Evening Edition

The Sarawak state government will hold talks next week with the federal government to finalise an agreement on getting full autonomy and control of the health sector. We discuss the implications of this latest move by Sarawak, which is the latest in increased efforts by the state for more autonomy.Image Credit: Facebook / Dr Sim Kui HanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A user on X has shared that being busy is, in a way, better than doing nothing, with many echoing this sentiment. We discuss which side of the argument we land on, and the appeal of a busy day.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bangladesh just concluded its general elections, and Sheikh Hasina has retained her position as PM for the fifth term, making her the longest serving leader of the country’s history. But the election and the lead up to it have been tumultous, with controversies including allegations of dummy candidates, voter turnout contradictions, and coerched voting. We speak to Faisal Mahmud, a freelance journalist from Dhaka who covered the elections, about the circumstances surrounding the elections. Image Credit: WikimediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever stopped to wonder, whether the thing you're doing now, might not be considered "normal" in the future? Something as commoplace as driving a car, using cash, or going to school in person, might become obsolete with the passage of time. A user on X asked, what is something current that future generations will be surprised to know we did, so we talk about what we do now, that might no longer be a thing in the future.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has defended the government's decision to develop PADU's database in-house instead of appointing vendors or private firms. This is amidst criticisms over the security measures in place to protect personal data from all government agencies. We discuss whether this trade-off was worth it, and how to balance long-term capacity-building in the public sector, with the need for short-term efficiency.Image Credit: Facebook / Kementerian Ekonomi - Laman RasmiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the future, where carrying cash around with you is now edging into being a thing of the past. This comes from a post on X, that pointed out how advanced Malaysia's payment infrastructure is, especially compared to other parts of the world. We join the conversation and talk about our digital payment culture.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MACC has launched an investigation into "issues" involving the RM700 million that was used for promotional and publicity campaigns during the two previous administrations, from 2020 to 2022. We spoke to Pushpan Murugiah from C4 about what we want to see in terms of open communication and transparency when it comes to the investigation.Image Credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DBKL has expressed their disappointment in Malaysians for leaving trash all over the streets of Kuala Lumpur after the New Year's Eve celebrations. We discuss why Malaysians just can't seem to resist littering, and whether education is enough to shift attitudes - or whether we need harsher laws instead.Image Credit: Facebook / Dewan Bandaraya Kuala LumpurSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers has called on the government to expedite the “anti-Ali Baba” law to deal with the issue of undocumented migrant workers in the country. We discuss whether this is, in fact, a way to resolve migrant labour issues in the country, and in a larger sense, what some of the main issues are with the current migrant labour recruitment system.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Malaysians will be able to renew their driver’s licence via the MyJPJ app come February 1st, 2024 . Loke said the initiative will allow the public to save time and costs, as well as help prevent congestion at JPJ counters. We asked listeners if they are looking forward to this new procedure, and what challenges need to be addressed when it comes to implementation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A letter was published on Malaysiakini on December 30th, 2023, signed by several civil society organisations and individuals, demanding for better cooperation in our country, for political stability, and a more accountable country. We spoke to Ngeow Chow Ying, one of the convenors of the open letter, about what they're calling for and how they'd like to see this reflected in our governance.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year has come and gone, and we're just about to head into 2024. Whether it's spending it with loved ones, watching the fireworks, or just partying till dawn, we hear from all of you about how you're ushering in the new year.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Unity Ministry hosted the inaugural Sabah Indigenous Ethnic Sports Festival at Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu, where a variety of indigenous games were highlighted. We talk about the value of promoting these traditional games and sports, and how this might empower our indigenous communities.Image Credit: jkkn.gov.mySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may not want to admit it, but there are some friends we'd rather not travel with. X has sparked this conversation, and people have come forward with their version of a bad travel partner, whether it's because of their problem with tardiness, general moodiness, or unwillingness to participate in activities. We discuss, with our listeners, what the worst sort of people to travel with are.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A six-day blockade is currently ongoing at the US Embassy in KL, over the US's decision to veto a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally, organised by Sekretariat Solidariti Palestine, will go on until 31st of December. We speak to a representative on what's been happening on ground, and what this protest aims to achieve.Image Credit: Free Malaysia TodaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 22nd, the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) fined five poultry feed companies a total of RM415 million for allegedly agreeing to raise the price of chicken feed, thereby manipulating chicken prices and operating as a cartel. We speak to a lawyer who specialises in competition and antitrust law on the legalities involved.