Do you groan at yet another QR code menu? Do you politely nod at the latest indecipherable catchphrase? Do you wonder what all the cool kids are doing these days (and why you're not there)? As the world rapidly changes, it can sometimes feel like we can't keep up, and that we're increasingly being left behind by all these newfangled of doing things - whether that's new technology, new social mores, new words, or just new ways to have fun. We talk about this feeling of being "left behind", and how to contend with the inevitable passing of time with more grace than grumpiness.

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There have been some complaints that the PADU registration portal isn't comprehensive enough to accomodate different financial needs, especially for those in the M40 category. We spoke to Dr Geoffrey Williams about how nuanced our subsudies should and can be.

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It's the new year, and reports have shown that job vacancies have increased with there being a positive outlook for jobseekers in 2024. So first, we look at the ups and downs of the job industry, and what skills are most in demand. Then we hear from our listeners about what they look for in a job, and whether it is just a reality of the working world to expect employees to wear multiple hats.

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The president of MRSM Malaysia Student Association, Mohd Fadzil Yusof shared that T20 parents send their children to MRSM because they want to teach them the hardships of life by mingling with peers from different socioeconomic backgrounds. We use this as a springboard to discuss the value of young people getting exposure to people poorer or richer than themselves.

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU) portal yesterday. Besides helping to disseminate targeted subsidies more efficiently in the future, the database will also store Malaysian's socioeconomic data for government policymaking. Since the launch though, a number of issues have been reported, as well as general concerns from the public around data leakage and cybersecurity. We speak first with Dr Lau Cher Han, who played a part in developing the portal, and then later with Dr Rachel Gong from KRI on how PADU can stay relevant and effective in the long term.

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New Year's resolutions: some make them, some manage to keep them, and some don't bother at all. To mark the beginning of 2024, we talk about the concept of making resolutions, and whether they're helpful. Our listeners chip in with their ways of setting intentions or goals for the new year, and we also get a little personal by revealing ours.

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim left for Tokyo today in conjunction with the 50th Year of Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and said he's opting to wear Malaysian batik to one of the dinners as a way of promoting it. He also pointed out that international promotion for Malaysian products is lacking, especially among small and medium enterprises. We speak to Dr Aqilah Yaacob about what it would take for our local products to hit the global market. Our listeners also weigh in on what local products they'd like to see promoted internationally.

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There has been a lot of criticism recently about the lack of Tamil ministers in the the Cabinet following the reshuffle. Separately, a remark from Lim Kit Siang on how the Constitution allows for a non-Malay PM has drawn a lot controversy and is currently under investigation. So we talk about whether representation in politics is important, and why Malaysia is still so tied to this notion that only someone from your own community can best represent you.

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Tonight, we're discussing cities and city living, after two stories emerged in the news. Firstly, Singapore has been rated the best city in Asia for expats, and in contrast, it's also been ranked the most costly place to live in. This sparked off a conversation on the pluses and minuses of living in a city: whether the opportunities, lifestyle, and culture are enough of a draw, or whether people prefer living elsewhere at a slower pace.

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The Sultan of Johor, who will be the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said in an interview with The Straits Times that he wants his role to include more responsibilities, including direct oversight over the MACC and Petronas. In the interview, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar also talked about wanting to crack down on corruption. This has opened up discussions around the role of the Agong, and the separation of powers. We speak to a constitutional lawyer about what the Constitution allows for when it come to the Agong's functions; then, we discuss the call to battle graft and what role we want to see the Agong take. We also hear from listeners on how they see the role of a constitutional monarch within the country's leadership.

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