Talkback

Today is World Toilet Day, so naturally, we're diving right into the topic of toilets. Now, Malaysia has made some progress in improving the state of our public toilets, with the introduction of the 'Toilet of The Year Awards' and more inspections of Klang Valley toilets. But we're a far way away from shedding our reputation of having bad toilets, with slippery floors, lack of amenities like toilet paper and inconsistent cleaning schedules being brought up often. So we hear from our listeners on their picks of the the best and worst public toilets they have experienced, as well as their biggest pet peeves about Malaysian public toilets.

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Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka has appointed three social media influencers to be 'language icons' to help promote the use of proper language among the public which got us thinking about the ways people expand their language and learn new words. So we ask our listeners: where do you learn new words? And what is a word you've learned recently that you've started using in your daily life?

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11.11's record-breaking sales has proven the prowess of e-commerce on shoppers globally. With how easy shopping has become over recent years, we're giving some thought to how we shop. So, tonight, we ask you: What kind of shopper are you? Do you tend to be more careful and intentional, or spur of the moment?

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As we digest the outcome of the recent U.S. elections, we're reminded that even events thousands of miles away can ripple through our lives in surprising ways. So, tonight, we ask you: Do you consider yourself a global citizen? Or are your interests and concerns more local?

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Tonight, we reflect on the life of music legend Quincy Jones, who recently passed away at 91. Known for producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller and creating music for icons like Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin, Jones had a vast influence on the industry. With 28 Grammys and a wealth of remarkable life stories, his legacy serves as a reminder of music's incredible power to inspire. So, tonight, we ask you: What music did you listen to when you were young? And what's a song, album or artist that has changed your life, or affected you deeply?

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Tempers flare, arguments happen, plates break, mistakes are made. We've all been there, in a situation where we are on the receiving end of an apology, or having to apologize to someone else. But how do we define what makes a good apology? Is it in the tone, the delivery or in the content of the apology? And how do we figure out whether someone is sincere?

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Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index reveals 84% of Malaysians are already using AI to save time and boost creativity, while 65% of business leaders say AI skills are becoming essential. But not everyone is optimistic, as concerns remain about the eventual loss of our "human touch". So tonight, we ask you: Is AI a force for good, or are you waiting for it to take over the world?

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How do you find new friends, and is it harder to make them as an adult? As life gets busier and social circles shrink, we explore the emotional and practical challenges of forming new connections later in life.

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We've all heard the saying, "It’s never too early to start thinking about retirement," so today, we explore exactly that. Regardless of age and life stage, we wanted to hear from our listeners about whether they have thought about their retirement, and what they'd like to do - and we got a lot of responses, from optimists to pessimists, and everyone in between.

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It's that time of year again, when headlines are filled with flash floods, landslides, and heavy traffic. But the idea of 'extreme weather' varies around the world, and changes in weather can affect people's moods in different ways. For some, a downpour means the perfect time to sleep; for others, it signals gloom ahead. So we ask our listeners: What’s the wildest weather you've experienced, and how does it shape your mood?

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Today is World Mental Health Day, and the theme this year is on prioritising mental health in the workplace. We've all been there -- Chasing deadlines, trying to organise meetings, and most importantly, attempting to find work life balance. So we ask the ultimate question: Do you pay attention to your mental health? Does your job affect your mental health?

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The government is introducing the National Reading Index to track our reading habits on a national scale. So we thought we'd use this opportunity to talk about reading, specifically, how much we read, what we like to read and how we've managed to maintain this habit.

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Are you living up to your full potential, and how do you even define it? Inspired by 12-year-old Izz Imil, the youngest student ever admitted to University Malaya, we explore what it means to truly achieve one’s potential. With personal stories and reflections, we dive deep into different experiences and perspectives of the pursuit for success and fulfillment.

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With Malaysia's "war against sugar" campaign and rising health risks like diabetes and high cholesterol, we ask listeners about their eating habits and challenges they face to balance taste and health.

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Are you drowning in clutter? We've all either been there, or known someone in this messy (literally!) predicament. This articlefrom The Star has brought up the idea of decluttering, but is letting go as easy as we think it is? So we dive into the mess, and ask our listeners whether they have a lot of clutter in their lives, and how they manage it.

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Yes, climate anxiety, the chronic fear of environmental doom. And now that we're seeing floods happening in Penang and Kedah, as well as the typhoon happening in China, the Philippines and Vietnam, it's mounting even more. We speak to our listeners about their feelings, and what they're doing in response.

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Exams can be a mixed bag. Some find them useful, while others see them as pure stress. So we ask our listeners how they fared with exams when they were in school, and whether it helped them in any way.

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Malaysia ranks 20th out of 142 countries on the World Giving Index 2024 - which charts global generosity patterns based on three key questions relating to charity and volunteering. This got us thinking about the idea of Malaysian generosity. So we explored this conversation by asking: Do you believe Malaysians are generally giving and generous, and would you help a stranger?

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With the long weekend around the corner (Happy Malaysia Day, everyone!), we've been talking a lot about activities to fill up this extra holiday time. Other than travelling, some of us might be taking this opportunity to indulge in our hobbies. Whether it's dancing to K-pop music or collecting vintage toys, hobbies are more than just pastimes—they're passion projects. Tonight, we dive into the diverse world of our hobbies, how they developed, and whether, as adults, we've made enough time to invest in these personal passions.

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A Merdeka Centre poll found that 52% of Malaysian youths feel the country is drifting in the wrong direction. From economic challenges to social issues, we wanted to hear from you. So, we opened up the question to our listeners: What direction do you think Malaysia is heading in, and how do you personally gauge the nation's progress—or its failings?

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Once upon a time, social media was just a place where you could share pictures and stories with your friends, but it's now grown to become much more than that. Sometimes it can feel like we're all being swept away in a tide of information, and we know we're not the only ones doomscrolling the night away. But despite all that, social media remains to be the place to find connection and purpose. So we ask our listeners whether social media has been a force of good or bad in their lives, and discuss the experiences that people have with it.

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National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang believesmuseums can foster unity among Malaysians, calling them custodians of the country’s common heritage. While we can perhaps agree that learning more about one's shared history can make us feel united, do Malaysians actually care about museums enough to go visit one? What makes a museum enjoyable and interesting? We discuss all of this, with our listeners.

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Ahead of the Merdeka celebrations this weekend, we look at the sites and experiences that makes Malaysia uniquely Malaysian. We ask how much of Malaysia have you explored? Do you have a Malaysian bucket list, and what would you like to experience?

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British content creator and founder of HelpBnk Simon Squibb has gained fame through his TikTok videos where he helps people realise their entrepreneurial dreams by supporting their dreams of starting their own business. According to his website, his mission is to help 10 million people start a business of their own. This got us thinking about whether everyone would be interested in owning a business one day. So we ask: Have you ever thought about starting a business? What pushed you to do it, or stopped you?

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The recent death of the world's oldest person Maria Branyas Morera at the age of 117, has got all of us thinking about the idea of living a long life, versus living a good life (even if it's not as long as Maria!). So we ask the ultimate question: Are you here for a good time, or a long time? And how do you ensure a life worth living?

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A recent viral tweethighlighted the successful revamp of Pasar Seni, which has not only modernized the space but also significantly boosted its popularity among both locals and tourists. This got us thinking: what other local spots could benefit from a similar facelift? We discuss this, and also hear from our well-travelled listeners about the places beyond our borders that we can learn from in terms of placemaking and urban planning.

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If you've been on social media, you would have seen our Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh being slammed for posting a picture with Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who defeated our national shuttler Lee Zii Jia. Japanese cyclist Shinji Nakano’s social media was flooded with comments from Malaysians after a collision between him and National men’s cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom in the keirin final. Evidently, we have a problem with losing. So we explore the reasons behind that, as well as what it means to be a good supporter.

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One of our listeners, Alex, has brought our attention to the importance of a plant-based diet, but is the grass greeneron the other side? In Malaysia, the community of vegans and vegetarians remains small, even as it's become more popular around the world. The meat of the matter today is that there are a plethora of reasons why someone would choose this diet and lifestyle, from personal conviction to religious reasons. So we discuss this, and ask our listeners what would convince them to switch to a vegan or vegetarian diet.

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A recent reportby The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) discussed the hidden cost of sickness in the United Kingdom, saying that employees working through illness rather than taking leave is costing its economy billions of pounds every year. So this got us wondering, about the idea of working even when one is sick, and why so many of us fall victim to it. We first hear some insight from Canna Tan, who is a senior HR manager. Then, we explore this concept with our listeners, and ask them if they have worked while being ill, and why it happens.

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An articlefrom The Guardian highlights the idea of a phone-free childhood, after parents raise concerns over their children owning one at a young age. But the thing with technology now is that children as young as 9 years old might need one anyway, just to not get left behind. This is a stark difference if we compare the ages people used to own phones decades ago. So we explore this question with our listeners, and ask their opinions on when parents should provide their children with phones.

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The participation of a Dutch beach volleyball player, Steven van de Velde, in the French Olympics has raised controversy, in light of his past conviction for raping a 12-year-old girl. The official stance from the Dutch team has been that he's changed his ways and redeemed himself as an athlete, however audiences think otherwise and have booed him him during the warmup and pre-match introductions. So we ask listeners whether they think convicted criminals should be forgiven.

