General

In this episode of A Bit of Culture, we welcome back litterateur Pauline Fan and The Morning Run’s Sim Wie Boon together with our host, Kam Raslan. The trio begins by discussing the complexity of problematic artists - creators that have influential powers yet are jammed with controversial issues - how do we separate “the art” from the artist? Then, they reflect on their musical listening patterns during the course of the pandemic, and how it has altered for better or worse. Lastly, the trio goes down memory lane reminiscing on the good old days, talking through their nostalgic experiences and how it has been attributed in their lives till present time.

Despite not having met each other, a group of volunteers are banding together to prepare thousands of meals each week, which are then delivered to underprivileged groups. We speak with Siamy Tan to learn more about the initiative.

If you’d like to get involved, you can find out more through Share Me Treats, Beyond Borders Malaysia and Pertubuhan Pembangunan HOPE Selangor.

Image Source: Siamy Tan's Facebook Page

The long-awaited special Parliamentary sitting is set to be held beginning next week, for a duration of five days from July 26 to August 2. First up, we dive into a recap of the events leading up to this session, and what political possibilities it holds. Next, with emergency ordinances being one of the main items on the agenda, we look into the ordinances that have been issued this year. Finally, we speak to an MP about finally being able to set foot in the Dewan Rakyat.

Image Source: S.O, Shutterstock

A video has gone viral on social media capturing a man who became verbally abusive after being told to wear a mask, the most recent report of a person refusing to follow SOPs. We speak to a psychologist about why this is a recurring problem and how we can address it in our capacity.

Image Source: Leohoho, Unsplash

On 26 July, a group of junior contract doctors in Malaysia are planning to strike as a sign of protest, until their demands for permanent positions and clear criteria for the permanent appointments are met. Response to this movement has been divided, so we check in with pharmacist and public health researcher Dr Mark Cheong, and co-founder of Malaysian Philosophy Society Dr Tee Chen Giap, to find out what are the ethical considerations of healthcare workers going on strike at the peak of a pandemic, and more fundamentally, what are the issues to be considered in upholding the rights and responsibilities of healthcare workers.

Image source: Shutterstock

This week, we focus on the good work being done by Kechara, a faith-based organisation that seeks to create a conscious community that comes together in service of others. First, we speak to Pastor Henry Ooi, the President of the Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK), about its evolution from an NGO that provides food, medical care and rehabilitation support to the homeless, into a Food Bank and provider of empowerment programmes for the less fortunate. We then speak to JP Thong, an Executive Committee Member of the Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) about the services offered to the public through the retreat, which focuses on all things spiritual and wellness. JP will also share how we can bring about inner peace and harmony through KFR's free online courses, during these trying times.

Image source: Kechara Soup Kitchen Facebook, Kechara Forest Retreat Facebook 

On August 1st, it will be exactly six months since the military in Myanmar seized power from the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy party which won the election in a landslide in November last year. Protests are still ongoing even as the military government launched deadly reprisals against them - reports say nearly a thousand have died. Many are observing a form of civil disobedience and these include those in the public sector.

BFM's Keith Kam spoke with Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations again, to find out more about the double crises the country is facing - Covid-19 and daily protests against an unelected military government.

Image source: EPA-EFE

Since early June 2021, the team behind the FreedomFilmFest (FFF) have been releasing a specially curated Freedom film playlist every weekend - dubbed ‘Weekend Watch with FreedomFilmFest' - on their YouTube channel. Each thematic playlist is a journey through the FFF vaults, and an invitation to remind ourselves about the many human rights issues that have been brought to the fore through these thought-provoking films. This weekend, the playlist features stories from Sarawak, in conjunction with Sarawak's Independence Day, which was celebrated yesterday, the 22nd of July. Four films will be featured, including the 2011 film Ulu Bengoh Darum Piin, which was a case study of a rural constituency in Sarawak, Bengoh, which was labelled a hot seat in the 10th Sarawak state elections. We find out why and what went down a decade ago, and how the film's findings relate to today's context with the director of the film, Joachim Leong.

*Other films featured in this weekend's playlist include The Story of Kam Agong, Unlocking Bengoh, and Pengidup Aku.

Image source: Sarawak Tourism Board

It was confirmed that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will now be held without spectators following a new surge in Covid-19 cases, which saw the Japanese government approve a fourth state of emergency for the capital. So, organisers are promising unprecedented broadcast coverage and digital innovation to connect fans around the world to the events.

Image Credit: 22Images Studio | Shutterstock

Steve Ngeu, who’s company Ngeu Solutions have offered their services, for free, to help Micro SMEs register for GKP 4.0 talks to us about the application process, common mistakes entrepreneurs make, and gives businesses tips on how to improve their chances at receiving the direct aid.

Image Credit: Tero Vesalainen | Shutterstock