JATI - JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES

ASEAN'S PIVOTAL ROLE FOR REGIONAL STABILITY: A REALIST PERSPECTIVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF US-CHINA RIVALRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Suthan Venkatachalam — 2023-12-31

The Southeast Asian region, positioned at the crossroads of evolving geopolitical dynamics, presents a landscape rich in both opportunities and risks. Its strategic geographical location, serving as a nexus for the global East-West Sea Lane of Communication (SLOC), coupled with abundant natural resources on land and sea, has elevated it to a focal point of geopolitical rivalries. China is taking an assertive stance in the region reminiscent of Cold War dynamics, thereby occupying the gap left by the now defunct the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This shift raises concerns as China flexes its military and economic influence, appearing poised to reshape the existing international order. Such actions signify a potential decline in reliance on the United States (US) within the region and provoke questions about the future balance of power in the region's security environment. The fundamental problem in this study centres on whether China's strategic manoeuvres significantly contribute to the weakening of United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (US-ASEAN) relations, thereby influencing the overall balance of power in the region. Therefore, this paper explores the significant role of ASEAN as a pivotal mechanism for regional stability. This study adopts qualitative methods with a mix of descriptive and analytical approaches and studies based on in-depth information and data from case studies. The findings emphasise ASEAN's crucial role in unifying Southeast Asian nations, fostering positive international cooperation, and forming strategic partnerships to counter disruptive forces through peaceful means. Furthermore, ASEAN deploys hedging and enmeshment strategies as a multilateral platform and through bilateral policies. These strategies provide dynamic alignment options, facilitating adjustments amidst the great power manoeuvres. In conclusion, the study strongly asserts that ASEAN holds the key to managing and influencing the current Sino-US rivalry, emerging as a pivotal mechanism for maintaining regional stability.

THE POTENTIAL OF BLUE ECONOMY IMPLEMENTATION FOR INDONESIA’S MARITIME TRANSPORT

Kemala Hudaya — 2023-12-31

Within the discourse of sustainable development, the concept of Blue Economy has received more attention from countries whose crucial sectors are oceans, including Indonesia. The geographical characteristics of Indonesia, as the biggest archipelagic country in the world, brings ocean-related sectors to the top priorities of the Indonesian government. In 2014, President Jokowi committed to adopting the blue economy concept in sectors related to the use of ocean, including maritime transport as one of the targeted sectors. Applying the agency theory to state policy implementation, this article aims to analyse the potential of Indonesian blue economic policies for developing its maritime transport. According to library research and interviews conducted by the author, Indonesia’s maritime transport has a great potential in contributing to the national economic growth. However, looking back at the development of maritime transport in Indonesia, this article highlights a gap between the sector’s potential and its actual contribution to the Indonesian economy. A Sustainable Maritime Transport System, published by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2013, serves as a great tool for the Indonesian government to help Indonesia meet its greatest potential in maritime transport. In line with the blue economy concept, four aspects of the system align with Indonesia’s focus of concerns: safety of labours, marine pollution, energy saving, and development of port infrastructure. The implementation of the blue economy concept has the potential to not only optimise maritime transport's economic benefits, but also ensure longevity of ocean resources in Indonesia.

AN IMPORTANT MARITIME AND RIVER TRANSPORTATION NETWORK TO SUSTAIN THE SUPPLY CHAIN IN INDONESIA'S BORDER

Endang Rudiatin — 2023-12-31

Most people in the Indonesia-Malaysia border area have a similar problem, namely the need for more facilities in the transportation sector. Geographical conditions make border crossers more comfortable using sea and river transportation. This paper aims to provide an overview of how smooth border transportation can support the supply chain. The challenge is that the supply chain from the capital or the nearest area is often insufficient due to geographical conditions, and product delivery cannot always be guaranteed. As a result, the price of these goods is higher than the price of goods from the neighbouring country because the shipping costs are lower as the location is closer to the other province that can supply them. This anthropological qualitative descriptive study discovers many transnational socio-cultural characteristics in their cross-border economic activities. This economic activity is bound by the two countries' borders, regulations, and policies. In the case study of Sebatik Island, building a border transportation system is one of the strategic solutions to support the supply chain of border communities. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, government policies prioritise sea transportation. The results show that when local transportation is smooth, the border area will remain in touch with the provincial government, and the availability of primary products for the Sebatik community does not always depend on neighbouring countries. A smooth supply chain encourages food self-sufficiency at the border.

