Consider This

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has announced an average 22 sen per cubic metre increase in water tariffs commencing 1 February 2024. What is the reason for the tariff increase? Will it translate into better water management and services? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Charles Santiago, Chairperson of the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) and former Member of Parliament for Klang.

With the rise of challenges due to the climate crisis, does Malaysia need a Climate Change Act? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Khazanah Research Institute's Khoo Wei Yang & sustainability development lawyer Kiu Jia Yaw about our priorities moving forward.

The recent Cabinet reshuffle saw the creation of a new Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry which carved the energy portfolio out from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change. What that might mean for climate governance? And what should be the priorities of the Energy Transition Ministry to ensure the smooth transition towards renewable energy sources? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Renato Lima De Oliveira and Dr Renard Siew.

The ongoing atrocities in Gaza have raised questions about the United Nations’ ability to prevent and address humanitarian crises. Where has the UN succeeded, and where has it fallen short in responding to the current situation? What would it take to reform the veto system? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Judy Cheng-Hopkins and Professor Nazari Ismail.

An alleged plot to topple the government has raised concerns about the potential recurrence of the political instability in 2020 triggered by the Sheraton Move. As a consequence, calls for a Fixed-Term Parliament Act have come to the fore - a bill aimed at, in theory, making the process of calling for an early dissolution of Parliament more rigorous. Is this a positive reform towards strengthening parliamentary democracy in Malaysia? Or a knee-jerk reaction to the so-called ‘Dubai Move’- one with potential unintended consequences? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to  Professor Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood, Dr Tricia Yeoh, and Professor Wong Chin Huat.

The Malaysia Competition Commission is tasked to help shape fair market competition in Malaysia.  How effective are its efforts, where the economic landscape is fairly oligopolistic in a number of sectors? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Iskandar Ismail, CEO of the Malaysia Competition Commission, MyCC.

According to an analysis by the academic journal Nature, Malaysia is among the countries with the highest retraction rates of published academic research papers in 2023. The report exposes an alarming trend: For every 10,000 Malaysian research papers published, a staggering 17.2 were retracted. This figure stands three times higher than the global average—raising serious questions about the credibility and integrity of Malaysian academic research. Are these retractions for error corrections and honest mistakes, or does it point to systemic challenges in academia that demand urgent attention? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to UK Menon, Dr Idlan Zakaria, and Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas.

South Africa has brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing it of genocide in its war on Gaza. Is there still public trust in international law to uphold the principles of justice? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Datuk Dr Rahmat Mohamad and Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

In its latest Malaysia Gender Pay Gap Index, the Statistics Department found that, on average, for every RM100 in salaries and wages received by men, women receive just RM66.67. This is a sharp decline from RM96.21 in 2021. What is the reason for the decline, and what policies are needed to address it? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Tan E Hun of REFSA and Lee Min Hui of ISIS Malaysia.

Malaysia's tropical limestone karst landscapes stand at the intersection of ecological heritage and economic interests. Can industry and academia meet to address the duality of conservation and development of these karst areas? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Zakaria Mohamad, Chairman of the geoprofessional firm GMT Group, and Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo, Director of the Research Consortium for the Preservation and Sustainable Development of Tropical Limestone Karst, a collaborative effort between YTL Cement with the Ministry of Higher Education and five local universities.

A new report published by the Global Commission on Drug Policy has emphasised that the global goal of ending the HIV and Hepatitis epidemics cannot be achieved, unless there are significant reforms to current drug policies which continue to discriminate against and criminalise the community of People Who Use Drugs, which results in them being unable to access testing, treatment and care. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the Immediate Past President of the International AIDS Society, and current President & Pro Vice-Chancellor at Monash University Malaysia.

Amidst recent discussions about the Youth and Sports Ministry's performance, what are the gaps and strides that have been made in fortifying the sports ecosystem and empowering youth? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Hafiz Marzukhi speaks to Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister and MP for Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka.

On October 10th Dewan Rakyat passed an amendment to the Trade Unions Act, which allows for the formation of multiple trade unions in any establishment, trade, occupation, or industry. Is having multiple unions for the same group of workers beneficial or detrimental to workers’ rights? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to N. Gopal Kishnam from the Labour Law Reform Coalition, and J. Solomon from the National Union of Bank Employees.

