☕️ Bersama to contest in Johor elections; is Negeri Sembilan next to dissolve assembly?

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

860,000 pigs – Sarawak aims to grow its pig population to that number by 2030 from 350,000 in 2025. The industry is projected to generate RM1.29 bil annually. The State Government is pursuing the expansion as part of efforts to modernise and strengthen Sarawak’s livestock sector. Infrastructure development is already underway, with 10 hectares cleared and basic facilities expected to be completed by 2028. Btw, do you know what is babi air?

17.3 mil square metres – Malaysia’s mall footprint covers that much area and is only expanding further as fresh retail spaces are already in the works. Contributing to this expansion is roughly 1.3 mil square feet of net lettable retail space from two upcoming major malls, Ombak KLCC and 118 Mall. The current mall footprint of 17.3 mil sqm is spread across 988 shopping complexes as at end-June 2025, with an occupancy rate of 79%.

34 new malls – That’s the number of new complexes in the pipeline for Malaysia, mostly concentrated in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor. The continued expansion of malls in Johor is largely aimed at Singaporeans, who were the top source of international tourists in Malaysia in 2024. Malaysia is also targeting 22 mil Singaporean visitors for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, with malls in the state allocating more space to dining options and moving beyond cinemas and department stores as default anchors.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Election fever
Bersama confirms Johor poll debut: Bersama has confirmed it will contest the Johor state election, with leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad saying the party will decide its target seats in a meeting with state representatives. The decision follows discussions involving leaders and selected members nationwide. Relaunched on May 17, the party said the Johor polls will be its first major test as it looks to introduce itself to voters and build its election machinery. It aims to use the contest to assess its strengths and weaknesses ahead of future elections.

As part of early mobilisation, Bersama will kick off a nationwide tour in Johor on June 6 at 8pm at the Danga Bay Convention Centre. The tour, called the Kancil Tour, will highlight the party’s 12-point agenda, with each state focusing on a different priority. After Johor, the tour moves to Melaka on June 7 before heading to Selangor on Jul 18. Bersama said the campaign will help it connect with voters and build momentum ahead of the Johor polls.

Talk of N9 assembly dissolution grows: Speculation over a possible dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state legislative assembly intensified after Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun abruptly cancelled his weekly post-exco media conference scheduled for 1.30pm on Wednesday at Wisma Negeri. His press secretary Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Shah said the briefing was called off due to “important and urgent” matters, without giving further details.

The last-minute cancellation fuelled political chatter that the state government could be preparing to dissolve the assembly ahead of a state election. Earlier, he had an almost two-hour audience with Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at Istana Hinggap. The timing added to political discussion after Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and state leaders held a special meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at the Mentri Besar’s official residence.

Business
AirAsia Philippines ordered to halt operations: The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has ordered Philippines AirAsia to cease operations at all airports under its jurisdiction over alleged unpaid airport-related charges amounting to PHP271.94 mil (RM17 mil). The directive, issued on June 2 by CAAP director-general Lt Gen Raul L Del Rosario, requires the airline to stop operations within three calendar days of receipt.

The regulator said the amount covers air navigation charges, landing and parking fees, passenger service charges and other airport-related assessments. It added that despite repeated billing statements and a formal demand letter dated May 11, no payment or settlement had been received, leaving the airline in default. AirAsia Philippines said it continues to operate as normal, with flights unaffected, subject to routine conditions such as weather. The airline did not address the alleged debt or the order.

RGB wins UAE gaming licence: RGB International Bhd has secured a vendor licence from the United Arab Emirates, allowing it to supply electronic gaming machines in the country as part of its regional expansion strategy. The approval, granted after an application submitted about a year ago, positions the company ahead of the expected launch of the UAE’s first legal casino at Wynn Al Marjan Island in 2027.

According to executive director Ganaser Kaliappen, the licence enables RGB to operate as an approved vendor for machines as well as related services and maintenance in the region, following payment of around RM10,000 in processing fees. RGB, which supplies gaming and amusement machines across several Asian markets, is targeting about 3,000-unit sales this year after securing around 2,000 orders so far. It delivered 1,924 units last year. The company said demand remains supported by machine-replacement cycles, with the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia accounting for significant annual replacement needs across their installed bases. Industry-wide, about 8% to 12% of installed gaming machines are replaced annually.

Alliance Bank, 99 Speed Mart launch 0% instalment plan: Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd has partnered with 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd to introduce a 0% instalment payment plan for bulk purchases via the 99 Bulksales platform (visit here). The scheme, integrated from June, allows credit cardholders including business users to convert purchases of RM500 and above into a three-month interest-free instalment plan.

The companies said the initiative helps SMEs manage cash flow, reduce upfront payment pressure and improve inventory management, while also supporting households with larger spending needs.

Shorts:

1. Azam Baki to sue Albert Tei
   Former MACC chief Azam Baki will proceed with legal action against businessman Albert Tei, instructing his lawyers to issue a legal notice over alleged intimidation claims. The move comes as police continue investigations under criminal intimidation provisions, with Azam having his statement recorded at Bukit Aman earlier as part of the probe. The dispute stems from allegations linked to attempts to expose an alleged corruption scandal involving political figures in Sabah.