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A post by @moneywithkatie speaks about the need for people to have community in order to not only create bonds, but also to save money! So we explore the notion of having community, and whether there's a need to rely on it.

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The Penang Island City Council is pushing for a ban on foreign cooks in all hawker stalls, food courts and coffee shops next year. This ban was initially implemented in 2016, but only covered hawker centres and food courts belonging to the city council. So we unpack whether people who cook food define it's authenticity, and ask our listeners what they feel about foreigners making Malaysian food.

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A video has caught the Malaysian public's attention, of a man and woman arguing on the train, over the man's presence in the woman's coach. According to him, he was there to accompany his wife and daughters. So this got us thinking about women-only spaces, and the purpose it serves.

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A Pew Research Center survey on free speech in East Asian and South East Asian countries asked whether people should be allowed to publicly speak their opinions, even if they upset other people. Countries like Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam were found to be pretty open about this, whereas Malaysia lands somewhere in the middle. So this got us wondering: Is harmony more important than confrontation? We discuss this with our listeners.

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According to a report by the British health journal The Lancet, Malaysians have been ranked the most obese nation in Asia. Now that is hardly surprising considering our fat and sugar rich diets and sedentary lifestyles, so the Health Ministry plans to combat this by proposing that we close 24-hour eateries at midnight. But is that a fair move? On Talkback Thursday, we're asking: Will early closure of late night eateries make us healthier?

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Yesterday, the Insolvency Department revealed that the bulk of Malaysians between the 25 - 44 age group are bankrupt. There are several factors that contribute to this worrying trend but the one that takes the cake is the need for couples to get themselves into debt before their marriage by having lavishly expensive weddings. Which is why we're asking you today: Would you borrow money to finance your wedding? Our lines will be open.

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A survey was recently conducted, titled “What Worries Malaysia”, and the results showed that Malaysians' top three concerns were about immigration control, governance, as well as unemployment. So tonight on Talkback, we're opening the question up to you: As a Malaysian, what worries you most? Is it the cost of living? The state of our education? All of the above? Our lines will be open.

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Recently, the recruitment firm Robert Walters predicted that there will be an increase in salary next year across many key sectors, such as finance and IT. They said that the business environment in Malaysia is “expected to thrive” in 2018, and that salary increase can go up to 20-25%. But is that necessarily good news for us? On Talkback today, we're asking you, will money solve all of our problems?

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A few weeks ago, the MOH revealed that over 100,000 of those in Form 4 were facing mental health issues. In the nationwide survey, the biggest contributors of stress for this teenage demographic group were personal or family problems. Adding to that is the stress that comes with sitting for their SPM examination the following year. Together with clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan in the house, we're exploring 2 questions this Talkback Thursday. For parents: Do you know whether your 16 year old is stressed out? For high school kids: What stresses you out; studies of family issues? Our lines will be open.

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The DBP (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) is thinking of imposing fines (of up to RM1,000) for the incorrect use of Bahasa Malaysia. This is in an effort to uphold the sovereignty of Bahasa Malaysia. We're asking today if you think Bahasa Malaysia should be protected. Our lines will be open.

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A company in the UK recently launched a productivity tool called WorkSmart, which allows employers to take pictures of employees at work through their webcams every 10 minutes or so. It's also able to monitor other sorts of data, like the type of apps in use, and even the number of keystrokes, which apparently, can indicate how productive you are at work. Now it's pretty common practice for employers to track some employee movements, but how far can workplace surveillance go before it's considered a breach of privacy? The question we're asking today is, "is it ethical for bosses to keep employees under surveillance?". We'd like to know your thoughts and experiences. Our lines will be open.

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A week ago, a massive data breach was reported by the online forum Lowyat.net. The report claimed that personal data of millions of Malaysians was up for sale online. The data was taken from various sources such as; online recruitment portals, medical associations, as well as over 50 million records of customer data from various telcos. The information reportedly included customer names, billing addresses, mobile numbers, and IC numbers. This incident has set off concerns about the vulnerability of our personal data. So on Talkback today, we're asking you to share your experiences of defrauding and identity theft. Have you been a victim of identity theft?

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Just a couple of days ago, the MOH put out a call to all healthcare practitioners, requesting for them to make more of an effort to talk to patients and their families. It's a reminder for healthcare practitioners to be more empathetic...but there’s also the situation where doctors see their roles as more functional... prioritizing the physical, rather than the emotional. So today, what we’d like to do is get a general feel of what Malaysian doctors are like. What’s more common an experience for you? Grumpy and gruff? Or kind and patient? On Talkback Today, call in and share your experiences with us.

