Top 5 at 5: Shut Down Baitul Mahabbah, Free the Children

The End Detention Network is calling on the government to release children held in Baitul Mahabbah centres and other immigration detention facilities. Some of these children have been detained for over a year, yet there has been no evaluation of the centres' conditions or their impact on the children’s well-being. We speak with Dato' Dr Hartini Zainuddin, co-founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, about the challenges in closing these child detention centres.

Other stories we cover in this episode:

· Several villages in Johor have been hit by industrial pollution, leading to evacuations and school closures. Skudai ADUN Marina Ibrahim gives us an update on the ground, while S. Piarapakaran, President of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, explains how we can prevent chemical pollution in our waters.

· The High Court in Ipoh has ruled in favour of the Semai community of Ulu Geruntum in Gopeng, Perak, ordering two companies involved in a hydroelectric dam project to vacate the area immediately. Dr Colin Nicholas, founder of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, shares his thoughts on the case.

· A bus driver who posted inappropriate videos of children on TikTok has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. Child rights lawyer Ajeet Kaur helps us understand the charges.

· Political commentator Raja Petra Kamarudin has passed away at 74. We reflect on his legacy with insights from education activist Professor Tajuddin Rasdi.

Image Credit: Engin Akyurt, Pexels