Middle class and frustrated in Asia

Meeting rising Islamism: Jokowi and his running mate Ma’ruf Amin kicking off of the campaign period for Indonesia’s presidential and parliamentary election poll which will be held in April. — AP

WHEN he opened his hawker stall 15 years ago, Singaporean Jaesen Ng hoped the man he named it after would drop by some day.

About four weeks, ago, Thaksin Beef Noodle stall finally entertained its namesake, Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He came for lunch with his sister, Yingluck, also a former premier, and his daughter Ing, and tucked into the signature dish at the shop in a southern part of the Lion City.