Live & Learn

Last week, the Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code that make stalking a criminal offence. The bill, earlier tabled for second reading by Deputy Minister of Law and Institutional Reform, Ramkarpal Singh, was passed by voice vote.

But what does this mean for victims of stalking? Abinaya Mohan, Advocacy Director, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).

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In another step forward in protection of children in the justice system, the Dewan Rakyat recently passed amendments to two acts: the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007. Ajeet Kaur, co-chairperson of CRIB Foundation joins us on the show to discuss how significant these changes are, and what other reforms will be needed in the future. 

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Last month, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, better known as AUKU or UUCA. But at the Youth Empowerment Fair on March 19, 2023, our Prime Minister announced that the sections of AUKU that limit academic freedom will be repealed, and that this would include the sections limiting the freedom of lecturers. The PM did concur with the Higher Education Minister that the entire Act cannot be repealed, as AUKU is a comprehensive Act with many sections that deal with other matters. This revives the decades-old debate about whether the Universities and University Colleges Act has outlived its purpose. We discuss the need to reform or repeal this act with Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr Hj Shad Saleem Faruqi (Holder of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair, University of Malaya) and Vince Tan (Co-chair, the UM Malaysian Bar Constitutional Literacy Initiative).

Law & Behold is a monthly series which aims to arm Malaysians with constitutional literacy, and is done in collaboration with The Malaysian Bar, the University of Malaya's Faculty of Law, and the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR).

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In a few months time, 6 states in Malaysia will be holding elections, namely Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. But what needs to be done by the government and Election Commission (EC) to ensure an inclusive, accessible and smooth voting process for all Malaysians? 

BERSIH recently released an in-depth election observation report on the 15th General Elections, in which they discuss some of the gaps in the way elections are currently carried out, as well as some recommendations for the government and the EC. 

We unpack this report with Thomas Fann, Chairperson of BERSIH. 

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With the US threatening to ban the app in the country - again - is TikTok really a national security issue? Should our concerns with cybersecurity lie elsewhere? Munira Mustaffa, executive director of Chasseur Group delves into this issue and discusses what Malaysia can do to shore up its cybersecurity protection.

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Roots Living Heritage is a collection of 18 stories by 17 writers about Malaysia and some of the country's daughters and sons, who achieved a great many things in a plethora of ways, all contributing to our country's rich heritage. Writing about their own family members, the stories in this collection offer us many personal insights into the lives of some very amazing Malaysians, weaving together a tapestry of untold Malaysian history. We find out more about this anthology of stories from Datuk Halimah Mohd Said (Editor, Author, Visual Artist) and Afidah Zuliana Abdul Rahim (Author and President, Museum Volunteers, Department of Museums Malaysia) who contributed chapters to the book.

 In 2016, Hemakavin s/o Karthigesu, who was 19 years old at the time, was arrested in Cambodia for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. But was the evidence sufficient? Details that have emerged indicate that Hemakavin could’ve been a pawn that was duped to do their dirty work by a large syndicate. 

It’s been 7 years since Hemakavin’s arrest. His dad Karthigesu has appealed to the Malaysian government to bring back his 26-year-old son who is being imprisoned in Cambodia. 

Question is, how did this happen? Where is the justice?

Rice is a staple of Malaysians’ diet, and for years and decades, Malaysia has prided itself on our paddy industry. However, when we think of paddy fields, we often think of the states across Peninsula Malaysia such as Kedah and Perak in the north, and Kelantan and Terengganu on the East coast. What we don’t talk about as much is the paddy industry in Sabah and Sarawak, over in East Malaysia, which is vastly different from what we see here in Peninsula Malaysia. We speak to Dr Sarena Che Omar, deputy director of research with Khazanah Research Institute, on how we can cultivate the specialty rice industry.

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Yesterday on March 15th, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh launched the much awaited Safe Sports Code, a guideline meant to create a safe sports environment for all athletes at all levels. But after waiting so long for a Safe Sports Act, where do we stand now with this new code? Sarina Sundara Rajah, president of Safe Sports Malaysia, former gymnast and now coach, joins us to share her thoughts on this. 

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A bill related to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty will be tabled in Parliament next month. Ramkarpal Singh, who’s the deputy Minister of Law and Institutional Reform said that the bill was expected to be passed in April and gazetted by May. So, what does this move mean for the reformation of our criminal justice system? Is this a step in the right direction? We speak to Dobby Chew, Executive Coordinator, Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN).