Top 30 Ways to Get a Husband

 

Before Covid, Kim Marx-Kuczynski from Madison, Wisconsin shared a 1958 McCall’s article, entitled “129 Ways to Get a Husband,” showing just how much times have changed. Kim believes that everyone who’s currently thinking about a long-term relationship should stay away from this kind of stuff, too. “I think if someone is actively looking for a life-long partner just for the sake of being married, they will end up in a failed relationship whether they legally sever it or not,” she said. “I’d like to read about someone’s attempts at trying out everything on the list though. They would either end up with a degree from Yale, in federal prison for stowing away on a military vessel, or in an intervention meeting with friends who’ve been very concerned with their recent dating profile choices.”

 

 “It’s outdated and absurd and funny, but it had serious intentions,” Kim concluded. “Society has changed so much in the last sixty (now close to 70) years, and this article exemplifies the differences between what our moms and grandmas grew up with compared to ourselves and the coming generations. It’s fascinating.”

 

Of the 129 ways, here are the top 30:

 

 

Reference:

This ‘129 ways to get a husband’ article from 1958 shows how much the world has changed, Mindaugas Balciauskas/BoredPanda, 6 Nov 2018

How Could Agrobank Lose Over RM200m to Online Fraud?

 

Recently, Home Minister confirmed that Bank Pertanian Malaysia Bhd (Agrobank) suffered a loss of RM203.8 million due to online fraud reported in November in 2025. A total of 47 individuals has been arrested in connection with the case, with three charged under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code for offences related to mule accounts. While details of the Agrobank fraud were not disclosed, Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code provides that anyone using a bank account or payment instrument for illegal purposes can face three to 10 years in prison, a fine of RM10,000 to RM150,000, or both.

 

Agrobank is fully owned by the Minister of Finance Inc, with the Federal Commissioner of Lands holding one share, and is overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. On Nov 13 last year, Agrobank issued a statement saying it was conducting a comprehensive review following a recent internal systems incident, without providing specifics. In December, The Edge, citing sources, reported that the system issue may be linked to a coordinated attempt to siphon funds from the bank using hundreds of accounts.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

 

Malaysia recorded 209,300 cases of online fraud from 2020 to 2025, resulting in total losses of nearly RM8 billion, with telecommunications and e-commerce scams accounting for the largest share.

 

Another case involving a non-existent investment scheme reported in February 2025, resulted in losses of about RM40 million. The case, being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, involved a cryptocurrency investment scam in which digital assets worth about US$6.4 million (RM25.1 million) were transferred to multiple crypto wallets.

 

To combat online fraud, the police have intensified enforcement under Sections 424A to 424D of the Penal Code, which carry heavier penalties reflecting the seriousness of organised cybercrime. The government is also reviewing proposed legal amendments to tighten provisions under the Penal Code, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and laws related to money laundering and terrorism financing, including stricter penalties and asset forfeiture for scam syndicates, mule account holders and accomplices.

 

It is unfortunate that integrity is out of fashion. This is banking and trust is the principal commodity. For Agrobank they depend largely on government funding hence consequences are not significant (except for the taxpayer). Had this been a commercial bank the consequences will be more severe unless BNM steps in.

 

Lots of things need to change--- are we prepared to be transparent and change people behaviour or will we tolerate these internal fraud schemes. There are cases like BMF, 1MDB, Ministry of Defence and many others for a business school or a bank regulator to use as case studies and prepare guidelines to help institutions improve their so-called “firewalls”. But we don’t. Why?

 

Reference:

Minister: Agrobank lost over RM200m in online fraud, three charged over mule accounts,

Choy Nyen Yiau, theedgemalaysia.com, 4 Feb 2026

Are IPPs Back?

 

Gas-Fired power is returning to Malaysia’s energy mix as policymakers move to extend ageing plants and roll out new capacity to meet surging electricity demand. Malakoff Corp Bhd is the latest to secure extensions until Dec 31, 2029, for three of its gas-fired power plants, with a combined effective capacity of about 2.1GW. 

These comprise the 1,303MW Segari combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant in Perak, the GB3 open cycle gas turbine plant in Perak and the Prai CCGT plant in Penang. Similar approvals were granted to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) late last year.

