While it started labour export as a stop-gap measure, the Philippine government now aggressively exports Filipinos. Labour migration has helped address the short-term needs of migrant families and the economy, and has benefitted migrant-receiving countries, local elites and the government, but also poses serious long-term problems to migrants, Filipinos, and the country.
Category: Explainer
Posted inExplainer
Explainer: Malaysia’s Electoral System
This brief article presents an overview of the Federation of Malaysia’s (Malaysia) electoral system, how it works, how and why it has been altered over the years, and the challenge it presents for representative democracy in Malaysia.
Posted inFeature
The Higher Education Labyrinth for Refugee Learners in Peninsular Malaysia
The issue of primary and secondary school access for refugee learners in Peninsular Malaysia has received some public attention. But with a minority of refugees arriving or graduating with secondary school diplomas, an equally important question to ask is: What comes next?
Posted inExplainer
Singapore’s Anti-Foreign Interference Law: The FAQ
What is Singapore’s proposed Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act? How does it actually work? What are the problems with it? And how does one avoid running afoul of it? We explain why this law is problematic and why Singaporeans should be very worried about it.
Posted inExplainer
Three Myths of Female Genital Cutting (sunat perempuan) in Singapore
Saza Faradilla and Sya Taha unpack the top three misconceptions about female genital cutting (FGC) in Singapore, which falls under Types 1 and 4 of the World Health Organization’s definition of female genital mutilation.
Posted inExplainer
What’s Going On in Malaysia’s Game of Thrones?
Almost two years after regime change in Malaysia, Malaysians were treated to a spectacle of political turmoil as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad handed in his resignation amid struggles between factions and parties over the course of a dramatic weekend.
Posted inExplainer
Singapore’s “Fake News” Bill: The FAQ
The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill—meant to tackle “fake news” in Singapore—has received criticism from local civil society, international rights groups, and tech companies. But what’s in the Bill, and what are the concerns?