A former Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi has taken to social media to criticise Singapore and Malaysia's responses regarding the role of Indonesian companies in what is turning out to be the most severe and longest haze episode in the past decade.

In one of his Instagram videos, Lutfi addressed Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu directly and called on the authorities to investigate businesses and decision-makers based here if evidence links them to the fires.

He questioned whether Singapore would take action against influential business owners and corporate groups, aside from issuing notices to companies operating in Indonesia.

Called for scrutiny of corporate headquarters, Singapore links to concession land fires

Lutfi’s remarks on Singapore were in response to the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s announcement on Oct. 16 that it would issue Preventive Measure Notices to seven companies in Indonesia under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

NEA's investigations found that the recent haze experienced in Singapore originated from fires on land owned by these seven companies.

Lutfi claimed that four of the seven companies were suppliers to conglomerates with substantial corporate holdings and listings in Singapore.

He also cited an investigative report by Greenpeace which linked Singapore-listed palm oil companies First Resources and Bumitama Agri to plantation areas in Indonesia where fires and smoke were detected.

He said that Singapore should scrutinise these connections when investigating the haze, and asked whether the government would pursue these Singapore-based decision-makers.

Pointing out that Singapore has no jurisdiction in Indonesia, he urged the authorities to prosecute the corporate headquarters here.

“Prosecute their headquarters in Singapore and show us what Singapore is really made of,” he said.

Singapore investigating companies in Singapore linked to land concessions

As of Oct 19, Singapore's NEA has issued Preventive Measure Notices to 10 companies in Indonesia whose concession land fires might have cause haze that affected Singapore.

These companies are: PT Bumi Andalas Perms, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah, PT SBA Wood Industries, PT Hutan Lestari Raya, PT Bangkanesia, PT Buana Megatama Jaya, PT Mananjung Hayak, and PT Baratama Putra Perkasa.

The Preventive Measure Notices, issued under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, require the companies to deploy firefighting personnel, discontinue or refrain from burning activities, and submit plans to extinguish fires or prevent their recurrence.

Beyond this, Singapore has taken steps to look into the corporate groups and decision-makers that control these companies.

Speaking to the media in on Oct. 19, Fu said that Singapore would investigate the companies’ business connections locally and overseas, including their shareholders, customers and subsidiaries.

At the same doorstop, Senior Minister K Shanmugam had this to say about the Singapore-listed companies linked to the land concessions:

"Companies cannot play hide and seek with different corporate structures. Nor should they hope that because the evidence and actions are in Indonesia, they can escape responsibility in Singapore."

Shanmugam also gave examples of the levers that Singapore is using to investigate these companies.

SGX has questioned seven agri-companies listed in Singapore on their operations and possible links to the haze.

Banks have also questioned companies with agricultural operations on their potential links to the fires, and assessing the risks that arise from "environmental and legal issues".

Affirming that Singapore's actions are "aligned with the broad policies as announced by the Indonesian administration under President Prabowo", Shanmugam said that the steps taken by Prabowo to tackle the haze issue are "unprecedented".

Exchange of words between Lutfi and Syed Saddiq

In another video, Lutfi also hit back at Malaysian MP and former youth minister Syed Saddiq's suggestion for ASEAN to exert diplomatic and financial pressure on Indonesia over the recurring haze, arguing that Malaysian plantation companies and their financiers should also be held accountable for the haze.

Responding, Syed said he supported action against any company proven to have started fires, whether Malaysian, Indonesian or Singaporean.

“I will not shield polluters, even those from my own country,” he said:

"In my own Parliament, I have already called for action against Malaysian companies involved. Watch my full speech. Don’t edit it in a way that distorts the truth."

Trade minister replaced after palm oil corruption scandal

This isn't the first time Lutfi waded into controversy.

During his term as trade minister under then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo from December 2020 to June 2022, Lutfi was embroiled in a high profile economic corruption case involving palm oil exports.

The case concerned export approvals issued during a domestic cooking oil shortage in 2022 that caused prices to surge.

