☕️ Anthony Loke declares war on Umno ‘traitor’

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

72 – That’s the number of baby dumping cases recorded in 2025, according to Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying. The minister added that between Jan and Mar this year, 18 babies were rescued from abandonment, with Selangor having the highest number of cases at 10, followed by two each in Sabah and Penang.

Almost USD100,000 (RM407,560) – A certificate for car ownership in Singapore costs that much now, marking an all-time high for costs of small models in Singapore. That’s the ‘license’ to pay on top of the price of the car. Fixed amounts of these “certificates of entitlement” are regularly auctioned, with each allowing car ownership for 10 years. This serves to limit the number of vehicles on the roads of the city-state to about one mil. Comparatively, Singapore has a population of 6.1 mil. The certificate auctions have made Singapore the most expensive city in the world to own a car. The price of one certificate is actually enough to buy four Toyota Corollas in the US. In Singapore, the same vehicle, along with a certificate, would cost SGD179,888 (RM567,347.50).

273,668 – That’s the number of road accidents in Malaysia recorded between Jan and Apr, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. This follows a record 790,614 cases last year, showing a worrying upward trend in road accidents over the past three years. Cases increased from 739,877 in 2023 to 778,159 in 2024. Police statistics show that passenger cars remain the dominant vehicle type involved in road accidents, accounting for between 60% and 70% of all cases. Accidents involving motorcycles account for more than 65% of road fatalities every year.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Loke declares war on Umno ‘traitor’
DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke has vowed to fight any Umno leader who tried to topple the Negeri Sembilan government, accusing the person involved of betraying the state’s constitutional monarchy system. Although he did not name anyone, his remarks were widely seen as referring to Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias, who led the state’s 14 Umno assemblypersons in withdrawing support for Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun in Apr.

Jalaluddin later reportedly attempted to form a new state government with support from Perikatan Nasional, but the move was said to have been blocked by the state palace. Loke said the coalition government should have remained united during the crisis instead of using the situation as an opportunity to bring down Aminuddin. He described the person behind the move as a “traitor” and a “rebel” against Negeri Sembilan’s constitutional monarchy system, adding that DAP would “fight them all the way” if the individual wanted to become Menteri Besar.

The political fallout came amid a wider dispute involving the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang Yang Empat, which reportedly led to rival claims over the state throne and chieftain posts. Unlike most Malaysian royal houses, Negeri Sembilan’s ruler is elected by the four Undangs rather than inheriting the throne automatically. Loke also warned Harapan leaders and campaign workers not to joke about or politicise the state’s customary system during the election campaign. He stressed that DAP supports the constitutional monarchy and said the party would apologise to the state’s traditional rulers if any member crossed the line.

For us rakyat, timely to remind ourselves of this quote:

“If you ask the grass, the zebra is the monster and the lion is the protector”

- Anonymous

All foreigners cleared, but Network School probe continues
The Immigration Department has found that all 266 foreigners inspected at Network School’s community in Forest City, Johor, were holding valid immigration documents, although investigations into the controversial community are still ongoing. Network School, a co-living and co-working community, came under scrutiny after concerns were raised over its operations, including claims that some members (i.e. from Israel) may have used second-country passports to enter Malaysia. The inspection was carried out on Jul 14 in a joint operation involving the Iskandar Puteri City Council, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Johor State Secretary’s Office and police. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the checks covered foreigners from 40 countries, with all individuals found to have valid documents based on current records.

Despite the initial clearance, the Immigration Department said further investigations would continue to ensure compliance with immigration laws, entry conditions and relevant regulations. Authorities will also investigate possible issues involving identity fraud, misuse of travel documents or immigration facilities, and breaches of pass conditions. The Home Ministry’s investigation will examine the identities, nationalities, travel documents, immigration passes and purpose of entry of those linked to Network School. The issue gained wider attention after claims surfaced that some Israelis may have been among the community’s members despite Malaysia’s ban on Israeli passport holders. The controversy followed a promotional video featuring Israeli vlogger Nuseir Yassin, better known as Nas Daily, at Forest City last Oct. The video was later removed.

