Beyond the Ballot Box

The Sarawak State Assembly is predicted to be dissolved this year, paving way for the 13th Sarawak general elections. Amidst the talk of seats and the redelineation of boundaries, where do youth fit in the larger picture of Sarawakian politics? We speak to Deborah Dris, former Press Secretary to the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, and Committee member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Batu Kitang branch.

Image Credit: Deborah Dris

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Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod is a new book by Raja Ahmad Aminullah, a writer, poet and cultural activist. The book documents a particular episode from around 25 years ago through personal letters, petitions and the writer’s own recollections, involving several prominent Malaysians including Anwar Ibrahim. In this episode, we speak  to Raja Ahmad about the book and why these letters are worth preserving.  

Image Credit: R A Fine Arts

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In an increasingly fragmented political space where identity politics rule, what do progressives need to do in order to win? We speak to Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda of Pemuda Amanah to discuss the GE15 green wave and what progressive Muslims need to do in order to turn the tide.

Image Credit: Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda Facebook

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The Malaysian Indian Congress won all four seats it contested in the recent Johor elections, with its youngest newly minted ADUN only 29 years old. For a party almost wiped off the electoral map in 2018, can it be revived? We speak to Dr Shatesh Kumar, National Chief of Putera MIC, if youth can play that part.

Image Credit: Dr Shatesh Kumar Facebook

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Since the end of World War II, but particularly since the end of the cold war, much of the world has used GDP or Gross Domestic Product to measure economic health and progress. However, the past several decades show us that economic growth doesn’t necessarily translate into an economy that delivers for the people. We are, after all, in an era where wealth inequality is at the highest it's ever been, and the middle classes in many countries are no longer aspirational but shrinking and downwardly mobile. 

In this episode, we speak to Dr Katherine Trebeck, a political economist and writer. She is the Economic Change Director at The Next Economy, and teaches at the University of Edinburgh. She’s a huge advocate of something called The Wellbeing Economy. The idea is to fundamentally rethink how governments and societies define and pursue economic success. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Most youth who run for elections will lose their first try. Why do some candidates keep trying, while some others exit politics? We speak to Rashifa Aljunied, who placed third as MUDA's candidate in Puteri Wangsa in the recent Johor state elections on her journey and why she's continuing her political ambitions.

Image Credit: Rashifa Aljunied Facebook

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Following a series of electoral defeats in Sabah, Johor and most recently Negeri Sembilan, questions are being asked about the future and direction of Pakatan Harapan, including what they’ve been doing wrong and what needs to be done moving forward. In a recent post, Rajiv Rishyakaran, DAP member and ADUN for Bukit Gasing, argued that PH needs to define its core purpose and develop a stronger political narrative to counter the rise of divisive identity politics. We speak to Rajiv about what that means. 

Image Credit: Rajiv Rishyakaran Facebook

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Our student movements have fed our parties for generations, from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of UM and ABIM to Adam Adli, who now sits in Cabinet. But every activist who makes that crossing faces the same question. Do you change politics, or does politics change you? We speak to Zaim Zulkifli, member and campaigner for Parti Bersama who currently sits right at that crossing.

Listen to the rest of the episodes of the series here.

Image Credit: Zaim Zulkifli Facebook

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One of the big stories coming out of Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the recent Negeri Sembilan state elections is the loss of DAP’s secretary general, Anthony Loke, in the Chennah seat. He first won the seat in 2013 from Barisan Nasional’s MCA and, after 13 years, lost the seat to MCA again. In light of this defeat, yesterday, in a press conference, Loke announced that he will be stepping down as the Chief of DAP Negeri Sembilan after 22 years. 

In this episode, we discuss Anthony Loke’s defeat and what that signifies moving forward. Joining me to unpack this is Dr Khoo Ying Hooi, Associate Professor of International Relations and Human Rights, Universiti Malaya (UM). She recently wrote an article for Malay Mail titled Anthony Loke’s first defeat in 22 years and what it tells us.

Image Credit: Anthony Loke Siew Fook Facebook

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How does a youth member rise to leadership within a political party? What is the ladder? Who holds it? And how long is the climb? We speak to Azman Azeez, Exco of Pemuda UMNO Malaysia in charge of leadership and membership development, to learn how our oldest party recruits its young talent.

Image Credit: UMNO Online

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