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The newly-minted Kedah Mentri Besar was reported saying that PH government left his administration with claims amounting to 1.5 billion ringgit from 40 logging companies. He now wants to give loggers areas to exploit in lieu. Its raised red flags. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Meenakshi Raman, President of Friends of the Earth Malaysia.

What challenges are there to the protection of the Ulu Muda forest reserve and its surrounding area -- home to megafauna like elephants and the primary source of water for more than 4 million people in Perlis, Kedah and Penang. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Surin Suksuwan, member of the World Commission on Protected Area.

There have been calls for stricter laws and heavier punishments against those found guilty of drinking and driving. Former transport minister Anthony Loke, and other DAP leaders, have come forward to urge the Perikatan Nasional government to speed up law amendments against drink driving. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

DG Hisham warned that it was also crucial for the Health Ministry to screen every individual currently incarcerated at other detention centres or risk a surge in new cases. Have these new high-Risk centres been ignored, in the public health response for Covid-19? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Tan Sri Zaman Khan, Former Director-General, Prisons Department.

Suhakam is one for few independent monitors of the country’s prisons, immigration detention centers as well as rehab centres. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan ask Jerald Joseph, Commissioner, Suhakam (National Human Rights Commission) what conditions in these places of incarceration could contribute to the spread of infectious disease.

In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, some Muslims had argued that virus was created by God to warn and punish humanity for its sins. And this meant that fighting the pandemic was futile, and Muslims should rely on God to protect the righteous. Can there be a balance between precaution and a reliance on God? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ustaz Dr Nurul Haq Shahrir, a consultant...

The demands of the public health campaign mean age-old traditions and customs have been changed or put on hold. This is creating anxiety among some of the faithful. How can this unease be addressed? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ustaz Dr Nurul Haq Shahrir, a consultant on religion for the United Nations in Malaysia.

The months of Ramadan and Syawal is often a time when Muslims come together at mosques and homes. But this year has been different. Perhaps this period of social distancing and isolation will allow for opportunities for Muslims to reflect on how the pandemic has tested Muslims' faith. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ustaz Dr Nurul Haq Shahrir, a consultant on religion for the United Natio...

Do the continued raids on the undocumented and a case of healthy legal migrant workers in immigration depots spotlight discriminatory practices that undermine the principles of public health.  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

What is the true scale of unemployment in Malaysia? Has the true extent of job losses been adequately understood Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to policy analyst Laurence Todd, Research Director, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.

European Commission President has called for a 21st century Marshall Plan for Europe’s economic recovery from the pandemic, invoking the Marshall plan. Should Malaysia also be thinking big in terms of policy measures to address economic recovery from the crisis? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Laurence Todd, Research Director, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.

Vietnam's low infection rates and a low death in the COVID-19 pandemic have captured headlines. But with an authoritarian system that does not allow for dissent how confident can we be the numbers believable? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Huong Le Thu, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The SARS epidemic is said to have had a salutary effect on Vietnam's public health response. But has it pivoted on authoritarian mechanisms of surveillance rather than a high investment on health infrastructure? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Huong Le Thu, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

With an economy integrated both with its giant neighbour China to the north as well as with the rest of the world, how does Vietnam plan to weather the global economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Huong Le Thu, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Parliament met today for 43 minutes and featured only the opening address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This is the first time that the House is convening since the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan looks at the most important conversations of the day.

Today's half-day Parliamentary sitting might have satisfied the Constitution, but has political turmoil truly been avoided? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, UMNO Youth Chief.

Is the absence of PKR at Pakatan Harapan's post-Parliament press conference evidence of the same fractious dynamics that plagued PH during its two years in government? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Liew Chin Tong, Dewan Negara Senator and Political Education Director for DAP.

Already disadvantaged - with hundreds of schools in disrepair or declared unfit - the Covid-19 crisis has nevertheless allowed committed teachers to work around limitations, to find ways to reach children most left behind by the closing of schools. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Jenifer Lasimbang, Assistant Minister of Education and Innovation, Sabah.

While parents hold on to the conventional notions of school - classes, the syllabus, exams - educators are having to adapt to the limits placed on teachers under the present circumstances.  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Cheryl Fernando, Country Director of Global School Leaders, a non-profit focused on providing leadership training for school principals from underperforming schools.

What opportunities can be seized at this time in terms of rethinking education? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Cheryl Fernando, Country Director of Global School Leaders, a non-profit focused on providing leadership training for school principals from underperforming schools.

The environmental sectors of Malaysia have been impacted by not just the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown but also from a new government that has yet to make clear its environmental policy. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, co-founders and editors of Macaranga, a portal covering issues of the environment and sustainability in Malaysia.

The downsides of the crisis both in the movement restriction, loss of economic activity as well as the diversion of funds is making its impact. What does it tell us about the work of environmental protection and the institutional arrangements it relies on?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, co-founders, and editors of Macaranga, a portal covering issues of the...

Preceding the COVID-19 crisis was the political crisis which saw the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. Unlike PH, the Perikatan Nasional government has no manifesto nor as a new direction emerged. What needs to be done? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, co-founders and editors of Macaranga, a portal covering issues of the environment and sustainabil...

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has advised Malaysians to change their mindset when it comes to jobs, and accept any work that they can get in view of rising unemployment. Along with news of yet another raid on undocumented migrant workers, against the advice of public health experts. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan take up the most important conversations of the day.

Kedah is the fourth state government to change hands since Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pulled Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan in February. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan ask Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, Political Analyst, Universiti Utara Malaysia how this affects the management of both the public health response as well as the economic fall-out.