Consider This

In recent months, Malaysia's food security has been thrust into the spotlight due to concerns over rice supply issues and their potential implications. To understand the strategies and responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to address this crucial issue, on this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Deputy Minister Chan Foong Hin. He is also the DAP Member of Parliament for Kota Kinabalu.

Six new stroke cases happen every hour in Malaysia. While our acute medical care for stroke is exemplary, what do we know about stroke survivors after they leave the hospital?

On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speak to Professor Dr Noor Azah Abd Aziz, Professor of Family Medicine with UKM’s Faculty of Medicine. An early advocate for long-term care for stroke in the community, she initiated the Long-Term Stroke Clinic in UKM.

In 2021, she was appointed a Peer Review Member by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop a module for Rehabilitation in Stroke for developing countries.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that Malaysia is planning to ban exports of rare earth raw materials in a bid to boost the domestic processing industry and "guarantee maximum returns for the country". How do we consider the benefits and challenges of developing the rare earth industry domestically? On this episode #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah

Chairman of Sustainable Development Network Malaysia, and geologist and mining expert Datuk Sia Hok Kiang, Executive Chairman of Malaco Mining.

On September 7th, the Court of Appeal granted permission to cement manufacturer, Associated Pan Malaysia Cement, to evict Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, a century-old Buddhist monastery in Gunung Kanthan, Perak. At stake in the quarrying Gunung Kanthan is also a five-million-year-old limestone hill with invaluable ecological, geological, and archaeological heritage. On this  episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to former Assemblyperson for Malim Nawar, Leong Cheok Keng, and geologist Dr Ros Fatihah Muhammad, President of the Malaysian Cave and Karst Conservancy.

At the recently concluded ASEAN meeting, leaders of member countries have agreed to form a troika to lead the handling of the Myanmar crisis, consisting the outgoing ASEAN chair Indonesia, the current chair Laos, and the incoming chair, Malaysia. Will this approach work to resolve the crisis in Myanmar? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to former foreign minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and Debbie Stothard, founder of Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma.

How do we transform our universities into institutions that foster intellectual curiosity and integrity, build capacity for debate and disagreement, and encourage critical and creative expression? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to independent scholar Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas, former Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Indonesian International Islamic University, and recently retired Assistant Professor of Strategic Studies and International Relations at UKM. 

Southeast Asia's largest democracy, Indonesia, is gearing up for presidential elections in February 2024. What are the most pressing domestic issues that the next president of Indonesia will need to address? On this  episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Anton Rizki, CEO of the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies.

The by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat in Johor last Saturday saw the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional unity coalition retaining the seats that were previously held by the late Salahuddin Ayub of Amanah. What were the main takeaways from the results of the polls? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to political analysts Professor Wong Chin Huat, Dr Bridget Welsh, and Dr Syaza Shukri.

In light of India’s recent export ban on non-basmati white rice, how resilient or vulnerable is Malaysia's paddy industry and rice production? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Sarena Che Omar, Deputy Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute, and Professor Dr Shaufique Fahmi Sidique, Director of UPM’s Institute of Plantation Studies.

Despite some 400 million infections globally annually, there’s still no specific treatment for dengue. In order to accelerate R&D on dengue therapeutics, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative formed The Global Dengue Alliance with several institutions in dengue-endemic countries, including Malaysia’s Ministry of Health, with the mission to deliver a new treatment for dengue within five years. On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Jean-Michel Piedagnel, Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, and Dr Ami Fazlin Syed Mohamed.