Consider This

Recently the Government removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons List of controlled substances, as part of a move to tax its use in vapes and e-cigarettes. What are the implications of such a move? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Sulastri Samsudin, Chief Pharmacist at the National Poison Centre, and Associate Professor Dr Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin, Deputy Coordinator of the...

The Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 is meant to serve as the overarching planning document for KL, providing a framework for spatial planning and development which will inform all of the city’s development policies and local planning for the next 20 years. How do we ensure we get the city’s master plan right? On this episode of #ConsiderThis, Melisa Idris speaks to Dr Shuhana Shamsuddin, Presiden...

Are we ready to consider expunging the criminal records of former convicted drug users who have been clean for 5 years? On #ConsiderThis we ask the guests if Malaysia is ready to reform drug policies in line with a rehabilitative approach to substance abuse.

Recently Pusat KOMAS released the annual Malaysia Racism report for 2022, following its year of monitoring racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia in Malaysia. Why do these trends of racism persist and how do we break them? On #ConsiderThis we ask our guest about fighting back against the politics of fear and supremacy.

Dewan Rakyat has appointed the chair and deputy for the Public Accounts Committee, as well as the compositions of the Parliamentary Special Select Committees. Oversight committees play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and good governance, so how can they be empowered to better serve their mandate?  On #ConsiderThis we ask our guests about strengthening parliamentary oversight committees. 

The Education Ministry says it will hold another special recruitment of new teachers to address the current shortage of teachers nationwide, especially in the subjects of Bahasa Melayu, English, and Islamic Studies. Will a one-off recruitment solve the shortage of teachers, once and for all? On #ConsiderThis we ask our guests about short- and long-term solutions to address the shortage of teachers...

Are the proposed amendments to strengthen child protection laws sufficient to close current legal loopholes? On #ConsiderThis we ask our guests about the issues faced by child sexual offence victims in the criminal justice system.

The Bill to abolish the mandatory death penalty has been tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat, along with amendments to abolish "natural life imprisonment" and to replace "life imprisonment" with a capped duration. On #ConsiderThis we ask our guests about sentencing reform and the shift from retribution to rehabilitation.

The February earthquakes compounded the already dire humanitarian crisis for millions of Syrians, who were already living as refugees from 12 years of civil war. On #ConsiderThis we ask our guest for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also known as Doctors Without Borders.

The Program Perumahan Rakyat project, or PPR, is a programme meant to offer transition housing for the urban poor, with the hope that they would eventually improve their financial prospects and ‘graduate’ to own or rent homes in the private market. It’s been more than 2 decades now since the PPR project was launched in 2002—has it achieved what it set out to do? On this episode of Consider This, M...

Some employers say they now prefer to hire men because paid maternity leave has been extended to 98 days. On #ConsiderThis we ask the guests why there's resistance & how best to address unintended consequences of gender-sensitive policies.

Not only have we lost 350,000ha of forest between 2017-2021 but we're set to lose another 2.3mil hectares already earmarked for deforestation. Tonight on International Day of Forests we speak to Adam Farhan about RimbaWatch's exposé of Malaysia's deforestation crisis #ConsiderThis 

Expectations are high for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Administration to continue the reform agenda that started in 2018. But has it been mere lip service? Tonight on #ConsiderThis we speak to the guest about CSO Platform for Reform's report on the Govt’s progress on core reforms in its first 100 days.

In a report released in August 2022, the UN human rights office found China to have committed serious human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The report cited credible evidence of torture, forced fertility controls that have led to a dramatic drop in the birth rate, and the violent suppression of Uyghur culture and faith. Melisa Idris speaks to Nurmuhammad Majid, chairperson of...

On #ConsiderThis @Melisa_Idris speaks to political analysts @dririshsea & Ibrahim Suffian to assess the first 100 days of Anwar Ibrahim’s prime ministership.

As Perikatan Nasional's Head of the Education Committee, what reforms and policies will Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah be championing and challenging in this role? Tonight on #ConsiderThis we ask him about constructively shadowing the education portfolio for the Opposition.

PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet had fewer than 90 days to draw up a new #Budget2023, did they err on the side of caution? Tonight on #ConsiderThis we speak to Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim about the thinking behind Budget 2023.

In his #Budget2023 speech PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim spoke of plans to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act. What specific reforms should be made? Tonight on #ConsiderThis we speak to the guests about stronger protections for those who speak out.

Budget 2023 was the largest budget on record but is it gender-responsive? Healthcare received the 2nd biggest allocation, will it be enough to address the sector's many issues? On #ConsiderThis we ask the guests for their initial reactions.

Do you feel empowered as a consumer to exercise your rights? The right to choose, to safety, to be informed, and to be heard. Tonight on #ConsiderThis we speak to our guest about advocating for informed, empowered & responsible consumers in Malaysia.

How do we create true diversity & inclusion in Malaysian classrooms if we can’t talk about identity-based discrimination in schools? Tonight on #ConsiderThis we ask the guests how to talk to schoolchildren about racism & discrimination.

This February 24 marks one year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However the conflict has been ongoing for several years, when Russian forces annexed Crimea in 2014. On this episode of Consider This, Melisa Idris speaks to Olexiy Haran, Professor of Comparative Politics  at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine.

What do MPs use their Constituency Development Funds for? And what are the expectations of constituents for those funds? On #ConsiderThis we ask the guests if this is an opportunity to reform patronage politics in Malaysia.