Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that while Asean member states may have economic disparities and tensions, these do not stop collaboration among the Southeast Asian nations.

He was speaking during a question-and-answer session following his keynote address at the 31st Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan, on Jun. 10.

Anwar acknowledged that the neighbouring states may have differences on issues such as the South China Sea, but that it did not stop the countries from collaborating in terms of cross-border arrangements.

He brought up the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, amongst various cross-regional collaborations, as an example.

Issues do not disrupt relations: Anwar

"I’m not saying that we don’t have issues. We have issues of smuggling, we have issues of illegal fishing, but it does not disrupt relations. That’s important. And it’s still based on trust and we work well jointly," Anwar said.

He emphasised trust between the member states, saying that the "excellent example" of sub-regional cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore would not exist if not for "trust".

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone agreement, signed in Jan. 2025, between the two countries, aims to improve cross-border connectivity, enable freer movement of people, and strengthen the regional business ecosystem.

Engagement outside the region

Anwar also spoke about engagement outside the region, such as with Japan, the United States, China and Russia.

There are "more contentious, more difficult" issues in play here, but Asean continues to engage with these states, he said, because Asean's position is one of centrality.

"Do we agree with all the issues or decisions by President Trump? Of course not. With Russia, certainly, we have differences, but we collaborate well," he explained.

Anwar also denied the perception that Malaysia is more "pro-West" than "pro-East", saying the country has received various world leaders with warmth and support.

He brought up his interaction with US President Donald Trump at the 2025 Asean Summit, where he danced "a bit" with the president.

He said that he would have done the same with China President Xi Jinping if the latter had agreed.

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A car was seen resting on its side at a junction in Punggol.

The incident occurred at the junction of Edgefield Plains and Punggol Drive on the evening of Jun. 9.

In photos and videos circulating online, passers-by were seen attempting to break open the windscreen of the overturned black car.

Two individuals took turns to hit the windscreen with a helmet.

Another individual was also seen kicking the windscreen.

They continued to do so until emergency personnel arrived.

Besides the vehicle, the guardrails and a traffic light at the road divider appeared damaged as well.

The windscreen appeared to have cracked, but remained intact.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to a road traffic accident at the junction at about 8:15pm on Jun. 9.

SCDF assessed a person for minor injuries, but the person declined to be taken to the hospital.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said the accident involved two cars, and a 29-year-old man was arrested for drink-driving.

Police investigations are ongoing.

After serving customers at People's Park Centre for about 52 years, Champion Shoe Co. will be closing its doors for good on Jun. 15.

The current manager, Grace Chai, took over the shoe retail business from her father after he turned 90 in 2021 and wanted to rest.

She was 65 herself at the time, but she and her family were reluctant to put an end to the business her father had devoted so much of himself to.

"We couldn't let it go, couldn't let go of the business he built with his own hands," she told Mothership. "We felt that we should give it a beautiful ending."

Now at 70, Chai believes it is her time to retire and hopefully provide that beautiful ending to this family legacy by sharing its rich history.

From production to retail

Though Champion Shoe Co. would later on sell only shoes purchased from suppliers, Chai's father Chai Thong originally established the business to make and sell his own designs.

Its roots go all the way back to the 1950s, when Chai Thong came to Singapore from Johor at just 20 years old to become a shoemaker's apprentice.

After learning the craft, he opened a factory in Geylang in the 1960s, specialising in producing men's shoes, every pair of which he designed himself.

At first, the company would sell the finished products to shoe stores around Singapore. Then, in 1970, Chai Thong set up the first Champion Shoe Co. retail store in the newly completed People's Park Complex.

Over the next few years, the business expanded into a total of six outlets — two each in People's Park Complex, People's Park Centre, and Lucky Plaza.

Besides their own designs, the stores also began to offer imported, well-known footwear brands such as Clarks, Bally, and Birkenstock.

A champion of quality footwear

Champion Shoe Co. gradually established itself among the public as a reliable place for footwear.

