Shows / Beyond the Ballot Box
Beyond the Ballot Box
As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box.
On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.
Episodes
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What Can Progressives Learn From Zohran Mamdani?
We have often talked about the rise of right-wing populism with fascist tendencies across the world. From US President Donald Trump to Nigel Farage and the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Khalsa Aid on Responding to the Refugee Crisis
Khalsa Aid International is a humanitarian relief organisation based in the UK. It was founded in 1999 by Ravi Singh based on the Sikh principle of Sarbat da…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Can Socialism Go from the Margins to the Mainstream in Malaysia?
The 27th National Congress of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) was held in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, from July 25th to 27th. The congress, themed "Kuasa Ketiga, Kuasa…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Peacebuilding and How Capitalism & Imperialism Undermines Feminism
Katrina Leclerc is an award‑winning peacebuilder, researcher, and advocate who specializes in the intersection of Women, Peace & Security (WPS). She serves as…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What the Lack of Justice For Teoh Beng Hock Says About Malaysia
It’s been 16 years since Teoh Beng Hock’s passing. Beng Hock was the political aide to an elected representative from the DAP, who was found dead after…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
RMK13: Why Malaysian Indians Are Still Left Behind
Malaysian ethnic Indians make up less than 7% of the country’s population — but this small community is disproportionately represented in some of the country’s…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
70 Years of Elections in Malaysia: What Has Worked, What Hasn’t
It’s been 70 years since the first General Elections in Malaya in 1955, and 61 years since we voted for the first time as a new nation called Malaysia in 1964…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Orang Kita #4: What Do Malay Youths Want?
In GE15, the surge of Malay youth support for Perikatan Nasional sparked narratives about a rising “green” or “theocratic wave” and urgent questions about the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
UNICEF’s Tess Ingram on How Her Convoy Was Shot While Delivering Aid to Gaza
Tess Ingram is a spokesperson with UNICEF who has been on the frontlines of some of the most urgent crises in North Africa and the Middle East, including the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why the Son of a Holocaust Survivor Rejects Zionism
Dr Peter Slezak is a Jewish Australian academic and outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights. He’s a member of the Council of Advisers at the Hashim Sani…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How ‘Invisible People’ Gives Voice to the Forgotten
Invisible People by Jean Ho is an animated documentary series that shines light on the lives and struggles of people on the margins of society, namely the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Building Progressive Malaysia From Within the System
Iskandar Fareez is from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), currently serving as the National Vice Chief of DAPSY, which is their youth wing. He’s also served…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why the SST Expansion Misses the Real Target: The Ultra-Rich
Starting 1st of July, Malaysia’s expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) framework will kick in. Under this expansion, luxury and discretionary items like…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Colonialism, Labour, and Hinduism Became Entangled in Malaya’s Rail Network
Temple Tracks: Labour, Piety and Railway Construction in Asia is a fascinating book by Vineeta Sinha, a professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the National…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
25 Years of Resistance: Sevan Doraisamy Reflects on Human Rights in Malaysia
Sevan Doraisamy is a veteran Malaysian human rights defender and activist who’s been fighting the good fight for more than 25 years. He also served as the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Sabah For Sabahans: Understanding MA63, Project IC and Federal-State Tensions
Since the 2018 and 2022 elections, there has been renewed national focus on East Malaysia and the long-standing promises of MA63. But often, much of that focus…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Trump's Immigration Raids Are Becoming a Flashpoint in America
Protests have spread all across America in solidarity with migrant workers and against US President Donald Trump’s immigration raids. Last Tuesday, U.S…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What Can We Learn From Kerala About Eradicating Poverty?
By November 2025, Kerala is set to become India’s first state to entirely eradicate extreme poverty. One of the key reasons is the highly successful Extreme…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Water, Power, and Labour: A Conversation with Charles Santiago
Charles Santiago is a human rights activist, a member of the DAP, former MP for Klang, and a two-time chairman of Malaysia’s National Water Services Commission…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Does Selangor Need a Sovereign Wealth Fund?
Sarawak’s Sovereign Wealth Fund was launched in 2022, to “to safeguard and invest the State's funds for the future generations of Sarawak.” But what exactly is…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Is Fascism on the Rise? (Part 2)
Over the past couple of decades, far-right parties and leaders have moved from the fringes to the forefront of global politics. Figures like Donald Trump…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Is Fascism on the Rise? (Part 1)
Over the past couple of decades, far-right parties and leaders have moved from the fringes to the forefront of global politics. Figures like Donald Trump…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What to Do About Racism in the Rental Market?
If you're ethnic-Indian—or if you have friends who are—chances are you've experienced first hand, or heard about racism in Malaysia’s rental market. Landlords…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
IMF Urges People to Work Till 70: Yay or Nay?
Many countries around the world are starting to become aging societies. In other words, there are more old people AND fewer people having babies. This…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Malaysia’s Continuous Battle With Corruption
Raymon Ram has been appointed the new president of Transparency International–Malaysia. He will be serving in this capacity from 2025 - 2027. He succeeds Dr…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How the Military Junta in Myanmar is Oppressing Workers
The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), is urging the government of Malaysia to take a firm and principled stance against the ongoing human and…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Sabahan to Chair Prestigious Southeast Asian Council
Dr Vilashini Somiah who’s a feminist anthropologist and a senior lecturer at University Malaya has been appointed as the next chair of the Southeast Asia…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Malaysian Human Rights Report 2024
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) has released their 2024 human rights report. It’s a detailed report on the various human rights violations that have occurred…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Is Labour Day Important?
