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MPs skipping parliament has long been a problem in Malaysia. It’s not uncommon to turn on the TV to watch a parliamentary sitting and notice droves of empty seats. The most mind-boggling aspect is that an MP, which literally stands for Member of Parliament, can be absent from parliament for a period of six months before Parliament may – not must, but may – declare their seat vacant.  In response to this, political activist and pro-democracy advocate Roshinee Mookaiah recently launched a ‘Dilarang Ponteng Parliament’ campaign. She’s collecting at least 500 petition signatures, which would make the petition eligible for an MP to sponsor and table it in Parliament. We speak to Roshinee about her campaign and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April, Palestinians observe two very important days. The first is Palestinian Children’s Day, which takes place on the 5th and was established in 1995 by the late Palestinian liberation activist and politician, Yasser Arafat, to highlight the rights and welfare of Palestinian children. April is also the month of Palestinian Prisoners Day to honour Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of both those days with Baha Hilo, who’s a Palestinian educator and activist currently in Malaysia.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Hector is a Malaysian lawyer and prominent human rights advocate known for his long-standing activism on issues such as labour rights, migrant worker protection, and campaigning against the abolition of the ISA back in the day. He’s also been closely associated with civil society groups like Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET), frequently speaking out on legal, political, and justice-related matters in Malaysia, sometimes facing legal challenges for his advocacy work. We speak to Charles about his journey as an activist and how he thinks about the state of labour rights in Malaysia today.Image Credits: Charles Hector Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dialogue Across Civilisations: The Polis and the People by Tan Wah-Piow is a short work of political philosophy that stages an imagined conversation between major thinkers from different eras and traditions, including ancient Greek Philosopher, Socrates, revolutionary German thinker, Karl Marx to ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius. It explores enduring questions about justice, democracy, power, and civilisation. We unpack the book with its author.  Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re someone who lives in the Klang Valley or in other major cities in the country, chances are you’re at least somewhat aware that there is racial discrimination in the rental market. You may have your own lived experience, heard a story from a friend, or perhaps seen a sign online or walked past one in real life that reads “No x race" or "no y race” or maybe… “Chinese only.” But just how serious is the issue of discrimination in Malaysia’s rental market? And what can we do about it? Architects of Diversity is a non-profit that has been conducting extensive research in this field for a few years. Their latest paper is titled Room Rental Discrimination and highlights in detail patterns of racial exclusion in listings on the platform, iBilik. We unpack this with Jason Wee, who’s the co-founder of Architects of Diversity. To support the call for a Residential Tenancy Act, sign the petition at: https://chng.it/kHnxhmnR2t Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Ilango Karuppanan is a former Malaysian diplomat who has witnessed firsthand how war and conflict can shape conditions on the ground, including how businesses adapt.  In this episode, we speak to Dr Ilango about some of the lessons he has learned over the years about diplomacy and how the US & Israel’s illegal war of aggression in Iran is impacting international relations and perceptions about American leadership.  Dr Ilango also runs a YouTube channel called Diplomatify, where he talks about global affairs and diplomacy in informative and easily digestible videos.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) has once again come under fire following reports that several minors were detained under its provisions in a recent security operation. The case has sparked concern among human rights groups, including SUARAM, over potential violations of child protection laws and allegations of abuse while in custody. The incident has also reignited calls for urgent reforms of the law to better balance national security with fundamental rights. But how exactly do we strike that balance?  We speak to Azura Nasron, who is the executive director of SUARAM, about why this happens and what needs to be done moving forward.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is changing at a pace few expected. From the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War to the devastation in Gaza Strip and Israel’s broader regional expansion, the foundations of the post-Cold War order appear increasingly unstable. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mark Carney warned that there is a "rupture" in the global order. Meanwhile, European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron have called for greater strategic autonomy, arguing that Europe must be prepared to act independently in an era of intensifying great-power competition. Together, these shifts raise pressing questions about the future cohesion of the NATO alliance and force a reconsideration of Europe’s role, whether as a junior partner to the United States or as a more assertive, sovereign entity in a polarised world.  We speak to Frederik Holst, Fellow of the Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Democracy in Germany. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late February 2026, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated illegal military strikes on Iran, which is a sovereign country. Within the first few days, they bombed a school full of young Iranian girls and assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian head of state. This set off a rapidly escalating regional conflict, with Iran attacking US military bases in neighbouring Gulf countries, as well as restricting ships from entering the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important arteries of the global economy. So what does this escalation mean for global energy markets, trade, and economic stability. Where does ASEAN and Malaysia stand in all of this? After all, in Malaysia, our subsidies maintain how much we have to fork out for fuel as consumers, but the actual price has skyrocketed which will have tremendous ripple effects.  We unpack all of this and more with Yin Shao Loong, Deputy Director of Research, Khazanah Research Institute.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re living through what often feels like a constant stream of disruptions, from wars, economic instability, the climate change, and even loneliness and a loss of meaning and purpose in life.  In an article for For Pol India, political analyst Manishankar Prasad argues that these crises are not isolated but intertwined and due to late-stage capitalism. So, in this episode, we speak to Manishankar about how these overlapping crises may be a structural feature of neoliberal capitalism, driven by inequality, financialization, and the concentration of power in the hands of the elites. They also examine how automation and AI, rather than liberating people, often displace workers and deepen insecurity, contributing to a broader loss of meaning, and so much more. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Timor-Leste is a relatively young nation with an incredibly rich history and culture that many, even within the region, may not be very familiar with. It is also the newest member of ASEAN. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Rui Maria de Araújo. Dr Rui, who's a member of the revolutionary centre-left political party Fretilin, is a physician, public health specialist, and statesman, and also served as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste between 2015 and 2017. He has been a long-time public health leader, playing a key role in rebuilding the country’s healthcare system and shaping Timor-Leste’s development path. We discuss what comes next now that the country has officially joined ASEAN – from striking a balance between trade and development to investing in human capital. We also talk about the country’s rich history and culture.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petaling Jaya was originally developed in the 1950s as one of Malaysia’s first planned suburbs, built to house residents moving out of the crowded city centre of Kuala Lumpur. Decades later, many of its neighbourhoods are ageing even as demand to live in PJ remains strong because of its central location and economic activity. Now, a new local plan aims to transform the city from a low-rise suburb into a denser, more vibrant urban centre that can attract younger residents while remaining liveable for existing communities. In this episode, we unpack that vision and what it could mean for the future of Petaling Jaya, with Kusaaliny Mahendran, Councillor, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Kusha is also a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and is on the committee of the DAP’s socialist youth wing. We also spent some time talking about some of the heightened racial and religious tensions recently involving temples. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s fight against corruption remains one of the country’s most persistent political and institutional challenges. While the latest results from the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index show Malaysia improving slightly to 52 points and ranking 54th globally, the broader picture remains complicated. Progress in rankings does not necessarily mean corruption has been meaningfully reduced, especially as major controversies continue to surface around powerful institutions, corporate interests, and the very bodies tasked with enforcing anti-corruption laws.We speak to Raymon Ram, President, Transparency International Malaysia, about how the government is doing in its fight against corruption. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MANDIRI is a youth-driven civil society organisation founded in 2024 that aims to strengthen democratic participation, social justice, and civic engagement among young people. It is established by a group of activists, namely Amir Hadi, Mohamad Alshatry and Dobby Chew – names you probably recognise if you’ve been listening to the show for some time.  In this episode, we speak to Dobby Chew about what the organisation is all about, the state of civil society in Malaysia today, and the upcoming MUDA elections in which Dobby is contesting. Image Credit: MANDIRI Malaysia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia today finds itself at an important juncture. For starters, the MADANI government is currently led by a reformist coalition and a Prime Minister who has championed good governance and institutional reform for decades.  The past few weeks have been especially pivotal, though. On the one hand, you’ve got a recent Bloomberg investigation into alleged “corporate mafia” behaviour within the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), including controversy surrounding Chief Commissioner Azam Baki.  This has reignited public concerns about integrity and continues to impact public trust in the government and institutions.  At the same time, the government has tabled major reform initiatives  from the long-debated Attorney General–Public Prosecutor split to a constitutional amendment to introduce a two-term limit for the Prime Minister.  So, how do we make sense of the government’s reform agenda so far, particularly when it comes to prosecutorial independence and the structures of the MACC? We speak to Maha Balakrishnan, Parliamentary and Policy Advocacy Specialist.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.