Pressing Matters

We unpack the latest United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report entitled” Enhancing Human Capital Through Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments and Family Support Policies in Malaysia” as we discuss with Tengku Aira Tengku Razif the novel approach the fund has taken to calculate the return of investments when we invest in sexual and reproductive health in Malaysia Image by: Shutterstock...

We speak to Ian Yee, co-founder of the Fourth on the status of investigative journalism in Malaysia. What are the challenges Malaysia faces in developing investigative journalism and whether there is an ecosystem to nurture the next generation? Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak about gender equity and equality in the media industry with Tehmina Kaoosji, a journalist, communications consultant and gender equity activist about the progress or perhaps the lack of we are seeing in Malaysia’s media industry Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Dr Jonathan Chang CEO of Fintopia and a frequent commentator on the tech industry on how South East Asia’s tech industry has been navigating 2023 following on the back of news that Grab has axed nearly 10% of its staff Image by: Twenty1Studio - Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Boo Suu-Lyn Editor in Chief of Code Blue about the recent Health White Paper and the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 as both papers and bills were discussed through parliament and what are the challenges of translating these proposals into action Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BFM Media has a Mandarin-podcast arm known as Caijin, which will celebrate its 2nd anniversary this year. Philip See speaks to Isaac Wong, the programme manager at Caijin on how the podcast station has evolved, as well as the struggles and challenges they faced in the relatively saturated and traditional Chinese language media landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

In this week’s Pressing Matter, we discuss with Shannon Teoh Malaysia Bureau Chief at the Straits Times over the recent controversy over the jokes made by Joceyln Chia and how have the media and politicians from both Malaysia and Singapore have responded to it. We turn serious as this is no laughing matter! Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressing Matters: where Phillip See speaks to Greg Waldron editor from Flight Global on airshows and how they have evolved post pandemic and whether the geopolitical landscape has particularly shaped how these airshows are conducted Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Pressing Matters we speak to Meena Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia about the controversial Penang South Island Reclamation Project that has been dominating news headlines as we get the perspective of the NGOs about this project. Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Aim Sinpeng, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney speaks to us about the state of this watershed Thai election, focusing specifically on the election campaign and the importance of social media and the youth vote as the country see saws between a flourishing democracy and military coups. Image by: Shutter...

Sudan is in the midst of an intense civil war and to help us unpack the latest developments, we speak to Nicholas Bariyo, reporter from the Wall Street Journal about how the events have been unfolding as peace talks are underway Image by: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Pressing Matters. As we enter Earth Day this week, In today’s show Philip See speaks to Robin Hicks, associate editor of Eco-Business, to get his perspective on greenwashing and how prevalent is it in Asia. We also try to understand the reverse of Green washing which is Green hushing! Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Pressing Matters. We take a deeper look into ChatGPT and ask if it really is a job killer? Muhammad Zulhusni and Dashveenjit Kaur, both journalists from Tech Wire Asia, an independent tech news website that covers enterprise and technology in Asia share their perspectives. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See speaks to Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) about the impact of a potential US ban on Tik Tok on Asia. Will Asian governments follow suit and force governments here to take side? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Vikram Khanna, Associate Editor at The Straits Times Singapore on the latest banking turmoil that has shaken the world as the crisis jumps from Silicon Valley Bank to Credit Suisse and get his perspective on whether it will affect Asian markets. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Nasir Jamal, Bureau Chief of Dawn Media Group from Pakistan on the challenging economic and political situation in Pakistan as it negotiates a deal with the IMF. With the political situation deteriorating with recent political turmoil involving Imran Khan, we unpack and get a sense of the economic pain ordinary Pakistanis are facing. Image credit: Reuters See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

On Pressing Matters, Philip See speaks to Hadi Azmi, Correspondent from the South China Morning Post about to get his perspective on the recent graft charges against former PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as we get a sense of the situation on the ground and also the political implications of these charges. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get an external perspective on Malaysia’s recent retabled 2023 Budget with Shannon Teoh, Malaysia Bureau Chief at Singapore’s Straits Times. Does Budget 2023 give us a sense of Prime Minister Dato Sri Anwar’s Ibrahim’s policy priorities? How seriously do our neighbours down south take Malaysia’s budget and what drives eyeballs on Malaysia’s political landscape for Singaporean media? Image credi...

We speak to Andriy Taranov, Board member of Suspilne the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine as we reflect on the 1 year anniversary of the Russian – Ukraine conflict and get a deeper sense of how the press in Ukraine is covering the war. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natasha Hussain, presenter, senior producer, journalist & sub-editor at TRT World, a 24 hour English language Turkish public broadcaster shares with us the situation on the ground and how the Turkish press and media is covering the devastating earthquake that took place in Eastern Türkiye. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Pressing Matter, Philip See speaks to Sue Lin Wong, a correspondent from the Economist about her podcast series the Prince which chronicles the life of Xi Jin Ping and gives us a good glimpse of the machinations of China’s Communist Party Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See speaks to James Gomez, director of the Asia Centre as we discuss the Centre’s most recent report Internet Freedoms in Malaysia: Regulating Online Discourse on Race, Religion, and Royalty as we have a conversation on how the online universe has created a unique set of challenges on ensuring internet freedom. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See speaks to Tom Westbrook, Chief Correspondent, Asia Markets from Reuters on all the biggest business stories of 2022. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dust may have settled post-GE15, but another election looms on the horizon: the UMNO party elections, which must be held within 6 months of the general elections. What clues can we glean from the upcoming UMNO General Assembly on the strategic direction, election dates, and most importantly, who will helm Malaysia’s oldest political party? Long-time political observer and columnist Mohsin Abdu...

In the final episode of 2022, we look back at some of the key international headlines of the past 12 months. The outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February dominated news headlines for most of the year. Meanwhile elections across Europe and the death of the UK's longest serving monarch highlighted issues of polarisation and diversity gaps in society. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.c...