The Ballot or Your Ancestry?

 

There are few personalities in Malaysian politics who can still change the national conversation with a single Facebook post. Mahathir Mohamad remains one of them.

 

In his recent appeal—that Malays should vote for Malay candidates rather than political parties if they wish to preserve "Tanah Melayu"—is vintage Mahathir.  It is not merely an election message. It is an existential warning. The ballot paper becomes a survival kit. Whether one agrees or disagrees, the statement deserves examination beyond the predictable chorus of applause and outrage.

 

Democracy asks a simple question: Who can govern best? Ethnic politics asks a different one: Who looks most like me? The two questions occasionally produce the same answer. Increasingly, they do not.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

 

Malaysia's political history has long been built around ethnicity. Independence itself was negotiated through communal representation. Political parties were born from racial constituencies, and voters became accustomed to thinking of elections as demographic censuses rather than performance reviews.

 

Mahathir did not invent this political grammar. He mastered it. Ironically, throughout his own long career he repeatedly urged Malays to become globally competitive, highly educated and economically resilient. He spoke of excellence, discipline and merit. Yet the latest appeal seems to suggest that, when election day arrives, competence should give way to communal identity. That is a curious evolution. A Malay candidate can be honest—or corrupt. Just like a Non-Malay!

 

A Malay candidate can be visionary—or incompetent. A Malay candidate can defend Malay interests—or merely defend his own interests while speaking loudly about Malay rights. Race tells voters remarkably little about character.

 

History offers enough painful lessons. Nations rarely decline because too many people voted for the wrong ethnicity. They decline because too many people voted for poor leadership. Identity may win elections. Integrity governs countries.

 

The deeper irony is that Malaysia today faces problems which refuse to recognise race. Inflation charges every customer equally. Corruption steals from every taxpayer. Poor governance delays every project. Floods enter Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous homes without checking identity cards. Blood transfusion at hospitals don’t check race but blood type.

Of course, Mahathir's concerns resonate with many Malays who genuinely fear cultural erosion and changing political demographics. Those anxieties should not simply be dismissed. Democracies function best when legitimate fears can be discussed without ridicule. But fear is a poor architect of public policy. It narrows choices precisely when countries need broader thinking.

 

Malaysia's Constitution already provides a carefully negotiated framework recognising the special position of Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak while also safeguarding the legitimate rights of other communities. The challenge has never been the absence of constitutional protection. The challenge has always been producing leaders worthy of those protections. Perhaps the real loyalty Malays—and indeed all Malaysians—owe is neither to race nor party. It is to good government. Political parties deserve loyalty only when they earn it. Politicians deserve votes only when they deserve them.

 

The ballot box should remain the place where citizens judge performance, honesty and vision—not merely ancestry. If democracy becomes an exercise in counting bloodlines instead of evaluating leadership, then elections cease to be competitions of ideas and become censuses with campaign posters.

 

Malaysia deserves better than that. The future of the country will not be determined by whether candidates share our ethnicity. It will be determined by whether they share our commitment to govern wisely after the campaign banners have come down

 

Never ever coming to terms of who he is. Never understanding his country, Malaysia. Never coming to a realisation of all his mistakes. Has he any regrets? None, it is always somebody else’s fault.

 

Reference:

OPINION | The Ballot or the Bloodline? Tun M asks Malays to Vote for Malay Candidates, Mihar Dias, Newswav, 6 July 2026

Johor-Singapore Data Centre Corridor 2026

 

To better understand the market, Market Intelligence Report consolidated publicly announced projects into a single market map covering:

 

l  Verified operators

l  Publicly announced investments (where disclosed)

l  Current project status

l  Hiring implications

l  References to public sources

 

Source: https://wikilabs.asia

 Key observations were: 

1.             Johor is no longer competing with Singapore.

Instead, it is increasingly becoming an extension of Singapore's digital infrastructure ecosystem. 

Singapore continues to anchor regional headquarters, enterprise leadership and customer engagement, while Johor offers the land, power availability and expansion capacity required for hyperscale data centres.

 

2.              AI is accelerating digital infrastructure investment.

As enterprise AI adoption moves beyond pilot projects, demand is growing rapidly for GPU-ready infrastructure, high-density compute, cloud capacity and AI-optimised facilities. 

This trend is likely to reshape where technology infrastructure is built across Southeast Asia.

 

3.        The next bottleneck may not be infrastructure.

It may be talent.

Based on current investments, there will be sustained demand over the next few years across:

 

• Data Centre Development & Construction

• Critical Facilities Engineering

• Commissioning & MEP Engineering

• Data Centre Operations

• Cloud Infrastructure & Platform Engineering

• Network & Connectivity

• Cybersecurity

• AI Infrastructure / GPU Platform Engineering

• Energy & Sustainability

• Technical Project & Programme Management

 

What do you think will be the biggest constraint over the next 3–5 years?

