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
Malaysian Racism Report: How Bad Are Things Looking?
It’s no secret that Malaysia has been plagued with issues of racism, religious extremism and xenophobia, for many years. And things have been intensifying…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How to Avoid the Culture War Trap: Lessons from USA on What NOT to Do
The world is becoming increasingly polarised. Whether it’s in the US, Europe or even Southeast Asia, which includes Malaysia, the increasing polarisation has…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
What Does UMNO Polls Tell Us About the Stability of Madani Government?
The results of the 2023 UMNO leadership elections are out. President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Deputy Chief Mohammad Hasan won their positions uncontested, while…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Just Leave Artists & Filmmakers Alone!
On Monday, Michelle Yeoh won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. She became the first Asian and better yet, first…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Youths & Extremism: Why Are Young People Attracted to Right-Wing Narratives
There is a common misconception that young people are inherently more progressive. But that may not necessarily be the case, be it in Malaysia and Southeast…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Repeal AUKU: Give Students Space to Be Politically Conscious Critical Thinkers
Recently, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin recently said that The government has no plans to repeal the Universities and University…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
First 100 Days of PMX: How Did the Reformist Perform?
The 4th of March marked 100 days since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Since taking office, the Prime Minister has…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why You Should Demand For Local Government Elections
Local government elections – specifically the need to re-introduce it – has been a hotly debated topic for many years. Decades, even. The lack of local…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Budget 2023: Government Should Introduce Wealth Tax on Billionaires
Last Friday at Parliament, Prime Minister & Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unveiled the new Budget 2023. The Budget billed ‘Developing Malaysia…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
101 on the Jana Wibawa Corruption Scandal
On the 21st of February, Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were charged in court for…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Operation Coldstore: How Lee Kuan Yew Destroyed Singapore’s Left-Wing
In February 1963, the Singapore government, under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, launched a covert operation, which led to the arrest of 113 left-wing…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Constituency Development Funds Slashed: Why it Matters
Recently, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will be slashing constituency development funds from RM 3.8 million per constituency to RM…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Are Strikes Important?
Recently, there have been some rumblings that healthcare workers in Malaysia are going to go on strike to demand better wages and fairer working conditions. We…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Anwar Steps into UMNO Fortress For the First Time in 25 Years
On the 7th of February, the Malaysia Madani administration held its first Secretariat meeting. What’s interesting is that the meeting was held at the UMNO HQ…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Can Malaysia End Forced Labour By 2030?
Forced labour is a massive problem in Malaysia. We’re talking about horrible wages, deplorable working and living conditions – in essence, modern day slavery…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
UMNO Purge: How Will It Impact Our Political Landscape?
Last Friday, the UMNO Supreme Council, under the leadership of President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, sacked prominent figures, Khairy Jamaluddin and Selangor Umno…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why Do Some Working Class People Vote Against their Interests?
Historically speaking, a political party / movement that is considered progressive, is one that manages to unite the masses against the ruling class who owns…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Najib Weaponized Shame to Rehabilitate His Image
Why is Najib still so popular? This is a question that has fascinated many Malaysians since UMNO-BN’s defeat in 2018. I mean, how did former Prime Minister…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
40 Minutes With: Syerleena Abdul Rashid
First-time MP, YB Syerleena Abdul Rashid recently won the Bukit Bendera Parliamentary seat in Penang with a comfortable 42 000 majority, at GE15. She is also…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why the Race-Based vs Needs-Based Debate is Fundamentally Flawed
Recently, Dr Lee Hwok-Aun, Senior Fellow, Malaysian Studies Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, wrote: “Pakatan Harapan routinely disavows race-based…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Will Anwar Survive the Vote of Confidence?
The 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has formed his cabinet and things seem to be chugging along relatively smoothly for the mixed…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Malaysia is Polarised. What Did the Progressives Do Wrong?
A look at the results of GE15 tells us that Malaysia is politically polarised. Pakatan Harapan won 37% of the popular vote, followed by PN with 30% and BN with…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Can Anwar Put Together a Cabinet Solely Based on Principles & Merit?
Now that Anwar Ibrahim has been named the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, all eyes are on him to put his cabinet together. So, what should be taken into…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
GE15: The Last Mile
We are a few days away from the 15th General Elections (GE15) happening on the 19th of November. So, on the show today, we’re going to be taking a look at…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Will Indian Voters Shape GE15 Results?
Malaysian politics has largely been centred around racialised narratives, which is bad in and of itself. But what’s particularly interesting is how Indians…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
ThinkLeft #11 - Power to the People
People often think that democracy begins and ends at the ballot box. While elections are important -- and everyone should exercise their right to vote -- it's…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
How Many Seats Can Pakatan Harapan Win in GE15?
GE15 is on the horizon. The Election Commission has announced that it will be held on the 19th of November 2022. GE15 is going to be very different from GE14…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
The Politics of #UndiBanjir
On the 10th of October, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the dissolution of Parliament. This means that GE15 will be taking place within the next…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
ThinkLeft #10 - How Gender Equality & Class Struggle Intersect
Marxists believe that there are two classes in society – the owner class (i.e. ultra wealthy, big businesses, etc) and the working class (i.e. bottom 90%…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Road to GE #2 - Anti-Hopping Law
Road to GE is a show that explores your power in deciding who serves you in government. Langkah Sheraton came as a shock. Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir lost…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
ThinkLeft #9 - Capitalism & Climate Crisis
Chico Mendes, Brazilian, rubber tapper, environmentalist, trade union leader, once famously said, “ecology without class struggle is just gardening.” On this…
- Beyond the Ballot Box
Why We Need a Political Funding Act
Calls for a political funding/financing act have been growing louder ever since former Prime Minister Najib Razak tried to explain off millions of dollars…
Beyond the Ballot BoxGetting to Know the New Chief of PKR Women’s Wing
In July, Fadhlina Siddiq was elected as Ketua Wanita Keadilan (Chief of PKR’s Women’s Wing). Fadhlina is an activist-lawyer who is particularly passionate…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #8 - What Role Did Leftists Play in Our Fight For Independence?
