☕️ 5 suspects (all minors) to be charged in Zara Qairina's case

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

Finance Ministry data showed that 86% of individual income tax collected in 2023 came from those with taxable incomes of over RM100,000 a year (from RM8.33k per month). The total individual income tax for 2023 came up to RM37.8 bil, which means the high-earners paid about RM32.5 bil in income tax. The RM37.8 bil in income tax collected also made up about 22% of the total direct tax collection of RM171.3 bil. The government recognised that the top 20% of taxpayers, namely those with taxable incomes of over RM1 mil, played a “substantial role in bolstering Malaysia’s fiscal resources”. The government also affirmed it will focus on improving tax administration efficiency and encouraging tax compliance.

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) imposed travel bans on 16,800 people between January to May 2025 due to RM1.2 bil in unpaid taxes (average of RM71.4k per person). This is part of the IRB’s efforts to strengthen tax compliance and enforcement. The findings were part of the Public Accounts Committee’s report on tax collection and receivables, which also addressed the e-invoicing initiative. The IRB reported that 283 mil e-invoices had been transmitted and validated since its launch in August 2024, involving about 29,000 taxpayers. The committee further urged the IRB to step up public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting the digital economy sector.

Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa reported that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) received 1,009 public complaints related to abandoned or dilapidated vehicles between January and May 2025. She also reported that 992 of the cases were successfully resolved, while the remaining 17 cases were still under investigation. Still, the issue is becoming more urgent as more vehicles are being left unclaimed, with common scenarios being that the vehicle owner passed away without any acting heirs, the vehicles were left unclaimed at workshops, or that the vehicles were kept for sentimental reasons. The complaints were spread across all 11 parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur, with the highest number recorded in Segambut with 163 complaints.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

A bit of a sad read today. What’s happening Malaysia? 

5 suspects to be charged in Zara Qairina's case
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has initiated criminal charges against 5 suspects (all minors), over their alleged role in bullying the late student Zara Qairina before her tragic death. The AGC reaffirmed that these legal proceedings will run separately from the scheduled inquest set to take place in September 2025.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that the police investigations into the tragedy were thorough, with compiled statements recorded from 195 witnesses which revealed elements of bullying, neglect and sexual harassment. The police’s investigation included an examination into Zara’s diary, a 51-page document detailing personal accounts of her struggles.

Just recently, a PAS member was reported to have called for the resignations of Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution over their respective ministries’ failure to address this incident. While not defending the Government’s shortcomings in handling this case, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has since warned all parties against politicising this tragedy.

College student found murdered in Subang Jaya home
Subang Jaya locals were rocked with a gruesome scene as a female college student was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her living room. According to Subang Jaya police chief ACP Wan Azlan Wan Mamat, the police received a call at about 11.55am from the victim's father who found his daughter dead.

The student was suspected to have been murdered, with the victim's acquaintance linked to the case. The police had also stated that there were no signs of break-ins or valuables stolen. Following a post-mortem at Serdang Hospital, the victim’s cause of death was confirmed to be due to bleeding around the neck, with injuries to the muscles and bones the result of manual strangulation.

12-year-old children fall prey to 'pil kuda' (aka meth + caffeine)
In Kota Baru, Kelantan, children as young as 12 are falling prey to ‘pil yaba’ (or ‘pil kuda’), a drug mixture which contains both meth and caffeine. (Not so fun fact: ‘Pil Yaba’ is produced within the infamous Golden Triangle region and Myanmar’s Shan state). These school students were influenced by peers and eventually lured by dealers who sell drugs to school students.

One of these former addicts who underwent treatment at Kota Baru Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre shared that he first spent all of his pocket money for just 2 pieces of ‘pil yaba’, and later even pawned his mother’s bracelet worth thousands of ringgit just to buy 10 pills for RM50.

Cases such as this one in Kelantan should not be a surprise, as Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi had stated that drug abuse in Malaysia had reached a “critical level”, having seen a 32.5% increase in reported drug users and addicts between 2023 and 2024. Besides these ‘pil yaba’, Malaysia is currently dealing with vape addiction, with parents even resorting to sending their children to rehabilitation centre. No wonder then that Singapore is treating vaping like a drug issue, with its Government imposing stiff penalties.

Shorts

1. 12 Malaysian opposition parties team up to check Madani government

   Perhaps inspired by Marvel and DC’s superhero/supervillain teams, a total of 12 Malaysian opposition parties have agreed to form a loose coalition. This political coalition, which remains nameless for now, will aim to champion issues that they believe the Madani government has failed to address. Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin stated that this coalition would allow party leaders, even those outside Perikatan Nasional (PN), to discuss key issues ranging from politics to economy to social matters or education. The line-up comprises diverse parties across political spectrums - Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Pejuang, Muda, MIPP, Putra, PPP, Berjasa, PSM, MAP, and Iman. Interestingly, out of these 12 parties, only 3 parties have seats in Parliament: PAS (43), Bersatu (25) and Muda (1).

2. Tengku Zafrul: 19% US trade tariff rate due to refusal to cross 'red lines'

   Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul was reported saying that Malaysia’s 19% trade tariff’s rates could have even been lower, had it been willing to cross certain “red lines”. (For comparison, Singapore’s 10% tariff rate is the lowest in Southeast Asia.) These “red lines” seem to include the Bumiputera policy which was a dealbreaker for Malaysia. Despite this, Tengku Zafrul, in an interview with CNBC, stressed Malaysia’s emphasis on engaging with the US, instead of seeking retaliation. Following the confirmation of Malaysia’s tariff rate, all eyes are now on possible signs of semiconductor tariff which will definitely pummel Malaysia’s (and also Southeast Asia’s) semiconductor sector if implemented, which can go as high as 300%.