-Power and water availability?

-AI infrastructure?

-Connectivity? or

-Talent?

 

Reference:

Andie L’s post on Linkedin

Will Fuel Subsidy be RM40b for 2026?

 

The government’s bill on fuel subsidies is expected to surge to RM40 billion for 2026 due to elevated energy prices following the conflict in West Asia.

For January and February, RM800 million per month was forked out to subsidise fuel prices, before surging to around RM5 billion a month for March and April. This was stated by the Prime Minister in a parliamentary written reply recently.

Malaysia subsidises petrol and diesel, allowing eligible Malaysians to buy RON95 petrol at a subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre and diesel at a subsidised price of RM2.10 a litre. Crude oil prices spiked during the West Asia conflict. During the conflict, benchmark Brent crude oil hit a peak of US$144.50 per barrel on April 7. Pre-war, it stood between US$70 and US$80 per barrel.

While still volatile, tensions between the US and Iran have tempered. A ceasefire is in place as the two countries hold peace negotiations.

 

Reference:

Fuel subsidy bill expected to hit RM40b for 2026, Izzul Ikram and Timothy Achariam, theedgemalaysia.com, 1 July 2026

Health Inflation Rises to 3% in 2025

 

Health inflation in Malaysia increased to 3% in 2025 from 1.4%, driven by rising healthcare service costs. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the Preliminary Report of the Malaysia Health Price Index (IHK) 2025 showed that the health services category recorded the highest increase at 4.4%, compared with 0.9% in 2024. He said the increase was mainly driven by a 9% rise in insurance expenditure.

 

Meanwhile, inflation for medicines rose to 2.7% from 2.2% in 2024, while health equipment increased to 1.2% from 0.6%. The Medicines category is the largest component of household health expenditure in Malaysia, accounting for 38.9% of the IHK weighting. Malaysia’s IHK covers health-related components from several consumer price index (CPI) groups, while other countries measure health inflation based on the health category in their respective CPI. Health inflation rates in selected countries in 2025 ranged between negative 0.8% and 5.3%. Vietnam recorded a higher health inflation rate at 5.3% compared with Malaysia’s 3%, while Thailand recorded the lowest rate at negative 0.8%.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

 

The IHK has served as an important reference for measuring changes in prices of health-related goods and services in relation to household spending. The statistics can help the government, stakeholders and the public identify trends in healthcare cost changes, supporting more effective planning, implementation and monitoring of health inflation.

 

Meanwhile, the government will launch a pilot programme for its Base Medical and Health Insurance and Takaful (MHIT) plan in the Klang Valley by the end of July, with monthly premiums expected to start from around RM60.

 

Known as MediAsas, it will be offered as a standalone medical insurance and takaful protection plan with two product options — MediAsas Teras (a standard plan) and MediAsas Fleksi (a standard-plus plan). The scheme will provide medical coverage for individuals up to the age of 85. The MediAsas premiums will be determined based on the latest medical claims experience and healthcare cost inflation trends, with indicative premiums expected to remain within the target monthly range of around RM60 to RM550 for individuals within the entry age of up to 70 years. Final pricing will be confirmed before the nationwide implementation in January 2027. The pilot phase will run from end-July until October 2026.  

 

Six insurers and takaful operators will participate in the pilot programme, together with selected hospitals in the Klang Valley. They include AIA Bhd, Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd, Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd, Prudential BSN Takaful Bhd, Etiqa Family Takaful Bhd and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd. The government said the pilot programme will test "operational readiness, including systems integration, customer experience and operational processes" in a controlled environment. Feedback gathered during the pilot phase will be used to refine implementation arrangements before the nationwide rollout.

 

The Base MHIT initiative forms part of the government's broader Reset strategy, undertaken jointly with Bank Negara Malaysia, to address rising medical inflation and strengthen the long-term sustainability of Malaysia's healthcare system. The strategy focuses on value based healthcare in improving patient outcomes, optimising cost-effective healthcare services and enhancing access to quality care.  

 

References:

Health inflation rises to 3% in 2025 on higher service costs, says DOSM, theedgemalaysia.com, 8 July 2026

 

Govt to launch base-medical insurance plan by end-July, monthly premiums start at RM60, Luqman Amin, theedgemalaysia.com, 7 July 2026

Trump Got a Red Card!

 

For 24 days, the World Cup seemed to achieve a rare feat in America in 2026: It had almost nothing to do with Donald Trump. But in an extraordinary twist following an appeal from the President, star US goal-scorer Folarin Balogun was permitted to play in the knockout clash with Belgium despite being sent off in the previous match and earning a one-game ban.

