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New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Whitening creams with mercury, banned substances still sold online
KUALA LUMPUR: Mercury-laced cosmetics and other products containing harmful chemicals are still being openly sold online, despite repeated warnings and bans by health authorities. These items, Utusan Malaysia reported, often marketed as whitening creams, moisturisers and facial cleansers—contain banned substances such as hydroquinone, mercury, tretinoin, and even prescription drugs like dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, and sibutramine, which can damage internal organs and the nervous system. The report added that many of the products have had their approval withdrawn by the Health Ministry but remain available on e-commerce platforms and social media. Listings often omit valid Health Ministry notification numbers and use fake testimonials to attract buyers—particularly young women. Some continue receiving customer reviews even after being blacklisted. Checks by Utusan Malaysia found that several products contained dangerous scheduled poisons that can harm the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands and brain. The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) confirmed these products have been delisted, making their sale and distribution illegal under Malaysian law. From 2018 to early 2023, the Health Ministry seized over RM3.84 million worth of unauthorised health and beauty products. In 2024 alone, 12 cosmetics containing scheduled poisons were banned. An industry source said many of these products are imported in bulk from Thailand and China before being repackaged and sold locally. "These products come in grades A to D. Most sellers choose Grade C because it's cheap and allows mass production. With just RM1,500, they can produce 5,000 bottles," the source said. Despite low production costs, these products are often sold at high prices—sometimes hundreds of ringgit per bottle—yielding large profits while endangering consumers. Adibah Aliah, 21, said her skin was severely damaged after using a whitening product containing mercury. "My skin became white and smooth in a week, but after a few months, it turned sensitive, broke out, and started peeling," she said. "I now need regular dermatology treatment costing hundreds of ringgit a month. I'm too scared to use anything without expert advice." Pharmacist Nurul Nabilah Hussain warned that mercury and tretinoin can cause lasting harm. "Mercury can enter the bloodstream and damage the kidneys and brain. Long-term use may cause numbness and mental health problems. In pregnant women, it can affect foetal development," she said. She urged stricter enforcement and better monitoring of online platforms. "Authorities must ramp up enforcement and improve online surveillance," she said, adding that consumers should always verify product safety on the NPRA website. "Avoid any product that lacks clear safety information," she said.
Malaysian Reserve
05-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Neutral on Europe, but bright spots remain
The need for precautionary savings has increased amid lingering uncertainties by IFAST RESEARCH TEAM THE European Union (EU) has recognised the urgency to pursue military independence amid US President Donald Trump's withdrawal of security support from NATO, prompting a surge in defence budgets across the region. At EU level, president Ursula von der Leyen announced the 'ReArm Europe' plan, a fiscal stimulus of €800 billion (RM3.84 trillion) over four years, aimed at raising defence spending from 1.9% to 3% of GDP. Meanwhile, Germany, traditionally reluctant to take on debt, has exempted defence spending from its fiscal cap and introduced a €500 billion infrastructure and defence fund, marking a significant policy shift. Together, these measures have bolstered sentiment across Europe, with the eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to a 27-month high in April, indicating early signs of a bottoming-out in the industrial sector, further supported by improved industrial production. Inflation has eased considerably to 2.2% in April from its previous highs of 10.6%, largely driven by a decline in energy prices. Service inflation has also moderated, from 5.6% to 3.9%, reflecting broader disinflationary trends. With inflationary pressures moderating, the European Central Bank (ECB) is now on track to further cut rates, following seven consecutive cuts, thereby lowering borrowing costs and supporting economic recovery. Economic Data Points to Tentative Recovery Despite the easing of inflation and the improvement in consumer purchasing power, consumption is yet to show a convincing recovery. Retail sales growth remained tepid in the previous months, although the latest March data came in somewhat stronger than expected. Nevertheless, the broader trend still points to cautious household behaviour, with the savings rate remaining well above the long-term average. The need for precautionary savings has increased amid lingering uncertainties — from the Russia-Ukraine war and ongoing trade tensions to the re-election of Trump, which has reignited geopolitical concerns. European natural gas prices have declined significantly from their 2022 peaks, alleviating one of the biggest post-war cost burdens for manufacturers. Nonetheless, prices remain above the historical averages, continuing to weigh on the region's corporate competitiveness. Manufacturing PMI has stayed in the contraction zone, whether the recent rebound marks a true turnaround or only a tentative recovery, will take further time to prove. Threat of Tariff Impact on Exports Adding to the uncertainty, escalating trade tensions with the US pose an additional risk to Europe's growth outlook. The US is the largest exporting destination for EU goods, accounting for over 20% of the bloc's exports. Following recent US tariff measures, the average tariff rate imposed on EU products could rise sharply from 1.47% to 15.2%, according to Bruegel. As a significant share of the EU's GDP is tied to exports, the materialisation of these tariffs jeopardises Europe's growth outlook. However, the EU retains several cards to play in retaliation against these measures. As one of the US' largest trading partners, the EU's countermeasures could contain or even reverse some of the US' tariffs. The EU has already responded with targeted tariffs impacting up to US$13.5 billion (RM57.34 billion) worth of US exports, carefully focusing on goods from Republican-leaning states — such as soybeans — in an effort to pressure Trump's core political base. If the situation deteriorates further, the EU has even stronger options, including tightening regulations on US tech firms operating within the bloc. Given that Europe represents one of the largest markets globally for both the products and services of American technology giants, any measures targeting these companies could strike at a core pillar of the US economy. Nonetheless, the EU remains reluctant to escalate the conflict aggressively, maintaining a preference for a negotiated solution despite the confrontational stance from Washington. More importantly, as the US pulls back from global trade, other countries are likely to diversify their trading relationships and form new alliances. In this context, Europe could play a more prominent role in global commerce. This shift may also support the euro, particularly if it gains traction as a currency for invoicing international trade. A more widely used euro would, in turn, help reduce borrowing costs across the euro-area. Trump's challenges to independent institutions — such as the Federal Reserve (Fed) and universities — as well as to the rule of law, have made Europe's institutional framework appear more stable by comparison. The EU's commitment to the rule of law, with its system of checks and balances, remains a foundational strength. Moreover, Europe continues to show openness to trade and foreign investment. Widening Innovation Gap Between Europe, US However, much still hinges on long-overdue reforms, including the development of larger and deeper capital markets. Europe is falling behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) race, with the largest advancements in chips, language models and AI applications dominated by US companies. A key factor is Europe's insufficient research and development (R&D) investment. The gap in R&D spending as a percentage of GDP is widening between the EU and the US, driven by Europe's less developed venture capital market. In 2023, US venture capital funding was three times larger than Europe's, attracting more AI start-ups to the US for financing. With limited access to venture capital and government funding, European start-ups are often forced to rely on bank loans or seek capital abroad, stifling innovation. Unless substantial progress is made in capital market integration, Europe risks falling further behind in productivity growth compared to other major economies. This challenge is compounded by an aging population, which not only reduces the labour force but also exerts additional pressure on productivity. Key Takeaways While macro indicators are yet to show a convincing recovery, select sectors offer pockets of resilience and opportunity. Home to numerous multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies, Europe's healthcare sector stands to benefit from the surging global demand for weight-loss and diabetes treatments, particularly those developed by Novo Nordisk. Key catalysts include projected record-high sales of weight-loss drugs and advancements targeting higher weight-loss efficacy, both of which could drive strong stock performance. Another sector that could deliver stronger performance is technology. Though tech is a relatively small sector in Europe, some key companies play a critical role in their respective field. The views expressed are of the research team and do not necessarily reflect the stand of the newspaper's owners and editorial board. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sime Darby property optimistic on 2025 outlook, backed by RM3.8bil unbilled sales
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Property Bhd remains optimistic about its outlook for 2025, underpinned by record-high unbilled sales of RM3.84 billion in 2024, despite concerns over ongoing global tariff uncertainties. Group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican said the group's focus on execution and portfolio diversification has enabled it to navigate external headwinds effectively. "A key concern for this year and 2026 is whether future launches and bank lending will be affected," he said during a virtual press conference today. In the first quarter ended 31 March 2025 (Q1FY25), Sime Darby Property recorded RM927.5 million in sales, representing 26 per cent of its full-year target of RM3.6 billion. Of this, industrial products contributed 50 per cent, followed by residential high-rise units at 27 per cent, landed homes at 16 per cent, and commercial properties at seven per cent. Azmir said the group plans to launch RM3.3 billion in gross development value across 3,044 units for the remainder of 2025. This will include industrial projects worth RM1.21 billion, residential landed homes at RM1.12 billion, residential high-rise units at RM1.07 billion, and commercial properties at RM546 million. Internationally, the group's flagship Battersea Power Station development in the United Kingdom continues to gain traction. Footfall increased eight per cent year-on-year in Q1FY25, bringing total visitors since its 2022 opening to over 30 million. The Phase 3B (Electric Boulevard) residential component recorded a take-up rate of 74 per cent, up six per cent quarter-on-quarter, while commercial leasing remains steady at 45 per cent, with efforts ongoing to secure more long-term tenants. In May 2025, the property developer secured planning approval for Phase 3C, which will comprise 306 new homes including 121 senior living units with anticipated completion by 2029. Azmir highlighted the group is scheduled to open the upcoming KLGCC Mall within the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) precinct in the second half of the year. The new retail asset is expected to strengthen Sime Darby Property's recurring income strategy, joining its existing investment properties such as KL East Mall and Elmina Lakeside Mall. He added the group's SHIFT25 transformation agenda, aimed at becoming a fully integrated real estate player by the end of 2025, is progressing steadily. These goals will be further supported by the group's growing industrial portfolio, particularly in data centre leasing, logistics parks, and warehouse operations, alongside improving performance across its retail segment.
