Editor’s Note
By Siu Tzyy Wei, Lead Editor - Maritime Crescent Desk
Influence is not always about who holds the microphone. Sometimes, it is about who controls the stage. This week, Malaysia witnessed Formula 1’s transformation into a global platform for soft power. For Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the spectacle also raises the question of whether international visibility can be converted into political confidence at home. Across the world, where Brunei’s new Foreign Minister made his debut on the world stage at the UN General Assembly, visibility has become its own form of currency. In Indonesia, visibility takes a different stage, as the revised Broadcasting Bill brings user-generated content on digital platforms into greater regulatory scrutiny. The debate is therefore not only about regulating harmful content, but also about who gets to define the boundaries of acceptable public expression online.
Brunei Darussalam 🇧🇳
The New Voice for Brunei
by Maryam Zulaidi
The 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) marked a significant moment for Brunei’s diplomacy, as HRH Prince Mateen made his debut at the High-Level Meeting as Minister of Foreign Affairs following his appointment earlier this year. As Brunei’s international spokesperson, he addressed a clear yet critical message regarding international order on the UN podium. The core message hints at overcoming double-standards between UN members, or trust among nations will erode. He presented the current state of Palestine as the defining example, stating that there can be no lasting peace without justice for the people of Palestine and that the conflict has become a test to the Organisation’s own credibility. Through this example, he argued that the decades of suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including UN staff, journalists and medics killed while carrying out their duties is precisely why the UN Charter and international law must be enforced without exception. To strengthen accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, he emphasised that Brunei co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2823 and therefore warned the spread of conflict and violence into neighbouring Lebanon, where UN peacekeepers have also been unjustifiably killed. Taken together, Brunei views that trust in the UN can only be restored through unprejudiced multilateral efforts by the UN, first starting with the conflict and oppression existing in Palestine.
This message carries weight for a tiny nation such as Brunei. Although Brunei has long supported the Palestinian cause at the UN, this was the second consecutive year in which Palestine stood at the centre of its national statement, following last year’s address by Dato Seri Setia Erywan Yusof, the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs. Though, its continued relevance can be understood through Brunei’s own interests. As a small state, Brunei relies on international law and the UN Charter to safeguard its sovereignty. Arguably, by insisting that these rules be upheld in Palestine, Brunei is also reinforcing the very principles that protect smaller nations from being overlooked. In this sense, defending the rules of Palestine is also indirectly defending them for Brunei.
Compared with last year’s statement, this year is much more direct and sharp in terms of tone. In 2025, the emphasis on Palestine and supporting its full UN membership is an inherent right. This year, it moved further toward accountability, UN’s credibility and the protection of peacekeepers. This shift reflects a changed context, in which ongoing suffering has made the question of enforcement, rather than solely recognition, increasingly urgent. It also implies that under HRH Price Mateen, Brunei intends to remain a consistent and principled voice on Palestine within the multilateral system.
During his stay in New York, Prince Mateen also attended a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of UNGA. This includes, discussions with his counterparts from Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, each focused on deepening economic and diplomatic ties. Together, these meetings reflect Brunei’s strong approach to foreign policy of building cooperation for mutual benefit with partners across Asia.
Maryam is a first-year International Relations and Politics student at the University of Sheffield, with an academic focus on Southeast Asia—particularly Maritime Southeast Asia—and the Middle East. She aspires to a career in diplomacy and academia and is committed to fostering international dialogue and advancing scholarly engagement with global issues. Beyond her academic work, she pursues creative interests and voluntary initiatives that broaden her perspectives on public service.
Indonesia 🇮🇩
When Rules Silence
by Amallia Utami
Indonesia’s proposed revision of the Broadcasting Bill has raised concerns about the future of public expression on digital platforms. On 31 August 2026, the House of Representatives’ Legislative Body approved the harmonised bill for consideration. As the ongoing legislative processes continue, there are concerns over how the proposed regulations could affect the public’s participation on social media.
The proposed scope includes user-generated content (UGC) on digital platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This raises questions as decisions on what to publish are spread across many creators. Platforms still control distribution and moderation, but they do not exercise the same editorial control over every upload as broadcasters do over their programmes.
Remotivi researcher Muhammad Heychael warned that the threat of sanctions could encourage platforms to remove content whose status remains unclear. With broad restrictions, companies may find it safer to take a post down than to risk being penalised. This leaves users dependent on how platforms interpret the rules, including when their posts do not clearly violate them. The concern is that pressure to comply could lead platforms to remove lawful content simply because keeping it online carries an uncertain risk.
