PETALING JAYA: The European Union’s (EU) import ban on palm oil and other commodities will not affect Malaysia, said Heriot-Watt University professor and palm oil industry researcher Dr Denny K.S. Ng. Malaysia’s main export countries are India and China, and the EU as a bloc imports much lower amounts of Malaysian palm oil. “The issue that the EU is championing is related to the sustainability of our oil palm plantations and whether the Malaysian government allows the country’s tropical forests and natural habitats to be cleared to make way for profitable oil palm plantations,” he told theSun. Ng said the EU reached an agreement on Dec 6 last year to ban the import of palm oil products, which have been identified as “drivers of deforestation” if they come from deforested land after Dec 31, 2020. Reacting to the move, Deputy Prime Minister and Commodities Minister Fadillah Yusof said it will affect free and fair trade, and adversely impact the global supply chain. “The Deforestation-Free Products Regulation is a deliberate act by Europe to block market access, hurt small farmers and protect a domestic oilseeds market that is inefficient and cannot compete with the cost of palm oil,” he said. Ng said Malaysian palm oil industry players complied with international standards to meet global demands and concerns over sustainably produced palm oil. “Some people claim that the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme is only applicable to major palm oil industries, while the smaller ones escape such controls. “This is not true as all oil palm plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm oil processing facilities must adhere to the scheme issued by the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council. “The MSPO scheme allows for oil palm management certification and supply chain certification which address issues related to climate change, deforestation, conservation of habitats and biodiversities, employment and work conditions, and child and forced labour.” Ng said palm oil is a valuable industry as it is used in various household items, adding that for every fresh fruit bunch, two types of oils can be extracted – crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO). “CPO that is initially bright orange will go through a refining process and discolouration. It is used extensively in the food industry in the form of vegetable fat and is a common ingredient in biscuits, breads, milky beverages and margarine. It is also a plant-based substitute for animal fats such as butter and lard.” He said to keep the texture of bread spreads smooth and creamy, most store-bought products contain CPO. Ng also said the incorporation of CPO in on-shelf goods like peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut spreads will keep them from liquifying even at room temperature. “CPKO, on the other hand, is commonly used in cleaning products such as detergents, soaps and shampoos, as well as in cosmetics.” Ng added that palm oil is used more commonly than any other types of oils as it is cheap. “Goods that use palm oil as the source of fats can produce a higher volume of products in comparison with any other oils used in the same amount. It is also the only plant-based fat that is not genetically modified.” Malaysian Palm Oil Board data showed that last year, Malaysia exported 15.72 million metric tonnes (MT) of palm oil for a total revenue of RM135 billion. Nine major import countries bought 9,809,271MT of palm oil products, which constituted 62.4% of the country’s palm oil exports. oEU palm oil ban will not impact M’sia as the bloc imports relatively low amount of commodity: Expert █ BYARINA MUSTHAFA [emailprotected] TELLING IT AS IT IS ON THURSDAY JANUARY 26, 2023 No. 8195 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my FLYING AID ... Orang Asli children watch as a Fire and Rescue Department helicopter ferrying food and medical supplies from the Kelantan government prepares to land in a field at Pos Gob in Gua Musang, which has been cut off by floods. – BERNAMAPIC Meanwhile, EU countries in total only imported 1,329,352MT of the country’s palm oil exports. The top nine import countries of Malaysian palm oil last year were India (2,898,770MT), China (1,763,640MT), Turkiye (824,771MT), the Netherlands (815,746MT), Kenya (763,060MT), the Philippines (638,718MT), Pakistan (569,961MT), Japan (564,082MT), Saudi Arabia (511,754MT) and Iran (458,770MT). Shaken, not stirred INSIDE 5G with added features by end-March 2 page Concern over palm oil waste 3 page
2 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Announcement on 5G with added features soon oDigital Nasional Bhd weighing options to ensure roll-out attains 80% success by 2025, says minister KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Digital Ministry is expected to announce the introduction and implementation of 5G with added features by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) by the end of March. Its minister Fahmi Fadzil said DNB is studying and evaluating available options to ensure that the implementation would not only achieve an 80% success but also be carried out throughout the country. “We want to ensure that there will be no negative effects on the nation’s finances, and we hope that by 2025, there will be at least 80% coverage in populated areas.” He was speaking on the topic of “Enhancing Digital”, on the Ruang Bicara programme, broadcast by Bernama TV via channel 502 on Tuesday night. Fahmi said the implementation of 5G is to assist companies and factories gain efficient and fast communication services to help improve productivity as well as offer efficient services to the public. Anwar granted audience with Brunei Sultan BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is on a two-day official visit to Brunei, was granted an audience with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday. The Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha was in attendance. Anwar, accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, arrived at the palace at 11.05am. Present were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin and the Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Datuk Raja Reza Raja Zaib Shah. Anwar also held a four-eye meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The prime minister and the Sultan of Brunei witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the Brunei Investment Agency. The Malaysian delegation was then feted to a luncheon hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Anwar arrived here on Tuesday and was accorded an official welcoming ceremony. This is his second official visit abroad after being appointed as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. – Bernama ‘Foreign workers’ living quarters should not be like cattle pens’ KLANG: The Human Resources Ministry has issued a warning to employers nationwide to ensure that foreign workers’ accommodation is comfortable and not akin to buffalo or cattle pens. Its minister V. Sivakumar said accommodation for foreign workers that do not comply with stipulated conditions will endanger them, particularly in the event of a pandemic or disasters. “We must treat them better. We are also being watched, not only by the people (of this country) but also at the international level.” He was speaking after a special operation to ensure that Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) is being adhered to, at three wood and rubber products factories in Jalan Kapar yesterday, Bernama reported. Sivakumar said it had been found that offences committed by the employers included cramped rooms, failure to provide mattresses and adequate cooking space. Human Resources Deputy Minister Mustapha Sakmud and deputy secretary-general A. Maniam also took part in the operation. Sivakumar said the owners of the factories would be charged as soon as investigation papers are ready. “The inspection revealed that these employers committed a number of offences, including those under Section 24D of Act 446, and under Regulations 3 and 4 of the same law. Sivakumar being briefed during the operation yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Personal Data Protection Department into a statutory department to carry out its functions more efficiently. He said it would be an important department to serve more effectively regarding issues of personal data leakage. “For example, if I issue a cash cheque, the bank will call for confirmation. That is the process. The same should apply for personal data security, and the government agency dealing with personal data must automatically inform about the leakage of personal data. This aspect is being studied.” On the problem of scammers, Fahmi said existing laws need to be enhanced and the matter currently falls under the purview of at least four ministries, Bernama reported. He added that the ministry would, in addition to improving current laws, aim to upgrade the CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) agency to a Malaysian Cyber Security Commission. “CSM has expertise in cyber security and its services have been regarded as the best in the Asia Pacific region for digital forensics. “We must work on forming a commission so that CSM can be given the powers to carry out investigations and enforcement.” Territorial Army must be ready for deployment: Perlis Raja Muda KANGAR: The Raja Muda of Perlis Brig-Jen Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail has decreed that officers and members of the 504 Regiment of the Territorial Army be placed on standby, so that they can be deployed whenever needed. He also decreed that each Territorial Army Regiment officer and volunteer must have skills comparable with those of regular troops, to ensure that the concept of augmentation could be implemented. “This can be realised with an increase in (the number of Territorial Army members) undergoing military training with the regular army,” said Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also the 504 Regiment’s commander. On Tuesday, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin granted an audience to the regiment’s deputy commander Lt-Kol Lasahi Laiji, to discuss its direction and plans for this year. Meanwhile, Lasahi urged young people in Perlis to attend the recruitment and selection process of the regiment, to be held at Bukit Keteri Camp from Jan 30 to Feb 3. He added that greater participation of youth in the Territorial Army would enable them to act as frontliners to help the country face any threats. – Bernama PAS to hold talks with PH on state polls KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS will hold a meeting with the menteris besar and chief minister in three PH-led states to discuss the possibility of holding simultaneous state elections. PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the meeting would be held next week with Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He said despite an informal meeting late last year, no decision was made on a suitable date for simultaneous state elections in six states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang. However, Ahmad Samsuri, who is also Terengganu menteri besar, expressed hope that state polls could be held simultaneously. – Bernama “I have seen how 5G is being used by local governments to assist traffic management, since data reaches centres that manage the administration of traffic lights more efficiently. We can also monitor the condition of an entire city in real time.” He said that 5G offers added benefits, especially to factories and oil rigs, to communicate faster and more efficiently, send large volumes of data, enable machine learning as well as utilise Internet of Things and facilitate Industrial Revolution 4.0. On the issue of personal data security and online scams, Fahmi said the ministry aspires to turn the “They were also found to have committed an offence under a law enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Department. In addition, they did not make Socso contributions.” He said the errant factories had 526 foreign workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. On amendments to the existing law, Sivakumar said the current legislation is sufficient. “We will monitor more frequently from now to ensure that foreign workers get good placements and are given due attention by employers.”
