Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam are increasingly shaping ASEAN’s long-term economic trajectory. According to Juwai IQI Global Chief Economist Shan Saeed, their greatest strength lies not in competing with one another, but in the complementary roles they play across manufacturing, finance, technology, resources and services. By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH KUALA LUMPUR,…
FROM THE EDITOR – This edition of Global Dispatch, dated June 22, 2026, covers the week ending June 22, incorporating the latest developments from the first round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, the fragile Lebanon ceasefire that nearly derailed them, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a series of significant scientific breakthroughs. All…
BY MIKE PAUL KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 – The National Anti-Drug Association of Malaysia (PEMADAM) has called for stronger and more consistent enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), warning that the growing use of vape products among young Malaysians could fuel broader substance abuse problems. Family and Community…
BY SHAN SAEED KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — During my visit to Indonesia in April 2026, one observation became increasingly clear: the future prosperity of nations will be determined not merely by their natural resources, industrial capacity, or technological prowess, but by how effectively they develop and deploy their human capital—particularly that of women. Across the…
Prime Minister warns that artificial intelligence is concentrating power in the hands of a few states and corporations, widening the digital divide and raising profound moral questions about humanity’s future. By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH TOKYO, June 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim used a public lecture at the University of Tokyo to…
