NEW YORK, May 20 — Elon Musk defines himself as an engineer trying to save humanity, while his critics call him a far-right showman who overpromises and underdelivers.

Either way, he is the world’s richest person and the founder of some of the most high-profile companies on the planet.

Here is a look at his business empire as his space and AI company SpaceX prepares to sell shares to the public for the first time.

SpaceX, Starlink, xAI

SpaceX builds rockets and spacecraft, and has become the dominant force in commercial space launches — regularly sending astronauts to the International Space Station and satellites into orbit.

Its Starlink division beams high-speed internet from space to users around the world.

Starlink now boasts more than nine million subscribers — a real commercial success, although critics have raised concerns about Musk’s willingness to restrict access for political reasons, including during the war in Ukraine.

SpaceX also absorbed Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI — which makes the Grok chatbot — in an all-stock deal in February 2026, creating what was described as the largest corporate merger in history, with the combined entity valued at approximately US$1.25 trillion (RM5 trillion).

Whether that eye-popping valuation reflects reality or investor hype remains hotly debated. Musk’s surprise decision to lease out his Colossus data center in Memphis to rival Anthropic is seen as a possible sign that his ambitions for xAI are not being met.

Tesla

Tesla popularised electric vehicles and remains one of the most recognised car brands in the world.

It also develops solar panels and home battery storage systems, and is working on self-driving technology and humanoid robots — projects Musk has repeatedly promised are just around the corner, though timelines have often slipped by years.

One of Tesla’s most hyped products, the stainless-steel Cybertruck, has proven to be a commercial disappointment and the broader company has also hit turbulence.

2025 brought a sales slump that stemmed from increased competition globally and a consumer backlash against Musk’s political activities, including his financial support for President Donald Trump and his endorsement of Germany’s far-right AfD party.

Tesla is publicly traded and its stock is down around 20 per cent in the past year.

Musk ownership of Tesla peaked at around 20 per cent of the company in 2021 before he sold shares to buy Twitter, but he still firmly controls the company.

X (formerly Twitter) 

X — the platform formerly known as Twitter — is a social media site where users post short messages and videos, share news and debate politics.

Musk acquired it in October 2022 for roughly US$44 billion, rebranded it as X, cut a large portion of its staff, and loosened content moderation policies.

Advertisers fled in response, and the experiment is widely viewed as a failure that has turned the site into an echo chamber for Musk’s fans and his increasingly right-wing views.

After seeing its valuation decimated, the platform is now estimated to be worth roughly what Musk originally paid for it, based on the value given to shareholders when he folded the company into xAI — laying the groundwork for the SpaceX IPO.

Neuralink 

Neuralink is developing tiny computer chips that can be implanted in the human brain, with the stated goal of helping people with paralysis or neurological conditions communicate using only their thoughts.

In trials, patients have demonstrated thought-controlled cursor navigation and robotic arm manipulation — genuine breakthroughs, although ethicists and regulators have raised questions about privacy and long-term safety.

The Boring Company 

Frustrated by traffic, Musk founded The Boring Company in 2016, initially as a SpaceX subsidiary, with grand promises of transforming urban transportation through a network of underground tunnels.

The reality has been more modest. Its most prominent project — a tunnel beneath the Las Vegas Convention Centre — has drawn mixed reviews, with critics noting it amounts to a narrow underground road for Tesla cars rather than the revolutionary transit system Musk once envisioned. — AFP

LIUZHOU (China), May 20 — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL), conducted at Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College (LRVTC), is helping Malaysia develop a skilled workforce for the rail industry.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said students under the year-long operations and maintenance (O&M) programme are being exposed to China’s advanced rail expertise and technical capabilities.

“We also hope this programme can continue in the long term because once the ECRL project begins operations, there will always be a need for continuous training and the recruitment of new workers over time,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural PLKI-ECRL O&M graduation ceremony here on Tuesday.

Loke also encouraged Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Malaysia to collaborate with LRVTC to help produce more skilled talent for the railway sector.

“Once they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, they will be highly sought after not only by rail operators in Malaysia, but also internationally, as rail systems exist all over the world,” he said.

The ceremony, held at a hotel here on Tuesday, saw 66 trainees successfully complete the programme.

First PLKI-ECRL cohort completes training in China

They are part of 259 Malaysian trainees under the PLKI-ECRL programme currently undergoing various skills courses at LRVTC.

The trainees comprise 57 assistant station officers, 50 signalling technicians, 41 overhead line technicians, 19 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) maintenance technicians, 41 locomotive and wagon maintenance technicians, and 51 assistant train driver trainees.

The PLKI-ECRL programme is jointly managed by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction ECRL Sdn Bhd.

