Melaka, Johor (Part 3) - State Politics, What's at Stake?
In Johor the conflict between Bersatu and UMNO were over appointments to state GLCs. But it is all there is to political dynamics at the state level? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Prof Dr Hamidin Hamid, Political Analyst, Universiti Malaya about access to resources as well as the 4 Rs of Malaysian politics - Race, Religion, Religionalism and Royalty.
10m May 13, 2020
10m
Wildlife Trade (Part 1) - Staggering Scale of Seizures
Malaysia is not just a source and consumer of illegal wildlife, but is also a transit point in its global trade. Melisa Idris speaks to Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia about Malaysia’s role in the staggering scale of global wildlife trafficking.
10m May 12, 2020
10m
Wildlife Trade (Part 2) - Key Challenges for Malaysia
Melisa Idris speaks to Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia about the need for a renewed gameplan to combat illegal wildlife trade and the key challenges for Malaysia.
8m May 12, 2020
8m
Wildlife Trade (Part 3) - Be Informed, Buy Informed
Melisa Idris speaks to Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia about using awareness, education and enforcement to combat illegal wildlife trade.
9m May 12, 2020
9m
CMCO (Part 1) - What Wrong in the Consultation Process?
A public spat over the declaration of the CMCO continues to unmask the operations of government. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Mr Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, who recently called out Senior Minister Azmin Ali for being lazy and failing to consult the state governments as promised.
11m May 06, 2020
11m
CMCO (Part 2) - Damage Done to Penang's Twin Engines
The manufacturing and services sectors are the state's twin economic engines. While manufacturing could recover in the short term, tourism related services might take much longer to recover. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Mr Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang.
10m May 06, 2020
10m
CMCO (Part 3) - Does Penang's Green Zone Status Matter?
Penang has just been declared a green zone -- after no new cases were reported in all five districts in the state. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Mr Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang about how they plan to maintain their green zone status.
6m May 06, 2020
6m
CMCO (Part 1) - Federal, States Tussle Over Exit Strategy
Day One of the Conditional MCO, and many industries and businesses are back in operation. But not for every state. Some state governments have opted for state-specific conditions of loosening the MCO. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tricia Yeoh, Fellow at the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affair (IDEAS).
10m May 05, 2020
10m
CMCO (Part 2) - What is in Selangor's Soft Landing?
Selangor is one of the states that will not be fully adopting the Conditional MCO announced by Prime Minister last Friday. Menteri Besar said Selangor is opting for a “soft landing” approach in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Selangor EXCO for Health, Women and Family Empowerment.
8m May 05, 2020
8m
CMCO (Part 3) - Exit Strategies, Best Practices
Day One of the Conditional MCO has seen a significant increase in activity. Was enough preparation for this day and how should the public’s expectations be managed? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Pantai Hospital KL.
8m May 05, 2020
8m
Covid-19 (Part 1) – Pay Cut for Workers or Top Management?
Tweaks on the MCO, Sarawak asserts its right to make MCO decisions for itself and veteran newsmaker calls for everyone to accept belt-tightening to save jobs. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the top conversations of the day.
9m Apr 29, 2020
9m
Covid-19 (Part 2) - Should We Test, Test, Test?
The Ministry of Health has announced that Malaysia will take a targeted testing approach, to use our medical resources optimally. However, this approach has been questioned by some medical practitioners - especially in seeing the success of mass testing in countries like South Korea. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Public Health Medicine Specialist & Associate Pr...
9m Apr 29, 2020
9m
Covid-19 (Part 3) – Are We Headed in the Right Direction?
If the number of those infected isn’t an adequate gauge of whether we are headed in the right direction, what is? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Public Health Medicine Specialist & Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
7m Apr 29, 2020
7m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Lockdown Eased, when is the Right Time?
The first phase of efforts to allow more than one-thousand-100 students in public and private universities to return to their hometowns, will begin tonight. The exercise will involve students from nine universities, travelling in 50 busses to 17 destinations. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the top news of the day.
9m Apr 28, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Creative Industry Workers Hard Hit
Cendana, through MyCreative Ventures, is owned by MoF Inc, and reports to MCMC. It conducted a survey recently with 519 respondents about the impact of COVID-19 on the Arts. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin, founder, Cendana, the Cultural Economy Development Agency.
11m Apr 28, 2020
11m
COVID-19 ((Part 3) - Making Art Under Social Distancing
Observing physical and social distancing is going to be a part of our daily lives long after the MCO is lifted. What impact is this going to have on the making and consumption of the Performing Arts? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tiara Jacquelina, Founder, Enfiniti Group.
8m Apr 28, 2020
8m
Covid-19 (Part 1) - Can Tourism Recover?
The pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard. With high profiles cases in the aviation industry grabbing the spotlight, are there less hidden effects of Covid-19? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
9m Apr 24, 2020
9m
Covid-19 (Part 2) - Have the Arts Been Forgotten?
Many arts and cultural workers are dependent on events which draw large audiences, and with social distancing as a practice that is likely to continue with long after the MCO is lifted. How will this segment of Malaysian life survive the pandemic? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
8m Apr 24, 2020
8m
Covid-19 (Part 3) - Can Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Fill the Gap?
The Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead there will now be more emphasis on domestic tourism or Cuti-Cuti Malaysia. Will this be enough to fill the gap? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
10m Apr 24, 2020
10m
Sabah (Part 1) - State-Level Public Health Priorities
Sabah's size and demographic complexities poses specific challenges for both the State and Federal level public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Member of Parliament for Semporna and ADUN for Senallang, Sabah.
8m Apr 23, 2020
8m
Sabah (Part 2) - State Assembly Convened Under MCO
Sabah's economy, development level plus questions of internet connectivity and access to rural areas poses additional challenges to think through the support following the fallout of MCO strategy. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Member of Parliament for Semporna and ADUN for Senallang, Sabah.
10m Apr 23, 2020
10m
Sabah (Part 3) - Securing Borders, Public Health for All
Six criteria were laid out for a lifting of the MCO including border control and public health capacity which in Sabah are particularly challenging considering its porous border and large stateless population. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Member of Parliament for Semporna and ADUN for Senallang, Sabah.
9m Apr 23, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Selayang EMCO, Xenophobia Spikes
The Selayang wholesale market has been placed under an enhanced MCO which predominantly affects migrant workers and Rohingya refugees who earn a living in the area. While this has brought out compassion in some, it’s also brought out xenophobia in others. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at this and the dangers of a possible “rent crisis”.
8m Apr 23, 2020
8m
Singapore (Part 2) - Foreign Workers Skipped in COVID-19 Response
Today is the third consecutive day that Singapore has reported more than 1,000 new cases in a day. The vast majority of new cases are work permit holders residing in vast foreign worker dormitories with inadequate standards. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Alex Au, Vice President, Transient Workers Count Too for a critical look at this marginal community now said to be the centre of th...
10m Apr 23, 2020
10m
Singapore (Part 3) - Exit Strategy, Ready to Bounce Back
Singapore had initial success in keeping infection numbers low. However, critics have pointed out that Singapore had failed to prepare for the possibility of an outbreak among foreign workers who were vulnerable to infection. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Bilveer Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore on the Singapore government'...
8m Apr 23, 2020
8m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Six Criterion for Lifting the MCO
According to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, six criteria need to be fulfilled before the government can decide to lift the MCO. Included are border control, movement control, the readiness of the healthcare services system and protection of high-risk groups. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the top news of the day.
8m Apr 22, 2020
8m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Vaccine at the End of the Tunnel?
On January 10th, China shared the genetic sequence of COVID-19. And since then, there has been a mad scramble to find a vaccine. How far are we from a safe, manufacturable, vaccine for COVID-19? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Jean-Michel Piedagnel, Director of Southeast Asia,Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).
11m Apr 22, 2020
11m
COVID-19 (Part 3) - Vaccine Development in Global, Domestic Perspective
The government has announced that it is trying to ensure that Malaysia gets the “first-mover" advantage when COVID-19 vaccines are made available. Is Malaysia well-placed to have vaccines available and accessible to all? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Executive Committee Member of the Malaysian Paediatric Association.
9m Apr 22, 2020
9m
Covid-19 (Part 1) - DG Hisham's Wins More Praise
Director-General of Health, a letter to him by nine-year-old Lara Khadijah McAfee from Terengganu has gone viral on social media. In the letter she thanked DG Noor Hisham for all his work, and gifted him a loom band - a woven rubber bracelet. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the some of the more interesting headlines of the day.
9m Apr 18, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Are Wartime Strategies Really Needed?
Earlier this week, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed that Malaysia only has 19 days’ supply left of some PPE items -- or Personal Protective Equipment used by medical front-liners. Does Malaysia then need to adopt a strategy similar to that of the US’ Defense Production Act in which the Federal government can dictate what equipment is produced and where it goes?  Me...
9m Apr 18, 2020
9m
Covid-19 (Part 3) - Securing Food, Medical Supplies for Future Crisis
As production capacity and global demand drops for many goods and services, what has the Covid-19 pandemic revealed about the international economic system?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Dr Rajah Rasiah, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Asia-Europe Institute, University Malaya.
9m Apr 18, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Trump Turns His Back on WHO
US President has been heavily criticised for halting funding for the World Health Organization. In response the Gates Foundation said it would spend an additional 150 million dollars on COVID treatment and vaccine research -- raising its total commitment to 250 million. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at some international stories related to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic.
8m Apr 17, 2020
8m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Equipping Homes for Education
The shift to home-based learning will no doubt have longer-term consequences - especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised. How will the Ministry of Education address the issues related to access and student-teacher preparedness? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Azwan Abd Aziz, Deputy Director (Content Development Sector) for Educational Resource and Technology Division, Mini...
11m Apr 17, 2020
11m
COVID-19 (Part 3) – Post-MCO Priorities
The closure of schools due to COVID-19 has affected millions students nationwide. But school closures don’t affect every child the same way. The shift to home-based learning has only served to highlight the very real digital divide - firstly for students with no devices, and secondly, those with limited internet access. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, Cha...
8m Apr 17, 2020
8m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Are MCO Prisons the Solution?
Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, today announced that 13 prisons academies nationwide will be used as detention centres for violators of the MCO to avoid over-crowding in ordinary prisons. But will this create it own problems?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the top news of the day.
7m Apr 16, 2020
7m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Will Higher Education Adapt?
There are 20 Public Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia, and 447 privately-owned ones. Are we likely to see this number shrink - either through consolidation or closure of those without the financial wherewithal to survive the pandemic? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Najmie Noordin, Chief Operating Officer, Cosmopoint Sdn Bhd.
9m Apr 16, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 3) - Will Higher Education Adapt?
What are the conversations that are currently being had globally, about the challenges that this pandemic is posing for universities and other institutions of higher learning? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Thomas Barker, Associate Professor at the School of Media Languages and Cultures, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
9m Apr 16, 2020
9m
MCO (Part 1) - Do We Need a Pandemic Production Act?
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today revealed that Malaysia only has 19 days’ supply left of some PPE items -- or Personal Protective Equipment used by medical front-liners. He provided a breakdown of when various PPE items could run out. How can this situation be address in a more systematic way? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the top stories of the day.
9m Apr 15, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 2) - Is ASEAN's Self-Praise Premature?
Today, the 10 leaders of ASEAN countries had a video conference to discuss the bloc’s coordinated action against the COVID-19 pandemic. How will ASEAN collectively deal with this new transnational challenge? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to HE Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Indonesia’s Representative to the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights.
9m Apr 15, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 3) - ASEAN Lockdown or Crackdown?
SHAPE-SEA had organised a webinar with Forum-Asia yesterday, regarding the status of human rights in Southeast Asia during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the observations shared was that many countries in ASEAN are still treating the pandemic as a security issue.  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to webinar organiser Joel Mark Baysa-Barredo, programme manager for SHAPE-SEA (Stre...
7m Apr 15, 2020
7m
MCO (Part 1) - MITI Responds to Stakeholder Pushback
The government has decided against allowing barbers, beauty salons and optometrists to operate during the rest of the MCO. According to Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the government had decided against allowing these services to operate during the MCO period after the government listened to the public, to experts, and also to the NGOs. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the news of t...
7m Apr 14, 2020
7m
Mental Health (Part 2) - Is the News Affecting Your Emotional Stability?
While providing mental health support may not necessarily be very high on the agenda as we continue to contain the virus -- this is still an important issue that impacts millions of people. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ardy Ayadali, Publicity Director for Befrienders KL and Chan Wen Li, Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
13m Apr 14, 2020
13m
Mental Health (Part 3) - "Worst Case Scenario" Thinking
COVID-19 has resulted in new stress-triggers that may affect mental health - everything from curtailed social interactions, the loss of normalcy, fear of death, as well as economic uncertainty. How do we deal with these anxieties, as we learn to live in this new normal. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Vizla Kumaresan, Clinical Psychologist.
7m Apr 14, 2020
7m
MCO (Part 1) - Maybe No Balik Kampung This Raya
We lead with the most anticipated news today was the announcement of a two-week extension of the MCO until the 28th of April as well as a response to the demands of businesses to resume operations. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at other news of the day.
8m Apr 11, 2020
8m
MCO (Part 2) - Is the an Optimal Lockdown Period?
Just days ago, the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia urged the government to extend the MCO to and beyond the Hari Raya season. That’s at least till June. To understand their rationale, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Dr Rosmawati Mohamed with Academy of Medicine of Malaysia and Consultant Hepatologist from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
10m Apr 11, 2020
10m
MCO (Part 3) - Can Businesses Safeguard Workers Health?
Along with the extension of the MCO to the 28th of April, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today also announced that more economic sectors will be allowed to reopen in stages. A list was then released by MITI, of industries that will now be allowed to operate under the MCO. To get a response from the business sector, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap, President of National ...
9m Apr 11, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - MCO, Time for Next Stage?
“So far the data shows that we are still in a struggle. We haven’t won and we haven’t yet lost.” Policy makers and politicians will be deliberating the onerous trade-offs in an extended MCO. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the news of the day.
8m Apr 10, 2020
8m
MCO (Part 2) - Criminal Justice in the Era of Social Distancing
Yesterday 300 people were arrested for violating the MCO bringing the total arrests under the restriction orders to over seven thousand. What are the legal issues that we need to consider currently? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to lawyer, Syahredzan Johan
9m Apr 10, 2020
9m
MCO (Part 3) - Parliament in the Era of Social Distancing
The MCO poses an unforeseen constitutional dilemma for the Federal and state governments. Should state assemblies still meet, regardless of the MCO? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to former law professor, Gurdial Singh Nijar, president of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM).
9m Apr 10, 2020
9m
COVID-19 (Part 1) - Whose Responsibility are Migrants under MCO?
Yesterday, a lockdown was announced on two buildings in Jalan Masjid India after 19 COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the premises. This enhanced MCO affects approximately 6,000 people -- 97% of which are migrants. Whose responsibility are migrants under the MCO? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the news of the day.
10m Apr 09, 2020
10m