The big perennial problem in Malaysia is wages. A lot of Malaysians today feel they're working harder but not getting ahead—they're either experiencing stagnant incomes or finding themselves worse off than the generation before—because wages remain stubbornly low. Despite years of economic growth, many households continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, raising fundamental questions about whether the benefits of that growth are being shared fairly. So, what’s the deal with wages in Malaysia?

In this episode, we unpack this topic with Dr Matthew Dornan, Senior Economist at the World Bank. The World Bank has recently produced a study called Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor: The Jobs Agenda as a Productivity Agenda for Malaysia. 


Image Credit: Shutterstock

The big perennial problem in Malaysia is wages. A lot of Malaysians today feel they're working harder but not getting ahead—they're either experiencing stagnant incomes or finding themselves worse off than the generation before—because wages remain stubbornly low. Despite years of economic growth, many households continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, raising fundamental questions about whether the benefits of that growth are being shared fairly. So, what’s the deal with wages in Malaysia?In this episode, we unpack this topic with Dr Matthew Dornan, Senior Economist at the World Bank. The World Bank has recently produced a study called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/publication/raising-the-ceiling-raising-the-floor-the-jobs-agenda-as-a-productivity-agenda-for-malaysia">Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor: The Jobs Agenda as a Productivity Agenda for Malaysia.</a>&nbsp; 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.

What Explains Malaysia’s Long-Standing Low Wage Problem?

According to UNHCR, there are about 117 million asylum seekers worldwide as of 2025. In Malaysia, approximately 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with UNHCR, with estimates suggesting the actual number may be significantly higher. In past interviews, we’ve talked extensively about some of the challenges faced by refugees. 

The truth is, whether we “like” them or not, so long as people in parts of the world are getting bombed, ethnically cleansed and facing severe persecution, there will be refugees. And they will go wherever that makes the most sense geographically and logistically, for safety. 

In this episode, we explore a few angles, including why there’s been a rise of anti-Rohingya sentiment in recent weeks, if refugees are a strain to public services and whether the new DPP – Dokumen Pendaftaran Pelarian or Refugee Registration Document – by the government is a step in the right direction. 

We speak to Aira Azhari, CEO, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). 


Recommended reading: 

The Economic Impact of Granting Refugees in Malaysia the Right to Work. 




Image Credit: Shutterstock

According to UNHCR, there are about 117 million asylum seekers worldwide as of 2025. In Malaysia, approximately 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with UNHCR, with estimates suggesting the actual number may be significantly higher. In past interviews, we’ve talked extensively about some of the challenges faced by refugees.&nbsp;The truth is, whether we “like” them or not, so long as people in parts of the world are getting bombed, ethnically cleansed and facing severe persecution, there will be refugees. And they will go wherever that makes the most sense geographically and logistically, for safety.&nbsp;In this episode, we explore a few angles, including why there’s been a rise of anti-Rohingya sentiment in recent weeks, if refugees are a strain to public services and whether the new DPP – Dokumen Pendaftaran Pelarian or Refugee Registration Document – by the government is a step in the right direction.&nbsp;We speak to Aira Azhari, CEO, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).&nbsp; Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ideas.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/P60_Refugee-V6.pdf">The Economic Impact of Granting Refugees in Malaysia the Right to Work.&nbsp;</a> Image Credit: Shutterstock

Why Malaysia Needs a More Robust Refugee Framework

Since the end of World War II, the world has been underpinned by a particular global economic system: Liberalism. This has solidified further since the end of the Cold War and has remained largely unchanged for decades. However, for various reasons that we will unpack throughout this conversation, that world is fading. So, amidst the increasingly fluid geopolitical landscape, will a different order take shape?

Arividya Arimuthu, a senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, wrote an article titled From progressive liberalisation to strategic protection: The quiet rewriting of trade doctrine, which explores exactly this. She joins me on the show today to unpack this further. 

Since the end of World War II, the world has been underpinned by a particular global economic system: Liberalism. This has solidified further since the end of the Cold War and has remained largely unchanged for decades. However, for various reasons that we will unpack throughout this conversation, that world is fading. So, amidst the increasingly fluid geopolitical landscape, will a different order take shape?Arividya Arimuthu, a senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, wrote an article titled From progressive liberalisation to strategic protection: The quiet rewriting of trade doctrine, which explores exactly this. She joins me on the show today to unpack this further.&nbsp;

 Is Liberalism Fading? What Comes Next? 

Many Malaysians are familiar with the story of how colonial powers used divide-and-rule policies to reshape Malayan society, creating ethnic and class structures whose effects continue to reverberate today. 

But how should we understand our political and economic development post-independence? 

How did neoliberalism reshape society? Why, despite decades of economic growth, do so many Malaysians continue to struggle with stagnant wages, rising living costs, debt, housing affordability and more? As Malaysia faces the challenges of the 21st century, a different kind of political and economic model is needed to build a society that is both prosperous and fair, but what should that look like?

So many big questions. 

In this episode, we speak to Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia. He has written a paper for the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research titled Contemporary Challenges for the Malaysian Left. 


Image Credit: Tricontinental Asia

Many Malaysians are familiar with the story of how colonial powers used divide-and-rule policies to reshape Malayan society, creating ethnic and class structures whose effects continue to reverberate today.&nbsp;But how should we understand our political and economic development post-independence?&nbsp;How did neoliberalism reshape society? Why, despite decades of economic growth, do so many Malaysians continue to struggle with stagnant wages, rising living costs, debt, housing affordability and more? As Malaysia faces the challenges of the 21st century, a different kind of political and economic model is needed to build a society that is both prosperous and fair, but what should that look like?So many big questions.&nbsp;In this episode, we speak to Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia. He has written a paper for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thetricontinental.org/asia/contemporary-challenges-for-the-malaysian-left/">Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research titled Contemporary Challenges for the Malaysian Left.&nbsp;</a> Image Credit: Tricontinental Asia

What Explains Malaysia’s Long-Standing Low Wage Problem?

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