 

Trump added more rhetorical rocket fuel to the controversy, confirming that he’d called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to review the suspension. Balogun’s reprieve rocked global soccer, triggering fresh speculation about the cozy relationship between Trump and the FIFA supremo.

 

Source: https://www.wikiwand.com

 

Trump’s call to Infantino and FIFA’s ultimate decision lifted a controversy about soccer refereeing into an international incident surrounding the world’s most popular sporting showcase. The subsequent drama raises concerns about political interference and the integrity of the tournament. It doesn’t necessarily matter whether Trump’s muscling into the issue was decisive. Just the impression that it was risks souring global perceptions of an event that had generated remarkably positive headlines.

 

Controversy is guaranteed at World Cup finals. Who could forget Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” goal for Argentina in 1986 or French star Zinedine Zidane’s 2006 World Cup final headbutt? But there is no known precedent for a political leader pressuring FIFA about who can play in a game, let alone one that is so important to a host nation’s chances of advancing.

In isolation, there are good reasons to think Balogun got a raw deal when he was sent off during the national team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. But Trump’s decision to get involved introduces the possibility that Balogun’s reprieve may not be on the grounds of fairness alone.

The FIFA disciplinary committee invoked Article 27 of its code, which allows the full or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure under a probationary period. The red card remains in place, and if Balogun commits another offense, the suspension will be restored, along with potential new penalties.

 

It was not the first time FIFA used the clause. It previously stirred accusations of favoritism toward a box-office player when it allowed Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the preliminary rounds of these finals despite facing suspensions for a red card in a qualifying game.

 

And Trump’s political career shows he hardly sees rules as an impediment. It’s not important how you win. It’s winning that counts. The two have had something of a bromance, and the FIFA chief’s support often seemed a direct political endorsement of a hugely controversial president.

 

Now the precedent is set, who is to say whether other powerful world leaders might think they can grab a political win by pressuring FIFA over an on-field incident? And every controversial challenge for the rest of the World Cup is now going to face huge scrutiny. If FIFA invoked its hazy powers to suspend the Balogun ban, is it not now honor-bound to do so for any player of any other nation?

 

But Belgium won by 4-1 and that settles it. Does it? No! It is a bad precedent. Why didn’t Trump ask FIFA to review the Belgium goals? It could be off-side? Maybe a replay or better still award the match to the USA? And while we are at it PMX should persuade Trump to ask FIFA to review the so-called “Malaysian” players status, so that they could continue to play for Malaysia?

 

Reference:

Trump’s red card call stirs political storm around World Cup, Stephen Collinson, CNN, 6 July 2026

Will Ordinary Malaysians Agree with the Release of Najib?

 

Nazifuddin Najib, who is Najib’s son stated that if Barisan Nasional (BN) achieves a landslide victory in the Johor state election, it should be interpreted as the people wanting former Prime Minister Najib Razak pardoned and released. A sweeping win would prove the public still supports his father and wants him set free. 

Mohamad Ghazali Maidin, 46, working as a security guard was fined RM1,500 by the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court in Jan 2026 will definitely disagree. His crime? He was accused of stealing two packets of powdered milk, two bottles of shampoo and a bottle of laundry detergent, worth a total of RM131.50, from as supermarket. 

Mohd Rashid Mohd Noh, 44, an e-hailing driver, who was jailed for one month will also disagree. His crime? Stealing 20 items worth RM404.22, including a bottle of hair dye priced at RM46, instant coffee valued at RM38.43 and a bottle of shampoo costing RM26.45, at a supermarket in April 2026. 

M. Vaneesri, 43, and her husband, T. Sugumaran, 38, was jailed for one week for stealing a carton of beer and a tin of powdered milk worth RM252.30 from a convenience store in May 2026. 

34-year-old Hamim Heji, who has three children aged 3, 5 and 7 and working as a pasar malam helper was sentenced to two months in jail in Jan 2025 for stealing 261 cartons of 1L UHT chocolate milk and 336 cartons of 1L UHT full cream milk belonging to Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad. 

An unnamed woman in Terengganu, a mother of 4 was sentenced to 14 months' jail in July 2022 for stealing two packets of Milo worth RM73 to feed her children. 

Chong Ann Ni, mother to a 15-month-old baby girl whom she has to breastfeed was jailed for 5 days in 2019 for stealing diapers and infant milk powder worth RM291.39. 

Lini Ahmat, 38 who has a six-month-old child and is supporting a 76-year-old ailing father was sentenced to three months in prison in April 2025 for stealing 30 types of items, which included personal care products, bread, eggs, biscuits, soy milk, tissues and toothpaste, worth RM374.69 from a supermarket. 

The above cases are just a few of the many that happened regularly. What is the commonality in all the above cases? Stealing milk powder, diapers, essentials for their children. What drove them to steal? Is it because the government that they voted for, failed them? 

