Consider This

With reservoir levels plummeting amid scorching temperatures, signs of a looming water shortage crisis have begun to emerge. What needs to be done before the crisis reaches a tipping point? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to water management experts, Datuk Nor Hisham Ghazali and Dr Salmah Zakaria.

The Government is expected to table the Ombudsman Malaysia Bill in Parliament this October, paving the way for the establishment of an independent body to protect the rights and interests of the public, by investigating complaints against government entities or public officials. On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff, Director of the Centre for Leadership and Professional Development at Universiti Malaya (UM LEAD).

Minister of Economic Affairs Rafizi Ramli recently shared that the Government is considering a progressive wage structure for Malaysia. Progressive wages generally refers to a system of progressively increasing wages as employees develop skills and experience, which will lead to increased productivity. What would it take for this model to work in the Malaysian economy? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Nungsari Radhi, Nithiyananthan Muthusamy, and Dr Elya Nabila Abdul Bahri.

According to the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law Report 2021, on average women only have three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men. On this episode of Consider This, to mark the International Day of Families, Melisa Idris speaks to Zharin Zhafrael, Executive Director of Musawah, which is a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family and family laws.

When it comes to the food we eat, trust and confidence are essential. We rely on stringent food safety standards, reliable monitoring systems, and accurate labelling information. But do we understand the governance of food standards in Malaysia, decoding food labels, and making informed decisions as to what we’re consuming? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Tee E Siong, President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, and Professor Dr Chai Lay Ching, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at Sunway University. 

Siti Bainun Ahmad Razali, the founder of the welfare home, Rumah Bonda, is currently serving a jail sentence of 12 years following her conviction on two counts of neglecting and abusing a teen with Down syndrome known as Bella. What has the case revealed about the gaps in Malaysia’s child protection policies? On this episode of Consider This, Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development.

Haze has become a recurring annual problem for years now, affecting millions of people and causing major health and economic impacts. What are the root causes of the haze, and what is being done to address this ongoing issue? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Heng Kiah Chun, Regional Campaign Strategist at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and Dr Helena Varkkey, Associate Professor of Environmental Politics at Universiti Malaya. Her areas of expertise include transboundary haze governance in Southeast Asia and global palm oil politics.

Extending the mandatory retirement age beyond 60 us a contentious suggestion, but one that continues to be raised given concerns over retirement savings insufficiency. On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Datuk Dr Tengku Aizan Tengku Abdul Hamid, Former Director of the Malaysian Research Institute of Ageing (MyAgeing) and Jasmin Amirul Ghani, Managing Director of Hire.Seniors.

For Micro SMEs, meaning companies with fewer than five full-time workers, the implementation of the new Minimum Wage Order of RM1,500 per month was initially postponed for 6 months, and then delayed further for another 6 months. Might it be delayed further? Is it possible to develop a minimum wage policy that benefits workers without harming small businesses? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk William Ng, Chairperson of SME Association of Malaysia (SAMENTA) and Dr Juita Mohamad, Director of the Economics & Business Unit at IDEAS Malaysia. 

Weeks of devastating violence in Sudan has left the country with mass casualties but few operational hospitals, prompting the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the country to warn that the conflict is turning Sudan's humanitarian crisis into a full blown catastrophe. On #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Paul McPhun, Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific 
at Doctors Without Borders (MSF) which has been working in Sudan since 1979.