Why have our wages stagnated for so long, despite the cost of living being at an all time high? And more importantly, why are organisations such as the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) always against wages – especially the minimum wage – increasing? What exactly is the issue here and how do we solve it?



Image credit: Shutterstock

Why have our wages stagnated for so long, despite the cost of living being at an all time high? And more importantly, why are organisations such as the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) always against wages – especially the minimum wage – increasing? What exactly is the issue here and how do we solve it?Image credit: Shutterstock

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.

ThinkLeft #2: An End to Maximum Work for Minimum Wage

It’s been a turbulent start to 2026. To kick off the year, the United States kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Just days later, some of the biggest protests in Iran in decades erupted and continue to unfold. Some leaders, particularly in the West, have framed the unrest from the perspective of human rights and are calling for intervention, while others advise caution and warn against meddling in the business of sovereign nations. 

All of this is unfolding on top of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, and many other unfolding crises that continue to shape global politics and public imagination.

How do we make sense of this convergence of crises?
What does it mean for the future of global order?

My guest on today’s show is Vijay Prashad. Vijay is a historian, journalist, and public intellectual. He’s one of the most important thinkers in the world when it comes to geopolitics and understanding power. He’s written numerous books, including Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations, On Cuba, and The Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World. And he’s the director of the Tricontinental Institute For Social Research.

It&rsquo;s been a turbulent start to 2026. To kick off the year, the United States kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro. Just days later, some of the biggest protests in Iran in decades erupted and continue to unfold. Some leaders, particularly in the West, have framed the unrest from the perspective of human rights and are calling for intervention, while others advise caution and warn against meddling in the business of sovereign nations.&nbsp;
All of this is unfolding on top of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, and many other unfolding crises that continue to shape global politics and public imagination.
How do we make sense of this convergence of crises? What does it mean for the future of global order?
My guest on today&rsquo;s show is Vijay Prashad. Vijay is a historian, journalist, and public intellectual. He&rsquo;s one of the most important thinkers in the world when it comes to geopolitics and understanding power. He&rsquo;s written numerous books, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Washington-Bullets-History-Coups-Assassinations/dp/1583679065">Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations</a>, On Cuba, and The Darker Nations: A People&rsquo;s History of the Third World. And he&rsquo;s the director of <a href="https://thetricontinental.org/">the Tricontinental Institute For Social Research</a>.

Vijay Prashad on Venezuela, Iran and American Imperialism

You are probably already familiar with Teach For Malaysia, the education nonprofit that does incredible work by placing committed young leaders in under-resourced schools and developing them into long-term advocates for educational equity. It is one of, if not the most important, education nonprofits in the country. 

What many may not realise is that Teach For Malaysia is part of a global network called Teach For All, which traces its roots back to the late 80s. In 1989, Wendy Kopp founded Teach For America while still a university student herself. She later co-founded Teach For All, which has grown from strength to strength, expanding its wings across the globe.  

In this episode, we speak to Wendy Kopp about Teach For All’s origin story, the challenges they face, understanding global education inequities, and more. 

You are probably already familiar with Teach For Malaysia, the education nonprofit that does incredible work by placing committed young leaders in under-resourced schools and developing them into long-term advocates for educational equity. It is one of, if not the most important, education nonprofits in the country. What many may not realise is that Teach For Malaysia is part of a global network called Teach For All, which traces its roots back to the late 80s. In 1989, Wendy Kopp founded Teach For America while still a university student herself. She later co-founded Teach For All, which has grown from strength to strength, expanding its wings across the globe. In this episode, we speak to Wendy Kopp about Teach For All’s origin story, the challenges they face, understanding global education inequities, and more.

Teach For All’s Founder on Closing the Education Inequality Gap

Lim Yi Wei is the ADUN for Kampung Tunku and DAP Wanita national assistant publicity secretary. Yi Wei, whose parents were both teachers in public schools, is a social democrat at heart and believes in building a fairer and more equitable Malaysia for all.

Recently, she penned an article titled "What Next for DAP," where she argued that the party’s social democratic roots have increasingly been overtaken by neoliberal thinking, and called for a clearer, values-driven return to politics centered on justice, equity, and the common good.

In this episode, we talk to her about her personal journey in politics, the importance of social democracy, the limits of neoliberalism, and the future of the DAP.

Lim Yi Wei is the ADUN for Kampung Tunku and DAP Wanita national assistant publicity secretary. Yi Wei, whose parents were both teachers in public schools, is a social democrat at heart and believes in building a fairer and more equitable Malaysia for all.Recently, she penned an article titled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2025/12/22/what-next-for-dap-lim-yi-wei/202897">"What Next for DAP,"</a> where she argued that the party’s social democratic roots have increasingly been overtaken by neoliberal thinking, and called for a clearer, values-driven return to politics centered on justice, equity, and the common good.In this episode, we talk to her about her personal journey in politics, the importance of social democracy, the limits of neoliberalism, and the future of the DAP.

ThinkLeft #2: An End to Maximum Work for Minimum Wage

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