☕️ Scam^2: New scam involving scam victims getting scammed again

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry reported that the National Semiconductor Strategy has attracted RM54.9 bil in investments and established six local integrated circuit design companies in the first half of 2025. The initiative has also produced 13,679 engineers and skilled workers, with 25,430 jobs created. The ministry further reported that the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 has shown strong development, with value-added in the manufacturing sector rising 3.7% to RM96.9 bil in 1H2025, compared to RM93.4 bil last year. Employment also increased by 0.9% to 2.85 mil in the manufacturing sector, with median wages rising 5.4% to RM2,490. The ministry stated that this reflects positive industrial growth and improving job and wage prospects.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s stock exchange will be ending the year with the largest number of listings in two decades, with dozens of companies already in the queue for listing in 2026. 2025 saw Bursa Malaysia hosting 60 IPOs despite global market turmoil, trade tensions, and economic uncertainties. Of the 60 listings, 11 were on the Main Market, 44 were on the ACE Market, and the last five were on the LEAP Market. For 2026, the bourse could also list more than 60 companies, with names such as Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd and Empire Sushi parent Empire Premium Food Bhd looking to join the Main Market.

Among the 60 listings, of which 56 have been completed so far, is Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd, which has become the standout listing this year as the only 2025 newcomer to more than double its share price since it has listed. The firm graduated from the LEAP Market onto the ACE Market on March 21, in what looked like a misstep as it opened at 73 sen, a 17% discount to its offer price of 88 sen. Despite recovering to 83 sen as Day 1 ended, the stock traded within the 80 sen range for its first six months on the ACE Market. Following a shift in sentiment in August, when the firm confirmed its KL Tower operations would continue uninterrupted despite a court appeal, the stock eventually surged 202.41% to RM2.51 in October, an all-time high. The firm reported a revenue of RM460.7 mil and a record-high profit after tax of RM103.3 mil for its 2025 financial year, which ended 30th September. See the numbers here.

Still, it should be noted that, of the 56 listings completed so far, only 16 counters (28.6%) are trading above their debut-day closing prices.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Scam^2: New scam involving scam victims getting scammed again
Malaysians who have already been scammed are now being warned about a new trick where fake anti-scam law firms target victims looking for help. MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Michael Chong said his office has received complaints about online adverts from supposed legal firms claiming success rates of more than 90% in recovering lost money, describing these claims as unrealistic and misleading. In his words: “scammers scamming scam victims again”. Two cases have been recorded so far. In one case last year, a woman who lost RM1,500 to a scam was later cheated of RM1.2 mil after engaging one of these firms. In another case this year, a man who lost RM390,000 to a scam ended up losing another RM33,000 after believing he was dealing with a legitimate law firm. Wouch.

Senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah said the adverts are designed to lure specific communities, especially Chinese victims, as they are more inclined towards enquiring about a firm’s “success rate”. Shafee questioned claims of cross-border operations, noting that payments were requested in ringgit, suggesting they are only targeting Malaysians. Some of these adverts remain online. There have been cases in the last two years where scammers pose as lawyers or law firm employees, demanding upfront legal fees while claiming they can help scam victims recover their lost money.

Warrant of distress: Protecting yourself as landlord

What is warrant of distress: It is a legal option available to landlords in Malaysia to recover unpaid rent when tenants fail to meet their payment obligations. It is not an eviction process but a targeted enforcement method that allows landlords to claim rent arrears through the seizure of a tenant’s movable property under a court order. This mechanism exists under the Distress Act 1951 and is commonly used when rent remains unpaid for 14 days after a Notice of Demand is served. This offers a faster and more cost-effective alternative compared to lengthy court litigation, protecting cash flow and reducing prolonged disputes.

How to apply: The application is made through an ex parte process, meaning the tenant is not notified at the initial stage. If the outstanding amount is RM100,000 or below, the case is filed in the Magistrates’ Court, while higher amounts go to the Sessions Court. Once approved, a judge issues the warrant and authorises a court bailiff to enter the premises and list items that may be seized. Only non-essential movable items such as furniture can be taken, while personal belongings and items essential to daily living are protected by law.

What do you get: There are clear limits to the process. Landlords may only claim up to 12 completed months of outstanding rent, calculated up to the date of the court application. After the Notice of Seizure is served, tenants are given six days to settle the arrears. If payment is made within that period, the seized items are returned. If not, the bailiff may auction the items to recover the unpaid rent. This structured process balances enforcement with tenant protection and remains a practical tool in Malaysia’s property market.
Read: The Landlord’s Guide to Distress Actions

Sports stuff

SEA Games: Pearly-Thinaah end gold drought; coaching director stays
Malaysia picked up its first badminton gold at the SEA Games after Pearly Tan and M Thinaah beat Indonesia in the women’s doubles final in Bangkok on Dec 14. The world number two pair ended a ten-year wait for the title and capped a strong season. Despite a four gold target, Malaysia finished with one gold overall. BAM president Tengku Zafrul said the shortfall was a shared responsibility and confirmed coaching director Rexy Mainaky will stay on.

JDT make FA Cup history, and here comes public holiday
Johor Darul Tazim made history by winning the FA Cup for the fourth straight time after hammering Sabah 5-0 on Dec 14. Goals came early and often, with Sabah reduced to 10 men after the break. To celebrate the win, Johor MB Onn Hafiz Ghazi later declared yesterday a special public holiday in Johor following the dominant final victory celebration.
PS: Anyone remembered the time Najib declared a sudden national public holiday back in 2010 over Malaysia’s first-ever victory in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup?

