WTF is Up in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong

The last episode of the year does not disappoint with this week’s stories true to the WTF brand: notably allegations of security personnel sticking fingers in festival goers’ bras and grabbing crotches at the recent 808 Festival in Bangkok. Coconuts Bangkok Nicky Tanskul (who was also there at the EDM fest) sheds light on the account of a female attendee who came with receipts. We also reminisce on the year that was through highlights on the podcast. Tune in! Other stories include: Thumbs...

The Indonesian parliament quietly passed a bill to revise its colonial-era penal code, with much of the media attention turned to all but one provision: outlawing sex between non-spouses. Coconuts Regional Managing Editor Andra Nasrie gives us the lowdown on what that’s really about, and why people ought to pay attention to other parts of the bill aside from policing sexy time. Tune in! Other stories include: RKUHP: Indonesia’s proposed new criminal code has a conservative slant, but...

The LGBTQ+ community in Singapore is celebrating a hollow victory after a bill was passed repealing a law that criminalized sex between two men, while another was passed to ensure that the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is protected. Coconuts Singapore’s Delfina Utomo gives us the lowdown on the reaction in the Little Red Dot, and how even the smallest steps for LGBTQ+ rights should be celebrated in the largely conservative country. Tune in! Other stories include: New...

Staying true to the WTF spirit of this podcast is the outcome of the recent Malaysian election where Barisan Nasional, the right-wing alliance headed by the once-undefeatable Umno party, lost big. With no parties dominating seats in the Malaysian parliament, the country’s government hangs in the balance — and Coconuts KL’s Aminah Farid joins us to shed light on yet another political shitshow in Southeast Asia. Tune in! Other stories include: Cianjur earthquake: Governor confirms 162...

We’re not necessarily against culinary reinventions of our beloved national dishes, but when an LA-based sandwich shop put Singapore’s beloved Hainanese chicken rice between two pieces of bread, we had our doubts. But this week’s guest to WTF, Regional Managing Editor Delfina Utomo, argues that there’s some sense in the reinvention, as long as one is open minded enough to try. Tune in! Other stories include: Watch: Elon Musk’s bizarre, virtual interview by candlelight at the B20 Summit in...

Thousands of Thais have fallen victim to traffickers who forced them to commit cyber crimes against their compatriots under threat of violence. While such scams have been widely documented, few have followed up on victims after they were rescued and repatriated. Coconuts Bangkok’s Milk talks to us about her three-part story on how Thai trafficking victims’ nightmare continues with prosecution back home. Tune in! Other stories include: More than 550 doctors fired by Myanmar junta for...

Twenty people were arrested for allegedly inciting vice and cross-dressing in Kuala Lumpur during a Halloween party, of all things. This may come as a shock to those who see KL as a relatively progressive city, but Coconuts KL’s Aminah Farid explains that religion has long been used to justify persecution towards the LGBTQ+ community. Ominously, things may continue to get worse as elections loom in Malaysia. Tune in! Other stories include: One Thai killed in Seoul Halloween stampede:...

A storefront with the sign “SEX SHOP” in neon pink normally leaves little to the imagination, but in Bangkok, it’s a provocative gallery dedicated to artworks that destigmatize sex and kinks while promoting overall sexual health. Coconuts Bangkok’s Nicky Tanskul gives us the lowdown on just what to expect in this sex-filled quarters in Phloen Chit, and the kind of pieces open-minded purveyors can acquire. Tune in! Other stories include: Military jets bomb concert in northern Myanmar,...

The 2002 Bali bombings were one of the deadliest terror attacks the region has ever seen, claiming the lives of 202 people. Twenty years on, the pain from the tragedy persists, and things got downright triggering when graphic footage from the attacks was shown to survivors and mourners who attended a memorial service in Kuta. We speak to Coconuts Bali Managing Editor Amahl to understand how that could have happened, and whether or not people were held responsible. Tune in! Other stories...

Tragedy after tragedy in Southeast Asia — this time, the worst massacre Thailand has seen after 36 were killed in a mass shooting. But perhaps none as tragic as this cop — who managed to chuckle while giving a press briefing on the matter. Coconuts Bangkok’s Nicky Tanskul returns to the podcast seat to shed light on this bizarre reaction, and why the erring officer got sacked. Tune in! Other stories include: Malaysia dissolves parliament to make way for 15th general election | 5 killed,...