There was a strong leftist movement in Malaysia pre-independence. In fact, leftist parties were integral in the fight against the British and gaining…
Beyond the Ballot BoxRosmah is guilty!
The High Court has delivered its verdict on Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption case involving a 1.25 billion ringgit solar hybrid energy project for rural…
Beyond the Ballot BoxNajib is in Jail. So… What Next?
A couple of days ago, the Federal Court upheld the guilty verdict in former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International case. Najib is sentenced…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #7 - Who/What Are Billionaires, Really?
People often think of politics as just government and the people. But another vital aspect that most people don’t think about – billionaires. Who are…
Beyond the Ballot BoxDoes the Happiness Index Reflect People’s Wellbeing?
Recently, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said the following in response to the Malaysia Happiness Index 2022: “We are among the happy…
Beyond the Ballot BoxRoad to GE #1 - Vote Where You Live or In Your Hometown?
Road to GE is a show that explores your power in deciding who serves you in government. On our first episode, we discuss the whole idea of going back to your…
Beyond the Ballot BoxHow’s Malaysia Doing Politically?
A lot has happened over the past four years. What has been the impact of the political turmoil of recent times, not just on democracy, but also on the everyday…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #6 - A Case Against Cryptocurrency
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve probably heard of the word ‘Bitcoin’. If you’ve paid closer attention, you might’ve also…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #5 - Reimagining Our Healthcare System
Healthcare is a human right. Yet, healthcare has become increasingly expensive over the past two to three decades. Those who can afford, take on expensive…
Beyond the Ballot BoxTajuddin Spills the Tea
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was sacked as an UMNO supreme council member last week. A few days after that, he held a press conference, in which he spilled the tea on…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #4 - Is Our Education System Classist?
Karl Marx once wrote, “the ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e. the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at…
Beyond the Ballot BoxWhy Urban Voters Have Less Democratic Rights
Did you know that urban voters have less power to affect electoral change in this country than rural voters? What does this mean exactly? And how does it…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #3: Why Can’t We Afford to Buy Houses Anymore?
There was a time where working a regular 9-5 job would enable you to buy a house (at the very least a single storey landed property) and raise some kids in it…
Beyond the Ballot BoxRafizi Ramli Elected Deputy President of PKR. What Next?
The unofficial results from PKR’s party elections are in. While there is no change at the highest position of the party, as Anwar Ibrahim ran and retained his…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #2: An End to Maximum Work for Minimum Wage
Why have our wages stagnated for so long, despite the cost of living being at an all time high? And more importantly, why are organisations such as the…
Beyond the Ballot BoxDebat Perdana: Healthy Democracy Or Legitimising Convict?
Last week, a political debate took place between former Prime Minister Najib Razak and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The debate centred around Sapura Energy…
Beyond the Ballot BoxThinkLeft #1: What Does Socialism Mean in the 21st Century?
We’re all part of a global capitalist economy – A system that promised to benefit the rich and the poor alike. Yet, youth unemployment rate has been on the…
Beyond the Ballot BoxDoes Malaysia Have the Political Will to Abolish the Death Penalty?
Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a Malaysian man with mental disabilities convicted for drug trafficking, was executed by the Singaporean government on 27th April…
Beyond the Ballot BoxWhat Does Ismail Sabri as UMNO’s PM Candidate Mean For Politics?
Last Thursday, UMNO made the decision to announce incumbent Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the party’s PM candidate for GE15. This…
Beyond the Ballot BoxRafizi vs Saifuddin: How Will PKR Elections Shape the Party Moving Forward
Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s party elections are just around the corner. The nominations are in, with results set to be announced on June 26. While there will be no…
Beyond the Ballot BoxSimulations Suggest Healthy Victory For BN in GE-15
After the string of state elections, all eyes are now on GE-15, which many experts anticipate would most likely be taking place sometime this year. While it’s…
Beyond the Ballot BoxA New Era of Pakatan Harapan?
Has Pakatan Harapan lost its lustre? The voter turnouts at the recent string of elections have been low. Pakatan Harapan has faced defeat after defeat. Many…
Beyond the Ballot BoxParliament Rejects Govt’s Motion to Renew Detention Without Trial SOSMA Provision
Yesterday, Parliament voted down a motion to extend the enforcement period for a provision under the Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 Act (Sosma). The…
Beyond the Ballot BoxWhat Did We Learn From UMNO General Assembly?
The UMNO General Assembly took place last week and a whole bunch of stories have come out of it – a threeway battle to be UMNO’s PM candidate, the Najib…
Beyond the Ballot BoxWhy Barisan Nasional Won the Johor State Elections
The Johor state elections took place last weekend. Barisan Nasional secured 40 out of 56 seats, a 2/3 majority victory, Pakatan Harapan won 12 seats, MUDA 1…
Beyond the Ballot BoxAdvantage UMNO/Barisan Nasional Ahead of Johor Elections?
We’re only a few days away from the Johor State elections. Over the past couple of weeks, political parties have been busy campaigning, trying to win the…
Beyond the Ballot BoxJohor Elections: Meet Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Sole Candidate
R Arangkannal will be Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s sole candidate at the upcoming Johor state elections. The 46 year old activist and filmmaker will be competing…