2. Another PKR MP loses government funds access
   Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung says he is the second PKR lawmaker to lose access to the MyKhas constituency funds portal without explanation since May 29. He has questioned whether the move is linked to internal party discipline, while calling for transparency from the authorities and PKR leadership. Lee previously attended the Bersama launch event along with other PKR members, including Wong Chen.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Thaksin set for royal pardon in Thailand political saga
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is set to receive a royal pardon, paving the way for his release from the remainder of his prison sentence. Thailand’s justice minister confirmed that Thaksin, who was granted parole earlier this year after serving eight months, is among those selected for clemency in conjunction with Queen Suthida’s birthday on June 3. The 76-year-old billionaire had just over three months left on a one-year sentence that was due to end in Sept.

His legal journey has been anything but straightforward, from returning to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years of self-imposed exile, to spending months in hospital, receiving a sentence reduction, and later being ordered back into custody by the Supreme Court. There are still a few steps to go before it’s final, and the move just adds another twist to his long and controversial political journey.

If you doom scroll, don’t feel too bad
Ever opened your phone “just for a second” and ended up scrolling way longer than planned? That’s actually pretty common, with people estimating that more than a third of their phone time isn’t even intentional but happens while drifting between apps and feeds. On average, people spend around four hours a day on their phones, and it’s not just about self-control; phone design, constant notifications and endless scrolling features all play a role in pulling attention back in.

Many users already know about screen time tools but don’t use them consistently, and researchers also note that people aren’t very accurate at judging their own usage, so real habits may differ from what surveys show. While scrolling isn’t always seen as negative, since it can be relaxing or a quick distraction, the bigger concern is whether it actually leaves people feeling better or just more drained, highlighting how easily phone use slips into autopilot without us noticing.

AI
Instagram fixes AI flaw after reported account hacks
Instagram says it has fixed an issue where hackers were reportedly able to trick its AI support tool into helping them access other users’ accounts. The claims, shared online through screenshots and videos, suggest the chatbot could be misused to change emails and passwords by pretending to be the account owner and using location-based prompts. The problem has now been resolved and affected accounts are being secured, while also denying claims that world leaders were affected, calling them “totally false.”

The issue gained attention online after reports linked it to a wave of account takeovers, including a verified account once used by former US president Barack Obama, which reportedly posted content before being recovered. It’s still not clear how many users were affected, but the incident has raised concerns about how much control AI tools should have when it comes to sensitive account recovery.

Nvidia CEO says AI boom is delivering “insane” return
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says investors who backed the AI boom are seeing “insane” returns, pushing back against worries that massive spending on AI might not pay off. Speaking at a closed-door event in Taipei, he said the return on investment in AI has only recently “reset” and is now “insanely profitable,” arguing that questioning its value would soon look outdated. Huang also pointed to the huge amount of value already created by AI and highlighted how demand is spreading across chipmakers, data centre players and financial backers funding the ecosystem. His comments come as debate continues over whether the AI surge is sustainable or edging into bubble territory, especially with trillions already flowing into infrastructure and related technologies.

Alphabet raises USD80 bil in major AI funding push
Even the mighty Google needs to raise funding. Google parent Alphabet Inc is planning to raise about USD80 bil (RM317 bil) through a mix of share sales and financing deals as it steps up spending on AI infrastructure. The package includes a USD40 bil programme to sell shares gradually from the third quarter, another USD30 bil in share and convertible stock offerings, and a USD10 bil deal linked to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. It’s one of the biggest equity-raising moves ever and shows how aggressively big tech is pushing into AI.

The money will go into expanding its AI infrastructure, including its in-house chips that compete with Nvidia Corp, as the company leans into strong demand for AI services. Alphabet says it’s growing fast on AI, but analysts warn spending could still climb as investors back both big tech and newer AI players.

Gulf tensions flare again as strikes hit Kuwait
Things heated up again in the Gulf, with fresh strikes on multiple fronts adding pressure to an already shaky ceasefire. Kuwait took a direct hit from Iranian drones and missiles that damaged airport facilities, killed one person and injured more than 60, briefly shutting down operations at Kuwait International Airport before flights restarted after safety checks.

Bahrain also reported intercepting missiles and drones, while Iran said it had struck US-linked military targets in the region, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, the main US naval command base in Bahrain that oversees operations in the Gulf region. The US said some missiles aimed at Kuwait missed, and it later struck near Qeshm Island in response. The back-and-forth sent oil prices up more than 2%, especially as the Strait of Hormuz stays largely disrupted and talks between Washington and Tehran continue to stall despite earlier hints of a possible deal.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Food: Art & Science

1. Why is sushi served with wasabi? Flavour, and also, protection.

2. The Art of The Egg

3. Honey, even after thousands of years, won’t expire - the science behind it.