Why We Need a Media Council

Media freedom or freedom of the press is something journalists in Malaysia have been grappling with for many decades. For many years, draconian laws have been used to clamp down on journalists and the media. Many have also been arrested.  While there is no denying that the media has more freedom p…

Malaysia’s Democratic Transition Amidst Rising Southeast Asia

Malaysia is at an interesting juncture right now. In 2018, Malaysians voted out the Barisan Nasional government that was once thought invincible and had ruled the country since its independence. Then there was a period of political instability since Langkah Sheraton until about a week after GE15. N…

How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 2)

Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.  He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Nor…

How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 1)

Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.  He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Nor…

After Mixed-Bag Bill Passed, What Next For Stateless People?

In October, the Parliament of Malaysia passed controversial amendments to the constitution’s citizenship provisions via a Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. According to critics, the bill is a case of one step forward, a few unnecessary steps backward. While the bill seeks to grant citizenship to …

Farmlands & Financial Hubs: How Land Use Shapes Voting Patterns in Malaysia

Everyone knows that politics in Malaysia is highly racialised. What’s usually missing from the discourse is how there is an aspect of class, material conditions and even land use that intertwines and even anchors racial politics. For example, did you know that people in areas with higher industrial…

Can Malaysia Implement Universal Basic Income?

Ask around and many will tell you that the biggest problem Malaysians face is wages. Wages in Malaysia have been stagnant for more than a couple of decades now. Inequality is on the rise. So, what could be a solution? What if it’s a Universal Basic Income? In this episode, we speak to some resear…

Does Budget 2025 Address the Needs of Caregivers?

Last Friday, the MADANI government unveiled the RM 421 billion Budget 2025, up from the RM 393.8 billion budget tabled at the end of last year. The big positive is that this isn’t an austerity budget by any stretch of the imagination. The government is spending. But does this budget address the car…

Does Budget 2025 Address the Needs of the Working Class?

Last Friday, the MADANI government unveiled the RM 421 billion Budget 2025, up from the RM 393.8 billion budget tabled at the end of last year. The question is: Does the budget address the needs of the working class, particularly the B40 and the middle class?  We speak to Arveent Kathirchelvan, Ce…

How Should Budget 2025 Address the Needs of the Marhaen

With the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, rising inequality and stagnating wages, Malaysians face mounting challenges. This is especially true if you’re working class, even if you’re middle class.  Since the tabling of Budget 2025 is just around the corner, on today’s episode, we take …