☕️ Love scam allegedly linked to the death of a family of four

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

200,000 hectares – According to Vietnam’s agriculture ministry, the area dedicated to durian in the country has soared more than fivefold nationwide to that number over the past decade. This comes as farmers look to cash in on the surging Chinese demand for the fruit. Vietnam only officially entered the Chinese durian market in 2022 but became the country’s largest supplier by volume in 2025, ending Thailand’s near-two-decade dominance. Vietnam’s durian exports are also expected to reach USD4 bil (RM16.15 bil) this year, up from USD180 mil in 2021. An estimated 90% of these exports will be headed to the Chinese market. Malaysia targets USD229 mil durian exports by 2030.

10 – That’s the number of typhoons that have hit Japan in Aug, marking the first time in 60 years that 10 typhoons have formed in a single month. An expert believes this could be caused by the influence of a large-scale cyclonic circulation of air that has formed in the waters south of Japan, known as a “monsoon gyre”. This is a massive counterclockwise circulation of air over an area spanning several thousand kilometres and creates ideal conditions for the formation of typhoons. The monsoon gyre is believed to have formed due to the abnormally high sea surface temperatures off the coast of Peru in South America – the El Nino phenomenon. Learn: What is a monsoon gyre?

GBP4 (RM21.83) – The amount of gold in a modern smartphone is worth about that much, according to the Royal Mint of Britain. The mint has taken to e-waste as a source for the precious metal, starting with old Bank of England telephones, which contain about 30mg of gold each, worth about GBP3. The processing is done at a plant that was opened two years ago, which processes around 4,000 tonnes of e-waste a year, yielding about 400kg of gold. The plant uses a process that dissolves gold at room temperature. The precious metal is then collected and refined, before being used to make jewellery for the Royal Mint’s “886” brand.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Scam spree
Love scam link probed in family deaths: Police are still investigating whether an alleged RM260,000 love scam and investment scheme were linked to the deaths of a family of four in Desa ParkCity on Aug 27. A 48-year-old man died after falling from a residential building, while his 47-year-old wife and their two children, aged nine and seven, were later found dead inside the family’s unit. Post-mortem examinations found that the children died from stab wounds to the neck, while their mother died from sharp-force injuries to the neck and chest. Police also found a note believed to have been left by the man referring to losses and debts linked to an alleged love scam. However, police said none of the family members had lodged a report over the alleged investment, and the case remains under investigation for murder.

Retiree loses RM1.4 mil to phone scam: In a separate case, a 66-year-old retiree in Kuantan lost RM1.417 mil after receiving a call from a scammer who claimed he was involved in money laundering. The victim was told to open an Agrobank account and transfer his savings into it for checks. He later handed his bank card and PIN to a man who met him near his home. Over time, he transferred money from his EPF, Amanah Saham and Tabung Haji accounts, along with proceeds from pawning gold, into the account. He later discovered that the money had been transferred to six different accounts and withdrawn without his knowledge. This scam is known as Macau scam - learn more here on Bank Negara’s site.

Devastating. Really heartbreaking.

Tabung Haji RCI probe closes in
Eleven detained as probe widens: The MACC has detained 11 people in connection with investigations into issues raised in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji. Those detained include a former Tabung Haji managing director, a former chairman, several former senior managers, company directors, an Alam Maritim chief operating officer, a former legal adviser and a former minister. MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman confirmed the detentions as the anti-graft agency continues to investigate several cases linked to the RCI findings.
The probe has also widened beyond the original group of detainees. Abd Halim said another investigation paper involving the Al Rawda property investment in Saudi Arabia will be submitted to the Attorney-General, with charges expected next week. The case involves the lease of hotels in Makkah and Madinah worth SAR2.49 bil (RM2.69 bil). Two other investigation papers involving TH Marine, TH Alam and TH Alam Management, with investments totalling RM334.2 mil, have also been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

More charges may be coming: Abd Halim said a prominent figure could be among those charged next week, although the MACC has not revealed the person’s identity. Several others previously detained in the probe are also expected to face charges involving alleged abuse of power and cheating. He did not disclose the identities of those who may be charged and said the public should wait until the charges are read in court. The upcoming cases are expected to be filed in courts in Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan.

