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Experts have warned that Sabah's healthcare system will be at risk of reaching its breaking point in the next few weeks, if the number Covid-19 cases continue to rise at the current rate. Today alone Sabah saw an increase of 489 case. To find out what’s really happening on the ground, we have joining us on the show tonight from Kota Kinabalu, Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Anbarasu Ra...

The district of Semporna has been dubbed "Little Wuhan" - the worst-hit district in Sabah with over 600 active Covid-19 cases. What local conditions feed into this perfect storm? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Anbarasu Ramalingam, Sabah Chapter Head, MERCY Malaysia & Principal Assistant Director of Medical Planning, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (KKM), Kota Kinabalu.

After some initial confusion Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today clarified that the CMCO will only be for the sub-district of Klang and not other areas such as Port Klang and Kapar. Why the initial confusion and had been its impact? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Chairperson, Committee on State Investment, Industry & Commerce, and SMEs.

This afternoon leader of the Federal Opposition Anwar Ibrahim issued a statement that he has been granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara next Tuesday. This comes 16 days after he first claimed to have “a strong, formidable and convincing majority” of parliamentary support to form a new government.  While supporters argue that he is following his Constitutional right, d...

Amidst claims by Anwar Ibrahim that he has a parliamentary majority, questions arise about Prime Minister’s Muhyiddin’s own majority. Could this matter be resolved if a vote of no-confidence to be debated? Or are we likely to see a prolonged period of instability? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Rais Hussin, former Bersatu Supreme Council member.

We begin with the special address by the Prime Minister who ruled out a nationwide lockdown for now, warning that it could cause "societal and economic collapse". He also insisted that the authorities do not practise double standards in enforcing self-quarantine for those who tested positive for Covid-19. He didn’t however address the problem of prisons and over crowding that seem to be providing...

Over the last few days, expressions of dissent -- either in the form of online satire or banners -- have drawn the ire of both the authorities and some social groups. In the recent past police reports made against the satirical site, Bermana but more recently police in Ipoh were reported to be investigating a banner which blames politicians for self-serving behaviour during the pandemic. The quest...

Satire that draws attention to the abuse of power and the lavish lifestyles of the political elite has gotten many a professional editorial cartoonist in trouble. They are often celebrated by free speech advocates. But what about anonymous voices who take to walls, in the form of graffiti, or string up banners, mocking politicians; do they have a right to free speech too? Melisa Idris and Sharaad...

In March, Malaysia collaborated with the WHO in a "Solidarity Trial" to test several drugs globally in treating Covid-19 patients. However despite proactive signalling late-stage clinical trials are being conducted elsewhere, and not in Malaysia. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr. Akhmal Yusof Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Research Malaysia we will discussing how the country might...

Clinical Research Centre (CRC) Sarawak General Hospital is the first facility in the country to be accredited under the Phase 1 Unit Accreditation Program by National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency but he has failed to clinch any Phase 1 First in Humans trials. What are the hurdles to marketing Malaysia better in the world of clinical research? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr. Akhmal...

Sarawak Chief Minister & GPS Chairman, Abang Johari Tun Openg called Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement "weird" and pledged to continue his coalitions support for the Perikatan Nasional government. But with reported unhappiness of GPS over MA63 negotiations, is support from Sarawak still in play. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Political Analyst, Jeniri Amir.

Bersih 2.0 has responded to the announcement that those who are Covid-19 positive, and patients under observation in hospitals, will not be allowed to travel to voting centres to cast their ballots in Saturday's Sabah state elections. Bersih insists that voting is a constitutional right and cannot be denied, even during a pandemic. They’ve also cautioned the Election Commission that the EC could f...

Earlier today PKR president Anwar Ibrahim claimed that he has majority support from MPs to form a new government. He however refused to disclose how many MPs currently support him -- leaving us with few details to assess the strength of his bid. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Hamidin Hamid, Political Analyst, Universiti Malaya.

Last Saturday, Malaysia announced it will be joining 172 countries to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative, known as COVAX, a pooled procurement mechanism for new Covid-19 vaccines that aims to provide participating economies fair and equitable access to vaccines, by pooling purchasing power from these nations across a range of candidate vaccines. Melisa Idris and Sharaad...

Taking into consideration the reality of 'vaccine nationalism' and the free-market principles by which pharmaceutical companies operate, is the COVAX facility the best deal Malaysia, and countries similar to us, can hope for, in terms of access to the vaccine. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Sangeeta Shashikant, Legal Advisor, Third World Network.

If a vaccine is found and the COVAX mechanism works as it is intended to, what will be the other processes that will have to be developed and decisions that will have to be made - especially with regard to the priority segments of populations receiving the first tranche of  vaccines. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Khor Swee Kheng, Founder, Malaysian Health Coalition and Sangeeta Shash...

Former Appeals Court judge VC George has urged the Dewan Negara to reconsider amendments to the Road Transport Bill, which is aimed at curbing driving under the influence of alcohol. The amendments were passed by Parliament on August 26th, and will be tabled in the Upper House this week. According to VC George, the amendments take away the discretion of the judges in determining the punishment to...

#PulangMengundiSabah is an initiative to help Sabahan voters living outside the Territory return to cast their ballot in the state election this weekend. This volunteer-run campaign was launched only last month but so far has received close to 6,000 applications. Laudable as it is, is this initiative proof of the failure of the Electoral system and the Election Commission? Melisa Idris and Sharaad...

Over RM100,000 has been raised  which that sends just over 250 voters back to Sabah. But there is still time to make a donation and fulfil the aspirations of fellow Malaysians in their time of need. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Aaron Denison, Co-Coordinator of Pulang Mengundi Sabah.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in screen time for children around the world, from online learning to social media. And so issues relating to Child Online Protection have become more critical than ever before. The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, will soon be launching its report on how children in Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand, use social media. Melisa Idris a...

The intended outcomes from UNICEF’s "Our Live Online" Report includes enable children’s understanding of child online safety, building digital resilience, facilitating parents’ understanding of the digital world to enable them to be better guardians and providing insights to key stakeholders including relevant Government Ministries and agencies to further strengthen child online protection support...

What lessons are we drawing from the pandemic as it puts tremendous stress on existing support systems? And which stakeholders need to be at the table to chart a more resilient and sustainable future for children? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Malaysia.

Tomorrow, September 18th, is the deadline for countries to join the global Covid-19 vaccine access plan, known as COVAX. So far, at least 80 countries have signed up to COVAX, which is a platform that will support the research and development, as well as the manufacturing, of a wide range of Covid-19 vaccine candidates, and the ensuing price negotiations. The coordinator of COVAX describes it as a...

Today, the Former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman officially registered a new political party — the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, or better known as Muda. This new entrant to the political scene will no doubt put all political parties and their youth wings on notice -- potentially poaching their next generation. But is the threat real? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kutta...

This year’s PAS Muktamar, or annual congress, is the first to take place after the party became part of the federal government in March. While observers note broader conversations at the congress, but what are the new areas that PAS will have to engage with? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Syahir Sulaiman, Political Secretary to the PAS President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang.