Evening Edition

More cars mean more parking spaces, which mean more trees getting cut down. This is what's being discussed on Twitter right now, so we join in.Image Credit: Tim Meyer, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said that new guidelines on rented rooms are being drawn up. This came after reports of an increase of houses being partitioned into shoe boxed sized rooms, that come at the expense of proper living conditions.Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coldplay is coming to Malaysia and fans are rejoicing, but not everyone is on board. PAS has called for the cancellation of the concert, which has caused a wave of dissent from Twitter. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Bar has adopted a resolution declaring that it has no confidence in Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun for his “abject failure” to defend the judiciary and uphold the rule of law. We unpack this.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue our coverage on the Deepening Democracy in Malaysia roundtable, organized by Bersih, The Kofi Annan Foundation and Global Bersih, together with the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat's Office and the Deputy Speaker’s Office. Day two focused on parliamentary reform and innovation. Some of the voices we heard from include: Declan O’Brien, Head of Elections and Democracy, Kofi Annan Foundation. Maha Balakrishnan, Principal Facilitator of the National Democratic Institute-Malaysia’s Akademi Parlimen initiative. Dr Kelvin Yii, Bandar Kuching MP.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bersih, The Kofi Annan Foundation and Global Bersih, together with the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat's Office and the Deputy Speaker’s Office, launched the roundtable on Deepening Democracy in Malaysia in Parliament. We went on ground to gather some thoughts from people who were there, and explore the bigger question on how we should be thinking about politics.Some of the voices we heard from include:Thomas Fann, Chairman of Bersih.Corrine Momal Vanian, Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation.Anusha Rym, Mekar Kami.Aira Azhari, Senior Manager, Democracy and Governance Unit at IDEAS.Dr Wong Chin Huat, Political Scientist, Sunway UniversityImage Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A question on Twitter about places to go in KL and Selangor that are suitable for people who are wheelchair-bound, have circulated. We explored the suggestions that have been put forth, and the larger question of whether the Klang Valley is wheelchair-friendly.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A TikTok user has shared screenshots of a conversation allegedly happening between him and his supervisor at work, which shows how he was asked to resign after requesting for earlier paternity leave to care for his wife. We discussed how supportive workplaces have been in giving fathers time to be an active parent.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In South Korea, a growing number of venues have started to ban children under the "no kids" banner, in an attempt to not inconvenience other patrons. One MP criticized the "exclusionary" practice in a press conference, with her toddler in tow. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has ranked 73 on Reporters Without Borders 2023 World Press Freedom Rankings, a jump of 40 placings from 113 last year. This is the highest rank ever attained by Malaysia, placing the country in the same company as Hungary and Sierra Leone. We discuss the significance of this and what a free press means for Malaysian societyImage Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People on Twitter have been calling for us to consider the 4 days work week, after a tweet pointing out that the 5 day work week was a concept that had been fought for by labour activists in the past. We get into the discussion.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Badminton player Lee Zii Jia has posted a video of himself singing about his journey as a national athlete. In the song, he highlights the way the media has written about him. We discuss a couple of things, including the line between being critical and overly-critical, as well as who's responsible to help support and manage an athlete's mental health, especially now in the age of social media where everything (good and bad!) is just one click away.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A viral video of an interaction involving someone calling out another person for smoking in an eatery has been making its round on social media. We explore the challenges we have in enforcing this ban.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Health Ministry has recalled two types of instant noodles, after tests in Taipei found that they contained a carcinogenic substance. Further testing from Taipei’s health department has also found that both noodles contained ethylene oxide, which is a chemical compound associated with lymphoma and leukaemia. We discuss what this means for consumers, as well as how to cultivate healthier eating habits.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One first step we all take when transitioning to adulthood is the purchase and ownership of our first car. Not to steal the show from our friends on Cruise Control, but since Twitter is leading a rather robust discussion on this, we join in.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Videos that were posted by the Paralympics TikTok account has attracted some mixed reactions from the public, for their portrayal of athletes with disabilities. We discuss how to navigate advocacy in the age where edgy content is the norm.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#Flounder is trending after the recent release of the Little Mermaid trailer, with fans complaining about the beloved sidekick's appearance - especially when compared to the animated classic. We look at the various reactions and of course, the inevitable jokes.Image Credit: Twitter/The Little MermaidSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been increased reports of burnout happening within the workplace, and yet, people still find it difficult to open up about their mental health at work. We discuss this issue, and what needs to be done to break it with a corporate training company that helps organizations in Southeast Asia build a happy and productive salesforce.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte, also known as "The King of Calypso", passed away on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96. We look back and pay tribute to his life and legacy.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are sharing their stories of cutting off ties with members of their family. We discuss.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Department announced that the Prime Minister’s Malaysia Madani Open House will be held in six states: Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, coincidentally the same states that will be having their state elections this year. So we discuss the significance of open houses for politicians.