 

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org

The utility secured letters of notification (LON) for three gas-fired plants, with a combined capacity of about 1.3GW, under the Energy Commission’s (EC) Category 1 tender in May last year to award extensions of concession periods to existing gas-fired plants with expired or soon-to-expire power purchase agreements (PPAs). Analysts expect the three TNB plants to begin commercialisation in mid-2026 until 2030. Analysts also see scope for TNB to secure extensions for a further 1.2GW of capacity. 

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) announced plans to buy more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar Energy, securing long-term supply to meet the rising gas demand fuelled by the coal-to-gas shift and expanding data centre (DC) capacity. 

Apart from extensions of ageing plants, another 6GW to 8GW of greenfield gas projects are expected under the EC’s Category 2 tender – the first such developments in over a decade.

The renewed focus on gas is in line with the government’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, which sees gas playing a critical role in the power mix as a flexible, lower-emission bridge between coal and renewable energy (RE). 

In a report, CGS International (CGSI) Research estimates each extension for Malakoff’s smaller plants can generate around RM20mil per year in net profit on average. This is based on an assumption of a 45% to 55% reduction in capacity payments – which is the fixed payments that plant owners receive for making electricity available to the grid – relative to the initial PPAs. However, these plants are a stopgap ahead of new gas projects slated for award by the first quarter of 2026 and commissioning in 2029 to 2030. 

Looking ahead, power demand in Malaysia is expected to grow strongly, with CGSI Research projecting around 7% per year between 2024 and 2030, driven in part by the multi-phase ramp-up of contracted DC loads. Notably, the country’s reserve margin, which is the cushion of capacity above peak demand, fell to 29% in 2024, the first reading under 30% since 2016, as demand surged. 

Industry players say new or non-traditional independent power producers (IPPs) may also emerge. Petronas Gas Bhd (PetGas), which could leverage its upstream gas resources, midstream infrastructure, and strong balance sheet to compete. PetGas made its entry into power generation, albeit in a smaller scale, with the 285MW Kimanis Power Plant in Sabah. Its second gas-fired plant in Kimanis, a 100MW peaking facility, is to come online in 2026. 

Beyond the traditional IPPs, CGSI Research says additional capacity needs could create opportunities for unlisted players such as Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd and Selangor government-backed Worldwide Holdings Bhd, operator of the 1,200MW Pulau Indah Power Plant. 

However, the cost of gas turbines for a CCGT plant has doubled in recent years, now estimated at US$1mil to US$1.5mil per MW, according to AmResearch. The global shortage of gas turbines is due to the surge in orders from the United States and the Middle East, as well as rising labour and material costs. 

For plant owners, the economics remain favourable: based on current PPAs for CCGT plants, AmResearch says a 1,400MW plant could earn RM200mil to RM300mil per year before interest and taxes in its early years of commissioning, with annual capacity payments of RM500mil to RM600mil. So, it is who gets to own one. Track record or connection. Maybe both!

 

Reference:

IPPs plug back in, Gurmeet Kaur, Star Biz7, The Star, 09 Feb 2026

Is PMX Undermining His Own Jihad Against Corruption?

 

According to Emir Research estimates from 2023, Malaysia is estimated to have lost about RM4.5tn to corruption and leakages over a 26-year period (1997–2022). The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) reported that Malaysia may have suffered RM277bn in economic losses due to corruption between 2018 and 2023, averaging RM55bn annually.

 

https://www.wikihow.life

 

Amidst all of this, PMX missed a splendid opportunity to reaffirm his anti-corruption resolve when he dismissed Bloomberg’s Feb 3, 2026, article linking the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner to local “corporate mafia” figures.

 

Imagine if Anwar had reacted thus: “I cannot dismiss such serious allegations. I have demanded that MACC Chief Azam take immediate leave pending a thorough investigation to be headed by former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.” Or someone of similar stature. Instead, Anwar chided his critics and asked them to “read his [Azam’s] explanation”. Anwar also did not help himself or his cause in having a high-level internal “Special Committee” to investigate the matter.

 

Azam was not Anwar’s appointee, rather a carryover from the previous administrations of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri. Azam’s contract, due to end May 2, 2026, had been extended in the past albeit very briefly three times, including twice by Anwar.

