Mon Mar 11 2024
Consider This: Graduate Employment — The Cost of Weak Beginnings
In 2021, 48.6% of Malaysian graduates were overqualified for their jobs. A lack of jobs that aligned with their qualifications had forced them to opt for low- or semi-skilled jobs with subpar starting pay, which then had significant long-term impact on their salary progression. This is according to a recently released Khazanah Research Institute report titled ‘Shifting Tides: Charting the Career Progression of Malaysia’s Skilled Talents’ which focused on the challenges faced by Malaysian graduates during their transition from higher education into the workforce. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to KRI Deputy Director of Research, Hawati Abdul Hamid, and KRI Research Associate, Dr Mohd Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim.
Consider This: Bornean Elephants (Part 2) — Endangered and Displaced
The Bornean elephant has recently been classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. What needs to be done now to ensure the survival of Borneo’s elephant population? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Primus Lambut, Head of the Tawau Wildlife Department and species manager in charge of elephants.
Consider This: Bornean Elephants (Part 1) — Endangered and Displaced
The Bornean elephant has recently been classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. What needs to be done now to ensure the survival of Borneo’s elephant population? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to conservation biologist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, Senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She’s an expert on the Bornean Elephant, and also the founder of Project Seratu Aatai, which is a collective in Sabah that aims to promote coexistence between elephants and humans through research and education.
Consider This: Drug Law Reform — Rehab Law Flawed
The Government has recently deferred the amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Bill to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Security after the first reading of the Bill received significant opposition from those who argue that the bill, as it stands, lacks crucial medical oversight in the rehabilitation process. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Sangeeth Kaur, Co-Chair, Expert Advisory Group, Drug Treatment & Rehab (East & SEA) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz, President of the Malaysian Medical Association
Consider This: Bujang Valley (Part 2) — The Bukit Choras Discovery
A remarkable discovery in Malaysia’s Bujang Valley has uncovered a 1,200-year-old Buddha statue and stupa, thought to date back to the 8th or 9th century. This find at the Bukit Choras archaeological heritage site in Yan, Kedah, may even predate the renowned Angkor Wat and Borobudur. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, leader of the Bukit Choras archaeological project and senior at USM’s Centre for Global Archaeology Research.
Consider This: Bujang Valley (Part 1) — The Bukit Choras Discovery
A remarkable discovery in Malaysia’s Bujang Valley has uncovered a 1,200-year-old Buddha statue and stupa, thought to date back to the 8th or 9th century. This find at the Bukit Choras archaeological heritage site in Yan, Kedah, may even predate the renowned Angkor Wat and Borobudur. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, leader of the Bukit Choras archaeological project and senior at USM’s Centre for Global Archaeology Research.
Consider This: Sustaining Sustainability - A Conversation With Professor Jeffrey Sachs
With the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) severely stalled, what needs to be done to ensure the world is back on track? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Hafiz Marzukhi speaks to Prof Jeffrey Sachs, President, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN) about how education can contribute to reversing these trends.
Consider This: UK Elections - Foregone Conclusion? (Part 2)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in a fierce battle to retain his position, facing a formidable challenge from Labour leader Keir Starmer. As the Conservatives brace for what could be a historic defeat, all eyes are on whether Labour will secure a decisive victory. However, is it a foregone conclusion? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Hafiz Marzukhi speaks to Karisma Putera Abdul Rahman, Policy Research Analyst at Bait Al Amanah
Consider This: UK Elections - Foregone Conclusion? (Part 1)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in a fierce battle to retain his position, facing a formidable challenge from Labour leader Keir Starmer. As the Conservatives brace for what could be a historic defeat, all eyes are on whether Labour will secure a decisive victory. However, is it a foregone conclusion? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Hafiz Marzukhi speaks to UM's Assoc Prof Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, Deputy Executive Director (Development, Research, & Innovation), Asia Europe Institute
Consider This: Federalism - When States Want More
Recently Johor and Penang have made headlines with their push for a larger share of the taxes they collect. Johor, at the urging of regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, is seeking 20 to 30 percent of its collected taxes, while Penang is seeking 20 percent. These demands are raising important questions about decentralisation and financial autonomy. Additionally, Sabah and Sarawak’s unique position under the MA63 adds to the complexity of these discussions. How should Malaysia navigate the demands for greater funds? On the episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to economist Professor Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, and Dr Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS Malaysia.