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A TikTok of a Malaysian university lecturer went viral as he posted clips of himself checking on students who skipped his lessons, by visiting them at their hostels and rented homes. We discuss the line between an educator's responsibility, and respecting personal boundaries.Image Credit: Screen Capture from TikTok/The Malay Mail & hisyam_chematSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raya is around the corner, and a conversation on Twitter about how much exactly should one put into a duit raya packet or angpao is going around. We get into it.Image Credit: PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an additional day of public holiday for Hari Raya. Retail chain Ameer Ali Mydin has criticised this move, saying that his company would bear losses of at least half a million ringgit. We discuss the impact that this decision has on businesses.Image Credit: PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A dicussion on Twitter about whether parents should control what their kids eat has circulated. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In keeping with the Ramadan month, we look at an organization that aims to make the Quran more accessible to the visually impaired.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A heated conversation around fireworks has been taking place on Twitter. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To no one's joy, the haze is back. We discuss the cause behind the annual flare-up and how the situation might affect travellers going back to their hometowns for Hari Raya.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said that stage bus operators that are receiving Federal Government subsidies through the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund will now be subjected to tighter standards, specifically in terms of punctuality. We discuss what else we need to improve our bus systems.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study published on The Conversation has found that books are good for society, wellbeing and our careers. We discuss this, as well as tips and tricks that would help to get into the habit of reading.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk about a tale of catfishing, and fraught online relationships.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A string of animal abuse cases have been all over the news lately, some of which involve dog poisoning, the discovery of cat carcasses, and most recenty, a case of a man setting fire to a dog. We discuss what needs to be done to protect our stray animals better.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The question of how much money is needed to get married, has been brought up on Twitter. We discuss it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 7th April, the Umno supreme council unanimously decided to apply for a royal pardon for former prime minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak. We get into what this means and the implication of this with a lawyer.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter has been discussing this exact question. We join in.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month, we celebrated International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality. We discuss women in tech and what it takes to help women returning to work or transitioning to careers in the digital space.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Barbie movie trailer has taken social media, particularly Twitter, by storm. We join in on the discussion about the movie's aethetic, the different kinds of Barbies out there as well as the new barbie selfie generator.Image Credit: barbiethemovie/InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study has found that Ramadan bazaar traders in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are wasting 47,610kg of food per day. We dive into why this is happening, and what can be done to put a stop to it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does everywhere need a fancy name? How many Damansaras can there realistically be? We get into it.Image Credit: Wikimedia / Creative CommonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vegetable wholesalers have had to dump 80% of their stock due to a miscalculation in gross production. We look at how this happened and what measures can be taken to help prevent it from happening again in the future.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BookDepository has announced that it will soon be closing down on April 26th 2023, following layoffs in recent months by their parent company Amazon. So we get into the impact this has on local readers, as well as discuss the broader question of why books are so expensive in Malaysia.Image Credit: Book Depository/TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Twitter community has shared tips and tricks on how to avoid being a scam victim. We join the conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the last day of this sitting for Parliament! The Dewan discussed the deals that came from Anwar’s visit to China, plans to table the GEG bill in May, and whether 50% of all sin tax should go back to the MoH, the government’s projection that 12.8 thousand contract doctors will be absorbed within 3 years, and the tabling of bills to decriminalise suicide. Also, the MPs discussed Ramadan bazaar traders and how to maintain prices and quality of food items.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis don’t plan to leave their kids any money, saying that they will instead donate their fortune to charity. We discuss. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's special sitting of parliament involved the tabling and passing of the Finance Bill 2023. This session also featured a few dramatic moments resulting in several MPs leaving the Dewan en masse, after the motion to debate EPF withdrawals were rejected.Image Credit: Steven Sim/FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a conversation about the kind of tourists you’d rather not welcome.Image Credit: Gemeente Amsterdam/VimeoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a follow up to an Inside Story about school dropouts, we continue the discussion on what needs to be in place to support students, and their families, to continue studying.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a conversation about scam calls, and specifically, where they come from.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MPs covered several topics today, including keeping Asean a nuclear free zone, the mental health of PDRM officers, efforts to digitalize our medical records. They also discussed the postponement of the Lower Value Goods Tax. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a conversation about traditional wear and what would encourage you to wear it more often.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.