The New Industrial Master Plan 2030 has been hailed as an ambitious blueprint for the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services sectors. However, beyond the boardrooms and policy discussions lies a critical question: How do these grand plans connect with the lives of everyday Malaysians? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

The former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Dr P. Ramasamy, who claimed the interests of working class Malaysian Indians have been sidelined in multiracial parties, has launched a new political movement, Urimai. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr P. Ramasamy, Chairman of Urimai’s Interim Leadership Council.

Anwar’s long-speculated cabinet reshuffle has finally been unveiled, revealing a jumble of ministerial swaps and portfolio splits. Will this shake-up revitalise governance and restore confidence in the Unity Government? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Aira Azhari, Azrul Mohd Khalib, and Dr Bridget Welsh.

It has been six years since more than 700,000 Rohingya fled targeted persecution in Myanmar — now living in containment in Bangladesh or trafficked and living as illegals in Malaysia and elsewhere. How do we ensure the world does not forget about the Rohingya? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Paul Brockmann & Dr Mohana Amirtharajah from Doctors Without Borders.

Every December 10th, the world marks Human Rights Day, and this year is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—which is one of the first documents drafted by the United Nations that decreed, in writing, that “All people are born free and equal”. However, in light of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza and other conflicts, how can nations and international bodies reconcile the paradox of celebrating human rights milestones, while bearing witness to continued violations that contradict the principles outlined in the declaration? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Katrina Jorene Maliamauv, Executive Director of Amnesty International Malaysia.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign spanning 16 days from November 25th, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until Human Rights Day on December 10th. How committed is Malaysia to ending violence against women and girls? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Shazana Agha from Women's Aid Organisation, and Daniella Zulkifili from the Association of Women Lawyers.

In 2021, the UPSR exam and Form Three Assessment (PT3) were discontinued to move away from standardised testing in favour of classroom-based assessments or Pentaksiran Bilik Darjah (PBD). Despite this transition, some parents and educators have expressed apprehension over the effectiveness of PBD. How successful has the implementation of classroom-based assessments been, and what areas might require improvement to address parental concerns? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Zuwati Hasim, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Education, and Cheryl Fernando, CEO of Pemimpin GSL Malaysia.

On November 23rd, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission froze 41 bank accounts with over RM15 million registered under the NGO Aman Palestin following allegations of misappropriation of funds. This has raised pressing concerns about the oversight and management of charitable funds in the nation. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Raymon Ram of Transparency International Malaysia and Dr James Nayagam of the Suriana Welfare Society.

International Testing Week was launched by Coalition PLUS to encourage increased testing efforts for HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs, as well as to promote awareness of the benefits of earlier testing and its linkage to care. As we mark World AIDS Day on December 1st, how can increased testing efforts contribute to Malaysia’s goal of eliminating the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Dr Mehdi Karkouri, President of Coalition PLUS, and Dr Raja Iskandar Shah Raja Azwa Shah, President of the Malaysian AIDS Council.

Reducing methane emissions is a critical aspect of climate action and must go hand-in-hand with decarbonising our energy systems if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C. As a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, what is Malaysia’s responsibility in cutting methane emissions by our oil and gas industry? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Shareen Yawanarajah, Director of Global Energy Transition at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a global nonprofit driving scientific efforts to focus the world’s attention on the importance of reducing methane emissions.

Friday the 24th of November marks exactly one year since Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister. What have been the strengths and weaknesses of his stewardship so far? And what benchmarks should we use to evaluate his effectiveness within the first year of governance? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to political analyst Dr Bridget Welsh and Anil Netto of Aliran.

The urgent issue of abuse experienced by Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia requires prompt and decisive intervention, said the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Hermono. In view of last year’s MoU on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic workers here, what strides have been made and what gaps still persist? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to His Excellency Datuk Hermono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia.

Last week, local film "La Luna" captivated audiences and critics with its compelling storytelling and performances. However, despite the rave reviews and word-of-mouth hype, something perplexing occurred by its second week: Only 14 cinemas continued to screen the film, from 92 in its first week. Malaysia has in place Skim Wajib Tayang, which is a policy that grants most local films a guaranteed national cinematic release of 14 days. Is the policy hitting the mark when it comes to boosting local film visibility at cinemas? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Noor Azam Shairi, Deputy Chairperson of FINAS, the central government agency for the local film industry.

As we mark this year’s World Children's Day, which is a day to commemorate the innocence, potential, and rights of every child across the globe—let us keep in mind the children of Gaza. Currently more than 5,000 children in Gaza have been killed by Israeli bombardments, with some 1,800 children missing under the rubble of collapsed buildings—most of them presumed dead. But what about the children who survive this war—what will become of them? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Toby Fricker, UNICEF Spokesperson, and Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, President of Mercy Malaysia.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker has suggested publicly naming MPs who are absent during parliament sessions, as a way to curb absenteeism. Which begs the question: Why are MPs absent from parliamentary sessions? And are there deeper issues to do with the way our parliamentary sessions are structured? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Maha Balakrishnan, Parliamentary and Institutional Development Specialist, and Rajiv Rishyakaran Assemblyperson for Bukit Gasing, Selangor.

As Israel continues its assault on Gaza, there are many Malaysians who are eager to express their solidarity and offer support in meaningful ways, but may be unsure how to practically engage. The question often arises: “What can I do that will truly make a difference?” On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Datuk Seri Ir Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha from MyCARE, and Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail from BDS Malaysia.

From the halls of Putrajaya to Corporate Malaysia to grassroots initiatives - what does effective climate governance look like? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Gary Theseira, Director and Council Member of Climate Governance Malaysia, an advocacy group working with boardrooms on the climate action agenda. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Asia School of Business.

Sarawak’s electoral borders are due for redrawing soon, with Sabah’s set to expire in 2025, and 2026 for Peninsular Malaysia. Ahead of the delineation exercise, it’s worth examining some best practices on boundary delimitation, and the potential for improvement in Malaysia. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Adhy Aman, Danesh Prakash Chacko and Professor Wong Chin Huat.

The government is exploring a new healthcare financing model, shifting away from the present tax-based financing and potentially into a social health insurance scheme. Is this the best option for Malaysia to sustainably fund our healthcare sector? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Special Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Kelvin Yii, and Dr Lim Chee Han from the Third World Network.

The war in Gaza in the past month has raised critical questions about global problem-solving, the ability of the world to prevent or halt atrocities, and the weaponisation of dehumanising language. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to James M. Dorsey and Associate Professor Dr Noritah Omar.

A research endeavour by the National Organisation for Dyslexia Malaysia (NOD) and UKM sought to explore the relationship between dyslexia and delinquency among Malaysian male juvenile offenders. Might the challenges associated with dyslexia lead to a path of delinquency? And what can be done to address this issue? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Mullai Ramaiah Arunachalam, President of the National Organisation for Dyslexia Malaysia, and Dr Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Criminologist at UKM’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

How are wages determined? How does education, age, gender, citizenship, and industry shape wages? And can wage growth be achieved without policy intervention? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Niaz Asadullah, Professor of Economics at Monash University Malaysia, and Nithiyananthan Muthusamy, Deputy Director of Research from Khazanah Research Institute.

On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Muslim Imran, Founding Director of the KL-based Asia Middle East Center for Research and Dialogue about the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, and the responses from the Muslim World and the international community.

In the past few general elections, Malaysia has seen multiple coalitions and parties contest for the right to govern the country, and this is likely to be the case going forward. Malaysia’s transition into a multiparty democracy, where hung parliaments and coalition governments are common occurrence, will not be without its growing pains. How do we use this as an opportunity for democratic progress? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Thomas Fan from Bersih and Aira Azhari from IDEAS Malaysia.

The Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s prompted Malaysia to implement a series of reforms aimed at fortifying its financial institutions. One of the most prominent measures taken was the consolidation of the banking sector, leading to a reduction in the number of domestic commercial banks from 22 to just 10 by the year 2002. While the goal was to create stability and strength within the financial industry, it introduced a new set of challenges, particularly for the country's SMEs. The pivotal question that arises is: After more than 2 decades, how has this banking consolidation impacted the ability of SMEs in Malaysia to secure capital? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Woo Wing Thye, Vice-President for Asia at the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He also heads the ASIA headquarters of SDSN, hosted by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation at Sunway University, where he is a research professor.

On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Nigel Wong, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), and Siraj Jalil, President of the Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association, an NGO that advocates for the rights and interests of consumers in the digital and online sphere.

