Live & Learn

Tan Chee Yong is a graduate from the University of Cambridge who managed to secure scholarships from three prestigious funding bodies -- 

Cambridge Trust Scholarship, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship, and the Cambridge Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre (MCSC) -- to study a PhD in Development Studies. His dissertation will focus on Malaysia's Development Policy and the future of this nation. Chee Yong joins us today to talk about his passion, what it takes to achieve academic excellence and how he struggled and persevered after the passing of both his parents.

Image source: Tan Chee Yong Facebook 

 In the first five months of the year, 468 suicide cases were reported across the country, compared to 631 cases reported in the whole of 2020. As people continue to grapple with the prolonged social isolation and financial uncertainties amidst the COVID-19 situation, what toll is this taking on people’s mental health, and is this contributing to a rise in suicidal ideation? We speak to Justin Victor, Chairman of Befrienders KL as well as Anita Abu Bakar, President of the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association or MIASA, to discuss the impact of the pandemic on rising suicide cases and the role of helplines in lending an ear to those who need it most.  

If you would like to speak to someone, you can contact:

- Befrienders: 03-76272929 (or email them at [email protected]), 24/7 hotline

- Mercy Malaysia's Psychological First Aid (PFA) Hotline: 03-29359935

    - 8.00AM - 5.00PM from Mondays to Fridays

    - 8.00AM - 1.00PM on Saturdays

- Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS): 03-29359935 or 014-3223392

- Talian Kasih: 15999, or WhatsApp 019-2615999

Image source: Shutterstock

A couple of weeks ago, the Ministry of Education (MoE)  announced that it will be hiring 18,702 grade DG41 teachers through a special “one-off” recruitment drive. Senior Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said this is to address the shortage of teachers in the country. Former education minister, YB Dr. Maszlee Malik joins us on the show to discuss the issue of shortage of teachers in Malaysia, as well as bureaucracy and red tapes that tend to hinder progress.

Image source: Dr Maszlee Malik Facebook 

We're continuing our coverage on past films that were released under the FreedomFilmFest, which have been bringing socially relevant, human rights films to Malaysians since 2003. As we stay home to stay safe, the folks behind the Freedom Film Network are releasing specially curated Freedom film playlists - dubbed ‘Weekend Watch with FreedomFilmFest' - on their YouTube channel, for a look-back at the many thought-provoking issues highlighted throughout the years. This week, the focus is on films with strong female community leaders, and we're going to look back at the 2015 film, Memory As Resistance: Grandma Kong Defending Her Village, where protagonist Kong Sook Koon, a resident of Kampung Hakka, Mantin, shares her experiences of living there all her life, and how her village -  and the only way of life she's ever known - was being threatened by commercial development. Joining us to share more is Chan Seong Foong, who co-directed the film with Victor Chin.

Image source: Freedom Film Network

A few days ago, Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK) claimed that many school cleaners have had their minimum wages docked wrongfully due to the movement control order (MCO) limiting the workforce capacity. But what does limiting workforce capacity have to do with the lowering of wages? 

Joining us on the show to help me make sense of the issue as well as provide long term solutions, is Mohanarani Rasaiah, Central Committee at Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Image source: Shutterstock

The latest announcement of MCO by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, this time until an undetermined date, has massively affected almost everybody. People are losing jobs, suicide rates are on the rise, and there’s no end in sight. One of the communities that have been hit particularly hard is the refugee community. But what are the struggles that they’re facing? And is there anything we can do to help? Heidy Quah, Founder of Refuge For the Refugees (RFTR), as well as Davina Devarajan and Arissa Jemaima Ikram, the co-founders of Women For Refugees, joins us to discuss. 

If you’d like to donate to Refuge For the Refugees:
CIMB 8000499285, Persatuan Kebaikan Perlindungan Kanak-kanak Perlarian, Ref: Foodaid 

If you’d like to donate to help with a refugee community leader, Shahidah, who’s currently having pre-malignancy of the uterus:

Maybank: 164100310723, in the name of Arissa Jemaima (Co-Founder of WFR) Ref: Shahidah

Image source: Heidy Quah Facebook, Arissa Jemaima Ikram LinkedIn, Davina Devarajan LinkedIn

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package, or PEMULIH as it has been called. Worth RM150 billion, of which RM10 billion is direct fiscal injection, the package involves a range of assistance for individuals and businesses. But is it enough to help the individuals and households who are struggling most? We’ll be discussing this with Lee Hwok-Aun, senior fellow with the Malaysian Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Image source: Muhyiddin Yassin Facebook 

Saksi is an initiative by the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) to raise awareness and challenge gender bias reporting in the media. We speak to Hannah Jambunathan, Capacity Building Officer, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) to get to know what their initiative is all about, as well as share some insights on the issue of gender bias in reporting, and what we can do to challenge it.

Image source: Shutterstock

Law & Behold - now a monthly segment - continues to arm Malaysians with constitutional literacy, and is done in collaboration with The Malaysian Bar and the University of Malaya's Faculty of Law. This month, we first discuss the concept of a Constitutional Monarchy, and the role of the Conference of Rulers in Malaysia, especially during an Emergency. Next, we look at the recent crackdown of undocumented migrants in Malaysia during the pandemic, while looking at the Federal Constitution's stipulation on the right to life and the right to equal treatment which is guaranteed to all persons - without distingushing the citizenship status of the person. Joining us to discuss this are constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew, and Tham Hui Ying, the Executive Director of Asylum Access Malaysia.

Image source: Shutterstock, EPA-EFE

Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is now underway. In this ongoing series, senior citizens who have gotten their jabs share their stories, to allay fears and concerns about getting the vaccination. This episode features Gurusamy Somu, from Malacca.