Talkback

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that he does not want civil servants to use Waze anymore due to the app's link to Israel and concerns surrounding security. He is urging Malaysians to switch to local app TuJu. Soon after that, many users reported issues with the app, most prominently the fact that the app sometimes just show a straight line navigation (which many joked would only...

Lee Zii Jia's recent court dispute with his family over his own company has settled, but the suit raises a question many people quietly wrestle with: if they would go into business with the people they grew up with. From siblings running coffee shops and spouses as co-founders to parents who worked side by side for decades, we ask out listeners: Would you go into business with your family? Image C...

Would you feel safer walking down a street lined with facial-recognition cameras every 50 metres, or would it just feel like being watched? That is the question hosts Lee Chwi Lynn and Susan Tam put to listeners on Talkback, after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi floated expanding high-definition CCTV with facial recognition in crime hotspots, pointing to China's high-tech po...

With the slew of new technology hitting the market, like the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max having launched on September 9th, alongside Android rivals like the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, we got to thinking about the reasons why some people upgrade and why some hold on to their old tech. So we ask our listeners: How old is your current phone? Are you someone who likes to upgrade their te...

Budget 2027 is just around the corner, and we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about what the government should prioritise that will actually benefit everyday Malaysians. So we ask our listeners: What do you want out of Budget 2027, what would actually make a difference to you? Image Credit: Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following Sepang's grand but one-off return to the Formula 1 calendar this past weekend, conversations have been brewing about the feasibility and possibility of Formula 1 returning to Malaysia for good despite its RM300 million cost. So we ask our listeners: Do you want F1 to return to Malaysia permanently? And, are there other major events you’d like Malaysia to host? Image Credit: EPA Images Se...

With air quality still unhealthy in parts of the Klang Valley and several events already cancelled over haze concerns. Major events like F1 in Sepang and the KL Marathon still continue, with the former getting a record number of ticket sales. From skipping runs and golf games to altering your daily commute, we ask how much the haze is actually changing your plans. Image Credit: EPA Images See omny...

The debate follows comments from UMNO's Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who wants films and dramas depicting bullying to stop, arguing they could encourage copycat behaviour. He said this after the death of a Form Two student in Kuala Pilah allegedly assaulted by a senior. We open the lines to ask our listeners: Do artists, filmmakers and writers owe society a good moral message? Do we expect them t...

A US recruiter has gone viral on TikTok after saying job candidates shouldn’t bring iced coffee to an interview because it can make them look too casual. It’s sparked a bigger debate about workplace etiquette, so we want to know: what’s one workplace behaviour you would ban, and one you wish more people would do or bring back? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Dato Seri Najib Razak has been granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest until August 2028, once he pays a RM50 million fine. UMNO has raised almost RM1 million in their solidarity fund to help Najib out with this. So in this episode, we attempt to get a sense of how popular Najib remains among Malaysians, and get insights...

The Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia has opened a 45-day nationwide public consultation on its proposed gaming sub-code in order to set industry wide standards that developers can use to make their games safer. We speak to Mediha Mahmood and Syamil Abdul Samad from Content Forum Malaysia about why these guidelines are necessary and how they would look practically. We also as...

Singapore's Prime Minister will see his benchmark annual salary rise from S$2.2 million (US$1.7 million) to S$3.6 million, a jump of more than 60%, announced by PM Lawrence Wong himself in parliament. Even before the raise, the Singaporean prime minister’s paycheck was considered one of the highest among other country leaders. But this got us thinking about other jobs that might benefit from this...

The haze has worsened, with Sarawak's condition not improving and schools forced to shut down. We revisit a conversation we had with Dr Teckwyn Lim, environmental researcher, about why our haze problem has been going on for three decades. We also hear clips on the health side of things, from an interview with consultant respiratory physician, Dr Helmy Haja Mydin. Throughout, we ask our listeners:...

The controversy surrounding Madu Atau Racun , a Malay-language series alleged to involve same-sex relationships, has drawn reactions ranging from the Religious Affairs Minister to the public, with calls for the series to be pulled for going against religious teachings. With discussions about censorship in the air, we ask you: is censorship necessary? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/l...

From a good ol' breakfast at the kopitiam before a trip to Genting Highlands to a late-night supper at the mamak after a local football game, everyone has their own definition of a perfect day as a Malaysian. So for today's Talkback Tuesday, we ask our listeners: If you could plan your ideal, quintessentially Malaysian day, what would it look like? Image Credit: Pexels, Suria KLCC ( Website ), Cen...

With Merdeka just around the corner, it is the time of year when we reflect on what brings us together as a nation, from our food and culture to our shared warmth and unity. So, as we prepare to celebrate another year of independence, we ask our listeners: What is your favourite thing about Malaysia, and what is your wish for the country? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for...

As the government considers whether elements of GST could be integrated into the existing SST framework, questions remain over how a hybrid system would affect consumers and businesses. So for today’s Talkback Thursday, we speak with Thenesh Kannaa, Executive Director of TraTax, on the differences between GST and SST, the impact on the cost of living, and what an ideal tax system could look like....

As generative AI tools become the go-to shortcut for logos, taglines, and marketing campaigns, creatives warn that algorithm-driven branding harms artistic integrity and originality. But with businesses prioritising speed and cost-cutting, does the average consumer actually care if a design is AI-generated? So for today's Talkback Tuesday, we speak with Alexdrina Chong, artist, illustrator and cre...

Think RM1 million sets you up for life? Think again. The Star recently published an article highlighting that with double-digit medical inflation and longer lifespans, RM1 million today only feels like RM700,000 in past terms, and financial experts are pushing the target up to RM1.5 million. So for today's Talkback Thursday, we ask our listeners: Do you think you have enough to retire? How are you...

It’s been 50 years since a woman last raced in the Formula One world championship, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali saying in 2024 that he didn’t expect to see a female driver on the grid within the next five years. This raises broader questions about gender representation in traditionally single-gender-dominated workplaces and how the gender makeup of a workplace can shape its culture. So for today...

Whether it's ghosting, being left on 'read', or passive-aggressive punctuation, digital communication comes with plenty of unwritten rules. In fact, there is even research that shows Gen Z often views a simple period at the end of a text as harsh or angry, while Gen Xers just see it as proper grammar. This got us thinking about other digital pet peeves people might have. So for today's Talkback Th...

Recent state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan have rewritten the local political playbook. From long-held urban strongholds changing hands to high-profile leadership shifts (including Anthony Loke stepping down as state chief), voters are proving that no seat is safe. So for today's Talkback, we ask our listeners: What's going to determine your vote in the next election? Image Credit: Shutte...

A recent study conducted by researchers from Claremont Graduate University in California and Wuhan University in China identified four broad thinking styles, from worriers and practical planners to bodily thinkers and those balancing work and leisure. They reached this conclusion by examining what occupies our minds in everyday life by analysing more than 23,000 real-time thoughts from 258 people...

Touch 'n Go has launched a new Enhanced RFID lane at the AKLEH Dato Keramat Toll Plaza. The lane is powered by homegrown Titan Flow technology using AI, license plate recognition, and dual antennas to boast a 99.98% detection rate, with plans for 10 more lanes nationwide by the end of the year. While it moves Malaysia closer to gateless (Multi-Lane Free Flow) tolling, a full transition remains sta...

To tackle increasing abuse rates, Kelantan police have introduced a new daily KPI requiring station chiefs to make at least one drug-related arrest every single day. But with state prisons already operating at double their capacity and recent reports of police extortion emerging, many are questioning whether a quota-driven, arrest-first model actually makes communities safer. We are joined by Dr S...