Current Affairs

Over the weekend, news reports suggesting that parents could be jailed under a new Child Act if they were to cane their children exploded into a full blown controversy that landed on Monday’s front pages. It was the result of a misunderstanding regarding a proposed provision in the replacement for the existing Child Act 2001 expected to be tabled in June. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has since issued a clarification that the provision refers only to the caning of convicted juveniles. In the ensuing debate questions were raised about aligning domestic laws with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the case of Malaysians parents convicted in Sweden for child abuse as well as the parental prerogatives and religious injunctions on corporal punishment. We look at a controversy based on a misunderstanding.

Aziff Azuddin and Melanie Abraham contributed to this report.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, the Election Commission released the delimitation exercise proposal for Sarawak, which saw an increase of 11 state assembly seats, bringing the total to 82 seats for the state. However, political parties and local analysts have questioned the redrawing of the lines for the constituencies, as well as the process of gazetting the proposal. We speak to activist PY Wong from Tindak Malaysia, analyst Ahi Sarok from University Malaysia Sarawak, and PKR state assemblyman Baru Bian, for their feedback on the proposal.

Melanie Abraham and Haniff Baharudin contributed to this report. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is in the midst of putting together a formal request to Australia for the extradition of convicted murderer Sirul Azhar. He and his co-accused were recently sentenced to death for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu when the Federal Court overturned their earlier acquittal. Sirul, who failed to turn up in court, later surfaced in Australia. While Malaysia has an extradition treaty with Australia, the latter's extradition laws prohibit individuals from being sent back to face the death penalty. To secure Sirul's return, the Malaysian government would have to pledge to not carry out the death sentence. This would result in an injustice to his co-accused, who is subjected to the original sentence. Could these complications result in a legal limbo with Sirul free to leave Australia to a country where he is not at risk of extradition? We speak to an international law expert on Australian extradition law.

Melisa Idris contributed to this report.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corporal Sirul Azhar, who was convicted of murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu, has been detained by immigration officials in Brisbane, after an Interpol red notice was issued. There are however conflicting principles, as Malaysia has a mandatory death sentence for murder and drug trafficking offences, while Australia opposes capital punishment. Malaysia is now seeking to have Sirul extradited under the Extradition Treaty, which both countries signed in 2006. Melisa Idris speaks to lawyer Edmund Bon about the extradition laws in play in the Sirul Azhar case.

Annabelle Lee contributed to this report.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major Zaidi was dismissed from the Malaysian military when he was found guilty of speaking to the media without authorisation. Zaire had alerted the media the failures of indelible ink during the 13th General Elections. His persecution by the military made his a cause celebre. He has alleged that his trial was marred by bias, and he now intends to file for a judicial review of the verdict. Today we explore how a martial court works, and the potential conflict between military personnel's rights as a citizen and his obligation to follow the military's Standing Orders.

Aziff Azuddin contributed to this report. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Philippines is home to 80 million Catholics, the highest Christian population in Asia, and a natural choice for Pope Francis to end his week-long tour of Asia. The Church has historically had a major influence over Filipino society, but recent challenges to its power - the Reproductive Health Bill - raised questions over its continued importance. We take a closer look at the culture and politics of Catholicism in the isles.

Mahesh Krishnan contributed to this report. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are now pouring over data from the recovered black box in the Air Asia Indonesia QZ 8501 crash, hoping not only to learn what went wrong but how such crashes might be prevented. The relatively effective Search And Rescue (SAR) in the case of QZ8501 was aided by lessons learned from the efforts around the missing MAS flight MH370 nine months before: from organisational architecture that is more effective to scenario planning for SAR.

This is a report by Jason Lim.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Friday, the Presidential elections in Sri Lanka concluded with surprising results. The decade-long rule of President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended. Once immensely popular, Rajapaksa government was increasingly accused of repression, nepotism and corruption. The elections brought to power Maithripala Sirisena, a one-time ally of Rajapaksa who defected in November to form a broad coalition that took power at the presidential level. So confident was Rajapaksa of his control over the reigns of power that he called for the election two years before it was due. In this episode we look at both the conduct of the elections as well as the real challenges that Sri Lanka faces in its long road to democracy and reform

Mahesh Krishnan contributed to this report.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good governance and public service delivery have long been an issue in our cities. The lack of delivery by the town councils has been the source of much rate-payer disgruntlement. To resolve this problem an NGO calling itself the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism has come up with a mobile app that aims to create a community of citizens who can participate more effectively in the governance of the city of Petaling Jaya. We talk to the MyCleanCity initiative spokesperson.

Mahesh Krishnan contributed to this report. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) party elections were followed by charges of irregularities. Subsequently the Registrar of Societies became involved. The controversy has opened a floodgate of woes, with some calling for the resignation of party president G. Palanivel, and a rift with his deputy now in full view. For some observers the crisis underscores a deeper problem with the party's leadership, an allegedly uncommunicative President, a lack of direction and even charges that the President’s wife controls the party. Today we explore the crisis brewing in the MIC. 

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.