If the people do really agree and want Najib pardoned and freed, the crime by Najib wasn’t corrected. It was protected. Accountability will enter the lexicon of words that define Malaysia, just like Malaysia Boleh. Steal millions, destabilise institutions, mislead the nation, justice meted out but serve only a fraction of the sentence. Steal milk for your children, serve the full sentence meted out. 

Malaysians are telling their future generations that the real crime in this country is poverty, not power. Hunger is prosecuted faster than corruption. Desperation gets handcuffs; deception gets immunity. So for those who will be voting on 11 July 2026 across Johor, don’t ask what the future generations can do for you, ask what you did for them.

 

Reference:

How many ordinary Malaysians agree with the release of Najib from prison?, FLK, Opinion, Newswav, 7 July 2026

Malaysia’s 15 million “Ghost Vehicles”

 

According to figures from the relevant government sources, there were over 38 million registered vehicles against a population of just 34 million – a ratio of more than 1,100 vehicles per 1,000 people. (This article is adapted from a letter by Yap Yok Foo to FMT). 

By per capita income, Malaysia does not rank among the world’s highest. Our motor vehicle taxes are among the steepest, cheaper only than Singapore’s. How could we possibly have more vehicles than citizens? The road transport department (JPJ) runs a meticulous system for registering new vehicles, but a shockingly poor one for deleting old ones.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

 

Compiled from global transport data aggregates, including from the World Bank, International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Malaysian transport ministry updates.

 

The answer does not lie in a sudden explosion of wealth or multi-car garage ownership. It lies in a systemic, bureaucratic anomaly. The root cause of Malaysia’s bloated motorisation rate is the way data is catalogued. JPJ, formerly known as the Registrar and Inspector of Motor Vehicles, apparently has a register for birth, but none for death. Unlike developed nations that clean their registries annually, Malaysia includes virtually every vehicle ever registered that has not been explicitly reported as scrapped. In essence, millions of “zombie vehicles” – rusted chassis sitting in remote kampungs, decades-old motorcycles abandoned in back alleys and vehicles long cannibalised for parts in scrapyards – remain permanently active in JPJ books. This oversight warps international comparisons. When evaluating the metric of motor vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, Malaysia appears neck-and-neck with the most motorised nations on earth. 

Malaysia’s tax structure deepens the mystery. The country imposes some of the world’s highest excise duties on imported vehicles, second only to Singapore within the region. While this protects local manufacturers like Proton and Perodua, it makes automotive acquisition a serious financial commitment. Logically, high costs should suppress a vehicle population. The fact that the register says otherwise exposes the lack of an exit pathway for old metal. 

The problem is simple. There is no penalty for failing to report a scrapped vehicle – in fact, there is a significant disincentive. To deregister a dead car, an owner must tow it to a Puspakom inspection centre (recently liberalised) to verify chassis and engine numbers. A person with a rusting hulk in their backyard is not going to pay for a tow truck. Instead, they abandon it on public roads or sell it to a scrapyard for cannibalisation. The result? The vehicle remains “alive” in JPJ’s database and the local council is at a loss to do what is needed to tow the car away. 

To transform Malaysia’s transport data from a work of fiction into a reliable planning asset, the transport ministry must implement structured, pragmatic systemic updates. 

1. Automated ‘dead car’ purge

The most immediate fix is a rolling bureaucratic sunset clause. Any vehicle that has failed to renew its road tax (annual licence) for five consecutive years should be automatically classified as inactive or dead, and purged from active transport planning databases.

2. Liberalising inspection and scrapping incentives

The recent steps toward liberalising the vehicle inspection market by breaking old monopolies must be extended to include authorised treatment facilities for end-of-life vehicles. If local certified scrapyards are given the legal digital authority to deregister a vehicle instantly via a smartphone app upon receipt, the friction vanishes. Owners could even be offered minor tax rebates on their next vehicle purchase if they turn in an old clunker to a certified facility. 

3. Unlocking federal revenue

Automated deregistration would instantly free up an immense archive of alpha-numeric combinations. The government could systematically reclaim these dormant, high-value license plates and re-release them through the JPJ e-Bid system. This clean-up process turns a data maintenance chore into a multi-million-ringgit revenue generator for the national treasury. 

Let us not be a country that forgets to bury its dead. Zombies exist on paper. Isn’t it better to auction those zombie plates? Like “JT 1”? ha-ha.  It is time to stop counting ghosts and start counting real vehicles. Our roads – and our Treasury – will need that for planning the future! 

Reference:

Malaysia’s 15 million ‘ghost vehicles’: why our car statistics are a myth, Yap Kok Foo, Letter to the Editor, FMT, 24 June 2026