Evening Edition

The Malaysian Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and it revealed that women are getting about a third less in salary compared to men (for every RM100 earned by men, women receive RM66.67). This is a sharp decline from previous years: RM96.21 in 2021, and RM94.07 in 2020. We discuss what's behind this downward trend, and what policies are needed...

An X user brought up the topic of not living for the weekend by filling your week with activities to look forward to after work. This sparked a discussion online on the pros and cons of this approach, with our listeners weighing in on how they balance out time for work and fun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's Monetary Authority and Infocomm Media Development Authority has published a paper proposing a Shared Responsibility Framework for phishing scams. It proposes that banks and telcos should be responsible for mitigating scams, and compensate victims when the institutions duties have been breached. We discuss whether the responsibility of compensating scam victims should fall onto telcos a...

Calls to boycott fashion brand Zara have escalated; this comes after they received heavy criticism over their new ad campaign, which featured mannequins that were missing limbs and statues wrapped in white shrouds. Critics say the campaign was a "mockery" of the attacks on Gaza. We discuss how ad campaigns are conceptualised, and how they might navigate sensitivities around hot-button issues and e...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a major cabinet reshuffle today with new ministers being appointed to key portfolios including in finance, foreign affairs, and health. The move comes one year into the Madani government's administration. We discuss the appointments and what they indicate about the PM's priorities, as well as his relationships with the other political parties withi...

A post on X highlighting the unfair reputation Wikipedia has acquired for unreliability, opened up a conversation on how best to use the crowdsourced encyclopaedia, including the importance of fact-checking and verifying references. Image Credit: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Socso confirmed that their systems, database, and website were breached, after a hacker group posted about the infiltration on an online forum. Since then, CEO Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz has said a four-pronged response to the cyberattack is being carried out, including an internal forensic investigation. We speak to a cybersecurity expert on the impact of the data breach, how So...

A viral photo on X of a man on the LRT, with his backpack taking up the seat next to him, has been drawing a lot of flak. This opened up a conversation on bag etiqutte in public spaces, and whether we'd be comfortable telling someone to move their bag if they were taking up a seat. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six-year-old boy Zayn Rayyan was reported missing on Dec 5, and then tragically found dead a day later. Police say the autopsy indicates that the cause of death was from injuries to the neck believed to be caused by strangulation, and have reclassified the case as murder. We talk to child rights activist Datin PH Wong about how cases like this should be handled, and the role of community in keepin...

A discussion on X today asked us to imagine navigating the world without apps like Waze and Google Maps, and "in 500 meters, turn left" becomes a distant memory. So we discuss what it would be like to only rely on signboards to get to our destinations, and whether it would be as bad as we think. I mean, if we used to do it before, back in old days of physical maps, why not now? Image Credit: Unspl...

It's important for children to know their rights so they can feel empowered and protected, and speak up when something is wrong. But what are we doing to help children participate in issues that pertain them? We spoke to Srividhya Ganapathy, on Project Talisman, a project she co-founded that aims to help foster children to advocate for their rights. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

Historically, visually impaired students have faced numerous barriers to learning, like cumbersome Braille textbooks and a shortage of accessible self-learning resources. A team at Taylors University has developed the BraillePad, a customisable 3D-printed device that does away with the need for traditional Braille books, and promotes independent learning. We speak to the people behind it on how th...

The government has rolled out their cash handouts under the e-Madani programme, which is a one-off RM100 e-wallet credit meant to benefit about 10 million individuals, with a total cost of RM1 billion. Recipients have been redeeming this cashout using one of four e-wallets, each carrying different benefits. We discuss how this approach can benefit the nation's economy. Image Credit: Bernama See om...

According to the UN, the fast fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions. It is also estimated that 100 billion garments are produced each year, of which 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. The Swap Project encourages clothes swapping to reduce the number of clothes being sent to landfills. We speak to its founder, Jayda Chong on what inspired her to...

Malaysia currently does not have any umbrella legislation to protect the rights of tenants, and has depended on the tenancy agreement, which is often viewed as favouring landlords. We discuss how the Residential Tenancy Act, modeled after the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 of New South Wales and due to be tabled next year, aims to rectify these issues and safeguard the rights of both parties. Imag...

A question on X about whether the CGPA is important for fresh grads applying for a job, has prompted discussions on whether academic results trump other skills in indicating a good hire. Our listeners weigh in. Image Credit: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PAS has won the by-elections for the Kemaman parliamentary seat by a landslide, prompting suggestions that the party has found a prime ministerial candidate in the victor, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. We discuss this development, what it means for PAS' influence within the Perikatan Nasional coalition, and what the election outcome says about sentiment towards the Mad...

Fifth time's the charm, we say. Clean Cut is back, our monthly comedy show where comedians are invited to come to our offices and perform a set in from of the BFM staff, with the challenge that it has to be playable on air. Keren Bala Deven joins us in our fifth episode of the series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Costly parking, especially in the city, have always been a bane to many people, and a post on X about high parking rates in a KL shopping mall has opened up a conversation on whether these rates are warranted. So we discuss whether high parking rates might turn people off from going to a place, whether this encourages people to opt for public transport instead. Image Credit: Unsplash See omnystudi...

Parliament adjourned yesterday, 30th November 2023. You've probably heard all the discussions, debates, and drama that unfolded over this 32-day sitting, but what about the outcomes? Maha Balakrishnan joins us to assess this sitting, and help us understand what it has produced in terms of new policies and bills. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger has passed away at the age of 100. He was one of the most prominent and controversial figures of US foreign policy, with some lauding him for his role in shaping global affairs and policies, while others criticising and casting him as a war criminal. We examine his life and legacy, and explore the impact of the decisions he made during his tenure i...

The final parliament session of the year is upon us, and with that, plenty of tidings. The MPs discussed natural disaster management efforts, how to improve tourism in China and Malaysia as well as whether there should be laws to accompany our progressive wage model (which is slated to begin its pilot project next year). Tensions also rose in the House when Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli accused P...

Exciting news! Selangor MB, Amirudin Shari has announced plans to create a 120km trail across the Central Forest Spine from Hulu Selangor to Hulu Langat. This would act as a new tourist attraction for those who are into hiking and jungle-trekking. We explore the idea of trekking through nature, and the best trails to journey through. Image Credit: Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

In today's session, MPs were told that the reciting of the Rukun Negara would be carried out at the beginning of the parliament sitting. This was then followed by an uproar after a few MPs on both sides started using derogatory words to each other. Kerfuffle aside, they went on to discuss a variety of topics, including responsible guardians for abused children, measures to address Monkeypox and De...

The campaign period for Indonesia's 2024 Presidential Election kicks off today with the country expected to hold the general elections on February 14, 2024. Voters will choose their local, provincial, and national legislators in 38 provinces as well as Indonesia's next President and the Vice President. We speak to Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch researcher in Jakarta on what to expect during t...