Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by knwong

NIO CEO: EV not suit global market.ICE/PHEV better

knwong — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:31:26 +0800

QUOTE

Li said China remains the most efficient place to invest in pure electric vehicles, noting that deploying similar levels of capital abroad would take significantly longer with less certain returns. Plug-in hybrids and internal combustion engine vehicles, by contrast, are better suited to global markets, he added.

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CCP companies here only want to hire Chinese. Sad

knwong — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:23:39 +0800

Had a insightful conversation with neighbour friend who works in higher learning institution

Many CCP companies have set up manufacturing companies in Malaysia. Main purpose is to avoid tariff for their export products

They are very eager to hire engineers / staffs direct from uni & colleges at their career fair. However they specifically only want to hire Chinese. It's easier to communicate with Mainland HQ

Though happy since plenty of job opportunities but my friend always had a hard time dealing with requirement...had to convince them cannot be too blatantly open about it

Korea March Birth Surge 20%!Grew 21 straight month

knwong — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:31:57 +0800

I'm so happy for Korea!
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Korea's March Births Surge 19.4%, Largest Jump in 33 Years

March Births Reach 25,200, Up 19.4%
Increase of 4,088 Marks 33-Year High
Total Fertility Rate Rises to 0.93, Up 0.15 from Year Earlier
Q1 Births Total 75,013, Rising for Eighth Straight Quarter

https://en.sedaily.com/finance/2026/05/27/k...gest-jump-in-33

Thailand impose THB 2000 visa fee for Indians

knwong — Wed, 27 May 2026 19:14:31 +0800

Thailand Scraps 60-Day Visa-Free Stay For Indians, Can Visit Via Visa On Arrival
Thailand is now looking beyond visitor numbers and placing greater emphasis on attracting "quality tourists".

https://www.ndtv.com/travel/thailand-scraps...rrival-11531759

Mediacorp actor bought landed home in JB

knwong — Mon, 25 May 2026 21:36:49 +0800

Shaun Chen and family get keys to new landed home in Johor Bahru

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[fb]https://www.facebook.com/reel/1499044195350924[/fb]
Shaun Chen and his family have embarked on an exciting new journey.

The Mediacorp actor's wife Celine Chin took to Instagram yesterday (May 24) to post a video where she documented the process of getting the keys to their new landed home in Johor Bahru (JB) on May 21, subtitling: "Sunny weather. An auspicious day to move happily into our new house."

The family previously lived in Singapore. Shaun, 47, shared with Lianhe Zaobao in September 2024 that he, 36-year-old Chin and their two daughters Nellie and Neia, aged 11 and nine, had been staying in a rented home in JB since August that year.

Though still empty, their property looks impressive with a spacious front yard, a large living room with a high ceiling and a wide balcony on the second floor.

Before entering, the family rolled in a pineapple and a bunch of mandarin oranges.

In Chinese customs, rolling a pineapple into a new home symbolises prosperity, as the Hokkien pronunciation of pineapple - ong lai - is a homophone for a term meaning "prosperity comes".

It is also believed that to attract more wealth, the homeowner should carry auspicious items when they first enter the flat, such as apples, oranges and peaches, which symbolise safety, prosperity and good health respectively.

To commemorate the milestone, the family celebrated with party poppers at the driveway. In the caption of her post, Chin said that they would be entering the "crazy decoration mode" to slowly realise their ideal home.

Shaun and his daughters are Singapore PRs and sold their home here before moving to JB. As both he and Chin are Malaysian citizens, he shared that it was a "natural and logical choice" to return to the country eventually, coupled with the fact that they also have extended family there.

About whether the move will affect his acting career, he said: "There's not much change. If there are acting opportunities, I will go to Singapore and travel between the two countries."

Mediacorp actors Yao Wenlong and Yang Guang Ke Le have also bought houses in JB recently.

Note: Another actor Yao Wenlong bought at Taman Sutera

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Why ppl always lost their pet? RM1k reward if foun

knwong — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:38:25 +0800

My neighbourhood once in a while will have cases of pets gone missing

Last year a tortoise went missing and it was found 50 meters away, dried up crawling in front of a neighbour’s front gate after a week

Few months later a mischievous cat escaped and has to be rescued that same night by Bomba from the roof across the street neighbour’s house

Yesterday a parrot went missing and handsome RM1k reward was offered if found

Why is it so easy for pets to escape? Can’t just properly caged them at home meh?

Tingginya riba pinjaman bank. Shock!

knwong — Sun, 24 May 2026 12:45:21 +0800

Y Semenanjun x grateful infra projek but Srwk does

knwong — Sun, 24 May 2026 12:14:08 +0800

Always you hear ppl condemn all these ECRL, highway projects la as being very wasteful. But Sarawak on the other hand celebrate the achievement and become very proud of their infra projects. Why Semenanjung ppl so difficult to show appreciation ah?

[fb]https://www.facebook.com/100003770648973/posts/pfbid0m5ckt9sufmdMfgtoixCpRA9ikjtLDg8TEmcVKYYCwC47J2iY7mzKv5kN8WWbAfaFl/[/fb]

How to acquire profitable business with $0 money

knwong — Sat, 23 May 2026 08:01:57 +0800

Many boomers are retiring and want to sell their business

Shud Msia impose driving age limit for snr citizen

knwong — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:22:57 +0800

Revival of debate on driving age limit for senior citizens
https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/...senior-citizens

QUOTE

ACCORDING to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, our country officially became an ageing nation in 2021 when the demographic of those aged 65 and above reached 7%. Based on current projections, we are expected to transition to an aged nation by 2048 with this group making up 14% of the population.

Despite this demographic shift, Malaysian law currently does not impose an age limit on drivers of private vehicles. The Road Transport Act 1987, specifically Section 30(3), only mandates that all drivers, regardless of age, must ensure they are in good health to operate a vehicle safely. This relies entirely on self-declaration, a policy that is facing intense public scrutiny.

Recent crashes involving elderly drivers have brought up this matter again. On May 5, a man in his 70s lost control of his vehicle in Section 17, Petaling Jaya . It veered into the opposite lane and hit a motorcyclist who tragically died at the scene. The driver was arrested but was subsequently released on police bail due to health reasons.

Just days later, another elderly driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a coffeeshop in Kuching, damaging a stall and injuring two hawkers and a customer.

These incidents have reignited demands for stricter regulations. However, instead of a strict, arbitrary age cut-off, the most prominent solution being debated is the introduction of mandatory health assessments for drivers aged 65 and above. Various authorities, including the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, have continuously urged the government to implement specialised screening rules for senior citizens before they can renew their driving licences.

Enforcing mandatory medical screenings ensures that natural, age-related physical declines, such as deteriorating eyesight, slower reflexes, hearing loss or cognitive conditions, do not put the driver or the wider public at risk.

Mandating these health checks also removes ambiguity and relieves families from the painful burden of telling an ageing parent that they are no longer fit to drive.

However, forcing elderly drivers to undergo mandatory health screenings or imposing age caps risks institutionalising ageism and ignoring the vast spectrum of healthy ageing. Automatically placing administrative hurdles in front of a sharp, physically active 75-year-old ignores their individual capability.

The most severe drawback, however, is the very real economic and social strain this could cause. Stripping away an elderly person’s right to drive or making it exceptionally difficult to renew their licence through costly or stressful medical hurdles would severely restrict their independence.

For many older Malaysians, especially those in areas lacking robust public transit, the ability to drive equates to the ability to earn a living, buy groceries or access vital healthcare. Cutting off these avenues prematurely could lead to financial hardship and social isolation for an increasingly vulnerable demographic.

Ultimately, navigating the driving capabilities of senior citizens is a complex balancing act for the authorities, especially in the wake of the recent tragedies.

While strict age limits or mandatory assessments can act as a necessary safeguard for public safety, they also risk unfairly marginalising a massive portion of our population who are still capable and rely on their mobility to survive.

The most realistic and compassionate path forward likely involves highly targeted, government-subsidised and easily accessible health evaluations that aim to support and assist senior citizens. This approach prioritises the safety of Malaysian roads without sacrificing the dignity, mobility and independence of our elders.

DR MUHAMMAD AMMIRRUL ATIQI MOHD ZAINURI
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Swatch x AP Royal Pop tear down

knwong — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:58:21 +0800

[tiktok]7641571836509162774[/tiktok]

Nice mod into metal case

Thai EV backlash shows Msia caution is justified

knwong — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:49:00 +0800

Thailand’s EV backlash shows why Malaysia’s caution is justified

EV policy should not make local assembly and local parts makers weaker while imported vehicles become more competitive.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...on-is-justified

QUOTE

Thailand’s latest automotive debate deserves close attention in Malaysia because it exposes a basic policy problem: EV growth can look impressive on paper while weakening the industrial base underneath it.

