Consider This

Despite the work for kickstarting institutional reforms, to the setting of independent taskforces - the National Education Review, TVET and AUKU - Maszlee Malik’s legacy looks set to be remembered for minor controversies. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to policy officer for former Education Minister Maszlee Malik, Liew Suet Li.

The devastating fires which swept away millions of hectares of forests and killed half a billion animals in Australia might be turning the tide on the argument that the economy trumps environmental protection. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Kean Wong, Sydney-based Malaysian journalist about a self-defeating logic which refuses to acknowledge the real cost of ignoring the environment.

The year 2020 opened with the shock resignation of the Education Minister Maszlee Malik. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the various dimensions of the announcement and what it says about governance in Malaysia Baharu.

Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative about the importance of going beyond income and averages in measuring inequality. They take a closer look at Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index as a holistic way to measure the development of a country and its citizens.

Unlike flat-earthers, the Anti-Vaxxers movement poses a serious threat to the entire community? Why do these and other medical myths persists? Who aids them and how can we stop them? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Megat Mohamad Amirul Amzar Megat Hashim, Exco of Strategic Planning for Vaccination Campaign of Medical Mythbusters Malaysia.

Is this yet another instance of political noise or is the statutory declaration (SD) by former commando Azilah Hadri convicted for the 2006 killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu going to open up the possibility of justice in the murder that remains “motiveless”. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Arik Zakri, former Deputy Public Prosecutor, to get a better sense of the implications of the explosive SD.

Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan discuss the soon-to-be launched book, ‘Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance & Hope In Malaysia Baharu’. They are joined by the book’s editor Kean Wong, and one of the contributors, Tashny Sukumaran, to discuss the raison d'etre of the book and the gaps in the coverage of the 14th General Assembly.

A Singapore e-payment app advertisement featuring an ethnically Chinese actor in "brownface" had recently triggered a debate about casual racism in the city-state. In response to the ad, YouTuber Preeti Nair, better known as Preetipls, and her rapper brother Subhas released a satirical expletive-laden music video, which was subsequently censored by the Singapore government. Melisa Idris sits down with Preetipls to get behind the reaction to their video.

In conjunction with International Human Rights Day, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Jerald Joseph from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) To take stock of the human rights issues of 2019 and to look ahead to the agenda for 2020.

Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Supreme Council Member for BERSATU, about the 
Pakatan Harapan government’s “miserable year of communication” and the strength of BERSATU under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.