☕️ Gerik bus crash: Driver pleads not guilty, no mechanical failure identified

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

Contrary to popular claims that most Malaysian degree holders earn below RM3,000, official figures paint a more optimistic picture. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported a median salary of RM4,409 and a mean salary of RM4,933 for graduates in 2023. These statistics provide a broader and more accurate average across various industries, moving beyond the narrower focus on entry-level positions in specific sectors. Further supporting this, MYFutureJobs, Malaysia's national job matching platform, indicated an average advertised salary of RM4,537 for graduate-level jobs as of April 2025. Additionally, PERKESO’s Data Placement 2024 showed the average salary for graduates entering PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) occupations was RM3,598.

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants who had been granted special temporary permission to stay in the US are now being told they must leave the country immediately. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans previously shielded from deportation will receive notices to depart. By the end of November 2024, a total of 531,670 people had been granted permission under this program, which the DHS credited with a 98% decrease in illegal crossings from citizens of these four countries. The DHS is offering travel assistance and a USD1,000 "exit bonus" to migrants without legal permission who voluntarily leave the U.S.

Saudi Arabia has placed its security forces on the highest level of alert for this year's Haj, as over 1.8 mil pilgrims are set to perform the annual pilgrimage. Specifically, the General Authority for Statistics reports that a total of 1,833,164 Muslims are expected, comprising 1,611,310 international pilgrims and 221,854 domestic pilgrims. The heightened security measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of all participants and the smooth conduct of this significant religious event.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Tax stuff

No SST on homes, only luxury building materials affected
Residential properties under the Housing Development Act (HDA) are exempt from the Sales and Services Tax (SST), including serviced apartments on commercial titles intended for housing use, Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming confirmed. He clarified that SST is based on land title or use, and a Business-to-Business (B2B) exemption prevents cascading taxes. Only 2% of 400 building material tariff codes see a tax hike, covering items like laminated glass and vats, while core materials like cement and sand remain at 0%.

No GST comeback, unless min wage RM4k, says Anwar
PM Anwar Ibrahim has ruled out reintroducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying it would burden low-income groups. Speaking in Lumut on June 15, he said GST taxes everyone equally, including fishermen, smallholders, and street cleaners, making it unsuitable under current economic conditions. Anwar said the government will stick with the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST), which targets imported and luxury items rather than essentials. The PM stated that if min wage rises to RM4,000, GST can go ahead. This figure, though, was mentioned in passing, and if there’s any basis to it.

Gerik bus crash: Driver pleads not guilty, no mechanical failure identified
Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle, 39, the bus driver in the Gerik crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students and injured 33 others, pleaded not guilty on Jun 14, 2025, to 15 counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of endangering public safety. MOT stated that an initial technical report by the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (PUSPAKOM) found there were no mechanical failures as claimed by the bus driver that led to the accident. The assessment covered the braking system, axle, tyres, steering components, and suspension components.

MOT also announced that Kejara, the demerit point system for traffic offences, will undergo a major revamp. According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the current system was ineffective and was seen largely as a failure, as points are only deducted after traffic offenders either settle their summonses or are charged in court, not when the summonses were first issued. What kind of flawed thinking went into this process, and how it got approved? 

KL breaks into top 20 global startup hubs
In a historic first, Kuala Lumpur has broken into the Top 20 Emerging Startup Ecosystems, ranking 18th in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) by Startup Genome, marking Malaysia’s best showing yet. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) credits this milestone to coordinated national innovation strategies, including the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) and KL20 Action Plan. Backed by over RM1.5 bil in early-stage funding over the past 2.5 years, a 44% surge KL’s performance in talent, funding, and especially market reach has significantly improved. With 4,400+ startups nurtured under the MYStartup platform, Malaysia now sets its sights on joining the Top 20 Global Startup Ecosystems by 2030. Kuala Lumpur’s rise is proof that with the right foundation, ambition can scale. What’s the recipient breakdown of the RM1.5 bil? The startup scene here doesn’t seem as positive as the report suggests.

Read the full report here.

Shorts

1. IGP Razarudin to retire, honouring his mother’s wishes
   Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain will step down on Jun 22, 2025, concluding his two-year tenure at the helm of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). The 61-year-old stated his 86-year-old mother’s wishes as the reason for not extending his contract, with his final marching-out set for Jun 20. Appointed in Jun 2023 after retirement, Razarudin succeeded Tan Sri Acryl Sani and informed PM Anwar Ibrahim of his decision to make way for new leadership.

2. Gunmen open fire in Brickfields, one dead
   A man was shot dead and 2 others injured in a brazen attack at a restaurant along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, around 10.50pm on Jun 13, 2025. Brickfields police chief ACP Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the 3 local men, aged 30-50, were dining when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire. One died at the scene, while the others are being treated at PPUM, with one in serious condition.

