Malaysia’s Game of Thrones, and three new cases of political interference in New Zealand

Has Malaysia’s Machiavelli made his last power play?Ninety four year old Doctor Mahathir Mohamad shocked the world when he resigned as Malaysia’s Prime Minister last month. It was seen by some as a Game of Thrones-style power play to out-manoeuvre rivals. Has it all back fired?Bridget Welsh Senior research associate at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Honorary Research Associate at University of Nottingham Malaysia’s Asia Research Institute (UNARI).Also, China’s “magic weapons”:  three new cases of political interference in New ZealandThere are currently three investigations underway into China-backed political interference in New Zealand politics.Anne Marie Brady, Professor of political science and international relations at the University of Canterbury, Global Fellow at the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States & Global Fellow of the Polar Institute. Author of Magic Weapons: China’s political influence activities under Xi Jinping