☕️ Ong Kian Ming quits DAP, will help KJ for GE16

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

1,338,544 – That’s how many people entered the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon, breaking the previous record of 1,133,813 applicants for the 2026 event. The race next year will be held across two days – Apr 24 and 25 – in a special one-off edition, with the event allowing 100,000 people to take part in the marathon each day. Each applicant will be entered into a ballot for both days, effectively doubling their chances of success. Adding an extra day for the event is also expected to raise more than GBP150 mil (RM821.25 mil) for charities and provide a GBP400 mil boost to the UK economy. The 2026 event saw a record 59,830 finishers and was the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world, with more than GBP90 mil raised. The 2026 marathon also witnessed Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race.

USD40 mil (RM161.05 mil) – Ferrari’s first-ever electric car sold for that much in a charity sale, setting a record for a new vehicle sold at auction. The Ferrari Luce, designed by British iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, raised more than 35 times the car’s pre-auction estimate of USD1.1 mil, which is already almost twice the car’s retail price of USD640,000. All proceeds of the sale of the car will be donated to the Ferrari Foundation’s educational programmes. Ferraris often attract some of the highest prices at car auctions, such as the bespoke Ferrari Daytona SP3 supercar that raised USD26 mil for the carmaker’s education initiatives in 2025, making it a previous holder of the auction record for the highest price paid for a new car.
Fun fact: Ferrari’s first electric car faced backlash when it was launched, with critics saying the car strayed from the brand’s traditional designs and lost part of the brand’s identity by being battery-powered and having five seats. Check out the auction page here.

RM16,500 – PAS President Haji Abdul Hadi Awang sold his old kemuning walking stick at an auction during the party’s Melaka Charity Dinner for that amount. The walking stick, which had the initials “TGHH” for “Tuan Guru Haji Hadi”, was put up for auction with a starting bid of RM2,500 to raise funds for PAS campaign efforts ahead of the Melaka state election. In the end, it was bought by former Malaysian Mount Everest climber and PAS Lembah Pantai division committee member Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin, who had joined the party in Jun. Muhamad Muqharabbin was previously the youngest Mount Everest climber from Southeast Asia, and served with UMNO Youth and Bersatu before joining PAS.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

PM announces Merdeka day goodies
PM Anwar Ibrahim has announced six measures aimed at easing everyday pressures on Malaysians, with the changes taking effect from Sept 1. Announced in conjunction with National Day, the measures cover fuel subsidies, schools, AI access, public healthcare, e-Invoicing and support for small businesses.

More subsidised fuel: The monthly Budi Madani RON95 allowance will increase from 200 to 300 litres, benefiting more than 16 mil users. Eligible diesel pickup truck and 4WD owners will also get up to 400 litres under Budi Diesel. Strategically, this is good PR that benefits their image more than rakyat’s pocket - cost the government little as when they initially reduced it to 200 litres, the government said data showed that nearly 90% of eligible Budi95 users consume less than 200 litres per month.

More money for schools: School maintenance funding for 2027 will rise by 50%, from RM1 bil to RM1.5 bil, covering national, Chinese, Tamil, religious and special education schools.

Free AI access for youths: Under AI for the People, 100,000 Malaysians aged 18 to 30 who complete the required modules will receive three months of free access to selected AI applications.

RM1 bil for digital healthcare: Funding will go towards electronic medical records and better internet connectivity across 150 hospitals and more than 2,000 public health clinics.

Fewer businesses need e-Invoicing: The exemption threshold will increase from RM1 mil to RM3 mil in annual sales, meaning businesses below that level will not be required to implement e-Invoicing.

More support for small businesses: Microfinancing will increase by RM1 bil to RM6 bil for 2026, alongside a new RM200 mil Geran Sejahtera Madani for hawkers, small traders, night market sellers and mothers running businesses from home.

Anwar said the measures are meant to ensure that Malaysia’s economic growth translates into something people can actually feel in their daily lives, while more announcements are expected during the Malaysia Day celebrations in Sarawak and when Budget 2027 is tabled.

Bajet not too far away. Expect more goodies, with election year coming up.

MACC arrests former minister in Tabung Haji probe
The Tabung Haji RCI investigation has taken another turn, with the MACC arresting a former minister as part of its probe into issues raised by the inquiry. The suspect, in his 60s, was detained on Sept 1 after arriving at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to give his statement. MACC chief commissioner said the case is being investigated, with the former minister expected to be brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court on Sept 2 for a remand application. The arrest comes amid a string of recent high-profile MACC actions, including former human resources minister M. Saravanan, who was charged last week with allegedly receiving RM1.097 mil in bribes linked to foreign-worker quota approvals. Saravanan has pleaded not guilty.

Politics
Ong Kian Ming quits DAP
Former Bangi MP Dr Ong Kian Ming has resigned from DAP after 14 years with the party, saying he is stepping away from active politics but will continue contributing to the country in other ways. Ong, who also served as deputy international trade and industry minister from 2018 to 2020, said he has no plans to join another political party or contest in GE16. However, he revealed that he will help former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin with his GE16 campaign. In announcing his departure, Ong thanked DAP leaders including Tony Pua and Lim Guan Eng for giving him the opportunity to serve the party and country since he joined in 2012.