3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 Govt urged to address umrah price hikes KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to hold discussions with industry players to find ways to reduce the price of umrah packages, that are said to be increasing. Omrah Travel Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datuk Ahmad Tajuddin Idris AlManhaji said the discussion is to identify the factors causing the increase in price and how to reduce them. “The government, through the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, may hold a meeting with travel agency associations to discuss the increase and what can the government do to help, so the public would not put the blame on travel agencies. “I think the government could provide subsidies for those who use government owned hotels there to reduce the price,” he said on the Apa Khabar Malaysia programme titled “Hike in 2023 Haj and Umrah Travel Costs” on Bernama TV. He added that there are three factors influencing the price increase, namely the lower exchange rate of the ringgit, high demand and efforts to revive business by industry players. “It is true that there has been an increase in the price to perform umrah after two years of Muslims all over the world not being able to do so, causing demand to be higher than supply, with lack of flights and perhaps not enough hotels since many hotels there are being renovated.” Ahmad Tajuddin said the last minute price change burdens prospective umrah pilgrims because there is no agreement between local agencies and service providers in the holy land. Meanwhile, a representative of Saudi Arabia’s Enabat Al-Manasek company in Malaysia, Ustaz Ahmad Fazrin Yahaya, who was also a guest on the programme, said the issue affects pilgrims all over the world. – Bernama Chicken supply unaffected by bird flu outbreak ALOR STAR: The supply of chicken would be unaffected by the bird flu outbreak in the United States and Europe, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu. He said although there were no cases reported in the country, the ministry is constantly monitoring the situation. “The supply of chicken in the country is stable, and we hope that this would continue in the future,” he said after visiting a chicken breeding, processing and distribution company yesterday. Mohamad was responding when asked if chicken supply in the country would be affected due to the outbreak in several countries, which resulted in the culling of tens of thousands of chickens to curb the spread of the virus. He also said the supply of chicken and eggs in the country is beginning to recover and would take some time to stabilise as it involves the rearing of animals. On targeted subsidies for chicken breeders, Mohamad said the matter is being discussed with several other ministries, including the Finance Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. “We are in the final stage of reviewing the matter and it is expected to be announced soon,” he said. – Bernama Water cuts in parts of Negeri Sembilan SEREMBAN: Several areas in Seremban and Kuala Pilah will have water supply disruptions for 48 hours, from 8am on Jan 31 to 8am on Feb 2, due to pipe connecting and maintenance works. Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn Bhd said the areas which will experience disruption include Seremban city, Ampangan, Senawang, Paroi, Rasah Jaya, Senawang industrial area, Taman Tuanku Ja’afar, Seremban Selatan, Seremban Jaya, Jalan Ampangan-Kuala Pilah and its surrounding areas. Other areas affected include Seremban 2 and 3, Mambau, Temiang, Templer, Bukit Kepayang, Oakland, Jalan Labu Batu 1 to Batu 13, Seremban R&R northbound and southbound, Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, Columbia Hospital, KPJ Hospital, Mawar Hospital and the NSCMH Dialysis Centre. Meanwhile in Kuala Pilah, the affected areas include Pekan Senaling, Kampung Maasop, Taman Pilah Senaling, Kampung Batang Pilah, Kampung Sri Pilah, Kampung Ulu Pilah, Kampung Sikai, Kampung Gunung Pasir and Kampung Ulu Senaling. Also involved are the Kuala Pilah Matriculation College, Taman Bahagia Delima, Taman Bukit Intan, Taman Selasih, Kampung Batu 46, Sekolah Zaaba, Sekolah Tunku Kursiah, Taman Pendita, Kampung Bukit Temensu and Kampung Sungai Layang. – Bernama Malaysia Autoshow to be held in May KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Autoshow 2023 will be held from May 4 to 7 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show is curated to maximise potential for both industry players and consumers, by developing market awareness on future mobility products and services to spur a more technology conscious consumer market. Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute chairman Datuk Phang Ah Tong said the event is a testament to the growing variety of options available to consumers and a catalyst for the advancement of electric vehicle (EV) development in Malaysia. “This aligns with the government’s efforts to support and facilitate the local and international industry players in the development of EVs”, he said. – Bernama Concern over palm oil waste KUALA LUMPUR: It is one thing to be a leading producer of palm oil but it is quite another if waste from the process is not managed sustainably, which can be detrimental to the environment. Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world, after Indonesia, and its palm oil exports are expected to increase by 3.7% to 16.3 million tonnes this year due to higher demand from importing countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Bangladesh and Egypt. In terms of waste generated, the palm oil industry accounts for 85% of the 96 million tonnes of biomass waste created by the agriculture sector every year. Experts are concerned about the figures as oil palm biomass can have a negative impact on the environment if they are left to decompose in landfills. To address this issue, a team of researchers from Universiti Malaya, led by lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Shaifulazuar Rozali from the department of mechanical engineering is currently carrying out a study to seek cost effective ways of converting such waste into value added carbon based materials that can be used for various applications, Bernama reported. The waste comprises palm kernel shells, fruit bunches and oil palm fronds. “Through our research, we found that waste such as empty fruit bunches and palm fronds or those that have decomposed into biomass can be converted into high oSector produces 85% of annual biomass volume that needs to be managed sustainably value carbon that possesses the characteristics of activated carbon as well as nanocarbon, which are more environmentally friendly,” he said. According to Shaifulazuar, among the materials that can be produced from oil palm waste are activated carbon, biochar, graphene, carbon nanotube, carbon fibre, magnetic nanocarbon and carbon nanospheres, that are used in the production of various goods such as batteries, transistors, sensors, water and air filters, optical communication materials and aerospace components. He also said carbon based products have in recent times gained a place in the global market as it is one of the basic materials used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. “For instance, a report in marketsandmarkets.com showed that the demand for carbon nanotubes was worth US$876 million (RM3.75 billion) in 2021 and the value is expected to escalate to US$1.7 billion before 2026. However, one of the drawbacks is the high cost of extracting carbon from biomass. “The production cost of each kilogramme of nanocarbon can reach RM5,000. This can curb the demand,” he said. Shaifulazuar added that although Malaysia is a producer of activated carbon, the quantity produced is small compared to the size of the global market and its production of nanocarbon is only at the laboratory scale. MONSOON BOUNTY ... A Johor resident setting up nets yesterday to catch fish brought in by floods that hit Kampung Perpat in Tanjung Sedili after a spell of heavy rain over the past week. – BERNAMAPIC
4 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME PETALING JAYA: Imagine being 12 years old and having to help the family by busking. School pupil Irfan Daniel Dahlan sings with a band that includes his father Dahlan Rosan, 47, near an eatery at Uptown Queensbay, a mall in Bayan Lepas, Penang. The band performs from 8pm to midnight almost every night, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dahlan said he did not realise that Irfan Daniel picked up singing by watching him play (at home). “He would sing in the car each time I fetched him from kindergarten,” Dahlan told theSun. “Irfan Daniel first performed with the band when he was six, singing a Malay song at a shopping mall in Alor Setar, Kedah,” he added. Irfan Daniel went on to compete in several singing competitions, which included an inter-school contest in 2020, where he sang a patriotic song. He beat participants from 20 other schools to become the champion. He followed his father to sing at weddings or set up the sound system. He could sing up to 15 songs upon requests from the audience and even earned RM450 once from a gig. To remember a song, Irfan Daniel would listen to it on YouTube and practise singing it for two days. He would also perform Javanese songs that were requested by the audience by reading the lyrics on his father’s mobile phone. Dahlan said on school days, his son would rest before preparing for his evening gig with the band. “He needs to get enough sleep to perform, otherwise he will be too tired,” Dahlan said, adding that as a band, they could earn between RM1,200 and RM1,600 a month. “It’s not a lot. At times, we don’t get paid at all as buskers. When it rains not many people would watch us perform,” he said. Irfan Daniel’s venture as a performer is fully supported by his mother, who works as a promoter at a shopping mall. The young busker said it is tough balancing between a gig and school. “But I like to help my family. I decided to follow in my father’s footsteps,” he said, adding that he wants to pursue a singing career. “I want to know about the business and be a singer. I want to help my family as much as I can,” he said. Dahlan travelled to Penang from his hometown in Tawau, Sabah 20 years ago to seek a better life. He then landed a job as a technician in a factory, earning RM1,600 a month. In 2006, he married a local woman and has five children, with Irfan Daniel being the third child. Coming from a line of musicians, Dahlan played the bass guitar in a four-piece band, often trying their luck in several spots that included Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport. He could earned about RM100 a night. However, just as he thought life was looking brighter, he was hit with bad luck when the company terminated his services as part of a layoff exercise. This happened just when he first started busking. “I then decided to use my skills at playing the guitar,” said Dahlan. Award for Malacca Spanish restaurant KUALA LUMPUR: A local Spanish restaurant, Salud Tapas near Jonker Street, Malacca, was recently given international recognition when it received the “Restaurant from Spain” award certified by the Spanish government. The Embassy of Spain in Malaysia economic and commercial counsellor Ines PerezDurantez presented the certificate to restaurant manager Maria Marcos. Also present were the Embassy of Spain in Malaysia charge d’affaires Santiago Lozano and Malacca Tourism, Heritage and Cultural executive council member Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis. The award is an acknowledgment of the restaurant’s quality service and the hard and consistent work maintained in the last seven years. A statement by the Embassy of Spain in Malaysia economic and commercial office quoted Lozano as saying that Salud Tapas is the first Spanish restaurant in Malaysia outside of Kuala Lumpur to be honoured with the universal recognition. “The award distinguishes those establishments outside Spain, which offer their diners authentic high-quality Spanish cuisine, with unique and different image and flavours. “This special event will contribute to reinforce the already strong ties between Malaysia and Spain, as both cultures are profoundly fond of their culinary history. “Deciding what is ‘an authentic quality Spanish cuisine’ instead of what ‘sounds or seems Spanish’ requires a strict process that begins with the submission of applications by interested restaurants, assessments, inspections and a technical evaluation by the certifying committee in Spain,” he said. Perez-Durantez said the process follows a strict certification procedure based on technical criteria – applying the principles of objectivity, verification, practicality and transparency. She added that the initiative, that started in 2020 with four countries, now has over 200 restaurants certified around the world and five of them are in Malaysia, with four in Kuala Lumpur. – Bernama Young busker lends voice to ease family burden oTwelve-year-old joins father in band to sing at gigs and public places, wants to follow in dad’s footsteps Entrepreneur plans to expand appeal of batik KUALA LUMPUR: Designer Dayang Nur Syafiqah M. Roslan believes that batik should not be limited to formal wear or sarong worn at home. Dayang Nur Syafiqah, 27, creates unique accessories such as earrings, bracelets, and hair pins using batik motifs that cater to the taste of young people. A diploma in textile and fashion design graduate from the Malaysia Institute of Arts, Dayang Nur Syafiqah said she was inspired to create handmade accessories when she realised they were more popular than bundled garments she sold at a car boot sale in 2019. “At the time, I was selling accessories on the side. I did not realise they were in demand as they were the first to be sold out,” said Dayang Nur Syafiqah, who now runs an online business under the label “Oh Dayang”. Her creations have not only attracted those aged between 18 and 35, but are also getting the attention from customers abroad, including the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Dayang Nur Syafiqah said she takes between 10 minutes and two days to complete an accessory, which includes different processes such as cutting (carving) and patching. She added that the accessories, which are sold from RM30 to RM65, are made according to availability. She often participates in bazaar sales to introduce the brand to the public. “I do not limit the type of batik used, as they all have their own characteristics, but I usually use Malaysian batik, especially from Terengganu,” said Dayang Nur Syafiqah, who can make up to 50 accessories a month on average. Dayang Nur Syafiqah, who works full time in an e-commerce company, said the hobby not only provides her with extra income, but also allows her to use her knowledge and express her interest in art. – Bernama Govt to educate public on smoking risks KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will continue to work with the Education Ministry, the Higher Education Ministry, public and private universities and non-governmental organisations to ensure that issues related to the dangers of smoking are widely disseminated to the community. Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in a statement yesterday, said the Health Ministry is concerned that electronic cigarettes or vape products were being sold in front of a school, as shown in an online video recently. She said the ministry is also aware of widespread promotional activities, advertising and sales of electronic cigarettes or vape products that resemble children’s games such as the “Tiger Pod”. – Bernama █ BY ELLY FAZANIZA [emailprotected] Petrol, diesel prices unchanged: Ministry KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol, and diesel, will remain unchanged for the period from today to Feb 1. The Finance Ministry in a statement yesterday said RON97 remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 at RM2.05 and diesel at RM2.15. “To protect consumers from the effects of a rise in global oil prices, the government has maintained RON95 petrol at the ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre, and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, although the retail prices of the two products have increased beyond the current ceiling price.” The statement said the weekly retail prices were set based on the automatic pricing mechanism formula. “The government will continue to monitor the trends of global crude oil prices, and take appropriate measures to ensure the continued well-being of the people,” it added. – Bernama Irfan Daniel and Dahlan performing at Uptown Queensbay in Penang. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 Johor flood evacuee numbers up, Batu Pahat latest district hit JOHOR BARU: The flood situation in the state has worsened, with the number of evacuees rising to 3,967 as of noon, compared with 3,612 yesterday morning. The state disaster management committee said six more temporary relief centres have been opened, bringing the total number of such centres to 41 in five districts. “Segamat is the worst affected district, with 1,417 evacuees from 399 families moved to 16 relief centres, followed by Kluang with 1,191 evacuees from 341 families at 11 relief centres.” In Kota Tinggi, 568 evacuees from 138 families were seeking shelter at six relief centres while in Mersing, 640 evacuees from 194 families were being housed at four relief centres. In Batu Pahat, 151 evacuees from 32 families were placed at two relief centres, while two more centres were opened in Muar in preparation for possible floods. Three rivers in Johor have passed the danger level, they are Sungai Muar, the river mouth of Sungai Gemas, which has recorded a water level of 19.13m, Sungai Segamat, which is at the 37.55m level and Sungai Kahang near Kampung Contoh, which is at 15.7m Meanwhile in Sabah, Pitas and Kota Marudu were the latest flood hit districts, with 79 evacuees from 21 families moved to three temporary relief centres in Pitas and as of yesterday morning, rescue operations were still being carried out in Kota Marudu. A total of 87 evacuees from 20 families were sent to two relief centres in Paitan, bringing the number of evacuees in Sabah to 166 from 41 families yesterday morning, compared with 65 from 16 families reported on Tuesday night. The two relief centres in the Paitan district are Dewan Kampung Kubambangan, which has 38 evacuees from 10 families and Dewan Kampung Batangon Darat, which has 49 evacuees from 10 families. The three other temporary relief centres in Pitas are the Kampung Sinasak Batu village chief’s house, which has 18 evacuees from six families, Surau Kampung Sibuang, with 38 evacuees from nine families and Dewan Kampung Kusilad, which has 23 evacuees from six families. – Bernama Drug case: Court to decide on acquittal of radio host KUALA LUMPUR: The decision on whether radio presenter Ismahalil Hamzah will be called to enter his defence or acquitted on a charge of trafficking in cannabis two years ago will be decided on Feb 27 at the High Court. If the court’s decision is in favour of the prosecution, who hold that there is a prima facie case against Ismahalil, he will be called to enter his defence. Otherwise, he will be acquitted and discharged. Ismahalil’s counsel Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli confirmed the date of the decision yesterday and said Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin is scheduled to deliver it at the end of the prosecution’s case at 9am. “The trial took place on Oct 19, 20 and 31, 2022 and continued on Jan 3 and 9. A total of five prosecution witnesses testified.” Adi Zulkarnain said the court also fixed Feb 9 for the prosecution and defence to file written submissions. Ismahalil, 49, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking cannabis weighing 374.6g at a house on Jalan Semarak in Wangsa Maju at 5.35pm on Aug 27, 2021. He was charged under Section 39B(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act, which provides for the death penalty. – Bernama Public boost for charity work KUALA LUMPUR: A food truck operator at Pandan Perdana in Ampang has been getting lots of exposure lately, due to his charitable acts of handing out free meals to children and the elderly. Zakaria Awang Noh, who runs Kedai Yayar Nasi Campur, which sells mostly Malay dishes at a parking lot here, had initially made TikTok videos of himself distributing the free meals he had funded on his own, as a form of charity. However, after his videos gained popularity, he started to receive donations from friends and followers who wished to reach out to people in need of hot, healthy meals. The 32-year-old then started to hand out food packs, which consisted of meat and vegetable dishes, to children and the elderly. Zakaria, who hails from Jeli in Kelantan, said he chose to give the free meals to children and senior citizens due to his strong sense of filial piety. “When my parents were alive, I would send them money each month to pay bills and buy necessities. After I lost my parents in 2020 and 2022 due to old age, I started to give away food during lunch in the name of my parents. “Then, I posted some videos on Facebook and TikTok of me distributing lunch to the needy. Some videos gained traction and people started to give me money so that I could distribute even more free food.” As of Jan 24, his most-watched TikTok video, which was posted on August 2022, had been viewed more than 609,000 times and received 51,500 “likes”. The two-minute, nine-second video shows Zakaria giving four boys plain rice in a food wrapper and allowing them to pick whichever side dish they preferred. His food truck sells a wide variety Zakaria said he was prompted to provide free meals to children and senior citizens out of a strong sense of filial piety. – SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN oFood truck operator able to help more people with support of social media followers █ BYARINA MUSTHAFA [emailprotected] Two women charged with trafficking baby IPOH: Two women were charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with trafficking a baby girl in 2020. Noor Azlina Mohd Nasir, 41, a nurse, and housewife D. Murugamal, 52, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Judge Norashima Khalid. Noor Azlina, who is attached to a hospital in Alor Star, Kedah, and Murugamal, from Penang, were jointly charged with intending to traffic the nine-day-old infant, which is a form of illegal exploitation. The offence was allegedly committed at a car park near a private hospital in Manjung at about noon on June 18, 2020. DPP Evangelin Simon Silvaraj proposed bail at RM15,000 for each accused. Lawyer Mohd Firdaus Mohd Farouk, representing both accused, sought a lower bail for Noor Azlina, a mother of five, and Murugamal, who is unemployed and suffering from heart problems and diabetes. The court then set bail at RM10,000 in one surety for each accused and set Feb 24 for mention. – Bernama Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi closed after landslide JOHOR BARU: Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi heading towards Felda Ulu Tebrau has been closed to all vehicles following a landslide at Jalan Sungai Tiram-Ulu Tebrau in Kulai yesterday. The Kulai District Public Works Department said the Civil Defence Force and police and were monitoring the situation and would prepare a temporary traffic management plan. “Checks found that soil movement was still occurring and the road will be closed starting from Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi heading towards the Felda Ulu Tebrau intersection, up to the SWM waste disposal site.” The public is advised to use alternative routes. The alternative routes are Felda Ulu Tebrau-Jalan Seelong, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Senai, Jalan Federal Johor Baru-Air Hitam, Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi and Kota Tinggi. – Bernama of Malay dishes, between 25 and 30 types of fish, meat, chicken and vegetable dishes, along with two types of drinks from 11am to 5pm, Mondays to Saturdays. Another of his videos that gained a lot of attention was one of him giving RM300 to “Popo”, a Chinese senior citizen, for her to buy new clothes for her Lunar New Year celebration. In the video, he mentioned that the money was given to him by a TikTok follower. “My small-scale, personal charity project has become bigger due to the funds donated by people who have watched my videos. These kind people entrusted me with their money, I am just another channel for them to contribute to society. “It all started with a video I posted in mid-2022, featuring some neighbourhood children, who just finished prayers at a nearby mosque. From their stories, I learned that one of them lived in a nearby apartment with seven siblings.” Zakaria said the children often glanced at the freshly-cooked fried chicken he was selling but opted for cheaper dishes to go with their rice. So, he told them to take any of the dishes that they wanted and he said he would not charge them for it, as long as they promised not to waste the food. Besides giving away free lunches, Zakaria also distributed rice, cooking oil, flour, noodles, biscuits, eggs, sugar and pre-packed juice to his neighbours in Kelantan during the recent floods.
6 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME ‘India, Pakistan came close to nuclear war in 2019’ oUS intervention prevented escalation, says former CIA chief WASHINGTON: Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo wrote in a book published on Tuesday that India and Pakistan came close to nuclear war in 2019. “I do not think the world properly knows just how close the India-Pakistan rivalry came to spilling over into a nuclear conflagration in February 2019,” the likely future presidential contender wrote in Never Give an Inch, his memoir of his time as Donald Trump’s top diplomat and earlier CIA chief. India in February 2019 broke precedent by launching airstrikes inside Pakistani territory after blaming a militant group there for a suicide bombing that killed 41 Indian paramilitary soldiers in the flashpoint Kashmir region. Pakistan shot down an Indian warplane, capturing the pilot. Pompeo, who was in Hanoi for a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he was woken up with an urgent call from a senior Indian official. “He believed the Pakistanis had begun to prepare their nuclear weapons for a strike. India, he informed me, was contemplating its own escalation,” Pompeo wrote. Two killed in air crash, another plane missing MANILA: Two Philippine Air Force aviators were killed in a crash yesterday, while rescuers were searching for another plane that went missing the previous day with six people on board. During training, the military’s SF260 Marchetti plane plummeted onto a rice paddy in Pilar town near Manila, killing the pilot and another aviator, said Bataan province police chief Colonel Romell Velasco. “It’s a total wreck. The wings were separated. “No one could survive this,” he said, adding that the bodies have been recovered. An investigation to determine the cause of the “mishap” is under way, air force spokesman Colonel Consuelo Castillo told reporters. In June 2021, the military temporarily grounded its entire Black Hawk fleet after an S-70i helicopter crashed during a night-time training, killing all six on board. In a separate incident in the country’s mountainous north, a Cessna plane carrying a pilot and five passengers failed to arrive at a remote airstrip on Tuesday. The missing plane had taken off from Cauayan Airport on a route that would have taken it across the Sierra Madre mountain range, said Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Eric Apolonio. Air traffic controllers initiated a “communication search” after the plane did not respond half an hour after it was supposed to land, he said in a statement. The search and rescue operation was temporarily halted by poor weather yesterday. – AFP Eight missing after cargo ship sinks off Japanese coast TOKYO: Japan and South Korea coast guards were searching yesterday for eight crew from a cargo ship that sank between the two countries, after 14 others were rescued. “A total of 14 have been rescued,” a spokesman for the Japanese coast guard said. “We don’t know their condition and nationalities yet,” he added, declining to be named. He said six of the crew had been rescued by South Korea’s coast guard, which was assisting the operation. Eleven of those rescued so far were “unconscious”, the Jeju Coast Guard said. The Jin Tian sent a distress signal late on Tuesday evening from a position around 110km west of the remote and uninhabited Danjo islands in far southwestern Japan. Three private ships were in the area and helped pick up several of the stranded crew members, Japan’s coast guard said. A Japanese coast guard plane and two ships were at the scene, with additional Japanese and South Korean vessels en route, officials from both countries said. The ship captain used a satellite phone to tell South Korean coast guard officials early yesterday that he and the crew would abandon the sinking vessel, the Jeju Coast Guard said. Contact with the crew was then lost. Japan’s government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed that the country’s coast guard was cooperating with South Korean authorities in the rescue mission. The accident came as a cold snap hits much of Asia, with daytime temperatures in some of the Japanese islands nearest the rescue site reaching 3°C. The 6,651-ton Jin Tian is registered in Hong Kong, and the crew included 14 Chinese nationals and eight people from Myanmar, Japan’s coast guard said. – AFP B R I E F S HEAVY SNOW, RECORD COLD HIT JAPAN TOKYO: Tourists revelled in wintry scenes across Japan yesterday, as much of the country was blanketed by snow in a cold snap that has killed at least one person and disrupted travel. “These temperatures are some of the coldest we’ve seen in a decade,” said Japan Meteorological Agency official Takafumi Umeda. Record lows were logged in several locations, including one area of southern Kumamoto, where the mercury hit -9°C, the coldest logged there since 1977 when record-keeping began. Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said one person had died in the cold snap, while meteorologists warned of blizzards, high waves and traffic snarl-ups due to icy roads. – AFP IMRAN AIDE HELD FOR ELECTION CRITICISM ISLAMABAD: An aide to former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested yesterday for criticising election officials, the latest case brought against the opposition as it tries to force early polls. Fawad Chaudhry, who was information minister under Imran, was detained in a pre-dawn raid on his home in the eastern city of Lahore. He is accused of having “harassed and intimidated” election commission officials and their families in televised comments on Tuesday, according to a police report shared by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The charges also said he is being held under sedition legislation because he “tried to cause an impediment in the election process”. – AFP Japan Coast Guard personnel checking on a lifeboat from the cargo ship that sank yesterday. – AFPPIC/JAPAN COAST GUARD “I asked him to do nothing and give us a minute to sort things out.” Pompeo said US diplomats convinced both India and Pakistan that neither was preparing to go nuclear. “No other nation could have done what we did that night to avoid a horrible outcome. Pompeo, who wrote that Pakistan “probably enabled” the Kashmir attack, said he spoke to “the actual leader of Pakistan”, then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, in an allusion to the weakness of civilian governments. Pompeo at the time publicly defended India’s right to act. In his book, Pompeo spoke highly of India and made no secret of his desire to ally with the South Asian democracy “to counteract Chinese aggression”. India, followed by Pakistan, tested nuclear bombs in 1998, a watershed moment. Then-US president Bill Clinton later famously said that Kashmir, divided between the two nations, was “the most dangerous place in the world”. Pompeo writes extensively in the book of his diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, which included preparing three meetings between the young totalitarian leader and Trump. He recounted a chilling first conversation as he flew into Pyongyang in March 2018 on a clandestine trip as CIA director. “I didn’t think you’d show up. I know you’ve been trying to kill me,” Pompeo quotes Kim as telling him. “I decided to lean in with a little humor of my own: ‘Mr Chairman, I’m still trying (to) kill you.’” – AFP Pyongyang under lockdown over ‘respiratory illness’ SEOUL: North Korea has ordered a five-day lockdown in the capital over “respiratory illness”, a report said yesterday, in what appears to be the first citywide restrictions since the country declared victory over Covid-19 in August last year. Pyongyang residents have been ordered to stay in their homes from yesterday to Sunday and must submit to multiple temperature checks each day, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported, citing a government notice. The notice did not mention Covid but said the illnesses currently spreading in the capital included the common cold, the report said. The government order comes a day after NK News, citing sources in Pyongyang, reported that people in the city appeared to be stocking up on goods in anticipation of a lockdown. It is unclear if other areas have imposed similar lockdowns and state media has not announced any new measures. Experts suggested that North Korea’s largest city is likely dealing with the re-emergence of Covid. “Covid is disappearing and reappearing depending on the temperature, not just in North Korea but around the world,” said Asan Institute for Policy Studies researcher Go Myong-hyun. The Korean peninsula is currently in the grip of what weather forecasters have described as a Siberian cold snap, with temperatures in Pyongyang dropping as low as -22°C. “With the drop in temperature, Covid has re-emerged,” said Go. North Korea’s neighbour China recently abandoned its zero-Covid policies, and battled a wave of infections that overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums. North Korea has maintained a rigid blockade since the start of the pandemic, but does allow some trade with China. In May last year, North Korea officially acknowledged its first Covid outbreak but declared victory over the virus just three months later, calling it a “miracle”. – AFP
7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 Misinformation spawns ‘pure blood’ movement WASHINGTON: From vaccine sceptics blocking transfusions for life-saving surgeries to Facebook groups inciting violence against doctors and a global search for unvaccinated donors – Covid-19 misinformation has bred a so-called “pure blood” movement. The movement spins anti-vaccine narratives focused on unfounded claims that receiving blood from people inoculated against the coronavirus “contaminates” the body. Some have advocated for blood banks that draw from “pure” unvaccinated people, while medics in North America said they have fielded requests from people demanding transfusions from donors who have not received the jab. In closed social media groups, vaccine sceptics – who brand themselves as “pure bloods” – promote violence against doctors administering coronavirus jabs alongside false claims of mass deaths of vaccinated people. oAnti-vaxxers use social media to solicit sperm from unvaccinated men Taking the hysteria to the next level was the recent high-profile case of a New Zealand couple, who sought to block life-saving heart surgery for their infant on the grounds that any blood transfused could have come from a vaccinated donor. Their stance prompted a New Zealand court to take temporary custody of the baby to allow the procedure, but the case became a cause celebre among vaccine sceptics around the world. “Cases like this spread like wildfire on both fringe and mainstream news sites and then social media, providing attention for anti-vaccine conspiracy theories,” said Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. “There is absolutely no science behind these conspiracies. If you give blood from a vaccinated donor to an unvaccinated person, the person receiving the transfusion does not become vaccinated.” Swiss naturopath George Della Pietra founded Safe Blood Donation, a global mediation service that falsely labels mRNA coronavirus vaccines a “health threat” and seeks to connect unvaccinated blood donors with recipients. The Zurich-based nonprofit offers to obtain “fresh or canned” unvaccinated blood for its patrons, according to Safe Blood’s website, which said it has a presence across western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia and Africa. Safe Blood’s members are required to pay an initial joining fee of €50 (RM231), followed by €20 each subsequent year, according to its website. “The ‘safe blood’ movement is absolutely based 100% in anti-vaccine misinformation,” said Wallace. “As with all anti-vaccine misinformation, appealing to people’s fears is sadly profitable.” The demand to remain “pure” reaches beyond blood to social media posts soliciting sperm from unvaccinated men – conspiracy theorists speculate online that the precious commodity will be the “next Bitcoin” – as well as breast milk from unvaccinated mothers. These requests appear to stem from belief in the debunked claims that Covid vaccines can cause infertility or alter human DNA. Demand for “unvaccinated” blood is unclear, but experts said it would be a challenge to procure it in countries with high vaccination rates. – AFP Gunman ‘randomly’ kills three in US WASHINGTON: A gunman who killed three people, in what US police said was a random attack, telephoned his mother and then shot himself dead on Tuesday in the state of Washington. The dismaying episode came on the heels of two mass shootings in California that left 18 people dead as the United States grapples yet again with the horror of spiraling gun violence. Police in Yakima said a man they earlier named as 21-year-old local Jarid Haddock shot people in and around a convenience store before fleeing. Police officers launched an extensive manhunt throughout the city of 100,000 people, which sits 160km southeast of Seattle, warning that the wanted man was armed and dangerous. “It appears to be a random situation,” Yakima police chief Matthew Murray said on Tuesday morning. “There was no apparent conflict between the parties. “He just walked in and started shooting.” Hours later, police received a 911 emergency call from a woman who said the wanted man had borrowed her phone. “He then called his mother and he made several incriminating statements including ‘I killed those people’,” Murray told reporters. “He made several statements in front of her that he was then going to kill himself.” First responders raced to the scene near a supermarket, arriving in time to hear gunshots as he killed himself. The shooting in Yakima was the latest spasm of gun violence to shake the United States. On Monday, seven people died at two agricultural sites south of San Francisco when a Chinese American farmworker is believed to have opened fire on his colleagues. Some of his victims were also Chinese. On Saturday night, an elderly Asian man rampaged through a dance studio in Monterey Park near Los Angeles, killing 11 people who had gathered for Lunar New Year celebrations. Huu Can Tran shot himself dead several hours later as police moved in on his van. – AFP Residents attending a candlelight vigil for victims of the Monterey Park shooting. – AFPPIC Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand PM WELLINGTON: Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand prime minister in a formal ceremony yesterday, following the resignation of Jacinda Ardern last week. The Labour party elected the 44-year-old former Covid-19 response and police minister to lead the party and the country on Sunday. Ardern, 42, resigned last week, saying she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country. Hundreds gathered on the grounds of Parliament as Ardern left for the final time, hugging each of her lawmakers in turn, with many looking visibly emotional. Ardern then travelled to Government House, where she tendered her resignation to King Charles’ representative in New Zealand Governor General Cindy Kiro. Hipkins and his deputy Carmel Sepuloni – the first person of Pacific Islander descent to hold the role – were then sworn in, in a ceremony lasting a few minutes. Hours later, Hipkins met journalists after his first Cabinet meeting as prime minister. Bombarded with questions about the cost of living hours after fresh price data came in above analyst forecasts, Hipkins said he would make the issue central to his policy agenda. However, Hipkins pushed back against announcing new policies immediately, saying he would make haste but not create policy “on the fly”. “New Zealanders will absolutely see in the coming weeks and months that cost of living is right at the heart of our work programme. “It is the number one priority that we are facing as a government and they will see tangible evidence of that. “Obviously, I’m not going to make it up on the fly, as I’ve already indicated.” Hipkins said he would honour commitments already made for the current term of Parliament. Known as “Chippy”, Hipkins is well-known to New Zealanders for his competence in tackling Covid-19, although he acknowledged some mistakes in handling the pandemic and faces a tough battle to retain power in an October general election. A 1News-Kantar poll released last month had Labour’s support at 33% from 40% at the start of 2022, meaning the party would not be able to form a majority even with traditional coalition partner Green Party at 9%.– Reuters Hunter shot dead by dog WASHINGTON: A dog shot and killed a man in the United States over the weekend, police said, after the animal stepped on and accidentally discharged a gun left on the backseat of a pickup truck. The victim, who was sitting in the truck’s front passenger seat, was struck in the back as he and the pet were out on a hunting excursion on Saturday, according to police in the central US state of Kansas. “A canine belonging to the owner of the pickup stepped on the rifle, causing the weapon to discharge,” the Sumner County sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The fired round struck the passenger, who died of his injuries on scene. “The investigation is ongoing, but the preliminary investigation shows it to be a hunting related accident.” Officials did not say whether the 30-year-old man who died was the dog’s owner. – AFP B R I E F SPERU PRESIDENT SEEKS ‘TRUCE’ LIMA: Peru’s President Dina Boluarte called on Tuesday for a “national truce” to end weeks of nationwide unrest, while a major march in the capital calling for her resignation and fresh polls again resulted in violent clashes with police. Thousands of Peruvians from Andean regions, many in traditional dress, marched in central Lima. The march turned violent on Tuesday evening when protesters threw stones while police responded with tear gas. At a press conference, Boluarte called for “a national truce to allow for the establishment of dialogue”. – AFP CLASSIFIED FILES IN EX-VP’S HOME WASHINGTON: Former US vice-president Mike Pence revealed on Tuesday he had uncovered documents marked as classified at his home. Pence had his lawyer inform the National Archives last week of a “small number” of records that were “inadvertently boxed” and transported to his home in Indiana as he left office in 2021. He informed the Congress oversight committee about the cache on Tuesday, according to chairman James Comer. – AFP GERMANY TO SEND TANKS TO UKRAINE BERLIN: Germany announced plans yesterday to deliver heavy tanks to Ukraine’s military. Germany will send an initial company of 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its own stocks and approve shipments by allies who field them. Two US sources said Washington would also provide dozens of its Abrams M1 tanks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any US tanks sent to Ukraine would “burn like all the rest”. – Reuters
8 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 SPEAK UP Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ MANY catchy slogans have been rolled out under various prime ministers to steer well-meant policies. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob conceived the “Keluarga Malaysia” or “Malaysian Family” concept, which replaced Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s “Caring Malaysia” that was conceptualised in response to the Covid-19 prevention exercises that the government undertook under his leadership. Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s return as the seventh prime minister gave us “New Malaysia”, to remove any association with the previous government led by Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and his “One Malaysia” slogan. In this fine tradition, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Jan 19 unveiled a new slogan, “Malaysia Madani” or “Civil Malaysia”. Madani is the Malay acronym for sustainability, care and compassion, respect, innovation, prosperity and trust (Script). To dismiss flippant remarks by common netizens that this is just another public relation exercise, this vision document opens an empathetic connection to all readers. The introduction confesses that “there was mismanagement, corruption, cronyism and political battles, divisions and squabbling, which have torn aspects of national unity”. The document underscores the urgent but unattended issues such as Malay poverty, environmental degradation, community cohesion and nation building. “Malaysia Madani” invites all Malaysians to explore the possibility of realising this new vision. “Malaysia Madani” comprehensively outlines a plan to steer away from creating huge monuments and iconic buildings. It stays clear from esoteric and idealistic ideas but gravitates everyone to recreate the magic Malaysia was once recognised for. The most important aspect of any progress if it is to be sustained is to unleash a positive culture. Jim Collins in his book Built to Last provides evidence that an organisation which focuses on building a culture will outlast those that emphasise only on performance. This was based on research carried out on corporates that lasted more than 100 years. Anwar clearly states that there is a need to create a positive, healthy and holistic culture, and that the buck after passing from government to government stops with his leadership. The solid message is that this document clearly moves away from empty promises. “You deserve better than ‘just-wait-and-see’ or the faithless ‘trust us’ approach,” he said. Hence, a rescripting is necessary and the acronym Script captures the essence of building a strong and powerful culture that will give an important thrust in bringing back basic humaneness, while forging us ahead to address impending challenges. The Industry Revolution 4.0, 3D printing, Internet of Things and the highly sophisticated digitalisation, coupled with robotics has unleashed the creation of seamless platforms connecting everything to everyone. An inevitable hurricane of changes can be expected, for which Malaysia must be prepared to face. The “Malaysia Madani” solution, however, gives everyone the chance to avoid being swept away by the unavoidable, strong and sudden changes. Instead, by enacting ideals for improved policy changes, people will be given the opportunity to retain the deeply ingrained Malaysian culture of their respective “humanistic transformative selves”. This analogy is better understood if one imagines himself standing in the eye of a hurricane. In the midst of swirling changes, one must feel humaneness, compassion, care and respect that unites everyone, regardless of race and religion, in a shared sense of safety, security and stability. Anwar at various parts in the document notes that many things need changes, and this rescripting is necessary for a better Malaysia. The document highlights the ideals for a new wave, which is captured under the acronym Script. Every one of the values have been adequately defined and explained in the text. Sustainability, innovation and prosperity are drivers for any nation wanting to make a mark in the world. Often, attributes such as care, compassion and trust are compromised, resulting in unachievable goals. “Malaysia Madani” gives equal weightage to both components of culture and performance. Steven Covey said “begin with the end in mind”, and rightly so Script begins with the letter “S”, which stands for sustainability. Every initiative must have an end goal and be sustainable, moving away from the general attitude of quick, temporary fixes. The document highlights the fact that we are preparing to usher in the next generation. Living with selfish pursuits without care and compassion will cause great suffering for everyone. The mission is to rekindle a caring and compassionate society that not only helps the less fortunate, but also tends to the basic needs of others through adequate provisions of social welfare, affordable food, housing and healthcare. A caring community will support the weak and the marginalised through services and advocacy. The concept of a caring society will unite people from various socioeconomic backgrounds and revive the “caring society” way of life we once treasured. The next in Script is respect. The goal is to forge a mutually respectful Malaysian society dedicated to inclusion, equality, integrity and dignity. This will pave the way to a unified nation. Without innovation, we will be devoid of a good future. The aim is to build a culture of innovation, and take the nation from being primary consumers to being active contributors to the digital and technological revolutions that are changing the globe. The vision for prosperity is to make the nation affluent through a balanced and sustainable economic growth, empowerment and inclusivity of the citizenry, giving due regard for the spiritual and overall well-being of the people, communities and the nation. Script ends with Trust. To ensure security and stability, we need trust. The new government made of members from different component parties must trust one another in order to gain each other’s respect and trust from the public. The document spells out the intricate nature and attributes of the new government and the type of leadership every ministry must uphold to regain the trust of the people, who gave them the mandate. Apart from providing definitions, the document also lays out policy imperatives by taking into account the financial, economical, legal, institutional, educational, social, cultural as well as urban and rural factors. Most policy documents remain “stillborn” as they are usually impeded by unforeseen complex issues, often going through fluctuating, chaotic situations and uncontrollable future events. Incorporating these components in the document reveals the nobility of the intention, and that the concept has been thoroughly thought through. It is too early to judge this initiative but it is timely, and the government must ensure that there is a strong will to make this vision a reality. “Malaysia Madani” outlines everything the nation needs to steer our “ship” to safety, especially with the anticipated global economic upheaval. SCRIPT may be our only saviour to see us through. Prof Dr Suresh Govind FASc is an honorary professor at University of Malaya, chairman of the Board of Trustees for Yayasan Perpaduaan Malaysia, director of Sathya Sai Academy for Human Values and Coordinator for Friendship Group for Inter-religious Service. Comments: [emailprotected] Mutual respect is foundation of harmony PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s assurance that the nation’s Chinese or Indian minority communities, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, will not be marginalised by the government was reflected in his speech “Developing ‘Malaysia Madani’” featured in theSun on Jan 20. Madani involves six core values: Sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust and compassion. It is reasonable to say that respect is the precursor to trust and compassion. Hence, the government must ensure minority communities are not marginalised, especially in a country that is multiracial and multireligious. Mutual respect helps “build bridges” and create a more harmonious future for all Malaysians. Treating everyone with the same respect means treating them equally – economically and socially – including providing equitable access to employment, education and housing. Our Constitution highlights the importance of citizens practising tolerance, which provides the foundation for harmony and unity. Our different backgrounds, ethnicity and experiences are a huge asset in our pluralistic society, which can only bear fruit if we live in peace and work together. In a democracy, mutual respect helps reduce any friction that comes from differing political and religious views or racial background. Practising mutual respect also means leaders must promptly call out any extremities or hate speech. Strongly worded legislation is necessary. Practising mutual respect will help keep us united and enhance our economic and social progress. It will also help us manage the many challenges successfully. History teaches us that peace and harmony are based upon developing the qualities of respect, which enhances tolerance. We should take note of the Dalai Lama’s wise mantra that “mutual respect is the foundation of genuine harmony”. Sze Loong Steve Ngeow Kajang LETTERS [emailprotected] TEH TARIK BY DR SURESH GOVIND P8: NEW COLUMN: Green Inspiration LOGO with photo, By Pishu Murli Hassaram + QUOTE HEADLINE: Rescripting Malaysia for better days
9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 Be humane and protect all children MANY of us entered 2023 with a glimmer of hope, a feeling that the nation has turned a corner for the better. The hope comes from the election of a new government that we place our trust in to bring us back to a better place where every person in the country is respected and included. Over the past few decades, our nation has sunk further in terms of human rights, particularly in regards to the care and support of children. We cannot be considered a developed nation if we continue to deny all children the right to education as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Malaysia acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Feb 17, 1995. We have had nearly 30 years to fix key issues on children’s rights. It is critical for the government to reverse policies that are harmful to children. They need to implement institutional reforms now to protect the well-being of children. The following are areas that need to be reformed. No child should be denied education We have many children who are being denied basic education. A child without access to education is imprisoned in a lifetime poverty trap, which is a shame for a developing nation. All children, whether they are migrants, refugees, stateless, of a different nationality or disabled, must be given access to primary and secondary education. Yet, Malaysia’s “Zero Reject Policy” is only applicable to Malaysians. Institutional and policy reforms required: We need to introduce and implement a mandatory universal education access policy for all children, regardless of their status. Children should not be treated as adults The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years”. Yet, in the 30 years since Malaysia acceded to the convention, there remains many policies and laws that fail to acknowledge children’s rights. For example: 0The Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 (Act 350) defines a child as a person under 14 years of age, permitting those aged 15 and above to work, with some conditions. This definition, which is not consistent with the Child Act 2001, deprives Malaysia of a key means of protecting children from being exploited as child labour. 0Children aged 12 and above are admitted to adult wards and cared for by health professionals who are not trained to look after children. It is traumatic for children to be bedded next to ill adults. It is long overdue for the Health Ministry to recognise those aged 12 to 17 years as “children”, and provide age-appropriate patient services. 0Older children and adolescents are sometimes incarcerated in adult prisons and brought to court handcuffed, along with adult inmates. 0Migrant/refugee children are held in detention, often in sub-optimal conditions, with many separated from their parents. And the list goes on. Institutional and policy reforms required: 1. Harmonise all legislation and policies with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 2. Take requisite actions to ensure that ministries and government entities at all levels recognise the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Child Act 2001, and accord all children protection, support and services. 3. Remove all reservations on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 4(a) Place sick adolescents in age-appropriate, child-friendly health facilities, and under the care of those trained to meet their needs. (b) Establish adolescent wards in all hospitals and clinics, which are staffed by personnel trained in their care. Routine healthcare for migrants, refugees and stateless children There has been a longstanding neglect and lack of provision of routine, primary healthcare for migrants, refugees and stateless children. The basic rights to healthcare, as enshrined in the convention have yet to be upheld by Malaysia. These children do not receive routine primary immunisation, growth and developmental monitoring, and health advice/education. No family should have to pay for basic life-saving immunisation of a child. Provision of primary immunisation for migrants, refugees and stateless children protects not only them but Malaysian children as well via herd immunity. Pregnant women from these groups do not receive routine antenatal care and are known to deliver in extremely unsafe conditions, with adverse mother-child outcomes. The prospects are even worse for children in these groups who require hospitalisation or specialist attention. While admission is possible for life-threatening illnesses, guardians still have to pay high fees for hospitalisation, procedures and medication, putting specialised healthcare out of the reach of the majority. Those who are admitted are denied discharge until their bills are settled. Others are reported to the Immigration Department and transferred to detention facilities. How can we assert to have among the best health services in the world when we place so many barriers stopping vulnerable families from accessing basic healthcare for their children? Mortality rates among migrants, refugees and stateless children aged under five in Malaysia are 15 to 25 times that of the national rate, and are comparable to those in third world countries. Institutional and policy reforms required: 1. Enact legal provisions that guarantee all children living in Malaysia the right to healthcare, regardless of their legal status, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 24), and our Child Act 2001. 2. Remove prohibitive and expensive medical treatment fees/charges levied on children who are migrants, refugees or stateless. 3. Protect migrants, refugees and stateless children and their families from arrest and detention when they seek healthcare at hospitals and clinics. 4. Join as a signatory and ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Optional Protocol. 5. Join as a signatory and ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. No child should be stateless and left in poverty No child should be left without an identity. Many children, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, remain stateless with no access to healthcare, education or a meaningful future. Some of these children are born into families that have lived in Malaysia for generations but have no official documents. These children are not supported by government services and their poverty is not addressed as they are not recognised as Malaysians. Regardless of their origin, all children must be protected. Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.” Institutional and policy reform required: Make a concerted effort to end the statelessness of children in Malaysia and not allow it to persist. This article is not exhaustive in its scope. There are other areas that need attention for us to regain our humanity as a nation. Some areas have been neglected for a long time and require more concerted efforts. Taking a social determinants approach to supporting children’s well-being is an optimal way forward. It is important that Malaysia leaves no child behind. We need to give every child in our country the best possible start in life. We look to and trust this government to urgently institute reforms to protect, support and nourish all children in Malaysia. DatukDr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician, child-disability activist, Advisor, National Early Childhood Intervention Council, Yuenwah San, activist, care partner, and Honorary Senior Advisor (Disability Inclusion), Social Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Comments: [emailprotected] Many children, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, remain stateless with no access to healthcare, education or a meaningful future. – REUTERSPIC Clear vision needed to develop green economy THE Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue welcomes Malaysia and Singapore’s intention to sign a memorandum of cooperation on green economy. The Singapore government has shown commitment of greening the economy by involving various stakeholders, which can be constantly viewed on the CNA TV channel. Malaysia can learn from Singapore on how to get its citizens involved in greening the economy. “Green Economy” is described as an economy in which growth and environmental responsibility work together in a mutually reinforcing fashion, while supporting progress on social development. Businesses and industries have a crucial role in delivering economically viable products, processes, services and solutions required for the transition to a “Green Economy”. According to a study, “Green Economy” relies on three pillars i.e. economic, social and environmental for sustainable development to work. Stakeholders must make efforts to work together for short and medium-term profit, with longer-term systemic change. Growth is essential in providing the resources and social equity necessary to build capacity and finance actions in a transition towards a “Green Economy”. It is clear the greening of the economy cannot be divorced from social-economic equity since it is tied to sustainable development goals, which cannot be compared with neo-liberal economics that favour a trickle-down approach to wealth. Malaysia appears to be taking a gradual approach on the policy of greening the economy. There are no incentives for corporations and small and medium-sized industries to undertake a transition towards greening of the economy. The people, who are considered an important stakeholder in this transition, seems be unprepared since the real focus is on bread-and-butter issues. In a nutshell, we do not have a clear vision of what constitutes a transition towards a green economy. The greatest folly is the presumption that a green economy is an endeavour that will narrow business opportunities and job creation. Thus, it overlooks the value of long-term systemic change that will not only reduce carbon imprint, but also involve stakeholders, the government and the people in adhering to and achieving sustainable development goals. Systemic structural changes on how institutions work are necessary to reverse this presumption. For example, there is a need for decentralisation in decision-making on greening and social-economic well-being of the people. In order to navigate the challenges related towards the transition towards a “Green Economy”, the government should provide clarity on the vision and information on how it intends to move into a green and sustainable economy. Currently, much of the “Green Economy” points to its potential benefits and co-benefits of climate action. But all countries have different socioeconomic realities, which need to be carefully examined to understand what type of policy can bring benefits to Malaysia. We need hard data to show how climate action and shifting to a “Green Economy” will have overwhelming benefits for the environment, and promote economic growth that generates more jobs. We need to measure the environmental, social and economic implications of climate policies and investments. This involves looking at the data and asking questions like “will everyone benefit equally?”, “what would investment in hydropower plants or green infrastructure do?”, “would this create jobs only for skilled urban workers or would it also benefit women working in informal economies?”, “are the skills, labour and technology to build and run such projects domestically available?” By identifying the synergies and trade-offs between climate action and broader development priorities and needs, policymakers can enhance the positive impacts of recovery packages and drive systemic changes. This phase has already taken place in many developing countries. We can learn from country’s like Costa Rica and Columbia that have embarked on tropical carbon tax strategy, and how it has created an impact on its nation’s economy. Therefore, it is vital for our government to ask these questions and learn from references, and provide clarity to stakeholders with greater vigour as it signs the memorandum of understanding on “Green Economy” with Singapore. Ronald Benjamin, Secretary, Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue. Comments: [emailprotected] COMMENT By Ronald Benjamin COMMENT By Dr Amar-Singh
10 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 Research houses remain bullish on Mah Sing PETALING JAYA: MIDF Research, TA Securities and HLIB Research have maintained ‘buy’ calls for Mah Sing Group Bhd following its first land acquisition in 2023. Mah Sing is buying two parcels of land totalling 8.2 acres in Puchong, Selangor, for RM85.86 million from Millennium Acres Sdn Bhd to develop transit environment district (TED) projects with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM726 million. The group intends to develop one of the parcels into a residential project (M Terra) and the other into a mixed-use development (M Hana). MIDF Research said it maintains a ‘buy’ call on Mah Sing with a revised target price (TP) of RM0.75 due to its turnaround strategy of selling affordable homes in Klang Valley, which continue to see demand from home buyers. Two-storey terrace homes at M Senyum @ Salak Tinggi, one of Mah Sing’s M Series of properties. – MAH SING WEBSITE PIC oNo change to ‘buy’ calls, developer’s first land acquisition in 2023 viewed positively The research house is positive on the land acquisition as it allows Mah Sing to expand its M Series affordable range of products in Klang Valley. It said the land acquisition will have a limited impact on the balance sheet as Mah Sing’s net gearing, expected to only increase marginally to 0.28 times from 0.27 times as of Sept 2022. Meanwhile, TA Securities has a ‘buy’ call on Mah Sing with an unchanged TP of RM0.71 per share. It is positive about Mah Sing’s purchase of the land due to its strategic location and reasonable acquisition price. “The land cost makes up 11.8% of the total development value. The land cost to GDV ratio comes below the general rule of thumb of 20%. Additionally, the land comes with the benefit of a converted title for ‘Bangunan” which will expedite the development process,” it added. TA Securities said with an indicative selling price of RM453 per square foot onwards, M Terra is reasonably priced compared with most new launches in Puchong. The acquisition is part of the group’s focus to acquire prime land in strategic locations in greater Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor to expand its M Series. “The acquisition will increase the group’s landbank to 1,925 acres with a total remaining GDV of RM21.9 billion. The group is on track to meet its sales target of RM2 billion and has set its sales target for 2023 to a minimum of RM2.2 billion (9MFY22 launches: RM867 million; 9MFY22 sales: RM1.69 billion),” it said. In terms of funding, TA Securities believes Mah Sing’s balance sheet with net gearing of 0.27 times and a cash balance of R M 5 0 0 million as of Sept 2022 should provide f i n a n c i a l flexibility for the land acquisition and future land banking. HLIB Research also maintains a ‘buy’ call on Mah Sing with a target price of RM0.84 based on sum of the parts valuation. It is positive on the development due to the acquisition price with land cost-to-GDV of 11.8% and swift time to market as the tentative launch date will be in the second half of 2023 as well as affordable selling price of M Terra and its proximity to two LRT stations. HLIB Research is positive on the relaxing of conditions and speeding-up of foreign worker intake to expedite the unbilled sales which will bring positive contribution to its FY23 earnings. It said the group’s net gearing will increase from 27.1% as of Sept 30, 2022, to 29.5%. Meanwhile, the GDV will increase to RM21.85 billion from RM21.12 billion as of Sept 30, 2022. Overall, HLIB Research continues to like Mah Sing for its asset-light and agile business model which allows it to adapt and pivot its launching strategy to the changing sector dynamics. “The group should also continue to enjoy resilient demand given the growing middle class in the region with an affordable price range of below RM500,000 housing segment,” it said. Plenitude to launch Impian Hills Sales Gallery in Johor Baru KUALA LUMPUR: Plenitude Bhd is set to launch its Impian Hills Sales Gallery in Johor Baru and unveil the first phase of its Magnolia two-storey terrace homes. The highlight of the sales gallery opening is the Chinese New Year (CNY) Open House on Saturday and Sunday (Jan 28 and 29) from 10am to 5pm. Visitors can expect a host of exciting activities during the CNY Open House which will keep the family entertained. Impian Hills in Ulu Tiram is the latest freehold, low-density township by Plenitude Property. It is a 260-acre mixed-development township located just minutes away from the famed Taman Desa Tebrau. Impian Hills has been planned and designed for sustainable and harmonious community living and is easily accessible via SenaiDesaru Expressway, Pasir Gudang and Tebrau Highway. Magnolia is the first phase development in this new township, totalling 143 units of double-storey terrace houses. Prospective homeowners will have easy connectivity to a host of amenities such as hypermarkets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and others in this fast-growing suburb adjacent to Johor Baru. Activities lined up for the open house include a lion dance performance, walkabout by the God of Prosperity and entourage, yee sang tossing, ice cream giveaways and flower balloon DIY workshop. Visitors can also whet their appetites with sumptuous offerings from food trucks on both days. Plenitude is hosting a series of CNY open houses at several of its townships. Visitors can head to Ramlee @ Bukit Bintang, in Sg Petani, Kedah, tomorrow and to Taman Desa Tebrau in Johor (Feb 11 and 12) and Taman Putra Prima in Puchong, Selangor (Feb 11) to enjoy the open house. To enjoy substantial savings on home purchase, potential homebuyers are offered with Plenitude’s Home Sweet Home Campaign, which is going on until March 2023. The campaign covers six projects across five different locations in Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Johor. What is a semi-detached house and should you buy one? IN the Malaysian residential property market, you will sometimes hear the term “semi-D house”. So what exactly is a semi-D house? While it sounds slightly intricate, it really is just an abbreviation for “semi-detached”. What is a semi-D house? As its name implies, a semi-detached house is partly detached from neighbouring units. In other words, the house is only attached to a unit on one side, sharing a common wall with the unit it is attached to. In most developments, two semi-D units attached to one another are mirror images of each other. On the “detached” side, there is typically a strip of land between the house and the perimeter fencing or wall. This feature of a semi-D house design means you can walk from the front to the back portion without having to enter the house. Traditionally, the term semi-D was used when referring to a landed property with individual titles. Still, in recent years, developers have come up with terms such as semi-D cluster, semi-D condo and even semi-D in the sky. A semi-D cluster refers to a semidetached house located within a gated and guarded community. This type of property is known as a cluster house and usually comes with a strata title. A semi-D condo or semiD in the sky is a marketing term for condo units that are attached to another unit only on one side, either because there are fewer units on one floor or because of the unique layout design which provides more privacy to its occupants. What is the difference between a semi-D house and a terrace house? A semi-D shares a common wall with a neighbouring unit only on one side while a terrace house is sandwiched between two units. The only exception to this is the corner lots of terrace houses, which are technically also semi-detached. In Malaysia, semi-detached houses tend to be slightly bigger than terrace houses. Semi-detached houses also typically have a larger outdoor or garden area because of the land on the unattached side of the unit. What is the difference between a semi-D house and a detached house? A detached house refers to a unit that stands on its own within its own compound and is not attached in any way to the neighbouring unit. In Malaysia, it is also commonly known as a bungalow. You can walk around the perimeter of a detached house without having to enter the house, as shown below. What are the advantages of staying in a semi-D house? One of the biggest advantages of staying in a semi-D house is that you have a bigger outdoor area. This would be attractive to homeowners who enjoy gardening or having that extra outdoor space for an alfresco lounging area. With a wider land area, it is also more likely that owners of semi-D houses can park an extra car or two outside of their unit. According to senior real estate negotiator Cruz Looi from Kith & Kin Realty, semi-D houses are better suited for families with children and offer more privacy than a terrace house. Besides that, a semi-D unit is only connected to another unit on one side, so you at least have a buffer on the other side. If you have noisy neighbours, you will only have to deal with noise on one side of your house. What are the disadvantages of staying in a semi-D house? Cruz said that one of the main disadvantages is that renovations can be tricky because you will have to consult with your neighbour if you want to renovate or extend your house. You will also have to spend more on maintenance due to the larger land area. Is a semi-detached house a good investment? “Semi-D houses in the Klang Valley are not a very good investment if you are looking for rental returns because the rental yield is typically low, where they hover around 3%,” said Cruz. However, he said that this type of home is a good investment in the medium or long term due to the scarcity of land and there is an increasing demand for this type of landed property. Buyers and renters of semi-D houses tend to be families with children. “We see more expatriates renting semi-D houses in suburban areas while more local families would rent semi-D houses in the outskirts,” Cruz said. Therefore, buying a unit would be a good investment in the long run if you are looking at a semi-D house for your family or to upgrade your current home. This article was first published as ‘What is a semi-D house and should you buy one?’ on iProperty.com.my and is written by Karr Wei.
KLCI 1,499.45 STI 3,352.77 59.06 HANG SENG SCI 33.31 NIKKEI 27,395.01 22.10 TSEC KOSPI 2,428.57 CLOSED S&P/ASX200 7,468.30 THURSDAY JANUARY 26, 2023 Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [emailprotected] Advertising Tel: 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [emailprotected] 5 MOST ACTIVES January 25, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) SAPNRG 132,893,200 5.0 0.0 ATAIMS 94,223,800 29.5 9.0 DATAPRP 93,983,300 26.5 4.5 VELESTO 77,988,300 22.0 2.0 CYPARK 71,764,100 84.0 15.0 EXCHANGERATES JANUARY 25, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.3461 4.2080 4.1980 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0880 2.9630 2.9470 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.2890 3.1890 3.1810 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.2450 3.1550 3.1430 1 EURO 4.7360 4.5780 4.5580 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8260 2.7180 2.7020 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.2890 3.1890 3.1810 1 STERLING POUND 5.3600 5.1850 5.1650 1 SWISS FRANC 4.6950 4.5810 4.5660 100 UAE DIRHAM 119.6500 113.3300 113.1300 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.1580 3.8850 3.6850 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 64.4700 61.6600 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 56.0600 53.2200 53.0200 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.4100 5.0800 4.8800 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0302 0.0273 0.0223 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3350 3.2260 3.2160 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.9100 1.7900 1.5900 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.0800 7.6000 7.4000 100 QATAR RIYAL 120.1300 114.0400 113.8400 100 SAUDI RIYAL 116.9200 111.0000 110.8000 100 SOUTH AFRICA RAND 26.1900 23.6400 23.4400 100 THAI BAHT 13.8400 12.2700 11.8700 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY January 25, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,868.80 +26.31 FBMKLCI 1,499.45 -0.88 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 602.88 +2.19 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 189.85 +1.49 CONSTRUCTION 159.80 +2.11 FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,542.00 +6.89 ENERGY 870.43 +24.62 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 596.47 +2.15 HEALTH CARE 1,688.81 -0.54 TRANSPORTATION 928.60 +4.64 PROPERTY 671.22 +5.92 PLANTATION 6,818.96 -62.40 FBMSHA 11,111.90 +18.34 FBMACE 5,628.10 +72.02 TECHNOLOGY 68.10 +0.70 TURNOVER VALUE 2.834 BIL RM1.675 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS January 25, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEIM 283,100 27.84 +0.92 FANG-2XL 7,400 5.79 +0.71 HEXTECH 82,200 24.32 +0.62 CARLSBG 74,500 23.44 +0.30 MPI 27,400 33.72 +0.28 5 TOP LOSERS January 25, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM F&N 109,600 23.90 -0.38 UTDPLT 365,200 15.46 -0.22 KLUANG 9,600 3.85 -0.20 PETGAS 216,400 17.08 -0.20 MISC 1,297,000 7.20 -0.19 T7 Global secures RM100m jobs from PTTEP, Hibiscus KUALA LUMPUR: Energy solutions provider, T7 Global Berhad (T7 Global) has secured two letters of award worth a combined value of approximately RM100 million under its Energy Division for Recruitment and Manpower Services and Offshore Construction Services. The first letter of award was from the PTTEP Group of Companies for the provision of headhunting and recruitment services. The second letter of award was from Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Limited for the provision of facilities decommissioning services for South Angsi Alpha. “We are thankful for both awards from PTTEP and Hibiscus. Since fully acquiring T7IR in 2021, we have secured multiple manpower contracts from similar energy producers. We are optimistic that the manpower segment will continue to grow in the region. The Hibiscus award marks an important milestone for the company to execute offshore facility decommissioning projects of such scale. There is initiative for Rig-to-Reef by converting the structures into artificial reef to enhance the marine habitat at the intended location. We see this as a sustainable approach for oil & gas operators moving forward which can contribute to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. Over the next few years, we will be on the lookout for more ESG related projects in the region,” said T7 Global group CEO Tan Kay Zhuin. The above projects are expected to contribute positively towards T7 Global’s earnings and net assets for the next two years. T7 Global is a solutions providing company that is primarily engaged in the energy industry. The company’s divisions include energy, aerospace and defense, and construction. Bursa bucks regional trend to end marginally lower KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia bucked the regional trend to end marginally lower after the long holiday weekend amid profittaking in selected heavyweights, said a dealer. At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI eased 0.88 of-a-point to 1,499.45 from last Friday’s closing of 1,500.33. The market bellwether opened 0.97 of-apoint better at 1,501.30, and moved between 1,494.73 and 1,501.86 throughout the session. However, market breadth was positive with gainers outpacing losers 578 to 262, while 399 counters were unchanged, 957 untraded, and nine others suspended Turnover rose to 2.83 billion units worth RM1.68 billion against last Friday’s 2.34 billion units worth RM1.71 billion. – Bernama One Member One House project at Sungai Besi to be completed by end-2024: Defence minister KUALA LUMPUR: The construction of the One Member One House (SASaR) project at Sateria Residensi Platinum South Valley, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Sungai Besi, here, is expected to be completed by the end of next year, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said the Defence Ministry (Mindef) is confident that the project which has reached a progress rate of 21.69% will be completed as scheduled to ensure that the welfare of Mindef staff, as well as Malaysian Armed Forces personnel and veterans, is protected. “The project involves the construction of five residential blocks comprising 3,500 housing units,” he told a press conference after visiting the SASaR housing construction site yesterday. Also present were Mindef secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang and Air Force chief Gen Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan. Mohamad said the project is one of Mindef’s core agendas to safeguard the welfare of the ministry staff, as well as Malaysian Armed Forces personnel and veterans. – Bernama TM, ZTE to bring 50Gbps bandwidth to Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ZTE (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd (ZTE), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, to collaborate on optical network research, bringing the first 50Gbps bandwidth experience to Malaysia. The MoU was signed by TM R&D CEO Dr Sharlene Thiagarajah, and ZTE Malaysia CEO Steven Ge. Under this agreement, TM R&D and ZTE will jointly explore the capabilities of nextgeneration Passive Optical Network (PON) access technology 50GPON, to support various application scenarios. In addition, both entities will look into use cases that can deliver ultra-broadband TM R&D and ZTE teams showing the ultra-speed that can be achieved with 50GPON technology. oPartners to explore capabilities of nextgeneration Passive Optical Network access tech to support various application scenarios CLOSED 95.82 CLOSED 0.88 access to the government, enterprise and consumers, as well as support the requirements of innovative services such as 5G, Cloud Virtual Reality, industrial intelligent manufacturing for high bandwidth, low latency & jitter, and clock synchronisation – all of which will enhance the user experience in Malaysia. Commenting on the MoU, Sharlene said, “TM R&D is committed to conducting research on future technologies and innovating new value-added smarter ecosystems that will improve the quality of user experience, and ultimately bring a positive impact on their lives. This fits well into the TM group’s transformation towards becoming a human-centred TechCo. We are very excited to partner with a renowned global player such as ZTE to innovate on future generation PON technology in line with the global trend and technology roadmap.” Meanwhile, Ge shared, “With Gigabit home broadband services widely used in Malaysia at present, and the basic fixed network is in the time window of evolution from GPON to 10G PON, this partnership could not have come at a better time.” He said ZTE is pleased with the opportunity to collaborate with TM R&D on future research in next-generation PON technology supporting Digital Malaysia. Participation 47.7 33.9 18.4 100.0 Institutions Retail Foreign Bought RM m 827.6 552.4 295.2 1675.2 Sold RM m 770.3 583.2 321.7 1675.2 Net RM m 57.3 -30.8 -26.5 0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 25/01/2023
12 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME PETALING JAYA: Heineken Malaysia Bhd bagged three outstanding accolades at the recent Putra Brand Awards 2022. Continuing its proud traditions and sterling standards, the brewer once again struck gold where its brands Heineken® and Tiger Beer took home the Gold Award, while Guinness won the Bronze Award. These new wins bring the total awards tally to 39 since the inception of the Putra Brand Awards in 2010. Heineken Malaysia managing director Roland Bala shared, “We owe a huge thank you to all our consumers for their incredible support of our brands. Without a doubt, we could not have done so without the passion and commitment of our “One Strong Winning Team” that always delivers their best to our consumers. Together, we are guided by Heineken’s purpose, which is to brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world.” Meanwhile, the company marketing director Willemijn Sneep said “We are proud to celebrate yet another triple win at the prestigious Putra Brand Awards, further demonstrating our commitment to delivering premium, world-class brands. At Heineken Malaysia, we put our consumers first by not only meeting but exceeding their expectations through exciting and meaningful campaigns. As our brands adapt to the evolving landscape, we strive to be more creative in anticipating our consumers’ needs.” Last year, Heineken® launched its When you Drive, Never Drink campaign, encouraging consumers to pledge to never drink when they drive. The campaign garnered more than 3,000 consumer pledges, as well as over 100 industry pledges advocating responsible consumption. Another highlight in 2022 is the Heineken® Hotel Takeover at KLoé Hotel where consumers were invited to immerse themselves in a Heineken®- themed hotel experience through a variety of music acts, art installations, culinary delights and even fitness classes. In the Lunar year of the Tiger – Tiger Beer launched its local Chinese New Year campaign – The Year We ROAR Together – encouraging fans to pursue their dreams and goals in 2022. As a brand that has always championed local street food culture, Tiger Beer also hosted the Tiger Street Food Festival, which featured all things hot and spicy, paired with Tiger Crystal for the ultimate street food experience. Another key campaign last year was the Tiger Crystal Fire Starter, where the brand launched a platform to empower Malaysians to discover new passions. The highlight of the campaign was the Fire Starter District Festival where fans explored activities such as bouldering, rollerblading, dancing, jump rope, and freestyle football. What’s more, throughout the year-end football season, Tiger Beer also hosted a series of epic live viewing parties for fans of the sport with its Cheers to the Bold