Malaysia eyes national oil reserve
The government is studying the need to create a national petroleum reserve stock as part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s energy security amid geopolitical uncertainty and global supply disruptions. PM Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was discussed during the National Energy Council Meeting No 1 2026, which also focused on ensuring the country’s energy transition plans continue smoothly under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). The move comes as countries around the world build strategic energy reserves to cushion against supply shocks. China, for example, has maintained strategic petroleum reserves as part of efforts to strengthen energy security and reduce the impact of global market disruptions (1.4 bil barrels in its oil bank - read here). Malaysia is now assessing whether a similar approach would be suitable to improve its resilience during uncertain periods.

Anwar said Malaysia’s renewable energy capacity had reached 31% of total installed capacity as of last Dec, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on coal. He added that initiatives such as the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, which now includes a battery energy storage system, would further support the country’s shift towards cleaner energy. Anwar said Malaysia needs to prepare for future supply disruptions while ensuring long-term energy stability as the global energy landscape continues to change.

Epstein-linked DP World ex-boss takes control of MMC Ports
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the former chairman and CEO of global logistics giant DP World, has taken direct charge of MMC Port Holdings, replacing group chief executive Azman Shah Mohd Yusof with immediate effect, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The move puts the leadership of Malaysia’s largest port operator in the hands of Bin Sulayem, who is also MMC Ports’ executive chairman. Bin Sulayem resigned from DP World in Feb following scrutiny over email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein that were released by the US Justice Department. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was at the centre of a major criminal case. Bin Sulayem has not publicly commented on the emails, and Reuters reported that he could not be reached for comment. Btw, Epstein is closely linked to Israel too.

MMC Ports, which is owned by Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s MMC Corporation, operates seven ports along and near the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. The group had previously been preparing for a potential IPO that could have become Malaysia’s biggest listing in more than a decade, but the plan was delayed. The Jul 12 memo instructed MMC Ports’ management and operating port CEOs to direct matters previously handled by the group CEO to Bin Sulayem’s office. The company said the interim leadership arrangement was aimed at maintaining stability, continuity and progress across its operations.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

All about Buffett
Buffett’s ‘exit’ strategy: Sell all and donate it to … his kids
Well, unless he can find the elixir of immortality, Buffett, with a net worth of USD147 bil, is planning to sell his Berkshire shares in the next eight years and donate them away. The catch is that he’s donating them to foundations run by his three children and another named after his late wife. So far, Buffett has converted 8,000 A shares to 12 mil B shares, and he is donating 1 mil shares each to the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation will receive the remaining 9 mil shares. Buffett has about 188,290 Class A shares and 1,162 Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway currently. Here’s the thing. You can avoid 23.8% of capital gains tax on the appreciation of the shares if you donate the stocks to a charity.

But he’s stopping donations to Bill Gates
Bill Gates' past association with Jeffrey Epstein appears to have caught up with him. Warren Buffett has decided to stop donating to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation weeks after the links between Gates and Epstein were revealed. In his latest announcement, Buffett has left out the foundation and instead named four foundations run by his children.

Before this, in 2006, he had committed to donate Berkshire shares to Bill Gates’ foundation ‘throughout his lifetime’. So far, he has donated USD47 bil (RM191.68 bil) over 20 years. Buffett’s reasoning was simple: ‘I don't want to be in a position where I know things... to be called as a witness.’

If you are wondering, it’s the same Epstein as the one mentioned above. Guy so toxic that anyone revealed to be close to him in court documents was immediately perceived to be guilty. Maybe Epstein is not a thing here for the majority of Malaysians to care, but hei, if it matters, he was closely linked to - Israel.
Read: Who has resigned over revelations in the Epstein files?

