Evening Edition

The government is proposing for 2 government-linked cooperatives to get into poultry farming to bolster Malaysia's food security. We get into what this means for the industry, as well as our food security. Image Source: Jo-Anne McArthur, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cinema branch was fined RM 45,000 by the Ayer Keroh sessions court for profiteering, after being found to have overcharged customers for F&B sold at their concession stand. We speak to senior lecturer of law, Dr. Ong Tze Chin to understand how profit crosses the line into profiteering. Image Source: Din Mohd Yaman, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPM results are out, and Congratulations Ain is trending! This is after Ain Husniza shared the top marks she got despite the hate messages she received for purportedly prioritizing activism over her studies.Image Source: ainhsaifulnizam, Official Twitter accountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you tried booking a Grab during peak hours recently? Earlier this month, it was reported that some drivers have been turning off their apps during peak hours, thanks to the crazy traffic lately. We got an anonymous Grab driver to break this down for us from their perspective. Image Source: Yaoinlove, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google suspended one of it's engineers after he argued that their AI system LaMDA was showing signs of conciousness. Google has since denied LaMDA's sentience, a response which has raised suspicions over how far they have actually come in their AI development. We dive into this story, and what it would mean for an Artificial Intelligence system to gain sentience.Image Source: Tara Winstead, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation on the act of paying for public toilets is trending on Twitter, following a tweet from Marina Ibrahim of DAP on complaints that public toilets at the Taman Ungku Tun Aminah bus terminal were too expensive. She explained that the public's usage of these restrooms have been less than ideal, and that these charges are used to accomodate price of goods and the salaries of workers. We join the discussion.Image Source: sevenke, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Malaysian data on labour and foreign workers are inaccurate. Based on telco estimates, there are about 6.7 million foreign workers but based on labour data, there are about 15 million people in Malaysia's labour force, of which only 2.2 million are foreign workers. We speak to Dr Niaz Asadullah about this disparity in numbers and discuss the importance of getting it right. Image Source: Nikolai Lapshin, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has been tough on many people, and animal welfare groups have been no exception to this, as they struggle to stay afloat during these difficult times. We talk about how the situation has been, and the efforts that have been made to get more consistent funding.Image Source: Tong Nguyen van, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

200 smart lamp posts are going to be installed around the Klang Valley, to help with 5G networking - they also come equipped with safety features and the latest technology... and they cost approximately RM154,000 each. Which has of course prompted questions about how this price is justified, and how this contract was awarded in the first place. We dive into these tricky issues of procurement and transparency with Sri Murniati Yusuf from IDEAS.Image Source: NAOWARAT, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tweet talking about the lack of maintenance of Stadium Shah Alam is making its rounds on twitter, as people go back and forth between sharing their memories with our various cultural landmarks, and pointing out our country's issue with maintaining our iconic buildings. We get into it.Image Source: Jaiz Anuar, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Ministry is being asked to increase the number of music classes in primary school, from half an hour to an hour. We unpack this and look at how these classes can benefit students in the long run.Image Source: Siniz Kim, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan is being asked to clarify the decision to allow only 25 Bangladeshi agencies to recruit workers for Malaysia. We discuss the concerns and questions around these restrictions with Mahi Ramakrishnan from Beyond Borders Malaysia.Image Source: Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, Official Facebook accountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has plans to introduce compulsory integrity and anti-corruption courses in universities. We discuss what these courses might look like and how effective they could be.Image Source: STEKLO, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent tweet shared how delightful it was that young women are being more open about living solo, and celebrating that independence - and equally delightfully, it gained a lot of traction and got a lot of responses! We get into it.Image Source: John Tuesday, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shein is currently trending on twitter, amidst allegations of unethical practices. They've since responded, denying these allegations and making clear that they prohibit supplier from using child or forced labor. We weigh in on the conversation about concerns surrounding fast fashion.Image Source: Rio Lecatompessy, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bon Odori Festival has been in the spotlight all this week, following the Religious Affairs Minister advising Muslims against participating in the event, and subsequently, the Sultan instructing Jais to allow the festival to proceed. We find out what this festival entails, what it signifies for people in Japan, as well as it's cultural celebration in Malaysia.Image Source: Fiqah Anugerah Dah Besa, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week, a group of military veterans held an assembly urging the government to look into their welfare and to review pension rates and payments, to demand