Consider This: Digital Health Records — The Vision for Seamless Healthcare
While Malaysia has made efforts to digitalise its public-healthcare system over the last three decades, however recurring barriers have hampered the establishment of a nationwide system. This is according to Khazanah Research Institute’s recent publication: Digital Health Records In Malaysia: The Journey and the Way Forward. How prepared is Malaysia to embrace this digital shift, and what does it mean for healthcare providers and patients alike? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Rachel Gong, Deputy Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute, and Ilyana Syafiqa Mukhriz Mudaris, Research Associate at KRI.
Consider This: Bajau Laut (Part 2) — Statelessness & Displacement of Sea Nomads
More than 500 people from the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, were evicted by the authorities last week, and their stilt houses demolished, some even burned. The plight of the Bajau Laut has since dominated national attention after several video recordings of the incident were uploaded to social media with the hashtag #PandangKeSabah. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Vilashini Somiah, an anthropologist at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in Universiti Malaya, and Wong Kueng Hui, director of the independent youth group Mandiri Borneo.
Consider This: Bajau Laut (Part 1) — Homes Demolished in Controversial Eviction
More than 500 people from the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, were evicted by the authorities last week, and their stilt houses demolished, some even burned. The plight of the Bajau Laut has since dominated national attention after several video recordings of the incident were uploaded to social media with the hashtag #PandangKeSabah. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Mukmin Nantang, founder of the Sabah-based NGO Borneo Komrad, who first uploaded the now viral videos. For almost a decade, Borneo Komrad has been running Sekolah-Sekolah Alternatif, which provides free education for stateless, undocumented, and under-served children in Sabah.
Consider This: Malaysian Palm Oil (Part 1) — Impact of New EU Rules on Smallholders
The Malaysian palm oil sector, which is the second-largest producer globally after Indonesia, is facing mounting challenges, particularly from the European Union's incoming Deforestation Regulation. This regulation aims to halt the sale of any products linked to deforestation in its markets. Despite efforts to promote sustainability through certification schemes like MSPO and RSPO, questions remain: Can certification alone redeem palm oil's tarnished reputation? And how might the EU’s new regulation impact smallholders, who produce about 40% of the total output of palm oil in Malaysia? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Serina Rahman, Lecturer at the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at National University of Singapore, where her research interests include political ecology through the lens of environmental anthropology and ethnography.
Consider This: Malaysian Palm Oil (Part 2) — Navigating EU's Deforestation Regulation
The Malaysian palm oil sector, which is the second-largest producer globally after Indonesia, is facing mounting challenges, particularly from the European Union's incoming Deforestation Regulation. This regulation aims to halt the sale of any products linked to deforestation in its markets. Despite efforts to promote sustainability through certification schemes like MSPO and RSPO, questions remain: Can certification alone redeem palm oil's tarnished reputation? And how might the EU’s new regulation impact smallholders, who produce about 40% of the total output of palm oil in Malaysia? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Khor Yu Leng, Senior Economist at Segi Enam Advisors & Associate Director for Sustainability at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
Consider This: Population Trends (Part 2) — Living in an 8 Billion World
In November 2022, the world’s population surpassed 8 billion people—we’ve added a billion people in just 12 years and expected to add another 2 billion persons in the next 30 years. Crossing this milestone raises important questions concerning the impact of human activities on the planet and its ability to sustain life for humans and other species. What are the implications of 8 billion people on planetary health and sustainability? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which leads the monitoring of global demographic indicators. John Wilmoth was a speaker at the International Social Wellbeing Conference 2024, organised by EPF.