My Blog 

You’ll find here all my commentaries and analysis for think-tanks and the Media.

Don’t miss my monthly analysis for the Southeast Asia Program@Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS, Washington DC).

The Durian Heat | The Politics of Gangsterism in Malaysia

In this interview, Sophie was interviewed by The Durian Heat. What and how it looks on the politics of gangsterism in Malaysia? Check the discussion with Arlene in this interview recordings!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDMQZAoGovk  

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta or Civil Society?

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta or Civil Society?

Malaysian democracy and civil society The relationship between the concept of democracy and civil society is central to understanding the dynamics of the Malaysian system. The general concept of civil society goes back to antiquity as an arena between the...

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta Beyond Stereotypes

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta Beyond Stereotypes

For over 30 years, Pekida has been one of the shadow allies of the ruling party, UMNO; emerging in the media only in 2008. The election results of 2008 were seen as an awakening of political consciousness among the majority of Malaysians. Facing this new wave of...

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta through the Years

New Mandala | Gangsta to the Roots: Gangsta through the Years

Reconstructing the history of Pekida and its network’s is a hard task. No historical account of the organisation has been found, and every attempt to locate official records has been an arduous mission. This article relies primarily on oral history (rarely shared with...