Latest news with #BBCWorldQuestions
Daily Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Open debate signals Malaysia's maturing democracy, says BBC producer
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Minderjeet Kaur, FMT Text Size: BBC's Charlie Taylor has commended Malaysia for its 'maturing democracy', saying a big part of the freedom of speech afforded to Malaysians was in being able to speak truth to power. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's growing press freedom tells of its maturing democracy, says Charlie Taylor, producer of BBC World Questions, ahead of tonight's first-ever public debate show in the country. Taylor, who has been with BBC for three decades, said the broadcaster has held similar events in Seoul, Tokyo, Cape Town and Lithuania. Advertisement He said Malaysia, the current Asean chair, stands out for its open, on-the-record debate, something not all countries in Southeast Asia permit. 'Not every country in Southeast Asia could do it. They don't all have the freedoms that you have in Malaysia where you can allow a sort of open debate to take part,' he told FMT in an interview. 'I think, having met quite a few Malaysians in the last few days, people are fairly forthright. It's hard to find someone without an opinion,' he added. BBC's World Questions programme, a global extension of the long-running 'Question Time' in the UK, will be recorded before a live audience at 6pm today, at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre. He said the forum was about empowering local voices for a global audience. 'My understanding is that freedoms here (in Malaysia) have increased over recent years and testament to that is the fact that we have been welcomed in to do our debate—an open debate,' Taylor told FMT in an interview. 'The prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) said he wants to see Malaysia as a maturing democracy. That maturing democracy is going on, and a big part of that is freedom of speech and being able to speak truth to power,' he added. Taylor said the format allows the public to pose questions to a panel of prominent political and public figures on national and international issues. The panellists are deputy minister of domestic trade and cost of living Fuziah Salleh, Tricia Yeoh from the University of Nottingham Malaysia's School of Politics and International Relations, Bersatu MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, a former deputy unity minister, and Vilashini Somiah, head of Universiti Malaya's gender studies programme. The forum will be chaired by veteran BBC journalist, Jonny Diamond. Taylor said the BBC did not come to Malaysia at the government's invitation but selected the country for its regional importance and openness to public discourse. 'No one approached us. We thought it was time,' Taylor said. 'We do 12 editions of this programme a year, and we move it around so we get different perspectives from different places.' Taylor said the programme's main objective was to allow local people to raise their questions on a global platform. 'We want to open a window on Malaysia so people get a deeper insight. 'We don't really decide what the questions are. The audience does,' he said, adding that questions may relate to any topic that may affect the nation, including corruption and tariffs. World Questions has been running since 2015, although it builds on a BBC tradition that dates back 60 to 70 years, he said. Taylor said the country's political and media landscape makes this the right time for such a forum. 'We want to open a window on a fascinating country and we want to hear people discuss their ideas in front of people who have different opinions. 'So we hope to have a difference of opinion, not argument and to listen to other people properly with respect,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar's tough policy calls reflect leadership, says BBC journalist [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's push to rationalise fuel subsidies and his stance on foreign policy reflect the kind of leadership needed to navigate a complex and divided world, says BBC journalist Jonny Dymond. Speaking ahead of the BBC World Questions debate in Kuala Lumpur, Dymond said rolling back subsidies is a politically difficult task that many leaders tend to avoid due to pressure from powerful interest groups. "To get it done is a sign of leadership in my book," he told the New Straits Times in an exclusive interview. "It's not that I'm approving or disapproving, but I can just see it (that) as a governmental task, it's quite hard." He said that while subsidies are often seen as a way to help the poor, economists argue they disproportionately benefit higher-income groups. "It's very tough to withdraw them because there are always very powerful constituencies that want them cared for, good or bad," he said. "And to get it through, you have to say that it's a function of leadership." He added that previous administrations had sidestepped the issue, while Anwar had taken the unpopular but necessary step. Dymond also touched on Anwar's firm stance on the Gaza conflict, saying it reflected strong public sentiment in Malaysia. "Malaysia's leadership has made its position very clear on Israel and the Palestinians, and seems to speak for many Malaysians in their unhappiness at what Israel is doing in Gaza," he said. He added that criticism of Western double standards in media coverage — particularly comparing Ukraine to Gaza — was a complex issue and would need to be addressed case by case. The BBC World Service is in Malaysia for its World Questions debate series, which invites members of the public to pose questions directly to politicians and public figures on current political, economic, and social issues. Tonight's debate, which will be broadcast at a later date, will focus on the government's fuel subsidy rationalisation, corruption cases, freedom of speech, and institutional reform. It will also examine Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly in balancing trade ties with the United States and China. Among the panellists are Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh and Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar's tough policy calls reflect leadership, says BBC journalist