LVMH is eyeing USD1 bil (RM4.08 bil) Hyrox fitness deal
L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, is now in exclusive talks to acquire a stake in the hyper-popular Hyrox. Hyrox is an indoor fitness race, where participants run 8km and push a sled across a conference centre floor. Here’s what the race looks like:

Hyrox participants have skyrocketed from just 670 in 2017 to 425,000-550,000 across more than 80 events in 30 countries in the 2024/2025 season. Based on its EBITDA numbers, the company is now valued between GBP700 mil (RM3.83 bil) and GBP1 bil. The company projects to generate about USD260 mil in revenue this year.

Hyrox has gained enough hype and recognition that gyms and participants showcase their times for the Hyrox events, effectively providing free marketing. LVMH is pivoting hard towards the sports segment, as evident by its USD1 bil committed investment over 10 years to become Formula 1’s title sponsor. It has signed athletes Victor Wembanyama and Carlos Alcaraz and partnered with Real Madrid.

This sums up LVMH’s strategy: ‘Luxury capital is no longer associating itself only with indulgence; increasingly, it is associating itself with discipline and measurable physical achievement, because that is how its own customer base increasingly defines status’.

Could weight-loss jabs be driving PepsiCo’s snacks down?
Weight-loss or GLP-1 drugs are transforming how consumers buy groceries. These drugs help people lose weight and also reduce blood sugar levels by primarily reducing the appetite to eat. And that has led to reduced grocery spending. Market research company Worldpanel by Numerator found that households with at least one GLP-1 user reduced their spending on groceries by GBP418 (RM2,286) per month. This was backed by peer-reviewed research by Cornell University that found households spent 5% less on groceries six months after starting GLP-1.

A PwC analysis found that GLP-1 adoption has increased to 21% of US households in May 2026 (that’s 1 in 5 households - in Malaysia, I am personally hearing more people using similar drugs), up from 9% in Jan 2025. That has affected PepsiCo’s sales, where it relies heavily on snacks and soft drinks (which are unhealthy). Frito-Lay and Pepsi’s North American food business declined by 2% for 2Q 2026, even though it has cut prices by 15% on Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos. In the last six quarters, volume has declined four times, indicating that consumers are increasingly shifting away from the company and into … Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola, on the other hand, is focusing on healthier (relatively) options, low- and no-sugar products, categories like energy drinks and coffee, and beverages with functional ingredients. Coca-Cola’s share price has risen by 20% for the year, while PepsiCo’s has declined by 4%. It’s obvious where the money is going now.

In Malaysia, with one of the highest obesity rates, if this goes mainstream, we might witness a structural change in consumer products.

Shorts:

1. “No weed for you!” Kenya denies Rastafarians
   Bob Marley would have been pissed at this. Kenya’s high court has refused to grant Rastafarians the right to smoke weed on religious grounds. The country’s drug laws currently prevent this, and the court argues that they have not provided enough evidence that this restricts their religious freedom. The petition was ‘dismissed in its entirety’. Possession of weed is punishable with 10 years in prison and has frequently been used by the Kenyan police to harass users. Rastafarians use weed as part of their religious meditation and the religion has continued to grow among young people in Kenya.

2. Social media curfew for UK teens
   The bans just keep on coming in the UK. After it announced plans to ban social media for UK teens below the age of 16, the UK government is taking it a step further to introduce an overnight social media curfew for teens aged 16 and 17 from 12am to 6am. Features designed to keep users scrolling would be turned off by default. Tech companies would be legally required to implement this curfew. However, users can simply change the default settings and switch off the curfew. The first set of regulations on social media will be presented to parliament by the end of the year, where measures are expected to be enforced by Spring 2027.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. The government via the Statistics Department, just released a death calculator! Check it out here. In my case, my heart will give up on me.

2. If you are under probation, know your legal rights.

3. Hendry, a pharmacist, ranks kopitiam food for weight loss. For KFC, Subway, McD’s ranking - check out his IG here.