Pressing Matters

The Melaka state elections will be held on 20 November, and three-corner or more fights across all 28 constituencies looks to be the norm, as Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional duke it out. We discuss who’s in the running and what it would take to effectively curb party-hopping practices in Malaysian politics with political scientist Dr. Wong Chin Huat. Image Credit: SA...

The Melaka state elections will be held on 20 November, and three-corner or more fights across all 28 constituencies looks to be the norm, as Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional duke it out. We discuss who’s in the running and what it would take to effectively curb party-hopping practices in Malaysian politics with political scientist Dr. Wong Chin Huat. Image Credit: SA...

When the Covid-19 virus swept throughout China and then the world in early 2020, the idea that a vaccine could be available in the near future seemed far-fetched. But within the year, there were several vaccine candidates approved and distributed in quick succession. How did we get to the vaccine finish line so quickly? We discuss the trials and tribulations in the race for a vaccine with Gregory...

Palm oil is a polarizing issue in the face of growing calls for climate change action and awareness. Yet it remains an important contributor to the Malaysian economy, making up some 3% of our GDP and a source of livelihood for many communities. A documentary by Universiti Sains Malaysia attempts to go beyond the binary on the issue of palm oil, aptly titled 50 Shades of Green: The Complex Story of...

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to journalists experimenting with new ways to reach their audiences, including through subscription-based email newsletters. We get the lowdown from the founder of one such newsletter, #BeritaBaruNakUp, created by journalist Zurairi A.R. in one of his many hats. BBNU synthesizes social media trends and provides socio-political analysis; find out more at bbnu.online .&...

The Covid-19 pandemic has given oxygen to the far right movement around the world. The recent violent protests in Melbourne, ostensibly over vaccine mandates in the construction sector, is the latest example of far right groups taking advantage of public frustration over prolonged lockdowns and social restrictions. We speak to Dr. Josh Roose, Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University on the chal...

In 2015, Penang-born Leonard Francis pleaded guilty to defrauding the US Navy's Pacific Seventh Fleet of almost US$35 million. For the first time since his conviction, Leonard Francis has broken his silence by speaking to journalist Tom Wright providing details on the extent of bribery and corruption in his dealings with the US Navy. Leonard is the subject of Tom Wright's latest project with his n...

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed over 22,000 lives to date, but the restrictions on social gatherings have disrupted grieving rituals for many Malaysians. A group of volunteers has initiated an online memorial as a way to remember the departed, which began with a tweet by journalist Aidila Razak. We speak to two volunteers behind the Covid-19 Memorial Malaysia on the project's aims, as well as th...

Malaysian women have long been denied the right to automatically confer citizenship to their children when they give birth overseas. A recent High Court ruling has reversed the injustice by granting mothers equal rights as fathers in these situations. We discuss the implications of this momentous decision with independent journalist and gender activist Tehmina Kaoosji. Image Credit: Shutterstock.c...

The decision by the Selangor state government to degazette part of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, despite public opposition, sparked furious backlash last week. The saga also highlights the shortcomings of the system in holding government authorities accountable for decisions that affect forest conservation and management. We speak to forestry researcher Lim Teck Wyn on the complexities of...

Around 44% of the Malaysian population is fully vaccinated - but there is a segment of society that remains hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine. What drives vaccine perceptions in the country, and how should we tackle the concerns of the vaccine hesitant? We discuss the findings of a recent Ipsos survey on this issue with Prof. Mahendhiran Nair of Sunway University and Lars Erik Lie of Ipsos Mal...

The two Ps - the pandemic and politics - have been the main newsmakers for the past 18 months. But ironically, both have also been stumbling blocks to news media looking to gather and verify information about these very issues. We speak to journalists Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin and Lee Shin Yiing to find out how they've been navigating the challenges in holding business and policymakers to account....

Despite the heightened interest of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement in investing, the social and governance aspects of the equation, such as press freedom, are still less likely to sway business decisions. A recent Bloomberg article posits that investors ignore press freedom at their own peril. We speak to one of the co-authors of the report, Bloomberg editor Isabella Steger...

Despite all the controversy due to the pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended on a high note for the Japanese hosts. Similarly, Malaysia’s campaign ended with a silver medal in the cycling keirin event on the final day, bringing the total medal tally to two. How does this achievement compare to previous Games? We run through the highlights with journalist Haresh Deol. Image Credit: Shahjeha...

Protesters took to the streets on Saturday under the banner of #Lawan to show their discontent with the government. Meanwhile, the special Parliamentary sitting was left hanging after the final day was postponed due to Covid-19 cases. We recount the happenings with independent journalist Hadi Azmi. Image Credit: Lim Mansor / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does Facebook deal with hate speech in the Asia-Pacific, given the region’s myriad cultures and languages? A recent study by researchers at the University of Sydney examines the regulation of hate speech on Facebook by looking at the experience of LGBTQ+ groups across 5 countries - Australia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. We discuss the findings with lead author Dr. Aim...

The 2021 Digital News Report compiled by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed that trust in the media increased by 6% globally to 44%, as audiences sought credible, authoritative news sources during the pandemic. Malaysia saw a similar uptick in trust in media, but with media freedoms on the decline under Perikatan Nasional, Professor Zaharom Nain of University Nottingham Mal...

The healthcare system in the Klang Valley is under tremendous strain as Covid-19 cases continue to spike. How transparent has the government been in communicating the situation to Malaysians? We discuss the availability of Covid-19 data and the indicators we should be monitoring with CodeBlue Editor-in-Chief Boo Su-Lyn. Check out more news reports by CodeBlue here . Image Credit: Nanausop / Shutte...

The grassroots-led white flag movement is creating waves over social media, with communities offering help in kind to people in distress during the pandemic. However the politicization of the movement by figures on both sides of the divide has sparked public backlash. We discuss the impact of social media movements and efforts to lead political change from the ground up with strategic communicatio...

The grassroots-led white flag movement is creating waves over social media, with communities offering help in kind to people in distress during the pandemic. However the politicization of the movement by figures on both sides of the divide has sparked public backlash. We discuss the impact of social media movements and efforts to lead political change from the ground up with strategic communicatio...

Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll surpassed 500,000 deaths last week, a grim reminder that the pandemic continues to rage more than a year and a half after its outbreak. President Jair Bolsonaro is notorious for making light of the pandemic and prioritizing the economy over healthcare measures. But as case numbers continue to rise with no relief in sight, could this bring an end to his political...

There has been a spate of media coverage and social media posts on migrant and refugee issues, that have been criticized by rights groups as biased, one-sided, and inaccurate. What is the role of the media in moderating and amplifying these issues, and how can Malaysian media better represent the nuances and perspectives of migrants? We discuss this with representatives from the International Orga...

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Content Forum, also known as the Content Forum, is embarking on a revamp exercise of the nearly two-decades-old Content Code set up in 2004. What are the challenges of content regulation in an age where access to information online is unfettered and content creation reigns supreme? We discuss the nuts and bolts of the self-regulatory model in Malaysia as...

The BBC has come under fire for its 1995 Panorama interview with the late Princess Diana, after an independent inquiry by Lord Dyson found that journalist Martin Bashir used deceptive means to secure the interview. The scathing report comes at a time when future public funding for the BBC is being negotiated, amid allegations of perceived right-wing bias within the institution. We discuss the impl...

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the largest print media publisher on the island-state, announced that it would hive-off its media segment into a non-profit company before the end of the year. How will this shake-up impact the media environment in Singapore? We discuss the implications with media expert and academic Cherian George. Image Credit: Tang Yan Song / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio....