Open debate signals Malaysia’s maturing democracy, says BBC producer

Free Malaysia Today

Charlie Taylor says Malaysia stands out among Asean nations for allowing open, on-the-record debate, something not readily available elsewhere in the region.   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/06/10/open-debate-signals-malaysias-maturing-democracy-says-bbc-producer   Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/06/10/debat-terbuka-bukti-demokrasi-malaysia-matang-kata-penerbit-bbc   Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTNews #CharlieTaylor #BBC #OpenDebate

Transcript

00:00We want to open a window on Malaysia so people get a deeper insight into

00:08Malaysia from the people who live there, people who come to our debate, where they

00:15stand, where people stand, where the differences are of approach.

00:19BBC World Questions producer Charlie Taylor believes that Malaysia stands out

00:24in Southeast Asia for its open, on-the-record debate, something not all its

00:29neighbours are allowed to do.

00:31My understanding is that freedoms here have increased over recent years and

00:36a testament to that is the fact that we've been welcomed in to do our debate, an open debate.

00:43Your Prime Minister said he wants to see Malaysia as a maturing democracy.

00:48That maturing democracy is going on, that process is going on, and a big part of that is freedom

00:56of speech, and being able to speak truth to power.

00:59So we're really happy to manifest that, to do that, and for people to experience that, but

01:06I know that we're not the only opportunity in Malaysia for that kind of freedom.

01:11BBC's World Questions programme, a global extension of the long-running Question Time in the UK,

01:18will be recorded before a live audience at 6pm today at the Pataling Jaya Performing Arts Centre.

01:24Taylor said the BBC did not come to Malaysia at the government's invitation, but selected the

01:29country for its regional importance and openness to public discourse.

01:34We're not interested in fomenting argument.

01:40We want to hear people discuss their ideas in front of people who have different opinions.

01:48And, you know, it's been said often that it's increasingly hard to find that, and people

01:52are speaking to their own types of people.

01:55people.

01:56People are saying, I don't trust you, so they're not interested in who you are on, and they're

02:02one of the things that you're interested in.

02:02So, they're the ones who are interested in, and do that, and can actually be.

02:04So, some of the things that they're interested in today, is, why do they enjoy the

02:08way and live?

02:09So, that's the thing.

02:10Get out?

02:12So, what do they find out?

02:13You can do it.

02:14I don't think so first of the things that they're interested in today with you.

02:16I just thought of what you say.

02:17I'm sorry.

02:18So, I think I think so.

02:19I don't think so far, we're going to make it happen again.

02:20So, let's think so far, I don't think so.

02:21Now, I don't know.

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Transcript

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