Top 5 at 5: No Valour for FashionValet's Losses

Khazanah Nasional Berhad and PNB recently took a RM43.9 million loss after selling their stakes in Fashion Valet for just RM3.1 million. This has sparked public debate, with some calling for accountability and others arguing that losses are a normal part of investing. The MACC has since launched an investigation into the case, raising questions about investment criteria and its impact on Malaysia’s venture capital landscape, which we discuss with Emmanuel Samarathisa, journalist and founder of The Malaysianist.

Other stories we covered today:

· JPJ faces copyright battle over Madani plates: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Transport Ministry are embroiled in a copyright infringement case, with a businessman demanding RM1.3 million over the controversial Madani vehicle plate number series. We discuss the legal implications and potential outcomes of this dispute with Foong Cheng Leong, an intellectual property lawyer.

· Assault charges involving Pahang royalty: Eddie Akasya, son of the Pahang Tengku Muda, is one of five individuals charged in the violent assault of a former construction worker Alias Awang. We reach out to criminal lawyer Goh Cia Yee to weigh in on whether full accountability will be upheld in this high-profile case involving royal family connections.

· Malbatt peacekeepers injured in Lebanon explosion: Six members of the Malaysian Battalion Contingent were injured in an explosion near Saida Stadium during an Israeli raid in southern Lebanon. Dr. Azmi Hassan, political analyst and Senior Fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research discusses the role of Malbatt in Lebanon and the growing challenges faced by peacekeepers amid escalating regional tensions.

· Shah Rukh Khan quits smoking: Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan revealed that he quit smoking after it caused persistent breathing issues, prompting a wider discussion on the health impacts of smoking in Malaysia. Professor Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed, Leader of the Smokefree Sejahtera Campus Community Flagship 3.0 programme, at the Faculty of Pharmacy of IIUM, explains the long-term effects of nicotine addiction on the brain and body.

Image Credit: FashionValet, Facebook