"Why did we call ourselves 'Champion'? It's because the leather of the shoes my father made was very good," Chai said. "He would always use good and durable leather. His designs were also rather good and sturdy. The shoes can last for many years. That's why some people called him 'Champion'."

"My father was a very hard-working person, and most importantly, he had a very strong will. That's why his business was such a success."

The brand thus earned the trust of customers, many of whom would look to them when they needed a pair of shoes for their wedding.

Sales were good and busy. Chai recalled how, when it got especially busy at the end of the year, she and her siblings would stay up to 2am at the Geylang factory, helping to glue shoe linings and pack the shoes in boxes.

Letting go

As the decades passed, however, their employees grew older, and it was difficult to hire new people to work at the company.

The family decided to scale down and close several outlets, until eventually, only one in People's Park Centre remained, holding up since around 1974.

In 2021, Chai's father, wanting to reduce the burden at his age, decided to wind down the business.

But Chai did not want to give up so soon on the brand her father had built, nor the trust his long-time customers had in it.

She thus took over operations and kept it going for the next five years, with help from her husband.

It was only after her father passed in July 2025 that she began to think about letting it go and taking time for herself and her husband, too.

"The main reason [we're closing down] is because we're not that young anymore," she said. "We're thinking of [enjoying] our remaining time by, like, travelling, or taking up some activities. Now there are a lot of government-run senior activity centres, and I would like to join them, but I can't make the time."

She also does not want her two daughters, both in their thirties, to take over as she had done. "Young people should take the path of young people," she explained. "I don't wish to create any burden for them."

The end of an era

Many customers are not ready to see the store go.

A woman Mothership spoke to said she had known the brand since its days at the People's Park Complex for about 20 years now.

"I like that their designs are more unique, not something I can find in other stores," she said. "When I knew that they were closing down, I felt a bit sad because it's a very old shop. I have known [Chai] ever since she was very young."

There were also customers who reacted more emotionally to the news.

"Some were very upset, asking why we had to close," she said. "They said it's such a pity, because Singapore no longer has many of this kind of shoe store. I agreed, there are mainly department stores and small branches in Singapore. There aren't shoe stores like this anymore where you can spend a whole day browsing."

"But still, I feel that everything has to come to an end at the right time."

Remembering the legacy

Even on a Monday afternoon, the store was never empty during the time Mothership visited, with people popping in every now and then to look at the shoes on display.

Despite the storewide discount of 50 per cent and above, Chai occasionally offered to reduce the price even further when a customer queried about a pair.

A while ago, there were still around 300 pairs of shoes Chai had to clear, but this number dropped steadily over the past few days.

She would try to reduce prices to clear as much stock as she could before the store's last day, she said. For any that remained afterwards, she has yet to decide what to do with them.

More than just good sales, the beautiful ending she wishes for the business is one that celebrates its long history.

"These few days...some customers would visit, even if they do not buy anything, and comment on how long this store has been around," Chai said with pride. "They would all say something like that, so you can see that many people still recognise the brand."

Thanking long-time customers for their support, she hopes that Champion Shoe Co. will stay in people's memories.

Since Jun. 1, 2026, at least S$68,200 have been lost to scams involving the sale of tickets for the BTS World Tour "Arirang" concert, the Singapore Police Force said on Jun. 10.

This was after 62 cases have been reported on such scams, the police added.

In most cases, scammers approached victims through X.

The police issued a public advisory warning of scams ahead of the sale of tickets on Jun. 3.

Modus operandi

In the recent cases, the victims would come across offers for the sale of concert tickets on X, Instagram, Carousell.

To make a purchase, they were instructed to pay via PayNow or by scanning a PayNow QR code.

After the initial payment, the scammers would ask the victims to make additional payments for reasons like administrative fees.

Victims only realised they had been scammed when they did not receive the tickets.

Police advisory

The police said they would like to remind the public to purchase concert tickets only from authorised platforms, such as Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster’s terms and conditions for the sale of concert tickets clearly state that tickets cannot be resold, the police added.

