Mon Feb 10 2025
Consider This: Parliamentary Reform (Part 1) — Reviving the Parliamentary Services Act
In 1992, the Malaysian government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, repealed the Parliamentary Services Act—placing Parliament services under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Department. Now, the current government has promised to table a new PSA in this parliamentary session, to restore Parliament’s independence. What does a truly independent and effective parliament look like—and why should it matter to you? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Thomas Fann, Founding Member of Projek SAMA, and former chairperson of BERSIH.
Consider This: Transnational Repression (Part 1) — Are Our Governments Enabling It?
Authoritarian regimes don’t stop at their own borders—often reaching across countries to track, detain, and deport refugees, activists, and migrants. This is transnational repression: when a state extends its repression beyond its own beyond their borders to control or punish its citizens abroad. Malaysia and Thailand, two of Southeast Asia’s biggest hubs for migrants and refugees, have become key battlegrounds for transnational repression. With Malaysia helming ASEAN chair this year, what role does the region play in resisting, or enabling, transnational repression? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Douglas Teoh, spokesperson from the End Transnational Repression Alliance.
Consider This: Transnational Repression (Part 2) — Are Our Governments Enabling It?
Authoritarian regimes don’t stop at their own borders—often reaching across countries to track, detain, and deport refugees, activists, and migrants. This is transnational repression: when a state extends its repression beyond its own beyond their borders to control or punish its citizens abroad. Malaysia and Thailand, two of Southeast Asia’s biggest hubs for migrants and refugees, have become key battlegrounds for transnational repression. With Malaysia helming ASEAN chair this year, what role does the region play in resisting, or enabling, transnational repression? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Krittaporn Semsantad, Programme Director at the Bangkok-based Peace Rights Foundation.
Consider This: Race & Religion — Are We Fueling or Fixing Malaysia’s Divides?
We have long prided ourselves on being a multiracial, multicultural society. But recent incidents of discrimination and insensitivity have reignited concerns about heightened racial and religious tensions. Are these cases becoming more frequent, or are we just more aware of them now? And when ethno-religious tensions flare, how should we respond? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Dewan Negara Senator and Deputy President of Parti Amanah Negara. He served as Minister of Religious Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department during the Pakatan Harapan administration of 2018-2020.
Consider This: Race & Religion — Are We Fueling or Fixing Malaysia’s Divides?
We have long prided ourselves on being a multiracial, multicultural society. But recent incidents of discrimination and insensitivity have reignited concerns about heightened racial and religious tensions. Are these cases becoming more frequent, or are we just more aware of them now? And when ethno-religious tensions flare, how should we respond? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Dewan Negara Senator and Deputy President of Parti Amanah Negara. He served as Minister of Religious Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department during the Pakatan Harapan administration of 2018-2020.
Consider This: Congestion Pricing (Part 2) — What Will Make Traffic Finally Move?
Kuala Lumpur’s worsening traffic congestion is costing Malaysia RM20 billion annually, according to a 2020 Prasarana study. Now, the government is considering a congestion charge—a fee imposed on vehicles using certain roads at peak hours—it’s expected to reduce traffic by an estimated 20%. But will it work? How will it be implemented? And will it place an unfair burden on road users? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua, Head of the Road Safety Research Centre under Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Consider This: Congestion Pricing (Part 1) — What Will Make Traffic Finally Move?
Kuala Lumpur’s worsening traffic congestion is costing Malaysia RM20 billion annually, according to a 2020 Prasarana study. Now, the government is considering a congestion charge—a fee imposed on vehicles using certain roads at peak hours—it’s expected to reduce traffic by an estimated 20%. But will it work? How will it be implemented? And will it place an unfair burden on road users? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Hizal Hanis Hashim, Head of Corporate Communications and Knowledge Management at the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research (MIROS).
Consider This: Why Gender Matters in Drug Policy
This International Women’s Day, we turn our focus to a group of women often left out of policy conversations—women who use drugs. Malaysia’s punitive drug laws disproportionately harm women, forcing many into cycles of incarceration, stigma, and violence. But advocates say there’s a better way: a gender-responsive approach to drug policy that prioritises public health over criminalisation. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with advisors from Drug Policy Program Malaysia: Dr Nur Afiqah Mohd Salleh, Vice President of the Malaysian AIDS Council and Ivy Josiah, Gender Consultant & Committee Member of Women’s Aid Organisation.
