Consider This

About a year ago, on the 23rd of June 2020, Beijing introduced a National Security Law in Hong Kong -- in response to the mass pro-democracy protests that had turned violent. The law had essentially reduced Hong Kong's judicial autonomy, and made it easier to punish demonstrators and activists. It criminalises secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces -- with the maximum sentence li...

About a year ago, on the 23rd of June 2020, Beijing introduced a National Security Law in Hong Kong -- in response to the mass pro-democracy protests that had turned violent. The law had essentially reduced Hong Kong's judicial autonomy, and made it easier to punish demonstrators and activists. It criminalises secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces -- with the maximum sentence li...

Only a few months ago, Indonesia seemed to have had a handle on its Covid-19 cases. But now it’s in the midst of one of Asia’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks, and has been said to be the epicentre of the pandemic in Southeast Asia. What caused this most recent wave of Covid-19 cases and how has the Indonesian government responded? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to epidemiologist Dr Dicky Budiman,...

Only a few months ago, Indonesia seemed to have had a handle on its Covid-19 cases. But now it’s in the midst of one of Asia’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks, and has been said to be the epicentre of the pandemic in Southeast Asia. How does Indonesia’s devolved political and administrative structures aid or hinder the application of coordinated strategies? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tane H...

With a record high of more than 11,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, factories have been at the receiving end of blame for the ineffectual lockdown. With public anger and frustration directed at those who have allowed factories to continue to operate during MCO, there are now calls for complete closure till the Covid surge eases. Have factory owners and managers failed to maintain stric...

With a record high of more than 11,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, factories have been at the receiving end of blame for the ineffectual lockdown. With public anger and frustration directed at those who have allowed factories to continue to operate during MCO, there are now calls for complete closure till the Covid surge eases. But is industry the reason for the unrelentingly high dai...

Klang Valley hospitals are buckling under the surge of Covid-19 cases. Could this crisis have been anticipated & planned for?  Tonight on #ConsiderThis Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris ask Datuk Dr. Christopher Lee, Azrul Mohd Khalib & Dr. Michael Jeyakumar what immediate action is needed now.

1½ years into the pandemic, Singapore is shifting gears & now preparing to live with Covid-19 as an endemic virus. Tonight on #ConsiderThis Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris speak to epidemiologist Dr Hannah Clapham about the Singapore model, in which Covid ceases to paralyse daily life.

When he withdrew his party from PN did UMNO President Zahid Hamidi set in motion changes to the political landscape? Or is it still a stalemate? Tonight on #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris & Sharaad Kuttan ask Merdeka Center’s Ibrahim Suffian, UMNO’s Bastien Onn & lawyer Lim Wei Jiet what’s next. 

How successful will the appointments of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob & Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein be in stabilising the PN coalition? Tonight on #ConsiderThis Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris speak to UMNO Youth’s Mohd Hafeez Che Mat & political analysts Dr Bridget Welsh & Assoc Prof Dr Hamidin Hamid about next manoeuvres. 

Parliament is scheduled to sit for 5 days starting July 26, after being shuttered for more than 6 months. In a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the special Parliamentary sitting will be to explain the National Recovery Plan and to amend laws and regulations required to allow a hybrid proceeding. What incentives are there for parliament to act in a bipartisan way? Melisa Idris and...

Parliament is scheduled to sit for 5 days starting July 26, after being shuttered for more than 6 months. In a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the special Parliamentary sitting will be to explain the National Recovery Plan and to amend laws and regulations required to allow a hybrid proceeding. Has the fears of losing power been the chief reason for silencing Parliament? If so,...

Parliament is scheduled to sit for 5 days starting July 26, after being shuttered for more than 6 months. In a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the special Parliamentary sitting will be to explain the National Recovery Plan and to amend laws and regulations required to allow a hybrid proceeding. All of this comes amid rumblings of an UMNO mutiny within Perikatan Nasional. What wi...

Despite criticism over Australia’s slow pace of vaccination, the country is expected to reach at least 70% of the adult population by year-end. Tonight on #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris & Sharaad Kuttan ask Prof Catherine Bennett about contested public health policies.

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve & mutate, let’s explore the latest findings about how well vaccines work against emerging variants; global conversations about vaccination strategy, and whether Malaysia should, and can, adapt to these new findings. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Dr Victor Hoe Chee Wai Abdullah, Head of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of M...

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve & mutate, let’s explore the latest findings about how well vaccines work against emerging variants; global conversations about vaccination strategy, and whether Malaysia should, and can, adapt to these new findings. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, Senior Lecturer and Co-Lead, Infection & Immunity Research Streng...

Typically, Covid-19 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms recover after 2 to 6 weeks. While most patients recover from Covid and return to normal health, there are some patients that present with symptoms that can last for weeks or even months afterwards. This persistent state of ill health is known as ‘Long Covid’ or Post-Covid Syndrome. But how many covid-19 survivors here suffer from the effe...

Our understanding of how to diagnose and manage ‘Long Covid’ may be still evolving, but preparing policy responses & managing interventions might have to begin now. What do doctors working with patients recovering from Covid encounter and what strategies are they using to help them? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Anwar Suhaimi, Consultant Rehabilitation Physician, Universiti Malay...

A call for policy changes to the contract system for junior doctors may culminate in a one-day walkout on 26 July #HartalDoktorKontrak. Tonight on #ConsiderThis Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris speak to Dr. Mustapha Kamal, Dr. Vijay Ganasan & Dr. Mathen Nair about problems faced by contract medical staff. 

Sungai Buloh Hospital as the country’s main Covid-19 treatment facility has had to adapt quickly to keep up with the evolving disease.  Tonight on #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris & Sharaad Kuttan speak to infectious diseases specialist Dr. Benedict Sim about the adaptability of our healthcare system. #AWANInews

A prosperous middle class is the foundation for a robust consumption-driven economy, but the pandemic has caused many to slip down the economic ladder & eroded living standards. Tonight on #ConsiderThis Sharaad Kuttan & Melisa Idris ask economist Dr Jomo K.S. about Malaysia’s shrinking middle class. 

 Penang’s Transport Master Plan & South Reclamation project are part of the state’s development agenda. But it comes with a price not everyone is willing to pay. Tonight on #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris & Sharaad Kuttan ask State Exco Zairil Khir Johari & economist Dr Lim Mah Hui about the trade-offs involved. 

In the early months of the pandemic, herd immunity was seen as the end goal and the way out of the pandemic -- that if enough people were vaccinated and immune to the coronavirus, it would limit the spread of Covid-19, and permit society to return to normal. But as the pandemic enters its second year, the thinking has begun to shift. That even with vaccination efforts, new challenges mean the thre...

As the Covid-19 pandemic enters its second year, the thinking about “herd immunity as a way to suppress the virus has begun to shift. That even with vaccination efforts, new challenges and possibilities are on this horizon with new vaccine, vaccine strategies and also treatments to add to the public health measures. What do we have to work towards now? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datu...

In her opinion piece for the South Morning China Post, “In Malaysia’s constant crisis, conditions are perfect for Muhyiddin the politician” our guest makes the argument that the Prime Minister, Muhyddin Yassin and his government is more control of politics dynamics than his rivals and detractors care to admit. What options remain before the PM? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to political an...