Latest news with #WorldQuestions
![BBC's Jonny Dymond: Malaysia is a story of economic success, not just 1MDB [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
BBC's Jonny Dymond: Malaysia is a story of economic success, not just 1MDB [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: BBC correspondent Jonny Dymond says the most rewarding part of his journalism career is not the major global stories he's covered — but the chance to speak directly with people around the world about their lives. Dymond, who was in Kuala Lumpur for the BBC World Questions debate earlier this week, said that while covering the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the Sept 11 attacks were defining moments, it is the everyday human stories that have left the greatest impact on him. "It's being able to sit in people's front rooms across the world and talk to them about their thoughts, their losses... that is the privilege of being a correspondent," he said. The veteran journalist, who has also served as BBC's Europe and Middle East correspondent, is the host and moderator of the BBC's World Questions public debate. The series brings politicians and the public together in a live Q&A format that often puts leaders on the spot. Dymond said cost of living issues continue to dominate these events around the world — from Milan to Mongolia — with food, energy, and housing affordability topping the list of public concerns. "In fancy journals and political talk shows, people often miss the real priorities. But when you're in a room with the public, you hear what truly matters — and it's usually the same everywhere: daily life, survival, the environment, and fairness," he said. Asked about his role as moderator, Dymond said he aims to help the public get answers — not to take on politicians himself. "I'm not there to shout at people or score points. I'm there to help the audience get honest answers, even if that means pressing a bit harder sometimes," he said. On Malaysia, Dymond said the country is often viewed in the West through narrow lenses, such as the 1MDB scandal, but deserves broader recognition. "For me, Malaysia represents an incredible economic transformation. Of course, there are challenges — corruption, inequality, and so on — but the broader story is one of success," he said. He added that Western ignorance of Southeast Asia is often the biggest obstacle to better news coverage, with distance and complexity making it harder to tell full stories. "It's a very complicated part of the world, with enormous geopolitical pressures. And yet countries like Malaysia are often asked to 'pick sides' by those who don't understand what they're asking." Dymond declined to assess Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's performance directly, saying it wasn't his place. But he said that the ability to push through difficult policies — such as subsidy reforms — is often a test of leadership. On foreign policy, he acknowledged Malaysia's firm position on Gaza reflects strong public sentiment, adding that many in the West are also increasingly uncomfortable with the war. He also addressed criticisms of Western media double standards when covering conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza. "All reporting is an art, not a science. We try to be as fair as possible and tell both sides. But it's a hard job, and we don't always get access. For example, we're not allowed into Gaza by Israeli authorities," he said. The BBC World Questions: Malaysia debate, recorded on Tuesday (June 10), will be broadcast on Saturday. Among the panellists are Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh and former Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
PH, PN leaders play down need for manifesto law
PETALING JAYA: Representatives from both the government and opposition showed little interest in enacting laws to hold political parties accountable for their election manifestos during a BBC debate programme last night. PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said her coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), has come to realise that governing is far more complex than being in opposition — and acknowledged that past manifestos may have overpromised. "The perspective of how to run the country is different when you are in government as opposed to when you're in the opposition," said Fuziah, who is also deputy minister for domestic trade and cost of living. "So, we will be more careful with manifestos this time," she added during the BBC's World Questions debate, held on Tuesday night. The debate, part of the BBC World Service's World Questions series, featured four panellists, including Fuziah and former Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal. The proposal for a law compelling parties to fulfil their election pledges came from a member of the audience. Responding to the idea, Wan Fayhsal said such a law was unnecessary, as voters already have the power to remove governments that fail to deliver. "All political parties in Malaysia have had the experience of governing. We've learned not to overpromise on things we cannot deliver," he said. Election manifestos in Malaysia are not legally binding. The debate also touched on issues such as the rising cost of living, national identity and fundamental liberties. It will be broadcast on the BBC World Service on Saturday, June 14.
