Southeast Asia Insights

On November 17, the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected appeals from Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his son Mohd Nazifuddin Najib to delay their bankruptcy proceedings over massive unpaid tax bills.   Instead, the court ordered them to settle their bills. Najib will have to pay RM 1.69 billion ($407 million), while his son will pay RM 37.6 million ($9 million).   In addition to this tax case, Najib faces a numbe...

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, first uncovered in 2015, remains one of the world’s most infamous financial crimes. The world was left shocked when it emerged that around RM 20.1 billion (about $4.5 billion) intended for Malaysia's economic development was stolen and hidden across banks from New York to Zurich to Abu Dhabi.   The scandal, which relied on exploiting weak Western financial systems, led to the downfall ...

Nearly 10 years after the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal erupted, Malaysia continues to address the economic and governance issues it caused.   What began in 2009 as an ambitious national development project under then-Prime Minister Najib Razak turned into one of the world's biggest financial scandals, funding luxury properties, private jets, and even Hollywood films instead of economic growth for Malaysians.   Accordi...

Tensions flared once again in the South China Sea as China and the Philippines traded accusations of provocation following two mid-October encounters near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) and Thitu Island (Pag-asa).   Happening just days apart, the incidents underscore Beijing's growing assertiveness and Manila's determination to defend its maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that lies within the...

After more than 40 years of maritime tension, Malaysia and Indonesia are charting a new course in one of Southeast Asia’s most contested waters. On June 20, 2025, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to jointly develop the Sulu-Celebes Seas, a border area long marked by competing claims and untapped potential.   Stretching across 15,000 square kilometers, the disputed zone i...