Key Takeaway: Cybercrime will be included in Malaysia-Singapore cross-border crime cooperation , as the two countries prepare to renew their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the matter. Malaysia’s Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, announced that cybercrime will be a new focus in Malaysia-Singapore cross-border crime collaboration . The updated MOU will be signed on Nov 14 during Saifuddin’s meeting with Singapore’s Minister of Home Affairs and Law, K. Shanmugam. This move reflects the growing threat of cybercrime , which costs ASEAN an estimated US$64 billion annually. The agreement emphasizes capacity-building, intelligence-sharing, and joint operations as vital components for addressing cybercrime. The exchange of MOU documents will occur at the Annual Leaders' Retreat on Dec 8 in Malaysia, which will be attended by the prime ministers of both nations. Saifuddin also highlighted plans to discuss border congestion issues and will visit Singapore’s Immi
China, the world's largest copper consumer, has been on a construction spree, adding smelters to secure critical materials for the energy transition. However, this oversupply is creating fierce competition for raw materials, slashing margins across the global industry.
Calls to limit China’s output and slow down new smelter construction have gone unheeded. If the expansion continues, copper refining could increasingly shift to China, raising concerns among western governments about China’s control over strategic resources.
The issue will take center stage at Asia’s largest copper industry gathering in Shanghai this week. With more smelter capacity than global mine production, miners now hold negotiating power, which could reduce treatment fees to historic lows of around $40 per ton — far below the $80 per ton level seen in 2024.
Renewable energy, EVs, and grid projects are expected to drive copper demand for decades, pushing investment along the supply chain. Yet, smelters are quicker to build than new mines, intensifying the shortage of copper ore.
In addition to China’s growth, India and Indonesia are also building new plants, further tightening the supply of raw materials. Analysts believe Chinese smelters, largely state-owned and cost-effective, can withstand the pressures better than international competitors.
“It’s a long-term struggle for survival,” said Zhao Yongcheng of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. “Only those with ample capital and efficient operations will last through the years of ore shortages.”
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