 

It is noteworthy that Muhyiddin’s own corruption trial is set to begin in March. He was arrested in March 2023 following his coalition’s loss in the Nov 2022 general elections (GE15). As for Ismail Sabri, MACC had seized over RM 169 mil in cash as well as gold bars from “safe houses” linked to him. He has yet to be charged. More significant, he had made no effort to reclaim those seized spoils.

 

Malaysia has serious problems with corruption. The current allegations are made not by some small publication but Bloomberg, citing specific individuals, places, and transactions. That begs for a thorough investigation. Even a Royal Commission.

 

As for Malaysia’s record in combating corruption, yes, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is now in jail. And he will remain in jail for the next few decades unless pardoned. Najib is now joined by his former minister Tan Sri Isa Samad, having recently exhausted his long, extended appeals.

 

Anwar cannot claim credit for either. Najib’s arrest in July 2018 followed the defeat of his coalition in the April 2018 elections. He was convicted in July 2020. That and his other corruption convictions were initiated long before the Anwar administration. Also worth reminding is that Najib was convicted not by in-house or career civil servant prosecutors.

 

As for PMX’s commitment and track record in fighting corruption, the case of Deputy Prime Minister is instructive as well as revealing. He was arrested in Oct 2018, also following his party’s defeat in the 14^th general elections (GE14) in April 2018 for misappropriating funds belonging to his family-run foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi. The DPM has secured the DNAA and now seeks a full acquittal!

 

 Who will replace Azam? How about Rafizi Ramli, the former Economy Minister? A chartered accountant and a chartered engineer, Rafizi could do a better forensic audit and engineer (no pun intended) the conviction of many “big” fish. So, instead of investigating Rafizi, Anwar could take a major step in restoring his credibility (as a crusader against corruption) by appointing Rafizi. Will he do it? Previously, as an opposition leader Anwar would have proposed Rafizi but not the PMX.

 

Reference:

PMX undermines his own jihad against corruption, M. Bakri Musa, Focus Malaysia, 20 Feb 2026

Is EPF 2025 Dividend Expected to Stay?

 

The Employees Provident Fund(EPF) is expected to declare a 2025 dividend of about 5.8% to 6.3% for Conventional Savings and 5.5% to 6.0% for Shariah Savings, based on current investment performance and fund management considerations. The projection was shared by Global Asia Consulting. 

EPF recorded investment income of RM63.99 billion in the first nine months of 2025, an 11% increase from RM57.57 billion in the same period last year. This reflects a healthy earnings trajectory and provides a solid base for dividend consideration. The projected dividend range is viewed reasonable given this performance and EPF’s governance framework, which prioritises sustainability over short-term gains. The unrealised gains, including mark-to-market gains driven by foreign exchange movements, cannot be paid out. These paper gains may fluctuate and only become distributable once realised. 

The Shariah portfolio does not include conventional bonds, has fewer risk-hedging tools, and is more exposed to equity market cycles. In recovery years, the gap may narrow, but during periods of global uncertainty, such as 2025, a difference of around 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points is typical. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Expectations of dividends reaching 6.5% or even 7.0%, despite the encouraging nine-month results, are not expected. EPF’s mandate is not to maximise dividends in a single year, but to ensure sustainable returns over decades. With total fund assets exceeding RM1 trillion, a growing number of retirees, and increasingly critical reserve requirements, the fund is particularly sensitive to the risks of over-distribution. From a pension fund governance perspective, Conventional Savings dividend of 5.8% to 6.3% is competitive without compromising financial discipline. 

Over the past five years, EPF dividend rates have remained within a relatively narrow range. Conventional Savings stood at 5.20% in 2020, rose to 6.10% in 2021, eased to 5.35% in 2022, increased to 5.50% in 2023, and reached 6.30% in 2024. Shariah Savings ranged from 4.90% in 2020 to 6.30% in 2024, matching the Conventional rate last year. This historical pattern provides context for why the projected 2025 range is seen as consistent rather than exceptional.

Overall, the outlook suggests a dividend that is in line with past years. It reinforces EPF’s role as a long-term retirement savings fund, focused on stability and sustainability rather than chasing higher payouts in any single year. 

Reference:

EPF 2025 dividend expected to stay within historical range, Samuel Chua, RinggitPlus, 5 Feb 2026

Master Your Meetings!

 

A Harvard report said that 71% of meetings are unproductive. Of the meetings, 65% keep people from doing real work. The best leaders don’t run more meetings. They run the ones that matter. 

The goal: Keep teams aligned, focused, and moving fast. Without wasting time. To run meetings and move the business forward, do the following: 

Weekly 1:1

·       Let the staff drive the agenda

·       Listen first, coach second

·       End with 2–3 clear next steps

·       Review key metrics in 10 minutes

·       Focus on 2–3 high-impact issues

·       End with clear decisions

·       Review KPIs by exception

·       Flag risks in revenue or ops

·       Assign fixes with owners

 

Review last quarter’s goals

·       Debate and choose top 3 priorities - Assign clear owners and resources

·       Bring 3 real pain points

·       Let customers talk 70% of the time

·       Follow up within 30 days Board or Investor Update

·       Share the hard stuff first

·       Highlight 1–2 metrics that matter

·       Ask for help with specific challenges All-Hands

·       Explain the why, not just the what

·       Take live, unscripted questions

·       End with one clear message You may not need all of these. Some might add a daily standup. 

But chances are, your company doesn’t need half the meetings on the calendar now. Use this list to audit what’s working. Cut what’s not. Your team will thank you for their time back. Better meetings = faster decisions, sharper focus, and real momentum.

 

 Reference:

Business Infographics Post on Linkedin

Malaysia’s Growth Exceeds Expectations

 

According to MARC Ratings, Malaysia ended 2025 on a strong footing, with its 4Q2025 gross domestic product (GDP) advance estimate rising by 5.7%, bringing full-year growth to an estimated 4.9%, above consensus expectations. Growth in 4Q2025 was broad-based, led by services (5.4%; 3Q2025: 5.0%) and manufacturing (6.0%; 3Q2025: 4.1%) due to strong external demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products. Agriculture rebounded to 5.1% (3Q2025: 0.4%) on a low base effect and stronger palm oil demand, while construction expanded at 11.9% (3Q2025: 11.8%), supported by ongoing public and private investment projects. Meanwhile, mining moderated to 1.1% (3Q2025: 9.7%) due to weaker demand for crude oil and natural gas. Going forward, the strong growth momentum is expected to persist, supported by robust domestic and external demand despite renewed geopolitical tensions. MARC Ratings projects economic growth for 2026 at 4.6%.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

In 2025, Malaysia’s headline inflation edged up further to 1.6% in December, from 1.4% in November, bringing the yearly average to 1.4%. The increase was largely driven by alcoholic beverages and tobacco, where inflation rose to 2.5% (Nov: 2.4%). The rise in this category was due to a higher excise duty imposed by the government. The second factor driving the inflation rate is the housing and utilities segment which inched up to 0.9% (Nov: 0.7%) alongside clothing and footwear by 0.1% (Nov: -0.1%). These increases, however, were partially offset by stable inflation in key sub-sectors such as food and beverages (Dec: 1.5%; Nov: 1.5%) and a deceleration in transportation to 0.1% (Nov: 0.2%) reflecting lower global oil prices. While inflation remains stable for now, renewed geopolitical tensions could disrupt supply chains and add to inflationary pressures. 

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) maintained the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75% recently, cited firm economic growth and moderate inflation prospects as reasons to retain the rate. 

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio flows remained positive in December, albeit at a slower pace, as bond inflows moderated to RM3.0 billion from RM6.1 billion in November, while equities recorded continued outflows of RM1.9 billion (Nov: -RM1.2 billion). As a result, foreign holdings of Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) and Government Investment Issues (GII) edged higher to 21.6% of the market (Nov: 21.4%). By late January, the ringgit had approached 3.93 USDMYR, strengthening sooner than anticipated. The ringgit may strengthen and remain within a 3.80-3.90 USDMYR range in the near term. (Blog writer’s estimate!) 

Unless there are adverse geopolitical tensions (like China-Taiwan), new tariffs or sanctions and domestic political instability, the prospects remain positive for Malaysia in 2026. 

Reference:

Monthly Review: Malaysia’s Growth Exceeds Expectations, Press Announcement, MARC Ratings Berhad, 30 January 2026