Investigations revealed that the Director-General of Foreign Trade within Lutfi's ministry illegally issued export permits to companies that had not fulfilled domestic supply requirements.

A series of policy reversals by Lutfi led to a complete export ban which sent the domestic price of palm fruits plunging 70 per cent.

While Lutfi blamed a "palm oil mafia", he was replaced by Jokowi in a cabinet reshuffle in June 2022.

Lutfi's ongoing allegations against Singapore

The latest in Lutfi’s string of claims against Singapore includes allegations that GIC and Temasek pressured MSCI to threaten to downgrade Indonesia’s stock market status, triggering panic selling so they could buy Indonesian assets at lower prices.

Lutfi has not provided any evidence to support his claims. Both GIC and Temasek have since denied the allegations.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has said the use of fire to clear or manage land is not allowed throughout its supply chain.

This comes after the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) issued a temporary restriction notice on APP's enhanced Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS+) certification.

As a result of the notice, the Singapore-incorporated company will be subjected to daily fire response reporting and strict monitoring.

So far, a total of 10 Indonesian companies have been issued preventive measure notices by the National Environment Agency (NEA) after hotspots were detected on lands they operated.

Investigations have showed that APP buys from at least three of them.

Burning "forfeits the very asset the business relies on": APP

When asked by Mothership if the Singapore government had approached it for more information about the current haze episode, APP said it respects the authorities' regulatory processes and recognises the importance of cross-border cooperation on transboundary haze.

It added that it will work with the relevant authorities and provide information or assistance where requested.

The company said it has already taken steps to facilitate engagement between its suppliers and NEA, and is working with its relevant suppliers to support firefighting efforts and strengthen prevention measures.

APP acknowledged that the haze issue is complex, but said deliberate burning makes no commercial sense for a "responsible plantation operator", as fire destroys the very trees the business depends on.

"Fire destroys the growing stock on which a plantation depends; burning therefore forfeits the very asset the business relies upon."

It also stressed that using fire to clear or manage land is banned under Indonesian law and across its supply chain.

"Addressing transboundary haze requires sustained cooperation among concession holders, regulators and other stakeholders, and APP remains committed to contributing to these efforts," it said.

Government questioning 7 SGX-listed firms

Speaking previously at a doorstop on Oct. 19, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said the government will question seven Singapore-listed agriculture companies about possible links to the Indonesian forest fires that have caused haze here in recent weeks.

The seven companies are:

• Golden Agri Resources,
• Bumitama Agri,
• First Resources,
• Wilmar International Limited,
• Kencana Agri,
• Indofood Agri and,
• TSH Resources.

Citing First Resources, which issued a statement on its zero-burning policy and firefighting efforts, SM Shanmugam said statements alone were not enough.

"Show us the evidence. Where did the fires start, who owns those lands? Can they identify who started the fires? What exactly did they do to stop the fires? Did the fires conveniently only burn down old trees, or did the fires also burn productive trees? We will ask for the full facts and we will act based on the facts. We will consider all the evidence fairly."

Companies which are responsible for the fires "should not underestimate the Singapore government's determination to act", the minister added.

SEC notice

Under the notice issued by SEC, APP has to provide daily fire response reports for the concession areas managed by these three Indonesian companies: PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries.

The three entities, which are wood-fibre suppliers to APP and operate concessions in South Sumatra, Indonesia, are part of the 10 companies that were issued preventive measures notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act by the NEA.

Should APP's additional reporting fail to show that monitoring, fire prevention and suppression measures are effective, its SGLS+ certificate may be suspended.

The SGLS+ logo would then also have to be removed from products linked to the certification.

Malaysian UMNO Youth chief (Melaka) Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is selling his motorcycle and farmed tilapia fish to raise RM300,000 (S$93,884) after losing a defamation lawsuit against Democratic Action Party (DAP) (Kuala Lumpur) MP Teresa Kok.

In a Facebook post on Oct. 21, Akmal said his savings were insufficient to cover the RM300,000 (S$93,884) payment and that he wanted to try raising the money himself.