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A recent survey in the UK revealed that two-thirds of school children wouldn't mind if social media had never been invented. Those surveyed indicated that social media had negatively impacted their emotional well-being; they've been exposed to online abuse, some recognised their dangerous addiction to social media, and some have suffered self-confidence issues in trying to keep up with the Joneses. As a result, some kids have chosen to go off the social media grid by going on a complete social media detox. Which brings us to our question today on Talkback Thursday: Would you consider going on a social media detox? Our lines will be open.

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On BFM we cover mental health quite a bit, especially on Health & Living, but today, the Evening Edition will be taking the mantle for a day to talk about the importance of mental health, especially that of children. Reports of bullying and drug abuse in school are all happening against a backdrop of other problems that are affecting children today. Cases of anxiety, emotional and behavioural disorders have been going up in numbers- last year, Health Ministry statistics showed that mental health problems amongst Malaysian students, has gone from ‘1 in 10’ in 2011 to ‘1 in 5’ in 2016. So this evening, we're opening the lines to talk about your child’s mental health, and whether or not it’s an issue that concerns you. Joining us as well, is Dr. Paul Jambunathan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, to answer any queries you might have about your child's mental health.

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About a week ago, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the results of a report that looks at how well a country prepares its younger generations for an ever-changing future economy. It found that Singapore was the highest ranked in Asia and an overall fifth across 35 economies. As for Malaysia, we weren’t on the list...So the question is, what does this actually mean for young Malaysians? How well have we prepared/setup Malaysian kids for the future? So today on Talkback, we’re asking you if you think Malaysia a good country for kids to grow up in. Our lines will be open.

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A couple of days ago, the Federal Territories Ministry announced a surprise decision to ban all roadside food stalls in KL by 2020, citing health issues and traffic congestion as the reasons. This means that all existing roadside hawkers will need to relocate their business or begin operating from food trucks. The decision garnered mixed reactions from the public - some lauded it, while others feared for our food culture. Though, this is a path our northern neighbours have already walked as Bangkok has already imposed this law. So today on Talkback, we’re asking your reactions to this, and whether we should get rid of roadside hawker stalls. Our lines will be open.

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This evening on Talkback, we’re going to be discussing the refugee situation - more specifically, the current Rohingya refugee crisis. Mainstream media has highlighted their plight, albeit sporadically.. but over the years, that’s changed quite a bit. Just last week, the discussion went ‘mainstream’ when a protest outside the Myanmar embassy turned ugly. About 155 demonstrators were arrested in the process, and the demonstration resulted in a massive traffic jam that took hours to clear. So this evening, we'd like to get a candid gauge of where you stand on the situation: Are you willing to accept the Rohingya community as part of Malaysian society? Do you think we should do more to integrate them or is this a matter for Myanmar to resolve? Our lines will be open.

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We’ve all just come off a really long weekend, and it’s not yet over. In September alone, we have 6 public holidays, including replacement days. In total, we have 15 official public holidays every year. To put that in context, globally, we rank number 5 on the list of countries with the most public holidays. After the announcement of the extra September 4th holiday during the SEA Games closing ceremony, we had the usual debates. A lot of folk celebrated it, but there were some that felt that the extra holiday was unnecessary. So we’re asking you on Talkback today: Do you think Malaysia has too many public holidays? Our lines will be open.

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Three Malaysian students did us 'proud' recently when they behaved disgustingly while staying at a guesthouse in Osaka recently. The video of them arguing and being extremely rude to a staff member went viral, and sent netizens into a tizzy after it was revealed that these students defecated in the shower! So, on Talkback this evening, we're asking you to take a long hard look at your own traveling habits and that of our fellow Malaysians. Our lines will be open.

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A report during a TN50 forum revealed that the youth are starting to flock to new villages outside the cities due to the rising costs of living in KL and lack of opportunities. In search of a better life, young Malaysians are moving into these new villages by choice. Today on Talkback, we’d like to know what you think your prospects are (or would be) outside of KL? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said that starting early next year, students across the country will be allowed to bring certain electronic gadgets to class. However, he also said that mobile phones would not be allowed, as students were to concentrate on studying and not chatting with their friends. Today, on Talkback, we're going to be discussing the role of electronic devices in schools. Should mobile phones be allowed in schools? Our lines will be open.