According to reports, 10 Thai automotive groups representing more than 1,500 businesses are now pushing for tougher protection against fully imported EVs. Their proposals include a 32% excise tax on imported EVs, import quotas tied to local production, and stricter local-content rules.

Their complaint is straightforward: cheaper Chinese EV imports are eroding local production and reducing orders for Thai parts makers. They also say producing vehicles in Thailand costs about 30% to 40% more than importing them from China.

That matters because Thailand is not a weak automotive economy. It is one of Southeast Asia’s main production centres. If industry groups in Thailand are already warning that import-led EV growth can weaken domestic manufacturing, Malaysia should treat that as a serious signal, not an isolated complaint.

The issue is easiest to understand through a simple comparison. A country can be a strong EV market without becoming a strong EV producer. Those are not the same thing.

A strong market buys cars. A strong producer builds value.

If the vehicles are imported, the larger share of engineering, supplier activity, export earnings and industrial learning stays outside the country. The local consumer gains a new product. The local economy may gain much less.

That is why the conditions around foreign EV investment matter.

In March, it was reported that Chinese carmaker BYD was likely to reevaluate its Tanjung Malim assembly plans after failing to agree to conditions attached to the proposed local assembly arrangement. The investment, trade and industry ministry (Miti) later said the conditions were not unique to BYD but reflected a broader approach to new automotive investments.

The logic behind those conditions is not difficult to follow. If Malaysia gives policy support, tax advantages or market access, it should ask for more than domestic sales. It should ask for localisation, exports, supplier development and real manufacturing depth.

Thailand is now asking a similar question. Its industry groups are not saying EVs are bad. They are saying EV policy should not make local assembly and local parts makers weaker while imported vehicles become more competitive. That is a serious industrial policy argument, and Malaysia should not dismiss it.

BYD’s regional footprint makes this even clearer. Reuters reported that BYD’s Thailand factory has 150,000 units of annual capacity, and that BYD’s Indonesia plant is also planned at 150,000 units a year.

Those are not token investments. They show where scale is being built. Malaysia therefore has every reason to ask a simple question: are we being offered a real production role, or mainly a retail role?

This is where many public arguments become confused. A cheaper EV is not automatically a better national outcome. Low sticker prices can help adoption, but policy should be judged by where long-term value stays.

If the parts ecosystem weakens, local vendors lose orders and production capability remains abroad, then the country has improved consumption without strengthening industry.

A useful analogy is the difference between a port and a warehouse. Both move goods, but only one is part of a larger trading system. In the same way, a country can move a lot of EV units without becoming part of the real production chain.

That is why Thailand’s backlash matters. It shows that the problem is not personal, and not unique to Malaysia. It is regional. Southeast Asian governments are starting to realise that EV growth alone is not enough. The deeper question is whether that growth builds domestic capability or bypasses it.

Malaysia should remain open to foreign EV investment. But openness should come with terms.

Otherwise, the country risks becoming a successful showroom without becoming a serious producer.

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Imigresen: Apply pasport AI photos wil be rejected

knwong — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:08:15 +0800

New Malaysian Passport Rollout Starts 1 June
Existing passports remain valid until their expiry.

https://www.lowyat.net/2026/393228/new-mala...-starts-1-june/

QUOTE

Earlier in the year, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that there will be a new MyKad as well as a new passport, featuring improved security. More recently, the Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban has announced that for the latter, the rollout begins on 1 June. It will be issued at four offices first, before being made more widely available before July ends.

The Star cites Zakaria as saying that the first four offices in question are the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya, the Kuala Lumpur office, and the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) offices in Wangsa Maju and Shah Alam. Other offices will gradually be able to issue the new passports in stages, until it is available at all offices before the end of July.

Also mentioned in the report is that the new passport features 94 security elements, compared to the 49 in the current one. It’s not an exhaustive list, but Zakaria mentions a few of them, including holograms, ultraviolet printing and special security threads used in its stitching, among others. All of them make the new passport more difficult to forge.

Despite the new one rolling out, he also asks the public to not rush to replace their current passports. These will still be valid until their expiry date. “This needs to be communicated so that the public will not crowd immigration offices to renew their passports for the new version. I hope this message reaches all Malaysians”, he was quoted as saying.

