Post-Pakatan Malaysia (Part 6) - Democracy's Stability Trade-Off
In 2018, our guest had warned that the PH coalition should not roll out institutional and policy reforms "too far, too fast" or they would face an 'authoritarian backlash'. Is this crisis the backlash he warned of? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to William Case, Professor, and Head of the School of Politics, History and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
8m Feb 26, 2020
8m
Pakatan Malaysia (Part 7) - "Don't Normalise Backdoor Govts"
How should Malaysian politics evolve and what norms should establish to make democracy for everyone and not just the political elite? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Bersih 2.0's Thomas Fann and former ISA detainee Hisham Rais.
13m Feb 26, 2020
13m
Post-Pakatan Malaysia - Agong is Central
Who will emerge as a significant player in the dissolution of the Pakatan Harapan government? Ibrahim Sani and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate, Asia Research Institute, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
17m Feb 25, 2020
17m
Post-Pakatan Malaysia - Guide for the Perplexed
What were the options before Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Pakatan Harapan politicians as the faced defections? What about voters? Ibrahim Sani and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Faisal Moideen, Lawyer & Managing Partner of Moideen & Max and Lim Wei Jiet, Secretary-General, National Human Rights Society (Hakam).
23m Feb 25, 2020
23m
Post-Pakatan Malaysia - Was it "Economic Sabotage"?
Was it the factionalism in PKR that finally broke the Pakatan Harapan government? And could this crisis have been averted? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to YB Fahmi Fadzil, MP of Lembah Pantai and Communications Chief for PKR, for more clarity on the rapidly-developing political crisis in the country.
10m Feb 25, 2020
10m
Post-Pakatan Malaysia - More Inclusive Configuration?
Was one of the problems of the Pakatan Harapan government its inability to represent more Bumiputera interests and how will this be represented in the future government? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director, Merdeka Center.
14m Feb 25, 2020
14m
Post-Pakatan Malaysia - Stimulus, Reform in Jeopardy?
Is this week's economic stimulus in jeopardy, following the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to YB Dr Ong Kian Ming, MP of Bangi and former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, for more clarity on the rapidly-developing political crisis in the country.
13m Feb 25, 2020
13m
TVET (Part 1) - Fragmented Governance?
To better understand the TVET system in Malaysia, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dato' Sri Ganes from the International Vocational Training Association, a global network of vocational educators.
9m Feb 24, 2020
9m
TVET (Part 2) - How to Improve Public Perception
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dato' Sri Ganes from the International Vocational Training Association, about the efforts needed to make TVET the main choice of education and career for students.
10m Feb 24, 2020
10m
TVET (Part 3) - Industry Collaboration For Job-Readiness
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dato' Sri Ganes from the International Vocational Training Association, about efforts to encourage an industry-led TVET system, and learning from policy successes of other countries.
5m Feb 24, 2020
5m
Judicial Appointments Commission (Part 1) - Strengthening Independence
The Judicial Appointments Commission was established based on the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 (Act 695) following a crisis of confidence in the bench. Today Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Member of Judicial Appointments Commission.
7m Feb 21, 2020
7m
Judicial Appointments Commission (Part 2) - Constitutional Supremacy
In the number and quality of dissenting judgments is one measure of the quality of our judiciary. What are the indicators of the health of the Bench? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Member of Judicial Appointments Commission.
9m Feb 21, 2020
9m
Judicial Appointments Commission (Part 3) - Diversity on the Bench?
How does the judiciary strengthen itself? Is diversity part of the answer? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, Member of Judicial Appointments Commission.
8m Feb 21, 2020
8m
Pandemics - How to build capacity, resilience
Universal Health Care is the starting point of ensuring that Malaysians develop resilience in the outbreaks of disease. Currently, we spend less the 5 percent of our GDP when it ought to be around 10 percent. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Khor Swee Kheng, physician and global health expert, currently based at Oxford University.
8m Feb 18, 2020
8m
Pandemics - Is it just about medical sciences?
While COVID-19 is not yet a pandemic but rather a health crisis of international concern, there are lessons to learn for the future. Dr Khor Swee Kheng, physician and global health expert, currently based at Oxford University, explains that a range of experts, in a "all-of-science" approach might be what we need. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to him.
8m Feb 18, 2020
8m
COVID-19 - Is Fear a Natural Response?
Can the fear that populations express at the mention of an epidemic be harnessed for good? Perhaps, if we keep a balance between new good habits and alarm. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Khor Swee Kheng, physician and global health expert, currently based at Oxford University.
9m Feb 18, 2020
9m
Balai Seni - Ready for Reform?
A recent act of censorship of art has put the National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara) under increasing scrutiny. Competence and transparency of this state-funded institution is now in question. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Kathy Rowland, Managing Editor of ArtsEquator.com, an online magazine on art and culture, for the broader context this incident.
11m Feb 14, 2020
11m
Parasite - Triumph of Cultural Policy
Multiple Oscar winning South Korean film Parasite puts the Asian nation's cultural policy in the spotlight again. But was this more a case of quiet genius of one man? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan ponder the question.
5m Feb 13, 2020
5m
Wither Malaysian Foreign Policy
Recent remark by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, calling for US President Donald Trump's resignation earned a quick rebuke from the US Embassy. Coming after remarks about Indian domestic affairs that strained relations with the Asian giant, questions have been raised about the trust of the government’s approach to foreign affairs. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Oh Ei Sun, Fell...
11m Feb 13, 2020
11m
Electoral Reform - For a Level Playing Field
Reforming Malaysia’s electoral system will create a level playing field for all political parties. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, chairman of the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) about the need to engage voters, political parties, and the government, in order to see these reforms through.
25m Feb 07, 2020
25m
Air Asia Bribery Scandal - Do the Right Thing
Earlier this week British media reported that AirAsia and AirAsiaX were among those who allegedly received bribes from airliner manufacturer, Airbus. With top AirAsia board members on leave, what will the ensuing local investigations tell us about corporate governance in Malaysia. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to P Gunasegaram, Editor-in-Chief of Focus Malaysia.
11m Feb 06, 2020
11m
Understanding Trump's Middle East Peace Plan
US President Donald Trump presented his long-awaited Middle East peace plan, to Israeli fanfare and Palestinian outrage. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Guy Burton, Adjunct Professor, Vesalius College in Brussels about the design of the plan what it tells us about the balance of power in the region.
11m Feb 05, 2020
11m
Climate Crisis - Future-proofing cities
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Murali Ram and Rexy Prakash Chacko, co-authors of newly-launched book 'Creating Future-Proof Cities, How to Navigate the Climate Crisis'. They discuss the use of technology is responding to the climate crisis and the success stories of cities taking the right steps to prepare for the future.
26m Feb 03, 2020
26m
Education Reform - Back to language?
Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Satinah Syed Salleh Council Member of the National Education Advisory Council for the 2018 to 2020 session about the importance of the English language in education reform.
27m Jan 31, 2020
27m
Coronavirus - Who calls the shots?
The World Health Organization has acknowledged that China is in the midst of a medical emergency, but said it was too early to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It has described the global risk from the virus as High. What does it take for governments and global agencies to coordinate outbreak response policies? Melisa Idris and Ibrahim Sani speak ...
15m Jan 31, 2020
15m
Disinformation on social media - Regulation trends
Melisa Idris speaks to misinformation expert Dr Ross Tapsell, Director of the Malaysia Institute at Australia National University in Canberra, about regulating social media, to curb the spread of disinformation.
24m Jan 31, 2020
24m
China's Uighurs - Reaching the 'silent majority'
The Chinese region of Xinjiang is home to millions of ethnic Muslim Uighurs, who have lived there for decades. Rights groups say hundreds of thousands have been detained in camps without trial, but China argues they voluntarily attend the centres, which were set up to combat "extremism". Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, Department of International and Strategic St...
27m Jan 25, 2020
27m
Addressing reasons for 'Malay Anxiety'
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to recently-appointed Kelantan DAP chairperson, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. He shares his thoughts on the need to address fundamental uncertainties - openly and with civility.
26m Jan 23, 2020
26m
Kimanis By-Election - PSS, Handicap for Warisan?
A group Sabahans today gathered protest the controversial Sabah Temporary Pass, or PSS -- Pas Sementara Sabah - which is set to be rolled out on June 1st. This protest comes three days before the Kimanis by-election this Saturday. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Zaini Othman, political analyst at Universiti Malaysia Sabah to help us put the PSS issue in perspective.
8m Jan 16, 2020
8m
Election Reform - Interim Report Out, But Secret
The Electoral Reform Committee has presented its interim report to Prime Minister; it was based on 21 stakeholders' engagement sessions, conducted over the 16 months. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Thomas Fann, Bersih 2.0 Chairman about what the public should remember regarding this crucial plank in the reform agenda.
10m Jan 15, 2020
10m
Education Reform - Inside Maszlee's Office
Despite the work for kickstarting institutional reforms, to the setting of independent taskforces - the National Education Review, TVET and AUKU - Maszlee Malik’s legacy looks set to be remembered for minor controversies. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to policy officer for former Education Minister Maszlee Malik, Liew Suet Li.
26m Jan 13, 2020
26m
Australia on fire - Loss of carbon sink, massive emissions
The devastating fires which swept away millions of hectares of forests and killed half a billion animals in Australia might be turning the tide on the argument that the economy trumps environmental protection. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Kean Wong, Sydney-based Malaysian journalist about a self-defeating logic which refuses to acknowledge the real cost of ignoring the environment.
11m Jan 09, 2020
11m
Maszlee Malik - Whither Education Reform?
The year 2020 opened with the shock resignation of the Education Minister Maszlee Malik. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the various dimensions of the announcement and what it says about governance in Malaysia Baharu.
27m Jan 06, 2020
27m
Human development - Going beyond incomes and averages
Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative about the importance of going beyond income and averages in measuring inequality. They take a closer look at Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index as a holistic way to measure the development of a country and its citizens.