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's push to rationalise fuel subsidies and his stance on foreign policy reflect the kind of leadership needed to navigate a complex and divided world, says BBC journalist Jonny Dymond. Speaking ahead of the BBC World Questions debate in Kuala Lumpur, Dymond said rolling back subsidies is a politically difficult task that many leaders tend to avoid due to pressure from powerful interest groups. "To get it done is a sign of leadership in my book," he told the New Straits Times in an exclusive interview. "It's not that I'm approving or disapproving, but I can just see it (that) as a governmental task, it's quite hard." He said that while subsidies are often seen as a way to help the poor, economists argue they disproportionately benefit higher-income groups. "It's very tough to withdraw them because there are always very powerful constituencies that want them cared for, good or bad," he said. "And to get it through, you have to say that it's a function of leadership." He added that previous administrations had sidestepped the issue, while Anwar had taken the unpopular but necessary step. Dymond also touched on Anwar's firm stance on the Gaza conflict, saying it reflected strong public sentiment in Malaysia. "Malaysia's leadership has made its position very clear on Israel and the Palestinians, and seems to speak for many Malaysians in their unhappiness at what Israel is doing in Gaza," he said. He added that criticism of Western double standards in media coverage — particularly comparing Ukraine to Gaza — was a complex issue and would need to be addressed case by case. The BBC World Service is in Malaysia for its World Questions debate series, which invites members of the public to pose questions directly to politicians and public figures on current political, economic, and social issues. Tonight's debate, which will be broadcast at a later date, will focus on the government's fuel subsidy rationalisation, corruption cases, freedom of speech, and institutional reform. It will also examine Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly in balancing trade ties with the United States and China. Among the panellists are Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh and Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
BBC World Questions arrives in Guyana
On Tuesday 6 May BBC World Questions will come to Guyana to debate the country's political and economic future in the country's capital, Georgetown. Vast offshore oil and gas reserves are transforming the nation. Guyana is now the fastest growing economy in the world. But amid territorial tensions with neighbouring Venezuela and environmental concerns, will oil prove to be a blessing or a curse? And how should the oil revenues be best spent? The BBC World Service programme, which puts people and their questions at the heart of the debate, will be presented by the BBC Correspondent, Jonny Dymond. Jonny will chair the hour-long debate which will be led by questions from a live audience. The panel will include: Gail Teixeira - Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance - The People's Progressive Party/Civic Aubrey Norton – Leader of the Opposition - People's National Congress Reform Party Ayodele Dalgety Dean - Businesswoman and civil society activist Anand Persaud – Editor-in-chief – Stabroek News Gwenan Roberts, Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service English, says: "We are thrilled to be coming to Guyana's capital Georgetown for BBC World Questions, in what is a period of unprecedented economic growth for the country. We encourage audiences to attend and look forward to hearing about the issues that matter most to people locally.' The programme will be recorded in front of a live audience on Tuesday 6 May at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. There will be a reception beforehand with refreshments starting at 6.00pm. Register to be in the audience HERE. BBC World Questions: Guyana will be first broadcast on World Service English on Saturday 10 May. It will be available online, on BBC Sounds and on most other podcast platforms. It is produced by Helen Towner. For press accreditation to attend the debate, interview requests, and any queries about BBC World Service, please contact: About BBC World Service BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 41 other language services, on radio, TV, and digital. BBC World Service reaches a weekly audience of 320m (BBC Global Audience Measure 2024). BBC World Service English is an English-language radio and online network that broadcasts internationally. BBC World Service English reaches a weekly audience of 84m (2024), broadcasting news and current affairs programmes such as Newsday, Newshour, The Newsroom, OS and The Inquiry. It also broadcasts a range of documentaries including People Fixing the World, In the Studio, The Documentary, The Forum, Heart and Soul, and The Climate Question. Recent popular podcasts delivered by BBC World Service English include Love Janessa, The Lazarus Heist, and Dear Daughter, which won the 2022 Podcast of the Year award at the British Podcast Awards. For more information, visit RD
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
BBC World Questions arrives in Bengaluru
On Tuesday 4 March BBC World Questions will come to India to debate the country's political and economic future in the country's IT capital, Bengaluru. The challenges of economic growth, public services, workers' rights, A.I., and the environment will all be up for discussion with a panel of leading politicians, campaigners and journalists. The BBC World Service programme, which puts people and their questions at the heart of the debate, will be presented by the BBC Correspondent, Jonny Dymond. Jonny will chair the hour-long debate which will be led by questions from the live audience. The panel will include: Surabhi Hodigere – Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Kumar Naik – MP, Indian National Congress T.V. Mohandas Pai – Business leader Rashmi Choudhary – Vice President of Karnataka's IT Employees Union (KITU) Dhanya Rajendran – journalist, founder of The News Minute. Gwenan Roberts, Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service English, says: 'We are delighted to be back in India for BBC World Questions, this time in the IT capital of Bengaluru. We hope to be joined by a lively public audience as we debate the key issues facing this urban metropolis, including economic growth, equality, working conditions and the environment.' The programme will be recorded in front of a live audience on Tuesday 4 March at the Bangalore International Centre. There will be a reception beforehand with refreshments starting at 6pm. Register to be in the audience on the BBC Shows and Tours website. BBC World Questions: India will be first broadcast on World Service English on Saturday 8 March. It will be available online, on BBC Sounds and on most other podcast platforms. It is produced by Helen Towner. For press accreditation to attend the debate, interview requests, and any queries about BBC World Service, please contact: RD
