Erin Cook
@erincook.bsky.social
Following Southeast Asia and Timor-Leste, mostly elections, FP and Instagram posts. Don't complain to me that I don't cover business enough, I do not know of such things.
Read my newsletter 🤓 https://darimulut.substack.com
Read my newsletter 🤓 https://darimulut.substack.com
Pinned
🇹🇭 Allegations of dodgy polls won't stop the blue wave
Malaysia's new monster corruption scandal, a third impeachment complaint for Duterte
darimulut.substack.com
The Thai election is definitely still the biggest story, but there's a video in here from Bloomberg on Malaysian corruption that is unbelievable. Great reporting!
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
Lunar New Year (Imlek) celebrations have coincided with the start of Ramadan and tell you what, Indonesia nails it
February 17, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Lunar New Year (Imlek) celebrations have coincided with the start of Ramadan and tell you what, Indonesia nails it
How Indonesia's Islamic authorities determine when Ramadan begins is so so fascinating to me. This is a very handy explainer from Tempo and, assuming this year is the same is every other, Antara will have a really cool post on Instagram in the morning.
Indonesia to Hold Isbat Session This Afternoon to Determine Ramadan - https://en.tempo.co/read/2087631/indonesia-to-hold-isbat-session-this-afternoon-to-determine-ramadan
Indonesia to Hold Isbat Session This Afternoon to Determine Ramadan
The Indonesian government holds an isbat session to determine the beginning of Ramadan 1447 H tonight.
en.tempo.co
February 17, 2026 at 10:13 AM
How Indonesia's Islamic authorities determine when Ramadan begins is so so fascinating to me. This is a very handy explainer from Tempo and, assuming this year is the same is every other, Antara will have a really cool post on Instagram in the morning.
Reposted by Erin Cook
“We were like cattle. If you have many visible whip marks on your body, you won’t be sold for a higher price because they’ll know you aren’t an earner.” @zekuzelalem.bsky.social hears from African survivors of Southeast Asian scam centres: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Africans are being confined and beaten in scam camps in Myanmar
Migrants toil for long hours on social-media platforms, targeting people with crypto and romance scams
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:36 AM
“We were like cattle. If you have many visible whip marks on your body, you won’t be sold for a higher price because they’ll know you aren’t an earner.” @zekuzelalem.bsky.social hears from African survivors of Southeast Asian scam centres: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Excellent set up,I'm sure this will be valuable
February 17, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Excellent set up,I'm sure this will be valuable
Reposted by Erin Cook
While there's still controversy over election irregularities, the Bhumjaithai margin of victory was big enough that it's highly unlikely to be overturned. I take a look here at why Bhumjaithai won: asialink.unimelb.edu.au/diplomacy/in...
Why Bhumjaithai won
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul enjoyed the power of incumbency in Thailand’s elections. And Mathis Lohatepanont argues he used that advantage wisely—combining appeals to populism, nationalism and ...
asialink.unimelb.edu.au
February 17, 2026 at 8:16 AM
While there's still controversy over election irregularities, the Bhumjaithai margin of victory was big enough that it's highly unlikely to be overturned. I take a look here at why Bhumjaithai won: asialink.unimelb.edu.au/diplomacy/in...
Ted O'Brien for shadow foreign affairs. I only heard of him for the first time a few weeks ago but his Wikipedia says time spent in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan which seems a bit more than Michaelia Cash? Idk probably not worth thinking about too hard either way
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Angus Taylor unveils Coalition frontbench with Tim Wilson as shadow treasurer and Nationals returned
Liberal leader also promotes Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Andrew Hastie to shadow cabinet
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Ted O'Brien for shadow foreign affairs. I only heard of him for the first time a few weeks ago but his Wikipedia says time spent in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan which seems a bit more than Michaelia Cash? Idk probably not worth thinking about too hard either way
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
tomorrow's the day, act accordingly 🙏
February 17, 2026 at 2:41 AM
tomorrow's the day, act accordingly 🙏
The Thai election is definitely still the biggest story, but there's a video in here from Bloomberg on Malaysian corruption that is unbelievable. Great reporting!
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
🇹🇭 Allegations of dodgy polls won't stop the blue wave
Malaysia's new monster corruption scandal, a third impeachment complaint for Duterte
darimulut.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:10 AM
The Thai election is definitely still the biggest story, but there's a video in here from Bloomberg on Malaysian corruption that is unbelievable. Great reporting!
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
darimulut.substack.com/p/allegation...
Reposted by Erin Cook
With preordained elections, ASEAN constrained and China backing the junta, Myanmar’s crisis shows no sign of resolution, writes Lex Rieffel.
