Current Affairs

Following the recent 8.6 magnitude earthquake in Aceh, the Malaysian Meterological Department has warned Malaysians of a possible major earthquake in Padang, Sumatera.

In the following interview, Associate Professor Taksiah Majid, coordinator of the Disaster Research Nexus in the School of Civil Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia discusses the potential impact of an earthquake that is closer to Malaysian shores, the likelihood of such earthquakes occuring and how prepared the country is to face an earthquake.

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The Printing Presses and Publications (Amendment) Bill 2012 was recently passed in Parliament, along with seven other laws. Under the new amendments, the Home Minister no longer has absolute discretion to grant permits, and parties can now challenge the Home Minister’s decision to suspend and revoke permits. However, critics are questioning whether the amendment to the PPPA really brings about greater media freedom.

In the following interview, BFM speaks to Masjaliza Hamzah, executive officer at the Centre for Independent Journalism, or CIJ, on the issue.

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The Institute of Democratic and Economic Affairs, or IDEAS, recently launched a policy paper on how to transition the civil service smoothly during periods of governmental transition. 

In the following interview, BFM speaks to Jenny Gryzelius, senior researcher at IDEAS, on the following:

- how the state governments fared in the transition of power following the 2008 General Elections

- issues faced by state governments during periods of transition

- lessons for Malaysia from countries such as the US, UK and Germany, on how to ensure smooth transition of civil service

- response to PSC's proposal for transition guidelines for a caretaker government

- recommendations by IDEAS, including detailed scenario planning, high-level confidential meetings and training for politicians at both state and federal levels

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On April 19, a group of unknown assailants attacked participants of the Occupy Dataran movement during the wee hours of the morning at Dataran Merdeka, leaving several people injured and one hospitalised. 

Temme Lee, a participant of the Occupy Dataran movement, shares her eyewitness account with BFM in the following interview.

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Critics have questioned the recent assertion by the Deputy Prime Minister that the Malaysian education system is ranked 14th globally, citing the failure of Malaysians gaining entry into Harvard as an example of declining standards of education. 

In the following interview, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of the Institute of Democratic and Economic Affairs Malaysia or IDEAS, talks about the following:

- his clarification on why he disagrees with the Deputy Prime Minister's assertion that Malaysian education ranks ahead of countries such as the US and Germany

- why the findings from the report by the World Economic Forum -- which was cited by the DPM -- cannot be taken out of context

- accurary of foreign reports in reflecting a true picture of Malaysian education

- areas that can be improved in Malaysian education, including areas covered by the National Education Review panel

- the problem of recruiting the best teachers

- the Chinese teacher shortage issue, and whether recognition of the UEC is the answer to the problem

- the need to assess grading methods and criteria in major examinations

- whether entry into Ivy League universities is a good indicator of quality of Malaysian education

- response to criticism that Malaysian education is not holistic

- what the key indicators of good education standards are

- good aspects of the Malaysian education system that should be preserved

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From July 2 to July 27, the 193 member states of the United Nations will meet in New York for the final conference to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty, a common international standard regulating legalised arms transfers across borders. 

In the following interview, Tobias Bock, project director at Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme, discusses how the Arms Trade Treaty curbs corruption, and the issues pertaining to it. Bock was in Kuala Lumpur recently in conjunction with Transparency International’s UN Arms Trade Treaty conference, "Tackling Corruption and Saving Lives".

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Malaysians have failed to enter Harvard for the second year in the row, with no candidates shortlisted for interviews as they were deemed "not competitive enough" by the Harvard College of Admissions Office. Critics say this is indicative of declining standards in the Malaysian education system. 

In the following interview, BFM speaks to Harvard College interviewers and Harvard alumni Wan Nadiah and Nicholas Khaw on the following:

- whether failure to enter Harvard for two consecutive years is indicative of declining education standards in Malaysia

- their personal take on whether the Malaysian education system prepared them for Harvard

- how the quality of Malaysia student applicants has changed in recent years, and what is lacking in local applicants 

- what qualities are highly sought after in a Harvard College applicant, and whether these qualities have become increasingly rare

- whether Malaysian applicants are lagging behind global counterparts in gaining a place at Harvard, and why

- recommendations on what can be done or reviewed to improve the state of education in Malaysia

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On April 10, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill was tabled in Parliament to replace the Internal Security Act (ISA). While critics have said that the Bill threatens basic liberties because it opens up to new potential abuses, the Malaysian Bar Council has welcomed it, saying that the maximum detention period of 28 days after arrest, is consistent with its Memorandum. 

In the following interview, Lim Chee Wee, president of the Malaysian Bar Council, discusses:

- how the Security Offences Bill stacks up against the ISA

- the necessity of the Bill, given other existing laws in Malaysia that deal with terrorism such as the Penal Code

- why the Bill is consistent with Bar Council's recommendations, and why 28 days without trial is acceptable 

- criticism that there was a lack of extensive public consultation prior to the tabling of the Bill

- arguments of potential abuse due to vague and general definitions of what constitutes "security offences" and "political activity"

- whether political activists can be prosecuted under different existing laws in Malaysia

- potential abuses of the Security Offences Bill

- how additional offences of the Penal Code relate to the Security Offences Bill, and how will these offences affect the upcoming Bersih 3.0 rally 

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The National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI), Center for Independent Journalism and Merdeka Center have recently concluded its national voter registration audit to improve the quality, transparency and integrity of the election process. 

In the following interview, K Shan, acting chairperson of NIEI talks about the following:

- how the electoral roll fares, according to the audit

- why NIEI is recommending to abolish the ouster clause Section 9A of the Election Act 1958

- why there is a perceived lack of confidence in the electoral roll and EC

- the problem of unidentified addresses and how this affects voters and the electoral process

- effect of historical drift on the electoral roll

- weak voter transfer mechanism and outsourcing of voter registration 

- voter attitudes towards registration and checking of electoral roll

- learnings from the audit and recommendations to clean up the electoral roll

- proposals for database departments within local municipal councils 

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In response to the concerns raised by the Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association or MPIA  regarding the implementation of solar feed-in-tariffs, we spoke to Ali Askar bin Sher Mohamad, COO of Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia, or SEDA, for his response. 

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