Consider This: GLC Reform — Who Really Controls Malaysia’s GLCs?
For decades, Malaysia’s GLCs—government-linked companies—have been central to the economy, controlling vast sectors from banking to telecommunications. But according to political economist Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, they are also at the heart of what he calls the Political-GLC complex—a deeply entrenched system that allows the ruling elite to use GLCs for political control, patronage, and grand corruption. Can the Political-GLC complex ever be dismantled? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at Universiti Malaya, and author of ‘Misgovernance: Grand Corruption in Malaysia’.
Consider This : Urban Renewal Act (Part 1) — Avoiding Developer-Driven Gentrification
The Government is proposing a new Urban Renewal Act, which will allow authorities to push forward redevelopment projects even without unanimous agreement from property owners. But the Bill has sparked heated debate in Parliament, and beyond. So is the Urban Renewal Act a necessary reform? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Shuhana Shamsuddin, Founder & President of the Malaysian Urban Design Association, PEREKABANDAR, which is a registered NGO championing good urban design practices.
Consider This: Urban Renewal Act (Part 2) — Avoiding Developer-Driven Gentrification
The Government is proposing a new Urban Renewal Act, which will allow authorities to push forward redevelopment projects even without unanimous agreement from property owners. But the Bill has sparked heated debate in Parliament, and beyond. So is the Urban Renewal Act a necessary reform? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Ainul Jaria Maidin, Retired Professor in Sustainable Land Development, Policy and Governance at IIUM’s Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws. She’s also a Director with the town planning consultancy, Rekarancang Sdn Bhd.
Consider This: Hawker Economy (Part 2) — Small Traders, Big Impact
Hawkers have long been an essential part of Malaysia’s street food culture and informal economy. But they’re facing mounting challenges—from rising costs, to a lack of successors. A new discussion paper by Khazanah Research Institute examines the historical evolution of these small-scale traders, and the policy gaps that leave them vulnerable. How can Malaysia better support its hawker economy? What can we learn from Singapore’s policy efforts and government support that led to hawker culture being officially recognised on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University and author of ‘Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food’.
Consider This: Hawker Economy (Part 1) — Small Traders, Big Impact
Hawkers have long been an essential part of Malaysia’s street food culture and informal economy. But they’re facing mounting challenges—from rising costs, to a lack of successors. A new discussion paper by Khazanah Research Institute examines the historical evolution of these small-scale traders, and the policy gaps that leave them vulnerable. How can Malaysia better support its hawker economy? Should the government take a more active role in preserving and formalising this industry? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Dr Mohd Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute and lead author of ‘Hawkers and Hawking Space in Malaysia: A Case Study’.
Consider This: Gig Workers Bill (Part 2) — Is Malaysia Getting It Right?
The government is set to table the Gig Workers Bill during this session of Parliament. The Bill aims to define gig work, regulate income structures, and introduce social protections—measures the government says will uphold the welfare and rights of workers in the gig economy. So will this Bill truly empower gig workers, or might it leave them in a grey area between independence and vulnerability? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Jose Rizal, Chief Activist of Gabungan eHailing Malaysia, Chair of Koperasi GIG Malaysia,
Consider This: Gig Workers Bill (Part 1) — Is Malaysia Getting It Right?
The government is set to table the Gig Workers Bill during this session of Parliament. The Bill aims to define gig work, regulate income structures, and introduce social protections—measures the government says will uphold the welfare and rights of workers in the gig economy. So will this Bill truly empower gig workers, or might it leave them in a grey area between independence and vulnerability? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, Founder and CEO of MY Mobility Vision.
Consider This: Media Council Bill (Part 2) — Better Flawed Than Never?
Malaysia’s long-awaited Media Council Bill will soon pave the way for the country’s first-ever self-regulatory Media Council. But concerns remain: Will the Malaysian Media Council be truly independent, or will government oversight dilute its role? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Firdaus Husni, Chief Human Rights Strategist at the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism & Human Rights.