OKM’s prediction on who’s going to be the next PM here.

PAS accepts invite to Umno General Assembly
PAS has confirmed it will attend the Umno General Assembly this month after receiving an official invitation from its former political ally. PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan said the invitation was addressed to party president Abdul Hadi Awang, himself and two other PAS leaders. Takiyuddin confirmed he will attend, while a representative will be sent if Abdul Hadi is unable to make it. He also pointed out that PAS attending an Umno assembly is not entirely new, with the party having previously attended in 2019. The four-day Umno General Assembly will run from Sept 9 to 12.

EC proposes changes to Sarawak electoral map
Sarawak could soon have 99 state constituencies, with the Election Commission (EC) proposing the creation of 17 new seats as part of its latest electoral boundary review. The increase from the current 82 seats follows the Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s approval last year to expand its membership. The EC is also proposing new names for 10 existing state constituencies, with the recommendations now open for public objections until Sept 30.

While Sarawak’s state constituencies could increase, its representation in Parliament will remain unchanged at 31 seats under the EC’s latest recommendations. However, several parliamentary constituencies may still be affected by changes to their boundaries, while the Igan parliamentary seat is proposed to be renamed Batang Lassa. The public has until Sept 30 to inspect and object to the recommendations, and the EC has up to two years to complete the delimitation review.

Sarawak and Sabah are currently negotiating for 35% parliamentary seat (78 of 222, from 56 seats (25%)- 25 Sabah, 31 Sarawak) representation as part of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Trump announces control of 65 bil barrels deal with Venezuela
Trump has announced what he calls the “biggest oil deal in world history” - a massive US-Venezuela oil deal that would give the US control of up to 65 bil barrels of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves, with a 100-year rights over 17 oil fields. The US will create a private joint venture with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) to manage the oil, where the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital gains a 35% ownership stake in the company. Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez welcomed the deal, which is expected to bring about USD209 bil (RM844 bil) to the state’s treasury.

The new deal represents an expansion of Washington’s role in Venezuela’s oil industry as the Trump administration seeks to revive US production and secure more crude for US refineries. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but produces only 1.25 mil barrels per day, far below its potential after years of underinvestment, mismanagement and sanctions. Nevertheless, experts are saying that the deal closely resembles a century-old era of colonialism and backroom dealmaking with Venezuelan oilmen and politicians, and that it could fall apart quite easily.

Nepal-Tibet flood deaths surpass 1000, assessment discovers pre-avalanche indications
The death toll of the Nepal-Tibet flood has passed 1,000, with more than 11,000 people having been rescued across the affected region. 600 people remain stuck in several devastated hydropower stations that have become the focus of rescue efforts. 4,400 people were still missing in Nepal and Tibet. At the time of writing, 54 Malaysians are still unaccounted for.

The flood disaster, called Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), was triggered by a glacier collapse that sent a deluge of ice, rock and mud through Nepal’s border region with China (watch the destructive force here). The collapse, strong enough to cause a seismic activity of 5.2 magnitude, was initially thought to be an earthquake. While a region in China is also affected, little is known about victims on the Chinese side, which means that the scale of the disaster could be more than what meets the eye.

A rapid hazard assessment of the Nepal-Tibet disaster prepared by HiRISK - a group comprising scientists that produce risk data in the High Mountain Asia region and create guidelines for policymakers - has revealed that there were “pre-event indications” of the avalanche, raising more questions about the effectiveness of disaster preparedness in the countries.

The scale of the destruction reminds us of the 2004 Indian ocean and 2011 Fukushima tsunamis.

Shorts:

1. Covid-19 resurgence in South Korea prompts sharp rise in masks and test kit sales
   Masks and Covid-19 self-test kits are making a comeback as popular items among South Koreans amid a reported rise in Covid-19 infections in the country. Major convenience store chains 7-Eleven, GS25 and CU have seen a sharp rise in sales over the past month. Demand was particularly strong for children's and infants' masks, with sales more than quadrupling from the previous month. Been hearing the same here - take care folks, especially with the haze.

2. Instagram to AI influencers: ‘Fess up or no place for you in algorithm
   Instagram is pushing AI creators to confess that it is AI, or otherwise they will not be recommended into Instagram’s algorithm. The platform has already established an “AI Creator” label for such accounts, but it was optional all along. Now the platform has changed the label from "AI Creator" to "AI-generated profile," which is more accurate and less easily confused with accounts created by real humans talking about AI topics.

3. Messi says goodbye to international football
   Football’s GOAT Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football on Instagram, after 207 appearances playing for his home country Argentina. With 125 goals to his name, he is by far the top scorer in his national team’s history.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Long Holiday, Malaysia Stuff

1. When will we get our independence from haze?

2. Take few seconds to improve your Tamil beyond macha.

3. Man having a good time at Merdeka parade. Lots of commentaries.

4. Good story on anggota sukarela bomba. Selfless individuals. Not all heroes wear capes.