Amusingly, he also reminds the public to not use AI-generated photos when applying for their passport online. “Our officers who process the applications have the expertise and are able to tell the difference”, he said. Astro Awani cites Zakaria as saying that there have been at least three cases involving applicants sending in AI photos.

Still questions remained:
- New security features doesn't come cheap. Will these increase the passport cost?
- Why still no 10 year passport?!

26 May 2026 Update: Rollout of new passport postponed

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026...sport-postponed

The more Gen Z use AI, the more they hate it

knwong — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:27:23 +0800

Gen Z Is Turning Against AI in an Incredible Way
They've had enough

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligenc...ning-against-ai

QUOTE

For years now, tech leaders have warned that AI will usher in a technological revolution on an unprecedented scale, wiping out countless jobs. If you’re lucky enough to survive sweeping layoffs continuously roiling the tech industry, bosses say their employees will have to adopt the tech to keep their jobs — whether they like it or not.

In other words, it’s not hard to see why there’s been a surge in resentment towards AI, which has encroached almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the never-ending slop in our social media feeds to flawed chatbots poorly assuming the roles of human customer service agents.

As The Verge reports, the backlash is particularly apparent among Gen Z, a demographic that’s at the epicenter of the industry’s push for AI adoption. The generation is facing a dire post-graduation job market after losing much of its youth to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usually, young people love new innovations. But for Gen Z, a tech inherently designed to replace human agency is strikingly unwelcome — and inspiring a growing rebellion.

“I think everyone in my immediate peer group is not using AI and is actively against it, besides my friends who are in computer science and are essentially mandated to use it,” Sharon Freystaetter, who left her Silicon Valley tech job over ethical concerns, told The Verge

Young people certainly have plenty of valid concerns. The numerous negative side effects of society’s infatuation with generative AI are becoming increasingly harder to miss. Massive data centers are deteriorating the environment on a shocking scale, while the widespread use of AI chatbots is eroding critical thinking skills and driving some into dangerous spirals of delusions.

Recent polling data paint a damning picture of young people’s rapidly deteriorating opinion of AI. One recent Gallup poll showed that only 18 percent of Gen Zers said they felt “hopeful” about AI, a drop of nine percent compared to 2025.

AI’s recent incursions into academia have them particularly incensed.

“AI cannot coexist with education — it can only degrade it,” reads a recent, scathing editorial titled “Penn has an AI problem,” published by the University of Pennsylvania’s student newspaper last month. “As technology advances and workers are replaced by machines, schools are some of the only places we have left to explore and wrestle with human thought.”

A major reason for the disillusionment among young people is their ability to identify the many shortcomings of the tech, from rampant hallucinations to the dangers of “cognitive offloading,” the term for when people start to outsource mental tasks to AI.

The situation has gotten to the point where a baffling proportion of Gen Zers are going as far as to intentionally undermine their bosses’ AI initiatives. According to a recent report by the AI company Writer and research firm Workplace Intelligent, 44 percent of polled Gen Z workers said they’re “sabotaging their company’s AI strategy in at least one way,” from entering proprietary company information into chatbots to refusing to use AI tools outright.

Note: Gen Z are cohort born between 1997 and 2012, currently aged 14 - 29 years old

Have you ever kena tax by kastam at airport?

knwong — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:58:26 +0800

[fb]https://www.facebook.com/1632685158/posts/pfbid0P7tyBnvjDjTn7C8APwP7MoFmzzwux2z82h7JYFrfTKJByeAijK3ZYtJkXDgJ1kpPl/[/fb]

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Toyota sales jump 3300% after METI JP sideline BYD

knwong — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:58:52 +0800

Macam familiar this protection tactic

Toyota’s EV Sales Jump 3,300% In Japan As Subsidies Hit BYD

Japan’s $6,300 EV incentive tilts the battlefield sharply in Toyota’s favor.

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyotas-ev-sa...bsidies-hit-byd

QUOTE

Key Points

- Japan’s Q1 2026 domestic EV sales surged 80 percent, reaching a record 26,959 units.
- Expanded government subsidies, especially favoring Toyota, drove dramatic sales shifts over competitors (*cough* BYD ).
- Targeted incentives signal global trend: governments now shield local automakers amid fierce EV competition.

Mean while BYD Japan is whining like a child

https://kr-asia.com/byd-says-it-cant-compet...-ev-subsidy-gap

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Owners may lose their condo for owing maint. fee

knwong — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:43:27 +0800

Miss your condo fees in Singapore? Your home could be auctioned off next

https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/20...off-next/220295

An aerial view of Parkshore condominium in Tanjong Rhu, Singapore where a 2,325-sqf four-bedroom unit was reported by The Straits Times to have sold for S$4 million (RM13.97 million) in a forced auction in September 2025 to pay arrears in maintenance fees. — Screenshot from Google Maps

QUOTE

SINGAPORE, May 17 — Singapore condominium management bodies are increasingly using the threat of forced property sales against residents who fail to pay maintenance fees, with one luxury apartment recently auctioned off over arrears of about S$61,000 (RM213,000).

In a recent case reported today by The Straits Times, a four-bedroom unit at the Parkshore condominium in Tanjong Rhu was sold at auction in September 2025 after its owners failed to clear unpaid maintenance and sinking fund contributions owed to the estate’s management corporation strata title (MCST).

According to the Singapore newspaper, the 2,325 sq ft freehold apartment was eventually sold for around S$4 million (RM13.97 million), nearly 15 per cent below its opening auction price.

Under Singapore law, MCSTs can force the sale of condominium units to recover unpaid fees, although lawyers and property managers say such cases remain uncommon and are usually treated as a last resort.

The Straits Times reported that it found at least one notice of intended sale was published every month over the past year involving condo owners who allegedly owed between S$9,450 (RM33,000) and S$55,798 (RM195,000).

Lawyers said most cases do not end in an actual sale because owners often settle their debts once legal proceedings begin or banks intervene to avoid losing the property.

Still, industry players said the process itself has become an increasingly effective pressure tactic.

Lawyer Kok Yee Keong said many owners start negotiating instalment plans once they see MCSTs taking concrete steps towards forcing a sale.

Property managers said arrears are not widespread, with fewer than five per cent of owners typically behind on payments across most estates.

They added that unpaid fees became more common during the Covid-19 pandemic but are now mostly concentrated among a small number of units.

The forced sale process typically begins after condo residents approve legal action through a formal resolution at a general meeting.

If debts remain unpaid six weeks after a public notice is issued, the MCST can appoint valuers and auctioneers to sell the property.

Lawyers said the biggest challenge is often locating owners before the case reaches auction stage.

Auction firms added that such units are usually sold at discounted prices because buyers often cannot inspect the property and may not know whether it is still occupied.

Why ppl complaint KLIA LTCP expensive? It's cheap

knwong — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:30:37 +0800

Recently ppl complaint Long Term Car Park at KLIA raise prices and it became viral

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Help bateri habis :,-( Another EV terkandas

knwong — Sun, 17 May 2026 09:06:57 +0800

Divorce spouse to avoid being classified as T20

knwong — Sat, 16 May 2026 16:45:54 +0800

M’sians Joke About ‘Divorcing’ Their Spouses To Avoid Being Classified As T20 Amid RON95 Subsidy Debate

"After the M40 gets married, suddenly becomes T20.”

https://weirdkaya.com/msians-joke-about-div...subsidy-debate/

QUOTE

As discussions surrounding the proposed removal of RON95 fuel subsidies for higher-income groups continue, some Malaysians have responded with humour, joking that they may need to “divorce” their spouses just to avoid being classified as T20 households.

The jokes began circulating online after many netizens pointed out how household income classifications can sometimes feel disconnected from real-life financial struggles, especially for married couples living in cities with children.

One viral post jokingly read: “Maybe I should divorce my husband so I can go back to M40 and we just do co-living.”

Another user wrote: “Husband 6K + Wife 6K with children = T20. Meanwhile, a single individual earning 10K is still M40.”

Some even joked that getting married now feels like a “financial downgrade”, with one post saying: “After the M40 gets married, suddenly becomes T20.”

Many netizens also shared that despite technically falling under the T20 category, their lifestyles are far from luxurious due to commitments like housing loans, car instalments, insurance, childcare, and daily living costs.

The online jokes come amid growing concerns over how the government may determine eligibility if the targeted RON95 subsidy rationalisation is implemented.

Others joked that divorce lawyers may soon see more business if the subsidy cuts happen.

Although most comments were made jokingly, the discussion reflects a broader frustration among middle-income Malaysians who feel squeezed by rising living costs despite officially being considered “high-income” households.