☕️ DAP: Leadership shake-up, social media hacked

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

As of Dec 2024, 19 data centres nationwide consumed 434.5 megawatts, accounting for 2.2% of Peninsular Malaysia’s total electricity usage of 20,066 megawatts, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Eight of these centres, located in the Klang Valley, have a combined capacity of 108 megawatts, while 11 projects in Johor boast a total capacity of 2,248 megawatts. The government is promoting renewable energy adoption in data centres through green technology policies, aiming for a 70% renewable energy target by 2050.

Singaporeans lost a record SGD1.1 bil (RM3.66 bil) to scams in 2024, a 70.6% increase from SGD651.8 mil in 2023, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The number of scam cases also rose by 11% to 51,501, with cryptocurrency scams accounting for 24.3% of total losses. E-commerce scams were the most frequent, with 11,665 cases resulting in SGD17.5 mil lost. Despite the surge, Singapore’s Anti-Scam Command managed to recover over SGD182 mil, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat fraud in the city-state.

USD80 bil (RM355.3 bil) in data centre assets – Blackstone, which calls itself the world’s largest data centre provider, is closely monitoring the potential impact of AI model DeepSeek on its multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure investments, said President and COO Jon Gray during a Q4 earnings call. The firm currently has over USD100 bil in the pipeline. Gray highlighted the dramatic decline in computing costs, which could reshape future demand for AI infrastructure investments. While he did not address the pipeline directly, he emphasised the need to assess how evolving AI technologies like DeepSeek might influence investment strategies moving forward.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

DAP’s leadership shake-up as social media accounts hacked
DAP has unveiled its new Central Executive Committee (CEC) lineup, with Gobind Singh Deo once again emerging as the top vote-getter, this time with an even bigger margin, securing 2,785 votes. Chong Chieng Jen made a remarkable leap to second place (2,631 votes) from his 16th position in 2022, while Teo Nie Ching secured third (2,585 votes). Notably absent from the 30-member list are Teresa Kok and Lim Hui Ying. Kok, the former DAP vice-chairman, failed to maintain her seat after securing only 1,331 votes falling below the threshold as Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham took the final 30th spot with 1,584 votes. Reflecting on her defeat, the Seputeh MP acknowledged that various factors, including the corruption case involving her former aide, may have played a role. However, she affirmed her commitment to serving her constituency and the party.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying also lost her spot in the CEC, securing 1,573 votes. Previously ranked 15th in the 2022 party polls, Lim expressed acceptance of the outcome, viewing it as an opportunity for growth. Whether this will impact her position in the ministry remains to be seen.

Adding to the drama, just a day after the election results were announced, DAP’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked on Monday (Mar 17) at around 11am. The breach resulted in inappropriate content being posted on the party’s social media stories. DAP confirmed the cyber attack, stating that its HQ team was working to remove the content, reset passwords, and secure the accounts. The timing of the hack, so soon after the CEC elections, has raised eyebrows, with some wondering whether it was merely a coincidence or something more calculated. The newly elected leadership, led by national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Anthony Loke, will now have to navigate not just internal party dynamics but also this unexpected cybersecurity challenge.

Puspakom: Runners to blame for exploiting vehicle inspection system
Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman has revealed that intermediaries, or "runners," are exploiting the vehicle inspection booking system to sell appointment slots for up to RM750, despite each slot costing only RM3.50 — that’s 214x more expensive. They do this by using the same vehicle chassis number with different license plates to hoard multiple slots. JPJ and MACC are investigating, but attempts to track down the runners have hit a dead end, as they remain uncontactable. Transport Minister Anthony Loke has already tightened booking rules to prevent further abuse. For something as routine as a car inspection, this level of scalping is absurd. Imagine paying RM750 just to stand in line; might as well throw in a valet service while they’re at it.

Malaysian agents in Myanmar job scam syndicate
Meanwhile, police arrested one of the 25 Malaysians rescued from a Myanmar job scam syndicate after discovering he was recruiting locals for scam operations. Investigations found only six were genuine victims, while others were likely recruiters or scam workers. Bukit Aman CID deputy director Datuk Fadil Marsus said the suspect is remanded until Mar 20 under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007. Genuine victims received 21-day interim protection orders. Since 2021, 489 reports have been filed involving 637 Malaysians lured into overseas job scams, mainly in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Of these, 504 were rescued, but 133 remain stranded. Over 70% knew their jobs involved scams or gambling before travelling but claimed innocence upon rescue. Police continue dismantling syndicates and warn Malaysians against shady overseas job offers. Not everyone who cries victim is one.

Man slapped for eating during Ramadan sparks debate on religious tolerance
Police are investigating an incident where a non-Muslim man was scolded and slapped for eating during Ramadan at a convenience store in Johor Bahru. The 21-year-old victim reported that an unknown man asked what his religion was, demanded to see his MyKad, and, when refused, slapped him twice. Johor Bahru Utara district police chief ACP Balveer Singh said the case is being probed under Section 323 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing injury, which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail, a RM2,000 fine, or both. National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang condemned the act as provocative and against Malaysia’s multi-ethnic harmony, emphasising that such behaviour must not be tolerated. The incident, captured in viral videos (watch below, and also a really funny comment on the video on how the pak cik expect to identify Chinese), has sparked widespread debate because, in a country that prides itself on unity, actions like these speak louder than words.
Meanwhile, a beautiful photo of Malaysian unity here (minus the obscenity).

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

Gaza ceasefire shattered, Israel back to killing spree
Just like that, the fragile 2-month-old ceasefire in Gaza broke yesterday, as Israel resumed their onslaught on the enclave, this time in a series of the most violent air attacks by far. At least 404 Palestinians have been killed and 562 wounded at the time of writing, and as usual, the victims are largely children, women and the elderly. Netanyahu said he ordered the military to take “strong action” against Hamas over its refusal to release Israeli captives, a decision made by Hamas due to Israel’s refusal to start negotiations on phase two of the ceasefire deal on Feb 6. Phase Two should have seen nearly 60 remaining captives released and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, but Israel has been stalling and insisted that the first stage be extended until mid-April. Several Israeli analysts, including ones with the political opposition and several within Netanyahu’s own government, said that this was the plan all along – a resumption of the fighting, to go back to full-scale war.

Meanwhile, the White House has issued an official statement that Israel had in fact consulted President Trump on its latest strikes in Gaza. The statement added, “As President Trump has made it clear – Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorise not just Israel, but also the US of America, will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose”. Probably the land to Trump is worth more than the lives in all of Gaza.

A very interesting piece here by Al Jazeera on the end of the rules-based order, the return of imperialist ambition and double standards of the law (Global south vs West).

Trump deports 238 Venezuelan ‘gang members’ to El Salvador
Latest in the series of Trump’s steps to expel foreign nationals from US soil, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele confirmed on Sunday that his country had received 238 Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua members and an additional 23 members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13 from the US. Bukele is detaining the deportees under a deal in which the US agreed to compensate El Salvador to hold them. The Trump administration will pay about USD 6 mil (RM26.66 mil) to El Salvador for detaining them for a year. The alleged gang members are now being held specifically at the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) - a 40,000-capacity, maximum-security prison in El Salvador. The mega-prison prohibits visitations, education and recreation. Inmates are not allowed to go outdoors. It is located in Tecoluca, 72 km east of the capital San Salvador.
Here’s a widely viewed documentary on the prison.

Is this move by Trump actually legitimate? It depends — to do this, Trump has invoked an ancient, 1798 law — Alien Enemies Act, which allows US presidents to detain or deport non-citizens during wartime. Technically, it's peacetime in the US and the move has become controversial as it could mean an abuse of the law on his part.

Business

• Billionaire Cheng family in talks with Louis Vuitton to open mega HK store
  Hong Kong real estate company New World Development, owned by the billionaire Cheng family is said to be in talks with luxury giant LVMH to open a Louis Vuitton megastore in one of its signature malls, K11 Musea mall. The new store would occupy about 40,000 sq ft at the K11 Musea mall, making it one of Louis Vuitton’s largest in Asia, complete with a museum, a cafe and a lounge for the brand’s VIP customers. The expansion of the LV brand would inject some confidence into Hong Kong’s retail industry and help its ailing commercial property sector. It would also be a boost for New World, which has been struggling with debt woes and uncertainty over its leadership. The nation has actually been suffering from declining retail sales and a slow recovery in tourism and nevertheless has the highest concentration of millionaires in the Greater China region. It ranked No. 9 on a list of wealthiest cities in the world, according to a report published in 2024.

• PepsiCo buys prebiotic soda brand Poppi
  Apparently, soda has dropped in popularity over the past two decades in the US, and now, health-conscious consumers have their eyes on prebiotic sodas, led by industry newcomers Poppi (view its site here) and Olipop. Realizing its potential, PepsiCo said that it plans to acquire the upstart Poppi for USD1.95 bil (RM8.66 bil), which includes USD300 mil of anticipated cash tax benefits, making the net purchase price USD1.65 bil. Poppi’s founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth launched the brand back in 2018, the same year that another popular brand Olipop was founded. Poppi’s formula includes apple cider vinegar, prebiotics and just five grams of sugar. Its annual sales reportedly crossed USD100 mil by 2023, but not without backlash for its health claims. The company has faced a class action lawsuit that alleged that its drinks were not as healthy as its packaging claimed. Poppi and the plaintiff moved to settle the suit on Friday for USD8.9 mil, according to court filings.

Shorts

1. Standard Chartered offers up to SGD50,000 (RM166,351) coverage against digital scams
   Holders of the MyWay savings accounts of Standard Chartered can now choose to have insurance coverage for the digital theft of funds, which covers up to SGD50,000 on their deposit balances if their account suffers losses due to unauthorised electronic transfer of money arising from phishing and malware scams. The account is particularly designated for older customers aged 55 and above. However, authorised payment scams, like love scams, investment scams and impersonation scams, are not covered.

2. BYD unveils battery system that charges an EV in five minutes 
   China electric car maker BYD Co has announced a new system for its electric car that will allow it to be charged in 5 minutes. That’s almost as fast as it takes a regular car to refuel. In a test on its new Han L sedan, the charging system was capable of providing 470 km of range in five minutes. It would be comfortably ahead of Tesla’s Superchargers, its rival, which can add up to 275 km of range in 15 minutes. Tesla, however, has a much larger network of more than 65,000 Superchargers worldwide.

2. Fisherman rescued after 95 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean
   A Peruvian fisherman, Maximo Napa Castro, 61, who survived 95 days lost in the Pacific Ocean, has been finally rescued and reunited with his family. He was supposed to be out for only 2 weeks, but ten days after leaving the coastal town of Marcona, a storm blew his boat off course and left him adrift. Maximo survived by catching rainwater in his boat and eating whatever he could find such as cockroaches, birds and turtles. He constantly thought of his family to keep his spirits high and it helped him survive the ordeal.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. Some wise words to uplift your hump day. Trust your wings.

mentality.flow

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2. Measuring "happiness" can be tricky. One way to see how happy people are is to simply ask them. The chart compares how satisfied people say they are with their lives to the GDP per person in their country. Generally, people in wealthier countries report being more satisfied with their lives.

3. Tim Urban uses a chess clock to manage his procrastination. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of it — none of that motivation or willpower bullshit.