KUALA LUMPUR: The latest episode of Beyond the Headlines discusses the recent public service leadership changes and the ongoing literacy and numeracy challenges among young students.
The government's decision to reshuffle secretaries-general in key ministries such as defence, agriculture, and health has sparked a debate about the impact on policy continuity and governance.
Some see these changes as necessary to inject agility and dynamism into the public service, while others worry about disruptions to long-term initiatives and inter-ministerial collaboration.
The episode features insights from the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah on the matter.
Separately, the show also looks at the troubling literacy and numeracy gaps affecting nearly 28 per cent of Year One pupils in Malaysia.
With over 122,000 students identified as struggling with basic reading, writing, and counting, the Education Ministry has launched an intervention programme.
However, concerns remain about whether the three-month intervention is enough, the accuracy of assessments, and the ongoing support required to ensure these children don't fall behind.
Educationist and Skolar Malaysia co-founder Dr Mohammad Tazli Azizan shares his insights on the matter.
Additionally, the breaking report surrounding police raids on welfare homes across Negri Sembilan and Selangor for allegedly exploiting 402 children was discussed.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the 20 premises raided have also been temporarily shut down, with investigations pointing to their alleged operation by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).
Catch the full discussion in the latest episode of Beyond the Headlines. Watch on NST Online's YouTube Channel