ADIEU TO CASH: A TRANSITION IN VIETNAM UNDER COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EVIDENCES FROM E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS

Hoang - huy Nguyen — 2023-12-31

The global COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the world economy, including Vietnam, yet the crisis has also levered the increase in the cashless payment rate, thereby giving rise to new consumer behaviour. The study aims to develop an integrated model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to examine factors affecting Vietnamese customers' intention to use cashless payment services on E-commerce platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on data from a survey of 183 samples, the proposed conceptual model was empirically validated by applying the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) and bootstrapping techniques. Findings revealed that Vietnamese customers’ intention to use cashless payment on E-commerce platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic is positively influenced, either directly or indirectly, by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, perceived security and privacy, and response efficacy, while self-efficacy and perceived severity were proved to be not significant enough. It can also be seen that social influence and self-efficacy have a direct positive effect on effort expectancy, and effort expectancy mediates their effects on performance expectancy, while response efficacy is directly associated with performance expectancy.

"TIGERS ARE OUR SONS": JAHAI PERSPECTIVES IN UNDERSTANDING TIGER CONSERVATION IN THE ROYAL BELUM STATE PARK, PERAK, MALAYSIA

Nurfatin Hamzah — 2023-12-31

This paper reports the perspectives and perceptions of Jahai indigenous patrollers and key community members towards the Menraq, a tiger conservation patrolling initiative under which they have been employed, anchoring on community-based conservation in the Royal Belum State Park (RBSP). As a high biodiversity location home to flora, fauna and indigenous inhabitants, there is a growing interest in community-based conservation efforts in this protected area. However, implementing such efforts in other protected areas globally has resulted in deleterious consequences, especially with the imbalanced power dynamics between indigenous inhabitants and park managers or conservation practitioners and the lack of acceptance to merge two different worldviews in achieving conservation goals. For this case study, we conducted semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and participatory cultural mapping with the Jahai Menraq patrollers and several Jahai elders. We found that Jahai Menraq patrollers rely on the protection given by spiritual tigers called ‘ceboh’ tigers when doing forest-related activities, including their patrolling duties. Our findings highlight how the Jahai people weave their indigenous narratives, especially those related to tigers, into their job as tiger conservation patrollers. We argue that the ceboh tiger practice reflects the importance of indigenous knowledge, spirituality, and kinship in tiger conservation at the RBSP. Park management and conservation practitioners should acknowledge these indigenous perspectives in the pursuit of making the RBSP landscape an ‘ethical space’ for conservation.

NARRATIVES OF MALAYSIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: A HISTORICAL LINGUISTIC STUDY OF THEIR MIGRATION AND SETTLING DOWN BY ASMAH HAJI OMAR. KUALA LUMPUR: DEWAN BAHASA DAN PUSTAKA, 2023. 341PP. ISBN: 9789834935979.

Sharifah Sophia Ahmad — 2023-12-31

Professor Asmah Haji Omar has written a significant account of the collective memory of the people in Malaysia, represented by the diverse ethnolinguistic groups in Sarawak, Sabah and the Peninsula. The author utlised a historical linguistic approach which has been adept at revealing the interconnection of language and people, as they moved in space and time, the language too was developed into more or less diverse, or retain its unitary system, and in few cases were rendered into extinction. In examining each of the ethnic groups’ narratives, three elements were strung together: the motivation for the venturing out of the homeland; the contact with the other groups at the various points of transits, and the effect a permanent settlement had on the linguistic system of the ethnic groups. The core of the argument is to present ‘Malay’ as a geolinguitic category of identity which inhabits a Southeast Asian-wide identity and language, unites through a common linguistic root and geographical space.

RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, ISLAM AND THE LAW: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND ISLAMIC LAW IN INDONESIA BY AL KHANIF. LONDON: ROUTLEDGE, 2021, 232 PAGES, $29.13, ISBN 9781000168563

Herdi Sahrasad — 2023-12-31

Freedom of religion is one of the basic human rights that cannot be lessened under any circumstances in Indonesia. Therefore, the state of Indonesia ensures that all citizens have the right to have a religion or belief of their choice, as well as the freedom to practice the religion or belief in public (Fatmawati, 2011; Smith et al., 2008. Arifin, 2019, p. 6). As a result of the philosophy known as Pancasila (Five Principles), which serves as the fundamental basis and source of law in Indonesian law, which is one of the distinctive qualities of Indonesian law, the legal system of Indonesia is also sometimes referred to as the legal system of Pancasila. According to Oemar Seno Adji (1980, pp. 24-25), the Pancasila philosophy significantly emphasises protecting religious liberty. This right is reflected in the First Precepts of Pancasila, which recognise God Almighty, and because it is everyone's right to choose, embrace, and practice their religious teachings freely without experiencing interference and also without disturbing other parties, everyone must respect religion and the beliefs of other people in Indonesia, according to the findings of a number of researchers (Arifin, 2019; Aprita & Hasyim, 2020; Acharya, 2011). Over many years, religious minorities in Indonesia have regularly been subjected to difficulties, restrictions, and pressure and have even been attacked violently. This is true from both an international and domestic perspective regarding human rights. Acknowledging this issue is a significant aspect of this book's overall contribution to the ongoing conversation about the rights of religious minorities.