3. Anwar approves Mahathir’s RM500k Japan trip
   PM confirmed that the government approved nearly RM486,000 for former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip to Japan to attend the Nikkei Future of Asia conference last month, noting his entitlement under existing provisions for ex-PMs, despite Mahathir’s frequent criticisms of the current administration. Anwar clarified that he had no issue approving the seven-member delegation’s application and wanted to avoid appearing vindictive.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Israel-Iran exchange missiles
Since Friday, both countries have been sending each other ‘love letters’ from hell and supporting LGBT - ‘Let’s Go Bomb Tel Aviv/Tehran’. As usual, Israel initiated the unilateral, unprovoked assault on the grounds that Iran is on the brink of developing nuclear weapons. Israel’s attacks on Friday hit military and government targets, killing the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, the chief of staff of the armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, and several prominent Iranian nuclear scientists. The Israeli government claimed the strike was “preemptive” to address the inevitable, immediate threat on Iran’s part to construct the nuclear bomb. For years, the US and Israel have suspected Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which Iran denied, that its uranium enrichment programme is for civilian purposes.
Learn: Was Iran months away from producing a nuclear bomb?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an announcement distanced the US from the attacks, calling it an “unilateral action” by its close ally, signalling that it would like to stay out of this fight, though the Israelis said there was “full and complete coordination” with the Americans ahead of the attacks. Rubio also warned that Iran should not target US interests or personnel.

In this very specific context, perhaps, we can believe the US just a little bit. Would the US provoke Iran before getting into a negotiation? The sixth nuclear talks between the US and Iran were supposed to take place yesterday in Oman, but have been cancelled, which Tehran branded as “meaningless” following Israel’s largest-ever military strike on Iran and accusing Washington of supporting it.

Next level pyrotechnics:

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Russia returns fallen Ukrainian soldiers
Whilst Israel delivered Iran missiles last Friday, Russia, on the other hand, delivered more than 1,200 deceased Ukrainian soldiers, marking one of the largest repatriations of remains since the war broke out between both countries. This return was an agreement achieved during peace talks in Istanbul last month. However, Russia claimed the exchange was one-sided, with not a single one handed over. Ukraine suddenly postponed the handover of remains and prisoner exchanges on June 7, without explanation. Both countries have agreed in principle to exchange up to 6,000 bodies and prioritise the release of sick and severely wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under the age of 25.

New study shows scientifically proven way to fight colon cancer - exercise
The results of a 17-year trial involving 880 patients from around the world, each recovering from high-risk stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer treatment, were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting recently, and stunned the crowds of doctors from around the globe, gradually leading to a standing ovation. In the trial, exercise outperformed what adjuvant (or, secondary) chemotherapy can do to boost a patient's long-term survival, after surgery and primary treatment is over. Adjuvant cancer treatment is the kind designed to kill any extra cancer cells left behind, and prevent cancer from coming back. Patients in the study who followed the exercise regimen reduced their risk of death by 37% and risk of cancer recurrence and new cancer development by 28%.

The effects of exercise are known, but not the reasons why it is so great in fighting cancer. Some theories by the scientists: exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing tumour growth and preventing cancer’s spread and exercise potentially revving up the immune system to fight cancer. Read the full research here.

Btw, colon cancer is seeing a rise amongst millennials and Gen Z. This could be due to high consumption of processed food, heavy alcohol use, smoking, overweight and obesity, low-fibre, high-fat diets.

Shorts

1. Singapore Airlines takes a hit from Air India crash
   TIL: SIA holds a 25.1% stake in Air India. Its share price took a small dip by as much as 2.1% following the crash. SIA’s stake came about indirectly, after the Indian flagship carrier merged with Vistara in November

   

   2024, a jointly owned company by Tata Sons and SIA. SIA and Air India also have a codesharing partnership, which expanded to include 11 Indian cities and 40 international destinations. On another note, the sole survivor in this Air India crash was seated at 11A. A Thai singer-songwriter, who survived a deadly air crash in 1998, shared that he was also seated in 11A. The crash at Surat Thani Airport in southern Thailand killed 101 of the 146 people on board.

2. Massive fire engulfs Dubai skyscraper
   A massive fire ripped through the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle Tower in Dubai late Friday night, leading to more than 3,800 residents evacuating from 764 apartments in the building with no injuries reported. This isn’t the first time the tower has caught fire - in May 2015, a kitchen fire on the 47th floor spread to the floor above.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. The legal kind of druglords.

2. The Silicon Valley and Stanford University of the East - Hangzhou and Zhejiang University. This ecosystem has given birth to ‘Six Little Dragons’, one of them being DeepSeek.