3. Proton's RM82 mil EV plant to start operations in September 2025

   Costing RM82 mil, Proton’s first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) production plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak is set to begin operations in September. Designed for scalability, the facility is set to manufacture the Proton e.MAS 7 and e.MAS 5 EV models, and can expand its annual capacity from 20,000 to 45,000 units depending on demand. The new facility will feature specialised zones for battery assembly, high-voltage safety, and electrical testing among others. Despite this achievement, Malaysia cannot claim that the e.MAS model to be 100% Malaysian, as it is based on the Geely EX5 model in China.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Israelis staged nationwide protests against Gaza war
Israeli citizens staged nationwide protests to demand an end to the war and for the Israeli government to secure the release of the remaining hostages. The families of the remaining captives, along with many Israeli citizens, have criticised the Gaza City offensive, believing that the move would further endanger the lives of the hostages. Netanyahu has responded, saying that those who call for an end to the war without the defeat of Hamas are actually “hardening Hamas’ position and delaying the release of our hostages”. Most damning is that he said the protesters are “ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will repeat themselves over and over again”.

Trump: No Nato, no Crimea for Ukraine
Even as he is preparing to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy and other European leaders in Washington, US President Donald Trump has already told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back the annexed Crimea region or joining NATO (as in the organisation, not No Action Talk Only). These statements come after Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, with Trump now leaning on Ukraine to accept a deal to end the war. Trump pressing for an agreement favourable to Russia has been a fear of Ukraine and its allies.

Meanwhile, sources have revealed that Putin is offering for Russia to relinquish “tiny pockets of occupied Ukraine” while Ukraine cedes swathes of its eastern land, which Russia has been unable to capture. However, while Ukraine is not able to join NATO, Trump could offer “NATO-like protection” of Ukraine, with Putin supposedly open to that idea. This gives Ukraine a concession in the form of a security guarantee, though any such agreement would require a commitment from the US.

The Wrongs 

Watchmaker apologises for "slanted eye" ad after Chinese backlash
Swiss watchmaker Swatch issued an apology and pulled ads featuring images of an Asian male model pulling the corners of his eyes up and backwards in a “slanted eye” pose, following backlash and condemnation from Chinese netizens, with many commenting that the pose mimicked racist taunts about Asian eyes. This marks the latest setback for a firm that saw its shares fall by more than half since early 2023 and now faces a 39% tariff on its exports to the US. The watchmaker, which also makes Omega, Longines, and Tissot watches, is heavily exposed to the Chinese market, and saw 27% of its sales in 2024 coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau region. Still, Swatch reported a drop in revenue to USD8.4 bil in 2024, with the drop attributed to a downturn in demand in China.

Qantas fined USD58.6 mil for illegal pandemic sackings
The Australian Federal Court slapped Qantas Airways with a USD58.6 mil fine for illegally firing 1,820 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the airline also criticised for its lack of contrition. This fine also marked the largest fine ordered by a court on a company in the history of Australia’s labour laws. The judge stated that he “accepts Qantas is sorry”, but believes they are the “wrong kind of sorry”. USD32.5 mil of that amount will go to the Transport Workers’ Union, which brought the case against Qantas. This fine also follows a December agreement on a compensation fund of USD77.9 mil between the airline and the sacked workers. The airline saw a profit after tax of USD599 mil for the first half of 2025. In Rihanna’s words: Don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not, when I know you're only sorry you got caught?

Indonesia's "Gasoline Godfather" embroiled in USD18 bil corruption probe
Mohammad Riza Chalid, a reclusive, politically connected oil merchant who has dominated Indonesia’s fuel trade for decades, is currently caught up in a USD18 bil graft probe into the country’s state-owned oil producer, Pertamina. Chalid, who is nicknamed the “Gasoline Godfather” for his key role in importing billions of dollars of oil products, is being seen as the “most audacious target” of President Prabowo Subianto’s anticorruption drive. The investigation into Pertamina has so far led to over a dozen arrests, including Chalid’s son, and the questioning of over 250 witnesses. Chalid himself is alleged to be the beneficial owner of a company that authorities believe secured a deal with Pertamina that enabled unjust enrichment through opaque fuel-storage contracts. There have been no formal charges so far, though Chalid also failed to appear after being summoned thrice.

Shorts

1. Foxconn, SoftBank to make data centre equipment for USD500 bil Stargate project
   The electronics manufacturer will be operating at Foxconn’s former EV factory in Ohio, with the equipment contributing to the USD500 bil Stargate project, which aims to advance US AI infrastructure. SoftBank has already purchased the site, revealing itself as the buyer after Foxconn confirmed earlier this month that it had struck a deal to sell the factory and its machinery for USD375 mil. Here’s hoping this isn’t the timeline where hostile aliens await us on the other side of high-tech gateways to far-flung reaches of outer space.

2. Scorching heat hampers Spanish firefighting operations

   Spanish authorities’ attempts to contain 20 major wildfires across the country have been hampered by the scorching heat, leading to the government deploying an additional 500 troops from the military emergency unit to support firefighting operations, bringing the total to 1,900. The blazes have forced the closure of highways and rail services to the northwestern region of Galicia, in what is being called one of the worst wildfire seasons in Southern Europe in two decades. So far, three lives have been claimed by the fires in Spain, with over 115,000 hectares burned.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Today: A bit chill, a bit brainless

1. Indonesia celebrated its 80th Independence Day with the viral Pacu Jalur aura farming dance performance that even got President Prabowo vibing to it.

mothershipsg

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2. The Art of Yo-yoing.

3. Row row row your boat - Edisi Toddler Tekno.

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