Current Affairs

China's relationship to the Asean region is a strained one following the ongoing South China Sea tension and the recent MH370 disappearance. Where is China situated in the region's geopolitics? East Asian expert Arne Westad discusses the leadership role that has to be taken by the World's second-strongest economy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sri Lanka faces an international Inquiry into alleged war crimes with a US sponsored vote at the UN Human Rights Council. With the vote a year-long inquiry will operate to establish facts on which the UN might choose to further act on. Critics say that the Sri Lankan government’s own inquiry into alleged human rights abuses at the conclusion of the civil war was severely lacking. That inquiry was called the “Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission”. We ask what we can expect from this process.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'No Answers, No Apology’: Police Abuses and Accountability in Malaysia is a report by advocacy group Human Rights Watch. 

The report looks at cases of alleged police abuse since 2009, drawing on first-hand interviews and complaints by victims and their families.

Melisa Idris spoke to Human Rights Watch, Asia deputy director, Phil Robertson to learn more about the findings of the report, and the recommendations they are proposing.

The full report is available at: http://hrw.org/node/124289

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the endless Selangor water restructuring saga, the federal government has invoked the Water Services Industries Act (WASIA) 2006, buying into the reluctant water concessionaires. This has prompted criticism from the concessionaires who have failed to reach the RM9.65 billion deadline due to disagreements with the Selangor state. We look at the issue from the concessionaires' perspective.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue with our discussion about what ASEAN has become and what it can offer the citizens of the 10-nation member organization. Can the grouping deal effectively with the problems of the persecuted Myanmar Rohingya minority, a problem which continues to pose a challenge to the grouping's policy of non-interference? And can ASEAN be relevant to the people of Southeast-Asia if the conversation is only one between governments? Saifuddin raises questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday the G7 group of industrialised countries issued a statement condemning Russia's actions in the Crimea and excluding it from the G8. Meanwhile concerns about possible tougher sanctions against have been adding pressure on Russia's economy. A BBC report notes that capital flight from Russia this year is expected to reach $70bn by the end of the month, meaning more money has left Russia in the last three months than in the whole of 2013.
The power play in the Crimea is clearly taking its toll. Dr. Kampmark with the Legal and Dispute Studies program at RMIT University in Australia, sketches the historical context of the present crisis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last September, Bersih 2.0 organized the People's Tribunal that exposed an alleged electoral fraud in the 13th General Elections. The findings are now concluded and we speak to the lead panelist Yash Pal Ghai on the areas the collaborative report focuses on. Will the Election Commission listen or will the findings fade into the background?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In last May’s General Election last year, PKR's Lee Chin Cheh won Kajang with over 19,000 votes, against BN's Lee Ban Seng who received almost 13,000 votes, this with a voter turn-out of some 88%. This time, voter turn out was just over 70% and PKR retained seat with over 16,000 to MCA’s 11,000 or so votes. While PKR’s majority in absolute terms was reduced, it’s percentage win increased. But what do the numbers tell us?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 This has been a by-election campaign that’s been completely eclipsed by the disappearance over MH370. Nevertheless, voters in Kajang will be going to the polls on Sunday, with results expected as early as 9pm. What’s been going on during the campaign period; what issues have emerged in the campaign; what can we expect on Sunday. These are just some of the questions we ask.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fact that two passengers aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 used stolen passports points to a big security gap – and is a reminder of the thriving global trade in black market documents. Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, who is based in Bangkok, tells Melisa Idris more about the black market on forged passports.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.