☕️ "The baby was raped. Not only that, the act was recorded on video and later sold (online). It is absolute madness” - Home Minister

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

South Korea is in the unfortunate position of having the lowest birth rates in the world, but this has led to a growing demand for fertility clinics and the treatments they offer. Between 2018 and 2022 – yes, through the pandemic – the number of fertility treatments carried out in the country rose nearly 50% to 200,000, with one in six babies in Seoul born in 2024 conceived with the help of fertility treatments. Experts attribute this to a shift in attitudes about family planning, which led to 2024 seeing South Korea’s birth rate rise slightly to 0.75, its first increase in nine years.

Malaysia, on the other hand, is expected to reach its highest population point in 2059 with 42.38 mil Malaysians, according to the Statistics Department (DOSM). While steady growth will happen from 2020 to 2059, the growth rate will still slow down from 1.7% in 2020 to just 0.1% by 2060. Selangor is expected to remain the most populous state with 8.1 mil residents by 2060, followed by Johor and Sabah.

A total of 150,557 SPM 2024 leavers have been offered places at public higher learning institutions, according to the Higher Education Ministry. This represents 67.3% of the total 223,624 applications received. 86,589 went to public universities, while 42,058 went to polytechnics. 20,427 went to community colleges, and another 1,483 went to institutions under the Mara Higher Education Division. According to the ministry, student admissions were based on meritocracy, with all qualified candidates ranked from the highest to the lowest scores.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Calls for justice after baby rape video surfaces
A deeply disturbing case involving the rape of a three-month-old baby, which was recorded on video and sold online, has prompted urgent action from the Home Ministry. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, described it as “absolute madness” and announced plans to strengthen Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) in both intelligence and operations. He declined to provide further details due to the sensitivity of the case. Saifuddin also praised the police for recently dismantling a terrorist group linked to Islamic State (IS) activities in Syria and Bangladesh, stressing that Malaysia will not tolerate terrorist recruitment or fundraising efforts within its borders.

“If you are briefed at midnight, then it is a major issue. The baby was raped. Not only that, the act was recorded on video and later sold (online). It is absolute madness” - Saifuddin Nasution ismail, Home Minister

Ministry cracks down on intimidating car repossession agents
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has pledged firm action against car repossession agents who use intimidation or behave aggressively, following an incident involving a registered agent along the North-South Expressway near the Pedas-Linggi lay-by. The agent in question has been identified and is having their permit revoked for breaching the code of ethics. KPDN stressed that all 3,869 permit holders registered under the MyEPS system must follow strict rules under the Hire-Purchase Act 1967, including showing identification, not using force, not entering premises without permission or a court order, documenting the vehicle’s condition, and lodging a police report within 24 hours of repossession. While numbers remain low, the ministry is ramping up preventive efforts and urging the public to report misconduct via the Kita Gempur initiative, WhatsApp (019-848 8000), the e-complaint portal (eaduan.kpdn.gov.my), the call centre (1-800-886-800), or the Ez ADU KPDN mobile app.

Underwater loans fuel insurance fraud
Trapped in underwater car loans, some desperate owners are turning to criminal syndicates for a way out, sharing up to 20% of the expected insurance payout to have their vehicles set on fire, dumped, or dismantled to fake theft or accidents and claim a total loss. A luxury car bought for RM300,000 can drop to RM180,000 in just two years, leaving owners still owing over RM200,000 to the bank. These scams, aided by bribed workshops and tow truck drivers, passes the burden onto insurers. However, according to VTAREC coordinator Mas Tina Abdul Hamid, insurers now have advanced tools to detect fraud, and dishonest claims can lead to policy cancellations, denied payouts, and criminal charges. Between 2022 and 2024, over 47,000 private vehicles were declared total losses out of more than 3 mil accidents reported.

Shorts

1. Heroin ring busted in multi-state drug bust

   Authorities have successfully snared a large-scale heroin trafficking ring operating in northern Malaysia, seizing RM4.13 mil worth of drugs and arresting three men in coordinated raids across Selangor. Led by Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), the operation uncovered 47.5kg of heroin base and 920g of heroin, with the first suspect caught in Subang Jaya hiding drugs in a car compartment. Subsequent raids netted more heroin base, with the suspected mastermind arrested in Penang. He allegedly sourced heroin from a neighbouring country and used two transporters who were paid RM4,000 per trip to distribute it. All suspects are being held under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

2. Legendary Deep Purple returns to Malaysia after 15 years!

   Rock legends Deep Purple will be back in KL for the first time in 15 years, live at Mega Star Arena on Nov 23, their only Southeast Asian stop! Since 1968, they’ve released 23 studio albums, sold over 100 mil records, and earned legendary status with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and a World Music Awards Legend Award. Their music has inspired icons like Metallica and Van Halen. Tickets drop Jul 30 at noon on www.hitmanlive.com, from RM299 to RM2,099. Guess we’ll have to be soldiers of fortune to grab some of the tix. Soldiers of Fortune it’s a hit from Deep Purple - listen here.

3. 16 years later, MACC apologises to Teoh Beng Hock’s family

   Finally, MACC has issued its first-ever public apology to Teoh Beng Hock’s family, 16 years after his death in custody, acknowledging the pain and suffering caused. Chief Commissioner Azam Baki also announced a goodwill contribution to support the welfare and education of Teoh’s child. Back in 2015, the government paid RM600,000 as compensation to Teoh’s family. Meanwhile, police have closed the case, attributing it to limited resources and uncooperative or unreachable witnesses. For Teoh’s loved ones, the apology offers little comfort, and the wounds of unanswered questions still remain.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Pressure mounting on Netanyahu

Trump to meet Qatari PM for ceasefire push
The US President will be hosting Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani for dinner, with the two expected to discuss the progress of a cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel, a deal that Trump hopes will be “straightened out this week”. The two national leaders are also expected to discuss efforts to resume talks between the US and Iran to reach a new nuclear arrangement.

US demands probe into Israeli settlers' "terrorist act"
Over in Israel, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has asked Israel to “aggressively investigate” the killing of a Palestinian-American who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Huckabee called it a “criminal and terrorist act”. This demand marks a rare and pointed public intervention by the US. Sayafollah Musallet, 20, was visiting family when he was severely beaten.

Political pressure piles on Netanyahu
In the face of external political pressure from the US and the world, Israeli PM Netanyahu faces domestic pressure as well when a religious party quit Israel’s ruling coalition in a dispute over military service. Netanyahu is left with a razor-thin majority after the six members of United Torah Judaism resigned overnight, but he still has enough political support to secure a potential cease-fire. The six resigned in protest against the failure of lawmakers to guarantee future exemption from military conscription for ultra-Orthodox religious students. To make matters worse, a second party, Shas, could follow, leaving the government with no parliamentary majority. That line’s getting really thin, isn’t it? Well, at least Netanyahu isn’t getting flak like the Superman movie. Did you know some Israeli citizens are calling for a boycott of the movie?

Indonesian insights
Trump slaps 19% tariff on Indonesia
The trade deal was struck, but Indonesia had to commit to significant purchases to push the number down from the 32% announced on Apr 2, Trump’s Liberation Day. Indonesia will have to purchase USD15 bil (RM63.68 bil) in US Energy, USD4.5 bil in American Agricultural Products, and 50 Boeing Jets, according to Trump’s social media post.

Indonesia’s central bank has responded with a rate cut, the fourth since Sept, and welcomed the revised tariff deal as a positive sign for Indonesia, especially amid weakening global trade and slowing domestic demand. Bank Indonesia is also looking for room for more rate cuts, citing an expectation of low inflation through to 2026, a stable rupiah, and a bleak global economic outlook.

Indonesia arrests 12 for baby-trafficking
Authorities arrested 12 after uncovering a human-trafficking ring that has sent over a dozen babies to Singapore for adoption. The police were tipped off when a parent reported an alleged baby kidnapping, leading them to a suspect who admitted to trading 24 infants. According to police, most of the infants were kidnapped from West Java. The traffickers then moved the babies to Pontianak city on Borneo island before moving them to Singapore. All of the infants were under a year old and were to be sold for between IDR11 mil (USD676 or RM2,869.62) to IDR16 mil (USD983).

Cars, cars, cars
Geely takes premium EV unit Zeekr private
Under a privatisation exercise, Geely will acquire any Zeekr shares it does not own for USD2.687 (RM11.41) per share. This comes a year after Geely listed Zeekr in the US, and Geely’s offer price is at an 18.9% premium to Zeekr’s last close. The exercise is expected to conclude in the fourth quarter. Geely already had a 62.8% stake in Zeekr when it announced the privatisation. Zeekr was valued at USD6.8 bil (RM28.87 bil) when it listed in 2024, and was the first major Chinese listing in the US since 2021. This exercise also comes as Geely sees its margins pressured with the deepening price war in China’s EV sector.

China vows to regulate "irrational" EV price war
Beijing is stepping in to regulate what it called “irrational” competition in the country’s EV industry. The cabinet vowed to strengthen cost investigation and price monitoring, while focusing on promoting the “high-quality development” of the EV industry. This follows industry regulators and executives warning of excessive competition and their calls for automakers to halt the price war which threatened the sector’s health and sustainable development.

Shorts

1. Italy may release up to 10,000 prisoners to ease overcrowding
   That number marks about 15% of the total population of inmates, and they have been marked “potentially eligible” for alternatives to prison time, such as house arrest or probation. This option only applies to those whose convictions are final and no longer subject to appeal, have less than two years of sentences left to serve, and have no serious disciplinary offences in the past 12 months. The World Prison Brief Database shows that Italy has one of Europe’s worst overcrowding records, with an occupancy level of around 122%. In case you were curious, Malaysia is at 106% as of Nov 2024.

2. India's river divers risk health for livelihood 
   In India, hundreds of divers, called gotakhors, spend their days diving in the Yamuna River in New Delhi in search of coins, trinkets, and other items that can be sold in the city’s booming scrap market. This is done either part-time or full-time, and nets on average INR170 (USD1.98 or RM8.41) a day for part-timers and INR600 (USD6.98) per day for full-timers. The minimum daily wage for an unskilled worker is INR710 (USD8.26). Sometimes, the divers find more than treasure in the polluted waters, like dead bodies. And that’s one more reason to fear the water.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. How to get a child to listen to you following the 5-step method based on the stage of their brain development.

2. Inside Singapore’s largest money laundering case involving SGD3 bil (RM9.93 bil).

3. “No, you did not miss the Bitcoin train” - Saifedean Ammous, author of “The Bitcoin Standard”. This was the eye-opening, mind-awakening book that changed my mind on Bitcoin in 2019. Read the post below, debunking common misconceptions about Bitcoin, like Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme.