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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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About a week ago, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the results of a report that looks at how well a country prepares its younger generations for an ever-changing future economy. It found that Singapore was the highest ranked in Asia and an overall fifth across 35 economies. As for Malaysia, we weren’t on the list...So the question is, what does this actually mean for young Malaysians? How well have we prepared/setup Malaysian kids for the future? So today on Talkback, we’re asking you if you think Malaysia a good country for kids to grow up in. Our lines will be open.

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A couple of days ago, the Federal Territories Ministry announced a surprise decision to ban all roadside food stalls in KL by 2020, citing health issues and traffic congestion as the reasons. This means that all existing roadside hawkers will need to relocate their business or begin operating from food trucks. The decision garnered mixed reactions from the public - some lauded it, while others feared for our food culture. Though, this is a path our northern neighbours have already walked as Bangkok has already imposed this law. So today on Talkback, we’re asking your reactions to this, and whether we should get rid of roadside hawker stalls. Our lines will be open.

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In the age of AI and with scammers adapting and becoming more advanced we ask you: are you scam proof? Have you noticed scams getting more convincing?

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This evening on Talkback, we’re going to be discussing the refugee situation - more specifically, the current Rohingya refugee crisis. Mainstream media has highlighted their plight, albeit sporadically.. but over the years, that’s changed quite a bit. Just last week, the discussion went ‘mainstream’ when a protest outside the Myanmar embassy turned ugly. About 155 demonstrators were arrested in the process, and the demonstration resulted in a massive traffic jam that took hours to clear. So this evening, we'd like to get a candid gauge of where you stand on the situation: Are you willing to accept the Rohingya community as part of Malaysian society? Do you think we should do more to integrate them or is this a matter for Myanmar to resolve? Our lines will be open.

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We’ve all just come off a really long weekend, and it’s not yet over. In September alone, we have 6 public holidays, including replacement days. In total, we have 15 official public holidays every year. To put that in context, globally, we rank number 5 on the list of countries with the most public holidays. After the announcement of the extra September 4th holiday during the SEA Games closing ceremony, we had the usual debates. A lot of folk celebrated it, but there were some that felt that the extra holiday was unnecessary. So we’re asking you on Talkback today: Do you think Malaysia has too many public holidays? Our lines will be open.

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Three Malaysian students did us 'proud' recently when they behaved disgustingly while staying at a guesthouse in Osaka recently. The video of them arguing and being extremely rude to a staff member went viral, and sent netizens into a tizzy after it was revealed that these students defecated in the shower! So, on Talkback this evening, we're asking you to take a long hard look at your own traveling habits and that of our fellow Malaysians. Our lines will be open.

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A report during a TN50 forum revealed that the youth are starting to flock to new villages outside the cities due to the rising costs of living in KL and lack of opportunities. In search of a better life, young Malaysians are moving into these new villages by choice. Today on Talkback, we’d like to know what you think your prospects are (or would be) outside of KL? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said that starting early next year, students across the country will be allowed to bring certain electronic gadgets to class. However, he also said that mobile phones would not be allowed, as students were to concentrate on studying and not chatting with their friends. Today, on Talkback, we're going to be discussing the role of electronic devices in schools. Should mobile phones be allowed in schools? Our lines will be open.

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This evening, we’re going to be talking about youth and politics. So, in recent years, we’ve seen a huge uptick in interest, in the role that young people play in politics. Political parties here are making big efforts to engage with the youth through forums like TN50. But it would appear, that young Malaysians, may not be as empowered or as savvy as their counterparts in the developed world. A recent survey concluded that over half of young Malaysians are undecided about who they want to vote for in the upcoming elections. So on Talkback today, we're asking you, are Malaysian youth politically savvy? Our lines will be open.

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In the news today, it was reported that there was a 30% drop in the number of patients going to private hospitals. The report outlined cost as one of the main factors as to why patients turn to public hospitals. But there are people who still opt for private health care even when it burns a hole in their pockets. What's the perception people have on public vs private health care? So, on Talkback Thursday this evening, we're curious to find out what your first choice of healthcare is: private or public? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, the results to a survey conducted by the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) on student’s perception of corruption was released. It revealed that more than a third of their surveyed public university students believed that graft is morally acceptable and doesn’t constitute as a crime. About a fifth of the respondents consider nepotism as a permissible act, and that almost 40% of them saw nothing wrong with making false claims for attending out-of-office events. So on Talkback today, we're asking you, are we Malaysians becoming morally bankrupt? Our lines will be open.

