☕️ Procurement scandal: From army tenders to universities

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

8,570 days (23 years, 5 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days) after his WWE debut in 2002, John Cena has called it quits, retiring from wrestling after earning 17 world titles and spawning a number of memes on the internet. Bing chilling, anyone? He debuted at a time when stars like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin were stepping back as full-time performers, with WWE leadership reportedly recognising Cena as someone they could trust with stardom. Outside the ring, Cena ranked 16th among the highest-paid actors in 2024 with USD30 mil (RM121.74 mil), according to Forbes. He also holds the Guinness World Record for the most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, having fulfilled more than 650 wishes for children with critical illnesses. This feat also earned him the moniker ‘Mr Make-A-Wish’ in some circles.

On the topic of giving, Taylor Swift gave over USD197 mil (RM799.43 mil) in bonuses to her Eras Tour crew, with every role considered. According to the docuseries titled ‘The End of an Era’, Swift talked about distributing bonuses to her dancers, musicians, and crew members as each leg of the two-year-long tour came to a close. She reportedly gave bonuses to everyone involved in the tour, including audio and lighting technicians, riggers, carpenters, choreographers, and more. Footage in the series also showed envelopes for the wardrobe, makeup, and hair departments, as well as for venue security. Swift also shared that she included handwritten notes with each bonus as an added form of appreciation.

Speaking of handwritten notes by Taylor Swift, one such note recently went up for auction. The note was one sent by Swift to late One Direction singer Liam Payne in 2017, offering him encouragement for his solo career and praising his song ‘Bedroom Floor’. The note was written on Swift’s personalised card stock and sealed with her iconic wax stamp. The note eventually sold for GBP7,500 (RM41,056), according to auction house Omega Auctions. See the note here.

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3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Labour Court on wheels hits the road
The Mobile Labour Court is set to start operations across Peninsular Malaysia this Aug, bringing hearings closer to workers and employers, particularly in rural areas. Human Resources Minister R Ramanan said the rollout will begin with three mobile units, funded with RM5 mil, before expanding to Sabah and Sarawak. The goal is simple: cut travel time, lower costs, and make labour justice easier to access. Alongside this, six Labour Court offices will be upgraded with digital recording systems this year, and three labour-related agencies will be merged to improve coordination and enforcement. Ramanan also revealed plans for an AI-powered Integrated Labour Management System, expected by 2028, as part of a wider push to modernise how labour issues are handled nationwide.

Procurement scandal: From army tenders to universities
Cash trail exposed in army tender probe: The MACC has intensified its probe into a suspected cartel linked to Malaysian Army procurement after foiling an attempt to move RM2.4 mil in cash. The money was intercepted while being transferred between two residences by a civilian connected to the case. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the cash belonged to one of the suspects. On the same day, a former high-ranking army officer and his wife presented themselves at MACC headquarters, where his statement was recorded following a hospital discharge. The case has already seen 17 company directors remanded over suspected tender fixing, with several bank accounts frozen late last year. Investigators have also widened the probe to include Ministry of Defence projects awarded through open tenders.

Students turn spotlight on uni procurement: Concerns about procurement integrity have also spilled into universities, with students from multiple public universities calling for a full investigation into alleged corruption in campus procurement. Speaking in Petaling Jaya, the group described procurement systems as vulnerable to manipulation, citing recent scandals such as the RM58.45 mil case at UKM involving failed compliance checks. They have also cited past issues at UiTM, USM, and UMS involving forged documents, abuse of power, and significant financial losses. The group has demanded independent forensic audits, greater transparency, and public disclosure of audit reports, giving the Higher Education Ministry five working days to respond.

UMNO shaken by legal baggage and leadership issues
Zahid's ‘bags’ of problems: PAS election director Sanusi Nor has hinted that UMNO president Zahid Hamidi’s unresolved legal “baggage” plays a big part in UMNO’s decision to stay in the unity government. Without naming Zahid directly, Sanusi warned that leaders carrying heavy burdens may be forced to reverse decisions when sensitive matters arise, alluding to the 47 charges linked to Yayasan Akalbudi that led to a DNAA in 2023. Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, reiterated that Umno will remain in the coalition until the end of the current parliamentary term and next general election, dismissing talk of reviving failed alliances such as Muafakat Nasional. The Attorney-General’s Chambers defended the DNAA as lawful and necessary for further investigation, though critics argue it highlights selective accountability.

New year, new beginning for Saleh?: Meanwhile, UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has hinted that he may be ready to step aside. In a Facebook post, Akmal said he had done his best and wrote that any shortcomings might be his own, raising the possibility that it was time for him to make way. He thanked supporters and stressed his belief that sincere efforts done for religion, race and country would eventually be rewarded. Akmal’s remarks come after months of outspoken positions on UMNO’s direction, including calls to reassess the party’s role in the unity government and warnings about red lines involving race, religion and royalty. His latest comments have fuelled speculation about whether a leadership change is looming within the party’s youth wing.

Shorts:

1. Apex court puts final stop to Cradle Fund CEO’s death 
   The Federal Court has upheld the acquittal of Samirah Muzaffar and two teenagers over the murder of Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan, bringing an eight-year case to a close. The apex court dismissed the prosecution’s final appeal, ruling that there was no prima facie evidence or proof of common intention linking the three accused to Nazrin’s death.

2. My50 stays on track despite RM100 mil shortfall
   The My50 public transport pass is facing a RM100 mil funding gap, but the government says the programme will continue. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the original RM200 mil allocation was not enough to cover all claims, so Prasarana will be absorbing part of the cost. A new savings tracker on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet will also launch on Jan 19 to show users how much they save through the subsidy. The My50 pass, under which each Malaysian receives a monthly subsidy of about RM100 (people are paying RM50, but the actual travelling cost could be RM200 to RM300 if used daily), offers 30 days of unlimited rides on Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit and bus services in the Klang Valley. As of Dec 2025, the total number of My50 subscribers stood at 254,329.

3. MyDigital ID is now mandatory for travel checks 
   From Jan 15, Malaysians travelling overseas must use MyDigital ID to log into the MyNIISe (National Integrated Immigration System) app for immigration checks. The Home Ministry said the change applies only to citizens, with foreigners keeping the current system. The move aims to boost security and simplify logins, as the app rolls out to more airports nationwide.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Greenland dreams and Iranian protests
Trump mulls options to take Greenland, military use included
A White House statement revealed that US President Donald Trump has been discussing ‘a range of options’ to take Greenland with his team, with military action remaining on the table. Trump has now marked acquiring Greenland as a national security priority, and repeated that the US needs Greenland for security reasons. This prompted Danish PM Mette Frederiksen to warn Trump that any US attack would be the end of NATO. It was also reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the Trump administration did not plan to invade Greenland but mentioned buying the island from Denmark instead.

In response to Trump repeatedly asking for Greenland and in the wake of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, European allies have gathered to work on a plan in case the US does advance militarily on Greenland. However, according to a senior European official, Denmark must lead the effort to coordinate a response and has yet to communicate to its European allies what kind of concrete support it needs. Denmark has also disputed Trump’s claims of Chinese and Russian vessels stalking Greenland’s waters, with vessel tracking data showing no presence of Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland.

Trump’s Venezuelan raid may have increased his willingness to wave around the US military, especially since his administration has also threatened Venezuela’s hardline interior minister that he could be ‘at the top of the target list’ if he refused to help Interim President Delcy Rodriguez meet US demands and keep order.

Anti-government protests in majority of Iran's provinces
Protests have broken out in at least 17 of Iran’s 31 provinces, with reports of protests in a further 11. The wave of protests started in Tehran on Dec 28, 2025, following a sharp devaluation of the country’s currency against the US dollar and other major foreign currencies. The protests are even occurring in areas that were previously perceived to be highly loyal to the state. The response from police and security forces was initially restrained, though the use of force has been ramped up over the weekend. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also responded publicly, stating that the rioters ‘must be put in their place’. Foreign-based human rights group HRANA reported that at least 35 people have been killed so far in the unrest, including two affiliated with security forces. Iran’s top judge has warned protesters that there would be no leniency for those who ‘help the enemy against the Islamic Republic’, while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country.

It's just business
China escalates feud with Japan through anti-dumping probe
Beijing has started an anti-dumping probe into dichlorosilane, a key chipmaking material, from Japan, marking an escalation of the dispute between the two nations. The investigation is expected to be completed within a year, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce, but could extend an additional six months. This was also a response to Japan urging China to revoke its decision to impose tougher export controls on products with potential military use, which could possibly include rare earths. The urging came in the form of a strong protest and demand for withdrawal from the Japanese Foreign Ministry to the Chinese embassy’s deputy chief of mission.

Weak demand forces shuttering of seven Ikea stores in China
Ikea will close seven of its signature furniture stores in China and is pivoting to smaller outlets as it struggles with China’s prolonged property slump and rising competition from local rivals. To replace the stores, Ikea will be opening a dozen small-format stores in Beijing and Shenzhen over the next two years. Following the closures, Ikea will still operate 34 physical stores, two flagship e-commerce shops, and other digital channels in China. The switch to smaller outlets also matches the company’s global strategy of bringing outlets closer to customers and speeding up delivery. The furniture company is also in talks with Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc to enable instant delivery of its products across seven Chinese cities.

Shorts:

1. Doctors beware: Utah pilots first AI-powered prescription renewal programme
   The pilot programme marks the first state-approved AI system for routine prescription renewals. It will test autonomous AI to see if it can safely handle routine medication refills for patients with chronic conditions. The AI, which is by New York-based Doctronic, will evaluate patient history, prescription data, and clinical safety rules to approve routine refills. Physicians will be maintaining oversight and have the ability to override decisions.

2. Vietnam passes law limiting ads on social media to five seconds 
   The law, which is expected to bring relief to over 101 mil people and envy to millions more, will take effect on Feb 15. It will limit the length at which adverts can last by forcing advertising platforms to either provide a skip option after five seconds, or for the ads to be no longer than five seconds if they are unskippable. This will not be limited to YouTube, as it affects any online platform that shows ads before or during a video.

3. 250 mil Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7 
   For these 250 mil Orthodox and Coptic Christians, Christmas was on Jan 7 rather than Dec 25, as they follow a different calendar for their traditions. The world currently operates using the Gregorian calendar, which was invented in the 16th century. It was also more precise than the Julian calendar, which overestimates the solar year by 11 minutes, causing seasonal drift. The Julian calendar is now 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, meaning that Dec 25 on the Julian calendar falls on Jan 7 of the Gregorian calendar.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

Things in the skies

1. Behind the scenes at Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), AirAsia’s plane maintenance business.

2. The largest piece of Mars found on Earth was sold for USD5.3 mil (RM21.5 mil) at a Sotheby’s auction. Watch to learn how on Earth they know it ain’t just any rock and is of Martian nationality.

3. The 11,000 sq feet, RM46 mil penthouse, 64 floors above the ground.