is an increasingly worrying political trend following Malaysia’s 15th general election (GE15), where racialised political messaging and exclusionary political narratives have…
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Be wary of potential AI deception during polls campaign, warns analyst
27 May 2023
Harris Zainul was quoted by Free Malaysia Today, 27 May 2023 The risk of AI being used to spread false political propaganda must not be dismissed, says Harris Zainul. by Chia Wan Rou PETALING JAYA: The authorities must seriously consider the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to be abused to create “realistic” false materials during election…
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Pantau Kerajaan Baharu | Memerangi berita palsu dan ucapan benci
08 December 2022
Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Awani on 8 December 2022 Penganalisis Kanan ISIS Malaysia, Harris Zainul berpendapat pengguna media sosial berhak untuk tahu sama ada kandungan yang dilihat dan tersedia dalam platform itu adalah organik atau berbayar. Sehubungan itu katanya, pemilik platform media sosial perlu lebih serius untuk menjelaskan jenis kandungan tersebut.
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Kandungan berbaur kebencian: Wujudkan undang-undang, akta lebih bersasar
08 December 2022
Harris Zainul was quoted by Astro Awani, 8 December 2022 by Madiha Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR: Memerangi berita palsu dan kandungan berbaur kebencian tidak cukup hanya dengan pembentukan akta dan undang-undang yang baharu. Sebaliknya, Penyelidik ISIS Malaysia, Harris Zainul berpendapat, pembentukan sebarang akta dan undang-undang perlu diteliti dan diperhalusi bagi membolehkan ia mencapai sasaran yang dimahukan. "Pertama, kita…
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Can Malaysia’s Anwar fix corruption, inequality and inflation?
25 November 2022
Harris Zainul was quoted by Al Jazeera Southeast Asian nation’s new leader faces challenges from a falling ringgit to one of Asia’s biggest wealth gaps. by John Power, 25 Nov 2022 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – In his first address as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim pledged to prioritise the welfare of “ordinary Malaysians”. To make good on his…
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Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister
25 November 2022
Harris Zainul was quoted by The Financial Times King moves to end post-election chaos by appointing reformist one-time protégé of Mahathir Mohamad by Mercedes Ruehl, 24 Nov 2022 Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister after the king intervened to end chaotic post-election jockeying and bring historic political change to the south-east Asian nation. …
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#Talkingpolicy EP04: GE15 wishlist
18 November 2022
As we head to the polls, experts Jamil A. Ghani, Lee Min Hui, Harris Zainul, Thomas Daniel, Qarrem Kassim and Ahmad Afandi weigh in on what the next government should focus on domestically and internationally. by Qarrem Kassim, Thomas Daniel, Harris Zainul, Ahmad Afandi, Jamil A Ghani and Lee Min Hui [vc_toggle title="Click here…
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Maklumat palsu dan literasi media & informasi
12 May 2022
Authors: Harris Zainul and Tashny Sukumaran Read pdf Bab ini adalah salah satu daripada modul pembelajaran literasi media dan informasi yang telah disunting oleh Dr Hasrul Hashim, Dr Nurul Akqmie Badrul Hisham dan Dr Sabariah Mohamed Salleh. Modul pembelajaran ini adalah hasil kerjasama diantara Pusat Kajian Media & Komunikasi, Fakulti Sains Sosial & Kemanusiaan, Universiti…
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Building a more robust and resilient information ecosystem
20 April 2022
On 15 February 2020, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that “we’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic”.¹ This much was true and remains so two years later. At any given time, much is talked about the novel coronavirus and the vaccines for it –…
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My Say: Policy failures and lessons from the Covid crisis
20 March 2022
by Calvin Cheng and Harris Zainul / The Edge Malaysia Policymakers around the world grappling with Covid-19 have learnt a harsh lesson in the last two years. This is no less true in Malaysia. Since 2020, Malaysia has recorded about 3.5 million cases of Covid-19 — this is equivalent to one case for every 10…
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With 28pc of young voters under 30, what can we expect from Johor polls? Youth advocates weigh in
08 March 2022
Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail by Milad Hassandarvish, 8 Mar 2022 KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 ― Johoreans are a few days away from voting in 56 state legislative assembly representatives out of a total of 239 candidates from various political parties. Unlike previous elections, there are a few new elements for the upcoming…
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MOH acted on 14 ‘viral fake news’ posts for covid misinformation
04 March 2022
Harris Zainul was quoted by CodeBlue, 4 March 2022 In 2021, the government spent RM13.25 million on educational and promotional materials on healthy living, Covid-19 vaccine safety, and SOPs through multiple platforms and media channels. KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 – Government health officials have “taken action” against 14 social media posts for Covid-19 misinformation that went viral during…
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When will the next pandemic happen?
08 February 2022
Harris Zainul was interviewed by R.AGE on 07 February 2022. Harris Zainul recently shared his thoughts on the consequences of misinformation during a pandemic, what can be done better to address the spread of false information during these events. His comments were part of a longer interview with Dr Kumitaa Theva Das, a virologist at Universiti…
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BFM podcast - On the Melaka election: BN's big win
25 November 2021
Harris Zainul was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 22 November 2021. Produced by: Adeline Choong, Tasha Fusil, Raihanna Azwar, Chin Kar Marn Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan On Saturday, Barisan Nasional won 21 out of 28 seats at the Melaka state elections. First, we look into what this big win would mean for BN, especially…
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UNHRC membership will place Malaysia in good stead to speak up on human rights issues
11 October 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted by Bernama By Rosmalis Anuar – 11 October 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 -- Malaysia has presented its candidature for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seat for the term 2022-2024, with the election to be held on Thursday (Oct 14) at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. While welcoming Malaysia’s candidacy social activist Tan…
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BFM Podcast: What would the ideal Cabinet look like?
26 August 2021
Harris Zainul was interviewed by BFM89.9 on 25 August 2021. Produced by: Loo Juosie, Tasha Fusil, Alia Zefri Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharmilla Ganesan Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be announcing the new Cabinet lineup for his government this week, and we look into what the ideal Cabinet would look like.…
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NEWS | PN collapses, Who will the king choose as next PM?
18 August 2021
Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Radio News on 17 August 2021 Malaysians have now turned their attention to what comes next, following the fall of the Perikatan Nasional government. Harris Zainul, a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia weighs in on the road ahead and outlines the new government’s priorities:…
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Without herd immunity, Asean sees surge in Covid-19 numbers
17 July 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted by Bernama By Rosmalis Anuar – 17 July 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 -- After dodging the worst of COVID-19 since the pandemic surfaced last year, many of ASEAN member nations now appear to be grappling with the rapid surge in infections following the emergence of new variants especially the Delta variant. On…
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Let’s talk about Covid vaccine passports
12 July 2021
As nations mull reopening borders, they must consider how to balance travel and public health interests. PUBLIC conversations last week had, among others, centred on the topic of vaccine passports. Namely, whether Malaysians who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines as part of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP) would be able to travel to European…
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PEMULIH: Fasa Pemulihan Negara
05 July 2021
With Harris Zainul and Calvin Cheng - 5 July 2021 BernamaTV’s Ruang Bicara discusses the mental, economic and social toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the effects of the government’s PEMULIH programme.
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As Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination drive revs up, sceptics threaten to spoil the party
27 June 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Online disinformation has left many elderly too afraid to get jabbed and is fuelling ‘vaccine choosiness’, with many preferring China’s Sinovac over supposed ‘gold standard’ Pfizer Vaccine hesitancy is particularly prevalent among people with higher education, while some Muslims have concerns over the halal status of…
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Dealing with anti-vax campaigns
13 June 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted on The Star on 13 June 2021 By DINA MURAD EVERY afternoon, we are faced with a distressing new set of Covid-19 case numbers – this past week alone a surge of 5, 000 to 7, 000 new infections have been reported daily. Dedicated intensive care units across the country meanwhile are…
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Malaysians cry foul as government points finger in COVID-19 blame game
08 June 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted on Arab News on 06 June 2021 By Ushar Daniele Accuse authorities of ‘incompetence’ after public blamed for flouting strict lockdown rules, leading to a surge in cases KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians came to each other’s defense on Saturday, days after being blamed for a rapid rise in COVID-19 infections across the country,…
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A framework towards addressing vaccine-related false information in Malaysia
06 May 2021
Executive summary As we move forward with the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP), the “infodemic”, as coined by the World Health Organization (WHO), shows no signs of abating. While the infodemic remains constant, the types of false information on COVID-19 circulating today have changed to mirror the developments of the pandemic. Today, this means an…
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Government needs planned Covid-19 infodemic response
02 May 2021
by Ragananthini Vethasalam / The Malaysian Insight / May 02, 2021 THE government needs carefully planned strategies to deal with the Covid-19 infodemic, or risk worsening vaccine hesitancy or even outright rejection of steps to achieve herd immunity, an analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) Malaysia said. An infodemic is an overabundance of information,…
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Covid-19 conspiracy theories and ways to address them
01 April 2021
TO Michael Butter, author of the book The Nature of Conspiracy Theories, conspiracy theories seek to explain events happening in the world as planned, with little room for coincidences or accidents. Through this prism, someone or a secret cabal of people are orchestrating world events, including Covid-19, for some insidious benefit. Conspiracy theories are not unique…
