Inside Story

In Parliament yesterday, there was some discourse on film censorship in Malaysia and the Film Censorship Board's guidelines. First, we find out why certain movies get banned, and what’s behind this. Then, the impact censorship has on filmmakers and audiences. Lastly, are films really that influential? Image Source: Hunter Moranville, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

In Parliament yesterday, there was some discourse on film censorship in Malaysia and the Film Censorship Board's guidelines. First, we find out why certain movies get banned, and what’s behind this. Then, the impact censorship has on filmmakers and audiences. Lastly, are films really that influential? Image Source: Hunter Moranville, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Recently, the world has been awashed with news of the new Covid-19 variant. We look into this by first discussing the science of it. Then, we look at how Omicron will impact our economy, as well our public health battele against the pandemic. Finally, we look at criticisms that the West is being racist in spinning a narrative about Omicron. Image Source: Viktor Forgacs, Unsplash See omnystudio.com...

In the final episode of our monthlong deep-dive into the National Education Blueprint, we talk about national identity and the role schools play in this. First, we discuss how identity is actually discussed and instilled in schools, especially with the different streams in our country. And then, what could it look like in the future, and how should our education system work towards building a nati...

A survey by Penang Institute found that Penang is a pretty happy place - with three-quarters of 3,011 residents surveyed identifying as "happy". We first dive into the survey findings and what they mean for policymaking. Then, we find out how much of our happiness and satisfaction are driven by our environment. Image Source: Szilvia Basso, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

In an ongoing court case, lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla claimed that vernacular school students are at a disadvantage in the job market because of limited Bahasa Malaysia proficiency. We unpack this claim by first looking at the details of the case. Then, what does the job market actually tell us? And finally - are there advantages to vernacular languages being the medium of instruction? Im...

In an ongoing court case, lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla claimed that vernacular school students are at a disadvantage in the job market because of limited Bahasa Malaysia proficiency. We unpack this claim by first looking at the details of the case. Then, what does the job market actually tell us? And finally - are there advantages to vernacular languages being the medium of instruction? Im...

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, Dr P Ramasamy has called the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and opposition an 'albatross' that’s no longer of use. We discuss this by first looking at what the MoU has achieved. Then, we unpack how the government and opposition can work together in a way that’s productive, and accountable. Image Source: Ismail Sabri Yaakob Offical Fa...

On Saturday, Barisan Nasional won 21 out of 28 seats at the Melaka state elections. First, we look into what this big win would mean for BN, especially moving forward into Sarawak and GE15. Then we revisit a conversation on The Breakfast Grille about what went wrong with Pakatan Harapan. Finally, we look at how racial rhetoric played in the state and the campaign. Image Source: Gwoeii, Shutterstoc...

On the third instalment of our series on the Malaysia Education Blueprint, we unpack issues tied to access and equity. Firstly, we look at what needs to happen to achieve 100% enrollment from preschool to upper secondary. Then, we discuss the pandemic's impact on education equity, and what can be done to bridge learning gaps. Finally, we hear about an initiative to educate stateless children in Bo...

The government has announced that it will be discontinuing the free breakfast programme that was introduced by Pakatan Harapan back in 2019. First, we unpack what this decision would mean for underprivileged students. Then, we look at where civil society organisations come in to assist B40 youth. Image Source: Papa Annur, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new survey by Employment Hero found that over 70% of young Malaysians are considering leaving the country for greener pastures. We break this down by first looking at the issues in our job market that are contributing to this. Then, how does culture and merit enter the picture? Finally - the solutions that are available to us. Image Source: TORWAISTUDIO, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener...

We look at a new survey from the WAO on violence against women, which produced troubling results - 80% believe that rape happens when a man cannot control his desires, and more than half the respondents believe that domestic violence is a normal reaction to stress. First, we speak with the WAO about the survey. Then, we catch up with a psychiatrist about the dynamics of domestic violence. Image So...

We dive into the Kedah state government's ban on 4D lottery outlets in the state. First, we look at commentaries suggesting this move is politically motivated, ahead of the Melaka state polls. Next, we discuss what it means to regulate online gambling. Lastly, a pair of PAS politicians berated a journalist asking them about this - we look into that. Image Source: Kindel Media, Pexels See omnystudi...

On the second instalment of our series on the Malaysia Education Blueprint, we look at what it takes to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching in our schools. First, we hear from Alina Amir about what needs to happen to transform teaching into the profession of choice. After that, we speak with an educationist in Singapore, Professor Low Ee Ling, for some lessons from across the Causewa...

Tonight, we focus on electric vehicles and whether they’re truly a viable option in Malaysia. First, what would it really take for EVs to become the vehicle of choice, and what stands in the way right now? Then, we hear from the president of the Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club about the pain points and how they’re being overcome. Image Source: Michael Fousert, Unsplash See omnys...

Bersatu lawmaker Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin was recently quoted saying that parties should field more women candidates in ""winnable seats"", to increase female representation in politics. We first dissect the statement itself and whether this is the way to go. Then we speak to a female ADUN about what it’s like being a woman in politics. And finally, we hear from the 111 Initiative. Image Sou...

The government has recently made a commitment to table a policy paper in the cabiner to criminalize stalking. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said that an anti-stalking bill will be tabled in Parliament following the cabinet’s approval. Firstly, we discuss what amendments should be made, and how a holistic and comprehensive appraoch would...

Tonight, we dive into the ongoing COP26 - first, what big decisions have been made so far, and why are activists saying it’s simply not enough? Secondly, we examine whether there’s still value in these sorts of diplomatic conferences. Lastly, the voice of youth activists has been loud and clear - we look at what they’re calling for. Image Source: MAURO UJETTO, Shutterstock See om...

On the first instalment of our monthlong look into the Malaysia Education Blueprint, we assess the current state of our education system, and what the blueprint has achieved. We first speak with former Deputy Minister of Education, Teo Nie Ching, to get her take. And then we hear from Teach for Malaysia, to find out how schools assess their performance. Finally, a student shares her point of view....

Tonight, we discuss what it takes to improve road safety. First up, we look at the Global Plan for Road Safety launched by the WHO and United Nations last week, and how it might be implemented here. And then - what will it take for Malaysian drivers to change our ways? Image Source: Maksim Goncharenok, Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EPF chief strategy officer Nurhisham Hussein recently stated that only 3% of Malaysians can afford to retire on their EPF savings. We unpack this by first looking at what this means for seniors with no savings. Then, we discuss how EPF can improve, and what other systems we could incorporate. Finally, we look at the importance of planning for your retirement. Image Source: Towfiqu barbhuiya, Unspl...

Finance minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz unveiled Budget 2022 last Friday, and we're continuing our discussions on it. Firstly, we look at the Budget through the lens of Keluarga Malaysia, and what it has to offer for different communities. Then, we looked at whether the Budget paves the way for the development of sustainability in the country. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinve...

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz unveiled Budget 2022 today, with the key focuses being to speed up recovery, strengthen economic resilience, and catalyse reform. Our guests join us to break down the biggest themes of the budget and discuss the most interesting highlights. Brought to you by Mah Sing; Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.  Image Source: Tengku Zafrul Official Facebook Page See omn...

It's the eve of the Budget 2022, and we discuss some budget wish lists. First, we look at what would be helpful for the B60 community. And then, we discuss what a gender-inclusive budget look like. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Image Source: CK Yeo, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.