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Saturday, 16 May 2026

Let 2026 be a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations

China US Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump concluded his state visit to China on Friday afternoon and departed Beijing on Air Force One. During this historic and landmark visit, mutual respect, valuing peace, and exploring cooperation were the overarching themes of the summit. The agreement reached by the two heads of state to build "a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" is the most important political consensus and has attracted widespread attention from the outside world. An editorial in the South China Morning Post said this is "a realisation that the China-US relationship is so complex and consequential that they need to keep it stable - not only for the sake of the two peoples, but also for the international community." The article said that the summit in Beijing "heralds the start of constructive, stable relations."

Chinese President Xi Jinping used "four stabilities" to elaborate on the core essence of "a constructive relationship of strategic stability": a positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace. Some foreign media said that this is a layered structure of premise, pathway, key, and goal. Many analysts believe that the creative use of the concept of "strategic stability" by both sides has transcended the original meaning of crisis management between major powers during the Cold War, and has provided a new strategic framework for expanding pragmatic cooperation through healthy competition among major powers and managing differences in the new era.

It is not difficult to see that "a constructive relationship of strategic stability" has a rigorous theoretical logic and rich practical implications. The "four stabilities" mean that both sides should continuously enhance the resilience of China-US relations through exchanges and cooperation, avoid a zero-sum game, and ensure that bilateral policies do not fluctuate wildly, let alone lead to conflict, confrontation, or even war. These four stabilities are interconnected and organically unified, setting up a crucial protective net for China-US relations when facing storms and reefs, and providing fundamental impetus for this giant ship to sail in the right direction. Under the strategic guidance of this new positioning, this "most important bilateral relationship in the world today" has become more certain and predictable, which in itself is an important public good provided to the international community. It conforms to the trend of the times, responds to the greatest concerns of all parties, and its widespread welcome is inevitable.

The new positioning of China-US relations represents a recalibration of each side's goals and modes of interaction under new circumstances, addressing the overarching question of whether China and the US are rivals or partners. For some time, certain people in the US have viewed China's development as a "threat," defined China as a "rival," made "competition" the dominant framework of their China strategy, and even attempted to promote "decoupling" and the severing of supply chains. Facts have proven this way of thinking entirely wrong. China's growth is part of the historical trend, and any attempt to contain or suppress China is doomed to fail. "Decoupling" and supply-chain disruption ultimately harm both sides. The concept of "a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" transcends the narrow zero-sum mindset of "your loss is my gain" or "your rise means my decline." It restores clarity to the true nature of China-US relations and reflects a sense of responsibility toward history, the people, and the world.

Positive cooperation, healthy competition, managing differences, and enduring peace are fully consistent with China's long-standing principles and propositions. These ideas have been widely welcomed by the international community and continuously tested in practice. This also demonstrates that China and the US are moving beyond a cycle of confrontation and negotiation toward gradually building consensus and clarifying direction, while deepening exploration of a new model for major-country relations. Today, dialogue between the two sides is more equal, communication more pragmatic, and red lines clearer, showing the possibility for China-US relations to open a new chapter through resilience.

The proposal to build a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" underscores China's consistent commitment to head-of-state diplomacy and its active efforts to promote a China-US relationship that is strategic, constructive, and stable, so that positive interaction between the two countries can bring greater stability to an unsettled world.

The US side has agreed to define the building of a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" as the new positioning of bilateral ties. US President Donald Trump said that China-US relations will get "better than ever before." Responding to media questions on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that bilateral relations are important and constructive, adding that world stability is in everyone's interest.

A "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability" should not be a slogan, but must become a shared objective upheld by both sides and translated into joint actions. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two largest economies, China and the US should achieve peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and find the right way to get along with each other. This is what the peoples of both countries desire and what people around the world hope to see. Expanding the list of cooperation while reducing the list of problems will require concrete actions to realize "constructive strategic stability" in China-US relations.

China hopes the US side will demonstrate the responsibility expected of a major power through practical actions, work with China along the direction charted by the two heads of state, continue enriching the substance of this new positioning, and translate it into concrete policies and practical measures, jointly opening a new chapter in China-US relations. There is reason to believe that 2026 will become a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Harsh reality about estate planning in Malaysia

Monday, 4 May 2026

Drugstores not immune to fraud, Beware of cheap fake meds online

Cases of stolen identity, couterfeit froducts

PETALING JAYA: What was first a mere question from a friend about discounted products quickly turned into a worrying discovery for pharmacist Rachel Gan May Shiang.

Someone was using her pharmacy’s identity to sell doubtful products.

“I was sent a screenshot and that was when I knew our pharmacy was being impersonated online.

“The store looked almost identical. The only difference was that one of the letters bore a small alphabet as opposed to mine.

“Unregistered products in the Malaysian market were also sold on that site,” said Gan, who founded a pharmacy in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

This led to complaints being made to the said e-commerce platform. Several of the product postings were then removed.

Days later, however, more fake accounts emerged.

“What’s even more worrying is that these products are being purchased.

“Besides the impersonation, there are wider public health concerns,” she said.

Gan, who is honorary secretary of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild, questioned how the said platform vets its sellers, especially for those related to sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

Her case is not an isolated one, as even chain pharmacies are being targeted by fraudulent operators.

“Over the past year, we noticed this becoming increasingly rampant.

“At first, we received customer enquiries, with many also checking the authenticity of the products at our physical stores.

“So we checked the sites daily and lodged reports with the relevant authorities every time our brand name is misused to sell health and supplement products,” said Alpro Pharmacy professional care and development manager Ng Yi Ling.

These stores impersonate the Alpro brand, logo and images, she said.

The only difference was in the capitalisation of the letters in the brand name.

“Our biggest concern is how consuming these products will impact the health of consumers. We do not know the contents of these products,” she said.

Du Kiat Seng and Ng Seng Wei, who are the brand owners and sole distributor of a supplement product in Malaysia, said they have received complaints about counterfeit products as recently as March.

“We tried ordering the product ourselves and found that it was clearly a counterfeit.”

The giveaway was the absence of mandatory hologram tags.

The registration number was also a duplicated one, they said.

Both of them found that posts of doubtful products would be taken down following complaints but they would reappear the next day on the same online store.

“There should be some sense of responsibility from platforms to do their due diligence before allowing anyone to list health products for sale online.”

Brego Life Sciences marketing manager Claris Wong said they discovered such issues happening since 2024.

“We received complaints online. The prices were between 30% and 40% cheaper.

“We purchased the products and saw that they were almost identical with our products, although there were subtle differences in the printing.

“There was even a hologram printed on it. But when we scanned it, we found the product was not registered,” she said.

Sh said there was an instance where a customer was hospitalised after consuming a counterfeit product.

“Counterfeit products are dangerous.

“Our tests revealed that they do not have any of the active ingredients as claimed and may also contain unknown or harmful substances,” she said.

Save a dime, risk a life? Beware of cheap fake meds online

PETALING JAYA: It may seem like a good bargain online. But it comes with serious risks, as counterfeit medicines and supplements are still being sold on e-commerce platforms despite ongoing crackdowns.

TikTok Shop Malaysia said medicines and supplements are subject to requirements, including the need for a MAL number or notification from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), before being listed.

“Through our Intellectual Property Protection Centre, brands or authorised representatives can submit takedown requests for products and monitor their st

“There is no finish line when it comes to safety. Users are encouraged to report these products, content and sellers through the in-app reporting channel,” said a spokesperson.

TikTok Shop Malaysia is working with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and Health Ministry to address evolving forms of circumvention.

The spokesperson said continuous investments are made to improve safety tools, technology and personnel, with more than US$1bil committed globally to protect users from fraudulent and dangerous activities.

Automated systems are also used to detect potential fraud, infringement, unsafe content or violative product listings, both before and after products or content are uploaded.

“Sellers must submit official documentation during registration, which is then verified against business and banking details to ensure authenticity.

“Store names are subject to strict guidelines to prevent misrepresentation, including restrictions on terms such as ‘official’, ‘flagship’ or ‘authorised’,” the spokesperson said.

Once approved, new sellers undergo a probationary period where daily orders and product listings are capped as they familiarise themselves with platform policies.

Between January and June this year, it said more than 70 million product listing attempts were rejected globally for policy violations, with a proactive removal rate exceeding 99.5%.

Some 1.4 million seller account registration applications that failed to meet its standards were declined, with more than 700,000 sellers removed during the same period due to shop-level violations.

“More than 900,000 reports from users viewing TikTok Shop videos or live streams were also reviewed,” the spokesperson said.

Shopee strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit and prohibited items too, requiring all sellers to comply with local regulations and platform policies.

A spokesperson said the platform works closely with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) to verify pharmacies and actively remove listings that violate its rules.

“We are committed to building a safe and trusted platform where shoppers can transact with confidence.

“We also use proactive monitoring and work with brands, law enforcement and the Health Ministry to detect and take action against sellers breaching our policies, including account suspension, permanent bans and, where appropriate, legal action.

“Users are encouraged to report suspicious or counterfeit products via the ‘Report this Product’ option.”

Complaints can also be made to the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA), which is used to manage public complaints, including reports of fake or unregistered medicines.

MPS president Amrahi Buang said all pharmaceutical products sold online must be registered with the Health Ministry and comply with laws including the Poisons Act, Sale of Drugs Act and the Medicines (Advertisement & Sale) Act and Regulations.

“Legitimate products have the Health Ministry hologram tag and the MAL number,” he said, adding that the number can be checked at the NPRA website.

He said MPS also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an e-commerce platform to curb the sale of counterfeit drugs online.

There are several conditions to be fulfilled when applying to open an online store as per the MOU, including having a licensed pharmacist, ensuring the products sold online can be tied to a physical store and confirming that the pharmacist is an MPS member.

“Pharmacists can check if the product is legitimate and advise you.

“We don’t just sell drugs. We want the best for our customers,” he said

Friday, 1 May 2026

Workshops steering into scams

Motorists slammed with inflated bills for needless repairs

A mechanic repairing a car at a local workshop in Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

PETALING JAYA: When Tan Chee Keong noticed unusual noises in his car, he did what any motorists would do – take the vehicle to a nearby workshop for checks.

Then came the shock – he was quoted close to RM20,000 for the repairs.

“They told me the steering rack, suspension system, mounting and several other components were all damaged,” the 69-year-old said.

Tan got suspicious when the mechanic failed to properly explain what the problem was.

“Some of what was pointed out did not match the issues I was having,” he said.

ALSO READ: Upfront pricing on auto repairs just a tap away

So, he sought a second opinion from another workshop.

“The mechanic checked the car, test drove it and found that only a few components needed changing. The repairs cost only RM6,000,” he said.

Tan’s case is not an isolated incident.

Many unscrupulous vehicle workshops are out to make a quick buck by “repairing” problems that do not exist

A Subang Jaya resident who wanted to be known as John took his wife’s sedan to a workshop last year after she complained of hearing some noises under the bonnet.

He said a workshop owner, whom he was familiar with, referred him to someone new, who he said was the chief technician.

“He hoisted the car up and took a cursory look at the absorbers and started to give a long list of parts that he said needed to be replaced.

“Besides the absorbers and the lower arms, he said the steering rack also needed changing.

“The quotation came up to RM7,000!” he said.

John then went for a second opinion with a trusted mechanic who told him only the absorbers needed to be replaced.

“I bought the parts elsewhere and he replaced them for me, charging me just RM300 for workmanship. The car runs fine till today,” he said.

Another motorist who wanted to be known as Raj, also experienced a car workshop trying to rip him off.

“The regular shopowner called in a worker I had not seen before to handle my complaints. The man said he was in charge of repairs and ordering parts.

“He said there were many parts that needed replacing, such as the fuel pump, mass airflow sensor, oxygen sensor and engine mounting.

“The estimate came up to several thousand ringgit. I was not happy and took my car elsewhere. And the car was fixed for a few hundred ringgit.”

This is daylight robbery,” he said.

For MK Leow, 29, his experience was slightly different.

When sending his car for servicing at an official service centre, he was hit with a quotation close to RM400.

“I just paid as I trusted the service advisor.

“But friends pointed out later that my bill was actually inflated with various add-ons that were not part of the mandatory service,” he said.

The add-ons included coolant sprays, ozone treatment service and more.

Thursday, 23 April 2026

Mixed property outlook amid higher oil prices

High-rise and luxury segments seen most vulnerable

PPC International MD Datuk Siders Sittampalam

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s property market remains an appealing investment avenue despite increasing global uncertainties, according to industry experts.

PPC International Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Siders Sittampalam said the local property market remains attractive to investors despite the ongoing West Asia crisis.

“However, the appeal is likely to be selective rather than broad-based, with investment decisions increasingly adopting a sector-led approach.

“It is important to recognise that Malaysia’s property market continues to be driven largely by domestic fundamentals, rather than direct exposure to the Middle East,” he told StarBiz.

An analyst said investing in property during global economic uncertainty “still makes sense,” adding, however, that it is “no longer about riding a broad market upswing”.

“It’s about selectivity, resilience, and long-term thinking. Property remains attractive because it’s a tangible, income-generating asset.”

Amid uncertain times, he said investors often value “stability.”

“Real estate can provide relatively predictable rental income and act as a partial hedge against inflation. Compared to more volatile assets like equities, it tends to be less reactive to short-term global shocks.”

However, he said the current environment has changed the investment outlook.

“Higher construction costs, cautious lending and more price-sensitive buyers mean that not all properties will perform well. Oversupply in certain segments, especially high-density developments, can limit both rental yields and capital appreciation.

“At the same time, global uncertainties can affect job markets and consumer confidence, indirectly impacting demand,” he said.

Compared with many countries in the region, Siders noted that Malaysia’s political neutrality provides a degree of stability.

“As such, the crisis is expected to affect the market only indirectly, primarily through higher oil prices, inflationary pressures and shifts in investor sentiment.

“One key reason the market remains attractive is that, during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to rotate away from volatile equities into hard assets such as real estate.”

Siders emphasised that property, particularly income-producing assets, is generally less sensitive to short-term volatility affecting equities and other financial instruments.

“That said, the principal risk lies in a prolonged period of elevated oil prices, which could translate into higher domestic transportation costs, increased steel and concrete prices, pressure on rental affordability and slower take-up rates for high-end residential properties.”

Collectively, Siders said these factors may erode household disposable income and temper overall market momentum.

“In my view, investment strategies should now be anchored on income generation and strong underlying fundamentals, rather than expectations of capital appreciation or speculative gains.”

One market observer said that in times of uncertainty, the key question isn’t whether to invest, but rather “how to invest.”

“Investors should focus on properties with strong fundamentals – good locations, access to infrastructure, proximity to employment hubs and realistic pricing.

“Rental demand is especially important now, as steady income can offset slower price growth. A longer investment horizon also becomes critical, since quick gains are less likely in a cautious market cycle.”

Amid current economic uncertainties, a property analyst said there would be an impact on the market should things escalate further or be prolonged.

In such a situation, he said the impact would vary depending on the property segment. He said high-rise condominiums, especially in Kuala Lumpur, would be the most vulnerable segment.

“This segment would be the hardest hit because buyers here are often investors or middle- to upper-income earners.”

He noted that this segment also tends to be more sensitive to economic uncertainty, rental yields and short-term sentiment.

“Should oil prices spike, investors here will likely pull back and there will be fewer speculative purchases.

“The number of expatriates would also shrink if the global economy slows. Moreover, rental demand for these types of properties could also soften.”

Ultimately, this could lead to slower price growth or stagnation for high-rise condominiums.

“There would be higher unsold inventory. This is already an issue for condominiums within the Klang Valley,” he said.

Similarly, luxury and high-end properties are also at high risk, he noted.

“This segment is highly dependent on foreign buyers and investor sentiment.

“Oil price spikes often come with global uncertainty, which reduces foreign inflows and makes buyers more cautious. In such situations, transactions within this segment could drop significantly and prices may stagnate or correct.”

On the flip side, he said affordable houses (or mass-market properties) would be the most resilient if global economic conditions continue to worsen.

“This segment holds up better because it is driven by genuine need for owner occupation rather than investment.

“It is also often supported by government schemes and financing access. Even if oil prices push up living costs, people still need homes.

“Demand may slow slightly, but the segment still remains relatively stable. Prices may still inch up, albeit more slowly.”

Nevertheless, higher oil prices equals higher fuel costs, he noted. “Therefore, commuting can become more expensive.

“In such cases, locations far from city centres may see reduced appeal, while well-connected areas (especially ones near mass rapid transits and light rail transits) will hold their value better.”

By EUGENE MAHALINGAM eugenicz@thestar.com.my

Welcome! 歡迎和風行少年連結謝謝

Experience suggests that Washington often says one thing and does another, using beautiful concepts as their brand of bullying and forcefully reshaping the meaning of those concepts. For example, Washington often talks about "rules," but the world has seen the US consistently commit the most brutal violations of the rules on which the United Nations system is based. The rules they talk about are actually a framework for protecting the interests of the US and its major allies. They are also a behavioral norm to force other countries to maximize those interests.

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