MPs skipping parliament has long been a problem in Malaysia. It’s not uncommon to turn on the TV to watch a parliamentary sitting and notice droves of empty seats. The most mind-boggling aspect is that an MP, which literally stands for Member of Parliament, can be absent from parliament for a period of six months before Parliament may – not must, but may – declare their seat vacant. 

In response to this, political activist and pro-democracy advocate Roshinee Mookaiah recently launched a ‘Dilarang Ponteng Parliament’ campaign. She’s collecting at least 500 petition signatures, which would make the petition eligible for an MP to sponsor and table it in Parliament. We speak to Roshinee about her campaign and more.

MPs skipping parliament has long been a problem in Malaysia. It’s not uncommon to turn on the TV to watch a parliamentary sitting and notice droves of empty seats. The most mind-boggling aspect is that an MP, which literally stands for Member of Parliament, can be absent from parliament for a period of six months before Parliament may – not must, but may – declare their seat vacant.&nbsp;In response to this, political activist and pro-democracy advocate <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/roshineemookaiah/">Roshinee Mookaiah</a> recently launched a ‘Dilarang Ponteng Parliament’ campaign. She’s collecting at least 500 petition signatures, which would make the petition eligible for an MP to sponsor and table it in Parliament. We speak to Roshinee about her campaign and more.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. 
On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

Beyond the Ballot Box

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.

Roshinee Mookaiah on Dilarang Ponteng Parlimen Campaign, Social Media and Fairly OddParents

Kami Orang Sini Juga is a new mini-series in collaboration with IMAN Research. 

This series explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth.

In the second episode, we explore what it means to be Malaysian-Chinese today — not just as an ethnic category, but as a lived identity shaped by history, language, class, geography, religion, politics, and global culture.

We unpack this with Violet Lee, Researcher, IMAN Research. 



Listen to Episode 1 of the series here.



And if you missed it, we previously covered IMAN’s Orang Kita project on Malay-Muslim youth. Here is the list of episodes - 

The Malays Are More Politically Diverse Than You Think

Does the MADANI Branding Capture the Imagination of Young Malays?

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

What Do Malay Youths Want?




Image Credit: Shutterstock

Kami Orang Sini Juga is a new mini-series in collaboration with IMAN Research.&nbsp;This series explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth.In the second episode, we explore what it means to be Malaysian-Chinese today — not just as an ethnic category, but as a lived identity shaped by history, language, class, geography, religion, politics, and global culture.We unpack this with Violet Lee, Researcher, IMAN Research.&nbsp;Listen to Episode 1 of the series <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/kami-orang-sini-juga-episode-1-exploring-the-malaysian-indian-identity">here</a>.And if you missed it, we previously covered IMAN’s Orang Kita project on Malay-Muslim youth. Here is the list of episodes -&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/the-malays-are-more-politically-diverse-than-you-think">The Malays Are More Politically Diverse Than You Think</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/does-the-madani-branding-capture-the-imagination-of-young-malays">Does the MADANI Branding Capture the Imagination of Young Malays?</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/farmlands-and-financial-hubs-how-land-use-shapes-voting-patterns-in-malaysia">Farmlands &amp; Financial Hubs: How Land Use Shapes Voting Patterns in Malaysia</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/what-do-malay-youths-want">What Do Malay Youths Want?</a> Image Credit: Shutterstock

Kami Orang Sini Juga Episode 2: How Do Young Malaysian-Chinese Define Identity?

Kami Orang Sini Juga is a new mini-series in collaboration with IMAN Research. 

This series explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth.

In this first episode, we provide an overview of the diversity within the Malaysian Indian community and how language and class shape how Indians relate to one another and to other communities. 

In this episode, we speak to Shaleen Surendra, Researcher, IMAN Research. 


And if you missed it, we previously covered IMAN’s Orang Kita project on Malay-Muslim youth. Here is the list of episodes - 

The Malays Are More Politically Diverse Than You Think

Does the MADANI Branding Capture the Imagination of Young Malays?

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

What Do Malay Youths Want?


Image Credit: Shutterstock

Kami Orang Sini Juga is a new mini-series in collaboration with IMAN Research.&nbsp;This series explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth.In this first episode, we provide an overview of the diversity within the Malaysian Indian community and how language and class shape how Indians relate to one another and to other communities.&nbsp;In this episode, we speak to Shaleen Surendra, Researcher, IMAN Research.&nbsp; And if you missed it, we previously covered IMAN’s Orang Kita project on Malay-Muslim youth. Here is the list of episodes -&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/the-malays-are-more-politically-diverse-than-you-think">The Malays Are More Politically Diverse Than You Think</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/does-the-madani-branding-capture-the-imagination-of-young-malays">Does the MADANI Branding Capture the Imagination of Young Malays?</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/farmlands-and-financial-hubs-how-land-use-shapes-voting-patterns-in-malaysia">Farmlands &amp; Financial Hubs: How Land Use Shapes Voting Patterns in Malaysia</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/what-do-malay-youths-want">What Do Malay Youths Want?</a> Image Credit: Shutterstock

Kami Orang Sini Juga Episode 1: Exploring the Malaysian-Indian Identity

Gerakan Gabungan Anti-Imperialis or GEGAR is a progressive youth-led movement that aims to build a left-wing, multicultural, and transnational front in Malaysia against Zionism and U.S. imperialism. Since their formation in 2023, they’ve been organising and mobilising against U.S. interventionist aggression in the Global South, with a special focus on the liberation of Palestine. 

We speak to Kamal Aarif K, organising committee member of GEGAR, about the organisation, what it means to organise against Western imperialism in Malaysia, the consequences of the US-led global order, and more. 

GEGAR is also one of the organising groups of this year’s Labour Day rally happening tomorrow, the 1st of May. The march will begin at Masjid Negara at 3 pm and end at Dataran Merdeka.

Gerakan Gabungan Anti-Imperialis or GEGAR is a progressive youth-led movement that aims to build a left-wing, multicultural, and transnational front in Malaysia against Zionism and U.S. imperialism. Since their formation in 2023, they’ve been organising and mobilising against U.S. interventionist aggression in the Global South, with a special focus on the liberation of Palestine.&nbsp;We speak to Kamal Aarif K, organising committee member of GEGAR, about the organisation, what it means to organise against Western imperialism in Malaysia, the consequences of the US-led global order, and more.&nbsp;GEGAR is also one of the organising groups of this year’s Labour Day rally happening tomorrow, the 1st of May. The march will begin at Masjid Negara at 3 pm and end at Dataran Merdeka.

Roshinee Mookaiah on Dilarang Ponteng Parlimen Campaign, Social Media and Fairly OddParents

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