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s first fully crowdfunded movie, “Pendatang”, premiered on Youtube on Dec 21, 2023. The story, revolving around a Chinese family in a fictionalised Malaysia where people of different races can't mingle, has been generating buzz for its title and the intriguing premise. We speak to the folks behind the movie about the story, the crowdfunding model, and their decision to air it free of charge on Youtube.Image Credit: Facebook / Kuman PicturesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this roundup of Anwar Ibrahim's foreign affairs outlook, we look at his announcement on including China in Malaysia’s Look East Policy, the continuing importance of US's security architecture for the region, the salience of a "Rules Based Order" as well as the recent ban on Israeli ships from docking in Malaysia.Image Credit: Facebook / Anwar IbrahimSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An X user asked: What's the dumbest thing you believed as a child? This sparked a number of hilarious stories, and our listeners joined in on the fun, with mistaken beliefs about, among others, their postman's name, ghosts after dark, and people in the past existing only in black and white.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MCMC has highlighted the dangers of "cognitive hacking", where scammers use a potential victim's fears or emotions against them. We speak to a cybersecurity expert on how to protect ourselves from cognitive hacking, and how the information we inadvertently share online could be enabling these scams.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it when we promote Malaysia to visitors, we mostly only talk about food? This is the questions an X user brought up, asking for suggestions of other things to highlight to tourists. From medical tourism to ecotourism to dinotourism(?), we explore the options!Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sixteen NGOs have renewed the call for local council elections be put in place, and to put an end to the practice of the federal and state governments appointing the local governments. We discuss why this move is necessary, and how it will change the effectiveness of local governance.Image Credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renowned Malaysian jazz drummer Lewis Pragasam passed away on December 18, 2023, at the age of 66. Known for pioneering the fusion of Asian and Western music, Lewis founded the Asiabeat project in 1979, and has played with numerous musicians both local and international. We pay tribute to the local jazz legend and hear from listeners who share their favourite memories of him.Image Credit: FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goods sold online that are priced RM500 and below will now have a 10% sales tax beginning January 1, 2024. We speak to economist Dr Carmelo Ferlito on the impact of this low value goods tax, both on our economy and on our consumption habits.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An X user is waging war today with a simple request: Offend a Malaysian in one sentence. And boy, did people deliver! So we get offended by our listeners over their durians, crispy chicken rendang, and of course, Singapore.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and it revealed that women are getting about a third less in salary compared to men (for every RM100 earned by men, women receive RM66.67). This is a sharp decline from previous years: RM96.21 in 2021, and RM94.07 in 2020. We discuss what's behind this downward trend, and what policies are needed to address it.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An X user brought up the topic of not living for the weekend by filling your week with activities to look forward to after work. This sparked a discussion online on the pros and cons of this approach, with our listeners weighing in on how they balance out time for work and fun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's Monetary Authority and Infocomm Media Development Authority has published a paper proposing a Shared Responsibility Framework for phishing scams. It proposes that banks and telcos should be responsible for mitigating scams, and compensate victims when the institutions duties have been breached. We discuss whether the responsibility of compensating scam victims should fall onto telcos and banks.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls to boycott fashion brand Zara have escalated; this comes after they received heavy criticism over their new ad campaign, which featured mannequins that were missing limbs and statues wrapped in white shrouds. Critics say the campaign was a "mockery" of the attacks on Gaza. We discuss how ad campaigns are conceptualised, and how they might navigate sensitivities around hot-button issues and events.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a major cabinet reshuffle today with new ministers being appointed to key portfolios including in finance, foreign affairs, and health. The move comes one year into the Madani government's administration. We discuss the appointments and what they indicate about the PM's priorities, as well as his relationships with the other political parties within the government.Image Credit: Facebook / Anwar IbrahimSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A post on X highlighting the unfair reputation Wikipedia has acquired for unreliability, opened up a conversation on how best to use the crowdsourced encyclopaedia, including the importance of fact-checking and verifying references.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Socso confirmed that their systems, database, and website were breached, after a hacker group posted about the infiltration on an online forum. Since then, CEO Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz has said a four-pronged response to the cyberattack is being carried out, including an internal forensic investigation. We speak to a cybersecurity expert on the impact of the data breach, how Socso is handling the crisis, and what we can learn about data security from this incident.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A viral photo on X of a man on the LRT, with his backpack taking up the seat next to him, has been drawing a lot of flak. This opened up a conversation on bag etiqutte in public spaces, and whether we'd be comfortable telling someone to move their bag if they were taking up a seat.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six-year-old boy Zayn Rayyan was reported missing on Dec 5, and then tragically found dead a day later. Police say the autopsy indicates that the cause of death was from injuries to the neck believed to be caused by strangulation, and have reclassified the case as murder. We talk to child rights activist Datin PH Wong about how cases like this should be handled, and the role of community in keeping children safe.Image Credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A discussion on X today asked us to imagine navigating the world without apps like Waze and Google Maps, and "in 500 meters, turn left" becomes a distant memory. So we discuss what it would be like to only rely on signboards to get to our destinations, and whether it would be as bad as we think. I mean, if we used to do it before, back in old days of physical maps, why not now?Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's important for children to know their rights so they can feel empowered and protected, and speak up when something is wrong. But what are we doing to help children participate in issues that pertain them? We spoke to Srividhya Ganapathy, on Project Talisman, a project she co-founded that aims to help foster children to advocate for their rights.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historically, visually impaired students have faced numerous barriers to learning, like cumbersome Braille textbooks and a shortage of accessible self-learning resources. A team at Taylors University has developed the BraillePad, a customisable 3D-printed device that does away with the need for traditional Braille books, and promotes independent learning. We speak to the people behind it on how this idea came about, and how they came together to make this happen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has rolled out their cash handouts under the e-Madani programme, which is a one-off RM100 e-wallet credit meant to benefit about 10 million individuals, with a total cost of RM1 billion. Recipients have been redeeming this cashout using one of four e-wallets, each carrying different benefits. We discuss how this approach can benefit the nation's economy.Image Credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the UN, the fast fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions. It is also estimated that 100 billion garments are produced each year, of which 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. The Swap Project encourages clothes swapping to reduce the number of clothes being sent to landfills. We speak to its founder, Jayda Chong on what inspired her to start this initiative, and ask our listeners whether they are onboard with the idea of clothes swapping and secondhand outfits.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia currently does not have any umbrella legislation to protect the rights of tenants, and has depended on the tenancy agreement, which is often viewed as favouring landlords. We discuss how the Residential Tenancy Act, modeled after the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 of New South Wales and due to be tabled next year, aims to rectify these issues and safeguard the rights of both parties.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A question on X about whether the CGPA is important for fresh grads applying for a job, has prompted discussions on whether academic results trump other skills in indicating a good hire. Our listeners weigh in.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PAS has won the by-elections for the Kemaman parliamentary seat by a landslide, prompting suggestions that the party has found a prime ministerial candidate in the victor, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. We discuss this development, what it means for PAS' influence within the Perikatan Nasional coalition, and what the election outcome says about sentiment towards the Madani government.Image Credit: PAS Kawasan KemamanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifth time's the charm, we say. Clean Cut is back, our monthly comedy show where comedians are invited to come to our offices and perform a set in from of the BFM staff, with the challenge that it has to be playable on air. Keren Bala Deven joins us in our fifth episode of the series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Costly parking, especially in the city, have always been a bane to many people, and a post on X about high parking rates in a KL shopping mall has opened up a conversation on whether these rates are warranted. So we discuss whether high parking rates might turn people off from going to a place, whether this encourages people to opt for public transport instead.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament adjourned yesterday, 30th November 2023. You've probably heard all the discussions, debates, and drama that unfolded over this 32-day sitting, but what about the outcomes? Maha Balakrishnan joins us to assess this sitting, and help us understand what it has produced in terms of new policies and bills.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger has passed away at the age of 100. He was one of the most prominent and controversial figures of US foreign policy, with some lauding him for his role in shaping global affairs and policies, while others criticising and casting him as a war criminal. We examine his life and legacy, and explore the impact of the decisions he made during his tenure in the Oval Office.Image Credit: ReutersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final parliament session of the year is upon us, and with that, plenty of tidings. The MPs discussed natural disaster management efforts, how to improve tourism in China and Malaysia as well as whether there should be laws to accompany our progressive wage model (which is slated to begin its pilot project next year). Tensions also rose in the House when Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli accused Perikatan Nasional-led states of being reliant on Putrajaya to implement their projects.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exciting news! Selangor MB, Amirudin Shari has announced plans to create a 120km trail across the Central Forest Spine from Hulu Selangor to Hulu Langat. This would act as a new tourist attraction for those who are into hiking and jungle-trekking. We explore the idea of trekking through nature, and the best trails to journey through.Image Credit: UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's session, MPs were told that the reciting of the Rukun Negara would be carried out at the beginning of the parliament sitting. This was then followed by an uproar after a few MPs on both sides started using derogatory words to each other. Kerfuffle aside, they went on to discuss a variety of topics, including responsible guardians for abused children, measures to address Monkeypox and Dengue concerns as well as EPF savings for retirement.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The campaign period for Indonesia's 2024 Presidential Election kicks off today with the country expected to hold the general elections on February 14, 2024. Voters will choose their local, provincial, and national legislators in 38 provinces as well as Indonesia's next President and the Vice President. We speak to Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch researcher in Jakarta on what to expect during the presidential race.Image Credit: Facebook / Prabowo SubiantoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.