☕️ Election wave begins: Johor State Assembly dissolved, election coming soon

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

10,781 units – According to the Department of Statistics, that was the number of new e-motorcycles registered in 2025, a mere 1.53% of the 704,714 new motorcycles registered that year. By comparison, electric vehicles accounted for 5.15% of the 870,327 cars registered last year at 44,813 units. From 2015 to 2025, electric car adoption expanded at an average annual rate of 95%, while e-motorcycles grew at a slower pace of 45%. The gap has continued into 2026, with electric cars recording 14,591 registrations as of 31 Mar compared to just 2,764 e-motorcycles.

246,229 vehicles – Chinese EV maker Nio recalled that number of vehicles earlier this year due to a software issue that posed safety hazards. This marked the largest recall by a Chinese electric vehicle maker and included models ES8, ES6, and EC6 that were manufactured between Mar 16, 2018, and Jan 16, 2023. The total number of vehicles recalled is equivalent to roughly three-quarters of Nio’s 2025 sales volume. The software issue could have led to a brief blackout of the instrument cluster and central control screen.

99% of fares – Ride-hailing platform inDrive recently concluded a campaign under which it charged drivers a commission rate of just 1%, meaning drivers kept 99% of their fares throughout the campaign. Currently, the standard commission rate for e-hailing in the country is legally capped at 20% of the driver’s fare, while taxis using e-hailing apps have a 10% cap. Most platforms operate near the legal maximum.

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3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Moving Malaysia
KLIA Aerotrain back to 24-hour service after upgrades
KLIA Terminal 1’s aerotrain is officially back to operating around the clock, with full 24-hour service resuming on June 1 after completing a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) overseen by the Transport Ministry, the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and independent railway assessors.

CAP, which began in Nov 2025, involved inspection and rectification works, system testing, validation and trial operations, including 24-hour and 48-hour endurance tests under both passenger and non-passenger conditions. The aerotrain has also recorded 100% service availability since Jan 2026. While the service will continue operating 24/7, routine maintenance will still take place daily between 12am and 5am, with one train remaining in service during that period to ensure passengers can continue travelling between terminals. Only if there’s a Polymarket to bet on when the next breakdown is.

Aeroline exits Kuala Lumpur routes over terminal rules and costs
Aeroline is pulling out of Kuala Lumpur entirely after being directed to operate only from licensed terminals such as 1 Utama, LaLaport and IOI City Mall. The premium coach operator said the available options do not fit its business model, arguing that higher terminal charges and operational costs would eventually be passed on to passengers, undermining its long-standing focus on value and service quality.

The facilities available would make it difficult to offer the experience customers are used to, including lounge access, refreshments and personalised check-in support. The company had earlier shifted to TRX as a temporary setup, but said the latest directive left it with no real option. The move means Kuala Lumpur will no longer serve as a boarding or drop-off point for Aeroline’s routes to destinations such as Singapore and Penang.

Social media ads to require identity verification under new scam rules
All advertisers using sponsored ads on social media platforms will have to verify their identities, as part of new rules aimed at curbing online scams. The requirement falls under the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC), which comes into force on June 1 under the Online Safety Act 2025, and applies to major platform providers with more than 8 mil users in Malaysia. The move is meant to tackle cases where scammers use sponsored posts featuring well-known personalities to push fake investments, gambling content and other frauds, while hiding who actually paid for the ads.

Platforms will now be required to verify both individuals and companies before allowing them to run paid ads. The government has also introduced age-verification rules for users under 16, requiring identity documents such as MyKad or passports during registration, alongside a Child Protection Code to strengthen online safety.

The election wave starts: Johor State Assembly dissolved, paving way for state election
Johor’s State Legislative Assembly has been dissolved, clearing the way for a fresh state election in what feels like a pretty quick political reset. The announcement was made by Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Monday after receiving consent from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, earlier the same day. The move is meant to pave the way for the democratic process once the Election Commission sets the dates. 

Onn Hafiz also stressed the need for a stable and strong government, while urging all parties to stay respectful and mature during the campaign period. In the 2022 election, Barisan Nasional secured a super majority win - 40 of 56 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan with 12, Perikatan Nasional with three and Muda with one.

Shorts:

1. Perlis MB under probe after viral video of cow shooting incident

   Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has come under scrutiny after a video showing him shooting a cow before an Aidiladha sacrifice went viral online. Abu Bakar defended the move, saying the animal had become aggressive after breaking loose and posed a safety risk to those present. He said the cow was shot in the leg to stop it before being slaughtered. The clip can be viewed here - from the limited context in this video, the cow doesn’t seem to be in mengamuk state. Unsurprisingly, it has sparked plenty of debate online, with many questioning whether the situation could have been handled differently. Police have since opened an investigation and are looking into the firearm and ammunition used, with Abu Bakar expected to give a statement.