Labour Day is observed every year on the 1st of May. It’s a holiday in most countries around the world – and perhaps one of the most important ones. But most…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
PTPTN Defaulters: Irresponsible Individuals or Structural Problem?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about PTPTN’s ballooning debt and what to do about it. With a total outstanding debt of RM 40 billion, pressure is mounting…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What’s Next for Malaysia’s Development?
Kanni Wignaraja is the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Ayer Kuning: What Can the Third Force Offer?
The Ayer Kuning by-election will be taking place on the 26th of April and it is going to be a three-cornered fight between MADANI/Barisan Nasional’s Mohamad…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why We Need to Give a Basic Income to Everyone
Basic Income – or Universal Basic Income (UBI) as it’s commonly referred to – is a policy where a government gives all citizens a regular sum of money…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What Trump's Tariffs Reveal About Neoliberalism and Dollar Dominance
For the past several decades, most of the world has been part of the neoliberal economic model. It burst onto the mainstream with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Should Malaysia Navigate Trump’s Tariffs?
Last week, the world watched as U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines once again — this time by declaring “Liberation Day.” But instead of fireworks and…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Malaysia Racism Report: Looking Back at the Past Decade
It is no secret that Malaysia is a highly racialised country. Over the past decade, racial discrimination has not only persisted but evolved in new and complex…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
The Impact of E-Hailing and the Uberization of the Economy
We're increasingly seeing the Uberization of the economy, where platform-driven gig work with wages based on algorithms, and precarious labor conditions have…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Corruption Inc. Unpacking the Political-GLC Complex
Over the years, especially since the 1MDB scandal, Malaysians have become more familiar with the term ‘corruption.’ Not only have we broadened our…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
S.L.A.P.P - How Corporations Abuse Defamation Laws to Shield Themselves
Defamation laws are incredibly important to protect individuals and organisations from false and harmful baseless statements. They help to curb falsehoods that…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
EPF For Migrant Workers: A Win For Labour Rights?
EPF contributions will now be mandatory for migrant workers. This comes after the Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act 1991…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How to Strengthen Racial and Religious Harmony in Malaysia?
Malaysia is politically fragmented and polarized. To make matters worse, this division is drawn along racial and religious lines, fueling deep and growing…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Urban Renewal Act: Yay or Nay?
The Urban Renewal Act is set to be tabled in Parliament in the first quarter of 2025. This is arguably one of the most prominent pieces of legislation that is…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
German Elections 2025: Why the Right-Wing Performed So Well
The recent German elections saw a big shift toward right-wing parties. The CDU, which is a Christian democratic and conservative party won, while the far-right…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Parliamentary Services Act 2025: Yay or Nay?
The Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) 2025 was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this week, by the Minister of Law and Institutional Reform, Dato Seri Azalina Othman…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Are People Fundamentally Selfish?
We often hear that human beings are inherently selfish; That we’re naturally driven by profit and personal wealth accumulation; That success is solely…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
60% of Billionaire Wealth Is From Inheritance and Cronyism
We often hear that the ultra-wealthy are as rich as they are because of their superior capabilities as entrepreneurs. But is this actually true? Not quite…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
We Must Save Pannir From Execution in Singapore
Pannir Selvam Pranthaman is a 38-year-old Malaysian on death row in Singapore for trafficking 51.8g of diamorphine. Pannir was not a kingpin nor a drug lord…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Malaysia Needs a Proper Parliamentary Services Act
It’s been 33 years since the Malaysia repealed the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) during Tun Dr Mahathir’s first administration in 1992. As a result, our…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Here’s How Employers in Malaysia Prevent Workers From Unionising
The rate of unionisation among workers in Malaysia is at an abysmal 6%. This is one of the key reasons why wages in Malaysia are incredibly low. But why is…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Is the Government Going Too Soft on Najib?
In an interview with the Financial Times, when asked about the reduced prison sentence for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, current Prime Minister Dato Seri…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How to Overcome Malaysia’s Retirement Crisis
According to reports by Khazanah and EPF, most Malaysians do not have adequate retirement savings. As of 2024, only 36% of EPF members meet the current basic…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How to Build a Prosperous ASEAN
A couple of days ago, in a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) outlined economic challenges…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Lack of Political Funding Act Hurts Malaysia
Malaysia is the most politically and economically developed country that does not have a political financing act. This is the argument by Dr Magnus Ohman…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Close Are We to Nuclear War?
The world today is at a crossroads. We’re seeing an escalation in conflicts and wars – Russia and Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza, are just a couple of prominent…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship: What It Means for the Region
Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse regions on the planet, encompassing over 650 million people across 10 member states with diverse cultures, languages…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Witness the Unseen: How Corporations Exploit Land
Landraub, directed by Kurt Langbein is a documentary that delves into the global issue of land grabbing, where vast amounts of land in developing countries in…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Witness the Unseen: Kurdish Resistance
Have you watched a war film that was shot in an active war zone? The End Will Be Spectacular is a 2019 Kurdish-language film directed by Ersin Çelik, which…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Witness the Unseen: The Legacy of Thomas Sankara
Sankara is Not Dead is a 2019 French documentary by Lucie Viver. The film follows Bikontine, a young poet from Burkina Faso, who embarks on a journey along the…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Israel Uses AI Technology in Genocide
When many of us think of AI, we think of ChatGPT or self-driving cars. But with each passing day, AI is also used more and more in warfare. While proponents of…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Did Students in South Africa Fight For Free Education?
Everything Must Fall is a 2018 documentary film by Rehad Desai, centered on South Africa's #FeesMustFall movement. The film provides a gripping account of the…