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All eyes were on the Dewan Rakyat sitting today with the motion to remove Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Ariff Yusof. It was approved with 111 votes in favour, and 109 against. Art Harun, was then installed – without a vote – as the new Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, as was a new Deputy Speaker replacing Nga Khor Ming, who resigned following Ariff’s removal. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Now that we have a new Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, the questions arise over the continuity of the reform agenda. During his time as Speaker, Tan Sri Ariff had introduced various reforms to improve the quality of parliamentary proceedings. What will become of these reforms now? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wan Anwar Wan Ibrahim, Special Functions Officer to Former Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

PM Muhyiddin Yassin’s motion to remove Dewan Rakyat Speaker Ariff Yusof was successful -- it received 111 votes in favour but his victory also revealed the wafer thin majority he possesses. What does the slim majority mean for the stability of the PN coalition and also for their legislative agenda? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Aira Azhari, Manager, Research at the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Rukun Negara and there's been a lot of discussion about its continued relevance. The Rukun Negara calls for an equal society as well as for greater unity. Have we lived up to these principles? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

In August last year, Philip Alston, the then-United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, travelled throughout the country. During that 11-day visit, he met with Government officials, civil society, academics, and people affected by poverty in urban and rural areas. His report on poverty in Malaysia from that official visit was released earlier this week. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Philip Alston, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights (2014-2020) and currently a professor at the New York University School of Law.

The Report by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights notes that "Overall, Malaysia has made immense progress on poverty alleviation, but the job remains incomplete." Who has been left out of our economic 'miracle'. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Philip Alston, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights (2014-2020) and currently a professor at the New York University School of Law.

In sharp contrast the government's response to the Al Jazeera documentary is the way Sime Darby is handling its bad press. Liberty Shared, which is a Hong Kong-based anti-trafficking group, has alleged conditions of forced labour and child labour at Sime Darby Plantation. The NGO is petitioning the US to ban imports of palm oil products by Sime Darby Plantation - which is the largest listed palm oil company in the world. Sime Darby's response was that it will look into these "serious allegations". Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Over the last five months, Malaysia has seen a dramatic shift in its politics, the unfolding of a public health crisis, and an economic downturn threatening the livelihoods of millions. Has this resulted in a general atmosphere of anxiety that pervades the entire society? And is it driving many of the controversies we have seen in the public realm recently, including the recurring anti-immigrant sentiment. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, Assistant Professor of Media, Languages and Culture at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

International NGO, Human Rights Watch, today raised concerns that Malaysian authorities have been increasingly responding to criticism by initiating criminal investigations on journalists, activists, and even ordinary citizens. There seems to be a steadily narrowing of the boundaries of what can be said without the threat of reprisal. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Gayathry S. Venkiteswaran, Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia if legal protections for journalists exists.

The Dewan Negara is expected to play an active part in the legislative process, beyond the sectional interest our guest has come to represent -- that of Persons With Disabilities. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ras Adiba Radzi, president of the NGO, OKU Sentral, on issues she would like to champion during her term as Senator.