Myanmar without a path to recovery
With preordained elections, ASEAN constrained and China backing the junta, Myanmar’s crisis shows no sign of resolution, writes Lex Rieffel.
eastasiaforum.org
February 16, 2026 at 11:23 PM
With preordained elections, ASEAN constrained and China backing the junta, Myanmar’s crisis shows no sign of resolution, writes Lex Rieffel.
hmmm what does she mean by this www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstor...
VP Sara urges Filipinos to ‘take bold action’ this Chinese New Year
Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday urged Filipinos to face fear and embrace bold actions amid this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
www.gmanetwork.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:56 PM
hmmm what does she mean by this www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstor...
I'm not like other American commentators on national politics. I cuss 😏
February 16, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I'm not like other American commentators on national politics. I cuss 😏
Connections, do you think I'm special?
February 16, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Connections, do you think I'm special?
when will Chan bless me with true originals again
February 16, 2026 at 10:11 AM
when will Chan bless me with true originals again
President Marcos was extremely unhappy with the way Australian media reported on the Bondi attackers' connection to Mindanao. I wonder if he's seen this news!
February 16, 2026 at 4:25 AM
President Marcos was extremely unhappy with the way Australian media reported on the Bondi attackers' connection to Mindanao. I wonder if he's seen this news!
Bebot bebot be bebot bebot be bebot bebot be. help me. it won't get out of my brain.
February 15, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Bebot bebot be bebot bebot be bebot bebot be. help me. it won't get out of my brain.
Reposted by Erin Cook
Since 16 January, 4,150 Indonesian citizens have come to the embassy to report their cases and seek facilitation to return home after leaving scam compounds. The majority of them do not have passports.
Indonesian Ambassador Monitors the Return of Indonesian Citizens from Cambodia and Ensures the Inspection Process in the Country
The Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, said his party escorted the return of Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Cambodia and ensured that they underwent examinations upon arrival in th...
voi.id
February 15, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Since 16 January, 4,150 Indonesian citizens have come to the embassy to report their cases and seek facilitation to return home after leaving scam compounds. The majority of them do not have passports.
Treating Lent like a social media productivity/health challenge oooh you're not seeing heaven! I'm telling god on you
February 14, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Treating Lent like a social media productivity/health challenge oooh you're not seeing heaven! I'm telling god on you
Fascinating one from Philippine Star here
www.philstar.com/headlines/20...
www.philstar.com/headlines/20...
How a Philippines-based ops tried to bury Jeffrey Epstein's bad press
Emails show Jeffrey Epstein hired a Philippines-based operation to sanitize his online image.
www.philstar.com
February 14, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Fascinating one from Philippine Star here
www.philstar.com/headlines/20...
www.philstar.com/headlines/20...
'what does Angus Taylor mean for women voters? A dozen male commentators weigh in.'
February 14, 2026 at 9:48 PM
'what does Angus Taylor mean for women voters? A dozen male commentators weigh in.'
Reposted by Erin Cook
Big enough for CNA to run a whole story about it...
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainmen...
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainmen...
How a K-pop concert in Malaysia led to a war of words between Southeast Asian and Korean netizens
There's currently a huge online battle between Southeast Asian users and South Korean netizens, with racial comments coming from both camps. And it all started from a K-pop concert in Malaysia.
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Big enough for CNA to run a whole story about it...
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainmen...
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainmen...
I think calling a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket a 'Bachelor's handbag' was entirely confected and I won't fall for the jingoistic op
February 14, 2026 at 8:18 AM
I think calling a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket a 'Bachelor's handbag' was entirely confected and I won't fall for the jingoistic op
genuinely laughed out loud at this
Prabowo Clarifies He Does Not Encourage Hatred Toward Foreigners - https://en.tempo.co/read/2087172/prabowo-clarifies-he-does-not-encourage-hatred-toward-foreigners
Prabowo Clarifies He Does Not Encourage Hatred Toward Foreigners
Prabowo Subianto emphasizes the importance of learning from foreign strengths and achievements without promoting hostility toward foreigners.
en.tempo.co
February 14, 2026 at 7:06 AM
genuinely laughed out loud at this
I saw Sussan Ley at the 4Dead show
February 14, 2026 at 4:02 AM
I saw Sussan Ley at the 4Dead show
Phenomenal one from the Philippines, where Imelda was busted with a Picasso while celebrating her son's presidential win. Suspect Imelda was a bit more in the know than Boy George, however
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/m...
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/m...
February 14, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Phenomenal one from the Philippines, where Imelda was busted with a Picasso while celebrating her son's presidential win. Suspect Imelda was a bit more in the know than Boy George, however
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/m...
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/m...