Consider This

Along with Pfizer’s vaccine we have many vaccine candidates that seem to be on the cusp of approval. This no doubts complicates the decision that policymakers have to make. How would you like policymakers to think through and make that comparison? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Sanjeev Krishna, Professor of Molecular Parasittology and Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity in London.

Underscoring the pandemic’s public health response but perhaps not getting as much attention as vaccines, are diagnostic tests and therapeutics. Our guest explains why the development of affordable diagnostics and therapeutics, as part of the public health tool kit, is so important. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Sanjeev Krishna, Professor of Molecular Parasittology and Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity in London. of antigen & antibody Rapid test kits for COVID-19, as well as point-of-care PCR tests.

The 1st of December is World AIDS Day, and as at the end of 2019, the global death toll from AIDS was roughly 33 million people since its onset over 40 years ago. In all, 76 million people have been infected, and scientists estimate that another 1.7 million people continue to acquire HIV every year. Where does Malaysia stand in its fight against this epidemic? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President, International AIDS Society, Vice-President (Malaysian AIDS Council) and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Malaya.

Successes in reducing infections from Intravenous Drug Use as well as Mother to Infant transmission has been showcase of sensible policies that followed on global conversations around the epidemic. Will we continue to extend evidence-based policy formulation? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President, International AIDS Society, Vice-President (Malaysian AIDS Council) and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Malaya.

With the tagline, “Undetectable Means Untransmissible”, the development of PREP is the next step in the management of the epidemic. Are we following the science? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President, International AIDS Society, Vice-President (Malaysian AIDS Council) and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Malaya.

The Wage Subsidy Programme that was first announced in March - subsidising wages for 3 months. It was extended for another 3 months, under the PENJANA package. And once again in September - extended for another 3 months. What have we learned so far about the effectiveness of the Wage Subsidy Programme? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Associate Professor Mohd Yusof Saari, Chief Economist, Centre for Future Labour Market Studies, SOCSO.

How effective would you say the breadth and depth of the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional has been as a form of social assistance? > Were these benefits easily and quickly disbursed to distressed households? Were any groups or categories missed by the BPN? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Firas Raad, World Bank Group Representative to Malaysia.

The government of Muhyiddin Yassin won a crucial victory today as the Dewan Rakyat greenlit a draft Budget 2021. After 13 days of debate, the budget bill moved past the 'Policy Stage' following a voice vote of lawmakers. There was, however, an attempt to call for 'bloc voting', which would've meant that every MP’s vote would be counted. But it did not get sufficient support from 15 MPs, only 13. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Fahmi Fadzil, Lembah Pantai MP and PKR Communications Director.

In the run up to this parliamentary session, discussion about the legitimacy of this government was rife, that there was a need for a de facto vote of confidence, with calls for the PN government to demonstrate its numbers. But to the surprise of many the Budget Bill never made it to the bloc voting. So what happened today in Parliament? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Bridget Welsh, Asia Research Institute, University of Nottingham Malaysia.

The Perikatan Nasional government, led by Muhyiddin Yassin, won a crucial victory today as the Dewan Rakyat greenlit a draft Budget 2021. After 13 days of debate, the budget bill moved past the 'Policy Stage' following a voice vote of lawmakers. But what did we really observe in Parliament today? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to political scientist Wong Chin Huat.