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According to the Department of Statistics, Malaysia's unemployment rate for April is now at 5%. This is the highest it’s been in the last 30 years -- since 1990. However, some economists are warning that the worst is yet to come, especially in the second quarter numbers. As Covid-19 infection numbers drop, will this be the number to watch? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most importa...

Wet markets in Asia came in for global attention when it was thought that they could be the source of the Coronavirus and the Covid-19 pandemic. But here in Malaysia concerns have centred on the presence of migrant workers and also as a possible site of job opportunities during the expected recession. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Rajiv Rishyakaran, Bukit Gasing State Assemblyperson in...

Selangor recently passed legislation prohibiting foreigners from owning business licences, running temporary businesses or being employed by such businesses. The ban also applies to foreign spouses of Malaysian women and men. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Rodziah Ismail, Selangor State Exco for Entrepreneur Development and Rural, Village and Traditional Village Development on the ration...

The Attorney-General has filed an application to Malaysiakini for contempt over readers' comments in an article last week. The AG claims that the comments were a "demeaning” attack on the judiciary. Together with investigations into a Tweet by former a Deputy Minister and activist Siti Kassim, the media comes into sharp relief tonight. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important c...

Well-known Filipino journalist, Maria Ressa, who co-founded the Rappler news site, has been convicted of cyber libel.  Maria was found guilty along with Reynaldo Santos Junior, in connection with a 2012 story on links between a senior judge and a wealthy businessman. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan ask John Nery, Chair of Asian Center for Journalism at Ateneo de Manila University, on how this case...

The use of libel laws to silence critics of the powerful - elected officials in particular – are being used across the region, almost in a copycat fashion. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ratna Ariyanti, Southeast Asia Coordinator, International Federation of Journalists Asia Pacific.

Last week, the Education Ministry announced a staggered approach to the reopening of public schools from the 24th of June -- beginning with exam-year students in Form 5 and Upper Six. What are the lessons that Malaysia can learn from other countries, as schools across the world start to reopen? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education for...

What are the considerations for governments and policymakers when planning for the reopening of schools considering pre-pandemic inequalities are deepened by the current crisis. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Does this crisis provide an opportunity for policy makers to rethink education - addressing not only the digital divide but also being focus on what is central to the role of the school in society. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

All public transportation services will now be allowed to operate at full capacity under RMCO. This includes public and express buses, trains and LRTs, taxis and e-hailing services, as well as ferries and flights. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

What’s behind the rationale for a staggered approach to opening schools beginning with older students facing major exams, when the many countries have taken the opposite strategy, bringing younger students who are more dependent on a structured learning environment back into schools first. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Chan Soon Seng, CEO, Teach For Malaysia.

How damaging has the closure of schools been for students; which group of students have been THE most affected and can the 'damage' can be reversed in the coming months? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ganakumaran Subramanian, Head of School of Education, University of Nottingham Malaysia.

LimKokWing University has sparked online outrage over a billboard depicting its founder as the (quote) “King of Africa”. It created a buzz on social media, spawning a petition leading to the removal of the billboard. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

With interstate travel possible again under the RMCO, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture today launched a campaign called the Domestic Tourism Recovery Programme. However, will this be enough of a lifeline for a sector of the economy reeling from the collapse of mass tourism and international travel? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to CS Lim, Vice President of the Malaysian Associatio...

A survey by the Malaysian Association of Hotels, found that hotels in Langkawi and Sabah are expected to be the last to recover from the impact of Covid-19 -- as these two states are highly dependent on international tourists. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Hezri Adnan, CEO of the Langkawi Development Authority, which is a government agency responsible for stimulating key sectors in Lang...

As a member of the World Health Organisation, what has our relationship been over the period of the period of the pandemic?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Lo Ying-Ru, Head of Mission and WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

Three months is a long time in a pandemic. What do we know now that we didn’t know at the onset if this public health crisis? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Lo Ying-Ru, Head of Mission and WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

When a treatment or a vaccine is eventually developed for Covid-19, what mechanisms are available to ensure there is equitable distribution of the vaccine? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Lo Ying-Ru, Head of Mission and WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

Bersatu (PPBM) is continuing to take centre stage with observers now waiting to see what the main contenders will do, and its impact on the current government. Will today’s developments, including the resignation of the Deputy Works Minister, change the course of the country’s politics. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Childcare centres, or Taskas, across the country will now be allowed to resume operations but they’ll have to comply with the strict guidelines to ensure hygiene and safe distancing practices are observed. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Anne Sivanathan, Committee member, National Association of Early Childhood Care and Education Malaysia (NAECCEM).

Has the design of the Covid-19 SOPs - in terms of teaching, learning and childcare - taken into consideration the realities of facilities and resources of childcare centres? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Noor Syahiza Mohammed, Founder, Blooming Tots House Shah Alam.

Controversy was sparked by the winner of Miss Universe Malaysia 2017, Samantha Katie James when she claimed that African Americans "chose to be born as coloured" about the ongoing protest in the USA. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is seen by many observers as the source of the current Administration’s instability and challenged legitimacy. The two inter-twined battles taking place within the party are the command of the party and control of the government. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

Factionalism in Bersatu is shaping national politics in the same way UMNO’s factionalism did decades earlier, writes our guest. But how did the relatively small and new Bersatu came to have such an impact on the stability of the current government? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate of the Asia Research Institute, at University of Nottingham Malaysi...

Yesterday the Human Resources Ministry announced a delay enforcing the amendment to the Workers' Housing Act which would have required employers to improve housing for their workers. Is this another instance of good policy but bad timing? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.