Inside Story

While the world deals with COVID-19, we've also seen a "pandemic" of fake news and misinformation. So on today's show, we look at why media literacy is important to combat this. First, we look at the role of educators in teaching media literacy. Then, we talk about how seniors can empower themselves against fake news. Finally, we look at how media organisations can regain the trust they seem to be...

Girls in multiple schools have come forward to share their stories of being ‘shamed, groped and violated’ in period spot checks, with many saying they had to physically prove they were on their period through extreme measures like showing their sanitary pads. We speak with Rozana Isa from Sisters in Islam about why urgent action needs to be taken on the issue. Then, we hear from studen...

With an extension of its land lease withheld by the government, what will be the fate of Convent Bukit Nanas, one of the oldest schools in the country? We speak with Datin Noraida Saludin, President of the Malaysian Institute of Planners, to understand the context behind the situation that the school is facing, and its heritage importance. Then, we hear from alumni Low Ngai Yuen, President of Kaki...

The European Super League - a new midweek competition - has been announced by twelve leading football clubs in Europe, and it will be governed by its 'Founding Clubs'. This revelation has been met with huge uproar from football critics and fans alike. We speak with Ross Yusof to understand how this happened. Then, we talk to Callum Gilmour from Monash University about the relationship between foot...

The European Super League - a new midweek competition - has been announced by twelve leading football clubs in Europe, and it will be governed by its 'Founding Clubs'. This revelation has been met with huge uproar from football critics and fans alike. We speak with Ross Yusof to understand how this happened. Then, we talk to Callum Gilmour from Monash University about the relationship between foot...

A year into the pandemic, how are you responding to the daily COVID-19 statistics from the government? Do you find yourself confused by sudden shifts in the number of reported cases? We try to make sense of those figures by speaking to Dr Lau Cher Han, chief data scientist from LEAD about how those numbers are gathered. Then, we hear from Dr Hariyati Sharima Abdul Majid, health psychologist at Mer...

Nigerian national Simon Momoh was arrested in March for a drink-driving offence. However despite paying a fine of RM12,000 and serving his one-day jail sentence, he was then rearrested and detained for a month, before being issued a deportation order that will separate him from his family in Malaysia. We speak with his wife, May Low, about how this ordeal has affected their family's lives. Then, w...

On World Art Day, we look at the state of traditional arts in Malaysia, and what is being done to keep these art forms thriving. First, we speak with Pauline Fan, creative director of PUSAKA, about the Malaysian arts scene and the challenges it has been facing. Then, we hear about the Adiguru programme and how it aims to uplift local arts practitioners from Izan Satrina, CEO of CENDANA. Finally, w...

An audio recording of a conversation allegedly between UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was leaked last week to Facebook. We speak to honorary research associate Dr Bridget Welsh about whether leaked recordings like this bear a significant impact to the politicians involved. Next, we dive into some infamous leaked tapes of the past with...

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is suing political artist and activist Fahmi Reza for his recent satirical artwork that has allegedly insulted the institution. Fahmi himself has stood firm on his stance that satire is a form of expression that he has a right to exercise. We speak to Thulsi Manogaran of the Civil Society Coalition on the position of satire when it comes to freedom of speech. Then, l...

Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Rais Yatim has recently proposed for a political academy to be created in order to provide official training to elected representatives. First, we hear from MP Syed Saddiq on his experience with learning on the job. We then speak with political scientist, Wong Chin Huat, about whether this will help MPs develop better policymaking skills for more effective governance...

A study by Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia Berhad (VTREC) revealed that a vehicle is stolen every 1 hour 15 minutes in Malaysia, with 20 vehicles taken each day in 2020. Mas Tina Abdul Hamid gives us a better understanding the findings and shares how we can prevent our cars from being stolen. We then go through some of the most frequently stolen cars in Malaysia with Danny Tan. Image S...

A study by Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia Berhad (VTREC) revealed that a vehicle is stolen every 1 hour 15 minutes in Malaysia, with 20 vehicles taken each day in 2020. Mas Tina Abdul Hamid gives us a better understanding the findings and shares how we can prevent our cars from being stolen. We then go through some of the most frequently stolen cars in Malaysia with Danny Tan. Image S...

More than 11 million Facebook users in Malaysia have had their personal data breached, putting them at risk of malicious activity. We explore how this happened, what we can do to keep ourselves safer online and whether legal action can be taken against tech companies to urge them to better protect our data. Image Source: Brett Jordan, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 11 million Facebook users in Malaysia have had their personal data breached, putting them at risk of malicious activity. We explore how this happened, what we can do to keep ourselves safer online and whether legal action can be taken against tech companies to urge them to better protect our data. Image Source: Brett Jordan, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s World Health Day and WHO’s theme this year is 'Building a fairer, healthier world' - so today, we look at what affects healthcare equity here in Malaysia. We discuss how accessible our healthcare system is, and talk about how it can be improved for people with disabilities. Then, we discuss the impact of geography and the rural-urban divide. Image Source: Canva See omnystudio.com/...

Over 400,000 foreign workers, including domestic workers, have returned to their respective countries leaving many families to struggle without any assitance at home. We get an understanding of what is being done to address the issue, how the recruitment process can be made more transparent and what needs to be done to ensure workers are treated fairly moving forward. Image Source: Raychan, Unspla...

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was recently under criticism for his "big brother" remark during a press conference with his China counterpart, Wang Yi. Was it a major diplomatic faux pas, or just a storm in a teacup? We unpack by exploring the context for Malaysia's relationship with China, and how that affects our relationship with other countries. Image Source: Alejandro Luengo...

As workplaces return to full capacity with 4-digit cases, we look deeper into how these spaces can be made safer, the pros and cons of this move, and what it's actually like to manage a workforce during a pandemic. Image Source: Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a closer look at the new law passed yesterday, which allows the Finance Ministry to approve additional spending without Parliament's permission, as long as the Emergency is in force. First, we look at the usual procedures to seek approval for supplementary expenditure, and how the new law supplants the process. Then, we discuss the importance of debate to ensure accountability on the part...

According to a Reuters report, Malaysia's FDI in 2020 totalled $3.4b, a 56% drop from the previous year. Is this worrisome, or does it just reflect the uncertainties in the global investment landscape due to the pandemic? We explore this by looking at Malaysia's current standing in attracting FDI, what we can do better to remain competitive, and how we can move up the value chain. Image Source: Au...

During the Penang state government's International Women's Day 2021 campaign, state EXCO for social development Chong Eng brought up a suggestion to establish a family court in Malaysia, to better address cases of domestic violence. We discuss with a lawyer about the roles that a family court would have, and then speak with a survivor of domestic violence about what it was like for her to navigate...

At the party's general assembly over the weekend, Umno announced that it is parting ways with Perikatan Nasional, and rejected the possibility of working together with Bersatu or Pakatan Harapan. The party also made statements that raised questions about its relationship with PAS. We speak with two political analysts about the developments, then hear from the perspective of a party member. Image S...

The Election Commission has announced that auto registration for citizens above the age of 18 to vote will be delayed until after September 2022, decreasing their chances of particpating in GE15. We explore how this call came to be and the consquences it might have on our next elections. Image Source: Gwoeii, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Court ruled yesterday that hoteliers are not entitled to use the 10% service charge to meet the minimum wage of their workers. We explore the impact of this development with a lawyer, discuss the minimum wage requirement with a union representative, and then look at why we don't have a culture of tipping in Malaysia. Image Source: Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener f...