Current Affairs

This morning we look at the Biro Tata Negara (National Civics Bureau) and the latest controversy its embroiled in. A slide from a training module by claimed that some Malay independent book publishers and writers are part of an “anti-establishment” movement to influence young voters in the upcoming 14th general election. Now those at the receiving end of these accusations are mulling action.

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.

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The controversial Baram dam has recently come into the spotlight again following the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest of Ranau, Sabah. The dam is one of 12 dams the Sarawak state government intends to build as part of its efforts to fully industrialize the state by year 2030. Revelations that 40 fault lines lie beneath Sarawak and may have devastating consequences on the dam is stirring public concerns over what may be at stake for the local community and the environment. Today we ask if the dam is built to withstand a catastrophic quake.

This is a report by Wong Yu Han.

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Turkish elections held earlier this month saw the country's first hung parliament in 16 years. The powerful ruling party AKP party led by president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, lost its parliament majority as opposition parties made signficant gains. The AKP now needs to form a coalition government with the opposition for the first time in years. We explore the reasons for AKP's decline in garnered votes, the success of the Kurdish minority party, the complexities of forming a coalition government and what the Turks want from their new leaders.

This is a report by Jason Lim.

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China's expansion in the disputed South China Sea has recently been highlighted in the international media with several countries including Malaysia coming into increasing contact with Chinese vessels intruding into their waters. China's other activities in that maritime region include significant land reclamation and the building of military outposts. This has prompted reactions from South East Asian nations, and global players like the United States. We explore China's historical motivations for their maritime expansion, their dealings with ASEAN nations involved in the dispute, and Beijing's possible end game as the Asian giant confronts US intervention in its own backyard.

This is a report by Jason Lim.

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The increase in the number of national athletes who tested positive for banned substances last year raised fears that doping will rear its ugly head again at the ongoing Singapore SEA Games and other sporting events in the future. The authorities have since multiplied their efforts to clamp down on both malpractices and mishaps. But how close are we as a nation in defeating this enemy of sports? We explore.

This is a report by Shawn Tanis. 

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Recently, a vessel of the People’s Republic of China Coast Guard anchored off the shores of Sarawak. The Malaysian government views this as an incursion into our territorial waters but despite attempts to communicate with the vessel our government has received no response. Sheridan Kassim with the PMO has recently corrected reports that suggested the Prime Minister will be taking this issue up with his Chinese counter-part. Today we look at the geo-political power play in the South China Sea.

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan. 

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Just two weeks ago the Australian government stepped up its national security efforts by appointing two new counter-terrorism coordinators; one working on external relations and the other on home-grown threats. Like many countries worldwide, Australia is struggling to deal effectively with its citizens who are joining the radical movement ISIL. These governments fear the involvement of their citizens in the gross violations of human rights in Syria and Iraq but also anticipate the very real possibility of these same citizens will return home with a radical political agenda. Australia is working to strengthen or create laws to criminalise these activities while also engaging the Muslim community in a variety of ways. But at least one person believes the Australian government has misunderstood the problem. 

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.

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Last Friday, a 5.9 magnitude quake hit 14 kilometers north of Ranau, leaving tremors felt in locations such as Tuaran, Pedalaman, Kota Belud, and even Kota Kinabalu. Dubbed the worst earthquake Sabah has ever witnessed, it shook the taken granted notion that Malaysia is safe from such natural disasters. Perhaps not only has the geological history been forgotten, but in 1990 and 1966 the region suffered from earthquakes. The controversy about spirits of Kinabalu mountain angered by culturally insensitive tourists aside, what is the science behind this event, and what measures can we take to prepare for future events? 

This is a report by Wong Yu Han.

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Recently Mass Rapid Transit Corp faced criticism for its safety record after another migrant worker died following an on site accident. After 3 years, the safety record of the mega public transport project five deaths and eight severly injured labourers for a total workforce of about 12,000. Is this an acceptable, if unfortunate, number for a construction of this size? Today we look at one of the underlying cause of work-site accidents and ask if workers have access to justice and adequate compensation.

This is a report by Nadiah Aziz.  

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In the PAS party elections yesterday, candidates backed by the clergy, or ulama, won a landslide victory for the party’s top posts. Analysts believe this will cause PAS to return to more conservative politics, and possibly lose the support of the Malaysian public at large. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of IDEAS discusses the future of PAS and its relationship to DAP. He also tackles the increasingly crucial question: Will there still be a Pakatan Rakyat coalition in the next general elections?

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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