The grim lesson in south-east Asian politics this past week — underneath the surface-level dramas — is that the problem of the region’s systems isn’t too much change, but too much continuity.

Malaysia’s governing Pakatan Harapan coalition has disintegrated not two years after its historic victory in the 2018 general election. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned suddenly late last month after an apparent attempt at a "self-coup" from factions within the coalition hostile to plans for Anwar Ibrahim to succeed Mahathir.