Anti-corruption rallies like “Gempar Rasuah Sabah” and the recent arrest of activist Fahmi Reza signal a fiery start to 2025 for anti-graft activism. Arief Hamizan, head of research and policy advocacy at the Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism, discusses public attitudes toward corruption and the need for government reforms to strengthen accountability.

Other stories we covered:

· A smoker's right to workplace freedom?: Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdullah has filed a judicial review claiming the federal workplace smoking ban violates his constitutional rights. Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet unpacks the legal grounds for the case, while Prof Dr Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed, Leader of the Smokefree Sejahtera Campus Community Flagship 3.0 programme at IIUM explains why protecting public health is priority.

· Harimau Malaya’s new era under Rob Friend: Malaysia’s national football team has appointed Rob Friend as its first-ever CEO, aiming to reshape the Football Association of Malaysia and elevate the team's performance. Sports writer T. Avineshwaran dives into what this strategic shift means for the future of Malaysian football and fans’ expectations.

· Deadly South Korean crash raises safety concerns: A Jeju Air jetliner crash at Muan International Airport killed 179 people, making it South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades. Aviation consultant Shantanu Gangakhedkar examines the factors behind this and other recent air incidents, exploring public anxiety about flying and the implications for global aviation safety.

· Former Indian PM passes: Manmohan Singh, former prime minister and architect of India's economic liberalization, passed away last week at age 92. We take a look at the statesman's contribution to Malaysia-India ties with insights from Yanitha Meena, an analyst from ISIS Malaysia Yanitha Meena.

Image Credit: Shahjehan, Shutterstock

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

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan

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

Tags:  protest rally,  Manmohan Singh,  workplace freedom,  corruption,  anti-corruption,  smoking,  smoking ban,  plane crash,  aviation sector,  harimau malaya,  malaysia football,