- China is saying bye-bye to trade privileges
- Astro terciduk lagi
- Bangkok berlubang
IN MALAYSIA
Where is PM Anwar Ibrahim?
Amidst US President Donald Trump’s antics in complaining about everything from the teleprompter to the escalator, one noticeable thing was that PM Anwar Ibrahim was nowhere in New York for the United Nations’ General Assembly. So, where is he?
PM Anwar was in Timor-Leste
PM Anwar was on a two-day visit to Timor-Leste from September 23, the first by a Malaysian leader to the country in 22 years. During the visit, PM Anwar officiated the launch of the International Convention Centre (ICC) development project at Dili Port, which is expected to enhance Timor-Leste’s capacity to host major international events. PM Anwar was also given the honour to address the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, a nod to Malaysia’s support for the country since before its independence. During the speech, in a pure gentlemanly act, PM Anwar expressed gratitude to former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Malaysia’s consistent support of Timor-Leste’s journey towards ASEAN membership.
Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/756028
PM Anwar hosted ASEAN Economic Ministers
Once concluded his Timor-Leste trip, PM Anwar hosted the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and related meetings Gala Dinner in Kuala Lumpur on September 25, where PM Anwar engaged with the durian diplomacy and served durian to the attendees, equating durian’s taste to blue cheese (uh, no please).
So, was PM Anwar signalling that Timor-Leste and ASEAN dinner were more important compared to the United Nations (UN)? Apparently so, as the UN snub by PM Anwar was due to the UN’s failure in handling the Gaza crisis. However, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan will attend the General Assembly on behalf of PM Anwar and is scheduled to present the National Statement at the General Debate session on Sunday.
Astro fumbling lagi
Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd announced that its net profit fell by 70% for the three months ended July 31, 2025 (2QFY2026), recorded RM16.39 mil compared to RM54.71 mil over the same quarter last year. What to blame? – slump in advertising expenditure by brands, higher content and marketing expenses and the unspoken reason – no one watches TV anymore. Most brands have already shifted their spending to online and social media, where consumers spend most of their time. Shares of Astro Malaysia closed unchanged at 14 sen on Thursday, valuing the company at about RM680 mil. Someone should end Astro’s misery at one point.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/771607
Around the SEA
China is foregoing its trade privileges
At a side event during UN General Assembly week in New York, Beijing’s No.2, Premier Li Qiang, made the surprising announcement that China will voluntarily give up its access to Special and Differential Treatment under ‘developing nation status’ (though it intends to keep its status as a developing nation). The special trade privileges were given upon the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2000. In those intervening 25 years, China’s GDP has grown from USD1.3 tril to ~USD19 tril, a staggering ~13x increase (for reference, the US economy has increased about 2.7x in the same period). Today, China accounts for 20% of global GDP. Why is China voluntarily walking away from the benefits that helped fuel its rise, and why now?
- Setting a positive tone with Trump
Countries like China and India’s insistence on keeping their self-declared ‘developing’ status — even as China subsidised state industries and forced technology transfers from the foreign companies it had promised to welcome — has long buat WTO members like the US to feel rengsek.
- Demonstrating ‘leadership’ to the rest of the world
Consider the contrast: as President Trump mocked the UN’s toothlessness (perhaps not inaccurately) and told member states their countries were ‘going to hell’, China was drawing praise from WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who said China’s announcement is the culmination of many years of hard work, as she applauded China’s leadership. The Nigerian-born leader of one of the world’s best-known multilateral organisations praising them in front of more than 140 world leaders, while the US president gripes about broken escalators? China’s leaders couldn’t have scripted it better. Even South Park cannot predict a better outcome.
Indonesia trade deal with the EU – DONE DEAL
After 19 rounds and nine years of talks, Jakarta has finalised a trade deal with the European Commission (EU) to remove tariffs on most EU and Indonesian goods. With this new deal, Indonesia will be lifting tariff barriers on 98% of EU products exported to Indonesia, while around 90% of Indonesian goods entering the EU market will now be zero-rated for tariffs, including palm oil. The fact that the EU is allowing tariff-free palm oil from Indonesia also suggests Brussels might be prioritising economic over environmental resilience (though the two sides will apparently work to ensure compliance with the EU’s deforestation legislation). This agreement is a further step in the EU’s trade diversification strategy, following the US decision to impose a 15% tariff on EU imports.
For Your EYES Only
A huge sinkhole suddenly appeared in Bangkok after a tunnel for the subway track caved in, causing rapid soil movement into the underground station. Damaged pipes allowed water to pour into the hole, accelerating the slide. Betul lah Thailand need to start mandi bunga. Perhaps this time Thailand kene guna bomoh Malaysia, as bomoh Siam apparently takleh pakai dah.
A 50-metre-deep massive sinkhole opened near Vajira Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday, cars and electricity poles fell into it, leaving commuters stunned
The massive sinkhole extended about 900 square metres, bringing traffic to a halt.#sinkhole #Bangkok #Thailand pic.twitter.com/rfDIiM135y
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) September 24, 2025
