☕️ Malaysia 2025 Long Weekend Guide

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

147 policemen were dismissed in Malaysia last year, according to federal police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) director Azri Ahmad. The majority of those dismissed were involved in drug-related offences and had been convicted by the courts. Azri said police would not compromise with any officers or personnel involved in misconduct, as the force serves as a protector of the community.

37.35% is the decline in Malaysia’s milk self-sufficiency level from 2010 to 2020, according to the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030. Despite an increase in milk consumption, the number of milk cows in the country has remained stagnant, leaving Malaysia far from self-sufficient in fresh milk production. 80 mil litres of milk are consumed annually in Malaysia, with an 8% average growth rate since 2010. To meet the increasing demand, the country needs at least 30,000 more milk cows, especially as children are encouraged to drink fresh milk in schools. Farm Fresh Bhd a stock to look at in 2025?

36,816 migrants crossed the English Channel to the UK in 2024, marking a 25% increase from the 29,437 who arrived in 2023. This figure is the second-highest since records began in 2018, although it is still 20% lower than the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022. Despite the high number of crossings, the data did not include the number of deaths, but 2024 was considered the deadliest year for Channel crossings, with 53 fatalities reported by the French coastguard.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Solidarity Rally for Najib called off
Since the organisers did not obtain the necessary approval for the event, the rally to show solidarity for Najib Razak that was supposed to happen today at the Palace of Justice Putrajaya has been disallowed by the police. Putrajaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Aidi Sham Mohamed said roadblocks will be set up at all entry points to Putrajaya and anyone participating in the rally would face strict legal action. Umno, the party that started this fire, has put it out following a royal decree and advice from the national police chief. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has also warned members not to participate in the rally or risk facing the music.

Some Umno leaders initially welcomed PAS to join the rally before the u-turn. Now, it seems like Barisan Nasional has turned their back against PAS — the coaliation stopped short of naming the party, but denounced opportunists trying to gain political capital via Najib. PAS stood firm in continuing with the rally, so there could be some political drama today. The very outspoken Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor said that politics is all about seizing opportunities.

"If a fish swims by and we don't catch it, it's a loss.” — Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor

Why was the rally initially scheduled for today? Najib Razak will be heading to court there for the appeal hearing against the dismissal of his bid to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest.

Health Ministry is launching a war against salt
The government is learning from Israel on declaring war left and right — but in a good way in this case. After ‘war on sugar’, it’s now ‘war on salt’. Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry is lauching a campaign to reduce salt intake among Malaysians. He emphasised that reducing salt intake was vital, as it had been identified as a major contributing factor to the prevalence of numerous chronic diseases which lead to premature deaths in the country. He mentioned that RM1 spent on combatting salt intake could lead to approximately RM60 of savings to the healthcare system — better ROI than many investment assets.

This campaign didn’t come out of nowhere — 1.89 mil diet-related deaths occur each year due to excessive sodium intake, according to a 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) global report. The report emphasised that reducing sodium intake is one of the most cost-effective strategies to improve health and decrease the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Is coffee about to get expensive in Malaysia?
The price of Arabica beans, which is used for specialty coffees, saw a staggering 83% increase in 2024 to nearly USD3.50 (RM15.75) per pound in December 2024. Its not-so-good-tasting cousin, the Robusta beans, used mainly in instant coffees, also saw a sharp price jump — 73% to USD5,885 per tonne in November 2024.

How did it come to this? Climate change. Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of Arabica coffee, experienced one of its worst droughts in history, which severely reduced crop yields. The top producer of Robusta beans, Vietnam also struggeld with prolonged droughts and heavier-than-usual rainfall.

It seems like the situation in Malaysia is still under control. Bernama spoke to three cafe owners in Malaysia who have found different ways to tackle this surge in coffee prices. One cafe owner said they will begin roasting their own coffee beans, which could help them save 60% from importing outright — RM100 per kg for imported roasted beans vs RM40 for self-roasted beans. Another owner said her cafe will keep its pricing for now as the cafe’s offerings allow enough flexibility to adjust without drastic hikes. She also believes coffee enthusiasts are also aware of the situation and are willing to pay more if they want to experience specialty coffee beans.

We know coffee that will continue to provide the best value for money — The Coffee Break. If you’re feeling generous, feel free to support us here.

Shorts

1. Rohingya refugees who landed in Langkawi arrested
   The police has arrested 196 ethnic Rohingya who landed at Teluk Yu Beach in Langkawi early on Friday after receiving information from a member of the public at around 3.25 am. The refugees, comprising 68 men, 57 women, 39 girls and 32 boys, were believed to have departed from Myanmar by boat about 10 days ago. No further comments were made on the next course of actions for the regufees.

2. Flood-affected borrowers and tenants of MARA premises given option for loan moratorium
   The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, via its agency Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), is committed to supporting borrowers and tenants of MARA premises impacted by floods. This includes offering loan payment rescheduling. Each case will be individually assessed to ensure that those affected do not incur losses due to the disaster.

3. Abang Jo calls on all to let the MADANI Government serve the full term
   The Sarawak Premier, Abang Johari Openg, has firmly dismissed any notion of a political coup, emphasising the importance of stability. His Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition played a crucial role in establishing the federal government by securing majority support in Parliament. Abang Johari insists that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should be permitted to complete his full term, allowing the coalition government to carry out its responsibilities effectively. His remarks address the ongoing discussions among some about replacing Anwar as prime minister.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Presidential Shenanigans

• No prison stint for Trump
  Judge Juan Merchan has rejected US President-elect Trump’s motion to dismiss his conviction of paying hush money to a porn star, and ordered Trump’s sentencing ten days before his inauguration on Jan 20. However, Merchan has signalled he will be giving Trump an “unconditional discharge” with no jail time, probation, or fine. However, Trump and his cohorts are still crying foul, saying the sentencing is “part of a witchhunt” and that it “goes against our Constitution”. Smells of privilege, just like how the Cybertruck bomber was an “elite soldier” who “committed suicide”.

