Beyond The Ballot Box BFM Media

Malaysia has a rich history of student-led movements. If we look at the period of pre-independence and after independence, student movements were radically progressive, vibrant and strong. While the 80s - 2000s saw suffocation of these movements, there was a revitalisation of student movements in the 2010s.
But what about today?
We speak to Ooi Kok Hin, Executive Director of Bersih. Not only is he an activist himself, he’s also someone who has done and continues to do a lot of research and writing on the activism scene in Malaysia.

Image Credit: Shutterstock
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early in May, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced the 26-year-old housing woes of five estates in Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor have been resolved. 245 workers from Ladang Mary, Ldg Sg Tinggi, Minyak, Nigel Gardner, and Ladang Bukit Tagar will receive subsidised affordable landed housing.
But why did these workers have to struggle for 26 years for something that should be a fundamental human right – adequate housing? What can we learn from it?
We speak to S. Arutchelvan, Deputy Chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Image Credit: Shutterstock
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group of Malaysia on Integrity, Governance, and Anti-Corruption (APPGM-IGAR) is once again calling on the government to enhance transparency and accountability in Malaysia’s democratic reforms.
What are the specific reforms that we need?
Joining me on the show to discuss this is Dr Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS – The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Dr Tricia is also a representative of the APPGM-IGAR.

Image Credit: Shutterstock
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pakatan Harapan retained its Kuala Kubu Bharu state seat at the by-elections which took place over the weekend. Before the elections, many pundits predicted that this would likely be an incredibly tough battle in which either side would win by the slimmest of majorities. Interestingly, Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao from the DAP increased their vote share and won relatively comfortably with 57% of the popular vote, while PN’s Khairul Azhari Saut garnered 41% of the vote.
So, what does the KKB by-election result tell us?

Image Credit: DAP Website
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Sunday, the Zionist state of Israel voted to shut down Al Jazeera in the country, immediately ordering the closure of its offices and a ban on the company's broadcasts.
Over in the United States of America, peaceful university encampments and protests have been taking place all over the country. The state, the supposed land of the free, has responded to these protests by unleashing armed police officers in riot gear.
So, where does that leave us today?

Image Credit: Shutterstock
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020, Malaysia became an ageing society – in other words, people are living longer and having less babies. 
On a separate but related note, women’s participation in the workforce has plateaued at 55%, with most citing “household and care responsibilities” as the primary reason. 
These are big-picture problems that would require comprehensive policy intervention centred around something called the Care Economy. 
But what exactly is the Care Economy? And what can Malaysia learn from other countries with more mature and robust care economies, such as Australia?

Image Credit: Shutterstock (Ai generated image)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.