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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.

news politics

All Episodes

30:04

Witness the Unseen: The Legacy of Thomas Sankara

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2025/01/02

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 country's sole railway line after the uprising of 2014 against President Blaise Compaoré. Travelling from south to north, he engages with fellow citizens in cities and villages, exploring their dreams, disappointments, and the enduring legacy of former revolutionary left-wing president Thomas Sankara.Sankara is not Dead will be one of the

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33:35

How Israel Uses AI Technology in Genocide

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/19

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 the usage of AI in armed conflict cite operational efficiency, precision, and speed, the reality is often much different. It raises pressing ethical and legal questions including abuse and a lack of accountability. For example, AI has been used to speed up the Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We discuss this with Nour

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34:40

How Did Students in South Africa Fight For Free...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/17

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 student-led protests that erupted across South African universities in 2015, demanding free, decolonized education and an end to systemic inequalities within higher education institutions.In this episode, we speak to Rehad Desai about his film and the student-led movement in South Africa.Everything Must Fall is one of the documentaries that

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45:19

How Do We Bridge the Polarisation in Malaysia?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/12

We live in an increasingly polarised world. Ethnonationalism and other forms of right wing and ultra-conservative populist movements are on the rise in Malaysia and across the world. People are pushing further away from each other. Prejudice fuels political discourse. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?Dr Tee Chen Giap and Chew Zhun Yee, co-founders of the Malaysian Philosophy Society, join the show to talk about the issue of polarisation as well as the upcoming International Think

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46:25

What Are the Structural Barriers to Gender Equity in...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/10

Here are two important statistics you need to know. One, only 55% of working age women in Malaysia are part of the labour force, compared to 81% of men. Two, women receive RM 66 for every RM 100 in salaries and wages received by men.This highlights profound economic disparities between the genders in Malaysia. But why is this the case? And what can be done about it?These are some of the important questions that the Malaysia Women and Girls Forum will be addressing at this year’s event themed Women

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39:54

PROJEK30% - Why We Need More Women in Politics

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/05

EMPOWER, in collaboration with civil society coalitions like JAG, BERSIH, and CSO Platform for Reform, has launched the Projek30% campaign to push political parties to field at least 30% women candidates in the next General Election (GE16).But why is there a lack of representation among women in politics and what is the impact?Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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44:06

Ahmed Alnaouq on Gaza and How the World Failed the...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/12/03

Ahmed Alnaouq, a Palestinian activist and journalist based in the UK, is the co-founder of We Are Not Numbers, a platform that empowers young Palestinians to share their stories and experiences with the world through storytelling and journalism.In October 2023, Israel dropped a bomb on his family home, killing 21 of his closest relatives in the process, including his father, brothers and sisters.On today’s episode, we have a heartfelt conversation with Ahmed about his childhood, feeling survivor’s

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44:48

Can Malaysia Arrest Benjamin Netanyahu If He Comes Here?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/28

Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant. They were charged with crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and inhumane acts, as well as the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, one of the top ranking military commanders of the Palestinian political party and armed resistance group, Hamas.But what

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42:24

Can We Break The Cycle of Child Abuse?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/28

It was recently reported that of the 266 children rescued from GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), a third were found to be suffering from anxiety, and another one-third have depression. The effects of child abuse do not end simply because a child is removed from the abusive situation or perpetrator - there can be long-lasting consequences throughout a child’s life, as well as on the generations after them. We speak to Dr Rajini Sarvananthan, Consultant Developmental Paediatrician, and Dr Anita Codati,

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40:35

What Went Wrong in Malaysia’s Nation-Building Journey?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/26

Dato’ Mohammed Hussein was with the Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Group for 31 years. Prior to his retirement on 30 January 2008, he was the Deputy President/Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of Maybank Group.He wrote a book recently— How Malaysia Missed 7 Chances at Nation-Building. In it, he analyses seven pivotal events in Malaysia’s history, including 13 May 1969 and the implementation of the NEP, and questions if these moments were opportunities missed in building a united and

