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Two days ago, Pfizer Inc and BioNTech announced that its experimental Covid-19 vaccine has shown 90% effectiveness at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection, based on initial trial results. The Ministry of Health says it will adopt a wait-and-see approach and plans to review the data first. But what we do know is that delivery and storage of the vaccine will present a challenge. The vaccine mus...

The National Association of Private Educational Institutions has raised concerns over the domino effect that postponed SPM exams could have on private higher education institutions. With January intakes affected, will this move deal a fatal blow to many private institutions that employ tens of thousands of people? What could have been done to mitigate the negative consequences of this policy, or c...

Today Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik launched a new movement called #UntukMalaysia, which he says aims to find solutions for issues surrounding the education sector. Not just students and parents and teachers. But everyone from private universities, to canteen operators, to school bus drivers. Do you think all the significant and wide-ranging consequences of this policy to close schools had been...

Today the Perikatan Nasional government presented Budget 2021, the much-anticipated plan for dealing with the on-going Covid-19 public health crisis and a global recession that has all but obliterated large sectors of the economy. Has it lived up to expectation? Melisa Idris, Ibrahim Sani and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Shahril Hamdan, Information Chief, UMNO and Wong Chen, MP of Subang.

Today the Perikatan Nasional government presented Budget 2021, the much-anticipated plan for dealing with the on-going Covid-19 public health crisis and a global recession that has all but obliterated large sectors of the economy. Has it lived up to expectation? Melisa Idris, Sharaad Kuttan and Ibrahim Sani speak to Jennifer Chang, Tax Partner, PwC Malaysia and Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Forme...

Today the Perikatan Nasional government presented Budget 2021, the much-anticipated plan for dealing with the on-going Covid-19 public health crisis and a global recession that has all but obliterated large sectors of the economy. Has it lived up to expectation? Melisa Idris, Sharaad Kuttan and Ibrahim Sani speaks to Theresa Goh, Tax Partner, Deloitte Malaysia and Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executiv...

Today the Perikatan Nasional government presented Budget 2021, the much-anticipated plan for dealing with the on-going Covid-19 public health crisis and a global recession that has all but obliterated large sectors of the economy. Has it lived up to expectation? Melisa Idris, Sharaad Kuttan and Ibrahim Sani speaks to to Tai Lai Kok, Head of Tax, KPMG and Veerinderjeet Singh, President, Malaysian I...

From tomorrow until December 15th, Dewan Rakyat sessions will be limited to only 80 MPs at any one time -- 41 from the Government, and 39 from the Opposition. Sessions during this sitting will also be reduced to half a day -- from 10am until 2pm. According to the Speaker of the House, these measures are to curb the spread of Covid-19. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to lawyer New Sin Yew.

The Malaysian Health Coalition is calling for the 2021 federal budget to commit at least 4% of national GDP to the public health care system. This is double the current allocation to MoH. While the DAP-linked think tank Research for Social Advancement advocates greater spending including on social safety nets. We speak to their representatives. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Khor Swee...

In view of the serious situation with Covid-19 in the territory, there have been calls for more healthcare spending in Sabah. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Chan Foong Hin, MP for Kota Kinabalu about the current deficits in the public health care system, and how much support should go into long term versus short term healthcare goals.

Election night in the US has turned into the morning after. Even as millions of postal ballots have yet to be counted, Donald Trump has already claimed victory in the US presidential race. He went on to allege "major fraud on the American people" - without providing evidence - and added that he was going to the Supreme Court to demand that “all voting stop”. The contrast with his main rival Democr...

What happens if a player in the democratic game cannot tolerate the idea of losing? What if players demonise each other to the extent that they present rivals as existential threats to the nation’s survival. As the US deals in a surprisingly order poll, and results keep the race competitive, what should outsiders keep they eye on?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Derick Becker is Assistan...

The Dewan Rakyat session for today was cut short to 1pm, after several Parliamentary officers tested positive for Covid-19, with a lack of clarity as to if half-day sittings will continue in the following days. PKR Batu MP P Prabakaran has questioned the motive behind the decision, saying he hopes this is not a political strategy to bury some of the motions brought by the Opposition. Melisa Idris...

Today was the first day of Parliament sitting for this term -- all eyes are focused on Budget 2021, as well as Covid-19 specific measures. But the first day has already been shortened to a mere 3 hours. Will there be enough time in this sitting for an adequate deliberation of Parliamentary business by our elected MP? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Fuziah Salleh, MP of Kuantan, PKR Women...

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker today urged MPs to set aside political differences and disputes, but will this talk about bipartisanship is something that we can truly expect to see realised beyond the platitudes? What incentives are there for the government of the day to reach across the aisle? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Prof Fauzi Hamid, Political Analyst, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

More than 10 thousand police personnel, including officers, have been placed under quarantine -- with over 200 testing positive for Covid-19, and undergoing treatment. The police force has over 100,000 members in all divisions, so that’s close to 10% of the force under quarantine. This has put a huge strain on the deployment of personnel, and the police are now considering the situation as a serio...

The Perak State Legislative Assembly has passed a Bill to amend the State Constitution to lower the eligible age of candidates from 21 to 18. The amendment was passed after a unanimous support from all 59 state assemblymen. Part of the Pakatan Harapan agenda, why did this Perikatan Nasional state government push it through? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Howard Lee, Pasir Pinji State Ass...

Enabled by state level legislation, younger Malaysians aligns with international practice to empower youth in the political process. What happens next? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Meor Muhammad Hakeem is a campaigner for Undi Eighteen.

The Attorney-General's Chambers has decided there will be no further action against Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Khairuddin Aman Razali, for violating a quarantine order in July. The AGC found there was no home surveillance or observation order issued to the minister for him to observe the quarantine, as stipulated under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act. But...

The newest measures under the CMCO makes Work From Home for industries under MITI as well as the civil service. But when it was announced yesterday there was much less clarity about the directive. And even with the clarification issued today, it isn't clear how it will be implemented,if compliance will be monitored, what sanctions will be applied or even how long this directive is meant for. Melis...

Were workers consulted in the design of these conditional ‘lockdowns’ that impact their work and livelihoods? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani, Acting President, Malaysian Trades Union Congress, about what they would like to see addressed in the deliberations by policymakers and government leaders.

The Population and Housing Census is conducted across the country, once every 10 years. The idea is for official data from this census to be used to inform how billions of Ringgit in federal funding will be spent each year, and help fuel research about issues and communities for the next decade. But how true is that? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief S...

Complaints about official data has been that important data is not being collected, that available data is not disaggregated making it less useful and finally that statistics seem “carefully managed and presented in a way that often obscures crucial details”. Are these criticisms valid? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician at the Department o...

One of the conclusions of a Khazanah Research Institute discussion paper was that Malaysia is way behind many of its regional peers on many indices of data transparency.  While the government has made an official commitment to open data and to “embrace transparency” in its midterm review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, is there the political will to do so? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk...

Anwar Ibrahim was at Bukit Aman today for questioning following his meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Tuesday. It's understood that the PDRM has opened 6 police cases against Anwar since he announced he had majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. Also prominent in the news today, details of UMNO’s demands for its continued support to Perikatan Nasional came out in the open after an initial c...