a pension scheme for veterans who retired early. We look into what exactly they're asking for, and why there's been delays in fulfulling their requests.Image Source: Bumble Dee, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The QS World University Rankings for 2023 are out, accompanied by the usual fanfare around where our local institutions rank. We revisit the merit of such rankings, the impact they've had on our higher education landscape and whether there is a better way to gauge the quality of our institutions. Image Source: amirraizat, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior police officer reportedly told FMT that it isn’t the police’s responsibility to help scam victims recover their money. This came after a person, having failed to get assistance from police authorities, tracked down his scammer and successfully got them to return money belonging to him and nine other victims. We discuss this, as well as how scams can be properly investigated. Image Source: Tirza van Dijk, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The military junta has announced that it would be executing 4 political prisoners, after being convicted on charges of terrorism in a military tribunal. We look into the response to this, and the political implications that Myanmar could face if this were to be carried out.Image Source: Milad Fakurian, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A list of ranking 50 best cuisines in the world has generated some heat from Malaysians. We weigh in.Image Source: Suhairy Tri Yadh, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wedding plans were put on hold during the pandemic, as couples grappled with restrictions and fears of the virus. Now that things are moving back to semi-normalcy, weddings have seen a return, but with a slight shift as couples plan on more smaller-scaled weddings, according to an article from The Malaysian Insight. We discuss this shift, and what it means for both couples and businesses.Image Source: Samantha Gades, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a hypothetical question on how he would tackle corruption if he was in a position of power, Tan Sri Nazir Razak said that an amnesty and "Shoot To Kill" anti-graft policy is what the country needs. We unpack these strategies and whether they would work in Malaysia. Image Source: Nazir Razak, WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul announced that the MOF will be 'adopting' Kuala Selangor and building the Puncak Alam station as part of the ECRL network. We get into what it means for a ministry to 'adopt' a district and how might it affect Kuala Selangor's development, and what the potential political implications are.Image Source: Tengku Zafrul, Official Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tweet went viral advising people in their 20s to go all out on work without regard for proper work-life balance. Is it a sure fire way to mental and physical burn out or a tried and tested approach to achieving financial stability by your 30s? We get into it. Image Source: Thought Catalog, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali has called for the Public Service Department to consider punitive measures in enforcing the use of BM in the civil service. We discuss the use of BM in our civil service and the pushbacks from this directive.Image Source: Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Zuki Ali, Official Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Shah Alam High Court has allowed Nigerian national Simon Momoh’s judicial review application against the Immigration Department’s order to detain and deport him, and subsequently, Judge Shahnaz Sulaiman has ruled that a traffic offence is not a justification for the deportation order. To celebrate the news, Simon shares how he feels about the ruling. Image Source: Abraham Au, FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been calls from within UMNO for parliament to be dissolved and GE15 to be held as soon as possible. However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri has said that with inflation and the rising cost of goods, this isn't the right time. We look at where we are in our economic recovery and whether initiating an election could have repercussions.Image Source: Gwoeii, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech Entrepreneur Elon Musk has called for an end to WFH culture for Tesla employees. Earlier this week, Elon sent an email to employees asking them to return to the office or leave the company. Needless to say, this brought on debates on the pros and cons of this directive. We get into it. Image Source: Kathy Hutchins, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been reported that many recent graduates have been struggling to find full-time jobs, as they are now competing with retrenched workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. We discuss the challenges that job hunters might face in looking for employees, and whether this issue is making it harder for people to secure jobs.Image Source: Andrea Piacquadio, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam’s lawyers have been ordered to pay the cost of RM64,000 to Singapore's Attorney-General’s Chambers, sparking criticism from civil society organisations. We discuss the impact of court orders like these, as well as the basis behind the decision. Image Source: Gordon Bell, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tweet about having to park next to someone who parks outside their designated box sparked discussions on what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation. Would you do the same to get the spot and risk looking like the bad guy? We get into it.Image Source: Brydon McCluskey, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, daughter of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that women are not born to be leaders, in a clip for a TV program that has since gone viral. We explore the implications of this statement and the different forms in which leadership takes.Image Source: Amy