Talkback – Details, episodes & analysis

A story of a boy caught shoplifting went viral after he was defended by his parents, with his father even hitting the security guards who refused to let him go. Uproar eensued on social media, and many members of the public criticised the parents' decision to protect their child rather than teach him certain values. In light of this we'd like to know — were your parents overprotective, and did it help you?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Service is back — but is it the right move? With PLKN 3.0 now underway and full rollout set for 2026, we ask: Are you for or against it? What do you think it should focus on?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While some people look forward to travelling as it comes with experiencing new cultures and having some much needed relaxation time, others find the whole ordeal overrated and a waste of money. So we asked our listeners: is travelling important to you or is it overrated?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, the MOH revealed that over 100,000 of those in Form 4 were facing mental health issues. In the nationwide survey, the biggest contributors of stress for this teenage demographic group were personal or family problems. Adding to that is the stress that comes with sitting for their SPM examination the following year. Together with clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan in the house, we're exploring 2 questions this Talkback Thursday. For parents: Do you know whether your 16 year old is stressed out? For high school kids: What stresses you out; studies of family issues? Our lines will be open.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The DBP (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) is thinking of imposing fines (of up to RM1,000) for the incorrect use of Bahasa Malaysia. This is in an effort to uphold the sovereignty of Bahasa Malaysia. We're asking today if you think Bahasa Malaysia should be protected. Our lines will be open.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A company in the UK recently launched a productivity tool called WorkSmart, which allows employers to take pictures of employees at work through their webcams every 10 minutes or so. It's also able to monitor other sorts of data, like the type of apps in use, and even the number of keystrokes, which apparently, can indicate how productive you are at work. Now it's pretty common practice for employers to track some employee movements, but how far can workplace surveillance go before it's considered a breach of privacy? The question we're asking today is, "is it ethical for bosses to keep employees under surveillance?". We'd like to know your thoughts and experiences. Our lines will be open.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week ago, a massive data breach was reported by the online forum Lowyat.net. The report claimed that personal data of millions of Malaysians was up for sale online. The data was taken from various sources such as; online recruitment portals, medical associations, as well as over 50 million records of customer data from various telcos. The information reportedly included customer names, billing addresses, mobile numbers, and IC numbers. This incident has set off concerns about the vulnerability of our personal data. So on Talkback today, we're asking you to share your experiences of defrauding and identity theft. Have you been a victim of identity theft?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just a couple of days ago, the MOH put out a call to all healthcare practitioners, requesting for them to make more of an effort to talk to patients and their families. It's a reminder for healthcare practitioners to be more empathetic...but there’s also the situation where doctors see their roles as more functional... prioritizing the physical, rather than the emotional. So today, what we’d like to do is get a general feel of what Malaysian doctors are like. What’s more common an experience for you? Grumpy and gruff? Or kind and patient? On Talkback Today, call in and share your experiences with us.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent survey in the UK revealed that two-thirds of school children wouldn't mind if social media had never been invented. Those surveyed indicated that social media had negatively impacted their emotional well-being; they've been exposed to online abuse, some recognised their dangerous addiction to social media, and some have suffered self-confidence issues in trying to keep up with the Joneses. As a result, some kids have chosen to go off the social media grid by going on a complete social media detox. Which brings us to our question today on Talkback Thursday: Would you consider going on a social media detox? Our lines will be open.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On BFM we cover mental health quite a bit, especially on Health & Living, but today, the Evening Edition will be taking the mantle for a day to talk about the importance of mental health, especially that of children. Reports of bullying and drug abuse in school are all happening against a backdrop of other problems that are affecting children today. Cases of anxiety, emotional and behavioural disorders have been going up in numbers- last year, Health Ministry statistics showed that mental health problems amongst Malaysian students, has gone from ‘1 in 10’ in 2011 to ‘1 in 5’ in 2016. So this evening, we're opening the lines to talk about your child’s mental health, and whether or not it’s an issue that concerns you. Joining us as well, is Dr. Paul Jambunathan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, to answer any queries you might have about your child's mental health.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.