BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Evening Edition  >  Top 5 At 5  >  Top 5 at 5: Malaysia-Bangladesh Migrant Worker Dispute

Top 5 at 5: Malaysia-Bangladesh Migrant Worker Dispute

Charles Santiago, co-chair, Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights

04-Jul-25 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Malaysia-Bangladesh Migrant Worker Dispute

Malaysia's 2021 recruitment deal with Bangladesh, which restricts hiring to limited approved agencies, faces mounting pressure after Dhaka's new government seeks reform. Critics say the deal has fueled rising costs, alleged corruption and the exclusion of 1,600 agencies. Bangladesh warns it may halt worker deplyment if Malaysia does not amend the agreement. Charles Santiago, who has been vocal about this issue, tells us more about this situation.

Other stories we covered:

• One woman, two jobs: Following the retirement of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Hasnah Hashim has stepped in to temporarily carry out the duties of the Chief Justice. With other top judicial positions also vacant or nearing transition, we speak to former Bar Council President Salim Bashir and lawyer Lim Wei Jiet about the implications for Malaysia’s judiciary and the concerns surrounding institutional continuity.

• MACC’s new obesity policy: Starting next year, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will implement a new policy disqualifying personnel with a Body Mass Index above 27 from promotions, while requiring regular health screenings. We speak to endocrinologist Dr Lim Quan Hziung, a council member of the Malaysian Obesity Society, about the implications of this directive and broader strategies for cultivating a healthier public workforce.

• Thailand political crisis deepens: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended following a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, sparking public backlash and coalition instability. As dissatisfaction mounts and speculation grows over the possibility of military intervention, we speak to Gregory Raymond, senior lecturer at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australia National University, for insight into the unfolding crisis and its implications.

• AI at Wimbledon: Wimbledon ushers in a new era with the full adoption of AI-powered electronic line calling, replacing human line judges for the first time in its 148-year history. While some players praise the new system's precision, others have lamented the loss of tradition and drama. We get into it.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Lim Sue Ann, Tee Shiao Eek, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologycontroversiesLaw/Activismpoliticsgovernmentinternationalcorruptionsportshealth policymanaging disease

Tags:  electronic line calling systemobesity policyaiwimbledonelcthailand economythailand prime minister paetongtarn shinawatracoupcambodiamaccchief justiceChief Justice Tengku MaimunChief Judge of Malayabangladeshi migrant workerbangladesh





Play / Pause

Listen now : The 6AM Stretch: Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited, Chicago, tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Kathleen Chen, Associate Director of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns, Fitch Ratings on impact to Malaysia's fiscal position post populist measures.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan of the Malaysian Employers Federation weighs in on how the designation of September 15th as a public holiday may disrupt businesses.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Megat Zariman, President of Velesto Energy Berhad, shares his outlook on the oil and gas industry.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Faisal Aziz, Bersih Chairman joins us to discuss our civil liberties when it comes to peaceful assemblies.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Surachanee Sriyai of ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute discusses the root causes driving scam centre operations and explores potential policy solutions.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited, Chicago, tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Pure Mylk’s Marcus Khoo on the tech behind clean-label plant-based drinks, filling Malaysia’s food-tech gaps, and why The Mylky Way may be Southeast Asia’s next innovation hub for sustainable F&B.

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

CyberArk’s Serene Lee on machine identity breaches, AI-powered threats, and why human-centric security strategies are no longer enough.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Megat Zariman, President of Velesto Energy Berhad, shares his outlook on the oil and gas industry.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Front Row

Singer Janet Lee marks two decades on stage with "Lucky Lee - The 20-Year Journey On Stage," a theatrical concert experience. She's joined by musical collaborator Tay Cher Siang to discuss her career, from Taiping to sold-out stages nationwide.

3:20 PM

Front Row

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Are the increasingly popular ceramic cookware actually “non-toxic”? We look at what they’re made of and what are the effects in the human body.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

A review of The Fantastic Four’s arrival in the MCU, followed by a discussion about characters that have been played by different actors.

7:00 PM

BBC World Service

This week on Science in Action, scientists have detected the largest black hole merger ever observed with LIGO picking up signals from two black holes colliding in a ‘violent’ spacetime event.

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector