Live & Learn

The smoking generational endgame bill has been an ongoing debate both among policymakers and the public, with the bill yet to be properly tabled and passed in Parliament. The latest iteration, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill, was last planned to be tabled on 10th October, but was pulled at the last minute. Now, with uncertainty over what would happen next, we take a look at the concerns over the constitutionality of such a ban with lawyer Lim Wei Jiet.

Image Credit: Shutterstock, 123RF/berkay08, koyphoto

As our cats and dogs enter their golden years, it becomes crucial to provide them with the best possible care to ensure a happy and comfortable life. Our experts, Dr Lee Wai Wai (Founder, PetMedic, and Veterinarian, Lee Vet Clinic) and Dr Yap Boon Kai (Veterinarian, Yap Animal Clinic & Surgery) share their wealth of knowledge and practical tips on how to navigate the unique challenges that come with caring for elderly pets, offering valuable insights on nutrition, exercise, preventative care, and the emotional support needed to make the twilight years of our four-legged family members as fulfilling as possible.

Brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia. NexGard Combo is an all-in-one spot-on application that protects your cats from internal and external parasites. Get it now at your nearest veterinary clinic to protect your cats, or visit nexgard.my for more information.

Also listen to: My Pet & I #1: What You Need to Know When You Get a Pet

Back in July, Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said mentioned that the government is studying the establishment of a sentencing council to review all criminal sentences including drug-related sentences in Malaysian legislations. The former Law Minister said something similar last October, adding that the sentencing council would be an independent public body, similar to the council established in the UK. But what exactly is the UK Sentencing Council? We speak to Jessica Jacobson, Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London, and Mai Sato, Associate Professor, Director of Eleos Justice, Monash University.

Image Credit: 123RF

While AI image generators can be fun, there’s been rising concerns that some AI models have been abused to create child sexual abuse images. The Internet Watch Foundation, a UK-based organisation which works to identify and remove online child sexual abuse images, has been warning that AI-generated child sexual abuse images must be stopped before it overwhelms the internet.

Here to help us understand the concerns behind this and how our laws can also protect children in Malaysia, is Ajeet Kaur, lawyer & co-chairperson, CRIB Foundation.

Image Credit: 123RF

The Financial Industry Collective Outreach or FINCO Good SENS programme was introduced in 2021 to support the Malaysia National Strategy for Financial Literacy, by providing students with the opportunity to not only learn about financial concepts, but to develop good financial habits through application in real-life situations. In January 2022, FINCO celebrated the national champions of its inaugural financial literacy program, Good SENS, which was designed to enhance financial literacy skills among primary school students in government schools, using social enterprises. Four primary school teams were named national champions in the Good SENS program, and among the winning teams were ' Team Power' from SJK (T) Ladang Kinrara, who sold baked goods to help the less fortunate. We speak to students Kishanram Suthager and Sashina Selva Gunalan, and their teacher Subathra Saras Selliah, to find out more about the social enterprise they developed, and how they generated profits to address causes they are concerned about.

MIDEQ Malaysia – or the Migration for Development & Equality – recently launched Mapping Journeys: a MIDEQ Malaysia Exhibition 2023. Focused on the Nepal-Malaysia corridor, this exhibition offers insights into the challenges and experiences of Nepali migrant workers, shedding light on critical issues in global labour migration. We speak to Sheril Bustaman of MIDEQ Malaysia about the exhibition.

Virtual Exhibition: mappingjourneyproject.com

Static Exhibition Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday

10am to 6pm

Recently, 18 civil society organisations have come together to launch a campaign urging the Home Ministry to hold off – in their words – “regressive” alterations to the nation’s citizenship laws that would perpetuate statelessness among children. However, the coalition also advocates for “progressive” revisions that would grant automatic Malaysian citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers. This campaign is called the #100. In this episode, we speak to the activists behind this campaign to discuss how Malaysians can fight back against these amendments.

Founded in 1984, Five Arts Centre is a pioneering force in the Malaysian arts and culture landscape. For close to four decades now, this trailblazing arts company has not only pushed the boundaries of creativity but also served as a formidable platform for artists to voice socio-political concerns, question norms, and explore the depths of artistic expression. Under the stewardship of passionate artists and visionaries, including dancer Marion D'Cruz, and producer June Tan, Five Arts have consistently challenged the status quo, producing avant-garde performances that are both thought-provoking and transformational. As they approach their 40th anniversary, we catch up with both Marion and June to discuss highlights from the company’s past, but also to discuss the future, and what that might hold for the company.

Last Friday, the MADANI government tabled the largest budget ever in Malaysia’s history, with a total allocation of RM 393.8 billion. The question is, does the allocation for housing nudge us closer towards achieving housing for all? We speak to Badrul Hisham of IMAN Research.

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Abdul Razak Latif

Ever since Hamas initiated its coordinated surprise offensive on Israel on 7th October, there has been no lull in the barrage of information, photos and videos that have been coming out from the region. While it is important for people to be aware of what’s happening on the ground from all perspectives, the rapid spread and sharing of information means that it’s become harder to distinguish what is accurate and what isn’t, and it’s become a breeding ground for both mis- and disinformation. Here to dive into why it’s important to recognise dis- and mis-information and how we can all be better in sharing news, is Munira Mustaffa, Executive Director of Chasseur Group. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock