☕️ Non-Muslim companies supply 67% of Malaysian halal industry

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

141 metric tonnes – Bangkok produced this much plastic waste over the three-day Songkran festival in 2025, which accounted for 31% of the city’s total garbage during that period. The plastic came from the water guns used by revellers, which were abandoned in large numbers after the festivities. This year, local authorities have teamed up with a major chemicals company to recycle the plastic into naphtha (which has become a valuable commodity following the Iran war) and other key materials used to churn out plastics amid a global shortage sparked by the Iran war.

100 years of Sir David Attenborough – To mark the upcoming birthday of one of the most influential figures in broadcasting and natural history storytelling, the Royal Albert Hall in London will be airing a 90-minute special event titled “David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth”. The event will feature memorable wildlife moments from the BBC’s natural history archive, with other broadcasters reflecting on the impact of Sir Attenborough’s work, his legacy of inspiration, and his unique ability to bring the wonders of the natural world into people’s homes. The programme, which will also feature iconic music from landmark series such as Blue Planet and Planet Earth, will air on May 8 to celebrate the icon’s birthday.

GBP20 mil (RM107.82 mil) – That is the amount for a mystery donation that will allow visitors to London Zoo watch live veterinary procedures inside a state-of-the-art new animal hospital. A viewing gallery will show everything from penguin health checks to ultrasounds on pregnant aardvarks and even porpoise post-mortems. Such procedures have never been seen in public in the UK before. The donation marked the zoo’s largest gift to date. The Zoological Society of London, which manages the zoo, hopes the new centre will demonstrate the enduring value of its conservation work amid increased scrutiny over keeping animals in captivity.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Halal Industry
Malaysia’s halal supply chain shows strong cross-industry collaboration
Malaysia’s halal supply chain relies heavily on non-Muslim producers, with about 67% of halal ingredient manufacturers in the country coming from non-Muslim companies, according to Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. At the launch of the halal ecosystem initiative by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, Zahid said Bumiputera and Muslim entrepreneurs should move beyond their comfort zones and build strategic partnerships with these firms to strengthen Malaysia’s global halal presence. He stressed the halal industry should not be viewed through narrow communal or religious lines, noting that Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society can be an advantage in developing a more inclusive ecosystem. He encouraged entrepreneurs to look beyond the food and beverage segment and explore other halal product areas, with support from Mara.

Lulu Hypermarket to source USD100 mil in halal products from Mara entrepreneurs
Global retail chain Lulu Hypermarket plans to purchase and distribute halal products from entrepreneurs under MARA worth USD100 mil (RM470 mil) for international markets starting Jul 1. The commitment was conveyed by Lulu owner Yusuff Ali during a recent meeting with PM Anwar Ibrahim, with Mara now tasked with coordinating products from its entrepreneurs to meet global demand, particularly in the Middle East through Lulu’s retail network.

This opportunity supports a larger ambition to push Mara’s international halal sales potential past RM1 bil next year, after entrepreneurs already recorded about RM819 mil in potential overseas transactions this year. The newly launched Mara Halal Ecosystem aims to build a full value chain covering training, certification, financing and infrastructure, while the agency is also targeting at least 300 additional entrepreneurs to obtain halal certification this year and plans to train 30 halal executives and 30 internal halal auditors among its officers.

BN likely to go solo in GE16, but post-election deals still possible
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Barisan Nasional (BN) is very likely to contest the upcoming 16th Malaysian General Election on its own, though some informal seat arrangements with partners could still happen to avoid overlapping contests. He also expects another hung parliament, which is when no single party or coalition wins enough seats on its own to form a government, meaning parties have to team up to rule. 

Zahid noted that in GE15 no party had a clear majority, and even with just 30 seats, BN still ended up part of the ruling coalition after the polls. A similar situation could happen again as he does not expect any party to dominate the next election outright. While BN is comfortable working with Pakatan Harapan under the current unity government formed in 2022, he stressed that any cooperation is ultimately about serving the public interest rather than political convenience.

Perlis ruler envisions state as “second Dubai”
The ruler of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, has set out an ambitious vision for Malaysia’s smallest state, suggesting it could grow into a regional gateway similar to Dubai in the years ahead. While officiating the Nat Antarabangsa Angkasa Perlis 2026, he said the state’s location along the Malaysia-Thailand border gives it strong potential to develop into a trading hub, innovation centre and regional meeting point for economic activity. The ruler said support from the state government, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives and the cooperative movement could help drive that ambition.

118 Mall gears up for Aug opening as tenants move in
118 Mall is gearing up to open in Aug at the Merdeka 118 precinct, and it’s already more than 70% occupied as tenants start fitting out their spaces. One of the main highlights is the Malaysian Artisan District, an 80,000 sq ft area focused on local food, craft and retail, anchored by the 40,000 sq ft Makanizm Food Hall on Level 3. In terms of food, expect names like Kenny Hills Cafe, ZUS Coffee, Eight Ounce Coffee, Oriental Kopi, Serai Premium, Dolly Dim Sum and Cili Kampung. On the retail side, brands include Skechers, Decathlon, Habib Jewels, Coach, Hackett London, Cole Haan, Asics and Li-Ning. For families, there’s Village Grocer, HappiKiddo, Babyshop and SOGO118 also included. The mall will feature The Atmosphere, a 20,000 sqft event space under an 88m glass dome, designed for public events as the whole precinct builds up towards Visit Malaysia 2026.

A tour of hotel in the skies at Merdeka 118:

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

The Strait of Hormuz standoff
Trump to lead "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz
The US is preparing to muscle its way into the world’s most stressed-out waterway. President Donald Trump has announced "Project Freedom," a massive military operation starting Monday to "guide" hundreds of stranded ships and 20,000 seafarers out of the Strait of Hormuz. Since the war began on Feb 28, Iran has effectively choked the strait, leaving tankers low on food and water while drones explode overhead. To get the gears moving, the U.S. Central Command is deploying a serious hardware list: guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members. Trump framed it as a humanitarian gesture, though he added a classic warning: "If, in any way, this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully."

