Beyond the Ballot Box

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Beyond the Ballot Box

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.

  1. 11 HR. AGO

    Why We Need a Media Council

    Media freedom or freedom of the press is something journalists in Malaysia have been grappling with for many decades. For many years, draconian laws have been used to clamp down on journalists and the media. Many have also been arrested.  While there is no denying that the media has more freedom post-2018 elections and that journalists don’t get arrested as much today as they once did, little has changed in terms of legislation and structure. Draconian laws still exist and can be weaponised.  Now, advocates for freedom of the press have been pushing for a media council. But what exactly is it, how would it work and what good could come out of it? We speak to Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director of the Centre For Independent Journalism (CIJ). Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Malaysia’s Democratic Transition Amidst Rising Southeast Asia

    Malaysia is at an interesting juncture right now. In 2018, Malaysians voted out the Barisan Nasional government that was once thought invincible and had ruled the country since its independence. Then there was a period of political instability since Langkah Sheraton until about a week after GE15. Now, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the helm, things have finally stabilised.  In an article for The Lowy Institute, Ooi Kok Hin argues that Malaysia’s democratic transition is an important case for Southeast Asia and the Muslim-majority world and that the country has the potential to lead regional democratic discourse during its 2025 ASEAN chairmanship.  So, what are the opportunities that lie ahead? We speak to Kok Hin. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min

  3. NOV 14

    How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 2)

    Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.  He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. Trump managed to win every single one of these states. Not only that, but he is also the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.  So, how did he do it?   We speak to Prof Peter Beattie, Political Economist & Political Psychologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).  In part 2 of this conversation, we discuss:• How progressives like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar won their seats despite not endorsing Kamala Harris and Joe Biden• Is the Obama coalition finished?• What’s the antidote to right-wing populism?• What we can expect from Trump 2.0 Click here to listen to part 1.  Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  4. NOV 12

    How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 1)

    Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.  He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. Trump managed to win every single one of these states. Not only that, but he is also the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.  So, how did he do it?  I speak to Prof Peter Beattie, Political Economist & Political Psychologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).  In part 1 of this conversation, we discuss:• How the rise of inequality in the US contributes to Trump winning• Why some of Joe Biden’s progressive policies did not sway voters• How the media landscape in the US shapes politics• US government’s backing of Israel’s genocide in Gaza• If the Democratic Party is too left-wing/progressive Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  5. NOV 7

    After Mixed-Bag Bill Passed, What Next For Stateless People?

    In October, the Parliament of Malaysia passed controversial amendments to the constitution’s citizenship provisions via a Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. According to critics, the bill is a case of one step forward, a few unnecessary steps backward. While the bill seeks to grant citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women, it also includes a whole host of regressive amendments which will worsen conditions for other categories of stateless people in Malaysia. This move was the last straw for Yap Xiang, who resigned in protest as vice-chief of PKR’s student wing Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia. The student wing had previously rallied with other NGOs against the regressive provisions of the bill outside Parliament in March. Yap Xiang, who’s also a member of Borneo Komrad, joins us in conversation. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  6. NOV 5

    Farmlands & Financial Hubs: How Land Use Shapes Voting Patterns in Malaysia

    Everyone knows that politics in Malaysia is highly racialised. What’s usually missing from the discourse is how there is an aspect of class, material conditions and even land use that intertwines and even anchors racial politics. For example, did you know that people in areas with higher industrial and commercial activities tend to vote for Pakatan Harapan, while those residing in less developed or agricultural land tend to vote for Perikatan Nasional? This is especially pronounced in the Penang state. We speak to Aziff Azuddin who recently penned an article for The Star highlighting exactly that. Aziff has been researching the politics of Malay youths for quite some time now. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min

  7. OCT 29

    Can Malaysia Implement Universal Basic Income?

    Ask around and many will tell you that the biggest problem Malaysians face is wages. Wages in Malaysia have been stagnant for more than a couple of decades now. Inequality is on the rise. So, what could be a solution? What if it’s a Universal Basic Income? In this episode, we speak to some researchers who are pushing for universal basic income in Malaysia, namely Dr Sarath Davala, John Michael and Lee Seng Kiat from the Basic Income Earth Network, as well as Prof Geoffrey Williams, Economist and Director of Williams Business Consultancy. The four of them recently produced a paper on what a universal basic income could look like in Malaysia. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

  8. OCT 24

    Does Budget 2025 Address the Needs of Caregivers?

    Last Friday, the MADANI government unveiled the RM 421 billion Budget 2025, up from the RM 393.8 billion budget tabled at the end of last year. The big positive is that this isn’t an austerity budget by any stretch of the imagination. The government is spending. But does this budget address the care economy? How much does it address the needs of caregivers and the care industry? We speak to Lee Min Hui, a gender consultant at the United Nations Population Fund Malaysia. This BFM Budget 2025 Special is brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
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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.

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