Current Affairs

On 20 October 2014, Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, was inaugurated as the seventh president of Indonesia. His win in the presidential race was seen as a brake with the authoritarian past and its ruling elite. But, recent decisions have given observers pause. He grabbed global headlines with deteriorating rights for minorities and the inclusion of known human rights abusers in his Cabinet in the recent reshuffle. Internationally the continued practice of the death penalty and blowing up trespassing fishing boats is burnishing his credentials as a nationalist. Today we ask where Indonesia is headed under the President they call Jokowi.

This is an interview by Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan.

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In his last visit to Asia before the end of his Presidency, Barack Obama, makes a case on a policy which sought to rebalance USA's global commitments. Speaking during the Washington visit of Singapore Premier, Obama said “The United States has been a Pacific nation for over two centuries. That’s not going to change. That reality transcends election cycles.” But questions can be asked about the multi-pronged ‘pivot’ which includes engaging China, resolving the prickly problem of North Korea’s nuclear weapons, and promoting free trade agreements. Today we take a look at Obama’s record.

This interview was by Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan.

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Just a little more than halfway through President Rodrigo Duterte's first 100 days in office, he has already declared a “state of national emergency, on account of lawless violence” and managed to alienate the outgoing Obama Administration.

While he is delivering on his campaign - promised to escalate his war on crime - it is not earning him points with local human rights advocates or some in the international community. However, he is recording high levels of trust with the Filipino public. Today, we look at the challenges for the Duterte Administration.

This interview is by Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan.

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"Look at Sarawak, Sarawak is smart, Sarawak is united. That is why when Sarawak rants something, the (federal) government has to listen. If there is no Sarawak, they would be gone," the Crown Prince of Johor was reported saying this weekend. What does this "assertiveness", and the recent negotiations over staffing quotas and representation on the Board of Directors with national oil company Petronas, signal? We also ask about the possibility of a Borneo bloc being formed.

This is a report by Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan.

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As Asia becomes more connected to the global economy, the spotlight turns onto how well its structural reforms are executed, to sustain growth.

We explore how Asia has fared in its reform efforts so far, how it is positioned from a fundamental perspective, as well as how and why the tide could be turning for the region.

This is a report by Wei Lynn Tang.

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On our Merdeka edition of Current Affairs, we explore how our political culture, economy and society have evolved to shape Malaysia as we know it today. The question is, where are we on the road to becoming a developed, mature democracy - the Malaysian ideal we have sought to achieve, since the nation’s independence 59 years ago?

This is a report by Junmey Wang and Keith Kam.

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Over the last 25 years, Malaysia has, on average, experienced stable economic growth across a variety of sectors. In order to continue in this vein, however, it may be that sound economic policy is not enough. Today, BFM explores the importance of good economic governance, and its link to stable economic growth.

This is a report by Azlyn Balqis and Lyn Mak.

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The Malaysian Economic Association has been pushing for the establishment of a parliamentary select committee (PSC) on economic governance. Malaysia, which emulates the Westminster system, does have PSCs - but are such committees in Malaysia truly functional and independent, as they were originally intended to be?

We explore PSCs in Malaysia, as a reflection of Parliament's efficacy as a whole.

This is a report by Junmey Wang and Aisyah Tajuddin.

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Multiple efforts have been made to further improve the state of detention centres around the world. Several UN treaties, such as the UN Convention Against Torture, attempt to ensure that any torture or ill-treatment does not take place.

Among other global efforts, international advocacy groups have introduced alternatives to detention, as well as methods to prevent unnecessary immigration detention such as the presumption of liberty and limitations on detention in law.

But has Malaysia ratified the relevant conventions, and are we capable of establishing an alternative to detention centres?

This is a report by Azlyn Balqis and Wan Irdina.

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The Cambodia Daily newspaper recently reported on alleged abuse cases at the Penang Juru detention centre, raising international concern about the living conditions of those held at these facilities.

According to Amnesty International, Malaysian detention centres do not comply with the U.N.'s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisons, which sets basic standards for prisoners’ living conditions, personal hygiene, food and medical services, apart from other basic rights.

BFM uncovers what happens within the walled and barbed-wired environs.

This is a report by Wan Irdina. 

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