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49:12

Why We Need a Media Council

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/21

Media freedom or freedom of the press is something journalists in Malaysia have been grappling with for many decades. For many years, draconian laws have been used to clamp down on journalists and the media. Many have also been arrested.While there is no denying that the media has more freedom post-2018 elections and that journalists don’t get arrested as much today as they once did, little has changed in terms of legislation and structure. Draconian laws still exist and can be weaponised.Now,

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46:39

Malaysia’s Democratic Transition Amidst Rising...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/19

Malaysia is at an interesting juncture right now. In 2018, Malaysians voted out the Barisan Nasional government that was once thought invincible and had ruled the country since its independence. Then there was a period of political instability since Langkah Sheraton until about a week after GE15. Now, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the helm, things have finally stabilised.In an article for The Lowy Institute, Ooi Kok Hin argues that Malaysia’s democratic transition is an important case for

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31:52

How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 2)

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/14

Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. Trump managed to win every single one of these states. Not only that, but he is also the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.So, how did he do it?We

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42:18

How Did Donald Trump Become President Again? (Part 1)

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/12

Donald Trump is once again President of the United States of America.He did so by defeating Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris relatively comfortably. Heading to this year’s polls, all eyes were on the seven swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. Trump managed to win every single one of these states. Not only that, but he is also the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.So, how did he do it?I

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33:49

After Mixed-Bag Bill Passed, What Next For Stateless...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/07

In October, the Parliament of Malaysia passed controversial amendments to the constitution’s citizenship provisions via a Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. According to critics, the bill is a case of one step forward, a few unnecessary steps backward. While the bill seeks to grant citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women, it also includes a whole host of regressive amendments which will worsen conditions for other categories of stateless people in Malaysia. This move was the last

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39:12

Farmlands & Financial Hubs: How Land Use Shapes...

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/11/05

Everyone knows that politics in Malaysia is highly racialised. What’s usually missing from the discourse is how there is an aspect of class, material conditions and even land use that intertwines and even anchors racial politics. For example, did you know that people in areas with higher industrial and commercial activities tend to vote for Pakatan Harapan, while those residing in less developed or agricultural land tend to vote for Perikatan Nasional? This is especially pronounced in the Penang

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45:10

Can Malaysia Implement Universal Basic Income?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/10/29

Ask around and many will tell you that the biggest problem Malaysians face is wages. Wages in Malaysia have been stagnant for more than a couple of decades now. Inequality is on the rise. So, what could be a solution?What if it’s a Universal Basic Income?In this episode, we speak to some researchers who are pushing for universal basic income in Malaysia, namely Dr Sarath Davala, John Michael and Lee Seng Kiat from the Basic Income Earth Network, as well as Prof Geoffrey Williams, Economist and

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37:56

Does Budget 2025 Address the Needs of Caregivers?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/10/24

Last Friday, the MADANI government unveiled the RM 421 billion Budget 2025, up from the RM 393.8 billion budget tabled at the end of last year. The big positive is that this isn’t an austerity budget by any stretch of the imagination. The government is spending. But does this budget address the care economy? How much does it address the needs of caregivers and the care industry?We speak to Lee Min Hui, a gender consultant at the United Nations Population Fund Malaysia.This BFM Budget 2025 Special is

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38:33

Does Budget 2025 Address the Needs of the Working Class?

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/10/22

Last Friday, the MADANI government unveiled the RM 421 billion Budget 2025, up from the RM 393.8 billion budget tabled at the end of last year. The question is: Does the budget address the needs of the working class, particularly the B40 and the middle class?We speak to Arveent Kathirchelvan, Central Committee Member, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).This BFM Budget 2025 Special is brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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46:25

How Should Budget 2025 Address the Needs of the Marhaen

Beyond the Ballot Box ·

2024/10/17

With the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, rising inequality and stagnating wages, Malaysians face mounting challenges. This is especially true if you’re working class, even if you’re middle class.Since the tabling of Budget 2025 is just around the corner, on today’s episode, we take a look at what needs to be addressed in the upcoming budget to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots.We speak to three labour rights activists, Adrian Pereira of North South Initiative, J

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382 results

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