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This evening, we’re going to be talking about youth and politics. So, in recent years, we’ve seen a huge uptick in interest, in the role that young people play in politics. Political parties here are making big efforts to engage with the youth through forums like TN50. But it would appear, that young Malaysians, may not be as empowered or as savvy as their counterparts in the developed world. A recent survey concluded that over half of young Malaysians are undecided about who they want to vote for in the upcoming elections. So on Talkback today, we're asking you, are Malaysian youth politically savvy? Our lines will be open.

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In the news today, it was reported that there was a 30% drop in the number of patients going to private hospitals. The report outlined cost as one of the main factors as to why patients turn to public hospitals. But there are people who still opt for private health care even when it burns a hole in their pockets. What's the perception people have on public vs private health care? So, on Talkback Thursday this evening, we're curious to find out what your first choice of healthcare is: private or public? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, the results to a survey conducted by the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) on student’s perception of corruption was released. It revealed that more than a third of their surveyed public university students believed that graft is morally acceptable and doesn’t constitute as a crime. About a fifth of the respondents consider nepotism as a permissible act, and that almost 40% of them saw nothing wrong with making false claims for attending out-of-office events. So on Talkback today, we're asking you, are we Malaysians becoming morally bankrupt? Our lines will be open.

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This month marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (AFC). What happened in Malaysia was pretty dramatic. We were going through both economic and political turmoil at the same time. And it wasn't hard just for our country, but of our livelihoods and the prospects of our kids. But 20 years on we’ve survived and somewhat rebounded. So we want to hear what happened in those 20 years.. How did the financial crisis impact you? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, we highlighted a story about how the former MaGIC CEO, Cheryl Yeoh, was sexually assaulted by a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist and CEO of 500 Startups, Dave McClure, 3 years ago. Sexual harassment at the workplace is a continuing problem. And depending on the circumstances, consent, for some people, can be confusing. So today on Talkback, we’d like to you to share your stories and concerns with us on the topic - have you ever experienced sexual harassment at the workplace? Do you understand what constitutes sexual harassment? Our lines will be open.

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Bullying has unfortunately been a long standing issue in our country, but it took the tragic deaths of T. Nhaveen and Zulfarhan Osman for the Malaysian public to stop and examine the causes behind the deeply-rooted culture of bullying in schools. What compels an individual or group to commit such brutalities against a fellow human being? How did the glorification of violence become accepted among our youth? And how can we as a society and country, put an end to this? Our lines will be open.

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Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, and with that in mind, we thought we’d talk about the results of a study recently done by vacation rental company HomeAway. What the survey found was that Malaysian fathers are seldom celebrated during Father’s Day. They don't receive gifts often and sometimes, the occasion isn't even celebrated.That's in stark contrast with Mother's Day. So we’d like to pose that question to you this evening and find out what your thoughts are on the matter: Do you think we appreciate our mothers more than our fathers? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, in a bid to kick off its Hari Raya campaign, Watsons Malaysia released an extremely controversial 15-minute short film called ‘Legenda Cun Raya’. The video spread like wildfire, igniting huge controversy and a barrage of comments all over the internet disgracing the film for promoting blackface and racism. So, this evening we want to know: Is it important to have fair skin? Our lines will be open.

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#2kerja - some of us do it out of necessity. Some of us do it because we can, and additional income does more good than harm at the end of the day. The increasing cost of living has often been cited as the main reason this is happening. Not to mention economists' forecast of our shrinking urban middle class and a further depreciating ringgit. But this, of course, takes its toll on those who have 2 jobs - they're overworked and stuck in a rut. So, this evening we want to know: Is it realistic to expect someone to hold two jobs? Our lines will be open.

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Malaysians were asked whether they would support a proposal for a single-stream education system as opposed to the current vernacular schooling system that we have now. The polls suggested an almost fair split between both sides of the fence - with 47.4% of them opposing it and 41.4% supporting the idea. There are arguments that vernacular schools can unintentionally cause segregation of race, mindset, and language - but it can also prolong a native cultural identity. With the Malaysian population seemingly more polarised along racial and religious lines, we're asking you, what do you think is needed to foster unity in our schools? Our lines will be open.

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So, we’ve just gone past Teacher’s Day, a day that’s very much a token of appreciation for the vital contributions that teachers make to education and development. A couple of days ago, there was an article in FMT, quoting Zakaria Kasa of the National Professors Council who talked about Singapore, and how Singaporean parents often have to play an important role in their kid’s academic performance. He said that in Singapore, parents are urged to be assistant teachers, in an official capacity. He then went on to say that Malaysia should adopt a similar culture instead of pinning responsibility on teachers alone. So this evening, we’re asking you, would you volunteer to be a teacher’s assistant? Our lines will be open.