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Social Media: Counter disinformation with digital literacy and more objective-based policies
22 March 2021
Iriani Amirudin / The Edge Malaysia / March 22, 2021 Most of us have come across conspiracy theories and anti-science rhetoric on popular platforms such as WhatsApp. Some of these theories are so unbelievable, they are dismissed outright. But why are such theories ultimately harmful? Disinformation is harmful for many reasons but it is not…
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The New Emergency Ordinance and the problems with fake news
15 March 2021
by Harris Zainul and Ryan Chua MARCH 15 — Much has been and will be said about the introduction of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021 (hereinafter referred to as “EO2”). To be clear, there are many potential problems involving EO2, especially concerning its probable impacts on civil liberties. That said, this article…
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Malaysians turn to Clubhouse amid coronavirus lockdown, weighing its inequities vs practicality
21 February 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Science minister Khairy Jamaluddin, actress Maya Karin and disgraced ex-premier Najib Razak have all used the audio-chat app to reach out to audiences Describing it as ‘talk radio where anything goes’, one analyst said Clubhouse could end up being overrun by misinformation, including on Covid-19 vaccines…
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Proactive measures to combat fake news on Covid-19 vaccine
31 January 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted in The Star By DINA MURAD Sunday, 31 Jan 2021 ONE of the best ways to tackle misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine and to overcome this pandemic is to ensure that the public gets access to enough accurate and verified information. While all the necessary information about the Covid-19 vaccine is out…
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Malaysian COVID-19 Cases Soar to Thousands per Day
22 January 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted in VOA news online Article by Ralph Jennings, 22 January 2021 TAIPEI - Malaysia has gone back into a tough new lockdown as COVID-19 caseloads have spiked this month after a relatively calm 2020, and the government’s image is beginning to take a hit among people who are confused about what to do.…
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It is a shame if we learn nothing from 2020
15 January 2021
This new year, rather than rejoicing in the promised Malaysia as visioned three decades ago — we face devastating floods, an unrelenting pandemic, and just recently, a declaration of an Emergency. And to these, add how experts are warning that worse is yet to come as the planet continues to warm, and human activity continues…
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Grassroots, machinery the biggest challenge for Pejuang, Muda in snap polls but analyst highlights another scenario
04 January 2021
Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail By Milad Hassandarvish, 4 January 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — The seemingly endless political turmoil in the country has caused severance among political leaders and parties over the past few months. The downfall of the 22-months-old Pakatan Harapan coalition in March last year led to the formation…
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GE15: Issues on environment, education and gig economy to be main concerns of youth, says analyst
31 December 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted by the Malay Mail By Milad Hassandarvish, 31 December 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 ― A lowered voting age and the ongoing political turmoil in the country has stimulated youth involvement in politics more than ever before. This has strongly been evident over the past year ever since lawmakers made a historic…
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Consider This: COVID-19 - Addressing vaccine hesitancy
11 December 2020
Harris Zainul was interviewed by Astro Awani in Consider This Will vaccine hesitancy-the reluctance to accept immunisation-threaten to derail our fight against the pandemic? Tonight on #ConsiderThis, Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris ask misinformation researcher Harris Zainul & UN consultant Dr Nurul Haq Shahrir if it’s possible to convince the sceptics. Consider This with Sharaad Kuttan &…
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4 Ways South Korea Can Make A Difference in the Mekong
16 November 2020
What are the available options that Seoul can consider to contribute in the resolution of environmental, economic and political challenges that have haunted the Mekong subregion? BY HARRIS ZAINUL In 2019, the Republic of Korea’s (ROK, hereafter South Korea) diplomatic relations with the Mekong states of Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam were elevated when…
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4 strategies to counter Covid-19 anti-vaccination propaganda
13 November 2020
Providing some optimism for an otherwise bleak year is the recent announcement on Pfizer and BioNTech. Perhaps now, with the promise of a potential vaccine, some of us might even allow ourselves to dream when this nightmare of a pandemic will end. But until dreams turn into reality, we cannot afford to let our guard…
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Countering COVID-19 anti-vaccination propaganda
13 November 2020
Executive summary In preparation for a COVID-19 vaccine, the government needs to be proactive in laying the groundwork towards the twin goals of simultaneously increasing the public’s awareness on the need to vaccinate; while reducing the potential implications of anti-vaccine propaganda. While we do not yet know the exact impact of anti-vaccine propaganda on the…
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Malaysia’s latest economic data offers hope but Covid-19 curbs could threaten recovery
13 November 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Q3 GDP contracted 2.7 per cent from the same period in 2019, less severe than the 3.2 per cent forecast Experts warned that a sustained rebound in 2021 will require ongoing containment of the coronavirus By Tashny Sukumaran, 13 November 2020 Malaysia’s economy contracted less than expected…
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BFM PODCAST: How Do We Cure An Infodemic?
19 October 2020
Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are also battling what’s being called an infodemic, which the World Health Organization defines as an overabundance of information that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance on the virus. To get a better…
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The Covid infodemic: To err is human, to share is criminal?
14 October 2020
By now, Covid-19 is a worrying fact of life. Also a fact of life is how the onset of the pandemic has brought about a sense of nervousness, anxiety and concern among the general public. At times like these, the public craves information they feel would allow them to stay safe and healthy. Taking this…
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Invisible force: Can Undi 18 end Malaysia’s political dilemma in GE15? Analyst weighs in
09 October 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted in Malay Mail Article by Milad Hassandarvish, 09 October 2020 KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — This year has been a roller coaster ride for Malaysians — from the Covid-19 pandemic to the political uncertainties with almost no end in sight. With PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s surprising claim that he has obtained…
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Why Vietnam Is Asking Other Asian Countries to Help Squelch Fake News
01 October 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted in VOA news online Article by Ralph Jennings, 01 October 2020 TAIPEI, TAIWAN - A surge in fake news around Southeast Asia, particularly bogus COVID-19 information, has prompted leaders to explore a regional crackdown after a suggestion from a Vietnamese security official. Police agencies in the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)…
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The COVID-19 Infodemic in Malaysia: Scale, scope and policy responses
24 August 2020
By: Harris Zainul and Farlina Said Owing to the novelty of COVID-19, much uncertainty had surrounded it when it was first discovered in December 2019. In the months since, more light has been shed on the novel coronavirus, yet the timespan in between was marked with fear and uncertainty, lending itself to a surge in…
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In Malaysia's Covid "infodemic", crime is all too easy
20 August 2020
A crackdown on the spreading of false information is unfair if people don’t have the means to spot it. In Malaysia earlier this month, it was reported a woman had been nabbed by the police for spreading false information relating to a supermarket closure in the northern state of Penang. Her alleged crime? A Facebook…
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Disinformation and xenophobia target Malaysia’s Rohingya
11 July 2020
The Rohingya in Malaysia have become the target of increasing xenophobia and hate speech. Disinformation — the intentional creation of false information — is fuelling the fire of outrage against this marginalised community. False allegations began circulating on social media in April 2020. They included claims that a Rohingya man was insisting on full citizenship…
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More must be done to address Covid-19 infodemic
02 July 2020
PARALLEL to the spread of Covid-19 is its infodemic. Coined by the World Health Organisation, it refers to a situation where there is "an overabundance of information — some accurate and some not — that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it". Indicating the extent of…
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Campaign of Hate? Fake News and Anti-Refugee Rhetoric in Malaysia
24 June 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted in New Naratif Article by Jules Rahman Ong, 20 June 2020 Abdul Wahid, 40, came to Malaysia seven years ago in a rickety fishing boat cramped with 135 others—it’s a number he still remembers to this day. He, his wife and baby never planned to go to Malaysia. But they were forced…
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Malaysia’s political crisis could worsen coronavirus and economic challenges
16 May 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted in CNBC Malaysia’s parliament sat for the first time this year on Monday and was supposed to debate motions that include a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. “At the moment we know that the coalition that governs the federal government is operating at a very, very thin, fragile ... majority,” said…
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Malaysia is beating coronavirus, so why should Muhyiddin be worried?
