Consider This

There has been an uptick in racially-charged hate speech on Twitter, as the COVID-19 pandemic developed. While racialised like this are happening all over the world during the outbreak, it’s quite interesting to deconstruct the way it’s happened here in Malaysia. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tham Jia Vern, Researcher at The Centre, author of “Like a Virus: How Racial Hate Speech Looks Like in Malaysia During the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

Dr Musa Nordin on Agenda Awani a few nights ago, spoke about the necessity of increasing border control between Malaysia and Indonesia, to prevent the possibility of another Covid cluster emerging. He called Indonesia a “time-bomb”. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Andreas Harsono, Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Indonesia author of “Ethnic and Religious Violence in Post-Suharto Indonesia”.

Socso Chairperson resigned today. Zakri Khir, an insurance industry veteran, was appointed in 2018, by the now-defunct Council of Eminent Persons, based on his expertise in the insurance and risk business. A government MP is slated to replace him.  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan scour the news of the day.

Due to the MCO, video conferencing services have been widely adopted by Malaysians for everything from cabinet meetings, to working from home, to yoga classes. However today, the National Security Council -- in a letter addressed to top civil servants -- had warned that hackers could be listening to their video-conferencing conversations. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Razwan Mokhtar, a cybersecurity consultant.

The think tank Research for Social Advancement, or better known as REFSA, recently published a Working Paper comparing stimulus measures across Malaysia, Singapore and the UK. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ivy Kwek, Research Director at REFSA.

Prime Minister today announced an additional RM10 billion stimulus package for SMEs - increasing the wage subsidies, a special grant for micro-entrepreneurs, and tax relief for private landlords who slash rental for commercial tenants. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Michael Kang, President of the SME Association of Malaysia.

Following the announcement of the first Prihatin package questions were raised about its what it was intended to achieve. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Terence Gomez, Professor at the Faculty of Economics at University Malaya.

"There is little indication that the Prime Minister is using this government ecosystem effectively to deal with this pandemic," wrote Terence Gomez. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to the Professor at the Faculty of Economics at University Malaya.

Malaysia reported 217 new confirmed cases as of noon today, bringing the total number of cases to 3333. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan scan Covid-19 and other news for you tonight, including how to calibrate the tighter controls on MCO.

Women’s rights groups have noted an increase in domestic violence in the first two weeks of the MCO. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Melissa Mohd Akhir, Director of Capacity Building for Women’s Aid Organisation.