Beyond the Headlines: Rafizi out, online predators and Asean 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: In this latest episode of Beyond the Headlines, the show explores online safety and the government's proposal to introduce mandatory user identity verification.
Earlier this week, the Communications Ministry said it is considering the move as a crucial step in protecting children from becoming victims of online sexual predators.
This follows a disturbing case involving a social media influencer who allegedly sent obscene messages to a 14-year-old girl.
Universiti Malaya forensic and cyber threat expert Professor Dr Ainuddin Wahid Abdul Wahab joins hosts Amalina Kamal and Hazween Hassan to explain how such a policy might work in practice—and what the government needs to weigh in order to balance safety regulations with freedom of speech.
The show also discusses the resignation of two cabinet ministers: Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as Economy Minister and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
Rafizi, who had pledged to resign if he lost to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the PKR deputy presidency race last week, followed through on his promise.
Nik Nazmi also stepped down after failing to retain his PKR vice-presidency and losing the Setiawangsa division chief post to Datuk Afdlin Shauki.
In the second half of the episode, Beyond the Headlines recaps the recently concluded Asean and related summits hosted in Kuala Lumpur—an event that marked a milestone in regional multilateral relations.
Catch the full discussion in episode 98 of Beyond the Headlines on the New Straits Times' YouTube channel, NSTOnline.
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