16 May 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post The country, once the worst hit in Southeast Asia, is now relaxing measures after a stunning turnaround in fortunes But the new prime minister is not getting the credit. Rather, attention is now returning to his democratic legitimacy By Tashny Sukumaran, 16 May 2020 As Malaysia…
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Mekong nations face growing threat to food security amid claims China’s dams exacerbate effects of drought
10 May 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Drought, erratic water levels along 4,300km river are disrupting rice yields and fish catches, raising costs for farmers Beijing rejects claim Chinese dams behind drought hitting countries downstream By Laura Zhou, 10 May 2020 Fishermen in northeast Thailand say they have seen catches in the Mekong River…
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Democracy in 'Malaysia Terbaru’
09 May 2020
MAY 9 — Two years ago to this date, 12,299,514 Malaysians had braved the humid climate,extended waiting times, and weekday voting to perform their democratic civic duty in Malaysia 14th General Elections (GE14). Consisting of a historic 82.32 per cent of all eligible voters, this had set in motion events that are now all too…
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Points for policymakers when tackling a crisis
22 April 2020
WITH Covid-19’s exponential spread threatening entire populations, the role of government during this pandemic has undoubtedly, and understandably increased. This role, among others, includes determining when free movement should be restored, which sectors of the economy are able to operate, and which layers of society experiencing present hardships ought to receive financial assistance. Not limited…
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Media freedom and fake news during the time of COVID-19
15 April 2020
The likening of the fight against COVID-19 to a war should neither be a rationale for war-time measures, nor a free hand to muzzle the media and impinge on individual free speech. With new normals being expected, these normals must include a free media coupled with better protected free speech rights. False information and rumours…
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Malaysia's Infodemic and Policy Response
02 April 2020
The COVID-19 infodemic has shown that content needs to be regulated. The continued reliance on Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 means continued exposure to risk of abuse. In light of this, what is the way forward towards the twin goals of addressing the infodemic…
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Curing the COVID-19 Information Disorder
18 March 2020
Due to COVID-19’s novelty and pandemic status, false information, which thrives on fear and uncertainty, have flourished. This has led to an information disorder on COVID-19, which includes false information pertaining to its source, how it spreads, how to treat it, as well as conspiracy theories about its origins. Emblematic of this is how as…
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If the new coronavirus doesn’t get you in Malaysia, fake, racist news about it might
01 February 2020
Harris Zainul was quoted by the South China Morning Post Misinformation about the virus has become so pervasive that Malaysia’s health minister warns it’s a ‘more critical’ issue than the disease itself But who should take charge of combating rumours that are so far off the mark they could be fatal – governments or the social…
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Everywhere and Nowhere: Cybertroopers and the battle for democracy
16 January 2020
The utilisation of propaganda often has been hand-in-hand with politics since time immemorial. But with new tools – such as social media platforms, big data analytics and micro-targeted advertising – the scale, scope and precision of propaganda campaigns have increased exponentially. In the not too distant past, rolling tanks, men with guns in their hands…
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Going beyond the ballot box
18 December 2019
BY most measures, democracy is thriving in Malaysia. Nonetheless, triumphs in voter turnout and youth suffrage notwithstanding, it is important to remember that democratic participation does not end at the ballot box once every four or five years. It goes beyond that, and it needs to be emphasised that everyone has a day-to-day stake in…
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Asean and the dammed Mekong
08 November 2019
CONVERSATIONS on Asean in recent years have largely revolved around its community- building initiatives, its master plan on connectivity, its positioning vis-a-vis the United States’ Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in addition to the latest incursions of sovereign waters in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, issues surrounding the Mekong…
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We need to talk, Malaysia
01 September 2019
It is, once again, August 31. Like clockwork, the public and private sector machinery has been churning out narratives to drive up patriotism among Malaysians. These efforts culminate on the 31st, where on the perfectly tarred streets of Putrajaya, there was a parade whose participants have been painstakingly curated to reflect the entire spectrum of…
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'1984' still holds sway
11 July 2019
Seven decades ago, Eric Blair, or better known by his pseudonym George Orwell, published “1984”. Considered today as a classic of dystopian fiction, terms and concepts introduced by the book, such as Big Brother, Ministry of Truth, doublethink, thoughtcrime, Newspeak, Room 101, telescreen, and 2 + 2 = 5 have since entered into the common…
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Future Proofing Malaysia’s Democracy
03 July 2019
JULY 3 — Malaysia is bucking global trends of retreating democracies and declining voter turnouts. In fact, it recorded an improvement in its democracy score by 7 points in 2019 (Freedom House), and registering a historic turnout of 12,299,514 voters (82.32 per cent) in last year’s general elections. More than that, the newly elected Pakatan…
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Reality Check: The End of Identity Politics?
