A series of defamation cases involving public figures have been in the headlines lately, including Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh's suit against former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan. Besides that, DAP’s Teresa Kok had filed a defamation suit against UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh. We dive into these cases with a lawyer. (Starts at 22:16)

• UMNO's hardcore supporters dwindling: Deputy President Dato Seri Mohamad Hassan said this at Umno's general assembly, and that young people are no longer reasonating with the party's nationalist ideologies. We hear thoughts from Dr Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor of Political Science at International Islamic University Malaysia. (Starts at 16:11)

• New limits on expat employment: Malaysia tightens the rules on expatriate hires — doubling salary thresholds and setting long-term visa limits, all in a bid to push companies toward grooming local talent. We talk about it. (Starts at 12:47)

• Journalist doxxed for controversial question: A journalist from Free Malaysia Today was recently under fire during a public talk featuring British politician George Galloway on the genocide in Gaza, for asking about the perils of ethno-nationalism, drawing parallels to Zionism and the situation involving ethnic Chinese here. While FMT has apologised, the journalist has been doxxed and threatened. We talk about this situation with Jahabar Sadiq, journalist and founder of The Malaysian Insight. (Starts at 7:02)

• Adelaide Writers’ Week controversy: The removal of Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 program triggered mass withdrawals, resignations, and the festival’s cancellation, reigniting old debates over Thomas Friedman’s exclusion and raising fresh questions about artistic freedom, politics, and cultural sensitivity (Starts at: 0:23)

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Produced by: Sneha Harikannan, Alia Zefri, Lim Sue Ann, Sudais Ferhard, Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan, Susan Tam

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Categories:  international,  government,  politics,  Law/Activism,  controversies

Tags:  Defamation cases Malaysia,  Hannah Yeoh lawsuit,  Teresa Kok Akmal Saleh,  UMNO support decline,  Youth and Malaysian politics,  Expat employment rules Malaysia,  Journalist doxxing Malaysia,  Media freedom Malaysia,  Adelaide Writers Week controversy,  Cultural freedom and politics,