BFM :: The Bigger Picture

Ear infections were considered “bread and butter pediatrics” a few decades ago, but several studies seem to show a steady decline over the years. Today we explore what’s at the heart of disappearing ear infections including immunisations, diagnoses, and parental habits. We also talk about prescribing antibiotics to children with our guest, Dr Yong Junina Fadzil, Consultant Paediatrician.

Mary Easaw John recently received the news that she was selected as a 2016 Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is the first Malaysian to receive the honour. We talk to her about how awards like this can spur others on in their career as dietitians.

Muhsin Aminudin was just chatting with a few old schoolmates at a mamak when they started talking about the issue of homelessness in KL. Realising all they ever did was talk into the wee hours of the morning without actually doing anything to address the problem, they got together to form an NGO called Dapur J'07 for Freefolks in August last year. Dapur J'07 provides food and counselling to the urban poor and homeless community in KL. Muhsin joined us to tell us more about the initiative.

The first part of the show discussed a foundation of combined Parent-Teacher Associations who are working towards a better Malaysian education system. Listen to the podcast Lifting Our Education Standard.

In conjunction with a batik exhibition at Ilham Gallery, a one-day symposium has been organized bringing together textile experts “working in different areas working of studies from art history to heritage to anthropology,” to discuss “the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of textiles in the region and beyond.” The convenor and guests give a peek into the various discussions and point to the diverse meanings of “traditional craft” in the course of time and change.

Founded in 2013 at a meeting between leaders of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), Yayasan Sarana Pendidikan Malaysia is tasked with complementing the government's role in lifting our education standard. Joining us to explain how they go about their work was YSPM's commercial relations officer, Wafri Zaeem.

In the next part of the show, we talked about Dapur J'07, an initiative to feed the homeless community in KL. Check out the podcast Feeding the Urban Poor.

They are back by demand in a concert together singing. We’ll find out what makes sparks fly between the two that not only the voices meld together but clever repartee and banter. Hear also samples of what the concert might sound like when we get them to sing in the studio.

Our guests--merely teenagers--have performed not just in this country but overseas--nothing short of Carnegie Hall, New York. Jeremy Yeo, Joshua Ng and Debra Grace Lim have competed in prestigious piano playing competitions and have scored prizes. We will find out from them where the drive comes from and what it means to play music and to be inside it.

What would you do to not end up alone? A team in Toronto conducted a study along the lines of  that, and found that the fear of being single predicts settling for less in romantic relationships. We’ll discuss today the Fear of Being Single, the expectations of love, and the modern day arranged marriage with our guest Dr Johnben Loy, US Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist.    

How well maintained is the playground in your neighbourhood? If you’d like to have a new basketball court built or request for repairs to existing amenities, do you know who to call? Here to tell us what you can and cannot do with your community park is Bukit Gasing State Assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran.

WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble will be presenting Shakespeare in music as part of the klpac celebrations, ringing in the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. The musicians will share the challenges and the joys of putting Shakespeare’s sonnets into contemporary jazz and singing them, including composing music based on plays like ‘Titus Andronicus’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’.