Reports surfaced this month about the death of a standard four student in a Senawang school toilet. Despite authorities urging against spreading details, extensive information circulated, even being raised by Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan in Parliament. This sparked concerns about media sensationalism of sensitive news. To break down the ethical considerations the media has to take, we sit down with Dr Nur Haniz Mohd Nor, Senior Lecturer at the School of Media & Communication at Taylor’s University.

Other stories we covered:

• Violent storm hits Kuala Langat: The Level 1 emergency storm struck Kampung Medan in Sijangkang yesterday and around 40 houses, five schools and community centres were damaged. While there were no fatalities, several people were left severely injured. We learn about the severity of the storm and safety measures to adopt from Dr Chong Kai Lin, senior lecturer in the Environmental and Disaster Management faculty at University Utara Malaysia.

• Rhino horn traffickers convicted: This decision marks the first time Malaysian authorities have convicted individuals for rhino horn trafficking. The two perpetrators were found guilty of two charges under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 after being stopped near KLIA in one of the largest rhino horn seizures ever recorded by Perhilitan. Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director for TRAFFIC in Southeast Asia explains the significance of this conviction.

• Myanmar rights groups condemn 'sham' elections: Various stakeholders of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement have expressed concern over the political state of the region. They warn that the junta pose threats to regional stability and economic prosperity and called for ASEAN to get involved and promote an inclusive political process. So to unpack these concerns and learn about the diplomatic efforts Malaysia has been taking to adress this conflict, we hear from Lilianne Fan, Head of Secretariat of the Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar who was a guest on this episode of Beyond the Ballot Box.

• Socialising more, to have a happier life: An article published by the Guardian referenced research on how consistent social interactions with others can lead to a happier life. But how does it work for people who may prefer solitude over large bustling communities? We discuss this.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sneha Harikannan, Sudais Ferhard, Lim Sue Ann, Dashran Yohan, Alia Zefri

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Susan Tam

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Categories:  culture

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