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It was reported this week that there are at least 1 in 20 runaway-maid cases here in Malaysia. The reasons vary from employer abuse to being misled by their agency and also the yearning for freedom. The Malaysian Maid Employers’ Association have said that more effort should be made to overcome the problem of runaway maids. And one of the suggestions is to treat domestic maids like family, but is that the solution? What else could we do to nip the problem in the bud? With all the work they assist us in, could we live without domestic help? Our lines will be open.

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Earlier this week, we covered a story about how retired senior citizens in China, are clamouring to go back to university. Looking at projections for Malaysia, we’re headed for an increase, to about 33.3 million by 2020, with the aged population (people 60 years and above) projected at just under 10% of that. We’re going to have 3.26 million senior citizens in our midst, come 2020. So this evening, we’d like to find out what your plans for retirement are. Have you planned for your retirement? And if you're retired, what are you doing now? Our lines will be open.

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The death of Mohammad Thaqif Amin who was physically abused at his school has left the nation in shock and anger. Everyone has been saying that it should not have happened. But it did. And the events leading up to his unfortunate demise exposed a cry for help that was ignored, and a system without checks and balances.Who should take responsibility over his death? Who should be taking care of the welfare of our kids in school? Our lines will be open.

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A couple of days ago, Sports and Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin spoke about how young Malaysians preferred citizens of the country to be known as ‘Bangsa Malaysia’. He found a recurring narrative spoken by youths from 20 dialogues held nationwide on the TN50 Programme. It seemed that most young Malaysians ‘wanted the wall that separated the races in the country to be demolished’. Though, it isn’t exactly a recent idea: in 1991, the notion of Bangsa Malaysia was outlined as one of the nine goals in the Vision 2020 by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Our current Prime Minister announced a similar rhetoric under the brand of 1Malaysia. We all know what we want to be identified as - and that is Bangsa Malaysia, or simply: Malaysians. But what might be more difficult to define is what it means to us. So today for Talkback, we’re asking, what does ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ mean to you? Our lines will be open.

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A couple of days ago, SPAD released proposed guidelines for the reclassification of taxi services in Malaysia. The objective, is to revamp the industry, leveling the playing field amongst taxi drivers and their ride-sharing counterparts. So this evening, we’re trying to assess where we are, in terms of the whole taxi/ridesharing ecosystem. On Talkback Thursday today, we’d like you to tell us about your experiences with taxis and ridesharing services - the good and the bad. Our lines will be open.

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Parliament is in session, and it's been a busy period for our MPs who have been carefully reviewing tabled bills and amendments. And the outcome has been good; notably for the bill on sexual violence against children and the amendments passed for the Domestic Violence Act. But an off-putting remark by Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya about rape and child marriage has got Parliament and the public up in arms. So today on Talkback Thursday, we'd like to know if you think your MPs represent your views. Our lines will be open.

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When it comes to education, we’ve really seen the discourse swell over the past few years. Global education has truly evolved and we’ve seen many countries trying to find ways to move education into the 21st century and yet here in Malaysia, there seems to be a feeling of inertia. Meaningful change will take time of course, but we'd like to know what you'd do. On Talkback Thursday today, we’d like you to tell us: What sort of changes you would like to see if you were the Education Minister. Our lines will be open.

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In an article in FMT today, financial planner Robert Foo of MyFP Services wrote about young Malaysians and their relationships with credit cards.His take on the status quo, is that many fresh grads end up misusing their credit cards, spending on lavish lifestyles and shiny new gadgets - essentially, luxuries, rather than necessities. His advice is to use a credit card as a ‘payment utility’, rather than a cash-up-front device. So on Talkback today, we're asking: Should fresh grads be given credit cards?

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The Beauty and the Beast debacle has been the topic of discussion this whole week. Our Film Censorship Board (LPF) has said the film is good to go with the inclusion of a minor edit. But in the end, film distributor Walt Disney decided to pull the film off our screens altogether, rejecting the cuts made. So on Talkback today, we're asking: What should or shouldn't be censored in our cinemas? Our lines will be open.

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The world celebrated International Women's Day yesterday, and many have come out voicing the importance of having more women in the forefront of things. Our very own Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin expressed his wish for a Malaysian society that would move on from being "patriarchal" and "misogynistic" in objectifying women. He added that he also wishes for a female Prime Minister by the year 2050, which is the Najib's administration's target date for Malaysia to achieve developed nationhood. On Talkback Thursday this evening, we'd like to know what your thoughts are about this. Is Malaysia ready for a female Prime Minister? Our lines will be open.

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A public library in Oregon, USA is starting a new programme called ‘Adulting 101,’ which is essentially a bunch of classes geared towards helping young people become functioning adults.

