Pressing Matters

We talk to Khairie about his recent article in The Edge entitled: Breaking the Cycle of Inequality. Khairie shares his findings while he was working on the story based on Khazanah Research Institute's latest report: The State of Households 2018- Different Realities. We discuss the a number of big issues that came out from the report such as the widening income gap and gender inequality. Listen in....

We discuss Guna's latest article in Malaysiakini entitled: “Tread carefully with MMC-Gamuda contract issue”. Is there more than meets the eye when it comes to the newsflow coming out from the MRT2 story? We take a look at some pertinent questions to be addressed on the matter. Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having just returned recently on a press trip to the US with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir, Datuk Wong Sai Wan shares with us his observations from the trip -  where Tun M had a total of 18 meetings or events to attend in his five-day trip. He also talked about the differences between Tun M's recent trip to the US and the former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's trip there last year in...

Umno recently concluded its 2018 Annual General Assembly (PAU) -- its first after losing Putrajaya in GE14. In the lead up to PAU2018, a lot of expectations were put on party leadership to spell out the future direction of UMNO. Veteran politics journalist Mohsin shares his thoughts on the outcome of PAU2018 and the future of UMNO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guna talks to us about his newly launched book -- 1MDB, The Scandal That Brought Down A Government. It is the first book to hit stores on the big 1MDB story. He also shares his experience working in The Star and being told to "lay off" the story as 1MDB was "out of bounds" in terms of writing stories. We also get his views on what's next to this 1MDB story. Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

We talk to Sharon Tan on her experience as a freelance journalist. She shares with us what made her take the plunge as well as the pros and cons of freelancing. We go behind the stories she contributed recently to New York Times - how did she go about "fixing" and working on those stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in China for a five-day official visit at China's Premier Li Keqiang's invitation. The visit is special because Dr Mahathir is returning to China as Prime Minister after a 17-year gap. We go behind the scenes of this trip with Leslie Lau who was part of the press group that followed the Prime Minister to China. Leslie shared with us his take on...

For Pressing Matters, independent business analyst P. Gunasegaram dissects  Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s comments that there’s been a ‘robbery’ of the missing RM19.4 billion in the GST Trust Account and how he intends to cover the story going forward. Also in his crosshairs: Tun Dr Mahathir’s desire for a third national car, and whether this represents folly o...

Dominating headlines for this past week has been the situation in Gua Musang in Kelantan, as tensions ran high when a blockade that was set-up by the Temiar tribe from the Orang Asli community was destroyed by men believed to be ad-hoc workers for a plantation. Sheridan Mahavera, journalist with The Malaysian Insight who has been following the developments closely, talks about the "unseen hands" b...

Media practitioners and academics are part of the conversation on reform following the 14th General Elections on May 9. While a consensus on all remedies  for all that ails the media - state broadcaster, commercial media as well as the social media - hasn’t been achieved, there are some common values: democratise, make inclusive, serve the public. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The sovereign fund and its leadership have been creating headlines since the man who set it up cast doubt on the direction its taken. The offer of resignation by Khazanah’s Board has raised questions about the intention of the Pakatan Harapan government, the assessment of performance - and loyalty - of its members as well as if these moves will have a negative impact on economy. Also in the...

How do journalists in Indonesia and Malaysia handle the often contentious relationship between journalism, religion, and politics? In her book 'Mediating Islam', Janet Steele examines the day-to-day reporting practices of journalists from five news organisations: Sabili, Tempo, and Republika in Indonesia; Harakah and Malaysiakini in Malaysia. A longtime scholar of the region, Steele explores how t...

Tatler's Generation-T aspires to capture a new and younger generation of readers, a platform that aims to distinguish itself as a satellite over brand Tatler. We dive into the thinking behind Generation-T and what it has to offer its younger Asian audience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since May 9 and the unexpected to victory of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, the media landscape has changed dramatically, especially for media seen to be biased towards the former Administration. Today we explore changing viewing patterns and renewed demands for good journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the most serious electoral defeat in its history, UMNO, the cornerstone of the Barisan Nasional, nevertheless is in the public eye as it resets to hold on to its support base. Torn between continuity and change, today we explore a ground-up view of the party elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pakatan Harapan government has asked for patience among Malaysians in implementing several election promises, with debt allegedly being made a 'scapegoat'. Guna assesses the progress and financial impact of Pakatan's policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist and Columnist with the Malay Mail Boo Su-Lyn can now add author to her title. Her new book 'Unapologetic' is a compilation of columns and essays she has written over the years, which discusses various issues ranging from race and religion to democracy. Boo presents us with her ideals and vision of a Malaysia that can be built through individual empowerment, secularism, and civil liberti...

Former journalist with The Star and CNN, NV Raman was an external advisor for Anwar Ibrahim while the later was Deputy Prime Minister back in the mid-90s. Today we speak about those heady days, when the Anwar and Dr Mahathir partnership was celebrated; their equally intense falling out and how their courtroom reconciliation brought down the Barisan Nasional. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Malaysians have been alarmed by the revelation that the Federal government's debt servicing obligations have exceeded RM1 trillion. Guna breaks down the numbers and analyzes the intent behind Tabung Harapan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran journalist recounts an exchange in which Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed something of his thinking about politics at a Kem Bina Perdana Negara held 24 years ago in Langkawi. With many interviews for Far Eastern Economic Review, Singapore Business Times and the Asian Wall Street Journal, Jayasankaran’s has a bird’s eyes view of Malaysian politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

We talk to Leslie about the post election drama and behind the scenes on polling day. We also discuss his coverage on 1MDB and the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim saga. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today with P. Gunasegaram we take a look at:  - the choice of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as Finance Minister - PKR’s Rafizi Ramli's public criticism of Cabinet appointments - the 100-day term limit of the Council of Eminent Persons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we reach the tail end of election campaigning, contributing editor for New Mandala, Kean Wong, shares his experience being on the ground in a tour of the peninsular. Find out more as Kean Wong speaks to us about voter sentiments from various constituencies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With GE-14 looming just around the corner, it is important to recognise that the media plays a huge role in shaping the way voters understand what’s at stake. When it comes to the Malay ground, one of the leading media outlets is none other than Sinar Harian. We speak to its Executive Editor for Digital, Ruzy Adila Idris, about the news portal's aspirations to bring higher political awarenes...

Online news portals have come and gone in what seems to be a tough operating space for media organisations to survive. However, the seemingly tough media landscape is not stopping a young journalist from starting a portal focused on politics and current affairs. Find out more as Emmanuel Surendra, Founder of theother.my shares his big plans for the new online portal. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...