Consider This: Ending Violence Against Women (Part 1) — What Will It Take?

With the impacts of climate change already affecting economies and industries, corporate boards are under pressure to lead sustainable transitions. But do they have the climate literacy to make informed, effective decisions? On this episode of #TheFutureIsFemale Melisa Idris speaks to Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar, Chairperson of Climate Governance Malaysia, which is an advocacy group working to mobilise corporate boards to accelerate the transition to net zero and build climate resilience. Climate Governance Malaysia is the country chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative—it’s the second such country chapter to be established in the world, and the first in Asia-Pacific.

As Malaysia takes the helm of ASEAN in 2025, the Myanmar crisis will become a defining challenge for Malaysia’s chairmanship. The 5-Point Consensus has seen little success since its inception in 2021. With the humanitarian situation worsening and political dialogue at a standstill, many are questioning whether ASEAN’s traditional approach has run its course. Can Malaysia’s chairmanship deliver new solutions? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Emeritus Johan Saravanamuttu, Adjunct Professor at Universiti Malaya’s Asia Europe Institute.

As Malaysia takes the helm of ASEAN in 2025, the Myanmar crisis will become a defining challenge for Malaysia’s chairmanship. The 5-Point Consensus has seen little success since its inception in 2021. With the humanitarian situation worsening and political dialogue at a standstill, many are questioning whether ASEAN’s traditional approach has run its course. Can Malaysia’s chairmanship deliver new solutions? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Moe Thuzar, Senior Fellow at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. She’s also the Coordinator of its Myanmar Studies Programme.

After two weeks of tense negotiations, COP29 concluded in Baku with mixed reactions. Developed nations had pledged 300 billion dollars annually to the global climate fight— a sum many developing nations say falls dangerously short. The question then becomes: Is this actual progress in the global response to the climate crisis? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Kieran Li Nair, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia.

After two weeks of tense negotiations, COP29 concluded in Baku with mixed reactions. Developed nations had pledged 300 billion dollars annually to the global climate fight— a sum many developing nations say falls dangerously short. The question then becomes: Is this actual progress in the global response to the climate crisis? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Meena Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

Violence against women takes many forms, but one of the most extreme is femicide—the killing of a woman by men’s violence. The patterns of this crime—control, abuse, and escalation—are so alarmingly familiar, that femicide is preventable. How do we do that? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Nazreen Nizam, Acting Executive Director of Women's Aid Organisation,
which is a non-profit dedicated to supporting survivors of gender-based violence and also advocating for societal change and women's rights.

Violence against women takes many forms, but one of the most extreme is femicide—the killing of a woman by men’s violence. The patterns of this crime—control, abuse, and escalation—are so alarmingly familiar, that femicide is preventable. How do we do that? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, criminologist and Deputy Dean of Higher Degree, at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Law.

Two years into its term, the Madani government finds itself under the microscope. Bersih has given the Anwar Ibrahim-led Administration a grade of ‘D’, citing its failure to deliver on key institutional and democratic reforms. Is this verdict too harsh, or is it a necessary wake-up call for those in power that they do not have the luxury of time? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, Chairperson of BERSIH, and Ooi Kok Hin, Executive Director of BERSIH.

World Children's Day is a chance to reimagine a better future for every child. But how often do we listen to their voices in shaping policies and decisions that affect them? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Hafiz Marzukhi speaks with Jessie Lee, Child Advocate, and Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, to explore how the country can better engage, empower, and prioritise its youngest citizens.

Sustainable development consultancy Arup’s latest city competitiveness report ranks Kuala Lumpur in the overall ‘Aspiring’ category—ranking 63 cities against 37 future success indicators, with around a quarter focused on climate action. These indicators span four key assessment areas for city competitiveness: investor attractiveness, assets and infrastructure, liveability and lovability, and urban management and governance. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Murali Ram, Malaysia Lead for Arrup’s Cities & Advisory practice. He is the lead author of the book: Creating Future-Proof Cities: How to Navigate the Climate Crisis.

For two weeks starting November 11th, negotiators from around the world will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th annual Conference of the Parties on Climate Change known as COP29. They're expected to assess global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement's commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, while addressing a wide range of climate-linked issues. So what’s at stake at this year’s summit? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Khairun Nisa Zabidi, Director of Nusanterra, a consultancy firm focusing on conservation finance for tropical forests.

For two weeks starting November 11th, negotiators from around the world will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th annual Conference of the Parties on Climate Change known as COP29. They're expected to assess global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement's commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, while addressing a wide range of climate-linked issues. So what’s at stake at this year’s summit? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Ahmad Afandi Nor Azmi, Fellow at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia, where his primary research interests lie in climate resilience, biodiversity and environmental governance.

The long-awaited Social Work Profession Bill, aimed at finally professionalising this sector through mandatory licensing and standards, was set to be tabled this year in Dewan Rakyat but tabling has been delayed. What does it mean for a country when its social support workforce is left unprotected and unregulated? And who bears the real cost of these delays? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Teoh Ai Hua, President of Malaysian Association of Social Workers, which has championed professional social work for five decades now and actively provides training for social workers in government and civil society sectors.

The long-awaited Social Work Profession Bill, aimed at finally professionalising this sector through mandatory licensing and standards, was set to be tabled this year in Dewan Rakyat but tabling has been delayed. What does it mean for a country when its social support workforce is left unprotected and unregulated? And who bears the real cost of these delays? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician and a child and disability activist.

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, what lies ahead for America and the World? On this special episode of Consider This Melisa Idris speaks with John Zogby, Founder and Senior Partner of John Zogby Strategies, Meredith Weiss, Professor of Political Science at State University of New York in Albany, Dr Bridget Welsh, Asia Research Institute of University of Nottingham Malaysia, and political analyst Derick Becker, to unpack the election results and what’s next under a second Trump administration.