When a neighbour’s political culture starts to look familiar

Inequality is high in the Philippines with the wealth concentrated in the hands of the top 1% of elite families. — Reuters

THE other day, at a Persian restaurant in Manila, I chatted with friends, including a former Cabinet secretary (equivalent to a minister in Malaysia) who served under president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her 2001-2010 terms. He is familiar with Malaysian politics, as he has professional and personal dealings with Malaysian ministers and prime ministers.

We shared marites (Tagalog for gossip) about Malaysian and Philippine politics, and he noted similarities between the two countries.