☕️ MPs' RM40k Pay: struggling or just bad budgeting?

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

100,000 mule accounts detected since 2023 – according to Comm Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, director of Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID). In 2023, 46,048 mule accounts were detected, followed by 50,295 in 2024, and an additional 6,567 accounts by Jan 31 this year. These accounts, opened at both local and international banks, are increasingly being used by foreign workers in sectors like services and security, highlighting a growing trend in scam operations. Prevent yourself from being scammed, check the government’s official portal to see if an account is a mule account.

71% more likely to get promoted – A survey by Prodigy Education (in the US) reveals that adults who played video games as children are 71% more likely to have received a recent promotion and earn USD5,451 (RM24,055.25) more annually than non-gamers. Contrary to outdated stereotypes linking gaming to social isolation or underachievement, most respondents credited gaming with enhancing skills like strategic thinking, problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. Additionally, they viewed gaming as a source of relaxation and fun, highlighting its potential long-term benefits in personal and professional development.

USD2.015 bil (RM8.9 bil) – China’s animated film Ne Zha 2 has made history by becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, with ticket sales surpassing USD2 bil in just 38 days. This milestone marks the first time a non-Hollywood film has achieved such a global box office success, underscoring China’s growing influence in the entertainment industry. The film’s performance also highlights the shifting dynamics in China’s market, where Western dominance is no longer as pronounced as it once was. The movie will be released in Malaysia tomorrow.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Era FM’s RM250K “Oops” Moment
Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, the operator of Era FM, will not face a license suspension despite recent controversy involving its DJs. Instead, the MCMC has fined the company RM250,000 under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for uploading offensive content on Era FM’s TikTok account. MCMC considered the company’s response, public apologies, including a formal apology at Batu Caves, and the potential impact on Melody and Mix FM, which share the same licence. The AG’s Chambers approved the fine, emphasising the need for media platforms to uphold racial and religious harmony.

Cop accused of obscene gesture granted bail
Lance Corporal Muhammad Faris Ariffin Tait, 33, pleaded not guilty to a charge of outraging the modesty of a 26-year-old woman photographer by making a lewd gesture that clearly mimicked oral sex. The alleged incident occurred on December 13 near Jalan Tun Razak while she was photographing a human rights protest. He was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. The prosecution sought RM7,000 bail, but his lawyer requested a lower amount, citing financial responsibilities. The magistrate granted RM3,500 bail with one surety, setting May 14 for case mention. The case gained public attention after the victim’s viral social media post alleged that the officer repeatedly made the obscene gesture.

New budget-friendly insurance tackles soaring healthcare costs
BNM, in partnership with the MOH and the EPF, is working on affordable health insurance and takaful products following value-based healthcare, Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced. With rising medical costs driving up insurance and takaful claims, the initiative is part of urgent national health sector reforms set to be implemented between 2024 and 2026. Among the measures being considered to curb premium hikes are adjustment rate distribution, deferrals, reactivation options, and alternative products.

MPs' RM40K Pay: struggling or just bad budgeting?
MPs in Malaysia receive a fixed monthly allowance of RM25,700, with additional earnings from various allowances and claims. These include RM400 per day for parliamentary sessions, RM300 for official briefings, and RM100 for daily living expenses when on duty. They can also claim travel, accommodation, and laundry costs for both domestic and overseas assignments. When combined, an MP’s total monthly income can range between RM30,000 to RM40,000, according to the PMO. Anwar criticised opposition MPs for using financial struggles as a political talking point, despite their substantial earnings. He also reiterated that constituency allocations continue to be channeled to all MPs, regardless of political affiliation.

Business

• Teleport secures funds, plans European expansion
  Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A, the parent company of AirAsia, plans to raise funds from private investors before moving toward an IPO. Teleport CEO Pete Chareonwongsak confirmed the company will raise private funds before its IPO, but the amount and timeline remain undisclosed, while emphasising that scaling operations and financial performance remain the priority. Teleport, which contributed about a third of Capital A’s non-aviation revenue in 2024, previously secured a USD50 mil (RM220.6 mil) credit facility in 2023. The company operates in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Singapore, and China, partnering with 40 airlines. Teleport aims to hit 2 mil parcels per day by the end of 2025, up from 368,000 currently. It also plans to expand into Europe by the last quarter of 2025.

• Tealive takes on Thailand with 80 stores brewing!
  Loob Holding Sdn Bhd, the owner of Tealive, is expanding into Thailand with plans to open 80 outlets over the next decade. The company has appointed Restaurants Development Co. Ltd (RD) which operates over 300 KFC outlets in Thailand as its master franchisee. RD is also a subsidiary of India’s Tealive master franchisee, Devyani International Ltd. Tealive wants to introduce its lifestyle tea concept to Thailand’s tea-loving market, offering a variety of handcrafted beverages, including coffee, premium chocolate, fruit smoothies, and its signature snacks.

Shorts

1. Govt weighs subsidised airfare for Sabah voters
   The Transport Ministry will consider subsidising air tickets for Sabah voters in the Peninsula to return for the upcoming state election, but any decision will depend on the government's financial situation, Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah stated. However, he noted that subsidised travel is already available for school and university students as part of government support. Considering the cost of flights to East Malaysia, this proposal could be a game-changer for voter turnout, if it ever takes off.

2. A Royal Audience for Siti Nurhaliza 
   Siti Nurhaliza’s Anta Permana has been selected for King Charles III’s personal playlist, The King's Music Room, released in conjunction with the 2025 Commonwealth Day celebrations. The playlist, available on Apple Music, features a mix of global artists, including Bob Marley, Diana Ross, Beyoncé, and Michael Bublé. Composed by Hael Hussaini and Ezra Kong, Anta Permana stands out as one of only 17 songs chosen and among the few non-English tracks included. The song’s inclusion has been widely celebrated, with many recognizing its melody and lyrics as fitting for a royal selection. With this recognition, Anta Permana not only highlights Malaysia’s musical talent but also validates Siti Nurhaliza as an internationally admired artist. Listen here on Spotify.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Trump, Trump, Trump

Trump labels detained pro-Palestine student protest leader ‘anti-Semitic’ and ‘terrorist sympathiser’
Trump has made it clear that he is committed to the crackdown of pro-Palestinian supporters, with him labelling the recent detention of a prominent leader of pro-Palestinian protests, Mahmoud Khalil, at Columbia University in New York as “the first arrest of many to come.” He threatened further action against other campus protesters, some of whom he alleged without evidence to be “paid agitators”, adding that the government will “find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathisers from the US and never to return again”. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the arrest, calling it “unprecedented, illegal, and un-American.” US campuses, including Columbia’s were rocked by student protests against Israel’s attack on Gaza following the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

US stock market sheds USD1.75tril (RM7.72 tril) after Trump’s recession remarks
Following Trump’s uncertain and indecisive statement about a recession in the US last Sunday, the US stock market shed USD1.75 tril on Monday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 plunged 3.81%, its steepest single-day loss since Sept 2022. The benchmark S&P 500 on Monday tumbled 2.7%, dragging the index nearly 9% below its all-time high reached on Feb 19. Tesla racked up some of the steepest losses among individual firms, plunging 15.43%. Goldman Sachs economists last week raised the odds of a recession within the next 12 months from 15% to 20%, while JPMorgan Chase has lifted the probability from 30 percent to 40 percent “owing to extreme US policies”, including the tariff announcements that have unnerved investors.
Read: Tariffs are ‘lose-lose’ for US, jobs and industry, economist says: ‘There are no winners here’

Trump’s trade war not scaring China
Experts are saying that Beijing is now in a better position than during Trump’s first term, where there is no “panic” on the tariffs that appear to be “pretty manageable”. Analysts are saying that the world’s two biggest economies have steadily “detached” in recent years, reducing their mutual dependency and blunting the impact of tariffs. China’s share of total US trade – measured as the sum of exports and imports – dropped from 15.7% to 10.9% between 2018 and 2024. Over the same period, the US’ share of China’s total trade fell from 13.7% to 11.2%. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson even told reporters last week that if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, China is ready to fight till the end.

Trump International Golf Club Lido opens
Meanwhile on the other side of the world, Indonesia welcomes its first golf club under the Trump brand in Bogor, near Jakarta as part of its collaboration project between local conglomerate MNC Group and the Trump Organization, which is run by Trump’s family.

Philippines ex-leader Duterte arrested on ICC warrant
The infamous ex-leader of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has been arrested after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over his deadly "war on drugs". Duterte served as the president from 2016 to 2022, where he saw thousands of people killed in his “war”, with security forces rallied to shoot drug suspects dead. More than 6,000 suspects were gunned down by police or unknown assailants during the campaign, but human rights groups say the number could be higher. A previous UN report said that most victims were young, poor urban males, who were systematically forced by the police to make self-incriminating statements or risk facing lethal force. Investigations also found out the emergence of a shadowy "death squad" of bounty hunters targeting drug suspects. Duterte's former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo criticised the arrest, calling it "unlawful" as the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019.

China’s Xpeng ready to invest much more in humanoid robots
China is being serious about humanoid developments - latest, EV automaker Xpeng is said to be considering large investments for humanoids that could go up to CNY100 bil (USD13.80 bil or RM60.9 bil). Its CEO said that Xpeng has been working in the humanoid robot industry for five years, and may continue to be in the business for another 20 years and even invest an additional CNY50 bil and CNYB100 bil. To date, the company has unveiled its humanoid Iron in November to rival Tesla Bot.

Shorts:

1. Pakistan militants hijacked passenger train 
   The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Pakistan attacked and halted a train carrying hundreds of passengers in the Pakistan Balochistan region yesterday. At the time of writing, three people, including the train driver, had been reported injured in the attack. The BLA claims that it is holding a number of passengers including security officers hostage, and has warned of "severe consequences" if an attempt is made to rescue those it is holding. However, officials were still not able to confirm that anyone was being held hostage at the time.

2. Search and rescue called off from US-Portuguese ship collision
   A US-registered oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, which was transporting fuel for the US military, reportedly collided with a Portuguese-flagged ship, Solong in the North Sea on Monday morning. Solong was reported carrying 15 containers of the chemical sodium cyanide. Fires were still burning at the site of the collision yesterday, but the search and rescue was called off after an extensive search. 36 people have been rescued, with 1 taken to the hospital. One crew member was still unaccounted for. Efforts to assess any environmental damage were still ongoing after it was confirmed some jet fuel had leaked into the sea off the Humber Estuary. Sodium cyanide leak could also be hazardous to those involved in the rescue, but so far it was not clear if it had leaked into the sea.

3. Dalai Lama says successor will be born in ‘free world’ outside of China 
   The Dalai Lama, who stepped down as the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011, has said in a new book that his reincarnation will be born in the “free world” outside of China. He said that it will serve the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama as a universal voice of compassion as well as to ensure that his lineage continues, as per the aspirations of freedom for the Tibetan people. Beijing has labelled the current Dalai Lama, who was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor at two years old, a “separatist” and insisted on the right to appoint his successor after his death.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. For zombie genre fans, The Last Us Season 2 will be back Apr 13.

2. Trump considers the stock market performance as a barometer of his presidency, but his recent tariff war is tanking the market. Here’s a speculation about why he’s doing so — in order for the US to renew trillions in debt maturing soon at a lower interest rate.

3. Your house, from the lens of bankers, buyers, insurers, and the government.