The US Institute of Peace report highlights a sharp rise in transnational crime across Southeast Asia, particularly originating from China, with $64 billion USD stolen annually. Raymon Ram, a certified fraud examiner, explains how Malaysia plays a significant role, with citizens both victimized and involved in managing scam networks.

Other stories we covered today:

· Declining Rates of Teen Pregnancy Rates in ASEAN: Teen pregnancy rates in Southeast Asia have seen a small but significant decline, with the birth rate dropping from 41 to 35 per 1,000 girls over the last decade. Srividhya Ganapathy, Co-chairperson of the CRIB Foundation discusses the data limitations of similar reports.

· Former Singapore Minister S. Iswaran Sentenced: The court has sentenced Iswaran to 12 months in prison; a decision that is more severe than the six to seven months sought by the prosecution. We dive into the reasons behind the court’s decision to extend his jail time and the conundrum of whether political figures and business people should be expected not to form friendships and connections.

· MBJB Launches 'Humane' Neutering Program for Stray Dofs: This inititive involves neutering, vaccinating, and rehoming 1,000 stray dogs in Johor Bahru, following public complaints and past criticism of their handling of strays. Kavindran Ganasen, co-founder of the Lost Animal Souls Shelter shares his views on the program.

· Mount Kinabalu Climbathon Returns: After a 7-year hiatus, the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon is making a comeback, reviving the tradition of promoting Sabah tourism. Consultant emergency physician, Dr. Ahmad Suhailan Mohamed discusses the risks of high-altitude physical activity and what participants should be aware of during the challenging event.

Image Credit: Image Flow, Shutterstock

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

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan

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

Tags:  Southeast Asia crime networks,  transnational crime report,  US Institute of Peace,  online scams Southeast Asia,  Raymon Ram fraud expert,  Malaysia scam operations,  teen pregnancy Southeast Asia,  ASEAN Gender Outlook 2024,  declining teen birth rates,  contraceptives access,  Srividhya Ganapathy CRIB Foundation,  Singapore corruption scandals,  public trust Singapore,  Soh Kee Hean anti-corruption,  stray animal program Johor Bahru,  MBJB neutering initiative,  animal welfare Malaysia,  Kavindran Ganasen Lost Animal Souls Shelter,  Mount Kinabalu Climbathon 2024,  Sabah tourism events,  high altitude risks,  Dr Ahmad Suhailan,  S Iswaran corruption case,