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This month marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (AFC). What happened in Malaysia was pretty dramatic. We were going through both economic and political turmoil at the same time. And it wasn't hard just for our country, but of our livelihoods and the prospects of our kids. But 20 years on we’ve survived and somewhat rebounded. So we want to hear what happened in those 20 years.. How did the financial crisis impact you? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, we highlighted a story about how the former MaGIC CEO, Cheryl Yeoh, was sexually assaulted by a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist and CEO of 500 Startups, Dave McClure, 3 years ago. Sexual harassment at the workplace is a continuing problem. And depending on the circumstances, consent, for some people, can be confusing. So today on Talkback, we’d like to you to share your stories and concerns with us on the topic - have you ever experienced sexual harassment at the workplace? Do you understand what constitutes sexual harassment? Our lines will be open.

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Malaysia recently placed 6th for online profanity, tying with Ireland in a study conducted by a team of Australian linguists. The study also found that swearing tends to reflect cultural context: Americans often swear out of anger, while Australians typically use it in humour or irony. But what about Malaysians? So tonight we're asking you: Do you swear a lot? Or do you judge people who do?

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Bullying has unfortunately been a long standing issue in our country, but it took the tragic deaths of T. Nhaveen and Zulfarhan Osman for the Malaysian public to stop and examine the causes behind the deeply-rooted culture of bullying in schools. What compels an individual or group to commit such brutalities against a fellow human being? How did the glorification of violence become accepted among our youth? And how can we as a society and country, put an end to this? Our lines will be open.

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Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, and with that in mind, we thought we’d talk about the results of a study recently done by vacation rental company HomeAway. What the survey found was that Malaysian fathers are seldom celebrated during Father’s Day. They don't receive gifts often and sometimes, the occasion isn't even celebrated.That's in stark contrast with Mother's Day. So we’d like to pose that question to you this evening and find out what your thoughts are on the matter: Do you think we appreciate our mothers more than our fathers? Our lines will be open.

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Yesterday, in a bid to kick off its Hari Raya campaign, Watsons Malaysia released an extremely controversial 15-minute short film called ‘Legenda Cun Raya’. The video spread like wildfire, igniting huge controversy and a barrage of comments all over the internet disgracing the film for promoting blackface and racism. So, this evening we want to know: Is it important to have fair skin? Our lines will be open.

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#2kerja - some of us do it out of necessity. Some of us do it because we can, and additional income does more good than harm at the end of the day. The increasing cost of living has often been cited as the main reason this is happening. Not to mention economists' forecast of our shrinking urban middle class and a further depreciating ringgit. But this, of course, takes its toll on those who have 2 jobs - they're overworked and stuck in a rut. So, this evening we want to know: Is it realistic to expect someone to hold two jobs? Our lines will be open.

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Malaysians were asked whether they would support a proposal for a single-stream education system as opposed to the current vernacular schooling system that we have now. The polls suggested an almost fair split between both sides of the fence - with 47.4% of them opposing it and 41.4% supporting the idea. There are arguments that vernacular schools can unintentionally cause segregation of race, mindset, and language - but it can also prolong a native cultural identity. With the Malaysian population seemingly more polarised along racial and religious lines, we're asking you, what do you think is needed to foster unity in our schools? Our lines will be open.

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So, we’ve just gone past Teacher’s Day, a day that’s very much a token of appreciation for the vital contributions that teachers make to education and development. A couple of days ago, there was an article in FMT, quoting Zakaria Kasa of the National Professors Council who talked about Singapore, and how Singaporean parents often have to play an important role in their kid’s academic performance. He said that in Singapore, parents are urged to be assistant teachers, in an official capacity. He then went on to say that Malaysia should adopt a similar culture instead of pinning responsibility on teachers alone. So this evening, we’re asking you, would you volunteer to be a teacher’s assistant? Our lines will be open.

