BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Evening Edition  >  Top 5 At 5  >  Top 5 at 5: What's Inside The BBC Storm?

Top 5 at 5: What's Inside The BBC Storm?

Jonathan Munro, BBC News Global Director, and Director of the BBC World Service

10-Jun-25 17:00

Top 5 at 5: What's Inside The BBC Storm?

The BBC has faced widespread criticism on multiple fronts—most notably, its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and the controversy surrounding football pundit Gary Lineker’s departure, who left the BBC earlier than planned following backlash over a pro-Palestine and alleged anti-semitic social media post. Against this backdrop of scrutiny, we sit down with Jonathan Munro, BBC News Global Director, to discuss how the BBC navigates coverage of major global conflicts, including the Israel-Gaza war, as well as broader concerns about the state of modern journalism.

Other stories we covered:

• Going green with more gas?: Malaysia has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but a recent report by RimbaWatch and CREA suggests the country’s continued investment in oil and gas projects is undermining that goal. We speak to Adam Farhan, director of RimbaWatch, about what it would take to transition away from fossil fuels—and whether Malaysia is truly on the right path to a sustainable future.

• Homeless lives in the heat: Malaysia is experiencing a Level 1 heatwave, but experts warn that extreme humidity, known as wet-bulb temperature, poses an even deadlier risk by preventing the body from cooling itself. We speak to Dr Victor Hoe, public health specialist from University Malaya about the ways to stay safe. We also hear from Justin Cheah, marketing director of Kechara Soup Kitchen, on the ways this heatwave is affecting the homeless.

• Deadly bus crash claims 15 students: A crash between a bus and a multipurpose vehicle on the Gerik East-West Highway in Perak has claimed 15 lives, sparking renewed concerns over road safety. In response, the Ministry of Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening enforcement on mandatory speed limits, particularly for heavy vehicles. We speak to transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan to find out if these initiatives are enough.

• Farewell to Sly and Mr Spy: Yesterday saw the deaths of both funk and soul musician Sly Stone and British thriller novelist Frederick Forsyth. The former was best known as the pioneer of 70s funk, mixing socially conscious songwriting with soul and psychedelic sounds while the latter helped define the writing style of thriller novels for generations to come. We discuss their distinct legacies.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Alia Zefri, Juliet Jacobs, Sudais Ferhard, Sneha Harikannan, Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Susan Tam, Sharaad Kuttan


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

Categories:  controversiesenvironmentLaw/ActivismpoliticsinternationalculturemusicCars/Motoringwellness

Tags:  Sly StoneFrederick Forsyththriller novelsGerik-East West Highwaybbc world servicebbcjournalismpress freedom indexjournalist70s musicnet zero emissionscarbon emissionsheatwavehomeless peoplehumiditybus crash





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

Dilin Wu, Research Strategist, Pepperstone 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

Herman Chan, Bloomberg Intelligence discusses the outlook for US regional banks.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Sonia Mycak of ANU weighs in on Washington’s new sanctions against Russia’s major oil companies.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Munira Mustaffa, Chasseur Group & Dr. Benjamin Loh, Monash University talks about disinformation & media literacy.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister talks about the upcoming ASEAN Summit and MITI's role in ensuring Malaysia's economic resilience.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Dilin Wu, Research Strategist, Pepperstone tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Herman Chan, Bloomberg Intelligence discusses the outlook for US regional banks.

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

Alvin Andrew, Founder, FUBIZO

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Farid Zakwan, Team Captain & Macy Lim, Lam Research, Ilylia Kamaruzaman, Founder, Roboticist Malaysia

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

What began as a small neighbourhood collaboration has grown into PESZTA, a vibrant festival celebrating Kampung Attap’s creative spirit. We speak to the organisers about what’s new in its fourth edition.

3:20 PM

Front Row

We find out about the A4 Art Fair 2025, which celebrates “The Art of Everything,” blurring the lines between art, design, and everyday life.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Doctor in the House: Are kids today living in an environment that is “too hygienic”? Are their immune systems really becoming weaker? Find out from the expert.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

We review Good Fortune, and then discuss the best (and worst) of Keanu Reeves movies.

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector