☕️ Yuna - the first Malaysian to hit 1 bil streams on Spotify

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

New 100-goal frontline minted – Since the 2013-14 season, there have been only five times when a front three in football scored more than 100 goals, of which three were achieved by the same trio, making it a rare feat. The latest trio to reach this milestone consists of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz, Bayern Munich’s front three. Barcelona’s front line of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar achieved over 100 goals in three back-to-back seasons from 2014-15 to 2016-17, scoring 122, 131, and 111 goals. The other trio to score 100 goals in a season was Real Madrid’s front line of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema in the 2014-15 season.

1,338,544 runners – That number marks a new record in the number of applicants looking to participate in the 2027 London Marathon via the public ballot. The results will be announced later this Jul, with the marathon taking place in late Apr. The number of applications shattered last year’s record of 1,133,813. The 2026 marathon had a record 59,830 finishers, was named the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world (raised about GBP150 mil (RM796.1 mil)), witnessed Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe become the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, and saw Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa break the women’s world record for a marathon.

54.33 seconds – That’s the new record for the women’s 100m butterfly, set by American swimmer Gretchen Walsh. This is also the fourth time Walsh has beaten her personal best to lower her own world record, which was previously 54.60 seconds. With her newest record, triple world champion Walsh is officially over a second faster than the second-fastest woman in the history of the event. Walsh is also the proud holder of more than a third of all sub-56-second swims in the event’s history.

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3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Malaysia objects to Norway blocking NSM missile export
PM Anwar Ibrahim has voiced strong objections to Norway after it revoked the export licence for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system linked to Malaysia’s naval upgrade programme. In a statement, he said the issue was raised directly with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre, stressing that Malaysia had fully honoured its obligations since the deal was signed in 2018. He described the move as one that could seriously affect Malaysia’s defence readiness, especially the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) modernisation plans, while also raising concerns over the wider regional balance.

He added that agreements of this nature should be treated as firm commitments, not something that can be withdrawn abruptly, warning that such actions could affect confidence in long-term defence partnerships. The export licence withdrawal comes under Norway’s tightened export control policy. The NSM contract, signed in Apr 2018 with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, was valued at EUR124 mil (RM571.9 mil) and was meant to equip six LCS vessels. The development leaves Malaysia’s LCS modernisation plans facing renewed uncertainty as authorities assess the way forward.

Defence ministry sets up committees after missile deal cancellation
The Defence Ministry has formed two committees following the cancellation of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) deal, one to look into legal action and compensation claims, and another to identify replacement missile systems for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia has already paid nearly 95% of the contract value, more than RM500 mil. He added that the replacement system must be compatible with the ships’ existing systems, and integration could take several months before it is fully ready for use.

Malaysia considers EV truck incentives amid high diesel costs
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government is looking at incentives to push more transport operators to switch to electric trucks as part of efforts to cut diesel subsidy costs and support Malaysia’s net-zero target by 2050. He said the biggest hurdle right now is cost, with EV trucks still about two to three times more expensive than diesel ones, which is why options like tax exemptions are being discussed.

Another major challenge is charging coverage, especially for long-distance routes, with current EV ranges at around 300-400 km compared to trips of up to 800-900 km like Kedah to Johor, meaning multiple charging stops would still be needed along the way. The shift, however, will depend on whether the ecosystem can catch up.

Did you know Tesla has EV trucks?

1 bil streams later, Yuna makes Malaysian history!
Malaysian singer Yuna has just hit a major milestone, becoming the first Malaysian artist to cross 1 bil streams on Spotify, a moment she says still feels a bit unreal. The 40-year-old said she never set out chasing numbers, explaining that she’s always focused on making music she genuinely enjoys. At a press conference, she admitted she only learned about the milestone after fans started flooding her with congratulatory messages. 

While she described it as a “dream come true,” she also said it feels like a fresh start creatively, pushing her to think about what comes next in her music journey. The milestone is seen as a shared achievement with fans worldwide, with strong streaming numbers from the US, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia.

Malaysian factories on alert as raw material crunch deepens
Malaysian factories could start seeing production slowdowns as early as June, with raw material shortages expected to bite harder if the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt supply chains, says PM’s economic adviser Nurhisham Hussein (watch BFM interview below). Manufacturers may need to cut overtime and reduce shifts as inputs run low. Many factories only have enough raw materials to last about two months. The impact could become more visible around June or Jul, when older stock runs out while new supplies are still delayed or unsuitable.

The concerns come amid ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route for energy and industrial goods as disruptions there can quickly ripple through global supply chains, including Malaysia. Locally, manufacturers are already seeing tighter supply conditions for key inputs such as petrochemicals, metals and packaging materials.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

When Xi met Donny: what happened
Two hours after meeting Trump in Beijing, China’s President Xi Jinping warned of “clashes and even conflicts” with the US over Taiwan. Xi added that Taiwan was “the most important issue in China-US relations” and hopes the US will reduce its levels of support for the self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory. Xi has made “unification” with Taiwan a core priority for his legacy and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve that aim.

