The Education Ministry has instructed all government education institutions to observe a solidarity week in support of the Palestinian cause, which has received a fair amount of criticism from various civil society groups and members of the public. We talk about whether this is the best way to help children make sense of the ongoing crisis in Palestine, and hear from a child psychologist on how best to talk to children about difficult subjects like war.

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On Tuesday, 24th October 2024, several people were arrested for a protest on the eviction of farmers at the Kanthan vegetable farm in Tambun, Perak. A bit of background on this: These farmers have been facing the threat of forced eviction, despite having farmed there for decades. Replacement land of two acres leased for a period of 30 years was offered but the Perak government has failed to fulfil this promise. So we first revist a conversation that The Bigger Picture did with PSM Chairperson, Dr Michael Jeyakumar, on what happened and what's being fought for. We also hear from MUDA human rights bureau chief Dobby Chew, and our listeners.

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Established in 2005, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement continues to push for Palestinian liberation by calling for economic action against Israel - a call that has strengthened following the current war in Gaza. We discuss the effectiveness of boycotts in championing a cause, and ask listeners whether they've ever stopped supporting a brand based on ethical reasons.

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Tiger Stripes, directed by Amanda Nell Eu, opened in cinemas for limited showings on October 19th. The movie has been much anticipated here since it won the Grand Prize of the Critics Weeks at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and it’s going to represent Malaysia at the Oscars. But alongside the theatrical release, director Amanda released a statement saying she did not stand by this version of the film, which had been cut by the Film Censorship Board. We first hear from Amanda about her statement. Then, we discuss film censorship in Malaysia with Anna Har of the Freedom Film Network.

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Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has announced a ban on MPs using words like "kafir" "Zionist" and "Yahudi"or in Parliament to refer to each other. This is coming after a series of arguments between MPs, in which several of them resorted to using these terms pejoratively. So first, we speak to a political communications expert about the dangers of misusing language and weaponising words. Then, our listeners chime in on whether politicians should be more careful - and precise - about the words they use.

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A survey conducted in the US by software publisher BambooHR found that 50% of employees regret their new position within the first week of being on the job. Amongst the reasons given was supervision in their early days, or more help getting to know their colleagues. We take a look at the survey in a more local context, and also asked listeners what they look out for when starting a new job - and if they've ever left within the first week.

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The Malaysian media landscape has changed quite a bit over the past few decades, with social media and messaging apps making it easier for people to share news. But has it become easier for media practitioners? And has there been renewed trust between the media and the public? So to help us understand all of this, we first speak to Janet Steele about the state of independent media, and its relationship with the public. Then, Jahabar Sadiq of The Malaysian Insight joins us to talk about his perspective of the media landscape, and what internal challenges people in media face. Finally, a media analyst shares their thoughts on what the public expects to see from the media of the future.

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The Kita Food Festival is an annual event that celebrates the diverse culture of the Southeast Asian culinary scene, and foregrounds conversations around food and food culture. Co-founders Leisa Tyler and Darren Teoh share their inspirations for the event and talks to us about Malaysian and Southeast Asian culinary history. We also hear from our listeners, who weigh in on Malaysian food culture and what makes it special.

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Imagine you live in an apartment where the entrance and car park are areas you're not allowed to walk on. This is what's happening to the residents of SEA Park Apartments, whose homes are encircled by someone else's private land. The landowner has taken to extreme measures such as obtaining court orders, threatening to dig up the land, and even had men placed at its entrance to collect parking “fees”. So we speak to Elroi Yee, the journalist who uncovered this story, as well as an apartment resident. Then, we ask our listeners what they would do, if they were stuck in this situation.

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Budget 2024 was unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week, on Oct 13, 2023. It broke its own record, with an allocation of RM393.8 billion. Has it lived up to expectations and go far enough to address both short and long-term issues? We first speak to Farah Rosley, on some of the budget's major takeaways. Then, we enter the political side of things: did it err on the safe side?

Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

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