☕️ Abang Bomba myth debunked - significant number of Fire & Rescue Department staff are obese

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

1,181 officers and personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department have been identified as obese. The director-general of the department, Nor Hisham Mohammad, revealed that a significant number of their staff are classified as obese, while an additional 229 personnel suffer from various health issues. These health problems include chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as coronary, respiratory, and muscular issues, with some individuals experiencing multiple conditions. Abang Bomba myth debunked.

As the Malaysian Prisons Department marks its 235th anniversary, its primary focus is the implementation of the Prison Reform Agenda, which aims to enhance rehabilitation, management, and infrastructure within the correctional system. As of March this year, the nation's prisons held 86,917 inmates, surpassing their total capacity of 74,146. However, initiatives introduced in 2020 have contributed to a 10.15% reduction in overcrowding.

Despite years of concerning news about declining global birth rates, preliminary data from the CDC indicates a positive trend in the US, with a 1% increase in the birth rate in 2024. This rise was primarily driven by women in their early 40s, who had 2% more children in 2024 compared to 2023. Women in their 30s and late 20s also experienced slight increases in births. According to the CDC's 2024 findings, women between the ages of 30 and 34 had the highest number of children, followed by those in their late 20s.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

A weekend of firsts for Malaysia

China’s Trensor first overseas plant — The leading Chinese manufacturer of pressure sensors, Trensor Co Ltd, is investing RM100 mil in building its first overseas manufacturing plant here in Penang Technology Park. Once completed, the plant will employ 200 skilled workers and solidify both the electric & electronics (E&E) and automotive sectors in the country, as the pressure sensors built by Trensor are used in cars, focusing on the North American and European markets.

First commercial producer of heavy rare earths outside China - Australian-based Lynas Rare Earths has announced that its facility in Kuantan, Pahang, is the first non-Chinese commercial producer of heavy rare earths, specifically dysprosium oxide, and will soon also produce another rare earth, terbium, in June. Dysprosium oxide has many applications, which include being utilised as control rods in nuclear reactors due to its high thermal neutron absorption cross-section. US gonna want to bff Malaysia now.

The country’s first badminton women’s doubles win in the Thailand Open - Malaysia’s badminton women of steel pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, made history after winning the nation’s first ever women’s double title in the Thailand Open, since the tournament began 41 years ago. The world No. 4 duo secured a straight-sets victory (21-16, 21-17) over South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun and Lee Yeon-woo, who are ranked 105th in the world. With the Malaysia Masters just days away in Bukit Jalil, this result provides a major confidence boost for the national pair. Another doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, also won the men’s doubles title in the same competition, defeating Denmark’s William Kryger Boe-Christian Faust Kjaer, after the rubber set (20-22, 21-17, 21-12). Aaron-Wooi Yik’s victory also ended Malaysia’s 16-year title drought in the men’s doubles event at the championship.

Mega project windfall
MRCB Land Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), has secured an RM2.94 bil project to construct the new Kompleks Sukan Shah Alam (KSSA). MRCB stated that, including the ongoing demolition works, the project will take a period of 48 months and is slated for completion in 2029. The KSSA project will be centred around a stadium that will have a capacity of between 40,000 to 45,000 seats, which will be about half of the capacity of the old Shah Alam Stadium (80,372). The new stadium will also have an income-generation element via the multi-use retractable pitch, akin to Real Madrid’s new Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The KSSA project will also include an outdoor sports area, a parking plaza, and an integrated transportation terminal.

Previously, it was reported that the Selangor State Government would pay MRCB for the project, in the form of land swaps, instead of outright cash and has identified ten sites in Hulu Selangor and Klang. It was reported that the land will not be given all at once, but instead it will be swapped based on the progress of the project. It is not surprising that the Selangor State Government opted for the land swap option, as pursuing the cash route will certainly dry up Selangor’s coffers, as it has only RM3.4 bil as of 2023. As of late, MRCB is in the mood for land swaps, as it has recently concluded several land deals with the Ministry of Finance’s unit, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, involving a few parcels of land in Cyberjaya.

Shorts

1. Sarawak’s brighter and brighter future - free education for those already employed
   Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg is in full Oprah Winfrey mode, as he announced that the Sarawak State Government will fully sponsor higher education for Sarawakians who are already employed. The initiative will only be applicable to eligible Sarawakians who choose to enrol in state-owned institutions of higher learning, namely - Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, and i-CATS University College. Abang Johari added that he has not imposed any age ceiling for the free tertiary education initiative.