It has been an especially somber week in the region, with the tone set by the terrifying incident at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Indonesia, where at least 131 soccer fans died in a stampede. Regional Managing Editor and WTF host Andra Nasrie takes us through what we know so far about the devastating tragedy while offering theories as to who to blame (spoiler: it’s not the spectators). Tune in! Other stories include: Netizens call for justice over slain broadcaster as #JusticeForPercyLapid trends...

While Dota 2 is a game beloved by all ages, you should probably keep the young’uns away from the Southeast Asia server – a cesspool of cuss words from across the region. It got so bad that Japanese gamer and Twitch streamer Xiinya collected all of these into a banging tune. Coconuts Regional Managing Editor Delfina Utomo hops onboard to talk to us exactly which countries were represented with their colorful language, and why this has sparked a bizarre sense of patriotism among the region’s...

Muslims saying “rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth” is apparently a big no-no, according to a Malaysian Islamic jurist who this week warned against asking God for “forgiveness” for deceased non-Muslims. Coconuts KL reporter Aminah Farid came on this week’s episode to explain that while not every Muslim in the country is that narrow-minded about their faith, attempts to otherize non-Muslims remain alarmingly common. Tune in! Other stories include: #NeverForget, #NeverAgain trend on Twitter as...

That old kidney for iPhone joke again + more top stories | WTF SEA + HK | September 15, 2022 For pioneers in the legalization of weed in Asia, Thailand sure can’t take a joke. Just take a look at the Thai Red Cross, who had to warn citizens the obvious: don’t sell your kidney in exchange for the latest iPhone 14, after a photo of individuals (who aren’t even Thai) showing off their fake post-surgery bandages went viral. We checked in with Coconuts Bangkok’s Nicky Tanskul and asked him if he...

How dare Joseph Schooling smoke pot… was the reaction we thought Singaporeans would make when their Olympic hero admitted to cannabis use during a moment of weakness. Instead, the nation has been supportive of the athlete. Coconuts Regional Managing Editor Delfina Utomo makes her maiden WTF SEA + HK splash as we dive deep into the controversy. We also discuss a Singaporean law forbidding citizens from drug use abroad. Tune in! Other stories include: Najib Razak admitted to hospital after...

Rodrigo Ventosilla touched down in Bali in early August for a honeymoon with his new husband Sebastian Marallano. The Peruvian couple’s trip immediately turned into a nightmare when police arrested Rodrigo after finding cannabis-derived products in his luggage. Rodrigo soon died in police custody, prompting his family to accuse Bali authorities of arbitrarily detaining him on the grounds of transphobia and racial discrimination. Coconuts Bali’s Amahl Azwar has been relentlessly pursuing...

After years of delaying serving his corruption sentence with appeals, former Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is finally going to prison after some major courtroom drama. Coconuts KL reporter Aminah Farid, who was on location during the verdict, takes us on a play-by-play of the historic event, while trying to grasp how Najib’s supporters still anguished despite the former leader stealing billions from the country. Tune in! Other stories include: Singapore’s gay sex law to be...

In Singapore, middle-aged men airing their anti-LGBT sentiments is nothing new — but when they come up with an 82-page manifesto, it’s bound to garner some attention. Coconuts Singapore’s Carolyn Teo comes onboard to shed light on the opposition behind the repeal of the controversial Section 377A in the city-state’s penal code, and the nasty and tired clichés this group has leaned on. Also, Coconuts KL’s Aminah Farid is in the co-host seat as Andra pillow fights his way through Indonesian...

We here try not to take the words of someone who is basically Australia’s Donald Trump seriously. But when far-right politician Pauline Hanson called for a border closure to Bali (which she referred to as a country, by the way) amid foot-and-mouth disease concerns because apparently there’s cattle shit everywhere, this was too hard to ignore. Coconuts Bali Managing Editor Amahl Azwar came on this week’s episode to debunk Hanson’s claims, while telling us what the cattle poop situation really...

Chicken shortages are never fun, but after months of short supply, Malaysia now apparently has an oversupply of poultry in the country. This chicken crisis is making us go ‘What the bok?’ so Coconuts KL reporter Aminah Farid joins us to shed some light on the situation. Tune in! Other stories include: Yahoo!, Steam, PayPal now accessible in Indonesia as IT Ministry feels the heat | Hong Kong gov’t advisors recommend Covid-19 vaccines for children as young as six months old | 2 killed after...