Dialogues at Fulcrum ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Fulcrum editor and Co-Coordinator of Indonesia Studies Programme Julia Lau discusses the United States' role and policies in Southeast Asia with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Melissa Brown, the day after her public address at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute on 13 March 2024.

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

1:23 – Sino-U.S. relations

3:20 – U.S.-ASEAN cooperation

4:33 – U.S.-Singapore relations

6:04 – Regional architecture and ‘minilaterals’

10:15 – U.S. presence in the region amidst a more uncertain world

16:30 – Southeast Asia’s reaction to U.S. policy on Palestine after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel

22:37 – The U.S.’ economic engagement in the region 

33:12 – DAS Brown reflects on her career and experiences as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service 

Fulcrum editor Julia Lau sits down with Dr Udan Fernando, former Executive Director (2012-2020) of the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), a Sri Lankan think tank. Based in Singapore and working as a consultant with the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), Dr Fernando is currently working on a project to develop under-represented scholars in the humanities and social sciences in Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Timor-Leste and Thailand.

The topic of their discussion is his recent documentary, “Not So Greener Pastures”, on four individuals who migrated to Timor-Leste and related issues, including Timor-Leste’s expected accession to ASEAN. 

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

2:40 – How Dr Fernando combines academia with his documentary filmmaking

5:20 – How the idea for the documentary came about

9:45 – How the protagonists in Dr Fernando’s documentary migrated to Timor-Leste 

21:40 – What the film says to global and regional audiences

27:20 – Recalling Timor’s “transition” from UN control and early development as an independent entity, including the role of Singapore in helping to set up the Timorese police force

33:54 – How Dr Fernando sees the issue of Timor Leste’s accession to ASEAN

In this episode, Dr William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, and Dr Jayant Menon, Senior Fellow at ISEAS, talk to Prof Sophal Ear, Associate Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, about the political transition in Cambodia.

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

2:34 – Reflections on the historic political transition from long-serving Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen to his son, Hun Manet

9:55 – Will fairly widespread instances of dynastic succession in Cambodia constitute a concern?

15:46 – Will Cambodia become a more inclusive society under Hun Manet?

23:57 – The direction of Cambodia-China relations going forward

31:30 – Cambodia’s astute handling of its role as ASEAN Chair in 2022

35:40 – Will there be changes in Cambodia’s economic policy?

49:38 – The implications of the Ream naval base



Prof Ear lectures on global political economy, international organisations, and regional management in Asia. He wrote and narrated the award-winning documentary film "The End/ Beginning: Cambodia" based on his 2009 TED Talk and has appeared in five other documentaries. A graduate of Princeton and Berkeley, he moved to the U.S. from France as a Cambodian refugee at the age of 10.

In this dialogue, which follows on his May 16th podcast, “Defining Tests for UMNO, Anwar and the Unity Government”, Khairy Jamaluddin discusses the main arena of those defining tests: the August 12th Peninsular state elections (PRN2023). Khairy speaks with Fulcrum editor Dr Lee Hwok Aun and Dr Francis Hutchinson, both Senior Fellows at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, about the outcomes and implications of PRN2023. The Perikatan Nasional coalition dominated in the three Northern Malay states, while the PH-BN Unity coalition of coalitions retained the three more ethnically mixed states on the west coast– with significant ground ceded to PN. The dialogue considers the continuities and changes we can expect in Malaysian federal and state politics. Khairy is a Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS, and was a three-time member of Malaysia’s parliament representing Rembau. He has served as Minister of Youth and Sports; Science, Technology and Innovation; and Health.



2:15 – Ground-level observations of PN (Bersatu) and PH-BN (UMNO) campaigns

8:24 – Election results: any effect on Khairy joining/rejoining either party?

9:52 – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s strategic options to win Malay support

15:18 – What do Perikatan Nasional’s sweeping wins in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu say about Malay politics and the PAS-Bersatu alliance?

19:19 – Generational change in PAS: The roles of Sanusi Md Nor in Kedah and Samsuri Mokhtar in Terengganu going forward

23:23 – PH-BN leaders and Menteris Besar: Who made a mark on PRN2023?

26:02 – How well did PH-BN collaborate in PRN2023 and what lessons should the Unity government take moving forward?

28:39 – Is the PN surge still an anti-UMNO protest or has PN secured a base?

32:13 – What next for UMNO? Is Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) a boon or bane?

35:12 – Anwar Ibrahim administration: Political implications of PRN2023 and signature policies

In this episode, William Choong, managing editor of Fulcrum, talks to James Crabtree, executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia), the London-headquartered think tank which runs the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. Held annually, the Dialogue covers a broad range of regional security issues. This year, the focus will likely be on the state of Sino-U.S. relations.

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:

1:51 – Expectations about the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue

3:45 – China's representation at the Dialogue

7:09 – Interactions between the IISS and the People's Liberation Army 

10:45 – Taking the pulse of Sino-U.S. relations

16:11 – Highlights of the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue

19:37 – The keynote address by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

25:02 – Discussion topics at the Dialogue

29:13 – Concluding thoughts

Fulcrum editor Dr Lee Hwok Aun and Dr Francis Hutchinson, both Senior Fellows at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, speak with Khairy Jamaluddin on a broad range of Malaysian political and policy issues. Six months after the 15th general election, UMNO, Prime Minister Anwar, and the unity government are each facing distinct challenges that will test their ability to reform, govern, contest state elections, and sustain the ruling coalition.

Khairy is a Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS, and was three-time member of Malaysia’s parliament representing Rembau. He has served as Minister of Youth and Sports; Science, Technology and Innovation; and Health.


Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the questions below were addressed during the podcast:


1:45 – Political icons like Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim have been cast into the political wilderness in the past – and made illustrious comebacks. What are Khairy’s plans in light of recent travails?

5:20 – Can UMNO be reformed?

8:18 – What is the future of moderate politics and centrist policies in Malaysia?

13:11 – How is the Anwar Ibrahim administration doing in balancing inclusive, need-based policies with specific community – especially Malay – concerns?

17:58 - Can Pakatan, and PKR in particular, expand their traction among Malays?

23:13 – How will the PH-BN unity government strategise their seat allocations and campaigns for the upcoming state elections? Does PH-BN have any chance of making any inroads in the northern states?

30:55 – Beyond the state elections and into the second half of 2023, what are PM Anwar’s main opportunities and pitfalls?

38:10 – In what areas is Malaysia heading in the right direction? Where is it heading in the wrong direction?