Rising costs, staff shortages and heavy compliance have shrunk registered childcare centres in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Perak even as enrolment climbs, exposing a widening care gap. For more, we speak to Lee Min Hui, Social Policy Specialist on family-friendly policies, UNICEF Malaysia.

• Terengganu to expand venues for public caning: This is an escalation from last year’s move to gazette nine mosques for public punishment, though the proposal has revived legal, religious and human rights concerns. We hear from Shariah lawyer Nizam Bashir on what this push signals.

• SaveMe999 app rolled out: Malaysia’s revamped emergency system now comes with digital mapping, geolocation and AI tools, but early users say the new app’s lengthy registration and multiple verification steps could slow help in real emergencies. We discuss the reactions.

• UTM restricts "foreign cultures": A leaked circular outlining restrictions on “foreign cultures,” mixed-gender shows and even musical rhythms sparked accusations of cultural policing at UTM. Anne James, theatre practitioner and educator, shares her thoughts on this.

• Tighter rules for finfluencers: Financial influencers are now barred from giving unlicensed money advice or promoting capital-market products, with penalties of up to RM10 million or 10 years’ jail for violations, as part of a move to curb misleading “wealth hacks” that have exposed consumers to risky guidance. We get into it.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Alia Zefri, Tee Shiao Eek, Sneha Harikannan, Susan Tam

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Susan Tam

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Categories:  technology,  politics,  government,  Family/Parenting

Tags:  SaveMe999,  foreign cultures,  childcare centres,  utm,  finance,  influencer,  terengganu,  public caning,