28m Dec 20, 2019
28m
Why do medical myths persists? Who aids them and how can we stop them?
Unlike flat-earthers, the Anti-Vaxxers movement poses a serious threat to the entire community? Why do these and other medical myths persists? Who aids them and how can we stop them? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Megat Mohamad Amirul Amzar Megat Hashim, Exco of Strategic Planning for Vaccination Campaign of Medical Mythbusters Malaysia.
25m Dec 20, 2019
25m
Altantuya Murder - Motiveless Crime, Hidden Masterminds?
Is this yet another instance of political noise or is the statutory declaration (SD) by former commando Azilah Hadri convicted for the 2006 killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu going to open up the possibility of justice in the murder that remains “motiveless”. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Arik Zakri, former Deputy Public Prosecutor, to get a better sense of the implications of the explo...
8m Dec 20, 2019
8m
Rebirth - Filling the GE14 Coverage Gap
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan discuss the soon-to-be launched book, ‘Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance & Hope In Malaysia Baharu’. They are joined by the book’s editor Kean Wong, and one of the contributors, Tashny Sukumaran, to discuss the raison d'etre of the book and the gaps in the coverage of the 14th General Assembly.
27m Dec 17, 2019
27m
Raising the issue of race in Singapore
A Singapore e-payment app advertisement featuring an ethnically Chinese actor in "brownface" had recently triggered a debate about casual racism in the city-state. In response to the ad, YouTuber Preeti Nair, better known as Preetipls, and her rapper brother Subhas released a satirical expletive-laden music video, which was subsequently censored by the Singapore government. Melisa Idris sits do...
27m Dec 13, 2019
27m
Human Rights - Not at the Mercy of Politics
In conjunction with International Human Rights Day, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Jerald Joseph from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) To take stock of the human rights issues of 2019 and to look ahead to the agenda for 2020.
27m Dec 12, 2019
27m
Does PH Deserve a Second Term?
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Supreme Council Member for BERSATU, about the  Pakatan Harapan government’s “miserable year of communication” and the strength of BERSATU under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
28m Dec 03, 2019
28m
Zaid Ibrahim - Don't get stuck in history
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim about the way forward for Malaysia Baharu. Has Malaysian politics evolved with the expectations of its voters?
27m Dec 02, 2019
27m
Nation of Worriers, not Warriors
The new National Worry Index captures the concerns of the public over the economy and personal security even while the social media explodes on the returned ashes of the long dead leader of the Communist Party of Malaya. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan look at the headlines of the day.
11m Nov 29, 2019
11m
TAR UC Controversy – Route to Resolution
While the government reassures the public that the allocation for TAR UC continues, albeit through the Alumni Association, the legal problem continues unresolved. Will MCA backdown? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan are joined by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Kenny Ng Bee Ken, Legal Adviser, TAR-Cian Alumni Association.
27m Nov 29, 2019
27m
Racism - Is it Political or Social?
Award-winning Editorial Cartoonist, Zunar (Zulkiflee Anwarul Haque) believes that human diversity is God-given and hate driven racism goes against this basic tenet. He joins Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan to speak about his 19th book, "Kartun Anti Racism".
27m Nov 28, 2019
27m
Why Malaysian parents are turning to international schools?
Recent news reports have highlighted that Malaysian students in international schools now significantly outnumber their foreign counterparts. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Jeffery Beard, Director General Emeritus for the International Baccalaureate, and Dr Vincent Chian, Principal of Fairview Kl Campus, about why Malaysian parents are turning to international schools.
10m Nov 26, 2019
10m
Tg Piai By-Election - Referendum on Tun Mahathir?
What next for the two coalitions in the foreseeable future? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Nicole Wong, MCA Youth Chief and Rais Hussin, Policy and Strategy Bureau of Bersatu.
28m Nov 19, 2019
28m
Najib Razak's SRC trial - What we ought to expect
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak's SRC trial moves into the next stage as the Court finds the prosecution has established a case against him. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Lim Wei Jiet, Dispute Resolution lawyer on what we ought to expect in the coming weeks.
10m Nov 14, 2019
10m
MPC - Making Malaysia Business-Conducive
Datuk Abdul Latif Bin Haji Abu Seman, Director General, Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) speaks to Sharaad Kuttan and Melisa Idris about MPC's efforts to create a more conducive business environment in Malaysia.
25m Nov 13, 2019
25m
Liberal World Order Challenged
Attempting to negotiating the rapid socio-economic changes in the world has left everyone slightly bewildered. Has the media helped? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Alexander Görlach, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, author of "Homo Empathicus".
26m Nov 07, 2019
26m
Southern Reclamation Project - Tussle in Penang
Penang's vibrant civil society and the State Government seem to be at loggerheads over the Penang Southern Reclamation project. Who will prevail? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Khoo Salma Nasution, vice-president, Penang Heritage Trust and Dr Afif Bahardin, Penang State Exco & State Assemblyman for Seberang Jaya, Penang.
17m Nov 01, 2019
17m