This could affect how people participate in raising issues online. A video about poor public services, for example, allows an individual experience to become a shared concern. Others may respond with similar experiences or demand an explanation from the institution involved. If such content is removed under unclear standards, the opportunities of building democratic space may be reduced. The concern extends beyond the person whose post disappears, since other people also lose opportunities to learn about problems and discuss them openly.
Another possible consequence is self-censorship among users. When the boundaries are unclear, users may hesitate to post criticism even when there is nothing unlawful about it. Some may soften their language or avoid certain subjects because they do not want to deal with the possible consequences. Discussions may continue, but without those who decide to withdraw. Their absence matters because experiences that could help others understand an issue may never be shared, leaving the discussion to those who feel able to keep speaking.
Addressing harmful content is a reasonable responsibility for digital platforms. However, the proposed rules should account for the way users produce content and the decisions platforms make about it. Clear limits and a workable process for challenging removals are needed, particularly when a post is taken down despite no clear violation. The revision therefore needs closer scrutiny over how it would operate in practice. Protecting users should include ensuring that they can raise concerns without feeling that silence is safer.
Amallia is a media and culture graduate from the University of Glasgow with experience in journalism and creative writing. Her interests lie in democracy, media and communication, particularly how contemporary media environments shape self-censorship, misinformation, and disinformation.
Malaysia 🇲🇾
Malaysia’s Need for Speed
by Sydney Gan, in Kuala Lumpur
Over the weekend, Malaysia was at the center of sporting action as the host of the 2026 Formula One (F1) Bahrain Grand Prix, welcoming more than 261,000 spectators. This opportunity - initially a one-off lucky break for Malaysia - has now introduced its potential permanent return to F1 as part of the circuit roster. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is effectively immortalized as the leader who brought back the sport into an entertainment-starved Malaysia. How will this affect, if at all, his prospects as the 16th General Election looms?
It all comes back to soft power: the successful organization of a large-scale sporting event lends Malaysia a subtle appeal and perceived legitimacy, thus positioning Malaysia favorably amongst its more powerful Western and Middle Eastern counterparts. This F1 competition alone brought together the support of the King of Malaysia with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and continued collaboration will no doubt open doors to closer diplomatic and trade relations with powerful international players.
The concept of spotlighting Malaysia on a global scale is not exactly new to Anwar. In 2025, he had an exemplary showing as the ASEAN Chair, notably brokering the KL Peace Accords to cease further disputes in the Cambodian-Thai border (a success that prompted murmurs about a potential Nobel Peace Prize nomination). Anwar’s ASEAN stint, though short-lived, effectively highlighted Malaysia’s full potential as a viable regional competitor, inspiring confidence within Malaysians and providing him great assurance for a second term - that is, before the house of cards that is the Unity Government threatened to dismantle at his very feet.
Now, with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) pledging to contest independently from Anwar’s Unity Government in the upcoming General Election, Anwar is visibly struggling to uphold the power he once held fast. Internationally, his optics have never been better, but at home, he is forced to face his growing competition, as well as the slow erosion of his own coalition, where members are dropping out one-by-one to join rival Rafizi’s party Bersama. It is apparent that Anwar is increasingly banking on Malaysian goodwill and populist opinion to tide him over for the next national polls - in the upcoming 2027 Budget, Anwar is predicted to lead with indulgent allocations for increased subsidies and cash handouts, in order to appeal to the masses. The name of the game is to rebuild trust among voters, never mind that this eleventh-hour hurrah feels more like a last-ditch scramble rather than a sincere effort.
The soft power of sports is endearing and entertaining, but when it comes to real political prospects, it does little more than put a band-aid on a bullet wound. Anwar still has to confront the reality that his loss of followers can only be attributed to his lack of rigor in follow-through on his initial reform agenda. As the glamor of international sports pageantry dispels, a fierce and cut-throat political brawl remains to be played out, with the potential to hurtle Malaysia into further political uncertainty.
Sydney holds a Bachelor of Laws from King’s College London, where she focused on Human Rights Law, Criminology, and Public & Administrative Law. She is an Analyst at Asia Group Advisors, providing policy analysis and strategic guidance across the tech, sustainability, and gaming sectors in Southeast Asia. Prior to joining AGA, she worked in the social development sector in London, contributing to the Ukraine Judicial Training Programme through research on war crimes adjudication and the development of a legal training curriculum with high court magistrates.
Editorial Deadline 5/10/2026 11:59 PM (UTC +8)
