The Maritime Crescent

Issue 1

Jun 11, 2025

by Nabil Haskanbancha, in Bangkok

The Frontier Brief’s second edition focuses on the Maritime Crescent: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Bound by shared heritage, Islamic traditions, and a legacy of maritime trade, these nations are consistently shaping the region’s future. Brunei has made a notable cybersecurity leap, launching its own certification chapter and deepening ties with Japan, signaling a possible pivot toward digital leadership in Southeast Asia. Indonesia finds itself at the center of diplomatic attention, sought after by both China and France, raising questions about whether this signals a clear strategic direction or just diplomatic theater.

Meanwhile, Malaysia is making a strong effort to lead ASEAN’s halal economy through the launch of a new council and forum. The initiative aims to bring greater coherence to various standards and unlock the region’s potential as a global halal hub. As the region evolves, our correspondents continue to follow key political shifts, highlighting stories that shape the region’s future.

Brunei Darussalam 🇧🇳

Brunei-Malaysia Cyber Partnership Echoes ASEAN’s Digital Security Goals

by Syimah Johari, in Bandar Seri Begawan

In a world where cyberattacks are fast becoming the next frontier of conflict, Brunei’s latest cybersecurity partnership is an essential move. In late May of 2025, Brunei Cyber Security Association (BCSA) took significant steps to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity capabilities. On May 27, BCSA, in collaboration with CyberSecurity Malaysia, announced the establishment of the Global ACE Certification Brunei Country Chapter —the first of its kind outside Malaysia. Just a day later, Brunei participated in the 14th ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA) Conference in the Philippines. These two developments reflect Brunei’s efforts to advance national interests as well as highlight its growing role in contributing to ASEAN’s shared vision for a trusted and resilient digital ecosystem.

The Global ACE Certification Brunei Country Chapter offers a structured framework to strengthen Brunei’s cybersecurity ecosystem. This includes providing local professionals with opportunities for certification, enabling them to enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of cybersecurity—ultimately contributing to a more secure digital ecosystem in Brunei. With stakeholders ranging from private to government sectors within the BCSA, Brunei's goal is to build cybersecurity expertise and to safeguard its digital future. Beyond its national benefits, this aligns with ASEAN’s regional expectations and objectives outlined in the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, particularly promoting regional digital integration, trust, and security.

Brunei’s continued participation with the AJCCA – an initiative formed between ASEAN and Japan dedicated to regional collaboration and navigating evolving cybersecurity issues, further proves Brunei’s commitment to collective digital advancement. Represented by BCSA’s Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Brunei reaffirmed its role as an active contributor to ASEAN-wide cybersecurity initiatives. Through initiatives like the Global ACE Certification Brunei Country Chapter together with policy discussions, platforms like AJCCA help Member states, including Brunei integrate more fully into ASEAN’s digital security framework.

Following the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 at the 46^th ASEAN Summit, initiatives like this show great progress towards ASEAN becoming a leading digital community and economic bloc. Today, with growing digital and political uncertainty, resilience and security are no longer optional – it is expected. A trusted cybersecurity ecosystem strengthens national security, economic stability and public confidence. These evolving threats emphasise the need for ASEAN member states to work collectively to secure the region’s digital infrastructure and build long-term cyber resilience. Brunei’s recent initiatives reflect this shared responsibility – where each member’s efforts contribute to a more secure and cohesive digital future.

Syimah is a graduate of King’s College London with a BA in International Relations. With a strong interest in diplomacy, regional cooperation, and development policy, she is passionate about contributing to meaningful change through public service. Currently, she is involved in poverty alleviation work through a local NGO, she aspires to build a diplomatic career that centers on equity, youth empowerment, and multilateral collaboration.

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Between Beijing and Paris: Prabowo's Indonesia in the Geopolitical Gauntlet – Substance or Merely Style?

by Hree Putri Samudra, in Jakarta

Jakarta's diplomatic tarmac has been unusually active. Recent, almost overlapping, state visits by Chinese Premier Li Qiang (May 24-26) and French President Emmanuel Macron (May 28-29) are more than pleasantries. They signal Indonesia, ASEAN's cautious giant, is now aggressively courted. Crucially, these visits are an early litmus test for President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign policy—a "whirlwind of international activity" facing accusations of "all style, no substance," lacking "consistent doctrine."

Premier Li arrived, ostensibly marking 75 years of ties, with China's familiar economic partnership. Beijing’s "community of shared future" rhetoric, however, masks an asymmetrical reality: China's exports to ASEAN surged 12% in 2024, but ASEAN's to China a mere 2%. Indonesia faced a US$1.3 billion trade deficit in May 2024. A quiet joint exploration agreement with China in the Natuna Sea raises uncomfortable questions about Jakarta's willingness to compromise, potentially unsettling ASEAN partners and blurring its maritime stance. For an administration accused of "decoupling performance from purpose," the challenge is stark: harness Chinese engagement for upliftment or drift into strategic dependency.

Hot on Li's heels, President Macron landed, championing France’s revitalized Indo-Pacific strategy. With territories and vast EEZ, France aims to be a "balancing power." Significant are the $11 billion in MOUs—spanning defense, critical minerals, and energy transition. Yet, for Prabowo's Indonesia, characterized by some as having "no anchoring worldview". How can one embrace a partnership countering "coercion" while deepening Beijing ties, especially when Prabowo's own engagements seem "motivated not by strategic alignment but by personal positioning," as one EAF critique suggests?

