- FAM buat malu Malaysia
- Zus Coffee brewing in the West (West Asia at least)
- Thailand and Cambodia just could not stop fighting
IN MALAYSIA
Trade negotiations with the US are on track
The chief negotiator for the official tariff negotiations, Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, said that the US has agreed to consider granting tariff exemptions — specifically zero tariff rates — on several commodity products not produced in the US, including palm oil and cocoa. On top of that, Malaysia also requested zero tariffs for furniture, as well as automotive and aerospace parts and components. However, Mastura added that for the trade deal that will be finalised by next month, key commodities – semiconductor and pharmaceuticals, will not be included as both sectors are included in the United States’ Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, where Uncle Sam can impose additional tariffs on the grounds of national security. Mind you, that semiconductors accounted for almost 70% of total exports to the US. It is good to get the low-hanging fruit, but do not forget the elephant in the room, please. And satu lagi, Tengku Zafrul is not the lead negotiator, so any wins or (losses), minimal credits to him please.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/771714
Our national embarrassment – FAM
The football global governing body, FIFA, has sanctioned and impose a 12-month ban to seven Malaysian national team players, namely, Garces, Gabriel Arrocha of Unionistas de Salamanca, Rodrigo Holgado of America de Cali and Imanol Machuca of Velez Sarsfield, as well as Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel for allegedly using doctored documentation to play in an Asian Cup qualifier for Malaysia against Vietnam, where Harimau Malaya won 4-0. According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, the seven players breached Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which is concerned with forgery and falsification. On top of that, FAM also has to pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (USD438,651) while the players have been fined 2,000 Swiss francs each. The decision can be appealed before the FIFA Appeals Committee, and unsurprisingly, FAM will do so.
In responding to the matter, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said that it will ‘duduk tepi padang’ and let FAM sort the matter. MACC stated that based on initial checks, this issue appears to relate to a technical process and does not fall under the MACC’s purview. No offence, as per the MACC Act, has been identified thus far.
Source: https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/756415
Business news
- Zus Coffee will be brewing coffee at overseas locations soon
Zus Coffee set a goal to enter Pakistan and Morocco by 1H2026, in its vision to expand beyond ASEAN countries. Zus Coffee COO Venon Tian said that the company is targeting to increase the number of stores in Malaysia to 850. It also aims to have 20 stores in Thailand and 190 to 200 in the Philippines, where it currently operates. Zus Coffee is also planning to open up a shop in Indonesia in 1Q2025. Nonetheless, the local coffee brand will still surpass its 1,000-store mark by the end of the year.
- AirAsia is mulling the purchase of China’s Comac jets
AirAsia may be the knight in shining armour for China airplace manufacturer, Comac’s dream of penetrating the international market, as the Malaysian low-cost airline is in discussions to buy Comac’s C919 jets. This news was confirmed by AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes at the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. Fernandes added that these negotiations make AirAsia the “first foreign airline to be working with COMAC” on such a deal. Another low-cost player, Irish-based Ryanair, also flirted with the idea of adding the Chinese narrowbody twinjet to its fleet, which is currently dominated by aircraft from the Boeing 737 Next Generation (737NG) and 737 MAX families.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/insight/2025/09/27/airasiascomac-gamble#goog_rewarded
- Oil is the new black gold for banks
Three banks – Maybank Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and RHB Bank Bhd, emerged as substantial shareholders of Vantris Energy Bhd, the new name for Sapura Energy Bhd, following the completion of the oil and gas company’s regularisation plan. After the restructuring exercise, Maybank holds a 20.27% stake in the company, while CIMB Group and RHB Bank own 12.13% and 7.21% of the company, respectively.
Around the SEA
Thailand and Cambodia clashed at the border
Despite being in a state of ceasefire, Thai and Cambodian troops clashed in the border area of northeastern Thailand, exchanging gunfire and launching grenades. The Thai army claimed that Cambodian soldiers had fired into the Chong An Ma area in Ubon Ratchathani province. Cambodian forces, on the other hand, accused Thai military forces of initially firing small arms and mortar rounds on their An Seh military base. These two nations are like siblings who are bickering with each other. While siblings’ infighting is mostly not harmful, these two ‘siblings’ have guns, so yeah.
The golden visa works, not Trump’s one, but the Indonesian one
Indonesia has bagged close to USD2.9 bil, worth of investments in connection with the issuance of the golden visa, a special residency permit introduced in 2024 to attract foreign investors to the country. According to the Directorate General of Immigration, 1,012 golden visas have been issued as of September 23, directly contributing almost USD800k in non-tax revenue to the state. The Golden Visa stay permit comes with a validity period of five to ten years and offers benefits such as priority access at airports, simplified immigration services and legal certainty for investing and working in Indonesia.
For Your EYES Only
Malaysia, the land of great planning but sampah execution. KLIA could be a great airport, but now we have a Terminal 2 that has bipolar disorder – it could not decide whether to become an airport or a mall.
Truth be told KLIA started off as a well planned world class airport. Only Satelite Building A done, the rest is part of a very sad execution based on … (fill in as you please…) pic.twitter.com/4JsAokOVC2
— Anuar Aziz (@SaifulA77188378) September 28, 2025
