Inside Story

There have been growing demands for Parliament to reconvene urgently, with Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and MPs from different political parties joining in on the calls. We discuss the implications of Parliament's closure during the pandemic, then talk about why allowing Parliament to function is crucial to ensure accountability in government spending. Finally, we look at the Bill...

The PEMERKASA+ aid package was announced by the Prime Minister last night, ahead of the two-week lockdown. We take a look at the key aspects of the RM40 billion-worth package, and how effective it is in addressing the current concerns of the people. Next, we discuss how businesses will fare with the additional aid. Finally, we examine the three-month pay cut for ministers and their deputies. Image...

On the eve of the full nationwide lockdown, we focus on MCO 3.0 - the final version. First, we look at what this means for businesses, and the hard decisions that need to be made when it comes to cash flow and staying open. We then talk about mental health, discussing the importance of checking in on yourself and the people around you, and managing stress and worry. Image Source: Charles Deluvio,...

Health Minister Datuk Seri Adham Baba has said that the government is mulling fines for people who fail to show up for their vaccine appointments, but is this the best way to solve the problem? We discuss other possible strategies to ensure that people actually get vaccinated after they register, and then speak with a company that is transporting the elderly to vaccination centres. Image Source: C...

Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has been removed from his post as Prasarana chairperson, following his recent remarks when addressing the LRT collision this week. We explore the impact of political appointments, and discuss the checks and balances that currently exist and what needs to change. And finally, we explore what our expectations from leaders and politicians are when they communicate wit...

Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has been removed from his post as Prasarana chairperson, following his recent remarks when addressing the LRT collision this week. We explore the impact of political appointments, and discuss the checks and balances that currently exist and what needs to change. And finally, we explore what our expectations from leaders and politicians are when they communicate wit...

Two LRT trains collided underground near the KLCC station yesterday, the first time an incident like this to occur in LRT's 23-year history. We first speak with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, to understand what happened and what needs to be done next. Then, we discuss the lessons we need to learn from this incident, about public transport safety. And finally, we hear from a first r...

A revised MCO 3.0 was announced over the weekend, with tighter and stricter SOPs following the worrying increase of Covid-19 cases. Looking into the updated SOPs, we talk about the changes made for public transportation and shopping malls - and also explored the recommendation to double mask. Image Source: nax / なっくす, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the potential announcement of another lockdown, we explore how tighter restrictions reminiscent of MCO 1.0 could affect three facets of our life: public health, mental wellbeing, and the economy. Image Source: Glen Carrie, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News of land grabbing involving Orang Asli customary land is making headlines once again, with few actual solutions by the authorities. We look at Orang Asli land rights and why they matter by first breaking down the troubled history of the issue. Then, we hear from two community activists on the challenges they face when standing up for their rights. Image Source: Jef Yangman, Center for Orang As...

A lot of news has been arising surrounding our vaccines as our National Immunisation Programme continues and the second AstraZeneca registration is set to begin. We firstly look at the reports on queue jumping, amid larger concerns about how fast - or slow - the national vaccine rollout has been. Then, we speak about the states procuring their own vaccines, and what the AstraZeneca rollout tells u...

Selangor has been in the spotlight lately over its high Covid-19 numbers, and now there is talk of a potential full MCO for the state. To get an understanding of the situation, we first discuss what the situation on the ground is and what needs to be done. Then, we look at the economic impacts of these high numbers and a potential stricter MCO in the state. Finally, we discuss the recent news that...

Malaysia's COVID-19 cases have been progressively rising leaving many to wonder what the increase in numbers means in our fight against the pandemic. First - we hear the case numbers updated daily, and they’ve been alarming. We look at what on-the-ground impact this will have on our healthcare system and communities. We then find out what has been happening with the recent headlines of overc...

Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations begin tomorrow but with the MCO and the pandemic, this year is going to be different for many of us. We first look at the significance of Raya and the various traditions that are practised. Then, we discuss Raya ads, and how they’ve evolved over the years. Finally, we hear from someone who can’t “balik kampung” because of the MCO. Image Sou...

In its latest move to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has released the Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE), listing out premises at risk of becoming viral clusters. Malls, F&B businesses and bazaars are among the highest in this list and are facing challenges as a result. First, we speak with the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association to hear what their experience has...

As of now, outdoor exercise is prohibited in all areas under the MCO. We examine the risks of outdoor workouts, the miscommunication that has surrounded the announcement, and the alternatives we can explore to keep healthy indoors. Image Source: Arek Adeoye, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An article by The Vibes reported that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) ranks the highest in the list of complaints provided to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). We look at corruption, focusing on how more Malaysians are speaking up, even as political meddling continues to contribute to the issue. First, we discuss data showing that the public is becoming increasingly vocal about...

An article by The Vibes reported that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) ranks the highest in the list of complaints provided to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). We look at corruption, focusing on how more Malaysians are speaking up, even as political meddling continues to contribute to the issue. First, we discuss data showing that the public is becoming increasingly vocal about...

Limkokwing University students are demanding action to be taken for the revocation of their course accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. We first hear from students affected by this, and what they hope would come out of this. Next, we get into how the accreditation process works. Finally, we look into how this would impact higher education in Malaysia. Image Source: Ekrulila, Pexel...

A nationwide "School Walkout Day" has been proposed for later this week to protest sexual harassment in schools. We look at the growing strength of youth movements and protests, by first speaking with the National School Walkout Alliance about why they're organising the protest. Then, we discuss various youth-led movements and their impact, both locally and around the world. Finally, we look at ho...

Recently, social media has been abuzz with the launch of a social enterprise programme by Better Malaysia Foundation (formerly known as Vincent Tan Foundation), which seeks to help the government address the affordable housing issue for B40 families. Its recommendations include to have 100% financing for B40 home buyers with two-generation home loans, and for the government to guarantee the repaym...

Online sexual harassment has risen sharply during the pandemic with the recent case being a 17-year-old girl getting numerous lewd remarks and harassment for speaking up about rape culture. To understand what online harassment is, we first discuss the issue and why it’s so often not taken seriously. Then, we look at ways to take action against online harassers. Finally, we hear from a social...

The UPSR has been cancelled for good, from this year onwards. We explore the significance of this announcement by first hearing the rationale behind this decision, and how it will impact students and teachers. Then we look at alternative methods of assessment, and whether it may lead to wider changes in Malaysia’s education system. Image Source: Ismunazif Fendy, Shutterstock See omnystudio.c...

Last week, A. Ganapathy died after being hospitalised for suffering injuries under police custody adding to an unsettling list of custodial deaths. We first hear about Ganapathy’s case from his lawyer. Then, we talk about the larger issue of deaths in prison. And finally, we look at the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission and how it could help in working towards...

On Friday, 17-year-old Ain Husniza shared a TikTok video describing how her teacher allegedly made rape jokes during a conversation in class about sexual harassment and abuse. This led to a lot of anger and calls for the Education Minister to investigate and take stern action on the matter. We talk about how we can do better in schools by generating healthy conversations during sexuality education...