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Malaysia’s Strategic Compass Amid the Rising Eastern Bloc

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, may be remembered as a pivotal moment in the slow dismantling of U.S.-centric global supremacy. Originally conceived as a regional security forum, the SCO is now rapidly transforming into a geopolitical and economic bloc with ambitions far beyond Central Asia. The presence and active engagement of China, Russia, and India: three nations that collectively account for over a third of the world’s GDP (in purchasing power parity terms) and more than 3.5 billion people signal a coordinated challenge to the prevailing Western-led international order. These powers, bound by mutual distrust of Western economic coercion and frustrated by what they see as the moral hypocrisy of Western diplomacy, are consolidating around a new vision of global multipolarity. For Malaysia, this evolving landscape presents both opportunities and significant challenges. Situated at the crossroads of global trade routes and diplom...
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Why Malaysia Must Treat Espionage as a National Security Crisis

Allegations that Malaysian military officers and journalists may have sold classified information to a smuggling syndicate have shaken public confidence and raised the spectre of internal espionage. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has responded swiftly, affirming a zero-tolerance approach and granting full authority to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate. But as alarming as this domestic breach is, Malaysia is not alone. Across the globe, insider espionage has repeatedly proven to be one of the most damaging threats a country can face. Learning from these international cases is crucial if Malaysia is to protect its sovereignty and reinforce its national security framework. One striking example is the case of Dickson Yeo Jun Wei, a Singaporean who was convicted in the United States in 2020 for acting as an undeclared agent for Chinese intelligence. Yeo targeted American military and government personnel through LinkedIn, gathering sensitive infor...
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Malaysia's Leadership in ASEAN's Digital Sovereignty

As the world’s geopolitical landscape shifts, Southeast Asia faces a critical juncture. The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the growing alignment between China, Russia, and India are reshaping international relations, urging ASEAN to rethink its position. While the U.S. continues to exert economic pressure through mechanisms like tariffs and dollar dominance, the need for ASEAN to maintain regional autonomy has never been more apparent. Among the various strategic options available, Malaysia is uniquely positioned to lead ASEAN towards a future of digital sovereignty: an area of both immense potential and significant geopolitical importance. Digital infrastructure and governance have become key instruments of geopolitical influence in the post-pandemic world. With China’s ambitious Digital Silk Road Initiative and the U.S.’s digital multinationals shaping the global landscape, the digital realm has become a new front in the great power rivalry. However, ...
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Malaysia Must Confront Rise of AI-Driven Crime

Organised crime is undergoing a dangerous transformation, and Malaysia is not immune. Recent reports by Europol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveal how criminal networks are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to scale operations, evade detection, and exploit legal and technological gaps across borders. AI is not just an enabler but it is now the engine behind a new era of digital-first criminal enterprises. According to Europol’s 2025 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment, criminal groups are rapidly integrating AI into their operations. The report highlights that over 86% of criminal networks active in the European Union use legal business structures to support their illicit activities, often hiding behind complex digital fronts. AI tools such as deepfakes, AI-generated voice impersonation, and chatbot-assisted scams are being deployed to commit fraud, manipulate victims, and conduct cyberattacks at unprecedented scale and speed. Eu...
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The Decline of Malaysian Hockey

In the mid-20th century, Malaysian field hockey stood tall on the global stage. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the national team was a formidable force.  Malaysia is regularly qualifying for the Olympics, finishing fourth in the 1975 World Cup, and challenging traditional giants like India, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Back then, Malaysia was one of the best in Asia, often ahead of countries like South Korea and Japan. Fast forward to 2025, and the national team struggles to qualify for major tournaments. Rankings have plummeted, infrastructure is deteriorating, and domestic interest is waning. The once-thriving hockey scene now survives largely on nostalgia and sporadic government interventions. What went wrong? The Collapse of Development Systems Malaysia’s golden era in hockey coincided with strong grassroots systems. Hockey was deeply embedded in school sports, especially in states like Perak, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur. The sport was accessible, coaches were passi...
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Smart Security, Free Society: Malaysia’s Data Dilemma

In today’s digitally driven world, national security is no longer confined to borders or traditional threats. Cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and asymmetric warfare have become the new frontiers of conflict. Malaysia, strategically located in Southeast Asia and increasingly exposed to regional tensions and internal vulnerabilities, must strengthen its security apparatus. However, doing so must not come at the cost of civil liberties. Malaysia can enhance its security strategy by leveraging insights from advanced data platforms like those pioneered by Palantir Technologies, while maintaining strong democratic oversight to safeguard the fundamental freedoms protected by the Federal Constitution. Palantir Technologies, a U.S.-based company, gained prominence in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Its core software, Gotham, was designed to integrate fragmented intelligence and provide real-time, actionable insights to military and intelligence agencies. Over the years,...
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Syringe Attacks in Malaysia and France: Random Violence or Terrorism? - Part 3

The syringe attack on the 12-year-old son of Pandan MP and former Economy Minister, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, has shaken Malaysia. What initially appeared as a rare and bizarre incident now echoes a disturbing pattern witnessed abroad, notably in France. In June 2025, during the Fête de la Musique festival, over 145 people across France reported being pricked with syringes in crowded public areas. In both cases, the weapon of fear was not a gun or bomb but a syringe. When viewed together, the Rafizi incident and the mass needle attacks in France reveal an alarming global trend of unconventional, psychological violence that leaves behind not just physical uncertainty but emotional trauma. The question we must now ask is: are these acts simply random criminality, or should they be treated with the gravity of terrorist attacks? A Pattern Beyond Borders In France, the attacks spanned multiple cities, with 13 confirmed cases in Paris alone. Victims included women, men, and even min...
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