Hirschi, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The devastating story of Rania Asyifaa, or Baby Syifaa, is back in the news after announcement of the case's inquest is fixed to be on July 29th, and we're revisiting concerns of safety standards in our childcare services. We speak to a child rights activist on this issue, and what needs to be done to address it. Image Source: Aaron Burden, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham ordered the recall of Jif peanut butter from our shelves, because of a potential salmonella contamination. We get into how this could have happened, and the importance of detecting it.Image Source: Corleto Peanut butter, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#Swedengate is trending, prompting a conversation on Swedish culture in relation to feeding guests when they come over. We get into it. Image Source: Daria Shevtsova, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PKR’s party elections for the 2022-2025 term came to an end, with unofficial results showing that Rafizi Ramli has defeated Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution for the Deputy President post. We look at the catalyst for this outcome and what it means for the future of the party. Image source: Rafizi Ramli, Official Facebook Page | Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Official Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study recently concluded that Malaysians are the 3rd most overworked city in the world out of 100 cities with Dubai and Hong Kong taking the top 2 spots. We speak to economist, Dr. Geoffrey Williams to understand the results from this survey and what it says about Malaysia's work culture.Image Source: Karolina Grabowska, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that MySejahtera will be reactivated today due to growing concerns surrounding the monkeypox virus. We look into the possibility of a monkeypox outbreak, and dissect the strategy that the MoH has to anticipate the risk of infections.Image source: Arif biswas, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang tweeted a picture while waiting in a long queue to collect his passport. For context, he added the online application process was efficient while the collection process needs some work. This got netizens responding with their own experiences. We get into it. Image Source: Alii Sher, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was widely criticised on social media for wearing a RM5,500 Burberry shirt during a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Japan. We look at the significance of wardrobe as a form of non verbal communication, the bearing this would have on the PM's public image and what makes appropriate attire for elected officials.Image Source: Lee Hsien Loong, Official Facebook accountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When is it okay for brands to copy other brands? We explore this, following a tweet that compared and contrasted Bata's recent copy of a Bottega Venetta bag against a popular local brand that was called out for copying the designs of a much smaller indie brand.Image Source: Erik Mclean, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey conducted by Architects Of Diversity and Undi18 found that 41% of youth voters are unsure of their political preferences. We catch up with Jason Wee, co-founder of AOD to talk about takeaways from the survey and what it all means in the lead up to GE15.Image source: Yati Yahaya, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy President of Barti Bangsa Malaysia, Haniza Mohamed Talha has suggested that Putrajaya should consider enacting a law that would allow women who suffer from severe menstrual pain to take leave from work pointing out that Indonesia allows up to two days a month for menstrual leave. This comes after Spain recently approved a bill granting up to 3 days of menstrual leave a month. We get into discussions around this proposal and the stigma surrounding menstrual pain.Image source: Annika Gordon, Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba revealed plans to educate livestock breeders on the use of technology to address issues around chicken production like the high cost of animal feed. We speak to Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center For Market Education about the challenges on the ground and whether applying more technology is the answer.Image source: Egor Myznik, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Kuala Lumpur', 'Selangor' and 'Klang Valley' are all trending as people share their worries about the Klang Valley flooding once more. We get into it. Image Source: 嘉洪 钟, PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study involving 1,500 employees of a telecommunication company in Finland, Hungary, India, Israel and Portugal found that people are worse at generating creative ideas during a video call compared to a physical meeting. We speak to a psychologist about this and what supports creative thinking.Image source: Chris Montgomery, UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, a student in Kulai, was hospitalised after her PE teacher allegedly forced her and her classmates to run 30 laps around a volleyball court while wearing face masks, for failing to complete their homework. This has brought on questions about guidelines when it comes to punishing students. We look into what needs to change.Image Source: Papa Annur, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at RSVP etiquette, particularly for open houses, following a tweet about being stood up after sending a Raya open house invitation to friends who neither replied nor showed up.Image Source: Zurijeta, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been reports that the Ministry of Finance might provide assistance to Sapura, which has accumulated debts totaling RM10.3 billion and is at risk of collapse. We look into what's led to this situation with Sapura, what it means for the economy, and the possibility of a government bailout.Image Source: Sapura Energy, Official WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.