Those who are found to have used resale tickets will not be allowed into the venue and be turned away from the concert with no refund.

Ticketmaster will also never issue the tickets via email, the police said.

The police is also working with X to take down fraudulent accounts that offer resale tickets, and have also reached out to Carousell to request the removal of relevant resale concert ticket listings.

In line with Meta’s commerce policies, Facebook Marketplace does not allow content that promotes the buying, selling, or trading of event tickets, the police said.

TikTok Shop’s policies also do not support the sales of concert tickets.

Members of the public are reminded to remain vigilant against concert ticket scams, the police advised.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim criticised the growing tendency among major powers to weaponise economic interdependence, which causes vulnerability for other nations.

He was speaking at the 31st Nikkei Future of Asia conference, where regional leaders gathered in Tokyo, Japan to discuss ways to make Asia more resilient amid an increasingly uncertain world.

The prime minister noted that Malaysia, as a middle power, is "uniquely positioned" to build bridges and consensus where others see divides.

Geopolitical rivalry

Anwar noted that export restrictions and industrial policies are increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalry.

"Supply chains, technology, critical minerals, finance, and market access are increasingly viewed through the lens of rivalry rather than mutual benefit," Anwar said.

While these may be harnessed as "instruments of statecraft" for major powers, they become a "source of vulnerability" for other nations, he said.

Turning to how Asia has prospered in the past through open trade, he suggested that today's challenges require fresh approaches and revitalised institutions.

He added that "middle powers" like Malaysia have a "particular responsibility" in this endeavour.

"We may not possess overwhelming power, but we possess credibility. We understand the aspirations of developing nations and the concerns of advanced economies," he said.

He said that Malaysia is "uniquely positioned," to build bridges and consensus where others see divides.

He added that Malaysia is fortunate to have colleagues within ASEAN who share this commitment to engaging with others, viewing the positive outcomes of free trade, and connecting with all countries and powers.

Strategic competition risks dividing the region into competing spheres, he added, forcing countries like Malaysia to take sides.

Strategic uncertainty

Anwar also called for greater clarity among world leaders, saying that many have yet to free themselves from the "old paradigm in geopolitics," in which "the strong continue to be invested in suppressing the weak".

He stated that the uncertainty in today's world is "strategic", where leaders are still dictated by realpolitik and hegemonic considerations in their striving for power.

He cited the tragedy in Gaza, Lebanon and Middle East tensions as examples that demonstrate the "fragility of peace and the limits of international consensus".

He also noted the power rivalry in the Asia region, such as the South China Sea disputes and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

"Navigating this strategic uncertainty warrants more than passive compliance or passive acceptance of the state of play," Anwar said.

It is therefore the duty of political leadership to provide clarity to these "strategic flux" and not condone the excesses of realpolitik, he said.

"We need leaders with the courage and conviction to call out the injustices and hardship that continue to plague us, and to advocate for a more proactive approach to peace and progress," he added.

Collaboration and clarity

Anwar argued that the world currently suffers from a "shortage of clarity", rather than a shortage of power.

He ultimately called for collaboration among different nations, saying:

"The challenges before us are simply too complex for any one nation to address alone, so rather than capitulation, the answer lies in collaboration, encapsulating cooperation, trust, and strengthening institutions capable of bringing people together."

The examination system at the Institute of Technological Education (ITE) went down during an assessment on Jun. 4.

Reactions

In a Reddit post, a user who identified themselves as a student from ITE College East posted about the incident on the same day.

The student apparently woke up at about 6am and reported to the exam venue at 8.30am to prepare for a test, which took place at 9am.

The IAS (Integrated Assessment System) reportedly crashed, and apparently “nobody” could log in.

The student also claimed the internet connection was “perfectly fine”.

“We waited in the exam venue for 2h straight before the invigilator told us to come back next week for the exam cuz the whole system is down across all 3 ITE campuses,” the Reddit post read.

In the comments section, others also noted similar experiences.

Some claimed their assessments were rescheduled.

Ongoing

Xing Yu, a 19-year-old nursing student from ITE College East, claimed the issue was present when she took her assessments on Jun. 9, five days after the examination system went down.

She heard that the technical issue had impacted other courses on Jun. 5, a day after the system went down.

“I assumed it would be resolved over the weekend,” she said.

The student added that she and her course mates were informed in advance that their assessments would be conducted in pen-and-paper format.

“The sudden change to a pen-and-paper examination required me to adjust my approach during the exam, which was unexpected,” she noted.

Response

In response to Mothership’s queries, an ITE spokesperson confirmed that a technical issue affected online examinations on Jun. 4.

Students encountered difficulties accessing the system.

Those affected would be taking rescheduled examinations on Jun. 11.

“We are working with the vendor to resolve the issue. In the interim, all examinations from Jun. 5 onwards are proceeding as scheduled using printed scripts,” the spokesperson added.

On Jun. 9, Kuala Lumpur police arrested four youths for their alleged involvement in performing dangerous motorcycle 'wheelie' stunts that were recorded on video and posted to social media.

Three motorcyclists and a pillion rider, aged 17 to 24, were arrested, The New Straits Times reported.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said that all four suspects were arrested at their respective homes in the Klang Valley between 12:30am and 1:30am following investigations into the videos.

Wheelies gone viral

In a statement to the press, Zamzuri said that the police had acted on videos uploaded to Facebook showing three motorcycles in total, two Honda EX5s and a Yamaha 135LC FI, performing stunts on the road.

The incidents were believed to have taken place between 2am and 2:30am on Jun. 6 and 7.

In total, four men were recorded performing wheelies.

One of them, riding a Honda EX5, fell off while performing a wheelie and crashed, 8world reported.

Zamzuri said that the suspects were arrested under the Road Transport Act 1987 for "riding recklessly and dangerously, endangering other road users and themselves".

"We advise the public not to participate in any form of street gang activity, including wheelie stunts, as such actions not only endanger the individuals involved but also pose a threat to the safety of other road users," he added, according to The Star.

Veteran Hong Kong actor and movie producer Raymond Wong has been sentenced to five months' jail and fined HK$99,720 (S$16,380) for insider trading on Jun. 9.

He was previously convicted of sharing insider information with his sister to trade shares of an entertainment company that he chaired and had a controlling stake in at the time.

The 80-year-old will not have to begin serving his jail sentence immediately, as the Hong Kong court granted him bail of HK$200,000 (S$32,860) pending his appeal, according to a Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) press release.

On top of the fine, Wong was also ordered by the Hong Kong court to pay HK$374,305 (S$61,500) to SFC for investigation costs.

Background of the case

Following a 16-day trial, the Hong Kong court ruled on May 22 that Wong had advised his sister via multiple WhatsApp messages in 2017 to trade shares of Pegasus Entertainment Holdings, now known as Transmit Entertainment.

At the time, he was negotiating with a potential buyer to sell his controlling stake in the company.

He tipped his sister off about the deal well before it was disclosed to the market, and it allowed her to ultimately earn a total net profit that exceeded HK$1 million (S$163,000).

In one message, he told his sister, "Buy as much as you can when it is under HK$0.20 [S$0.03]."

Sentencing

In sentencing, the judge acknowledged Wong's exceptional contributions to the Hong Kong film industry, The Standard reported.

This was highlighted by the actor's lawyer in the mitigation plea.

Wong starred in movies such as the "Happy Ghost" series and the "All’s Well, Ends Well" series, and was also a producer behind the "Ip Man" movie series.

The judge also noted Wong's old age as posing a low risk of reoffending, and the relatively modest financial gains involved.

According to South China Morning Post, the judge set a starting point for the sentence at nine months' in prison, then reduced it to reflect Wong’s contributions to society.

A 34-year-old man, Puah Zhe Cong, was charged on Jun. 10 with driving under the influence of etomidate, dangerous driving causing death, and other traffic offences, resulting in one death and injuries to two others.

