Learn about the different levels of government representatives in Malaysia, and who you should talk to about neighbourhood or national issues.
Author Archives: Deborah Germaine Augustin
Deborah Germaine Augustin is a writer born and raised in Malaysia. Formerly the Membership Engagement Manager at New Naratif from 2018 - 2021. She dreams of a world where we all have freedom of movement. Follow her on Twitter @dbgermane.
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In Fight for Malaysian Forest, Can Activists Replicate a Win?
Community conservationists in Selangor are working to save the Shah Alam forest from planned development by showcasing its threatened biodiversity, disproving government claims and building support. Can they repeat an earlier victory by other forest defenders?
Posted inPodcast
Can Malaysia’s Cycle of Statelessness Be Broken?
Deborah Augustin speaks to Haijan Omar, Dr. Vilashini Somiah and Wong Kueng Hui, one of the many stateless people in the Malaysian state of Sabah, about his decade-long legal battle to gain citizenship in Malaysia. Â
Posted inPodcast
Is Malaysia’s Parliament Dead?
Deborah Augustin speaks to Arveent Kathirtchelvan and Chong Yee Shan from Parti Sosialis Malaysia about the limitations of electoral politics and potential alternatives to this system.
Posted inPodcast
Why Malaysia’s COVID-19 Aid Isn’t Reaching Queer Communities
In this episode, Deborah Augustin speaks to Nisha Ayub and Connie Connor about the need for LGBTQIA+ specific mutual aid funds that are more gender-inclusive, and how the queer community in Malaysia has organised themselves against the backdrop of an increasingly hostile environment.
Posted inPodcast
Undocumented and Unvaccinated: Malaysia’s Unequal Vaccine Rollout
Deborah Augustin speaks to Adrian Pereira from North South Initiative and Mohammed*, an undocumented migrant from Bangladesh, about how the Malaysian government’s decision to deprive undocumented migrants of vaccines endangers not only this marginalised community, but also Malaysia’s chances of reaching herd immunity.
Posted inPodcast
COVID-19’s Mental Health Impact: How Are Refugees Coping?
Deborah Augustin speaks to Matilda Xavier, Clinical Psychologist, and Bo Min Naing, president of the Rohingya Society in Malaysia. They talk about the stigma around mental health in the refugee community, how they have been coping with it during the pandemic, and how some communities are affected more than others.
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Heroes by Necessity: Reframing Refugee Stories
Deborah Augustin speaks to Monique Truong and Leena Al-Mujahed, two women who have experienced forced displacement and continue to face their circumstances and obstacles with courage.
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Why Are Politicians Afraid of Art?
Do politicians and rulers have anything to worry about when it comes to the influence of art in politics?
Deborah Augustin speaks to Sharon Chin, a Malaysian artist, about her thoughts on protest art and whether political satire is an effective tool when it comes to challenging people in power.
Posted inPodcast
The Plight of Transnational Families in Malaysia
Deborah Augustin speaks to Bina Ramanand, founding member of Family Frontiers and co-founder of the Foreign Spouses Support Group; and Naz, a Malaysian in a transnational marriage about the challenges that transnational families face in the country.