- KLIA aerotrain can just not get out of problem
- Thailand has a new PM
- Japan need to find a new PM again
IN MALAYSIA
New anything-paddy revolution in Kedah
The days of seeing green sawah padi nearby urban areas may be ended as PM Anwar Ibrahim announced that Putrajaya has agreed to allow the development of several paddy granary areas in Kedah, particularly in urban areas, to make way for other commercial ventures. PM Anwar admitted that the 13th Malaysia Plan’s presentation on July 31, the Federal Government has its own priorities, but he stressed that the government must listen to what states need as well. Thus, for the upcoming national budget, it will be adjusted to reflect not only federal priorities but also the specific needs of each state, with state-level views to be incorporated for the first time in shaping allocations.
Source: https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2464596
Business news
- KLIA Aerotrain is still problematic even after undergoing maintenance
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) MD Mohd Izani Ghani reassured passengers that the KLIA Aerotrain is safe to use, even after the aerotrain briefly lost power, barely days after the aerotrain had just undergone a scheduled two-week maintenance involving all contractors. According to the aerotrain’s project coordination lead, Alstom, the cause of the aerotrain’s power outage was due to a dislodged current collector device (CCD). Despite the minor glitch, Mohd Izani said that the aerotrain’s operational service indicators showed significant improvements since its relaunch in July 2025, with the aerotrain recording an overall operational service availability of 97.27%, rising to 99.93% in August.
Perhaps MAHB should look at Prasarana on how to be better, as the service performance of rail operations under Prasarana has improved significantly, with only 24 disruptions recorded as of July this year. Mind you that Prasarana operates and manages LRT & MRT networks, including Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line, KL Monorail, MRT Kajang Line and MRT Putrajaya Line. As of July, Prasarana recorded a Mean Kilometre Between Failure (MKBF) of 0.54 million kilometres. As a basis for comparison, for the entirety of 2024, the recorded MKBF was 0.33 million kilometres, with 71 disruptions, whereas in 2023, it was only 0.16 million kilometres, with 118 disruptions.
- Malaysia is choosing a side in the global semiconductor war
Malaysia is choosing the West when it comes to the semiconductor war, as it has inked a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Netherlands to advance collaboration in the semiconductor industry. The collaboration is in line with the National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to attract RM500 bil in investments, create high-value local companies and train 60,000 engineers by 2030.
Muhyiddin tasted his own medicine
It was a deja vu moment for former PM Muhyiddin Yassin, but this time, he was at the receiving end after there was an attempt by a certain faction within the Bersatu party to remove him as the party’s president via signature, also known as a statutory declaration (SD). In response to the alleged attempt to topple him, Muhyiddin told the audience during the party’s annual general meeting (AGM) that the act was unlawful and went against the party’s constitution. After his speech, a war of words broke out when the majority of the delegates chanted ‘Kekal presiden’ and ‘Hidup Tan Sri’, while some shouted ‘letak jawatan, Muhyiddin’. This chain of events hinted at underlying friction within the party just as it prepares for the 16th general election.
Okay, let’s dive into some history lessons and revisit how Muhyiddin has attempted to use ‘signature’ or ‘statutory declaration’, in his favour –
- Using SDs to become PM again – In August 2024, Muhyiddin provided 115 SDs, which were allegedly signed by MPs who backed him to become the PM again. The 115 SDs consisted of 74 SDs from Perikatan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (22), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), 10 Barisan Nasional MPs, two independents, and one from Parti KDM. Muhyiddin claimed the SDs should be sufficient to appoint him as the PM after GE15, as no single party or coalition won the election outright. However, then-King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, eventually appointed Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister after the latter cobbled together a unity coalition of all Malaysian parties outside of PN.
- Collecting SDs to cement his position as the then-PM – During his tenure as the eighth PM, former PM Muhyiddin Yassin has been collecting SDs, such as from former PKR lawmakers, such as Julau MP Larry Sng Wei Shien and Tebrau MP Steven Choong Shiau Yoon, to solidify his position as the PM in 2021.
So, to Muhyiddin, what goes around comes around in life. Unless you are Tun Dr Mahathir, then the phrase should be what goes around, comes around, and then the wheel of life does a U-turn.
AROUND THE SEA
Head of state musical chairs around the region
- Thailand has its 32nd PM
After much chaos, Thailand finally has a new PM, Anutin Charnvirakul, who is the country’s 32nd PM and Thailand’s third PM in two years. The pro-cannabis conservative took office last Friday and promptly named three non-Members of Parliament – a treasury department head, a former top oil and gas executive and a respected retired diplomat – to run the finance, energy and foreign ministries, saying his first cabinet picks would ‘bring confidence’ to Thailand. His finance minister nominee, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, a senior bureaucrat, will be tasked with navigating the country’s economy, which is suffering from the US tariffs and high household debt. According to the Bank of Thailand report issued on June 30, total household debt tallied 16.35 tril baht in the first quarter of 2025, equivalent to 87.4% of GDP. A significant portion of household debt is owed to commercial banks, which accounted for 6.14 tril baht. As a comparison, Malaysia’s household debt to GDP was no different to Thailand’s, standing at 84.3% of GDP. Need to be reiterated that having debt may be a good thing, unless it does not turn out to be bad debt.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/anutin-charnvirakul-sworn-in-thai-pm-royal-5336576
- Japan PM resigns
PM Shigeru Ishiba stepped down after less than a year in the role, after suffering yet another major election loss. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has lost both its majority in the lower house and the upper house, marking the first time it has happened in 15 years. The 68-year-old said he would continue his responsibilities to the people until a successor was selected. Ishiba can leave office with his head held high after securing a tariff deal with the US.
For Your EYES Only
Does PETRONAS really take 95% of Sarawak’s oil and gas revenue for the past five decades? According to former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, the answer is no, as PETRONAS’ profit margins are only around 10% to 15% after accounting for heavy development costs and dividend payouts. Rafizi added that 70% of the revenue is costs, where some of that goes to Sarawak companies in the form of contracts.
