Current Affairs

When a 7 month old baby was flung out of a window during a collision on the DUKE Highway it raised many questions about the safety of children in cars. What prevents parents from protecting the children adequately? Is it the cost of safety equipment, cultural attitudes or the poor enforcement of existing laws. We explore the problem and possible remedies.

This is a report by Nadiah Abdul Aziz. 

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When Akmal Saufi grabbed the media spotlight recently with 15 hard-hitting questions he posed to the Prime Minister on the 1MDB controversy he brought to light two facts. One, he was no anonymous young man but the son of Johor Mentri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He was also identified as a member of the largely unknown Youth Parliament. Today we look into this Youth and Sports Ministry initiative and its impact on efforts to create politically conscious youth.

This is a report by Wan Irdina binti Mohd Fizlie.

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The shortage of teachers in Chinese primary schools is a perennial issue for the community. In a recent strongly worded joint statement the United Chinese School Teacher's Associations, better known as Jiao Zong together with 55 Chinese schools in Selangor urged the Ministry of Education to address problems such as insufficient warrants, salaries for interim teachers and so on. Has this please fallen on deaf ears or has it been addressed adequately? We explore.

This is a report by Wong Yu Han.

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Malaysia has recently received a controversial upgrade in the US' Trafficking in Persons report. This comes at a time when Malaysia is participating in the final phases of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. Critics argue that the upgrade prioritises trade benefits over worker's rights. Supporters of the TPP however, argue that the agreement would actually push member nations to meet international labour conventions and improve workers’ rights. We explore whether the latter holds true.

This is a report by Daniel Subramaniam

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Since Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, the relationship between the two societies has been marked by rivalry and some mutual suspicion. A kind of a “us versus them” sentiment has ruled. But its now five decades on, and even as Singapore celebrates #SG50 this Sunday, is the deep rooted sentiment set to change? We explore the views of young people. Are Malaysians young envious of Singapore’s superior education, and do Singaporean youth long for the freedoms that Malaysians enjoy?

This is a report by Wong Yu Han.

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Francis Fukuyama’s 1992 bestseller, “The End of History and the Last Man”, seem to put a full-stop in the debate about competing political systems; liberal-democracy’s triumph was irreversible. But China’s economic success has now revived that debate. The publication of "The China Model" give us a nuanced view of the inner working of the behemoth’s political system. Bell argues that China's “political meritocracy” has many advantages and values that cannot be found in countries with liberal-democratic systems. Today we explore the contours of China’s politics.

This is a report by Wong Yu Han.

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The Health Ministry’s revised Medical Fee Order includes a schedule for immigrants to pay their medical fees at full cost and for illegal immigrants, once identified to be handed to the competent authorities. Parliament’s sole socialist MP is calling for parliamentary review of this regulation. He fears it will deter foreign workers from seeking treatment; many who come from countries with higher rates of infectious diseases like Tuberculosis. Will the new Medical Fee Order really endanger the health of Malaysians and foreigners alike, or is it simply about protecting the interest of Malaysians?

This is a report by Heng Wei Ann

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The World Bank’s report “12th Malaysia Economic Monitor: Transforming Urban Transport” reveals that residents of Greater Kuala Lumpur spend a crazy 250 million hours a year stuck in traffic during morning peak hours, costing up to 2.2 percent of the GDP last year. Today we take a look at the current state of the existing public transport system, and what improvements need to be made.

This is a report by Nadiah Abdul Aziz.

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Many of us have come to accept the congestion, traffic accidents, deterioration of air quality and the growing frustration that comes from living in our cities. Are they the inevitable consequence of rapid urbanization and motorization which cannot be changed? The World Bank which recently worked with the government’s Economic Planning Unit and other stake-holders to look at our urban transport woes. The World Bank study concludes that international best practices can help us solve our problems. The question is are we ready to adopt them?

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.

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Last year, residents in parts of Pahang found themselves sitting on a literal fortune when demand for the bauxite under their land suddenly shot up. Since then, reports of dust pollution and damaged roads have prompted the state government to halt the rampant mining in the area. We explore what caused the sudden rush in bauxite extraction and whether the fortune is short-lived.

This is a report by Daniel Subramaniam. 

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