On Jun. 5, 2025, at about 1:15am, the police were alerted to an accident involving two cars and a motorcycle along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards the Seletar Expressway (SLE).

Fatality & injuries

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was conveyed unconscious to the hospital.

He subsequently passed away from multiple grievous injuries.

His 28-year-old male passenger was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

He suffered grievous injuries, including a spinal fracture, liver lacerations, head injury, right ankle fracture and multiple abrasions.

A 28-year-old male passenger of the other car sought medical treatment for bodily pain after the accident.

Investigations

Investigations revealed that the accused, a Singaporean, had allegedly driven erratically, causing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid him.

He purportedly left his car stationary in the middle of the expressway, obstructing traffic.

This resulted in the motorcycle apparently colliding with the stationary vehicle, before both the rider and his passenger fell into the path of oncoming traffic.

The accused allegedly did not render assistance and fled the scene in his car immediately after the incident.

He also failed to report the accident to the police within the required 24 hours.

The traffic police established the identity of the car driver and arrested him within 13 hours of the report.

Etomidate, a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, was detected in his blood, following an analysis by the Health Sciences Authority.

His driving licence was suspended with immediate effect.

Puah is facing other charges unrelated to this incident.

He is accused of stealing an Audi A3 owned by Shariot Car Sharing on two occasions, using a woman's Shariot login credentials to rent a car.

He is also accused of driving without insurance, and receiving US$1.2 million and remitting it to bank accounts on the instructions of a criminal.

Charges

Puah was charged with driving under the influence of a drug, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous hurt, dangerous driving causing hurt, failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance after a fatal accident and removing a vehicle without police authority after an accident.

Driving under the influence of a drug as a repeat offender carries a fine ranging from S$5,000 to S$20,000, and a jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles for at least five years.

Dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term between two and eight years and, as a serious repeat offender, carries an additional jail term of between two and four years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 15 years.

Dangerous driving causing grievous hurt carries a jail term between one and five years.

A serious repeat offender can additionally be fined between S$5,000 and S$20,000, with an additional jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 13 years.

Dangerous driving causing hurt carries a fine of up to S$10,000 and a jail term of up to two years, or both.

As a serious repeat offender, it carries an additional fine of between S$5,000 and S$20,000 and a jail term of up to two years.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least five years.

Failing to stop after an accident, and moving the vehicle without a police officer’s authority, each carry a fine of up to S$1,000, or a jail term of up to three months, or both.

Failing to render assistance to the seriously injured carries a fine of up to S$3,000, or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

Offenders may be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for at least 12 months.

The offence of removing a vehicle without Police authority after an accident carries a fine of up to S$1,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.

A 57-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to 11 weeks' jail for taking upskirt videos of several women.

He was shopping with his wife when he committed the acts.

Pua Thiam Guan pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism on Jun. 9, The Straits Times reported.

At VivoCity

In court documents seen by Mothership, Pua was out shopping with his wife at VivoCity shopping mall on Feb. 20, 2024, around 5:13pm.

As he walked into a Watsons outlet, he activated the video recording function of his phone and approached an unknown lady dressed in a pair of shorts.

With the camera lens angled upwards towards the victim's buttocks, he took an image of her without her consent.

Pua admitted during police investigations later that he took the recording, which included her buttocks and face, for his own sexual gratification.

After leaving the Watsons outlet, Pua proceeded to Golden Village, where the lobby was packed with moviegoers.

While waiting at the lobby, he "felt an urge" to take more videos of women wearing short skirts.

There, he took upskirt videos of three more victims.

One of the victims caught Pua in the act and confronted him, snatching his handphone.

The victim's friend then apprehended him until police arrived.

Pua was later arrested at 8:30pm that day.

Not the first time

After his arrest, Pua's handphone was seized.

Upon inspection, his phone not only contained recordings of the victims from that day, but images of other women that had been taken on seven separate occasions from January and February 2022.

The handphone also contained 165 video files that Pua downloaded, which the Infocomm Media Development Authority certified to be obscene.

Those found guilty of voyeurism can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.