Asia OneHealthcare eyes RM10 bil IPO
TPG-backed Asia OneHealthcare has reportedly filed confidentially for an initial public offering (IPO) in Kuala Lumpur that could raise as much as RM10 bil. According to people familiar with the matter, the healthcare group submitted a draft registration to the Securities Commission Malaysia last week. If the listing reaches that size, it would be Malaysia’s biggest IPO since FGV Holdings raised RM10.4 bil in 2012 (Felda itself is going through its own Tabung Haji moment with arrests expected soon).

The filing does not mean the deal is confirmed as the discussions are still ongoing, while other hospital operators and private equity firms are also said to be interested in buying Asia OneHealthcare’s Malaysian assets. TPG has been weighing both an IPO and a sale for several months.

Asia OneHealthcare, previously known as Columbia Asia Healthcare, was acquired by TPG and Hong Leong Group in 2019. The company adopted its current name in 2024 after expanding its portfolio, including the acquisition of a hospital joint venture between Sime Darby and Ramsay Health Care. It also operates medical facilities in Indonesia and Vietnam. Other shareholders include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund. Malaysia’s IPO market has already raised USD1.5 bil (RM6.07bil) this year, with more than half coming from Sunway Healthcare’s listing.

Shorts:

1. Hannah Yeoh confirms divorce after 18 years
   Minister in the PM’s Department Hannah Yeoh and her husband, Ramachandran Muniandy, have divorced after 18 years of marriage (reason not publicly disclosed). The couple married in 2008 and have two children. Ramachandran, the CEO and co-founder of Asia Mobiliti, previously came under public scrutiny over the company’s involvement in Selangor’s demand-responsive transit project, which raised allegations of a possible conflict of interest. MACC’s preliminary investigation at the time found no signs of power abuse or conflict of interest involving Yeoh.

2. 55 Malaysians still missing in Nepal floods
   77 Malaysians have been found in Tibet and Nepal and brought to Kathmandu for repatriation, while 55 remain unaccounted for after floods and landslides struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Aug 26. Malaysia has deployed the SMART team to support search and rescue efforts and help locate affected Malaysians. The government has also contributed USD1 mil (RM4.04 mil) in humanitarian aid to Nepal.

3. Leatherbacks return to Terengganu
   Leatherback turtles have returned to Terengganu waters for the first time since 2017 after tracks and a nest were found along Pantai Marang. Fisheries officers recovered 44 eggs and transferred them to the Rantau Abang hatchery, where they are expected to hatch within seven to nine weeks. The leatherback, the world’s largest sea turtle, is endangered, making the latest nesting a rare sight along the Terengganu coast.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Iran conflict sparking more resistance

Global East is tired of Western-led blockades disrupting their rice bowls
A massive bloc representing nearly half the world's population has officially pushed back against Western military and economic dominance in the Middle East. At a summit in Bishkek, leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which commands 43% of the global population and 23% of the global economy, signed a joint declaration condemning the US-Israel war on Iran and the "unilateral coercive measures" of Western sanctions. Heavyweights like China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin backed Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. With global energy markets paralysed and trade through the vital Strait of Hormuz choked by the conflict, the bloc is fast-tracking its 2030 economic and energy strategies to bypass Western-dominated financial systems.
Learn: What is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

Why China refuses to play ball with US sanctions on Iran
Washington is finding out the hard way that its economic threats do not carry the same weight they used to. Despite the US slapping fresh sanctions on Iran, China is flatly refusing to comply, choosing instead to protect its own geopolitical and energy interests. Beijing currently buys a massive 90% of Iran's oil exports, single-handedly keeping Tehran's economy afloat. They easily bypass US restrictions using a sneaky network of "dark fleets" and small "teapot" refineries, settling transactions in renminbi to stay completely out of US jurisdiction. When warned by Washington, China's foreign ministry basically told them to back off, stating they "will do everything necessary to firmly safeguard its rights and interests".

This is not about ideological friendship; it is pure survival. China gets 40% of its oil from the Gulf, with Iran accounting for 10% of that share. If Iran collapses under US pressure, the entire Middle East swings back into the US orbit, leaving China's energy security at the mercy of Washington. Still, Beijing is keeping a calculated distance from Tehran to avoid completely wrecking its fragile ties with the US. Why risk a direct trade war when you can quietly buy cheap oil and let Washington play an endless game of regulatory whack-a-mole?

US strike hits an Iranian wedding in Sirik
In the high-stakes battle for the Strait of Hormuz, even a family wedding is apparently not safe from "surgical" airstrikes. During overnight attacks on the coastal city of Kuhestak in Sirik County, US projectiles struck a telecommunications tower and a residential building hosting a wedding. The attack killed four civilians and left over 60 others wounded. While local footage showed a 1.5-metre hole in the roof and slippers scattered in the debris, US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins was quick to deflect, stating, "The US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC."

This tragedy is just the latest in a grim pattern of "collateral damage" since the war flared up six months ago, claiming over 3,500 Iranian lives. Previous "accidents" include a strike on a Minab elementary school that killed 156 people, and another on a women's volleyball match in Lamerd that killed 21. The Iranian Red Crescent is now dragging the US to the International Criminal Court, but history suggests accountability will be hard to find.

Germany probes power grid sabotage amid hybrid warfare fears
German authorities are investigating two separate sabotage attempts on its electricity grid within 24 hours, sparking fears of hybrid warfare. This comes right after Berlin pointed fingers at Russia for a drone attack attempt at Leipzig/Halle airport last month, which the EU's foreign policy chief called "state-sponsored terrorism". The first incident involved "premeditated vandalism" at a substation near Bergheim, causing five lignite power plant units with a combined 4,200 MW capacity to go offline, though power supply was not affected. The second attack saw conductive material damaging high-voltage power lines in Brandenburg. These incidents are raising eyebrows, especially with the far-right AfD party, which favours closer ties with Moscow, topping polls ahead of a state election this weekend.

The timing is suspicious, as Alexander Throm of Germany's domestic affairs committee noted, with the country already on high alert for attacks on vital infrastructure. Moscow denies any involvement, but the pattern of these disruptions, from airports to power grids, points to a calculated effort to destabilise. How vulnerable is our critical infrastructure.

The Dyson news-sphere
Smile! You're on Dyson's USD500 toothbrush camera
Dyson has launched a USD500 (RM2,022) electric toothbrush and precision flosser that uses a built-in camera to spot gaps in your teeth and power wash away plaque. The high-tech device is designed to help those who struggle to keep up with flossing by automating the process. While Dyson's premium hair care products have a cult following, putting a camera inside your mouth twice a day takes the "camera-fication" of household appliances to a whole new level. Dyson has addressed privacy concerns on its website, stating that the camera is "optimised for short-range vision and detection only" and that all images are deleted from its app immediately after viewing.

This launch fits into a broader trend of smart home surveillance, joining video doorbells, smart fridges, and even AI toilets that monitor your health. While monitoring your gum line is hardly a national security threat, it raises the question of how much privacy we are willing to trade for convenience.

Shorts

1. France targets Shein and Temu with fast fashion fee
   France is making disposable fashion a lot more expensive by slapping new environmental levies on ultra-fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu. The fees have already started, ranging from EUR0.50 (RM2.34) for underwear to EUR12 for jackets, and could climb to EUR19.50 per garment by 2030. While French officials say this combats environmental harm, Beijing has called it a discriminatory trade barrier, especially since European giants like Zara and H&M are conveniently exempted. Saving the planet is apparently a lot easier when you also get to protect your own backyard. 

2. Uber lays off 10% of global staff to trim the fat
   Uber is cutting 10% of its global workforce, letting go of 3,300 employees to flatten its corporate structure and fund its ride-sharing and robotaxi ambitions. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced the restructuring, which will slash middle management by 20% and eliminate half of the teams with only one or two members. If you are more than seven layers deep from the boss, you are likely out. To make things even more painful, remote work is also virtually dead, with less than 1% of staff allowed to work from home.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

PSAs

1. Using Bollywood to teach how to put out a small kitchen fire without panicking. Step 1: Don’t use water directly - it makes it worse. Step 2: Don’t dance too long.

2. Fight fire with fire. Girls getting tailed by a creep got a taste of his own medicine in a recent incident in Singapore. Wise move, depending on context. In a group, good idea.

3. If you or someone you know has confidence issues with their bodies, share this with them. A powerful message.

4. It’s been a rapidly growing trend now with people buying cheap, very cheap, ultra cheap things from Temu (aka Pinduoduo). Cheap in prices, comes at costs in different forms.