Current Affairs

One of the world’s most divisive and authoritarian leaders Fidel Castro died last week. What will this mean for the world?

His death will be marked by both recognition around the world of his achievement in leading the defiance of the United States for decades.

For all its achievements in health care and education, it has impoverished the island and deprived generations of Cubans of freedoms and opportunities.

We explore Castro's legacy to Cuba as well as his influence on the socialist movement in South East Asia.

This is a report by Jason Lim

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We continue our conversation on the recent UPSR Results. The Standard Six exam results have not been well-received, as only 4,000 out of over 400,000 achieved all As. This begs the question: Does achieving good grades guarantee success? Or are we Malaysians still fixated with the ‘all As’ mentality? BFM explores. 

This is a report by Aisyah Tajuddin and Wan Irdina. 

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Students, teachers, parents, and opposition politicians have raised concerns as to whether the implementation of the Higher-Order Thinking Skills format. or HOTS, is an effective move by the Education Ministry. This comes after the sharp drop in the percentage of standard 6 students achieving all A's in UPSR.

BFM explores the reasons behind the low percentage of passes, and whether or not the HOTS format is responsible.

This is a report by Aisyah Tajuddin and Wan Irdina.

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Last Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement calling for restraint by all parties in the escalating violence in Rakhine state in Myanmar. This, coupled with a statement by senior UN officials who claim Myanmar is engaging in "ethnic cleansing of Muslim Rohingyas", signal international concern about the long-standing conflict.

Do the statements by Malaysia and Indonesia threaten the "non-inteference" consensus of ASEAN? And what kind of just accord can be reached? BFM explores.

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan. 

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Yesterday Deputy Prime Minister and acting Deputy President of UMNO, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, called a meeting of Muslim MPs yesterday for a briefing as the government of the day pushes through the amendments to the Shariah Court Act. This will enable the implementation of Hudud criminal punishment in Malaysia.

While it can be argued that what affects Muslim-majority Malaysia has an effect on all of us, some say that non-Muslims need not be part of this conversation because it won't affect them. Today we explore questions around the controversial bill and whether it will open the flood gates to Hudud punishment in the rest of the Federation.

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.

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On November 19, Malaysians marched on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, clad in yellow and red shirts, in an unprecedented rally involving opposing groups. PDRM has arrested several leaders of these rallies, for allegedly organising activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

BFM speaks to Dr Khoo Ying Hooi, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of International and Strategic Studies at University Malaya to discuss the continued efficacy of political rallies in Malaysia.

This is a report by Shawn Tanis, Wan Irdina, and Emir Zainul. 

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On November 1st, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development announced that a Gender Equality Act is in the works. Subsequently, Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said, the Ministry would hold discussions with NGOs and opposition members to draft the act.

BFM speaks to the Women's Aid Organisation about their recommendations, and the need for a Gender Equality Act in Malaysia.

This is a report by Lyn Mak.

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Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States, has raised questions on America's future role in the Middle East. Trump’s election pledges with regards to American involvement in Iraq and Syria, are seemingly at odds with decades of US foreign policy towards those countries.

We explore the latest developments in Iraq and Syria, including the war against the Islamic State, and how a Trump Presidency could further change the dynamics in those countries.

This is a report by Jason Lim

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In late October 2016, a series of protests began in Seoul, as South Koreans gathered to call for President Park Geun-hye’s resignation. This followed the revelation of a corruption scandal surrounding the President and her long-time family friend, Choi Soon-sil.

BFM analyses the scandal - how it all started, what’s happening now, and the possibility of the President stepping down. 

This is a report by Emir Zainul.

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Earlier this month, Jakarta was the scene of a 100,000-strong protest against its governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, for accusing his Muslim political opponents of using a verse in the Quran to urge people not to vote for him. Basuki, an ethnic Chinese Christian, leads a city where 85 percent of its inhabitants are Muslims.

We explore what Malaysia - with a similar demographic - can learn from these events.

This is a report by Keith Kam.

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