Nevertheless, in opening remarks, Xi noted that 2026 marked 250 years of US independence and said that stability in the US-China relationship was necessary for the world. Beijing hopes to use the meeting to recalibrate US-China ties and lay the foundation for a stable and, optimistically, predictable trade relationship going forward. Meanwhile, the US seems to focus more on getting Beijing to help on the Iran crisis (China buys 90% of Iran’s exported oil). The Trump administration has also talked of establishing a “board of trade” with China to address commercial differences between the countries, but it is not clear what concrete outcomes will be achieved at this week’s talks.

The Southeast Asian Connection
Mass sex abuse allegations in Indonesia boarding school
Ndholo Kusumo Islamic girls' boarding school in Central Java has been forced to close down after its caretaker is suspected of sexually abusing dozens of female students over the course of several years. Founder and caretaker, 58-year-old Kiai Ashari, has faced allegations of sexual abuse and is thought to have a history of abuse dating back to 2022. One victim has now filed an official complaint against Ashari, suggesting as many as 50 others fell prey to the caretaker's sexual violence.

The case has provoked outrage in Indonesia and highlights a systemic issue of sexual abuse in Islamic boarding schools across the country. The PBNU Anti-Sexual Violence Unit (SAKA) said that cases of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools usually follow a similar pattern, often normalising, tolerating, and even allowing actions such as touching, hugging and kissing students, which could lead to an environment that promotes sexual violence.

Philippine e-wallet Mynt aiming for USD8 bil valuation in IPO
Mynt, which operates Philippines’s top e-wallet app, GCash, is planning to file for a domestic listing as early as Jul and is seeking a valuation of at least USD8 bil (RM31.4 bil). If completed, the offering would rival the roughly USD1 bil raised by food company Monde Nissin in 2021, the Philippines' largest IPO to date.

GCash is used by 94 mil Filipinos in a country with a population of nearly 120 mil- that’s about 78% of the population. Users of the app can purchase prepaid mobile data packages, pay bills, send and receive money, access savings, as well as loans and insurance services. Interestingly, Mynt was founded in 2015 as a partnership between Globe Telecom, Ayala Corp and Ant Financial, now known as Ant Group. Ant Group also happens to be a major strategic partner, holding roughly 43% to 49% of TNG Digital in Malaysia. TNG Digital is also planning an IPO after crossing a USD1 bil valuation last year.

Shorts:

1. Your favourite chocolate might be “shrinkflating” you
   Mondelez, owner of popular Swiss chocolate bar Milka, has been accused of “shrinkflation” - a sneaky move made by manufacturers where product sizes are reduced, but prices stay the same. Consumer rights group in Germany alleged that the company had deceived shoppers by cutting the weight of Milka’s classic Alpine Milk bar from 100g to 90g without significantly altering the distinctive purple packaging. While Mondelez said that it did inform customers via its website and social media channels, the German court ruled that a clear notice should have been included on the packaging to avoid confusion. In 2016, Mondelez also faced backlash after widening the gaps between Toblerone’s triangular chunks, before reverting to its original shape two years later. Don’t mess with chocolate lovers!

2. Another cruise crisis: Gastroenteritis on board
   1,233 passengers and 514 crew have been prohibited from leaving a British cruise ship Ambition, after nearly 50 suspected gastroenteritis cases were reported on board. The ship is docked in the southwestern city of Bordeaux, after travelling from Belfast and Liverpool. The regional health authority said there was no indication the apparent stomach flu outbreak was linked to a hantavirus cluster reported on the luxury ship MV Hondius, which had travelled between Argentina and the Canary Islands. Gastroenteritis, often referred to as stomach flu, commonly causes vomiting and diarrhoea. While highly contagious, it is usually not serious, although it can sometimes lead to complications such as dehydration.

3. Carrick at the wheel?
   Former United midfielder Michael Carrick, 44, is expected to be recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the permanent boss of Manchester United soon, following his success at securing qualification for next season's Champions League during his stint as caretaker head coach. Carrick has won 10 of his 15 matches in charge, losing just twice, to guide United from seventh to third in the Premier League table. No Premier League club has won more than the 33 points Manchester United have collected since his appointment. He also oversaw victories over title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal as he won each of his first four matches in charge.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Weekend for parenting

1. Child brain expert ranks and explains best cartoons for child’s brain development.

2. Entitlement explained by a certified parenting coach. Entitlement isn’t about the child getting everything they want, but about not being able to handle it when they don’t get things they want. Low frustration tolerance.

3. A sports medicine physician explaining whether your child should specialise early in one sport or play multiple sports?

A joke for parents. Comparing Ms Rachel character to porn, setting unrealistic expectations of women. Have a good laugh and happy weekend!