Latest news with #BBCWorldQuestions
![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.
Malaysiakini
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Affirmative action vs merit sparks debate on women in politics, media
A heated debate on affirmative action versus merit-based appointments to increase women's participation, including in the media, took centre stage at a BBC World Questions episode recorded live in Petaling Jaya last night. The episode featured seven questions from the audience, including one that asked: 'We can observe now most bosses in Malaysian media corporations are men. Where are the women?' Presenter Johnny Dymond posed the question...
Malaysiakini
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Affirmative action vs merit sparks debate on women in politics, media
A heated debate on affirmative action versus merit-based appointments to increase women's participation, including in the media, took centre stage at a BBC World Questions episode recorded live in Petaling Jaya last night. The episode featured seven questions from the audience, including one that asked: 'We can observe now most bosses in Malaysian media corporations are men. Where are the women?' Presenter Johnny Dymond posed the question...
Free Malaysia Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Review policies surrounding wealth disparity, says academic
Tricia Yeoh of University of Nottingham Malaysia's School of Politics and International Relations urged policymakers to place affordability and accessibility at the heart of future housing and transportation reforms. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : An academic has urged the government to review its policies on housing and vehicle affordability, arguing that Malaysia's growing household debt is symptomatic of a deeper systemic inequality. Tricia Yeoh of University of Nottingham Malaysia's School of Politics and International Relations said Malaysia's household debt to gross domestic product ratio stands at 69.3%, one of the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. She said more alarming is the composition of this debt. 'The bulk of it comes from loans such as housing and motor vehicle loans,' she said during a recording of BBC World Questions at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre yesterday. 'This should prompt us to relook government policy, especially since the price of vehicles in Malaysia is highly inflated.' She also highlighted a lack of affordable housing, especially in the Klang Valley, as a pressing issue for working-class Malaysians trapped in financial precarity. While cautioning against one-size-fits-all solutions, she said that any meaningful conversation about wealth inequality must address deeper structural problems, including stagnant wages and inadequate retirement savings. 'We're becoming an ageing society, yet about 70% of Malaysians can't even raise RM1,000 in an emergency. That's just US$200,' she said. 'These aren't just statistics. They speak to the very real insecurity Malaysians feel about their future.' Yeoh's comments reflect data showing that the richest 10% of the population take home nearly 40% of the country's income, while the poorest 10% survive on just 1.7%. Yeoh said that tackling this imbalance would require more than just tax tweaks or subsidy reforms. She urged policymakers to place affordability and accessibility at the heart of future housing and transportation reforms. 'We need to ask ourselves, why do Malaysians need to go into debt just to be mobile or have a roof over their heads?'
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'Where are the women?': Activist slams gender gap in media, politics
PETALING JAYA: The government should introduce more affirmative action policies to support women in leadership roles in the media and politics, says an activist. Speaking during the BBC World Questions debate last night, Universiti Malaya Gender Studies Programme head Dr Vilashini Somiah criticised persistent gatekeeping and cultural bias that hinder women's participation in decision-making spaces. "It's 2025, and we're still unable to say some of the most important things — especially in the media — because the room lacks equal participation," she said. "Women don't just speak for themselves. They create space for minorities, for people with disabilities, for indigenous voices." Vilashini said while quotas or gender-based targets were not ideal, they were necessary to address structural inequality. "The issue isn't just representation — it's the type of woman who gets in. Are we seeing a dark-skinned Tamil woman? A woman with a disability? Not really. "The system makes it hard even for the most privileged women to break through." The panel also included Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh and political analyst Dr Tricia Yeoh, who both pointed to structural barriers, such as the high cost of political participation and lack of party support for female candidates. Yeoh cited Malaysia's low female labour force return rate, especially after childbirth, as evidence of a broken support system. "The drop-off in women returning to work in their 30s and 40s is stark. We need institutional policies — childcare, leave, flexible work — to fix this." Fuziah, who is PKR secretary-general, said the party had recently amended its constitution to mandate minimum women and youth representation. "I won't be happy until we achieve full parity. We hold up half the sky," she said. Several audience members also voiced support for urgent legislative reform. "I hope in 10 or 20 years this won't just be a discussion," said Noor, a participant who raised the initial question on women in the media. Others, like journalist Tamina, who was also in the audience, called for policies that redefine men's roles in family life to balance domestic responsibilities. Still, not all agreed. CodeBlue editor-in-chief Boo Su-Lyn argued that affirmative action in the media would not automatically lead to more female representation in news coverage. "We report on people in power. If those in power are men, that's who gets quoted — regardless of whether the journalist is male or female." 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.
