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Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin met with China's visiting Defense Minister, Wei Fenghe yesterday at a time of rising tensions over territorial disputes and superpower rivalry in the South China Sea. The visiting official told Malaysia that China is willing to work with Asean countries "to meet each other halfway" to keep the peace in the South China Sea. But what does this mean? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Azmi Hassan, geo-strategist at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Yesterday PM Muhyiddin Yassin met with China's visiting Defense Minister, Wei Fenghe who promised ASEAN to "meet each other halfway". But does China in fact want SEA countries to pick a side, in its rivalry with the US? Must ASEAN choose between US and China? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ivy Kwek, Research Director, Research for Social Advancement (REFSA).

Effective today, long-term pass holders from countries that have recorded more than a hundred and fifty thousand Covid-19 cases have been barred from entering Malaysia. The countries include the US, the UK, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. But what is the reasoning behind this move? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Klang Valley's water crisis over the last few days has highlighted again the issue of water security. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Charles Santiago, MP for Klang, and the former Chairman of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and ask him, who should we blame?

The recent water supply disruption affected 1.2 million people in the Klang Valley over the past few days. Are these episodic disruptions unavoidable? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to S. Piarapakaran, President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) how we need to build back better.

A recent Merdeka Centre survey had 69% of respondents expressing satisfaction with the performance of the Prime Minister though there was significant ethnic variations with 9 out of 10 Malay and Bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak giving the PM the thumbs up while 65% of Indian, and only 33% Chinese respondents agreeing. The question is why. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

The Upper House of Parliament elected Bersatu senator Tan Sri Rais Yatim as its new president, initially facing 3 other candidates. This is the first time that the Senate presidency has been contested. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Senator Yusmadi Yusoff, Chairman of the Senate Caucus, a bipartisan initiative seeking to strengthen the Upper House of Parliament.

Newly minted Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim has called for the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 (repealed in 1992) to be reinstated to restore the integrity of Parliament, a call raised by former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming. Does this mark the possibility of bipartisanship in Parliament? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Senator Yusmadi Yusoff, Chairman of the Senate Caucus, a bipartisan initiative seeking to strengthen the Upper House of Parliament.

A 2018 study by Khazanah Research Institute found that despite going to school for an average of 12 years, Malaysian students receive only nine years worth of meaningful education. That means are about three years of a child’s schooling is underutilised for quality learning or educational enrichment. Does the problem of extreme teacher absenteeism contribute to this? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to child rights advocate Sharmila Sekaran, Peninsula Director, Tiada.Guru.

PACOS Trust is a community-based organization dedicated to supporting indigenous communities in Sabah. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Anne Lasimbang, Executive Director, Partners of Community Organisations in Sabah (PACOS) give us an on the ground view of a problem that's become chronic and endemic in the territory.