Top 5 at 5: Who's Watching Orphanage Caregivers?

A privately owned orphanage in Kulai, Johor, has been temporarily closed after its owner was allegedly involved in child abuse. We explore the systemic failures that allow such crimes to occur with James Nayagam, Chairman of the Suriana Welfare Society.

· Hardcore poverty eradicated in four states: Data from the Economy Ministry shows that Putrajaya, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Perlis have achieved zero cases of hardcore poverty as of November. Economist Barjoyai Bardai explains how this was accomplished and what "hardcore poverty" truly means.

· No-kill policy on the cards: Selangor Exco Member Ng Suee Lim and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung have pledged to table a no-kill policy for stray animals at the state assembly in February. Kalaivanan Ravichandran, President of Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia, shares his views on humane strategies for managing stray populations.

· More Malaysians view China positively: A Merdeka Center poll reveals that 77% of 12,000 respondents now view China positively—a significant rise over the past two years. We speak to Ben Suffian, Director of Merdeka Center, to understand the factors behind this shift.

· Parents urging school calendar reset: Malaysian parents are urging the Education Ministry to revert the school year to a January start in 2025, citing disruptions to family routines. Nina Adlan Disney, Executive Director of LeadEd Services, and Rajveen Kaur, Learning & Education Specialist at LeapEd Services, discuss how to balance academic and administrative needs.

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