Evening Edition

Child sexual exploitation and abuse online are increasing worldwide, with WeProtect Global Alliance’s 4th Global Threat Assessment Report revealing an 87% increase in reported child sexual abuse cases since 2019. The report also highlights increases in specific sorts of threats, such as financial sexual extortion schemes and AI-generated imagery. We discuss the report's findings with one of the co...

In Parliament today, MPs discussed the actions needed to curb the rising number of child abuse cases in Malaysia. Among the proposals were childcare workers having to undergo security screenings and psychometric tests as well as tightening guidelines over CCTV installations at all daycare centres. The MPs also discussed enhancing STEM course enrolments among students and growing the EV market. Ima...

Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" is set for release and will feature a runtime of 3 hours 26 minutes. Defending the film's long runtime, Scorsese said if people can sit in front of a TV to watch something for five hours, they shouldn't complain about this. So we talk about movie runtimes, and how long is too long. Image Credits: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

In Parliament today, MPs discussed the promoting of local products through the Mega Buy Malaysian Products Campaign, which will assist SMEs by providing guidance and advisory services that empower them to be more competitive both locally and internationally. The MPs also discussed assistance given to veterans and JAKIM's role when it comes to LGBT issues. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio...

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes has drawn flak online after posting a picture of himself shirtless and receiving a massage during an online meeting, with people calling it unprofessional. We discussed what the lines are when it comes to being "open" in the workplace, and listeners chimed in with their opinions. Image Credits: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Parliament today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assured the Dewan Rakyat that trading using the ringgit with countries under de-dollarisation has shown encouraging development and was well-received by China. The MPs also discussed better support for people with disabilites, specifically children with autism and ADHD. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The Duck Group has relaunched their Palestine Duck collection to raise funds for victims of the current crisis in Palestine, which includes items like headscarves, mugs and tote bags. This has opened up a big discussion on social media about the best way to spread awareness and raise funds, and whether this sort of effort risks seeming like the company is benefitting from tragedy. We talk about wh...

Today, House Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced a ban on MPs doing personal livestreams during Parliament, saying they went against the rules of the Dewan that require MPs to look at the speaker during the session. This didn't go over well with some MPs, so we heard some pushback to this throughout the day. Other topics discussed include how well TVET graduates are doing, workplace discriminat...

Prime Minister (and Finance Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has rolled out Budget 2024, with a total allocation of RM393.8 billion (an increase of RM5 billion) from last year. We unpack its key points, and get into how well it addresses the rakyat's concerns, and whether it drives better revenues for our economy. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: Shutterst...

Today's parliament session saw MPs showing their solidarity towards Palestine in light of the ongoing crisis with Israel. They also discussed the benefits of Malaysia’s space program, the measures taken to combat cyber threats, and whether racial unity is fairly represented during the National Day celebrations. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's session was a fun one, with the MPs discussing: vocational colleges offering courses on electric vehicles, what the government is doing to curb the issue of Ah Longs, and what's in the works to make our buses more efficient. They also discussed school dropouts (which have seen a decrease in numbers this year). Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Klang Valley mall to officially open its doors is Pavilion Damansara Heights, which sparked conversation online about whether there was a need for more new malls in Malaysia. So we asked our listeners whether they liked having a mall in their neighbourhood, and when it becomes one too many. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took centrestage today during the PM's Question Time. Among the issues that came up: foreign investment commitments, the depreciating ringgit to the US dollar, and the government's focus on the development and economy of Sabah and Sarawak. The MPs also discussed increasing the capacity of TVET programmes for students with disabilities at polytechnics and com...

Visual artist and activist Shaq Koyok called out the usage of traditional Orang Asli ceremonial objects in a fashion show, in a post on X . We discuss whether this veers into cultural appropriation, and how to navigate taking inspiration from a different culture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament is back in session, and today's topics included the adoption of 5G among retail consumers, the Madani Economy Framework to replace the World Bank’s 2030 Shared Prosperity Vision Policy (with an aim to keep local context and values in mind), and updates on measures to separate the powers of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. The MPs also discussed the revamping of the National S...

We continue our Clean Cut series, where we invite comedians to come and perform a set in front of BFMers at the office, which we then record and play for you! The catch though, is that the set should be playable on air, and not get us (or them!) into trouble. For this episode, we're joined by comedian/musician Russell Curtis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Works of art can be transformative; and in some cases, they can literally change lives. A post on X asks, has a piece of art ever moved you so much that you did something drastic? We discuss these works, and what they moved people to do (spoiler alert: breakups seem to feature highly!). Image Credits: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ipoh City Council was called to clean up three tonnes of rubbish from an older woman’s house, after the recyclables she had hoarded resulted in concerns about the stench and pests breeding. We speak with a clinical psychologist about when hoarding becomes a cause for concern, and how to reach out to a loved one who might be struggling with the issue. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio....

A luxury-lifestyle magazine cover featuring MUDA president Syed Saddiq and MUDA member Abe Lim has gone viral on social media, and people have a lot to say about it. So we get into how optics play a role in how a politician is perceived, and whether it is fair to judge their politics based on this. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently said that the government had exclusive rights to grant citizenship, and that it cannot be conferred arbitrarily. His statement has been met with massive pushback, with Lawyers For Liberty saying that this was unconstitutional and posed a threat to the citizenship rights of Malaysians. So we discuss what the law says about who gets to dict...

Special identification cards are being considered by the government to ensure subsidised cooking oil reaches the right people. Some economists shared concerns that the ID cards will create a system of abuse among consumers. We explore if this initiative is reliable and how will it affect consumers in need. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haze and school closures usually come hand in hand, and now that the API readings of 9 states have reached alarming levels, we're seeing parents waiting for the announcement to drop. So far, the Education Minister has asked schools to comply with existing guidelines that they cannot conduct outdoor activities if the API exceeded 100. So we speak to Daniel Russel, from Arus Academy about the way ha...

Bad.. That's what everyone is saying about our weather these days. First there was the rain, then there was the heat, and now the haze has arrived. We discuss how the weather has affected people's plans, health and mood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abandoned spaces are back on our radar, following news that assets spent as part of the River of Life project in Brickfields is currently underutilised and rundown. These buildings have never been opened to the public and are showing signs of vandalism and neglect. So we talk about why projects get abandoned, and what can be done about it. Image Credit: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Last week, a user on X asked netizens what their favorite interaction with a celebrity was. The post went viral with countless social media users sharing their stories of celebrity encounters. We join in on the star-watch! Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.