13 May 2019
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is perceived to be more multiracial and practising less racial politics than the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition it unseated. The two largest component parties in PH, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) are as multiracial as political parties get in Malaysia. Even Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia…
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Race, religion and rhetoric ramp up in ‘New Malaysia’
01 April 2019
After recouping the Semenyih state legislative assembly seat, it comes as little surprise that the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) are finally formalising their cooperation. The implication of this is that political discourse will only regress further to the right. The hardening of racial and religious divides on the…
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How Asean think-tanks see the inter-Korea peace process
01 March 2019
Southeast Asia is making global headlines this week with the second US-North Korea Summit, in Hanoi. “Asean as an organisation has nothing to do with the choice of Vietnam as the summit venue, but it does put [this] region in a favourable international light as a relatively neutral, safe and yet strategically important area of…
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Tech threat to democracy
04 February 2019
Perhaps the first truly global social media trend of 2019 is the #tenyearchallenge. Taking the online world by storm, the challenge entailed users posting two photos of themselves taken a decade apart purportedly to peacock how much they have grown since. Doing the same for social media and its relationship with democracy would highlight mixed…
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No Silver Bullet for Fake News in a New Malaysia
12 January 2019
With the watershed May 9 general elections having swept into power the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act (AFNA) 2018 is merely a matter of time. One of the problematic piece of legislation singled out in the election campaign, AFNA 2018 owes its continued existence to the Barisan Nasional (BN)…
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Asean-South Korea Ties - Cooperation Peace, Prosperity
20 November 2018
SOUTH Korea’s New Southern Policy (NSP) is based on the “3Ps” of People, Peace and Prosperity. Overarchingly, the NSP seeks to elevate South Korea’s relationship with Asean member states to the same level of relations it has with the United States, China, Japan, and Russia. By any measure, this is a good indicator of South…
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Trump, Kim Summit Ends with Signing of Joint Declaration
12 June 2018
All eyes were on the Capella Hotel in Singapore, the location of the historic summit between the President of the United States (US), Donald Trump and Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. The previously unimaginable encounter saw the leader of the free world shake the hand of a third-generation leader of a ruling…
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Peace for Korean Peninsula?
11 June 2018
AT 9am tomorrow at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, United States President Donald Trump will be the first sitting US president to meet with the supreme leader of North Korea. This would be unheard of a year ago, where no one would have thought a US-North Korea Summit possible. The reasons for this…
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Set Up Review Body
06 February 2018
WHEN the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) was deregulated in 2009, oversight of foreign investment into Malaysia’s strategic sector was left under the purview of its respective sector regulators. While applauded as a bold move to further liberalise the Malaysian economy, it had, unfortunately, limited results. On one hand, it can be rightfully argued that the…
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Impact of Climate Change on ASEAN International Affairs: Risk and Opportunity Multiplier
06 November 2017
Summary: This study examines the implications of climate change for international affairs in Southeast Asia and for ASEAN as a multilateral organization. Climate change and efforts to mitigate climate change give rise to major risks as well as opportunities in international affairs. It is therefore in the interest of all countries to be aware of…
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Business is business
26 September 2017
NETIZENS have taken to social media over the past weeks regarding the recent investments announced during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit to the White House, Washington DC. The comments were rife with criticism. They sought to appeal to sentiment rather than logic. Investments, whether outward or inward, are not out of the ordinary…
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Three Things to Expect from Tillerson’s Visit to Kuala Lumpur
08 August 2017
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is visiting the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia for a series of regional meetings to broaden and enhance the United States’ economic and security interests. The former Exxon Mobil chief executive arrived in Manila last weekend and is now in Thailand, where he will pay his respects to the late King Bhumibol…
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A Common Regional Identity
18 July 2017
IN the past five decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has seen an alphabet soup of agreements and blueprints shared between its 10 member states. But, none are as ambitious as the “Asean Community”. Consisting of three pillars — Political Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural — the Asean Community intends to, among others, create a common…