The course also includes life skills beyond university like modules on writing a resume and getting a job, moving out and finding an apartment, and more.

So based on that, we’d like to ask you today, do millennials lack life skills or do you think Malaysian millennials are just fine as they are? Our lines will be open.

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On Saturday, we all saw the reports of an awful cycling mishap that claimed the lives of 8 teenage boys, injuring a further 8. The incident took place at about 3am in Johor Bahru after the group was hit by a woman driving a Nissan Almera. A few days after the incident, the Star published a report that focused on the grieving parents. It talked about how the parents, already distraught at having lost their children, are now being subject to the comments about irresponsible parenting. They made a plea asking for people (netizens) to stop making hurtful comments and to respect their need to grieve.

So we're asking you today, is a child’s behaviour always a reflection of his/her parents?

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Former Treasury Secretary General Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd Kassim at a recent forum called for the civil service to be downsized. This suggestion has been shot down by The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services or Cuepacs. Last year, public servants pay totalled RM74 billion with pensions amounting to about RM19 billion. Collectively, these payments formed the biggest portion of government’s operating expenditure.

So in the face of the rising cost of living, and a challenging economic climate, naturally, burgeoning remuneration and pensions are easy targets. We’re asking you if you think that’s fair? Do you think we have a bloated civil service? 

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Earlier this month, Taiwan-based Chatime revoked the rights of its Malaysian franchise owner from operating the chain they’ve been building for 6 years. Chatime has 800 outlets worldwide, and Malaysia accounts for more than half of their turnover. In fact, some assumed Chatime was a Malaysian brand until this story broke. They now have less than 45 days to rebrand all 165 outlets, but CEO Bryan Loo is confident that Malaysian consumers will continue to give their support. However, will it be for the bubble tea we know and love or will it be for the Malaysian brand behind it? We want to hear from you. So today we’re asking:

Are Malaysians supportive of Made-in-Malaysia brands? When and why would you choose to go local?

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On Monday, there was news that the government was considering banning the kapcai, or underbone motorcycles, from entering Kuala Lumpur. The Federal Territories Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor has said that this is to reduce carbon emissions and congestion in the city, as well as to reduce crime. The news became viral on social media, drawing much backlash from people who disagreed with it. This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking you, should kapcais be banned in KL?

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We Malaysians have our fair share of heroes. Most recently, Mohd Faiz Subri created history by winning FIFA’s prestigious Puskas Award. But Malaysians were quick to swap their support for stick and stones by criticising Faiz's command of the English language after he delivered his acceptance speech at the award ceremony.

This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking you, is it fair for us to criticise fellow Malaysians for their command of the English language? Are Malaysians too quick to judge?

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2017 is here and money seems to be on our minds a lot. Malaysians are still struggling with healthcare costs. Parents have had to pay double for their children's school supplies. Recently-married couples are nursing personal loans they took to finance their big day. Malaysians are taking up 2 jobs to sustain their income. And amidst all this, loan sharks lurk in the background offering their hassle-free services; until, of course, you default on your loan repayment.

This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking: Would you use a money lending facility to help with your debt? Our lines will be open.

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It was reported yesterday, that IDEAS, (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) doesn’t support the idea of cash incentives to encourage more births. This was with regard to the Terengganu government’s programme to raise birth levels in the state. IDEAS says that it’s irresponsible and dangerous to encourage families to have more children when they can’t afford it. And it's hardly surprising to hear Malaysians say these days that money is the reason why they think twice about having kids. On Talkback Thursday today, we're asking: Is money the deciding factor, when it comes to having kids? Our lines will be open.

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This evening on Talkback, we’re talking about the bane of every Malaysian driver, traffic. Inspired by what’s currently happening in Paris where they’ve banned cars for the second day running as a means of controlling pollution, we’d like to know how you’d respond to the same being done here, as a means of controlling the traffic situation.

So we’d like to ask you today, would you support the banning of cars to improve traffic conditions?

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There’s an article in the Malay Mail about how Malaysians with Master’s degrees are finding it difficult to land solid, well-paying jobs. According to the report, high-paying jobs are scarce and with a growing number of degree holders competing for them, even a good Master’s degree doesn’t give you that edge. Statistics from various agencies are indicating that hiring growth has not caught up with the supply of both undergraduates and postgraduates.

So we’d like to ask you today, does the job situation concern you? Do you feel that you have job security?

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Just a couple of days ago, there was a report about an app called ‘YELLOW’ which apparently has 5 million users and has been dubbed as "Tinder for teenagers". With no age-restrictions or checks and balances in place, the app has received criticism for attracting age-inappropriate users. This evening on Talkback, we’re addressing the topic of teenagers finding love, online and via dating apps, and would like to know how you feel about it. Our lines will be open.

