Evening Edition

Budget 2023 was tabled in February, involving an allocation of RM388.1 billion. We looked into the various initiatives it has to offer women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PH-BN ‘Kita Selangor’ manifesto was announced on July 31. We sit down with Rajiv Risyakaran, PH Manifesto Committee Spokesperson, and Ellena Razif, Deputy of Puteri UMNO Selangor, to talk about what the manifesto has to offer, and how they hope to attract voters from across the political aisle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An exchange between a food vendor and customer went viral after the customer berated her for using the term "dear" multiple times to address her. We look at the various reactions on Twitter, of which some have expressed sympathy with the vendor while others share their views on what professional customer service entails.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Institute for Public Health's National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 has found that 7.6% of adolescents in Malaysia have engaged in sexual activities. From this number, 33% of teenagers engage in sexual activities before the age of 14, and 88% don't use any form of contraception. We use these findings as a springboard for a discussion on the role of sex education when it comes to teaching young people healthy attitudes around sex.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gen-Z chamber might have started a new era of email writing, signing off as, 'Confusedly', 'Embarassed' and 'Humiliated and Humbled' - which his senior amusedly shared on Twitter. This sparked a conversation on email etiquette, and how it's changed over the generations.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a number of former reps now dropped from the upcoming state election nomination list, we look at calls for an "exit plan" - specifically, we hear from former Batu Uban ADUN S. Raveentharan who spoke previously about this. We speak with him about mechanisms within parties when candidates are dropped, and how these reps' contributions could be valued.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caretaker Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari announced the state government's decision to cancel the application for the construction of the PJD Link. We go through the varying reactions on Twitter, including the curious proximity of the announcement to the upcoming state elections.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An open letter signed by individuals and groups working to support and advocate for persons with disabilities, urged media representatives and politicians to use proper terminology when addressing persons with disabilities and disability-related issues. We discuss the importance of using inclusive and respectful language, and how it can empower the community. Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the very first episode of our brand new series: BFM’s Clean Cut, where we invite comedians to come to the station and perform a set in front of the BFM staff, and we air it for your listening pleasure! One caveat: their jokes should be playable on air without getting them (or us!) into trouble. Comedian and content creator Ming Yue joined us in the first episode of the series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's happening: Aliens are among us. Or at least, the possibility of it. This is coming after former intelligence official David Grusch has claimed under oath that aliens exist and that the US government is in possession of UFOs and non-human bodies. So what's the deal? We get into all the responses this has garnered on Twitter.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has just launched the "Madani Economy: empowering the Rakyat” initiative. It's aimed to to address the country's competitiveness and investment attractions, as well as bread and butter issues. So we discuss whether this framework is the solution to boost our economy, and what gaps exist.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some good news for the Klang-ites: it's set to become Selangor's fourth city this year. This was announced by the Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, who said Klang has met all the criteria to become a city. So we explore what makes Klang so great (and some areas for improvement), and what this recognition would mean for those who live or work there.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Twitter user shared a video of a murder of crows gathered at a park, following a crow-shooting operation earlier in the week - was a plotting of vengeance? This led to a conversation about crows specifically, and tales of animals and revenge in general. Turns out, our listeners had quite the collection of stories.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced that the Cabinet has agreed in principle for the Sedition Act 1948 to be limited only to matters involving the royalty. We unpack the significance of this, and discuss why clarity is important when it comes to how future cases involving the 3Rs (race, religion, and royalty) are covered by the law.Image Credit: Azalina Othman Said / FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tweet asking for opinions on whether to serve out a scholarship bond, sparked a conversation on honouring the terms of one's scholarship versus repaying the exit clause fee.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 21, 2023, lawyer/activist Siti Kasim discovered two suspicious objects beneath her car which she suspected were bombs, which were later identified as improvised explosive devices (IED). Since then, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, has come out to say the incident is suspected as attempted murder. We speak with Siti Kasim about this alarming incident, why she has called out politicians for staying silent about the issue, and whether this is an indication of increased extremist behaviour in Malaysia.Image Credit: Siti Kasim/ FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it time to say bye, bye, birdie to the iconic blue bird icon, now that Twitter has officially rebranded to "X"? This is part of Elon Musk's mission to reinvent the social media platform and create an “everything app", so we look at the early reactions to this change, and whether these sorts of radical rebranding exercises are effective.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, passed away on July 23, 2023, at the age of 61, from a brain haemorrhage. We look back at his legacy, particularly his style of leadership, his commitment towards initiatives that served the underprivileged, and his hopes for a better Malaysia. For this, we are joined by Kasthuri Patto, Former Batu Kawan MP and DAP Deputy Secretary for International Affairs, who shares her own memories of Salahuddin.