Budget 2024 has been unveiled, and now the crucial evaluation begins. What does this budget get right, and where did it fall short? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Robert Nicholas Hii, Vice President for the Society for Equality, Respect and Trust for All Sabah (SERATA) and Shahril Hamdan, Founder of Watchtower Advisory, and former economic director at the Prime Minister's Office.

Ahead of the tabling of Budget 2024 tomorrow Friday October 13th, what areas will be prioritised? Will it meet the expectations of industry? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz, President of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), and Datuk William Ng, Chairperson of the SMEs Association of Malaysia (Samenta) to find out what’s on their wish list for Budget 2024.

The Government is reviving the National Service Training Programme, or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN), some 5 years after it was scrapped by the 2018 Pakatan Harapan administration. Is there merit in resurrecting the National Service programme, and if so, how should it be reimagined for today's generation? On this episode on #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to former Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, and Jason Wee, Co-Founder of Architects of Diversity.

Malaysia is committed to a major shift toward electric vehicles to decarbonize its transport sector and achieve its ambitious net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The target is to have electrified vehicles—both EVs and hybrids—make up 15% of the Total Industry Volume by 2030. However, crucial questions surrounding supply, demand, and infrastructure of the EV industry need to be addressed to ensure these targets are met. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Subhash Nair, Deputy Editor of the auto industry news site, DSF.my and Dato’ Dennis Chuah, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia.

Recently Rapid KL introduced a pilot programme of women-only carriages on its MRT Kajang Line, which was met with a spectrum of responses from the public, including praise and support, but also scepticism and criticism. How do we think through the purpose and effectiveness of creating women-only spaces on public transport? And more generally, how do we constructively address the concerns and objections that were raised, while building consensus in the pursuit of safer, more inclusive public transportation systems? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Sofiah Hussein, Head of Rail Operations for the MRT Kajang Line, Marina Abdullah, Head of Campaigns at Women's Aid Organisation, and Dr Vilashini Somiah, anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies at Universiti Malaya.

The Government’s public pension liability is currently RM31 billion, which accounts for about 10% of its operating expenditure. This amount is projected to hit RM46 billion in seven years. Are we at a crossroads where public pension reform is not just a painful choice but an overdue necessity? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to economists Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi and Professor Geoffrey Williams.

Earlier this year, the Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution announced that children should no longer be detained in immigration detention centres, pledging to place them instead under the care of NGOs that specialise in the welfare of children. Then in August the Home Ministry announced 23 children and 10 of their parents or guardians have been relocated from existing immigration detention centres to what the government has termed as a “children friendly” detention centre, called Baitul Mahabbah. Does this move signify the Malaysian government will finally put an end to child immigration detention in Malaysia? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Hannah Jambunathan, Asia Pacific Programme Officer with the International Detention Coalition, and human rights advocate Mahi Ramakrishnan.

A new legal amendment in Sarawak will come into force November 1st, which will allow children born of mixed parentage to apply to be recognised as a Native of Sarawak. This means, under the Interpretation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022, children of mixed marriages will potentially be able to own Native land and have Bumiputera/Pribumi status for entry into public universities. What implications may it hold for the people and communities of Sarawak? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Baru Bian, Secretary-General of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Assemblyperson for Ba'kelalan since April 2011, and to Kuching-based human rights lawyer, Simon Siah.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) continues to be disproportionately used on those from the B40, compounding their financial and socioeconomic vulnerability as the accounts of detainees and their families are frozen indefinitely, thousands of ringgit of legal fees incurred, loss of income coupled with snowballing debt. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Sevan Doraisamy, Executive Director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia, and Siti Nurizzah Mohd Tazali, independent researcher and author of SUARAM’s report on the socioeconomic impact of detention under Sosma.

As part of institutional reforms to improve government transparency and accountability, the Cabinet has agreed to enact a Freedom of Information Act and to finally table The Government Procurement Act. How would a federal-level Freedom of Information Act improve government transparency? And where within the public contracting process might procurement legislation lead to more accountability? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Isad Chung of Sinar Project and Sri Murniati Yusuf of IDEAS Malaysia. 

Tonight Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will deliver his inaugural address at the 78th UN General Assembly as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister. Melisa Idris speaks to Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee and International Relations analysts Elina Noor & Herizal Hazri for a special extended episode of #ConsiderThis.