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A school in Scotland, has stopped setting homework for its 175 pupils, after 80% of pupils and more than 60% of their parents voted in favour of scrapping homework altogether. Instead of homework, the children will be encouraged to read books and comics, and to play. We’re looking at a far more comprehensive and holistic approach to learning these days (in line with the new education blueprint) and the question is whether our traditional emphasis on homework really meets today’s learning needs? On Talkback Thursday this evening, we're asking: Is homework still relevant? Our lines will be open.

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Do you find yourself doing things for your children that they are old enough to do for themselves such as cutting up their food, doing their washing or changing their sheets? BFM is presenting our first-ever health event focusing on children’s health this weekend; ‘BFM’s Health & Living Junior’ and today on, we’re going to kick things off by exploring an area of parenting that many of Malaysian parents (whether or not we like to admit it) are familiar with. The concept of ‘over-parenting’.

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Earlier this year, a primary school teacher in Hulu Selangor was transferred to another school after he was found to allegedly have molested nine students. Education director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof has said that the standard operating procedure was fair to the parties and that there is a need to ensure that natural justice prevails. However, parents have reacted furiously to the news of the transfer.

So we’d like to get your opinion this evening. Should the presumption of innocence apply to those who work with kids?

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Following the announcement that Malaysia may scrap the Formula One Grand Prix race after our contract ends in 2018, the conversation about the future of motorsports in Malaysia has really caught on. So today, we’d like to explore what you think. If you had to chose between F1 and MotoGP, which one would you keep? Or are you in the camp that thinks that we should do away with motorsports completely? Our lines will be open.

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Tomorrow, Malaysians will be glued to their TVs and radios for Budget 2017. Analysts are speculating that the focus might be on cash handouts, property - especially for first time home buyers and subsidy cuts to name a few. How will the government balance the need to reform the country's economy and meet the expectations of the people? On Talkback Thursday this evening, we're asking: What's on your Budget 2017 wishlist? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, Operator PLUS Malaysia Berhad confirmed that several motorists have been fined for LTJ, which stands for “long journey time” after spending too long completing trips on the highways under maintenance.

So, this evening we’re asking, “Is it fair for highway operators to charge for “long journey time?”

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Yesterday, it was reported that the organ donation rate for organ and tissue transplants in Malaysia is among the lowest in the world. The current rate stands at 1 donor, per 1 million population, and it isn’t anywhere near enough to meet the demand. Today on Talkback, we’d like to extend that call for more organ donors, and to facilitate the discussion, we have with us Datin Dr. Lela, Headof the National Transplant Resource Centre.

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So last week, Art For Grabs facilitated a very interesting discussion that centered around the political discussions that happen (or not) when we’re at home with our family. So what we’d like to do this evening, is extend that conversation that Art For Grabs started and ask you: Does your family talk ‘politics’ at home or do you think that politics should be left outside the family domain? 

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Not so long ago, a report about Singapore earning a Michelin star for their hawker food sparked an outrage on social media about the origins of Chicken Rice. Now, there's a food fight between Singapore and Indonesia and Malaysia after ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand posted a picture of his nasi goreng meal with the caption "Keeping it local in Singapore". Culinary and cultural heritage spats between these countries isn't uncommon but it has to be asked:  Is Malaysian food really as good as we think it is?

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On Sunday, PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced an exciting new project for the public; Taman Tugu. According to the PM, “the park is expected to be an icon for KL, similar to how Hyde Park is synonymous with London, and Central Park for New York. It is to be considered a national project that will help elevate Malaysia to developed nation status when the time comes.”

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Last night, many of us were on the edge as of our seats as we watched badminton - Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying took home the silver medal for badminton mixed doubles, Lee Chong Wei, came one step closer to a gold medal. So today, we're discussing Olympic medalists, rewards, support, and incentives that these athletes should receive.

So we're asking you on Talkback today: What type of incentives should our Olympic medalists receive?

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Pokemon Go has finally arrived on our shores, and Malaysians have quickly caught on the game. Advocates of Pokemon Go have credited it with inspiring outdoor and communal activities. However there have been reports of the game being played in inappropriate places and distracted players being lured into dangerous situations.

So we're asking you on Talkback today: Should Pokemon Go be banned?

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In the news today, it was reported that UKM’s Family, Women and Community Law lecturer Prof Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said that: “Television stations must be aware and sensitive to people in the country and not to air programmes in which its contents were against the local culture”. But does the media influence the way people behave? Do you stop your kids from watching certain programmes, and why?

So we're asking you on Talkback today: Do TV programmes have an influence on you?

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