2. Vincent Tan considering sale of remaining Prudential Malaysia stake

   Billionaire Tan Sri Vincent Tan is reportedly exploring a sale of his remaining 30% stake in Prudential Assurance Malaysia, just months after offloading a 19% holding, part of a settlement with Prudential plc. Apparently, early discussions are underway and could value the insurer at RM20 bil or more, although no deal is guaranteed at this stage. Following last year’s agreement, Prudential holds 70% of the company, the maximum foreign ownership allowed under Malaysian insurance rules, meaning any buyer of Tan’s stake would need to be Malaysian.

3. Conspiracy surrounds “Konspirasi” after sudden pull from cinemas
   Local action thriller Konspirasi, which carries MACC-inspired themes, has been pulled from cinemas just seven days into its planned two-week run that started on May 21, even though it was screened in around 120 cinemas nationwide. According to Finas, the decision came after the producer, Elepfilm Entertainment Sdn Bhd, requested that screenings stop from May 28, and was not due to any order from authorities or cinema operators. The sudden move has raised some curiosity in the industry, especially as the film was still being promoted around the same time. Director Ghaz Abu Bakar said he was only informed via text message and was left without a clear explanation, even though the film was expected to run for the full two-week period. Funny enough, previously outgoing MACC chief Azam Baki attended the movie’s special premiere.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

News from the UN
UN warns 80% chance of El Niño from June to Aug
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a UN agency, has announced an 80% chance of the El Niño phenomenon developing between June and Aug, and has called for preparedness, especially in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, water management, energy and health.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns that lead to intensified floods, droughts and heatwaves in many regions. It typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts around nine to 12 months. In Southeast Asia, countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines can see reduced rainfall and higher temperatures. In Asia at large, fewer typhoons form in the western part of the ocean near Asia, and more form farther east towards the International Date Line.

UN announces Israel and Russia on blacklist for sexual violence in warzones
The UN has officially added Israel and Russia to a blacklist for sexual violence in war zones for the first time. It verified 31 cases of sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. In Russia, it identified 310 instances of conflict-related sexual violence.

The UN confirmed that the acts, committed by officers from the Israeli and Russian armed and security forces, were carried out against men, women and children, which included rape, gang rape, forced nudity, and violence to genitals. Israel rejected the allegations of sexual abuse and intended to break off relations with Secretary General António Guterres’ office, while Russia welcomed the report, saying it was "a crucial step on the painful road to truth and accountability".

Sports:
Steph Curry x Li-Ning
Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry has reportedly signed a deal with Chinese sports brand Li-Ning, under which they will collaborate on new products and launch Curry brand signature chain of shops in the US and China. It marks a major step in Li-Ning's push to become an international brand, alongside other Chinese sportswear labels like Anta.

Curry joins the growing list of the National Basketball Association (NBA) stars that have signed with Chinese brands, including Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler with Li-Ning and Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, who are partnered with Anta. Curry is one of the most recognised names in basketball, a four-time NBA champion, and widely regarded as one of the best shooters in NBA history. Deal value was not disclosed, but the earlier Under Armour deal was rumoured to be north of USD1 bil.

Serena Williams is coming back
Women’s tennis GOAT Serena Williams has confirmed her comeback after leaving the tennis arena for almost four years. The 23-time Grand Slam winner and mother of two will compete in women’s doubles at this month’s Queen’s Club Championships in the United Kingdom, after gaining a wildcard entry for the competition, which is seen as a warm-up for Wimbledon, the year’s third Grand Slam. Williams won seven Wimbledon titles and six at the US Open before stepping away from the game in 2022. In doubles, she won six titles at Wimbledon and two at the US Open – all with her older sister Venus Williams.

Serena made a cheeky announcement about her return on Instagram - everyone is too excited for her return.

Health & Medicine
Five Ebola patients healed in Congo outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) latest Ebola outbreak has recorded 263 confirmed cases, 42 confirmed deaths and 349 suspected cases to date. While most previous outbreaks were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, this one is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments. 

Nevertheless, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has hailed the recovery of five people infected with the rare strain, which can kill up to 50% of those infected. Medics in DRC continue to struggle with Ebola amid mounting public anger over stringent health protocols for dealing with victims’ bodies and the presence of armed groups on its territory.

New study allows breast cancer patients to safely avoid chemotherapy
A new study led by University College London (UCL) has revealed a way to distinguish between breast cancer patients who are likely to benefit from the infamous chemotherapy treatment and those who are not. Chemotherapy is commonly offered to breast cancer patients, but is also known to cause fatigue, nausea, hair loss, a weakened immune system and fertility issues.

The findings have enabled scientists to develop a DNA test that allows doctors to identify patients who are unlikely to benefit from chemotherapy, and don't need to go through all that unpleasantness for nothing.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. A series of explosions

   1. SpaceX competitor, Blue Origin (founded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos) saw its rocket go kaboom after a failed launch.

   2. A large explosion at a fireworks factory in Malta.

      Fortunately, in both cases, no casualties have been reported - so far.

2. Why so many tornadoes in the US?

3. A reminder to self - be grateful, as things could be worse. But never despair, keep fightin’.