☕️ BN x PN romance continues into Melaka state election

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

Second time in 145-year history — The US blood supply shortage has reached critical levels, with the American Red Cross saying this is the second time in its 145-year history that levels have been this low. Supply levels dropped by a quarter in June alone. The shortage also comes during summer, which is when the amount of blood needed by hospitals typically increases. This is due to an increased number of car accidents and more injuries from people spending time outdoors. However, this year also saw the American Red Cross - which is the largest single blood supplier in the US, providing about 40% - is dipping deeper into its reserves, with the organisation distributing 3,500 units more than usual during this time of year. Stockpiling blood is not an option either, as donated blood has to be used within 42 days because blood cells degrade over time.

RM354.51 mil — According to Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, that much in revenue was collected from the excise duty imposed on electronic cigarette or vape products between 2023 and Jun 11 this year. RM80.32 mil was collected in 2023, increasing to RM111.14 mil in 2024, then again to RM118.93 mil in 2025. For the period between Jan 1 and Jun 11, 2026, a total of RM44.11 mil was collected. However, the minister warned that the revenue collected was not a justification for allowing the sale of such products.

RM369 mil — That’s the estimated annual health and economic cost burden from diseases related to vape use, which far exceeds the amount of revenue from excise duty collected, according to the Ministry of Health. The ministry is strengthening control over high-risk products, including examining the proposal to ban bottled e-cigarette or vape liquids due to the high risk of being mixed with drugs and prohibited substances. According to the ministry, the government is currently focused on the implementation and enforcement of the Smoking Products Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for all smoking products, including vaping. Act 852 also involves the protection of minors and individuals under the age of 18.

A champion, proactive mum doing the work to take down vaping:

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Man arrested as MACC probes RM8 mil sapling contract
First sign something is done after the Tabung Haji RCI. A former estate manager of a rubber sapling supply company has been arrested by the MACC over the alleged misappropriation of a rubber sapling supply contract worth around RM8 mil. The suspect, a man in his 50s, is believed to have diverted contracts meant for subsidiaries of a statutory body involved in the plantation sector between 2015 and 2017. He was arrested after giving a statement at the MACC headquarters and has been remanded until Aug 6. The investigation stems from a special task force reviewing the findings of the Tabung Haji Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report released on Jul 29 - that was fast, but hope it isn’t some wayang and the big fishes walk away. 

Not sure if we did share last week - the RCI report was completed 3 years ago in 2023 but withheld. No idea why. Anwar claimed to prevent panic.

EV
Zeekr boosts ownership benefits
Zeekr Malaysia has reached a new milestone after delivering 5,000 vehicles since entering the local market, with the electric vehicle maker shifting its focus towards strengthening after-sales support and ownership benefits. The company has introduced an extended warranty programme offering up to eight years of coverage, along with complimentary EV health inspections for owners until Sep 30. Zeekr also unveiled its new charging ecosystem, Zeekr Power, with plans to roll out 30 ultra-fast charging stations nationwide over the next three years. The expansion comes as the company looks to improve charging accessibility and enhance the overall ownership experience for its growing customer base.

Govt weighs EV charging levy
The government is considering introducing a levy on every electric vehicle (EV) sold to help fund the expansion of Malaysia's public charging network. The proposal is being studied as the government cannot rely solely on carmakers to build charging infrastructure nationwide. While tax exemptions for imported EVs over the past four years helped boost adoption, they also resulted in RM3.3 bil in lost tax revenue, with investment in public charging stations falling short of expectations. The government says incentives will continue to prioritise companies that strengthen Malaysia's automotive ecosystem through local suppliers, technology transfer and high-skilled jobs.

Politics
BN-PN romance continues into Melaka
Talks over a possible Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional electoral pact for the upcoming Melaka state election appear to be gaining momentum, with Opposition Leader Dr Yadzil Yaakub confirming that discussions between leaders from both coalitions will begin soon. While he did not disclose how seats would be divided, Yadzil was optimistic an electoral understanding could be reached. He also pointed to the recent Negri Sembilan election as a sign that voters are responding positively to political cooperation and expressed hope the same approach could be replicated in Melaka ahead of the expected state polls later this year. BN Chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh has also said the coalition remains open to working with other parties under a "Barisan Plus" formula.

Loke steps down
DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke has stepped down as the party's Negeri Sembilan chief, taking responsibility for the party's losses in the recent state election. Loke, who led the state chapter for 22 years, said it was time to pass the baton to a new leader after DAP failed to retain the Chennah and Repah seats. Despite resigning from his state role, he will remain as the party's Secretary-General after receiving unanimous backing from the central executive committee. Loke has no regrets contesting the tough Chennah seat, describing it as the most challenging campaign of his political career and accepting the result as part of the democratic process.

The Drugged Up Pilot Saga
Pilot clears KLIA checks
Authorities say the Malaysian pilot arrested with drugs at an Indonesian airport had cleared all standard security checks before departing from KLIA. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the pilot's baggage showed no suspicious images during screening and did not trigger secondary inspection under existing procedures. Really nothing suspicious or collusion somewhere? He said the airport's screening system combines AI with human judgement. Ahh, human judgement.

The response follows Indonesian Customs' release of a chronology showing the pilot was flagged through risk profiling upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where officers allegedly found more than 70,000 ecstasy pills, 4g of methamphetamine and fake urine (well prepared to game the test). Police are now investigating how the drugs left Malaysia undetected, while AKPS will review its screening procedures. Watch:

The pilot’s supplier
The investigation into the Malaysia Airlines pilot arrested for drug smuggling in Indonesia has uncovered new details as Bukit Aman said investigators have identified a phone number linked to the transaction and are tracing the wider drug distribution network. Police are also examining how the pilot's luggage cleared security screening at KLIA and whether the case is connected to an international syndicate operating in Indonesia. Records show this is the fourth case involving a pilot being used as a drug courier since 2012.

KLIA security review
Authorities are reviewing security protocols at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) following a sharp rise in drug smuggling cases this year. Airport stakeholders, the Transport Ministry and enforcement agencies have agreed to strengthen screening measures, with narcotics detection now being treated as a top security priority alongside weapons and other contraband. Police are investigating possible insider involvement, including whether syndicates may have received help from airport staff. Between Jan and Jul 2026, authorities recorded 108 drug smuggling cases at KLIA, arrested 121 people and seized drugs worth an estimated RM108.3 mil, a significant increase from RM18.4 mil seized in the whole of last year. Police believe growing demand in Europe has made KLIA an increasingly attractive transit point for drug syndicates. Over the years of running this newsletter, the number of drug news stories seems to have shot up over the past 2 years.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng urged authorities to release CCTV footage showing the pilot and his luggage undergoing security screening at KLIA, after Indonesian authorities released footage of his inspection at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Lim said the footage should be released in full, with only sensitive areas blurred if necessary, arguing it would allow the public to see whether security procedures were properly followed.

Second drug arrest in Indonesia
Bukit Aman has launched an investigation into another Malaysian arrested in Indonesia over alleged drug trafficking, just days after a Malaysia Airlines pilot was detained in Jakarta on similar allegations. Police said the latest suspect, a 22-year-old Johor man, was arrested at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya after authorities allegedly found nearly 1kg of methamphetamine and more than 1,000 ecstasy pills strapped to his body beneath a corset. Indonesian investigators said the suspect admitted to acting as a drug courier for an international syndicate due to financial difficulties.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

The real winners of the war: oil companies
BP, Shell and Aramco profits from US-Iran war
British oil company BP's quarterly profits have more than doubled to USD5.73 bil (RM23.48 bil) in Apr through June, up USD2.5 bil from the quarter before, as the ongoing conflict in West Asia continued to disrupt energy exports from the Gulf. It is the highest quarterly profit since the first year of Russia’s war on Ukraine. BP revealed its climbing profits days after Shell posted its second-highest quarterly earnings on record after the war in West Asia began.

Shell doubled its net profit to almost USD10 bil in the same period, the highest since its record earnings in the months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The crisis has also helped Saudi ⁠oil company Aramco to a ⁠44% rise in ​net profits to USD32.69 bil in ​the same period, despite disruptions in ‌the Strait of Hormuz, owing to higher ​sales revenue for refined and chemical products as well as crude oil.

Trump slams oil companies for ‘making too much money’
Meanwhile, Trump has criticised oil companies for “making too much money” from the global energy market disruption caused by his war on Iran. The US president was referring to windfall profits revealed last week by ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the companies should “give some of that back to the public”.

“They’re making too much money based on a shortage,” he told reporters at the White House. “I don’t like it.” His criticism might be fuelled by the upcoming Nov mid-term elections where cost of living and energy prices would be one key issue among US voters, though it is unclear what he can do to reverse the impact on prices caused by the wars he helped escalate.

UEFA confirms legal letter served to FIFA
Is the exit door fast approaching Infantino? European football body UEFA has confirmed that a “preservation letter” - a formal legal document requesting the retention of data, documents, and electronic messages as potential evidence - has been sent to FIFA, following Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors. Infantino’s secretive proposal to raise USD4.2 bil (RM17.21 bil) from investors, including the New York investment firm of Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law) was dropped early on Saturday, days after the revelation provoked a global uproar.

Grab boosts earnings forecast on robust ride, delivery demand
Ride-hailing and delivery company Grab Holdings Ltd has increased its earnings and sales forecasts for this year: A predicted USD720 mil (RM2.95 bil) to USD740 mil in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, and a sales increase to as much as USD4.15 bil. The adjustment signals that a robust demand from Southeast Asian commuters is helping to absorb the impact of higher fuel prices stemming from the conflict in West Asia. In May, the company had forecast earnings on the basis of as much as USD720 mil and up to USD4.1 bil in sales. View its earnings deck here.

Feline folks
Terror-cat “Nine Lives” caught and killed
A large grey feral tabby named “Nine Lives” has been finally caught and killed in New Zealand, after being hunted down by trappers for three years for its rampage against one of the country’s rare duck populations, the brown teal aka pāteke. It is estimated to have killed dozens of the rare species, representing 1% of its population, alongside a host of kiwi chicks, native geckos and other native wildlife during its roaming in the Purerua peninsula, near the top of the North Island.

Online, people are divided with some being horrified and others lauding the elimination of the elusive feral cat for the greater good of preserving the wildlife and balance in nature. Nine Lives will form part of that debate long after its death, with its body set to be taxidermied for use as a tool to educate the community about the devastating impact of feral cats on native species.

Three lions died from possible heatstroke in a Japanese zoo
As Japan grapples with soaring temperatures this summer, three lions at a Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo have reportedly died from suspected heatstroke, with a few others under treatment. Since mid-Jul, 10 of the 16 lions at the zoo have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity". Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year, and parts of the country have hit 40°C in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation "cruelly hot day". Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, the heat in Japan comes with high humidity that is different from heat with dry air in Africa.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. Khairul Amin introduces his fourth product. He shares more about the making of this product here. Great products don’t sell - great storytelling does. Distribution matters more than the products- an important point that most entrepreneurs overlook.

2. Content creator Pudds explores Malaysia via her Mystical Malaysia series. In this video, on animism. Been a long while since we last heard this word.

3. TIL: Can renew passport fast fast at the airport - not the kautim way, the legit way.

Happy Wednesday!