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Beyond the Ballot Box

BFM Media
Malaysia
ASEAN
United States
Neoliberalism
Corruption
China
Tariffs
Political Financing Act
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Economics
Iran
Israel
Digital Economy
Development Economics
Labor Rights
Human Rights
United Nations
Democracy
Trade Policy
Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes432Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryPoliticsNews

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Artwork for Beyond the Ballot Box

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Recent Guests

Nurul Rifayah
One of the 18 youth who took the government to court to implement Undi 18
Advocate for youth voting rights, activist
Episode: Ones to Watch #1: UNDI 18, Buyers Regret?
Ahmed Faris Omed
CEO of Impact Integrated, a strategic catalyst agency under the purview of the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Impact Integrated
Episode: Ones to Watch #1: UNDI 18, Buyers Regret?
Matthew Dornan
Senior Economist, The World Bank
The World Bank
Episode: What Explains Malaysia’s Long-Standing Low Wage Problem?
Aira Azhari
CEO of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
IDEAS
Episode: Why Malaysia Needs a More Robust Refugee Framework
Arividya Arimuthu
Senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
ISIS Malaysia
Episode: Is Liberalism Fading? What Comes Next?
Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj
Chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Episode: The Big Political and Economic Challenges Facing Malaysia
Tham Jia Vern
Researcher at Hayat
Hayat
Episode: Malaysia’s Death Formula
Dr. Chee Soon Juan
Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party, author of Unbroken: The Power of Resilience
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)
Episode: Does Singapore Need More Democracy?
Saul Takahashi
Human rights lawyer and non-resident fellow at the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Malaya
Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies at University of Malaya
Episode: How International Institutions and Structures Failed Palestine

Hosts

Dashren Yohan
Host of Beyond the Ballot Box
Darshan Yohan
Host of Beyond the Ballot Box

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 19 ratings
  • Oversea listener

    Keep it up . Listening oversea 😎. Nobody cover it like bfm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kazuo Ting
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Excellent for understanding the links between education, labor, and policy.
Global perspectives on imperialism and human rights add valuable context for regional issues.
Thoughtful, well-researched discussions that are accessible to non-specialists.
Guests consistently bring credible expertise and practical insights.
Shows depth and breadth on Malaysian politics and rights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#114
Singapore/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Vijay Prashad on Venezuela, Iran and American Imperialism
Q: What is your read on why the U.S. kidnapped Maduro and what do you think their end game is?
Prashad argues that the move reflects a rational attempt to destabilize a socialist regional pillar and weaken the Cuban Revolution, using legal pretexts while pursuing broader U.S. dominance in the hemisphere and control over Venezuela's oil leverage.
How to Make KL and the Klang Valley More Liveable
Q: How would you describe the urban design philosophy that has shaped Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley over the past decades?
The design philosophy has been car-centric, prioritizing highways, private mobility, and car-related infrastructure, with a shift only in the last decade toward more talk of livability and walkability, though implementation remains dominated by private developers and motorized transport interests.
Work, Wages and Savings: Unpacking Malaysia’s Economic Reality
Q: What policies could help Malaysians achieve better wage growth and job quality?
Focus on developing human capital through education reform, deregulation to accelerate relevant programs, and enabling private sector job creation while exploring universal pension options to secure retirement.
Work, Wages and Savings: Unpacking Malaysia’s Economic Reality
Q: What does a low unemployment rate really indicate about the labor market?
It hides underemployment and the prevalence of short-term or low-quality work; the real issues are wage stagnation and the lack of high-skilled, well-paid jobs.
Attempting to Break the Israeli Blockade
Q: What was going through your mind as you were about to embark on the mission?
He reflects on fear, responsibility to document, concern for safety, and the resolve to pursue the project for the greater good despite personal risk.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Ballot Box

What is Beyond the Ballot Box about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, issue-driven show that centers political economy, human rights, and governance in Malaysia and Southeast Asia through a class-informed lens. Episodes frequently feature researchers, activists, and diplomats who unpack how policy, race, education, and labor intersect with everyday life, highlighting practical reforms, civic spaces, and systemic challenges. The format tends to blend data-driven analyses with on-the-ground storytelling, offering listeners thoughtful context for current events and long-running social debates. A standout aspect is the consistent engagement with underexplored perspectives—youth priorities, labor rights, and anti-imperialist solidarities—delivered through accessible conversations with seasoned researchers... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Ballot Box:

1. The Breakfast Grille
2. Morning Brief
3. Cruise Control
4. Market Watch

How many episodes of Beyond the Ballot Box are there?

Beyond the Ballot Box launched 5 years ago and published 432 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Ballot Box?

Recent guests on Beyond the Ballot Box include:

1. Nurul Rifayah
2. Ahmed Faris Omed
3. Matthew Dornan
4. Aira Azhari
5. Arividya Arimuthu
6. Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj
7. Tham Jia Vern
8. Dr. Chee Soon Juan

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