Current Affairs

Previously, BFM spoke to two members of the winning team of the Malaysia Public Policy Competition 2012, on the proposal to introduce a mentorship programme for teachers at schools, in a move to improve the national education system. (Check out the interview here)

In the following interview, Tengku Azian Tengku Shahriman, director of Pemandu NKRA and a judge at the Malaysian Public Policy Competition 2012, talks about the entries this year and the implications of implementing a mentorship programme in Malaysian schools.

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In conjunction with the recent launch of the National Education Blueprint, this year’s Malaysia Public Policy Competition was themed “Education: Exploring New Paradigms”, which saw 96 local and overseas Malaysian undergraduates and pre-university students competing on case-based policies. 

In the following interview, Ian Beh and Tay Huey Yuin, two members of this year’s winning team, BLT, explain their proposal of introducing a teacher mentoring programme, how it works and their personal take on what makes a great teacher.

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The oil and gas sector recently overtook banking as Britain's best paid industry with average pay of  £64,000, which experts say is indicative of the acute shortage of talent in the industry. The talent crunch in the oil and gas industry is a global one, further intensifying the competition for good talent in Malaysia. 
In the following interview, Asian Geos Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato Mohd Helmi Zulkawi talks about the talent crunch in oil & gas sector, the competitiveness of Malaysian salaries in the global market, and whether volatility in the oil and gas sector affects perceptions of job security. 

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Australia’s recent passing of plain cigarette packaging laws will require all cigarette packs to be sold in plain olive green packaging from December onwards. This has sparked debate on whether similar laws should be passed in Malaysia. 

Fifa Rahman, Special Project Coordinator for Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control & Health, discusses the effectiveness of plain packaging on cigarettes in curbing smoking, as well as whether the move to do away with brand labelling affects businesses' ability to innovate.

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Piracy continues to be a problem in the Malaysian music industry, contributing to a 50 percent decline in revenue as of 2010. Globally, digital piracy was the cause behind a 30% drop in global music sales from 2004 to 2009, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 
In the following interview, Datuk Aziz Bakar, chairman of Performance and Artists Rights Malaysia or PRISM, gives his take on why piracy has become socially accepted by Malaysians despite anti-piracy measures and legislation, the underlying issues as well as challenges in tackling the problem.

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Previously, we spoke to Datuk Aziz Bakar, chairman of Performance and Artists Rights Malaysia or PRISM, on why piracy continues to persist in the music industry. Listen to the interview here.

In the following interview, Matt Armitage of BFM’s Geeks Squawk and founder of MN8 discusses piracy in the tech industry, the underlying factors and whether legislation is the right answer to piracy in Malaysia.

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Recently, the trailer of local film Tanda Putera has sparked public debate over what critics allege is a controversial retelling of the May 13 1969 riots. The film, which centres on the administration of former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak and then Home Minister Tun Dr Ismail, is set to be released on November 15th. 
In the following interview, Tanda Putera producer and director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba talks about why she decided to direct the film and answers the critics. The award-winning director also shares her views on the local filmmaking industry with regard to patriotic films, and whether she would have done the trailer differently, in view of the controversy it stirred. 

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Recently, it was reported that about a third of over 200 villagers at the Bukit Koman New Village in Raub, Pahang were confirmed to be suffering from skin problems, which residents claim is a result of the gold mining operation nearby.

In the following interview, Hue Fui How, secretary of the Pahang Raub Anti-Cyanide Gold Mining Committee that is lobbying against the gold mining operations, discusses the alleged health hazards from Bukit Koman gold mining activities.

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Recently, the Fisheries Department has said that Malaysia may have no more fish by the next 30 years, due to unsustainable fishing methods. Is this a cause for concern and does aquaculutre provide an viable alternative source for fish then?

In the following interview, Mageswari Sangaralingam, research officer with the Consumers’ Association of Penang, discusses the decline in Malaysian Fisheries.

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Violent attacks on Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar’s Rakhine state since early June has resulted in an exodus of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh. With nearly 30,000 Rohingya refugees already living in refugee camps at Cox’s Bazar since the early 1990s, the recent influx of refugees has prompted the Bangladeshi government to discourage further illegal migration from Myanmar.

In the following interview, Dirk Hebecker, head of UNHCR’s sub office at Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, shares his account of the Rohingya Muslim refugee situation at the Myanmar-Bangladesh Border, the impact of the Bangladeshi authorities on relief efforts, and the sentiment of Bangladeshis towards the Rohingyas.

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