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Top 5 at 5: UEC Debate Heats Up Again

Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser, Pacific Research Center of Malaysia

15-Dec-25 17:00

Top 5 at 5: UEC Debate Heats Up Again

The Unified Examination Certificate, or UEC, is back in the spotlight as DAP renews calls for its recognition, drawing strong pushback from Umno Youth and other opponents. We speak to Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser of the Pacific Research Center in Malaysia, to examine both sides of this long-standing debate. (Starts at 23:06)

• Govt promises no new plantations in forests: The Plantation and Commodities Minister has vowed to halt clearing forests for new plantations, focusing instead on yield improvements in existing plantations. Andrew Sebastian, CEO of ECOMY, shares his thoughts on the new policy. (Starts at 16:40)

• Mass shootings spark global debate on gun violence: From Bondi Beach to Brown University, recent mass shootings have renewed international discussion on gun control, political framing, and media narratives. We discuss how tragedy and politics intertwine in reporting and public perception. (Starts at 10:52)

• Sumatran floods threaten Tapanuli Orangutans: Cyclone Senyar has devastated communities and wildlife in Sumatra, wiping out up to 11% of the rare Tapanuli orangutan population. Panut Hadisiswoyo, founder of the Orangutan Information Centre Sumatra, shares how we can prevent further losses and protect the species’ survival. (Starts at 5:31)

• Malaysia’s road safety crisis continues: Fatal road accidents remain a major concern, with negligence accounting for over 40% of cases. Experts call for stricter enforcement, defensive driving education, and policy reforms to curb preventable deaths. We discuss whether these are the best solutions. (Starts at 0:13)

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sudais Ferhard, Juliet Jacobs, Dashran Yohan, Sneha Harikannan

Presented by: Sharaad Kuttan, Dashran Yohan


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Categories:  politicseducationinternationalgovernmentenvironment

Tags:  bondi beach massacreministry of educationorangutanendangered speciesroad safety





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