Selling motorcycle and tilapia fish

Akmal announced that he was putting two of his possessions up for sale: a Honda X-ADV motorcycle and his tilapia fish.

The assemblyman said both assets had been fully paid for, and that he did not own any land or property he could sell to cover the amount.

In his Facebook post, Akmal acknowledged that RM300,000 (S$93,884) was a substantial sum for him.

"Honestly, RM300,000 is a very large amount for me. Even after taking into account all my savings, it is still not enough," he said.

He explained that parting with the two assets was not an easy decision, as both held sentimental value.

“Even writing about my decision to sell them was difficult.”

Akmal invited interested buyers to send him their offers, adding that a transaction would proceed if both parties agreed on a price.

Ordered to pay RM300,000 after losing defamation lawsuit

On Oct. 19, the Melaka High Court ruled in favour of Kok in a defamation lawsuit over remarks Akmal made in a video posted on social media in September 2024, according to New Straits Times.

The dispute arose after Kok criticised a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for food establishments that did not serve pork or alcohol.

Akmal criticised Kok in a video posted online, including referring to her as an "old Nyonya". He also wrote two articles attacking Kok, which were shared on an online portal.

High Court Judicial Commissioner Isa Aziz Ibrahim said Akmal’s remarks went beyond legitimate political debate and carried a serious defamatory implication against Kok, Free Malaysia Today reported.

“The said video did carry a severe defamatory sting that the plaintiff habitually and continually destabilises national harmony,” the commissioner said in his grounds of judgment.

According to Bernama, Isa Aziz ordered Akmal to pay RM250,000 (S$78,348) in general and aggravated damages, along with RM50,000 (S$15,669) in legal costs.

Wants to raise money himself first

Akmal also thanked supporters who had suggested setting up a donation fund to help him pay the damages and legal costs.

However, he said he respected the court's decision and intended to take responsibility for the payment.

“I would like to try raising the money myself first,” he wrote.

He said he did not want to burden his supporters, who had their own families and financial commitments, while he still had possessions he could sell.

He added that his supporters' prayers and words of encouragement meant a great deal to him.

In a subsequent Facebook update, Akmal said he had received RM45,102.18 (S$14,121) in contributions from supporters who had transferred money to his bank account.

Akmal said he had removed his bank account details after receiving the donations from supporters, whom he urged not to send any more money.

The sale of his motorcycle and tilapia would nevertheless continue.

A 24-year-old man in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of murdering a 39-year-old woman who tried to end their relationship.

According to a press release by the Metropolitan Police, Deepak Sandhu, an Indian national, was sentenced on Oct. 16, 2026, with a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of Ke Xiaoqing.

Sandhu had pleaded with Ke, a Chinese national, to give him a second chance, but instead killed her in her home after she agreed to meet him.

Secret relationship

Sandhu arrived in the UK in September 2024 on a student visa, which was revoked six months later, according to The Mirror.

Meanwhile, Ke arrived in March 2025 on a standard visitor visa.

The two met at a brothel in Southampton where Ke was working.

They entered a secret relationship, relying on a translation app to communicate as they spoke different languages.

When Ke later moved to London, the pair stayed in touch.

Lies and deceit

The relationship turned sour when Ke discovered that Sandhu had stolen £500 (S$854) from her handbag and had lied continuously about his life, reported The Standard.

The lies included claims that he was a model and actor, as well as the whereabouts of his sister.

After admitting to stealing Ke’s money, Sandhu fabricated another lie and claimed to have been robbed of £3,550 (S$5,982) in the United States.

He also told her he had a job at a bank that paid £6,000 (S$10,256) a month.

Revenge killing

After finding out about the lies, Ke called him a liar and asked him to pay her back.

According to The Independent, she told him: “Don’t come see me. I’m clear, I’m not a fool.”

In retaliation, Sandhu told her former brothel boss that she “will regret what she has done”.

He also asked an associate on WhatsApp, “Do you think I have to take my revenge on her?”

However, he still pleaded with Ke to give him another chance, and said he had the money he stole.

He also told her that he knew someone who could get her British citizenship, reported The Mirror.

Murdered her

Ke eventually agreed to meet Sandhu.

On Dec. 9, 2025, Sandhu bought knives and travelled to Old Brompton Road, Earl's Court, where she stayed.

Ke’s Airbnb’s doorbell camera footage showed him arriving wearing a baseball cap and with his face covered.

He was then spotted leaving about 90 minutes later.

After the act, he called his sister and told her "a professional" had killed Ke, according to The Standard.

He then booked a one-way flight from Birmingham to Mumbai.

Police called

The next morning, Ke’s neighbours spotted blood on her door and around the area, and called the police to do a welfare check.

She was found face down on her bedroom floor with multiple stab wounds, and his blood was also found at the scene, reported The Standard.

A murder investigation was opened, and Sandhu was identified as the main suspect, the Metropolitan Police said.

He was arrested while he was travelling on a National Express coach from Southampton to Birmingham Airport on Dec. 12, 2025.

A new reading and community space is set to be developed in the north of Singapore.

Slated to take up parts of the sixth and seventh floors of Causeway Point, the 32,000 square feet public space — The HomePage @ Causeway Point — will offer visitors a chance to discover new books and connect with each other.

The space comes as part of a memorandum of understanding between Frasers Centerpoint Trust and the National Library & Archives Board (NLB), the organisations said in an Oct. 22 statement.

It will open in 2028.

How it works

The space will house one of Singapore’s largest publicly accessible collections of pre-loved books from NLB’s libraries in English and Mother Tongue languages.

It will also feature Sing Lit and local authors.

Unlike a library, visitors will be able to browse and take home the pre-loved books without borrowing them.

This allows them explore titles at their own pace. Patrons are also encouraged to share their books with others.

Community space

Visitors can also enjoy food and beverages in the space, which doubles as a social hub.

For families, there will be a children’s play zone to provide interactive experiences and family-friendly activities.

A purpose-built indoor theatre and screening space will serve as a space for films, author talks, storytelling sessions, and cultural programmes.

How it looks

The HomePage @ Causeway Point pays homage to Singapore's heritage, drawing inspiration from architectural and cultural references shared by Singaporeans.

Its design borrows from the iconic Teck Whye HDB blocks, the former National Library building at Stamford Road, and the bold geometric forms of Singapore’s 1970s Brutalist architecture.

One of the spaces, dubbed The Story Spine, is a book wall extending through multiple floors, reminiscent of the modular forms of HDB architecture:

At the heart of The HomePage @ Causeway Point lies The Drum, an open space that contains the book collections, reading zone, as well as a cafe:

The aforementioned Sing Lit collection, simply named "Sing Lit", is designed as a continuous curved bookshelf featuring displays showcasing Singaporean history and culture:

"Making reading more accessible"

Melissa Tam, the chief executive officer of NLB, said that they hope to make reading more accessible and provide more opportunities for readers to discover Sing Lit and local authors.

Consequently, she hopes not just for more Singaporeans to take on reading as a lifelong habit, but also to connect more deeply with our shared heritage and identity.

Calling it a "first-of-its-kind social and reading destination", Frasers chief executive officer Richard Ng stated that The HomePage @ Causeway Point "will be a place beyond home and work".

He emphasised that this development comes as part of an evolution of Causeway Point, in light of the significant long-term growth set to take place in the Northern region of Singapore.

A woman in Jiangsu, China, suffered five broken ribs and a crack in another rib after her husband hugged her.

According to Chinese media outlet Jingshi Live, the woman's husband, surnamed Wang, embraced her after she complained of feeling cold.

He then heard a cracking sound during the hug, and his wife immediately crouched down in pain, unable to get up.

Wang said he had used normal force and had not expected the embrace to cause such serious injuries.

Wife endured pain overnight before seeking medical attention

Speaking to Hubei Jingshi Live on Oct. 19, Wang said his wife endured the pain throughout the night before visiting a hospital the following morning.

A chest CT scan revealed that five of her ribs were fractured, while another had developed a hairline fracture.

Doctors determined that surgery was unnecessary and prescribed medication, medicated patches and rest.

The woman has since been discharged and is recovering at home. She is required to return to the hospital for follow-up examinations every five days.

Doctors reportedly diagnosed osteoporosis

Wang said doctors attributed his wife's injuries primarily to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures.

He revealed that his wife weighed between 45kg and 50kg and had a habit of dieting, including skipping dinner.

She also drank at least one cup of coffee daily.

According to Wang, his wife worked at the family's shop, which was just a two to three minutes' drive from their home.

She usually covered herself up when going outdoors and hardly ever spent time in the sun.

Sunlight is one of the key triggers for producing vitamin D, which in turn helps to absorb calcium and maintain bone density.

Following the incident, Wang said his wife was focusing on her recovery and had started making an effort to get more sunlight and increase her calcium intake.

Fractures from ordinary hugs are uncommon

Yan Yanxiang, an associate chief orthopaedic physician at Wuhan Asia Heart General Hospital, told Jingshi Live that it was uncommon for younger people to suffer rib fractures from the force of a hug.

Osteoporosis was likely a contributing factor in the woman's case, he added.

Yan explained that the condition is closely associated with lifestyle and dietary habits.

He noted that the woman rarely spent time in the sun and drank coffee daily, adding that caffeine could promote calcium loss.

He also said excessive consumption of strong tea (along other detrimental lifestyle habits) and the use of steroid medications could accelerate calcium loss from bones.

However, the report did not establish that the woman's daily coffee consumption directly caused her osteoporosis.

Yan added that rib fractures generally do not require surgery if there are no complications involving the lungs or pleura (membrane surrounding the lungs), such as breathing difficulties or a collapsed lung.

To maintain bone health, he recommended adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, appropriate sunlight exposure and resistance exercises.

Singapore’s state investors Temasek and GIC have denied allegations by former Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi that they helped instigate Indonesia’s recent stock market rout.

Lutfi had accused the two institutions of pressuring global index provider MSCI to threaten a downgrade of Indonesia’s market status, with the aim of driving share prices down so foreign investors could buy Indonesian assets cheaply.

Temasek calls allegations “patently untrue”

According to Bloomberg, Fock Wai Hoong, Temasek Global Investments’ head of Asia-Pacific excluding China and India, rejected the allegations at a technology industry briefing in Singapore on Oct. 21.

Lutfi’s accusations “have no basis and are patently untrue”, Fock said.

He added that neither Temasek nor its employees had approached MSCI or influenced its decisions.

A GIC spokesperson also rejected the claims, noting that the fund had invested in Indonesia for more than 30 years.

“The allegations about GIC and our staff are untrue,” the spokesperson said.

GIC added that it bases investment decisions on individual companies and assets, rather than index classifications or broad assessments of a market.

Why MSCI is considering a downgrade

In an Oct. 15 statement, MSCI proposed reclassifying Indonesia from an emerging market to a standalone market, citing opaque share ownership, suspected coordinated trading and a lack of meaningful enforcement despite announced reforms.

Standalone status would remove Indonesian stocks from MSCI’s broader emerging-market indexes, potentially forcing funds tracking those indexes to sell their holdings. The warning triggered a record two-day sell-off that wiped out about US$82 billion in market value, before stocks recovered some ground on Oct. 20, The Straits Times (ST) reported.

MSCI’s consultation closes on Apr. 30, 2027, with a final decision due by June 30. It expects to proceed unless there is clear evidence of meaningful improvements in market governance and functioning.

Lutfi's allegations of Singaporean interference

In Instagram post on Oct. 20, Lutfi alleged that Temasek and GIC were using their influence over MSCI to push for Indonesia’s reclassification from an emerging market to a standalone market.

He also claimed to have received insider information that a GIC employee had pressured MSCI to downgrade Indonesia.

Lutfi alleged that earlier foreign capital outflows had failed to push Indonesian share prices low enough for foreign investors to buy back assets at their desired prices.

“The goal was one: create market panic so that prices correct sharply, then scoop up our strategic assets at discounted prices,” he wrote.

However, Lutfi did not provide evidence to substantiate his allegations in his post.

CNN Indonesia also reported that there is no evidence in MSCI's announcement to confirm Lutfi's allegations concerning Singapore's involvement.

Lutfi also linked the stock market turmoil to the ongoing dispute over transboundary haze, claiming both concerned control over Indonesia’s wealth.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Muhammad Lutfi (@m.lutfi)

IDX chief defends MSCI’s independence

Responding to the allegations on Oct. 20, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) president director Jeffrey Hendrik defended the independence of global index providers.

“We have always believed, and continue to believe, that global index providers are independent,” he told reporters at the IDX building in Jakarta, according ST.

Jeffrey said IDX would focus on improving Indonesia’s stock market.

Mohammad Lutfi's terms as trade minister

Lutfi served as trade minister under then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo from December 2020 to June 2022. He left the post when Jokowi appointed Zulkifli Hasan as his replacement in a cabinet reshuffle on June 15, 2022.

He had previously held the same portfolio from February to October 2014 under then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In August 2023, Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office questioned Lutfi as a witness in a corruption investigation involving export approvals for crude palm oil and related products, including cooking oil, Antara reported.

The case concerned export approvals issued during a domestic cooking oil shortage in 2022. According to Reuters, prosecutors alleged that permits had been issued to companies that had not fulfilled domestic supply requirements.

Antara reported in August 2023 that five people, including the Trade Ministry’s former director-general of foreign trade, had received prison sentences in the case.

Round-trip direct flight tickets between Singapore and Ipoh, Malaysia, have soared to a new high during the 2027 Chinese New Year period.

According to checks on Scoot's booking page on Oct. 21, a round trip from Feb. 5, 2027, to Feb. 8, 2027, starts from S$1,421, while one-way tickets from Singapore to Ipoh start from S$734.

Prices within two weeks of this period remain roughly in the same range.

While flight prices have traditionally hiked during this season, the highest a round-trip ticket had reached previously was S$1,100, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Reasons for hike

The media outlet reported that experts attributed the hike to reasons like a lack of travel options.

One travel consultant posited that hiking oil prices due to the Middle East crisis have led to higher airport taxes and airfare.

Scoot is the only airline flying direct between Singapore and Ipoh, after AirAsia suspended the route in April 2025 and Batik Air, which replaced it, ended its service in May 2026 after about five months. The consultant said limited choice could push up fares.

The limited travel options may have driven up ticket prices.

Travellers exploring other options

An Ipoh native residing in Singapore told Shin Min that in light of the pricey tickets, she may consider taking a bus or train home instead.

Another Ipoh resident cited the hefty prices and a lack of confirmation on whether she would be able to apply for leave in Singapore to return home.

With the uncertainties, she may reschedule her trip altogether, she said.

The family of Neo Jia Ming, who was jailed on Oct. 21 with his wife for the fatal abuse of their eight-month-old son, expressed shock and disbelief over the details heard in court.

For almost the entirety of baby Trevor's life, his parents frequently smothered and shook him to stop him from crying.

On Sep. 2, 2024, Trevor's mother Chloe Gan suffocated him using her hands and flipped him in his cot, resulting in his death. Neo, who witnessed this, did not do anything to stop it.

After both pleaded guilty, Gan, 23, was sentenced to 15 years and 3 months in jail, while Neo, 27, was sentenced to 16 years in jail.

At the end of the hearing, their lawyers requested that both their parents be allowed to speak to them, and the judge granted this.

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court afterwards, Neo's mother and elder sister said they remember Trevor as a very good boy.

"He always wanted hugs, and we have never heard him cry."

Convicted

Neo's family described Neo as a timid person who dearly loved his wife, Shin Min Daily News reported.

"I think of him as a timid person, so when I learnt what happened, I completely could not believe he did this," his sister said in Mandarin. "We all felt very shocked."

Neo was also convicted for domestic abuse against Gan, including punching her more than 10 times in the head after an argument.

However, his sister said she had never noticed any signs of violence or trouble in the couple's relationship, nor any marks on Gan, according to CNA.

Instead, Neo appeared devoted to his wife, she observed.

He used to work as a pet groomer and food delivery rider, the family shared.

His sister added that he would sometimes ask her for help, and she would give him money.

Conversation

When Neo and Gan visited Neo's mother with the baby, they appeared happy, the mother said.

Although she saw nothing worrying about their behaviour, they would tell her they were exhausted, CNA reported.

They did not visit her at her place with Trevor often because their schedules often did not align, she said.

During the sentencing, the judge noted that the couple was not left on their own to take care of Trevor as they seemed well supported by family members.

Neo's mother added that the last time she saw Trevor was in the final weeks of his life. She did not see any signs of abuse then.

Neo's family also shared with reporters about the conversation they had with Neo after the hearing.

He told them he hoped to continue studying while in prison, and his mother encouraged him to work hard.

As for Gan's parents, they appeared to console their daughter as they talked to her, often reaching through a partition to touch her gently. She was seen crying when the judge read out the sentences.

A Malaysian Member of Parliament (MP) has suggested that the country consider shutting down pig farms nationwide and importing pork instead, citing Singapore as an example.

However, another Malaysian MP pointed out one rather important detail: Singapore itself imports live pigs from Malaysia.

The exchange took place in Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat, following a proposal by Tasek Gelugor (Penang) MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan on Oct. 19.

Suggested Malaysia follow Singapore's example

According to Malay Mail, Wan Saiful urged the Malaysian government to consider closing pig farms nationwide and importing pork to meet domestic demand.

He argued that the proposal should be considered from the perspective of environmental pollution, public welfare and sustainability, rather than race or religion.

He said:

"Personally, I feel it would not be excessive for me to propose that the federal government consider whether it is appropriate for Malaysia to continue having large pig farms when pork supplies can be obtained through imports, as done in Singapore."

"In fact, imported pork may be cheaper than that farmed in Malaysia," he added.

Wan Saiful also suggested that relying on imports could be a safer approach, as pig farms were likely to face opposition from nearby residents regardless of their location.

The proposal was not the first of its kind.

According to Focus Malaysia, Sabak Bernam (Selangor) MP Kalam Salan had made a similar suggestion in January 2026.

But Singapore imports pigs from Sarawak

Responding to Wan Saiful's proposal, Raub (Pahang) MP Chow Yu Hui questioned the logic of closing pig farms in Malaysia when Singapore imports live pigs from Sarawak.

According to Malaysiakini, Chow cited figures from the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department showing that the state exported 120,000 live pigs to Singapore in 2024.

The exports generated RM197.6 million (approximately S$61.96 million) in revenue.

He added that Sarawak exported around 2,500 live pigs to Singapore every week in 2025.

According to Chow, exports of live pigs from Sarawak to Singapore have generated RM742.5 million (approximately S$232.83 million) since 2000.

Chow questioned what would happen to Singapore's supply if Malaysian pig farms were shut down.

"If we were to close down all pig farms in Malaysia, including those in Sarawak, from where else would Singapore be able to import live pigs?" he asked.

Concerns over reliance on imported pork

The proposal also drew criticism from Bekok (Johor) assemblyperson Tan Chong, who warned that shutting down pig farms could increase Malaysia's reliance on imported pork.

According to Malaysiakini, Tan said Malaysia's pork self-sufficiency rate was approximately 67.8 per cent, with domestic production reaching 115,284 tonnes in 2025.

He argued that reducing local production could leave Malaysia more vulnerable to overseas supply disruptions, animal disease outbreaks and export restrictions.

Tan also maintained that pollution concerns should be addressed through enforcement against individual farms rather than shutting down the entire industry.