Tue Jan 09 2024
Consider This: Gender Pay Gap (Part 2) — Concrete Steps to Reduce Pay Disparity
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, Executive Director of the think tank, Research for Social Advancement (REFSA).
Consider This: Medical Inflation — The Anatomy of Healthcare Costs
In 2023, Malaysia recorded medical cost inflation of 12.6%. What's fueling this surge, and who bears the brunt of this burden? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Datuk Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid Syed Junid, Professor of Health Economics, Policy and Management at the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at IMU University. He is also the President of the Malaysian Health Economic Association.
Consider This: Social Media Licensing (Part 2) — Digital Democracy at Risk?
Malaysia’s new regulatory framework for social media platforms and internet messaging services will kick into effect on January 1, 2025. It will require platforms that have at least eight million registered users in the country to apply for an annual operating licence with the Malaysian government. The licence mandates stricter controls on data protection, child online safety, and transparency in advertising. Will these changes protect users online, or pave the way for increased censorship? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Harris Zainul, Deputy Director of Research at ISIS Malaysia, where his areas of interest focus on policy responses to mis- and disinformation and social media platform governance.
Consider This: Social Media Licensing (Part 1) — Digital Democracy at Risk?
Malaysia’s new regulatory framework for social media platforms and internet messaging services will kick into effect on January 1, 2025. It will require platforms that have at least eight million registered users in the country to apply for an annual operating licence with the Malaysian government. The licence mandates stricter controls on data protection, child online safety, and transparency in advertising. Will these changes protect users online, or pave the way for increased censorship? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Nalini Elumalai, Senior Programme Officer for Malaysia at ARTICLE 19, which is an NGO dedicated to freedom of expression.
Consider This: Orang Asli Land Rights (Part 3) — #SavePosLanai
In 2021 the Semai Orang Asli community of Pos Lanai in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, filed a court case to have their land classified as Orang Asli reserved land—the legal proceedings of which are still ongoing. Despite this, the Pahang state government has in the meantime approved a massive rare earth mining project near their village. On this episode of Consider This to commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Melisa Idris speaks to Seira Sacha Abu Bakar, Chairperson of Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights.
Consider This: Orang Asli Land Rights (Part 2) — #SavePosLanai
In 2021 the Semai Orang Asli community of Pos Lanai in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, filed a court case to have their land classified as Orang Asli reserved land—the legal proceedings of which are still ongoing. Despite this, the Pahang state government has in the meantime approved a massive rare earth mining project near their village. On this episode of Consider This to commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Melisa Idris speaks to the village chief of Pos Lanai, Tok Batin Tuny Amir.
Consider This: Orang Asli Land Rights (Part 1) — #SavePosLanai
In 2021 the Semai Orang Asli community of Pos Lanai in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, filed a court case to have their land classified as Orang Asli reserved land—the legal proceedings of which are still ongoing. Despite this, the Pahang state government has in the meantime approved a massive rare earth mining project near their village. On this episode of Consider This to commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Melisa Idris speaks to Sivarajan Arumugam, Former Secretary-General of Parti Sosialis Malaysia. PSM has been supporting the Pos Lanai villagers in their legal suit to uphold their Orang Asli land rights.
Consider This: Private Healthcare (Part 2) — What Will Copayments Mean for You?
Come September 1st, Bank Negara Malaysia will require all insurers and takaful operators to offer consumers an option to purchase medical and health insurance and takaful products with a copayment feature. What does it mean for the healthcare sector, and how will this affect patients? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to independent health policy analyst, Dr Chua Hong Teck.
Consider This: Private Healthcare (Part 1) — What Will Copayments Mean for You?
Come September 1st, Bank Negara Malaysia will require all insurers and takaful operators to offer consumers an option to purchase medical and health insurance and takaful products with a copayment feature. What does it mean for the healthcare sector, and how will this affect patients? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
Consider This: Visit Malaysia 2026 (Part 1) — What Do Tourists Want?
As we gear up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the country is setting its sights on attracting some 36 million tourists. But what do global tourists today really want and expect, and is Malaysia delivering on those expectations? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Gary Bowerman, Director of the travel consulting and research firm, Check-in Asia, and Co-Founder of High-Yield Tourism.
Consider This: Visit Malaysia 2026 (Part 2) — What Do Tourists Want?
As we gear up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the country is setting its sights on attracting some 36 million tourists. But what do global tourists today really want and expect, and is Malaysia delivering on those expectations? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Nigel Wong, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA).
Consider This: The Malaysian Mind: From Post-colonial to Decolonial
Every year, we celebrate Merdeka, Malaya’s independence day, at the end of August, marking the start of what we now refer to as a post-colonial era. But is colonialism truly a thing of the past in Malaysia? How do colonial legacies continue to influence our collective consciousness, and what it means to break free from these mental shackles? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Alberto Gomes, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. He is also the Global Director of DEEP Network, an academic collective that advocates for peace education.
Consider This: Trafficking in Persons — From Watch List to Progress
Malaysia has shown marked progress in the fight against human trafficking, having been recently upgraded to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report, from being on its Tier 2 Watch List last year. How can we ensure that momentum continues? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, Criminologist and Deputy Dean (Higher Degree) at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Law.
Consider This: Push & Pull (Part 3): Of Opting for Chinese & International Schools
Bumiputra student enrolment in Chinese schools has increased by 58.5% over the last decade, while Bumi student enrolment in international schools has surged by nearly 50% in the past 5 years. This trend has meant that Malaysian students now comprise two-thirds of the international school student population. Why do parents seem to be opting out of national schools, and what are the broader implications of this shift? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson and Co-Founder of the educational social enterprise, LeapEd Services.
Consider This: Push & Pull (Part 2): Of Opting for Chinese & International Schools
Bumiputra student enrolment in Chinese schools has increased by 58.5% over the last decade, while Bumi student enrolment in international schools has surged by nearly 50% in the past 5 years. This trend has meant that Malaysian students now comprise two-thirds of the international school student population. Why do parents seem to be opting out of national schools, and what are the broader implications of this shift? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to UCSI University’s Professor Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi, formerly a Member of the Committee for Unity at the Ministry of Unity, under the first Pakatan Harapan administration.
Consider This: Push & Pull (Part 1): Of Opting for Chinese & International Schools
Bumiputra student enrolment in Chinese schools has increased by 58.5% over the last decade, while Bumi student enrolment in international schools has surged by nearly 50% in the past 5 years. This trend has meant that Malaysian students now comprise two-thirds of the international school student population. Why do parents seem to be opting out of national schools, and what are the broader implications of this shift? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Kua Kia Soong, former Principal of the New Era College, which was founded by the Malaysian Chinese education movement.