![[UPDATED] Fuziah: Op Gasak had 'communication issue'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fgasakki_1749574538.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Fuziah: Op Gasak had 'communication issue'
KUALA LUMPUR: Op Gasak was intended to target activities involving the decanting of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into non-subsidised containers. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said the enforcement, however, was not communicated effectively. "Targeting decanting was the initial move, where subsidised LPG was transferred into non-subsidised containers. "But somehow, there was a communication issue," she told reporters after the BBC's World Questions debate held in Petaling Jaya tonight where she was among four panellists. Fuziah said that the government is now collecting data and engaging with multiple stakeholders before bringing feedback to the Cabinet in order to make amendments to the Control of Supplies (Amendment) Regulations 2021. "This would allow the micro businesses to have more than three canisters of LPG gas cylinders. "Before this it was three and you would have to have a special permit to have more than that. "Now that rule no longer applies (to micro businesses)." Fuziah was responding to criticism that the Op Gasak campaign was poorly communicated and rushed. She said that this is why the Cabinet, in light of the feedback received, agreed to allow micro and small-scale food and retail businesses to continue using LPG cylinders without a Scheduled Controlled Goods Permit (PBKB) until October. Op Gasak, which runs from May 1 to Oct 31, aims to curb illegal activities such as gas decanting (transferring gas from subsidised to non-subsidised cylinders), smuggling, and the misuse of subsidised LPG by medium and large-scale industrial sectors.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Fuziah: Op Gasak had 'communication issue'
KUALA LUMPUR: Op Gasak was intended to target activities involving the decanting subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into non-subsidised containers. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said the enforcement, however, was not communicated effectively. "Targeting decanting was the initial move, where subsidised LPG was transferred into non-subsidised containers. "But somehow, there was a communication issue," she told reporters after the BBC's World Questions debate held in Petaling Jaya tonight.
Daily Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Open debate signals Malaysia's maturing democracy, says BBC producer
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Minderjeet Kaur, FMT Text Size: BBC's Charlie Taylor has commended Malaysia for its 'maturing democracy', saying a big part of the freedom of speech afforded to Malaysians was in being able to speak truth to power. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's growing press freedom tells of its maturing democracy, says Charlie Taylor, producer of BBC World Questions, ahead of tonight's first-ever public debate show in the country. Taylor, who has been with BBC for three decades, said the broadcaster has held similar events in Seoul, Tokyo, Cape Town and Lithuania. Advertisement He said Malaysia, the current Asean chair, stands out for its open, on-the-record debate, something not all countries in Southeast Asia permit. 'Not every country in Southeast Asia could do it. They don't all have the freedoms that you have in Malaysia where you can allow a sort of open debate to take part,' he told FMT in an interview. 'I think, having met quite a few Malaysians in the last few days, people are fairly forthright. It's hard to find someone without an opinion,' he added. BBC's World Questions programme, a global extension of the long-running 'Question Time' in the UK, will be recorded before a live audience at 6pm today, at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre. He said the forum was about empowering local voices for a global audience. 'My understanding is that freedoms here (in Malaysia) have increased over recent years and testament to that is the fact that we have been welcomed in to do our debate—an open debate,' Taylor told FMT in an interview. 'The prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) said he wants to see Malaysia as a maturing democracy. That maturing democracy is going on, and a big part of that is freedom of speech and being able to speak truth to power,' he added. Taylor said the format allows the public to pose questions to a panel of prominent political and public figures on national and international issues. The panellists are deputy minister of domestic trade and cost of living Fuziah Salleh, Tricia Yeoh from the University of Nottingham Malaysia's School of Politics and International Relations, Bersatu MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, a former deputy unity minister, and Vilashini Somiah, head of Universiti Malaya's gender studies programme. The forum will be chaired by veteran BBC journalist, Jonny Diamond. Taylor said the BBC did not come to Malaysia at the government's invitation but selected the country for its regional importance and openness to public discourse. 'No one approached us. We thought it was time,' Taylor said. 'We do 12 editions of this programme a year, and we move it around so we get different perspectives from different places.' Taylor said the programme's main objective was to allow local people to raise their questions on a global platform. 'We want to open a window on Malaysia so people get a deeper insight. 'We don't really decide what the questions are. The audience does,' he said, adding that questions may relate to any topic that may affect the nation, including corruption and tariffs. World Questions has been running since 2015, although it builds on a BBC tradition that dates back 60 to 70 years, he said. Taylor said the country's political and media landscape makes this the right time for such a forum. 'We want to open a window on a fascinating country and we want to hear people discuss their ideas in front of people who have different opinions. 'So we hope to have a difference of opinion, not argument and to listen to other people properly with respect,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
