What does it mean to uphold the sanctity of the Federal Constitution, and who bears the responsibility to defend it? These were the questions raised at The Sanctity of Malaysia’s Federal Constitution: Threats, Solutions and Impact on National Governance, a talk organised by the Allianz Centre for Governance (ACG). Recently-retired chief justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat was present to speak about interference in the judiciary, and the need to remove the Prime Minister's role in judicial appointments. We speak to Zaharom Nain, Director of the ACG about this and more.

Other stories we covered:

• Political leaders face charges: UMNO Youth’s Dr Akmal Saleh and Bersatu’s Hilman Idham are charged under Section 505(b) for social media posts deemed harmful to public order, while PSM’s S. Arutchelvan faces investigation under Section 353 following a protest outside Parliament. We hear thoughts from Professor Wong Chin Huat, Deputy Head of Strategy at the Asia Headquarters of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser at the Pacific Research Centre.
• Child-led sexual exploitation ring: A 12-year-old girl and her peers were found running a sexual exploitation ring online, with over 700 members in their WhatsApp group. Some girls reportedly earned more than their parents and stopped attending school. Lawyer Srividhya Ganapathy joins us to unpack the legal, parental, and institutional responsibilities in protecting children from digital exploitation.

• When will the FOI Law Happen?: PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says a Freedom of Information Act will be tabled by year’s end, reviving long-stalled efforts to replace the Official Secrets Act. Pushpan Murugiah, CEO of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism weighs in on why this is important.
• Should we rethink breakfast buffets: Hotel buffets may be a vacation highlight, but they’re also a major contributor to food waste. With buffet breakfasts generating twice as much waste as plated meals, hotels are rethinking portion sizes, plate design, and signage to curb excess.

Image Credit: Allianz Facebook