Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.
Myanmar’s economy grew only one per cent in fiscal 2023-2024, but its illicit economy - long a feature of its borderlands in particular - has been thriving. Recent crackdowns by China’s proxies indicate the level of concern in China as cybercrime syndicates in particular prey on Chinese people.
Your browser does not support iframes, but you can use the following link: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/asian-insider-1/myanmar-s-parlous-economy-rooted-in-ruinous-polici/embed" title="">Link</a><script>iFrameResize({ log: false }, '#iframe-field_embed_iframe-8151571')</script>
This parlous state which has possibly half the population of 53 million living just one step from disaster. It is being driven by poor policy as the military junta has been taking a command economy approach in order to survive, and is using the country’s foreign reserves, to survive and cling to power, contends Professor Sean Turnell, former economic advisor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the former State Councillor, now in jail, who held office from 2016 until the military coup of February 2021.
Myanmar has however always had a tradition of transnational crime syndicates, initially in narcotics production and more recently in synthetic narcotics. Opium cultivation is also creeping back up, while new areas such as cybercrime have emerged. The military regime is not entirely to be blamed for this tradition, as many of the areas concerned have been controlled for decades by ethnic armies which essentially make a living from the informal or illicit economy.
Meanwhile Myanmar has seen an unprecedented coalescing of ethnic armed organizations into effective alliances, which is very different from the fragmented resistance to the military of the past. Yet while the military has lost ground, a total collapse and fragmentation of the country is not as imminent as some commentators may believe; before that occurs, there is quite likely to be a reshuffle at the top of the ranks of the regime.
Professor Turnell, alongside veteran journalist, author and broadcaster Dr Michael Vatikiotis, spoke to Asian Insider host Nirmal Ghosh on this episode to unravel the complexities of Myanmar’s crisis.
Highlights (click/tap above):
ST Asian Insider: Malaysia Edition Get exclusive insights into Malaysia in weekly round-up
Thank you!
Sign up
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and T&Cs.
1:33 Why is Myanmar’s economy performing poorly?
3:38 Recently, there has been an unprecedented coalescing of ethnic armed organisations into effective alliances, different from historic fragmented resistance to the military in the past
7:00 Recent crackdowns by China’s proxies indicate the level of concern about Myanmar’s transnational crime syndicates, as these prey especially on the Chinese
8:47 Can the military regime be completely blamed for this too? Many of the areas controlled by ethnic armies have essentially made a living from the informal or illicit economy
14:40 Tremendously deep, long lasting levels of mistrust between constituent elements; is the younger generation leading the revolution impressive?
Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Fa’izah Sani
Edited by: Fa’izah Sani
Remote video URL
Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month here:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8
Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r
Read Nirmal Ghosh’s articles: https://str.sg/JbxG
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i4Y3
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore’s War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
---
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
Unlock unlimited access to ST exclusive content, insights and analyses
ST One Digital - Annual
$9.90 $4.95 /month
Get offer
$59.40 for the first year and $118.80 per year thereafter.
ST One Digital - Monthly
29.90 $9.90 /month
Subscribe today
No lock-in contract
Unlock more knowledge, unlock more benefits
New feature: Stay up to date on important topics and follow your favourite writers with myST All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com Easy access any time via ST app on one mobile device
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
ST Podcasts Asian Insider Podcast ST Current Affairs Podcast
Facebook Telegram More Whatsapp Linkedin Twitter FB Messenger Email Print Purchase Article Copy permalink https://str.sg/7R4o
Read this subscriber-only article for free!
Just sign up for a free account and log in to continue reading.
Myanmar’s parlous economy rooted in ruinous policies
Sign up
Already have an account? Log in.
All done! This article is now fully available for you
Myanmar’s parlous economy rooted in ruinous policies
Read now
Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full
Myanmar’s parlous economy rooted in ruinous policies
Resend verification e-mail
The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired.
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
Subscribe now
You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month.
Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months.
Subscribe now
Read and win!
Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards
Let's go! Terms & conditions apply
Frequently asked questions
Good job, you've read 3 articles today!
Spin the wheel now
Let's go! Terms & conditions apply
Frequently asked questions