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Earlier this week, we covered a story about how retired senior citizens in China, are clamouring to go back to university. Looking at projections for Malaysia, we’re headed for an increase, to about 33.3 million by 2020, with the aged population (people 60 years and above) projected at just under 10% of that. We’re going to have 3.26 million senior citizens in our midst, come 2020. So this evening, we’d like to find out what your plans for retirement are. Have you planned for your retirement? And if you're retired, what are you doing now? Our lines will be open.

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It was reported this week that there are at least 1 in 20 runaway-maid cases here in Malaysia. The reasons vary from employer abuse to being misled by their agency and also the yearning for freedom. The Malaysian Maid Employers’ Association have said that more effort should be made to overcome the problem of runaway maids. And one of the suggestions is to treat domestic maids like family, but is that the solution? What else could we do to nip the problem in the bud? With all the work they assist us in, could we live without domestic help? Our lines will be open.

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The death of Mohammad Thaqif Amin who was physically abused at his school has left the nation in shock and anger. Everyone has been saying that it should not have happened. But it did. And the events leading up to his unfortunate demise exposed a cry for help that was ignored, and a system without checks and balances.Who should take responsibility over his death? Who should be taking care of the welfare of our kids in school? Our lines will be open.

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A couple of days ago, Sports and Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin spoke about how young Malaysians preferred citizens of the country to be known as ‘Bangsa Malaysia’. He found a recurring narrative spoken by youths from 20 dialogues held nationwide on the TN50 Programme. It seemed that most young Malaysians ‘wanted the wall that separated the races in the country to be demolished’. Though, it isn’t exactly a recent idea: in 1991, the notion of Bangsa Malaysia was outlined as one of the nine goals in the Vision 2020 by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Our current Prime Minister announced a similar rhetoric under the brand of 1Malaysia. We all know what we want to be identified as - and that is Bangsa Malaysia, or simply: Malaysians. But what might be more difficult to define is what it means to us. So today for Talkback, we’re asking, what does ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ mean to you? Our lines will be open.

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Over the years, the average person has experienced a decline in attention spans which can have implications on their focus at work and learning in schools. Research points to the rise in technology and social media as the reason for this decline, as there is a constant stream of stimuli for a person to digest. So that prompted us to ask our listeners: Do you have a long or short attention span, and has that changed over time? And if you’ve noticed it shortening, what have you tried to get it back on track?

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A couple of days ago, SPAD released proposed guidelines for the reclassification of taxi services in Malaysia. The objective, is to revamp the industry, leveling the playing field amongst taxi drivers and their ride-sharing counterparts. So this evening, we’re trying to assess where we are, in terms of the whole taxi/ridesharing ecosystem. On Talkback Thursday today, we’d like you to tell us about your experiences with taxis and ridesharing services - the good and the bad. Our lines will be open.

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Parliament is in session, and it's been a busy period for our MPs who have been carefully reviewing tabled bills and amendments. And the outcome has been good; notably for the bill on sexual violence against children and the amendments passed for the Domestic Violence Act. But an off-putting remark by Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya about rape and child marriage has got Parliament and the public up in arms. So today on Talkback Thursday, we'd like to know if you think your MPs represent your views. Our lines will be open.

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When it comes to education, we’ve really seen the discourse swell over the past few years. Global education has truly evolved and we’ve seen many countries trying to find ways to move education into the 21st century and yet here in Malaysia, there seems to be a feeling of inertia. Meaningful change will take time of course, but we'd like to know what you'd do. On Talkback Thursday today, we’d like you to tell us: What sort of changes you would like to see if you were the Education Minister. Our lines will be open.

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In an article in FMT today, financial planner Robert Foo of MyFP Services wrote about young Malaysians and their relationships with credit cards.His take on the status quo, is that many fresh grads end up misusing their credit cards, spending on lavish lifestyles and shiny new gadgets - essentially, luxuries, rather than necessities. His advice is to use a credit card as a ‘payment utility’, rather than a cash-up-front device. So on Talkback today, we're asking: Should fresh grads be given credit cards?

