MUDA and Parti Sosialis Malaysia's (PSM) recent total loss in the state elections - all candidates from both parties lost their deposits - has evoked questions around their credibility as a third force in our politics. We discuss why the MUDA-PSM alliance failed to garner votes, and whether our political system currently supports the existence of a third force.

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State elections were held on August 12, 2023, and the results: Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang were retained by PH-BN, while Terengganu, Kedah and Kelantan were retained by PN. The details, though, reveal less than ideal outcomes for PH-BN, with the coalition now only having a simple majority in Selangor, and holding on to a number of seats by just a small margin. We speak with Bukit Gasing ADUN Rajiv Rishyakaran about what these results indicate for the coalition moving forward.

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Pictures of Perikatan Nasional banners leaning heavily on race and religion went viral, with PN coming out later to deny they were behind them. So we discuss provocative campaign tactics and whether they are likely to sway undecided voters so close to the elections.

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How does one's approach to voting influence their choice of candidate, and in a larger sense, their view of politics? So we've (unscientifically!) come up with a list of different "voting personality types", and talk about them with both political scientist Wong Chin Huat and our listeners - who added a few other "types" to the conversation as well.

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Over the last two months on Fix Your Finances, we’ve been focusing on building a pathway to financial knowledge and independence, talking about balancing a budget sheet, protecting your wealth… but now, what about growing that wealth through investments? We're joined by Idham Idris of Wealth Vantage Advisory, to talk about building an investment strategy and finding the right investment options. As always, we also field questions from listeners.

You can also check out episode three of the series, where we talked about the best insurance for you, and your financial goals. This is all part of a personal finance journey, which will end in an exclusive workshop happening on September 9th. Join us and Fix Your Finances by downloading a budget balance sheet at www.bfm.my/fixyourfinances.

This show is brought to you by AIA, supporting you in cultivating healthier financial habits.

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With state elections coming up, the question of whether voters are sufficiently aware of and educated on the different roles and powers of the state vs federal government becomes essential. We speak with Aira Azhari, senior manager of the Democracy and Governance Unit at IDEAS, about the difference between state and federal jurisdictions, and how voters can take them into account. We also hear from our listeners about the local issues that concern, and frankly, frustrate them the most.

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Identity politics seem to be playing a significant part in the rhetoric leading up to the state elections - so how big a part do race and religion play when it comes to voting? We hear from our listeners about whether they vote based on race and religion, and in a larger sense, how the systems we live under might shape these choices.

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UNESCO recently released a report indicating that heavy reliance on technology in classrooms can be unproductive, and even detrimental, if it interferes with learning basic skills like reading. We discuss these findings with a speech therapist, who herself is a parent. Then, we explore the best ways to utilise technology in classrooms with an educationist.

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An article in The Star highlighted the need for more father-friendly public amenities that allow dads to care for their babies and toddlers, particularly when it comes to going to the washroom, and diaper changing. We discuss what the gaps are, and how the planning of public spaces need to accommodate evolving notions of gender and parenting.

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Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli has complained that no one wants to debate him (until Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman finally said yes). So what exactly is the appeal of political debates, and should it be a part of our political landscape? We unpack this with Associate Professor Dr Surinderpal Kaur, Dean for the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at Universiti Malaya. And then after that, we hear which politicians our listeners would like to debate each other.

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