Six months into his presidency, Prabowo’s Istana-led foreign policy—a shift with a party ally as Foreign Minister—is under intense scrutiny. His "engaging personality and charisma" are evident, a contrast to his predecessor. But this outward activism, including high-profile tours and a global rather than regional focus, coincides with a "profound lack of orientation." The quiet failure to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, a cornerstone of Indonesia's diplomatic identity, is seen as a "deliberate retreat," reducing diplomacy to "event management."

This "hollowing out of Indonesia’s foreign policy identity" directly challenges bebas aktif. Prabowo's "active hedging"—if a strategy—must show it's more than "seeking to please all sides," which, critics warn, "inspires confidence in none." The push for the SEANWFZ Protocol becomes an even starker test: can a President whose foreign policy allegedly lacks "strategic grammar" truly leverage these courtships, or is it another symbolic gesture in a "directionless" schedule?

What of ASEAN? Foreign Minister Sugiono's notable absence from a key ASEAN meeting to accompany Prabowo to a D-8 summit, and talk of an "ASEAN Plus" approach, fuel fears that Indonesia's "core geographic and regional centrality" might yield to Prabowo's personalized, global ambitions. This risks depreciating Indonesia's "historical capital" as ASEAN's natural leader.

Can Prabowo execute a coherent grand strategy? Or will Indonesia, under his leadership, see its "Bandung legacy" further eroded, remembered for activity, not principled achievement? The world, and increasingly Indonesians, seek genuine conviction, not just another curated performance.

Hree currently serves as Project Associate for Asia and the Pacific at the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), where she leads multi-country initiatives integrating Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) frameworks into security policies across ASEAN and South Asia. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the University of Glasgow’s Atomic Anxiety in the New Nuclear Age program, where her research focuses on bridging arms control, humanitarian disarmament, and AI-driven treaty verification. Previously, she served as Chair of the Humanitarian Disarmament and Inclusive Governance Working Group at the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), advocating for more accountable and inclusive nuclear policy frameworks.

Malaysia 🇲🇾

Malaysia’s Proposal to Establish an ASEAN Halal Council Is a Step Forward in Regional Halal Diplomacy

by Edrina Lisa Ozaidi, in WP Kuala Lumpur

Following the statement produced by The Star, Malaysia is poised to propose the establishment of the ASEAN Halal Council and host the inaugural ASEAN Halal Forum in September 2025. The broader initiative gained momentum under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, the idea was initially parked this year in Jakarta. During the April roundtable session on the halal industry, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the head of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency, Ahmad Haikal Hassan, laid out the initial proposal for what might be a transformative initiative that could grow the halal industry.

Spearheaded as a joint effort, Malaysia and Indonesia are both key players in the global halal industry, whereby both countries already have a comprehensive and internationally recognised halal ecosystem portfolio. Malaysia Halal Department (JAKIM) certification receives recognition by 92 foreign halal certification bodies across 48 countries, further promising a solid reputation as a global leader in this industry. Through Malaysia’s Halal Industry Master Plan and Halal Development Framework, Malaysia is set to increase their target export value to exceed RM 260 billion by 2030, and fittingly, this establishment will be the best move.

Besides strengthening trade, the establishment will play a role as a strategic platform to harmonise halal policies and standardise the use of halal logos across member states. This establishment will not only ease market access for halal products but also cultivate consumer confidence for halal products in the ASEAN market. Importantly, the initiative extends beyond the traditional food and beverage sector, such as halal logistics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the development of dedicated halal industrial parks. This exact approach aligns with Malaysia's “halal diplomacy” efforts to share their expertise and experience in developing a thriving halal ecosystem with other nations.

The most vital part of the regional collaboration is in addressing specific industry needs. For example, the domestic production of compliant gelatin in Malaysia remains sparse, and existing gelatin products lack the standards required for comprehensive halal certification. The new framework that will be facilitated by the ASEAN Halal Council could address the critical supply chain gap by paving the way for regional gelatin production expansion through member states collaboration. This could ultimately improve the convenience of consumers to be able to see more halal products on the shelves and raise more confidence in product purchase, knowing that they do adhere to a unified halal standard.

The proposal of the ASEAN Halal Council is more than an economic initiative. It is a new strategic step towards halal regional integration that will create more consumer trust and project ASEAN's collective influence on the global halal stage. Anchored with Malaysia’s portfolio in a cohesive halal ecosystem, this idea seems to have tremendous potential to be a dynamic regional halal hub. The harmonisation of halal policies and a promising market potential in multiple sectors will definitely benefit ASEAN businesses, from big corporations to SMEs, while solidifying ASEAN’s position as a united and reliable source of halal products and services globally.

Edrina is a communications professional with a background in international relations. She holds a degree from the University of Nottingham Malaysia and has worked across public relations and social media for organizations in the development, education, and corporate sectors. Her work focuses on crafting narratives around regional affairs and strengthening media engagement across Southeast Asia.

Editorial Deadline 03/06/2025 11:59 PM (UTC +8)