Yesterday the government announced that not only was it extending the Movement Control Order and that it would also seek to impose stricter SOPs. However no details were announced regarding the move to tighten SOPs. In this information vacuum, a coalition of more than 40 trade, business and professional associations has urged the government to lift the second MCO -- saying it would kill businesses and leave many jobless. Are we getting the balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods, right? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Dr Mohammad Farhan Rusli, Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Economics & Finance, International Islamic University Malaysia and Director, Selangor Task Force Operations.

Yesterday the government announced that not only was it extending the Movement Control Order and that it would also seek to impose stricter SOPs. However, no details were announced regarding the move to tighten SOPs. This comes after mixed messages from government officials on the extension as well as a warning from public health experts that lockdowns at this point in the crisis will not be effective. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Professor Datuk Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid Syed Junid, Founding Professor and Chair of Health Policy & Management at the Faculty of Public Health of Kuwait University.

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Among the headlines for Wednesday, 3rd February, 2021, Police confirmed an investigation has been launched against ex-AG Tommy Thomas over SRC case comments in memoir after former solicitor general III Hanafiah Zakaria alleges defamation.

Also, Rihanna’s tweet on the farmers’ plight was met with both support and resistance from Indians. She tweeted about the ongoing farmers’ protest going in India, that recently saw a terrific clash with law enforcement. While many welcomed international attention to this movement, others asked why the Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman had any say in the matter at all.

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Bursa Malaysia Berhad has posted record earnings for their Financial Year 2020. Registering a Profit After Tax, Zakat and Minority Interest of RM377.7 million (2019 RM185.9 million). Ibrahim Sani shares his commentary on what this means for the capital markets in particular, and outright capitalism in general.

Pengkarya di peringkat serantau kini berlumba-lumba untuk menghasilkan kualiti karya seni yang mendapat pengiktirafan di peringkat antarabangsa. Pengarah filem Indonesia Joko Anwar berkongsi projek terbaharunya termasuk kolaborasi dengan pengkarya tempatan dan kelangsungan industri berdepan dengan cabaran berkarya ketika pandemik.

In the recently released Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 by Transparency International, Malaysia's rank in the index fell to 57th position out of 180 countries. This was from 51st place in 2019. What accounts from this drop and how can this reversal in the fight against corruption be arrested?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Muhammad Mohan, President, Transparency International Malaysia.

With the Reform Agenda halted early 2020 and Emergency Rule imposed at the start of 2021, is there much hope for improved governance in the country in the foreseeable future? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism.

From 1 June 2020 enforcement of the Corporate Liability (Section 17A) provision of the MACC Act means that businesses in Malaysia must shoulder the burden of proof that they have put in place "5-principle Guidelines on Adequate Procedures (GAP)" to prevent bribery and treat potential corruption risks within its business. But will they?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to KM Loi, President, Association of Anti-Bribery Management Systems Practitioners Malaysia.