What Would an Alternative Economic System Look Like?

Red Tiger: Practical Socialism in Malaysia is a new book by Arveent Kathirtchelvan. In it he argues that Malaysia's problems aren't simply the result of bad politicians and that things such as low wages, inequality, and concentrated economic power are connected to the underlying logic of capitalism itself. So the question isn't merely "How do we make the current system work better?" but "What would an alternative economic system look like?"In this episode, we unpack Red Tiger with its author, Arveent.Image Credit: Arveent KathirtchelvanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Like much of the world, it is also a nation-state deeply embedded in the global capitalist economy, shaped by decades of neoliberalism and privatisation. At the same time, Malaysia has universal public healthcare, a large public education system and a significant state-owned sector through government-linked companies. So, what does all of this tell us about the nature of the Malaysian economy? And what does this mean for a left-wing project in Malaysia?In this episode, we speak to Jeremy Lim, who’s an editor at Jentayu and a PHD candidate at University Malaya. We discuss the possibilities and limits of parliamentary reform, the role of the state, and what kind of strategy Malaysia’s left might need to pursue meaningful political and economic change.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a wrap! The Ones to Watch series has heard the journey and stories of 10 young politicians wanting to make Malaysia a better place. To discuss how youth enter and rise in political parties, we speak with Dashran Yohan of BFM89.9 and Iskandar Fareez, National Vice Chief of DAPSY, who react and reflect to clips from different interviews.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadira Ilana is a Sabahan filmmaker, activist and storyteller. Born and raised in Sabah, she has spent years documenting stories that often sit outside the dominant national narrative, tackling questions of memory, identity and nation-building from the Sabahan perspective. In conjunction with Malaysia Day, we speak to Nadira about Malaysia from a Bornean perspective. We talk about her personal journey as a filmmaker, as well as a bit about Sabah’s long history of struggle and what it means to build a shared Malaysian identity.Image Credit: Nadira Ilana See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadira Ilana is a Sabahan filmmaker, activist and storyteller. Born and raised in Sabah, she has spent years documenting stories that often sit outside the dominant national narrative, tackling questions of memory, identity and nation-building from the Sabahan perspective. In conjunction with Malaysia Day, we speak to Nadira about Malaysia from a Bornean perspective. We talk about her personal journey as a filmmaker, as well as a bit about Sabah’s long history of struggle and what it means to build a shared Malaysian identity.Image Credit: Nadira IlanaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every minister in Putrajaya has a private secretary, a press officer, and a special officer. Many of these officers go on to become politicians themselves. To examine how young political actors learn the ropes, we speak to Loh Ker Chean, National Vice Chief of Wanita KEADILAN and Special Functions Officer to the Minister of Education. Image Credit: Loh Ker Chean Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global order is shifting, with the dominance of the US being challenged by a rising China and a more multipolar world taking shape. For Southeast Asia, these changes bring both opportunities and risks: ASEAN is attracting investment as companies diversify their supply chains, but many countries remain heavily dependent on foreign capital, low wages and competition with their neighbours. So is ASEAN really emerging as a winner of this new global order, or are we simply reproducing the same old model of dependency? And what would it take for the region to build its own productive capacity, strengthen regional integration and move towards a higher-wage, more self-sufficient economy? We unpack all of this with Edward Vrkic, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sarawak State Assembly is predicted to be dissolved this year, paving way for the 13th Sarawak general elections. Amidst the talk of seats and the redelineation of boundaries, where do youth fit in the larger picture of Sarawakian politics? We speak to Deborah Dris, former Press Secretary to the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, and Committee member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Batu Kitang branch.Image Credit: Deborah DrisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod is a new book by Raja Ahmad Aminullah, a writer, poet and cultural activist. The book documents a particular episode from around 25 years ago through personal letters, petitions and the writer’s own recollections, involving several prominent Malaysians including Anwar Ibrahim. In this episode, we speak  to Raja Ahmad about the book and why these letters are worth preserving.  Image Credit: R A Fine ArtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an increasingly fragmented political space where identity politics rule, what do progressives need to do in order to win? We speak to Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda of Pemuda Amanah to discuss the GE15 green wave and what progressive Muslims need to do in order to turn the tide.Image Credit: Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.