Beyond the Ballot Box

About 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.

Publisher

BFM Media

Category

history · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 May 2021

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

462 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   MADANI Government: Yay or nay?

   It's been almost four years since the MADANI government formed after the 2022 General Election. As we know, while Pakatan Harapan won the most seats, no coalition or party reached a simple majority, so parties that had spent years on opposite sides of the political divide found themselves governing together, with former rivals now sharing power in the name of stability. But as we approach the next general election, questions remain about how much this government, which is led by Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has delivered on its promises of reform, and whether it has managed to improve the lives of ordinary Malaysians. As we approach the next general election, how should we assess the MADANI government? Has it made the most of the opportunities available to it, or has the pursuit of stability come at the expense of meaningful reform? In this conversation, we discuss: How has the MADANI government navigated Malaysia's fractured political landscape? The formation of the unity government required parties that had spent years campaigning against one another to find common ground. We examine the political manoeuvring behind this arrangement, the importance of stability after the upheavals of 2018 to 2022, and more. Has the government compromised too much in the name of political stability? We discuss whether Pakatan Harapan has sacrificed too much of its reform agenda to remain in power, and whether the government has adequately explained what its coalition partners can realistically agree on. What has happened to the Reformasi agenda? After decades of campaigning for institutional reform, Anwar Ibrahim is now Prime Minister. Yet questions remain about progress on reforms such as parliamentary term limits and the separation of powers, as well as the government's willingness to spend political capital on difficult changes. Has the government moved in the right direction, and how should we judge its record against the promises that brought it to power? Has the government improved the lives of ordinary Malaysians? Political stability and institutional reforms matter, but so do wages, affordability, fuel subsidies, taxation and economic opportunities. We examine the government's economic direction, its efforts to ease cost-of-living pressures, and whether its policies are making a meaningful difference to the everyday lives of Malaysians. Does the MADANI government have a compelling political vision for Malaysia? Beyond managing crises and balancing coalition interests, what kind of country is this government trying to build? We discuss whether Anwar has articulated a vision capable of capturing the public imagination, particularly on questions of national identity, economic development and the common good. Has the government allowed its political narrative to be defined by its opponents, or can it offer a more convincing alternative to exclusionary identity politics? Should power be more decentralised, and what does that mean for Malaysia's future? From empowering local councils to reconsidering federal-state relations, we explore whether greater decentralisation could make government more responsive to people's needs, and what reforms would be necessary to make it work. Ultimately, how should we rate the MADANI government? As GE16 approaches, we consider what the government has achieved, where it has fallen short, and what its record tells us about the possibilities and limitations of governing through a broad coalition. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   27 Oct 2026

   What Can We Learn From Indonesia’s Development Policies?

   For decades, many developing countries have relied on exporting raw materials to drive economic growth. But when countries export commodities without developing the industries to process them, how much of the wealth actually stays in their economies? Indonesia is attempting to change this through hilirisasi, or downstream industrialisation: a strategy to move beyond exporting raw materials towards domestic processing and manufacturing. In this episode, we speak to Faris Abdurrachman, Executive Director and Lead Economist at Industrial Policy Lab Indonesia, about Indonesia's development strategy. In this conversation, we discuss: Why is it so difficult for developing countries to move up the value chain? Many countries in the Global South remain heavily reliant on exporting commodities and raw materials. We explore the barriers to developing more sophisticated industries, including access to technology, financing and foreign expertise, and why moving into higher-value production matters. What is Indonesia's downstream industrialisation strategy, and has it worked? Indonesia's hilirisasi strategy aims to capture more value from its natural resources by processing them domestically rather than exporting them in their raw form. We examine the country's nickel export ban, the investments that followed, and the expansion of its nickel-processing industry. Who benefits from industrialisation and who pays the price? Indonesia's nickel boom has brought substantial investment and manufacturing capacity, but it has also contributed to deforestation, pollution and disruption to communities previously dependent on agriculture and fishing. How do we ensure industrial policy creates broad-based prosperity? Attracting investment is only part of the equation. We explore how governments can use tax incentives and other forms of public support to secure wider public benefits, from better jobs and stronger environmental protections to reforestation requirements. Should developing countries rely on foreign investment or build their own industries? We discuss the importance of building domestic firms, developing local skills and strengthening productive capacity, drawing lessons from Indonesia's nickel industry and South Korea's experience with industrial development. Can ASEAN countries industrialise together? We explore the possibility of regional industrial champions and what deeper cooperation could look like in a world increasingly shaped by industrial competition between major powers. Can development become a more powerful political vision for Southeast Asia? Economic development is not just a matter of policy; it is also about the ideas and aspirations that shape politics. Have Malaysia and its regional neighbours lost sight of a developmental vision centred on infrastructure, industrial capacity and shared prosperity, and how the region might move beyond political debates dominated by race, religion and identity? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Why is Voting Important?

   Voting is often seen as the cornerstone of democracy, giving ordinary people a say in who governs them and the direction their country takes. But what does it mean to participate in politics beyond casting a ballot every few years? And how much can voting actually change when political parties must navigate coalition politics, competing interests and the realities of governing? In Malaysia, the 2018 general election showed that votes can bring about historic political change. Yet the years since have also raised questions about the limits of electoral politics, the role of grassroots organising, and whether political parties can offer a compelling vision for the country's future. In this conversation, we discuss: Why do we vote, and what gets us interested in politics? From the Bersih movement and Reformasi to personal experiences with educational inequality, we explore the different experiences that draw people into politics. How much can voting actually change in a liberal democracy? The 2018 election showed that voters can bring down a government that has held power for decades. But subsequent political upheavals have also tempered expectations about what a vote can achieve. We discuss whether voting remains a meaningful tool for change, and how we should think about its possibilities and limitations. Is voting enough, or do we need to organise beyond the ballot box? From trade unions and grassroots movements to community organisations and political parties, we examine the importance of organising between elections. What can organised groups achieve that individual voters cannot? And what can we learn from PAS's decades of grassroots organising, which helped build a political movement long before the Green Wave became a national talking point? What actually determines how people vote? Do voters choose the party that best represents their ideals, the candidate they trust most, or simply the lesser of two evils? We explore the role of political literacy, emotions, fear, charisma and personal relationships in shaping voting decisions. What makes a good politician: principles or pragmatism? Should we judge politicians by their ideological convictions and willingness to stand by their principles, or by their ability to negotiate, build coalitions and deliver results? As Malaysia's political landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, we discuss the tension between holding the line on political ideals and making the compromises necessary to govern. How do political parties build trust and offer a compelling vision? People may want better healthcare, more affordable housing, walkable cities and protection from flooding without necessarily seeing how these everyday concerns connect to electoral politics. Can Malaysian politics move beyond identity and moral superiority? As political competition increasingly revolves around questions of identity and which side is more morally righteous, we consider whether parties should focus more on tangible questions of development, public services and economic wellbeing. Reading/watching/listening list: Don't Think of an Elephant! by George Lakoff [Book] Sang Kancil: Sang Kancil: A Tale about How Ordinary Malaysians Defied the Odds [Book] See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Who has been a guest on Beyond the Ballot Box

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Peter Slezak
• Jean Ho
• Iskandar Fareez
• Gandipan Nantha Gopalan
• Vineeta Sinha

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

21,618,281

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

16 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

85

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

82

Contact Beyond the Ballot Box

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Morning Brief

• 

  The Breakfast Grille

• 

  Ringgit and Sense

• 

  Enterprise Explores

Questions about Beyond the Ballot Box