Poverty inequality and COVID-19
In the history of modern Malaysia, there’s never been a socioeconomic crisis quite like today’s. The pandemic has hit hard and social safety nets have been grossly inadequate. But the struggle for survival among low-income families is not new: Covid-19 simply deepened the income inequality divide.
How The Pakatan Harapan legend crumbled in Malacca
No country’s been spared the ravages of Covid-19. But in Malaysia, the pandemic has coincided with political turmoil and arguably the greatest period of instability in the nation’s history. Political analyst Bridget Welsh explores these issues – and more importantly, what can be done to fix them.
Women in danger: Malaysia’s mental health crisis
More Malaysians are committing suicide. Worryingly, far more women are killing themselves than men. Why is this happening?
Are we ready for back-to-school
BTL speaks with Cheryl Ann Fernando, the CEO of PEMIMPIN GSL — a non-profit dedicated to training and improving school leadership — on kids’ return to school, what’s ailing our education system, and what can be done to fix it.
Quo Vadis, Sabah And Sarawak?
The MA63 and autonomy from Peninsular Malaysia have always been hot-button issues for Sabah and Sarawak. But why haven’t they been resolved after all these years? Analyst JAMES CHIN explains the factors responsible for keeping them off the top of the national agenda. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Of late, Sarawakians and Sabahans have been increasingly asking difficult questions […]
Happy Malaysia Day!
“The road to nationhood has not been an easy journey. Surprises and disappointments, tension and crisis, have marred the way. The peoples of Malaysia, however, have endured all trials and tribulations with confidence and patience, calmness and forbearance, with faith in our final goal — Malaysia.” — Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Malaysia Day Speech, […]
Malaysia’s Ivermectin threat: How we got here
Ahead of the results of a clinical trial on the effectiveness of controversial drug Ivermectin to treat Covid-19, Between The Lines traces the growing lobby for what is essentially a veterinary drug for human use and the issues that contributed towards the fervour behind it. ZURAIRI A.R. investigates.
Why Are Police Detainees Dying In Custody?
In 2013, 31-year-old father-of-one N Dharmendran had both his ears stapled by cops as he was tortured for information during his detention at the KL police headquarters.
But it wasn’t the stapling of his ears what killed him. It was the beating that came after.
Sadly, Dharmendran wasn’t the 1st custodial death in Malaysia – and it won’t be last.
It was just one of the few that’s come to public knowledge, like the 13 deaths reported this year alone.
Muhyiddin’s Legacy: Lessons From A Fallen Administration
Malaysia’s eighth prime minister has already described himself as merely a ‘footnote’ in history. With the nation’s shortest prime ministerial tenure of only 532 days, Muhyiddin Yassin’s seventeen months in office will be remembered chiefly for the Covid-19 pandemic, arguably one of Malaysia’s most traumatic experiences. Officially, nearly 14,000 people lost their lives and over […]
A Return for Umno?
Amidst all the debate about the rights and wrongs of last week’s war of words between the Palace and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, one thing is flying under the radar: the role of Malaysia’s largest and oldest party, Umno, in the entire affair. Political analyst BRIDGET WELSH examines how Umno stands to gain from […]