Current Affairs

A recent uproar over the lack of female judges in Syariah courts is only the latest instalment in an ongoing debate over women's rights in Islam. Although the appointment of women to the bench was approved by the National Fatwa Council in 2010, the ruling has yet to be implemented nationwide. Today, we explore the arguments surrounding this issue, as well as how it affects the experiences of women undergoing judicial proceedings in the Syariah courts.

This is a report by Aisyah Tajuddin and Lyn Mak.

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Knight Frank has just released its Wealth Report 2016 last week. We give you an overview of the report, from expectations of wealth generation in the next 10 years, property as part of the ultra high net worth's asset allocation and the pick-up in foreign interest in Malaysia's property market.

This is a report by Wei Lynn Tang.

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WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol Statistics estimated that 45% of youths under 18 consume alcohol regularly. This, combined with the increasing prevalence of students bringing alcohol to school, has raised fresh concerns over the prevalence of underage drinking in Malaysia. Though the issue has been raised at state and federal levels, there has since been little to no action taken by authorities. What can be done to overcome this social issue? BFM explores.

This is a report by Jason Lim and Sonia Naidu.

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The Health Ministry has recently announced plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

However, the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers has warned that this policy could have a negative impact on intellectual property rights, and increase the volume of the illicit cigarette trade in Malaysia. How true is this claim? Has plain packaging legislation had any impact on the prevalence of smoking in Australia since its introduction in 2012? BFM explores.

This is a report by Tan Yuen Yuen and Keith Kam.

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The Attorney-General is the government’s legal adviser and the final arbiter on decisions to prosecute. Should these roles be separated, and is there any recourse for judicial review? Today we look at best practices in other democracies in the Commonwealth and explore whether Malaysia should move in this direction.

This is a report by Sharyl Kaur and Tan Yuen Yuen.

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Sarawak experienced its worst floods in history recently, raising fresh concerns over the state's level of preparedness and the extent of its flood mitigation plans. Today we ask if the government is doing enough and why the public discussion on the situation in the East Malaysian so limited. BFM explores.

This is a report by Shawn Tanis and Sonia Naidu.

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In the wake of last year's Myanmar elections, concerns have been raised about the fate of the Rohingya Muslim community who have been fleeing persecution and civil unrest in Myanmar for decades. The migrants are often left with no other choice, but to undertake a dangerous sea voyage, one which many do not survive. The Migrant Offshore Aid Station, an NGO which deals with search and rescue missions, has commenced a regional assessment of the Andaman Sea, in conjunction with two other humanitarian organisations, FortifyRights and MigrantReport. Today, we explore the reasons behind the assessment of recent Rohingya movements, as well as any changes in the Rohingya situation since the Myanmar elections.

This is a report by Sharyl Kaur and Lyn Mak.

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Last February, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron announced that a referendum on his country’s place in the European Union will be held on the 23 June. Britain has had a tumultuous relationship with the EU, beginning with its application to join the union which was repeatedly rejected by the founding member countries.  As debates in the UK heat up, BFM explores both sides of the argument as well as how an exit - affectionally termed a Brexit - would impact Europe's economic landscape.

This is a report by Lee Sheung Un.

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Local activists are currently on a 17-day march to Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, to protest bauxite mining in the state. The 260-kilometre walk has received the support of some segments of Kuantan’s population and is led by the Coalition for Action Against Bauxite Pollution. But not everyone is happy, with some citing a loss of income from the Federal government’s moratorium, which ends on April 15, while others are concerned that the end of the moratorium will signal a return to the poor environmental management of a polluting industry. The question remains if our institutions have capacity and integrity to create a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

This report is by Sharaad Kuttan.

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The oil price slump has caused energy companies to postpone and cancel projects, resulting in lesser employment within the space.  Today we take a look at how this has spilled over to Malaysia's insurance industry - the exposure of our insurers' portfolio in O&G, to what extent premium rates are affected, and how are companies going about amidst this environment.

This is a report by Wei Lynn.

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