2. Corporate musical chair updates
   In another episode of corporate musical chairs, former head of Maybank Islamic banking arm, Muzaffar Hisham, has been appointed as the CEO of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) effective May 18. It will be a daunting task for Muzaffar to chart the future of the enlarged BPMB, after it has taken over the control of EXIM Bank and SME Bank earlier this month. On the other hand, Roshidah Baharom, after 11 years, has decided to step down from her role as Bursa Malaysia Bhd CFO effective May 17 to pursue personal interests. In the interim, executive vice president of group finance and corporate services, Rasmona Abdul Rahman, will assume the role of acting CFO.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Israel: Let’s talk ceasefire whilst we keep attacking
As ceasefire talks continue to dilly-dally in Doha, Qatar, Israel PM Netanyahu has announced a new extensive ground attack on Gaza named Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which they say could lead to the seizure of swaths of Gaza and the displacement of much of the population to its south. In Gaza, medical officials said they could not cope with the casualties from the most recent strikes. The Israeli military has killed at least 132 Palestinians, including children sleeping in tents, as it unleashed a wave of air raids across the Gaza Strip in the early hours yesterday. At least 36 people were killed and more than 100 wounded after Israeli warplanes bombed a tent camp sheltering displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Ukraine-Russia talks yield no ceasefire
Meanwhile in Europe, Kyiv and Moscow finally met to talk about its war since Mar 2022, a talk that lasted less than 2 hours in Istanbul, Turkiye. However, it did not lead to any ceasefire agreement, despite pressure from the US to end the conflict. While Russia expressed satisfaction with the meeting and was ready to continue, Ukraine was not very happy as they want the West to impose tighter sanctions on Moscow unless President Vladimir Putin accepts a proposal from Trump for a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine feels that the terms offered by Russia are unacceptable and “detached from reality”, as it issued ultimatums for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of its own territory in order to obtain a ceasefire. And so the war continues.

Diddy case trial begins
The much-awaited trial of US music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs finally started last week, following his arrest in September 2024 with charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Crowds of people have gathered outside the courthouse the whole week - a blend of journalists, TikTokers and true crime podcasters and the average NY locals. Prosecutors accused Combs of operating a criminal enterprise that facilitated his drug-fueled sex sessions, referred to as “freak-offs”, involving paid sex workers. They allege that Combs used threats, violence and drugs to coerce women into participating in the freak offs. Last week’s testimonies came from the prosecution’s star witness, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs from around 2007 to 2018 and was also allegedly one of the victims in Combs’s said activities.
Watch: CCTV shows Diddy assaulting Cassie in LA hotel (warning - disturbing)

Cassie went on detailing alleged physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, including accusations that he raped her in 2018 after their breakup. On Friday, she addressed a USD20mil payout Comb’s gave her after she filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023, which she said she would give back if it meant she would never have taken part in his "humiliating" drug-fuelled sex parties. The trial is expected to last around seven more weeks, in which, if convicted, Diddy will end up in prison for life. A jury of 12 – eight men and four women – was seated for the trial. May justice prevail.

Shorts

1. YouTube’s MrBeast accused of exploiting Mayan pyramids

   King of YouTube, MrBeast, is now facing accusations from the Mexican authorities for his latest Mayan pyramids video, in which he was seen filming at a Mexican archaeological site but appeared to be promoting his chocolate products to his viewers. A spokesperson of MrBeast said that they had obtained a permit for the filming, however the Mexican authorities said they never authorised the use of heritage site images for trademark or advertising. The video also showed that Mr Beast claimed to be holding an ancient pre-Hispanic mask, which the authorities said was false. The length people go for content.

2. 2 crews killed as Mexican Navy ship crashes into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge

   A huge Mexican Navy sailing ship crashed onto the Brooklyn Bridge (watch here) in New York City yesterday, leading to the death of 2 crew members and injuring 22 others. The ship had just left the dock in southern Manhattan when it lost power and headed for the bridge, snapping all three of its masts in the collision that caused panic among the people onboard. Meanwhile, the 142 year-old-bridge was spared from significant damage. The incident is the second deadly ship crash into a bridge in the US in a little over a year, after a vessel smashed into a bridge in Baltimore in Mar 2024, causing it to collapse and killing six road workers. Like straight outta a movie scene - watch here.

3. Researchers found energy drinks ingredient elevates risk of blood cancer

   Energy drinks like Red Bull and Celcius have gained a huge popularity these days thanks to its “energy boosting” claims, but a recent study published in Nature journal has discovered that one of its main ingredients, taurine, could potentially increase the risk of blood cancers when taken excessively. While taurine is also available in natural food, the study suggests that excessive intakes of taurine through energy drinks could exacerbate leukemia by providing additional fuel for cancer cells. The study is also a part of a larger effort to find whether taurine may also contribute to the spike of other cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

4. Crystal Palace seals historic FA Cup final win against Man City

   Another humbling moment for Manchester City. Underdog Crystal Palace sent its fans into euphoria as they stunned Man City 1-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday, winning its first major trophy in their 164-year-old history. Palace player Eberechi Eze scored the winning solitary goal, while Man City was said to be wasting loads of chances for a goal, including a penalty. City's second successive Cup final loss summed up a harrowing campaign in which they have been dethroned as the powerhouse of English football and will end without a domestic trophy for the first time since Pep Guardiola's first season in charge 2016-17.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. Politicians — spin when it’s convenient for them.

2. The archeology of pigs from the lens of society, economy and religion.