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Sabahan students have won a six-year long lawsuit against their former secondary school English language teacher, who had not turned up for class for nearly a year. So we spoke to Sharmila Sekaran, a representative of the Tiada.Guru campaign that championed the case, and discussed why students' right to education should be absolute.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three former students of SMK Taun Gusi has won the lawsuit against their English teacher for not showing up to classes for 7 months in 2017, and this has brought on a whole other discussion about dealing with people who don't respect other people's time. We dive into it.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The electoral reform group Bersih has proposed new guidelines to curb “incumbency advantage” abuse, and urged the federal government to follow them during the state elections campaign period. Together with Bersih's Chairperson, Thomas Fann, we looked into this guideline can foster a healthier electoral culture, as well as bolster accountability for parties and politicians.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Myanmar refugee activist Thuzar Maung and her family were abducted in Malaysia in what is suspected to be a planned operation aimed at silencing her. The Human Rights Watch expressed their concerns, and have called on the Malaysian government to prioritise a thorough and transparent investigation. We talk about why it is vital for these cases of transnational repression to be highlighted and for action to be taken. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has been ranked first in a list of 10 safest places to retire in Asia for less than US$2,000 (RM9,052) a month, according to a study by the Nasdaq. We look at both positive and negative reactions to this on social media, and discuss what a "safe place to retire" might include.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Malaysian woman, Acacia Diana opened up on social media about her experiences being stalked for eight years - which included not just countless emails and online messages but even physical stalking that extended to following her to another country. With the new anti-stalking law now in place, we discuss how cases of stalking should be handled, and what care for the survivor should take into account.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Twitter user favours a busy day over a chiller day, and Twitter erupted into a debate. So what do you prefer, an adrenaline rush or a slower day at work?Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the post-pandemic tourism recovery, budget hotels still have difficulties trying to stay afloat - partly due to the prevalence of online booking platforms and travel agencies. So we're wondering, what does this say about our tourism patterns now, and what would it take for budget hotels to thrive?Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you can go to the clinic to get your MC, then you can head into work - this is the argument people are making as to why medical certificates should not be a necessity in the workplace. So how can companies establish more trust and be more considerate to their employees and sick leave? We get into it.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hark back to the days of yore - because an article by The Atlantic has people on Twitter talking about how they amused themselves before the smartphone was in existence.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Malaysians would recognise the bustling and unique atmosphere of a local wet market. What happens when this experience is incorporated into a board game? We explore this, with the creators of a local board game, Bansan (Hokkien for "wet market"), and hear about the process of capturing this experience in gameplay. [Line skip here pls] To learn more about the game and get a set for yourself, you can head on to www.arts-ed.my/bansanImage Credit: Arts-EdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The act of borrowing sounds straightforward, but apparently, not everyone is on board to lend certain items to people. Cars, handphones, powerbanks and toothbrushes make the list. We asked our listeners where they draw the line and get into the reasons behind it.Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the government actually know how many stateless persons there are in the country? An article by The Malay Mail indicates that there is a lack of data on this, which impacts the direction of policymaking. So we take a deep dive into the issues around this, and why there is a lack of political will when it comes to providing solutions.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man has shared his less-than-positive experience with hiring local workers, and expressed why it makes sense that businesses prefer hiring foreign workers. A lot of people have come forth to agree with his stance, so we get into this question, and discuss the reason why this might be the case.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The question of how we manage the balance of public and private interest of our public lands have come into the limelight again. This is coming after an NGO group urged the Prime Minister to make regulatory changes to protect public lands in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. So we spoke to them on why these changes are necessary, and why its important to safeguard public lands.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A blogger took to Twitter to talk about the new proposal by EPF to impose periodic or monthly withdrawals on members upon reaching the voluntary retirement age. The post has since gone viral and drew in various responses from Malaysians. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah has developed a Social Time Bank System to promote volunteerism, which is expected to be launched soon. According to Sabah Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, this system will allow awards or points in the form of credit hours that could be exchanged with certain offered items. For this, we spoke to Justin Cheah from Kechara Soup Kitchen, who relies on volunteers to run. We discussed his thoughts on this initiative and whether it will encourage long-term volunteerism. Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A viral tweet has brought up the age-old argument: is it goreng pisang, or pisang goreng? We look at the arguments people have presented in favour of both options and weigh in on the debate. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not uncommon to hear the phrase "panas lah!" coming from friends and family over the past few months. We do, of course, live in a tropical climate, so this is usually dismissed as being just the way things are for our country. However, it was reported that this week saw the hottest global temperature ever recorded, according to data from two climate tracking agencies in the United States and Europe. So it's not just us, it's the whole world. So we unpacked this new temperature record, and what it means for Malaysia in terms of how we can better mitigate our climate crisis.Image Credit: 123rf.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DBKL recently took action against an unlicensed foreign vendor who was caught selling and roasting corn in front of the entrance of Suria KLCC. This spurred many reactions online, with criticisms directed towards both DBKL and the vendor. This led to us wondering, what is the best way to deal with illegal food stalls in our city? Should we approach it with more compassion? We get into it. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a new study by CSO Platform for Reform, Selangor is the most democratic state in Malaysia. This is followed by Perak and Negeri Sembilan, while Sabah, Terengganu and Perlis fell in the bottom three. Tharma Pillai, the CSO Platform for Reform's Lead of the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly Reform component joined us in unpacking the findings and understanding the significance in upholding better state-level democracy.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In yet another unfortunate casualty in the human-tiger conflict, a tiger was shot dead by a farmer last week after it attacked the farmer's cows. Dr. Mark Rayan Darmaraj, the Country Director at the Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia Program spoke to us about what could have been done differently here. He also talked about strategies that can help mitigate the human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dashcams have been around for a long time, but it's not seen as a common practice for people to install one in their vehicles, with most constraints revolving around cost. Universiti Putra Malaysia head of the Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Research Group Professor Dr Kulanthayan Mani, spoke to us about why the government should promote its usage with stakeholders, like insurance agents and car companies.Image Credit: PexelsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When applying for a job, it's understood that you have to carry yourself a little differently. Put on your best shoes, and most importantly, have good manners when conversing with your potential future employer. This is what's currently being discussed on Twitter, after someone posted a tweet reminding people that manners are important in influencing whether you get the job. Some people have contested this, saying that there are jobs that this might not be as important. We get into it, and have our listeners chip in their thoughts on this.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a Malaysian, then you know that travelling to Europe has always been viewed as being mostly hassle-free, at least when it comes to documentations. We're visa-exempted from a lot of countries, and most of the time, we don't need travel authorisation. That's about to change starting next year, because the European Union has announced new requirements for Malaysians who plan on travelling to 30 countries in the EU. Visitors have to obtain travel authorisation from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, which will be linked to their passports. So we unpacked what this would require, as well as larger questions on border restrictions and issues that come out of being visa-exempted.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What best symbolises your era? This question comes after a picture of red, white, and yellow cables for TV/DVD players with the caption, 'I belong to this era' went viral. This spurred plenty of responses from users who also shared pictures of various items and moments that remind them of their generation. We get into it.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has just returned from a two day official visit to Laos, making this the 11th country that he has visited since becoming Prime Minister. Thomas Daniel, Senior Fellow at ISIS Malaysia joins us to help unpack the outcomes of these visits, and what this means for our foreign policy direction.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has expressed his desire to improve the facilities of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, so that it would be on par with Changi Airport. Lots of thoughts are pouring in from Twitter in response to this, so we joined the discussion.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelantan has made headlines again, after the Kota Bahru City Council issued a fine to a non-Muslim business shop owner, who was deemed as being dressed indecently (she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt). The Council has defended their actions, saying that it was an offence under a by-law that's existed for long time, of which locals should know of, including non-Muslims. We discussed this with Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff, Deputy Chairman for Bersatu’s legal and constitution bureau, who had earlier criticised the summons, calling it "unlawful." We also discussed what decent and indecent clothing might mean for different people.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspector Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar caught public attention after videos of her arguing with several individuals went viral. Other videos of her have surfaced since, one of which was of her belittling a colleague, by using her rank to intimate them. It's since escalated, and she's been charged in court for her alleged threats. We discuss the case, and hear thoughts from our listeners.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Villages were originally established by the government as a roadside relocation settlement for rural Chinese communities during the Malayan Emergency, a period of intense conflict during the British ruling. Since then, many New Villages have turned into residential towns and villages. These historical sites have recently hit headlines, after the National Heritage Department selected seven New Villages across the country to be nominated as world heritage sites recognised by UNESCO. We unpack the significance of this nomination, as well as the uniqueness and deep cultural identity associated with New Villages.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to fight each other in a cage match during an exchange on social media this week. This sparked a viral conversation on Twitter to determine who might win if the fight actually happens. We get into it.Image Credit: Elon Musk/ @thefuturmillionaire Pinterest Mark Zuckerberg/ Stan Jans PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.