Prelims

Half Title Page

Pandemic, Politics, and a Fairer Society in Southeast Asia

Series Page

Diverse Perspectives on Creating a Fairer Society

A fair society is one that is just, inclusive and embracing of all without any barriers to participation based on sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, ethnicity, age, class, ability or any other social difference. One where there is access to healthcare and education, technology, justice, strong institutions, peace and security, social protection, decent work and housing. But how can research truly contribute to creating global equity and diversity without showcasing diverse voices that are underrepresented in academia or paying specific attention to the Global South?

Including books addressing key challenges and issues within the social sciences which are essential to creating a fairer society for all with specific reference to the Global South, Diverse Perspectives on Creating a Fairer Society amplifies underrepresented voices – showcasing Black, Asian and minority ethnic voices, authorship from the Global South, and academics who work to amplify diverse voices.

With the primary aim of showcasing authorship and voices from beyond the Global North, the series welcomes submissions from established and junior authors on cutting-edge and high-level research on key topics that feature in global news and public debate, specifically from and about the Global South in national and international contexts. Harnessing research across a range of diversities of people and place to generate previously unheard insights, the series offers a truly global perspective on the current societal debates of the twenty-first century – bringing contemporary debate in the social sciences from diverse voices to light.

Previous Titles

• Disaster, Displacement and Resilient Livelihoods: Perspectives from South Asia edited by M. Rezaul Islam

• Empowering Female Climate Change Activists in the Global South: The Path Toward Environmental Social Justice by Peggy Ann Spitzer

Forthcoming Titles

• Gendered Perspectives of Restorative Justice, Violence and Resilience: An International Framework edited by Bev Orton

• Youth Development in South Africa: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend edited by Botshabelo Maja and Busani Ngcaweni

• Social Sector Development and Inclusive Growth in India by Ishu Chadda

• Critical Reflections on the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South edited by Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis and Cheryl Qiumei Yu

Title Page

Pandemic, Politics, and a Fairer Society in Southeast Asia: A Malaysian Perspective

Edited by

Syaza Shukri

International Islamic University, Malaysia

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, UK

First edition 2023

Editorial matter and selection © 2023 Syaza Shukri.

Individual chapters © 2023 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

Reprints and permissions service

Contact: permissions@emeraldinsight.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-80455-589-7 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-80455-588-0 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-80455-590-3 (Epub)

Dedication Page

In loving memory of Ishtiaq Hossain

Beyond a gifted International Relations expert

He graciously shone the light on the next generation of scholars

Contents

List of Tables

About the Contributors

Rohana Abdul Hamid is interested in looking at how the internet affects politics. Her research interests are in online political activism and the use of social media by political parties and candidates in election/political campaigns.

Rabiah Aminudin is a former Head of the Department of Political Science, AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kuliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. She was a recipient of the Monbukagusho scholarship by the Japanese government for her Master’s degree in International Relations. Her PhD in Politics was awarded by the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She is also an alumna of the exchange programme on Study of the US Institute (SUSI) on US national security sponsored by the State Department of the United States of America. Her research areas focus on identity politics, especially gender, in political institutions and policy processes.

John Lee Candelaria is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hiroshima University. He obtained his PhD from the same university in 2022, with a dissertation on war memories and nation-building in Southeast Asia. His research interests include the Philippines and Southeast Asia, the heritage and memory of crises such as wars, disasters and pandemics and peace studies.

James Gomez is Regional Director at the Asia Centre. He oversees its evidence-based research on issues affecting the Southeast Asian region. He led the Centre’s research team that drafted the baseline studies, COVID-19 and Democracy in Southeast Asia: Building Resilience, Fighting Authoritarianism (Asia Centre, 2020) and Securitisation of COVID-19 Health Protocols: Policing the Vulnerable, Infringing Their Rights (Asia Centre, 2021). He holds a PhD in Political Communication from Monash University, Australia and brings to Asia Centre over 25 years of international and regional experiences in leadership roles at universities, think-tanks, inter-governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations.

Abdul Kabir A. Gonzales is an Educator, Speaker, Analyst, Author, and Human Rights Advocate with extensive leadership and community service experience. He graduated with First-Class Honours in Political Science (Rector’s List Awardee) at the International Islamic University of Malaysia and is a recipient of a fully funded scholarship from Al-Muntada Al-Islami for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. He has topped (2nd) in Islamic Studies Course at Almaarif Educational Center Inc. and has completed certificate courses in Islamic Economics and Fiqh & Usul Al-Fiqh from IIIT and IIUM. He has published numerous academic essays, articles, analyses, and insights Online. His research interests are international relations, Islam and politics, federalism, public policy, populism, human rights, SDGs and international law.

Suyani Indriastuti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations, University of Jember Indonesia. She obtained her PhD degree from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, in 2019. Her research interests are on the issue of human security, international political economy and resource politics. She was granted funding from the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for conducting research on the topic of human security. Her recent publications are as follows: ‘Health Versus Economic Security: An Ambivalence of Anti-tobacco Norms Internalization in Indonesia’ (2022) and ‘Comparing Mining Industries and Palm Oil Plantation Impacts on the Human Security of Local Communities’ (2022). In addition to the articles, she wrote a book on human security published by an Indonesian publisher.

Norhaslinda Jamaiudin is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the IIUM. She earned her BA and MA in Political Science from the IIUM and PhD in Public Administration from University of Science, Malaysia. Her specialisation includes public governance and public sector management, public sector reforms, public policy analysis and personnel management in the Malaysian Civil Service.

Z. W. Lau is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia. He is interested in Malaysian politics, Malaysian Chinese studies, electoral studies and party system. Apart from being a columnist, he used to engage with local and foreign media institutions for his opinion and commentaries.

Tunku Mohar Mokhtar is an Assistant Professor at Department of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia.

Lee Pei May is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia. She is interested in the development of the Global South and the idea of catch-up.

Robin Ramcharan is the Executive Director at Asia Centre and a Professor of International Relations at Mahidol University, Thailand. He has worked in the development sector for many years in an international organisation, implementing capacity-building programmes and undertaking training of human resources for the benefit of developing countries. He has taught and researched international law, human rights and democracy and intellectual property rights. He holds a PhD and an MA (DES) in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He also holds an MA from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an LLM and an LLB from the University of London.

Syaza Shukri is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). She has degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, the London School of Economics and Political Science and IIUM. She has published in numerous journals on topics relating to political Islam, Islamophobia, populism and Malaysian politics.

Bagus Sigit Sunarko is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations, University of Jember Indonesia. He obtained his PhD degree from the Universiti Utara Malaysia. His research interests are human security, international development and international regimes. His recent publication is ‘Health Versus Economic Security: An Ambivalence of Anti-tobacco Norms Internalization in Indonesia’ (2022).

Fernan Talamayan obtained his PhD from the Institute of Social Research and Cultural Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in 2022. He conducts research on populism, propaganda, disinformation and social memory.

Zahid Zamri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. He teaches Political Philosophy and Ethics and Politics. He is also the Coordinator of Islamisation of Human Knowledge for the Kulliyyah and a Research Fellow at the Global Centre for Advanced Studies, Dublin, Ireland.