PLKI-ECRL graduates ready for service

One of the graduates, Nur Shafika Diana Mohd Subky, 22, said the training posed unique challenges, particularly in handling technical equipment and rail signalling systems.

She said some assignments required physical strength as well as precision when operating switch machines and signalling control systems.

Despite the challenges, she described the programme as an excellent platform for young people to secure employment opportunities in the rail industry after graduation.

“This programme is good because once we complete our studies, we can immediately start working with them,” she said.

Another graduate, Adam Faris Sufian, 22, said that although they initially faced difficulties due to Mandarin being the medium of instruction, they remained committed to the training with support from instructors and Mandarin language classes.

“I am also proud because we are the first group sent here. I hope to contribute, even in a small way, to the country through the skills that I have acquired,” he said.

Railway Safety Warning Show Education lecturer Wu Yonggui said Malaysian students initially appeared shy upon arrival but gradually became more active and engaged during learning sessions.

“Between graduation and the start of their actual careers, they may require additional standardised training from the ECRL side.

“However, at this stage, graduates who have completed their studies are already qualified to serve as ECRL assistant station officers and are expected to demonstrate even better performance,” he said.

The PLKI-ECRL O&M programme is implemented through collaboration with Malaysian education and training institutions to source suitable trainees, particularly final-year diploma students and fresh graduates.

Training combines theoretical and technical classroom learning, hands-on practical sessions, workshop exposure and railway operational training.

LRVTC is a specialised vocational institution in Liuzhou, Guangxi, focusing on railway and transport-related education.

Liuzhou is about 255km from Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. — Bernama

LIUZHOU (China), May 20 — A total of 66 Malaysian trainees graduated from Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College (LRVTC) on Tuesday, as part of the Batch 1 East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL) for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Training.

The PLKI-ECRL programme is owned by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction ECRL Sdn Bhd.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the graduates will be absorbed into the ECRL workforce, marking an important transition from trainees to professionals in Malaysia’s railway industry.

He said the programme is part of a greater national effort, in which there are currently 259 Malaysian students undergoing training in Liuzhou, all dedicated to preparing for the O&M phase of the ECRL project.

“This reflects the government’s strong commitment to developing local expertise, ensuring that Malaysians are not just participants, but leaders in managing and operating our national rail infrastructure,” he said at the graduation ceremony of Batch 1 PLKI-ECRL O&M training programme. 

Meanwhile, MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the graduates will carry the responsibility of operating the ECRL safely, efficiently, reliably, and sustainably for the benefit of the rakyat and future generations.

“You (the graduates) are the pioneer workforce of the ECRL operation. You should be proud of the role you will play in shaping the future of Malaysia’s railway industry.

“The knowledge, technical skills, discipline, and valuable experience that you have gained here in China must be brought back to Malaysia and translated into excellence in your daily work,” he said. 

On the ECRL, Darwis said the project is progressing steadily, having achieved significant milestones across engineering, construction and system development, with overall progress reaching 93.66 per cent to date.

“The project is targeted to commence testing and commissioning activities in July 2026, marking another major milestone towards operational readiness,” he said. 

The ECRL project is slated to commence commercial operations in January 2027.

The PLKI-ECRL O&M programme is implemented through collaboration with various Malaysian education and training institutions to source suitable trainees, particularly diploma final year students and fresh graduates.

The training is conducted through a combination of theoretical and technical classroom learning, hands-on practical sessions, workshop exposure, and railway operational training. 

LRVTC is a specialised vocational institution in Liuzhou, Guangxi, that focuses mainly on railway and transport-related education.

Liuzhou is about 255km from Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. — Bernama

GUA MUSANG, May 20 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has proposed the construction of new telecommunications towers in Felda Chiku 2 under the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) to improve internet coverage and enhance service stability and quality.

In a statement today, MCMC said the initiative was aimed at addressing residents' complaints over weak and inconsistent internet connectivity in the area.

It said that although basic internet infrastructure is available, monitoring found several locations to be blind spots requiring improvements in both coverage and service quality.

“Accordingly, MCMC has conducted telecommunications service quality tests at three locations identified by complainants to assess the actual coverage performance,” it said.

MCMC said the test results are being analysed in detail to determine the most appropriate follow-up measures to ensure a better user experience.

It added that the commission is also considering the installation of Starlink satellite internet devices as a temporary solution at locations to be identified later.

Meanwhile, Belia Felda Chiku 2 chairman Muhammad Zaidatul Azizi Mohd Zaidatul Azman said residents had been facing unstable internet coverage for the past three years.

He said about 200 households were forced to travel about one kilometre from their homes to obtain a stronger signal.

“Among the areas most affected are those around the mosque up to Gua Chiku 2. This has made it difficult for youths to carry out digital activities, including online learning and other daily tasks,” he said. — Bernama