Brunei remains one of the world's last absolute monarchies. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — the son and namesake of the country's former dictator — occupies the presidential palace. At the same time, Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, serves as his second-in-command.

Cambodia's premiership passed from Hun Sen to his son Hun Manet in mid-2023, ending Hun Sen's 38-year tenure. In Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, assumed office in August last year, bolstering the Shinawatra family's longstanding influence.

Laos' head of government, Sonexay Siphandone, is the son of Khamtay Siphandone, a leading figure in Lao politics throughout the 1990s. In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto, once the former dictator Suharto's son-in-law, took office last year, alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of former President Joko Widodo. And while

Singapore's recent leadership change saw Lawrence Wong become prime minister, its governance has long been dominated by the Lee Kuan Yew family's legacy.

Now, Malaysia's fragile coalition also faces accusations of dynastic creep. Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, was elected deputy president of the ruling People's Justice Party (PKR), while his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, leads the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Nurul's decisive victory over Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli — widely regarded as the........

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