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The Beauty and the Beast debacle has been the topic of discussion this whole week. Our Film Censorship Board (LPF) has said the film is good to go with the inclusion of a minor edit. But in the end, film distributor Walt Disney decided to pull the film off our screens altogether, rejecting the cuts made. So on Talkback today, we're asking: What should or shouldn't be censored in our cinemas? Our lines will be open.

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The world celebrated International Women's Day yesterday, and many have come out voicing the importance of having more women in the forefront of things. Our very own Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin expressed his wish for a Malaysian society that would move on from being "patriarchal" and "misogynistic" in objectifying women. He added that he also wishes for a female Prime Minister by the year 2050, which is the Najib's administration's target date for Malaysia to achieve developed nationhood. On Talkback Thursday this evening, we'd like to know what your thoughts are about this. Is Malaysia ready for a female Prime Minister? Our lines will be open.

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A public library in Oregon, USA is starting a new programme called ‘Adulting 101,’ which is essentially a bunch of classes geared towards helping young people become functioning adults.

The course also includes life skills beyond university like modules on writing a resume and getting a job, moving out and finding an apartment, and more.

So based on that, we’d like to ask you today, do millennials lack life skills or do you think Malaysian millennials are just fine as they are? Our lines will be open.

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On Saturday, we all saw the reports of an awful cycling mishap that claimed the lives of 8 teenage boys, injuring a further 8. The incident took place at about 3am in Johor Bahru after the group was hit by a woman driving a Nissan Almera. A few days after the incident, the Star published a report that focused on the grieving parents. It talked about how the parents, already distraught at having lost their children, are now being subject to the comments about irresponsible parenting. They made a plea asking for people (netizens) to stop making hurtful comments and to respect their need to grieve.

So we're asking you today, is a child’s behaviour always a reflection of his/her parents?

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Former Treasury Secretary General Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd Kassim at a recent forum called for the civil service to be downsized. This suggestion has been shot down by The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services or Cuepacs. Last year, public servants pay totalled RM74 billion with pensions amounting to about RM19 billion. Collectively, these payments formed the biggest portion of government’s operating expenditure.

So in the face of the rising cost of living, and a challenging economic climate, naturally, burgeoning remuneration and pensions are easy targets. We’re asking you if you think that’s fair? Do you think we have a bloated civil service? 

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Earlier this month, Taiwan-based Chatime revoked the rights of its Malaysian franchise owner from operating the chain they’ve been building for 6 years. Chatime has 800 outlets worldwide, and Malaysia accounts for more than half of their turnover. In fact, some assumed Chatime was a Malaysian brand until this story broke. They now have less than 45 days to rebrand all 165 outlets, but CEO Bryan Loo is confident that Malaysian consumers will continue to give their support. However, will it be for the bubble tea we know and love or will it be for the Malaysian brand behind it? We want to hear from you. So today we’re asking:

Are Malaysians supportive of Made-in-Malaysia brands? When and why would you choose to go local?

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Taugeh in kuey teow? Fries dipped in ice cream?? Milo in maggi kari??? Where do you draw the line? Or is anything edible fair game to you? Tonight we're asking: What’s your most unpopular or controversial food opinion?

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On Monday, there was news that the government was considering banning the kapcai, or underbone motorcycles, from entering Kuala Lumpur. The Federal Territories Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor has said that this is to reduce carbon emissions and congestion in the city, as well as to reduce crime. The news became viral on social media, drawing much backlash from people who disagreed with it. This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking you, should kapcais be banned in KL?

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We Malaysians have our fair share of heroes. Most recently, Mohd Faiz Subri created history by winning FIFA’s prestigious Puskas Award. But Malaysians were quick to swap their support for stick and stones by criticising Faiz's command of the English language after he delivered his acceptance speech at the award ceremony.

This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking you, is it fair for us to criticise fellow Malaysians for their command of the English language? Are Malaysians too quick to judge?

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2017 is here and money seems to be on our minds a lot. Malaysians are still struggling with healthcare costs. Parents have had to pay double for their children's school supplies. Recently-married couples are nursing personal loans they took to finance their big day. Malaysians are taking up 2 jobs to sustain their income. And amidst all this, loan sharks lurk in the background offering their hassle-free services; until, of course, you default on your loan repayment.

This evening on Talkback Thursday, we're asking: Would you use a money lending facility to help with your debt? Our lines will be open.

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