Live & Learn

The award-winning Documentary 'A Thousand Cuts' by Ramona S. Diaz, is a film about Maria Ressa, the founder of the online news site Rappler, which explores the conflicts between the press and the Filipino government under President Rodrigo Duterte. The Freedom Film Network, under their 'Bebaskan Filem. Merdekakan Minda Rakyat' campaign, are organising a limited online screening of the film, and will be hosting an online regional forum titled “Press In Distress. Will independent journalism survive in Southeast Asia?” over the next few days. We find out more about both the film and forum from Anna Har, the co-founder & executive director of the Freedom Film Network, and we also speak to Ian Yee, the co-founder of The Fourth and an investigative journalist and producer with R.AGE.

Image credit: PBS Distribution

We take a look at a couple of different issues centred around Malaysian Indians. On the first half of the show, we discuss the K-word. Recently, women’s singles shuttler, S. Kisona, represented Malaysia in the Sudirman Cup. During her match against the Japanese's Akane Yamaguchi, a Malaysian politician from Bersatu took to Facebook to make an absolutely disgusting statement. He said, “from which estate did BAM pick this ‘k**ing’ from, to represent Malaysia?”  

On the second half of the show, we discuss the recent Foodpanda advertisement. Foodpanda recently released an Indian cinema-musical themed advertisement ahead of Deepavali celebrations. The problem is… there isn’t a single Indian talent in the advertisement.

Image credits: S.Kisona Instagram page and Foodpanda Youtube page

Last week, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman raised the issue of the lack of special courts for sexual crimes against children across most states in Malaysia, after the first two of such courts were established in Putrajaya and Kuching back in 2017 and 2018. Cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children need to be handled carefully, not only because of the nature of these crimes but to ensure that the child is not further harmed or traumatised. So what role do these special courts play, especially to protect the child? Why do we need these courts established in each state across the country? Sharmila Sekaran, chairperson of Voice of the Children joins us to share more.

Image credit: Shutterstock

After months of delays and poor reasoning, finally the BN/PN coalition, this time lead by Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announced that UNDI 18 will be implemented swiftly. Law Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar mentioned that The Election Commission (EC) will proceed with implementing the lowering of voting age from 21 to 18 as ordered by a High Court, without having to wait for the government to decide if it will appeal against the decision. On top of that, on the 29th of September, the Election Commission also notified soon-to-be voters to verify their personal information for the Pre-Registration of Automatic Voters (SPPA) that will be held from October 1 until October 31.  Qyira Yusri, Co-Founder of UNDI 18, joins us to discuss.

Image credit: undi18.org 

We're continuing our collaboration with the folks from the Freedom Film Network, and highlighting films they are re-releasing on their Youtube channel, straight from their vaults to you, which they have dubbed: 'Weekend Watch with FreedomFilmFest'. This past month or so, the theme has been 'Merdekakan Minda Rakyat,' and we've seen an array of films that tackle censorship in film, music and the arts. This weekend, catch the film "Nasir Jani Melawan Lembaga Puaka" which examines Malaysia’s film censorship history through the lens of filmmakers like Nasir Jani and others. Joining us for this discussion are the film’s director, co-producer, co-writer, Arian Md Zahari, and also Zikri Rahman, who co-produced and co-wrote the film. 

Image credit: Freedom Film Fest

School closures have had many adverse impacts on kids, and affected both their physical and mental health. On today's episode, we focus on how the reduction of daily physical activities for kids over this prolonged period can impact their health and well-being, with Dr Sangita Terumalay (Consultant Paediatrician & Paediatric Neurologist) and Liam Harkness (sports and performance therapist). This series is done in collaboration with Buka Sekolah Kami! a coalition of teachers, parents, educational institutions, medical professionals and grassroots organizations, who believe that the cost of school closures greatly outweigh the benefits. They are advocating for policy makers to prioritize the reopening of schools on a national level, and the need for a decentralised solution, and an end to blanket policies. 

Image credit: Shutterstock

On the 27th of September, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob unveiled the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Parliament. The 12th Malaysia Plan which is to be implemented over the next 5 years, is basically a document containing the Malaysian government’s socio economic plans and aspirations for the country. 

With that in mind, how much does the 12th Malaysia Plan focus on gender equity & equality -- how much does it focus on empowering women?

 
Image credit: theedgemarkets.com & Shutterstock

Yesterday (27th September), the 12th Malaysia Plan was finally tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by the Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob after being postponed from its original tabling during Parliament last year. Spanning from 2021 to 2025, the plan has three key themes: resetting the economy, strengthening security, wellbeing and inclusivity, and advancing sustainability. With the widespread impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Malaysian society over the past year and a half, how much of it has factored into this plan, especially looking at it from a health perspective? And what are the health priorities in the 12th Malaysia Plan? Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy joins us to dive into this.

Image credit: theedgemarkets.com

In conjunction with International Poverty Reduction Day on the 17th of October, Gabungan Marhaen in collaboration with a number of other civil society organizations are organising a virtual event called “Himpunan Marhaen.” The event will take place from the 12th to 17th of October and will highlight a number of issues faced by the working class and those who are in the B40 community. One of the organisers joins us to share what the event is all about.

 
Image credit: Gabungan Marhaen Facebook page

Since June, the team behind the FreedomFilmFest have been releasing a specially curated Freedom film playlist every weekend - dubbed ‘Weekend Watch with FreedomFilmFest' - on their YouTube channel. Each thematic playlist has allowed us to revisit some of the many films in the FFF vaults, which invite us to revisit the many human rights issues that have been brought to the fore, through these thought-provoking films. The theme for this month is 'Merdekakan Minda Rakyat,' featuring films that tackle censorship in film, music and the arts. This weekend, catch the re-release of the film “Sindiket”, which looks at “Project IC '' over in Sabah, and the controversies surrounding it. Joining us to discuss the issues tackled in the film are the film's director, Nizam Andan, and Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, the former Former Sabah state secretary and a former vice-chairman of Suhakam.

Image credit: Sindiket film.