Top 5 at 5: Rewriting the Communications Act

The Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 has been tabled for amendment, focusing on three key areas of industry development, network security and social media and licensing. We unpack this possible amendment with Firdaus Husni, Chief Human Rights Strategist at the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights and Wathshlah Naidu, executive director of the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).

· Urge to get rid of RM1 interbank fees: The National Union of Banks has called for the RM1 interbank fee to be abolished, citing its impact on lower-income households. We speak with Liew Ooi Hann, Founder and CEO of Halogen Capital, about the feasibility of this demand and possible alternatives.

· Can a “Greater Klang Valley” become reality?: The idea of consolidating Klang, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Subang, and Kuala Lumpur into a formal “Greater Klang Valley” has resurfaced, along with talk of Selangor reclaiming KL. Political scientist Wong Chin Huat from Sunway University weighs in on this proposal.

· Space traffic becoming a growing threat: The increasing presence of debris in low Earth orbit is causing satellite explosions and posing risks to astronauts. We discuss the urgency of addressing space debris with Chong Hon Yew, astronomer at the Penang Astronomical Society.

· Popek Popek Parlimen: In today’s Dewan Rakyat session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shares updates on efforts to combat financial scams, while MPs debate a second SPM exam session for students affected by recent floods.

Image Credit: Shafwan Zaidon, Shutterstock