Shorts

1. Authorities asked to probe alleged Korean cult
   The Home Ministry has called on the Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin to share any information he has about a Korean-origin cult that is allegedly operating in Malaysia and making strange or deviant claims. Asri earlier claimed that the cult is active in Malaysia and that several Muslim Members of Parliaments and prominent individuals are involved in assisting it. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution explained that the police Special Branch has a dedicated team that focuses on cult-related matters and deviant teachings across different religions.

2. Pokémon cards sold for Gaza aid

   Ayesha Assilla Watuna, a homemaker from Sabah, is selling her rare Pokémon card collection to raise funds for the Global Sumud Flotilla’s upcoming mission to Gaza. She owns over 3,000 cards and has already raised more than RM15,000 through online sales and a night market stall, pledging all proceeds to the humanitarian cause, including rare editions only available in Japan.

3. Google buys sunlight in Gurun
   The tech giant will be buying power from a 29.99 megawatt solar project in Gurun, Kedah, from a consortium led by Japan-based renewable energy developer Shizen Energy, which will commence commercial operations in 2027. Shizen owns 49% in the consortium, with the remaining owned by Bursa-listed companies Solarvest Holdings Bhd (33%) and HSS Engineers Bhd (18%).

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Ukraine: No NATO in exchange for security guarantees
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that Kyiv is prepared to offer the concession of giving up the country’s NATO ambitions in exchange for Western security guarantees. This comes as Russia stated again that Ukraine’s non-NATO status is a cornerstone in talks to end the war. Zelenskyy stressed that the offer marks a significant compromise, but stated that legally binding security guarantees would serve the same purpose to protect the country from another Russian invasion.

However, the people of Ukraine have indicated otherwise, with three-quarters rejecting major concessions in any peace deal, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. The people remain sceptical of NATO and US support, instead indicating that unambiguous and binding security guarantees are needed to regain some trust. The poll also showed that Ukrainians were not interested in an election before fighting ends, despite Zelenskyy’s calls for one. Elections are prohibited under martial law.

US security experts also believe that the concession from Kyiv will not do much beyond helping Kyiv look reasonable. Analysts noted that NATO membership for Ukraine has not been realistic for a long time.

Meanwhile, a small group of Russians in the Siberian city of Tomsk gathered in the cold to protest Russia’s ban on Roblox.

Bondi Beach shooting: The aftermath

Intervening hero identified
The man who was recorded seizing a weapon from one of the Bondi Beach shooters has been identified as Syrian-born fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed, 43. For his brave actions, he was shot multiple times and has since undergone surgery. He happened to be in the area meeting a friend for coffee when the attack unfolded. Ahmed intervened, rushing forward and wresting a gun from one of the shooters. His family feels immense pride in Ahmed, who is currently in a stable condition. In recognition of his actions, a GoFundMe was started, which has since raised over USD1 mil (RM4.1 mil), with the highest donor being US billionaire William Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. He donated USD65,000 to Ahmed, praising him as a brave hero. Even US President Donald Trump offered praise, with Trump saying he has great respect for Ahmed.

Australia plans tougher gun laws
Australian PM Anthony Albanese has vowed stricter gun laws following the Bondi Beach shooting, the worst mass shooting in Australia in almost 30 years, which saw 15 dead. Australia already has among the toughest gun laws in the world, but questions have now been raised as to whether those laws need an overhaul. Albanese and his cabinet will be working on a national firearms register to tackle aspects such as the number of weapons permitted by gun licences and how long the licences are valid.

Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy
The firm filed for bankruptcy protection and will go private after being bought by its primary manufacturer, Picea Robotics, which iRobot owes about USD264 mil (RM1.1 bil). The bankruptcy plan will see Picea taking over 100% of the company’s equity and cancelling a USD190 mil refinancing debt, along with an additional USD74 mil owed from the manufacturing agreement between the two.

The move was due to the robot vacuum maker’s struggles with increased competition from lower-priced rivals and US tariffs. While the firm generated USD682 mil in revenue in 2024, its profits were eroded by competition from Chinese rivals, despite the firm’s dominance in key markets like the US and Japan. New US tariffs have also harmed the company, with the biggest hit coming from the 46% levy on Vietnam, which is where iRobot manufactures vacuum cleaners for the US market. The tariffs cost the company USD23 mil in 2025. iRobot was valued at USD3.6 bil in 2021, but has now dropped in valuation to USD140 mil. Its fate could have been different too had Amazon successfully acquired the company in 2022 in a deal worth USD1.4 bil, but was blocked by the European Union over competition issues. Anyways, Amazon paid iRobot USD94 mil break-up fee.

Shorts

1. Thailand parliamentary elections set for Feb 8

   The election commission announced an earlier-than-expected poll following Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul’s dissolution of parliament, which came after Anutin fell out with the opposition People’s Party, the largest grouping in parliament. This also comes as the country is embroiled in a raging border conflict with its neighbour, Cambodia. The Thai people will vote to elect 500 lawmakers, with 400 constituency seats and 100 allocated on a party-list basis. Each party can also submit up to three prime ministerial candidates. Thailand last had its election in May 2023.

2. China to cover out-of-pocket expenses for childbirth starting 2026

   The country’s national healthcare security administration announced the initiative in a bid to incentivise more young couples to have children. The plan is to achieve “no out-of-pocket expenses” for childbirth, and comes as the country grapples with a flagging population. China’s population dropped for the first time in decades in 2022 and has continued to slide through to 2024.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. Street Fighter movie out next year Oct 16, 2026. Rapper 50 Cent and Aquaman actor Jason Momoa, among the main cast.

2. TIL: Matcha originated in China, popularised by Japan.