Iran has been trying to collect “tolls” from non-U.S. ships to bypass their blockade, but the US claims Tehran has only pocketed a "pittance" of USD1.3 mil (RM5.14 mil) so far. While a fragile three-week ceasefire is technically holding, Iran has already denounced this new escort mission as a violation, calling Trump’s announcement "delirium." With two more cargo ships reportedly attacked just this Sunday, the risk of things going south is high.

While the US claims freedom, Iran asserts authority
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy has released a new map claiming specific zones of control within the Strait of Hormuz. According to state media, the claimed territory stretches from a line connecting the western tip of Iran’s Qeshm island to the UAE’s Umm al Quwain emirate, all the way to the east, where it meets a line between Iran’s Mount Mobarak and the UAE’s Fujairah emirate. While the navy has made its boundaries very clear on paper, it remains uncertain how much this actually changes their existing grip on the region or if they are simply rebranding their previous claims. Any shift in how Iran asserts authority here sends immediate ripples through global energy markets and heightens the tension between Tehran and the West.

He said, she said
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are hitting fever pitch, and the "he said, she said" drama is getting expensive. Iran’s state news agency, Fars, claimed that two Iranian missiles actually struck a US warship near Jask island, forcing it to turn back. However, US Central Command (Centcom) was quick to shut that down, stating on X that “no US Navy ships have been struck.” Whether it was a direct hit or simply a warning, the market definitely felt the heat – Brent crude oil jumped over 5% to USD113.65 (RM449.26) per barrel on the news. 

When the world's most important oil chokepoint becomes a playground for missile claims and "humanitarian" naval escorts, everyone's wallet takes the hit.

Three passengers dead after suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
A luxury polar expedition has turned into a medical nightmare after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius killed three passengers and left others fighting for their lives. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the deceased include a Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69, and a third individual whose body remains on the vessel. Currently, the ship is idling off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, while authorities scramble to manage the fallout. At least one British man, 69, has tested positive and is receiving care in Johannesburg, while two crew members are reportedly in urgent need of medical evacuation.

This isn't a typical flu; hantavirus is a nasty respiratory or renal disease usually caught from contact with infected rodent droppings, with death rates of up to 40%. While human-to-human transmission is rare, the WHO is taking no chances while investigating how the virus found its way onto a ship carrying 149 people. Cape Verde has officially refused docking rights to the MV Hondius after a suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard turned a luxury getaway into a maritime tragedy. It’s a grim reminder that when you’re in the middle of the Atlantic, you’re only as safe as the hygiene of the person (or rat) who came before you. The name of the virus is derived from the Hantan River area of South Korea, where the infection was first identified in 1970s.
Learn: What is hantavirus?

GameStop makes USD56 bil bid for eBay
GameStop is attempting to swallow a fish four times its size by launching an unsolicited USD56 bil (RM265 bil) bid for e-commerce pioneer eBay. CEO Ryan Cohen, the man retail investors worship as the "Meme King," is offering USD125 per share in a mix of cash and stock, a 20% premium over eBay's recent closing price. Despite GameStop having a market cap of only USD12 bil compared to eBay’s USD46 bil, Cohen is dead serious about the takeover, even threatening a proxy fight if eBay’s board tries to act tough. To fund this "David vs. Goliath" moment, GameStop has already secured a USD20 bil debt commitment from TD Bank and built a 5% stake in the online auction giant.

The endgame here is to build a legitimate rival to Amazon by merging GameStop’s 1,600 physical stores with eBay’s digital footprint for better fulfillment and "live commerce." Cohen claims he can slash USD2 bil in costs within a year, but analysts are skeptical, calling the deal a high-risk move that would heavily dilute shares. It is a massive pivot for a company that was nearly bankrupt before the 2021 meme-stock frenzy sent its valuation to the moon.

Shorts:

1. OPEC+ announces symbolic oil output rise during Strait of Hormuz closure

   Global oil markets are currently bracing for impact as the US-Israel war on Iran has effectively choked off the Strait of Hormuz. With supply lines throttled, OPEC+ has stepped in with a production adjustment of 188k barrels per day (bpd) for June. While the group claims this move supports "market stability," the gesture is largely symbolic given that the blockade has already propelled oil prices to a four-year high of over USD125 (RM494.12) per barrel. Saudi Arabia’s quota will technically rise to 10.291 mil bpd, but this is mostly paper-shuffling since actual production was only 7.76 mil bpd in Mar. A 188k bpd increase is like trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol.

2. Singapore Airlines joins the Starlink space race

   Singapore Airlines (SIA) is ditching the era of laggy in-flight Wi-Fi by partnering with Elon Musk’s Starlink to offer high-speed broadband on selected long-haul flights. Starting from the first quarter of 2027, the carrier will progressively roll out the satellite-based service across its Airbus A350-900 and A380 fleets, with the full upgrade expected to wrap up by 2029. This translates to significantly lower latency and median download speeds that can hit 319.99 Mbps, a massive jump from the measly 15.34 Mbps some current systems offer. For passengers, this means the "no-streaming" rule on flights is finally dying. Considering Emirates just completed its first Starlink flight and Qatar Airways is already on board, SIA had to move fast before they got left in the digital dust. AirAsia, wen?

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Engineering - move, see, fly

1. Putting out fire with - sound waves. The science behind it.

2. Your WiFi can see you, can see through walls.

3. Never thought of it. So much thinking and logic behind putting fuel in the wings.