• Biden's series of policies, awards, and sales
  In the latest of a series of presidential actions, current President Biden just notified Congress of a planned USD8 bil arms sale to Israel, comprising missiles, shells, and precision-guided munitions, with the majority of the weapons to be delivered over a longer period. Biden will also be banning new oil drilling across a large chunk of US coastal territory, to the tune of 625 million hectares, though he leaves the possibility open for new oil and natural gas leasing in the central and western areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The move looks to be his play to cement his legacy in addressing climate change. Lastly, Biden has also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a number of people, notably his allies and people he looks up to, across a wide range of industries. Among the “truly extraordinary people” who shape the “cause and culture of America” are names such as Hillary Clinton, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, and Bill Nye the “Science Guy”. Oh, U2’s Bono and designer Ralph Lauren were there too.

• Yoon's Security Service
  South Korean President Yoon’s chief of presidential security has stood in the way of an arrest warrant for Yoon, citing the legal debate surrounding the warrant as the reason he is not cooperating. This has brought scrutiny down on the security chief, Park Chong-jun, who said that the Presidential Security Service exists solely to protect the president “at every moment”, though there are critics that believe his actions are excessive. This has led to South Korean investigators requesting the aid of acting president and finance minister Choi Sang-mok in ordering the security team to comply with the warrant for the impeached Yoon. I mean, just take a look at how they have the guy covered. Talk about job dedication.

Health Concerns

• Japanese bird flu scare sees culling

  Authorities are culling another 50,000 chickens after a bird flu outbreak at a farm in the northern Iwate region, the 19th outbreak of the season in Japan. Another two farms in a 3km radius were also ordered to ban the movements of some 170,000 birds, while 2.8 million birds within 10km of the infected farm are to stay within the radius for now.

• China's HMPV surge: What you need to know

  China currently faces an outbreak of the human metapneumovirus, with social media showing videos of congested hospitals and overtaxed healthcare systems, suggesting a crisis is brewing. However, Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization have not declared any state of emergency, wiith China also downplaying the outbreak and saying that it is safe to travel in China. So soon after COVID-19? No thank you.

• Cancer warnings for alcohol?

  US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for cancer warnings to be added to the labels of alcoholic drinks, as alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colon, and liver cancer. Murthy also called for the guidelines on alcohol consumption limits to be reassessed so people can make an educated decision on whether or not to drink. This call has also led to a drop in share prices for European and American spirits makers and brewers.

Tech Dollars

• AI powers Foxconn's fourth quarter

  The world’s largest contract electronics maker posted its highest-ever revenue for the fourth quarter, beating estimates to record a top line of almost USD65 bil. This figure was bolstered by the continued strong demand for AI servers, which provided strong revenue growth for its cloud and networking products division. Conversely, its smart consumer electronics, which includes iPhones, growth was “roughly flattish”.

• Siri privacy settlement: Apple pays out USD95 mil

  The tech giant agreed to the settlement for a class-action lawsuit alleging privacy violations tied to their trademark voice assistant, with the lawsuit claiming the violations started when Apple introduced Siri’s voice activation feature ten years ago. Apple denied the allegations, up until a Guardian report revealed that Apple contractors frequently overheard portions of private conversations when reviewing Siri recordings for quality control. Eligible class members, estimated to number in the tens of millions, can receive up to USD20 per Siri-enabled device.

• Musk enters education sector with private preschool venture

  Tesla’s CEO will be funding a new private preschool in the state of Texas as he steps into early childhood education as his next venture, putting in USD100 mil to get the school up and running. The school, named Ad Astra, accepts applications for children between the ages of three to nine, with subsidised tuition for its opening year. The school promises an approach centred around hands-on, project-based learning. Hope it does not end up like the previous Ad Astra, which ceased in-person operations after Musk’s kids graduated. Ad Astra is a Latin phrase meaning “to the stars”.

Shorts

1. Vapeless in Vietnam

   New rules banning the possession, sale, and use of vapes and liquids came into force at the start of the year, with Vietnam joining the ranks of the countries that do not allow travellers to bring vapes with them into the country. Anyone using e-cigarettes will be fined USD78.50, while those caught importing, trading, transporting, and producing vapes and materials for cigarette alternatives face fines of up to USD117,994 or up to 15 years in prison.

2. Russia declares state of emergency as it clears oil spill

   The regional state of emergency was declared in Crimea, as workers clear tonnes of contaminated sand and earth on either side of the Kerch Strait after an oil spill in the Black Sea last month. This gives authorities more power to take swift decisions should new traces of pollution be spotted.

3. The long and short of stealth firing

   Some companies have turned to “stealth firing” – the dismissal of employees for minor offences to avoid public backlash – as a means of trimming staff numbers, with large corporations such as Meta and EY not being exempt. However, any short-term benefit will be offset by the long-term impact to morale and office culture, in turn leading to lower productivity and a stressed-out workforce.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. At one point, many of us have encountered his videos — Nas Daily. However, after courting multiple controversies, he has since fallen from grace.

2. Quit Game - Annual Season coming soon

3. Our apologies for not sharing this important information earlier in the year. Better late than never.