campaign. Meanwhile, Guinness hosted the Guinness St. Patrick’s Festival 2022 to reward fans with exciting activities and attractive prizes. To bring more merriment to Malaysian fans, the brand also launched Guinness Draught in a Can with a revolutionary Guinness widget for a perfectly smooth and creamy stout. House of Guinness – a hub that allows fans to immerse themselves in the world of Guinness, was also introduced for fans to experience the magic of Guinness. To close the year, Guinness Malaysia also launched its first-ever flagship outlet, Arthur’s Storehouse where fans can enjoy a true Guinness experience with Guinness-infused food and co*cktail menu, as well as exclusive merchandise. Sneep (fifth from the right) with the Heineken Malaysia team at the Putra Brand Awards 2022. Heineken Malaysia bags three outstanding accolades at Putra Awards China’s FreeYond receives investment from Malaysian KUALA LUMPUR: FreeYond, an innovative Shenzhen-headquartered Tech 4.0 consumer electronics brand netted close to 100 million yuan (about RM64.4 million) in an angel round of funding. Prominent Malaysian investor Datuk Eddie Chai Woon Chet invested in FreeYond’s angel round of funding. FreeYond, led by charismatic founder Yu Lei, is focused on redefining consumer electronic including smartphones, smartwear with Tech 4.0 including AI, Brain Computer Interface, EMG technology and more to aid global consumers in enjoying more convenient lifestyle powered by technology. The company focuses on research, development and sales of consumer electronics. Birthed in June 2022 by Yu Lei and 17 founding members, FreeYond set global records in concept to production of its indemand FreeYond F9 and FreeYond M5 smartphones, and the FreeYond Pods 1, from plans to production and distribution in an ultra-quick six months. The emphasis on Tech 4.0, innovative spirit and speed of FreeYond has attracted global interest from investors. “FreeYond has proven that they have the vision, technological innovation and speed to make it happen. We spotted their potential. Yu Lei and his team have a unique approach to consumer electronics and their commitment to innovation aligns with our own values, and we are confident in their ability to make a significant impact in the industry and the global market,” said Chai. Chai is currently on the board of numerous private companies and invests into telecommunications, finance and real estate sectors in the region. “We will be bringing FreeYond into Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia market really soon. So stay tuned for the updates from us,” he said. Currently FreeYond has already launched two smartphone models F9 and M5, and one wireless earphones Pods 1, which will be available in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern European markets. According to Yu Lei, founder of Shenzhen FreeYond Technology Co Ltd, they are thrilled to have the Malaysian investment group led by Chai. “Their experience and resources will be invaluable as we continue to scale and bring our products to more customers. We want to leverage on Datuk Eddie’s influence in Southeast Asia to expand our brand and business in the region.” At press time, FreeYond has completed appointing 31 distributors globally. The brand name was inspired by the science fiction comedy drama Upload – freedom and going beyond. oShenzhen-based tech company raises nearly 100 million yuan in angel funding round Chai (right) with Yu Lei exchanging documents at the recent funding round. B R I E F SMIDA, BRUNEI INVESTMENT AGENCY TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for both Malaysia and Brunei to explore potential investments that are of mutual interest. The MoU was signed by Mida CEO Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman and BIA acting managing director Sofian Mohammad Jani at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The signed document provides a preliminary understanding for both parties to hold negotiations towards the implementation and preparation of further deals on bilateral investments, to be implemented by certain parties between Brunei and Malaysia. The MoU entails bilateral cooperation and investment in the downstream oil and gas sector, digital economy, smart manufacturing, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, tourism and the halal food industry. Earlier on, Anwar held a four-eye meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The prime minister has been in Brunei for a two-day official visit which started on Tuesday. – Bernama SHORT-TERM INTERBANK RATES END STABLE ON BNM OPS KUALA LUMPUR: Short-term interbank rates closed steady yesterday on Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) operations to absorb surplus liquidity from the financial system. Liquidity in the conventional system eased to RM47.54 billion from RM47.95 billion yesterday morning while Islamic funds’ liquidity narrowed to RM45 billion from RM48.40 billion previously. Earlier, the central bank called for two conventional money market tenders, three Commodity Murabahah programme tenders and two reverse repo tenders. It also announced the availability of reverse repo, sale and buyback agreements and collateralised commodity Murabahah facilities for tenors of one to three months. At 4pm, BNM called for a RM46.6 billion conventional money market tender and a RM45 billion Murabahah money market tender, both for one-day money. The Malaysia Islamic Overnight Rate stood at 2.75% as of Jan 20. – Bernama RHB: Pent-up demand, tax break drive 2022 auto TIV to record high KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s automotive total industry volume (TIV) hit a record high of 720,658 units in 2022, breaking the previous record of 666,598 units set in 2015. RHB Investment Bank Bhd said the total production volume (TPV) also rose to a record high of 702,000 units. “The strong numbers were driven by pentup demand, new launches, the sales and service tax (SST) exemption which prompted customers to rush to place orders, improved production and recovering supply chains. “The 2022-high TIV of 77,000 in December brought the total TIV for the year to 720,658 units, an increase of 42% year-on-year (y-o-y), breaking the previous record set in 2015,” it said in a research note yesterday. The investment bank also said that the TIV in 2022 was also higher than their forecast of 700,000 and Malaysian Automotive Association’s 630,000 estimate. “As for this year, we expect earnings to decline from a high base due to softening sales and as forward valuations are at or above historical averages. “Downside risks consist of persistent macroeconomic headwinds that may further soften orders, higher-than-expected interest rates, and a resurgence in supply chain constraints. Upside risks include stronger-thanexpected orders and favourable foreign exchange movements,” it said. Meanwhile, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd said that 2022’s record TIV was largely driven by Perodua, which registered its highestever TIV of 282,029 units (+48% y-o-y). “As for other key brands, their performance was still relatively strong in 2022, albeit not exactly ahead of their all-time highs. “We expect this year’s TIV to remain elevated at 678,000 units and do not rule out the possibility of TIV re-testing the last record, given the large backlog orders and still strong new booking momentum,“ it added. – Bernama
13 * SUNBIZ theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Majority of business owners in Malaysia brace for recession oGoTo survey shows some 65% have taken steps to shore up their resilience PETALING JAYA: Some 65% of business owners in Malaysia believe it is important to prepare for recession and have taken steps to do so, according to one-stop IT solutions provider GoTo. Based on its recent survey on how global businesses prepare for an economic downturn, it said many businesses believe that implementing technological solutions can contribute to economic resiliency, including bolstering digital defences. “However, many are still not confident about long-term stability, should a recession occur,” the USbased company told SunBiz. The survey found that 57% of business owners and executives learnt to prepare for potential disruptions to their business having gone through a similar experience in the past. “Attitudes reflect a belief in creating a recession-proof business. To do so would involve creating business continuity plans, equipping Uzma unit secures RM40m contract from Sarawak Shell PETALING JAYA: Uzma Bhd through its 70%-owned subsidiary, Malaysian Energy Chemical & Services Sdn Bhd (Mecas), has won a contract worth about RM40 million from Sarawak Shell Bhd for the provision of kinetic hydrate inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor and associated services for Shell Timi Field. The duration of the contract will be for five years, from Jan 20, 2023 until Jan 19, 2028. “Potential risk factors include project operational and execution risks, work schedules, delivery timelines and adverse weather conditions,” the group said in a bourse filing yesterday. It said the contract will not have any effect on the share capital and shareholding structure as it does not involve the issuance of ordinary shares in the company. However, it is expected to contribute positively towards the earnings and net assets per share of the group for the financial year ending June 30, 2023 until the expiry of the contract. Affin Hwang Investment Bank plans to issue 96 structured warrants in 2023 KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd (AHIB) will focus on the aviation and tourism sectors in its structured warrant issuances this year in line with the theme of China reopening. AHIB equity derivatives associate director Lim Chin Anh said the investment bank is looking at around 96 structured warrant issuances this year, with an average of eight issuances on a monthly basis. “We will analyse the trend in the market, but for now, we see sectors like aviation and tourism picking up as China relaxes some of its public policies,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with AHIB Inaugural Structured Warrants listing ceremony here yesterday. Lim elaborated that AHIB would be looking at global economic developments as well as interest rates, which affect banks and the financial sectors as there is demand from investors. “We foresee markets picking up very fast and we noticed interest in certain counters. Hence it’s easy for us to just scale up and ramp up our issuance, but so far, eight issuances on a monthly basis is just average. We hope it could be higher,” he said. The issuance of AHIB’s first four series of structured warrants is aimed at catering to the needs of the increasingly diverse and sophisticated investors locally. AHIB yesterday listed three call warrants and one put warrant consisting of Dagang Nexchange Bhd (call warrant), Hengyuan Refining Co Bhd (call warrant), MyEG Services Bhd (call warrant/put warrant). Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia Bhd CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift (pic) in his opening remarks said more than 24,000 retail investors traded structured warrants last year, with a total trade value of RM13.83 billion. “There were 1,447 new structured warrant listing in 2022, close to an alltime high of 1,452 listings in 2021,” he said. The local bourse had previously amended certain provisions relating to structured warrants in the Main Market Listing Requirements (with effect from Jan 19, 2023). The key amendments to the provisions on structured warrants include revising the market capitalisation requirements for structured warrants for underlying shares, revising the average daily market capitalisation for the three months preceding the date of issue to RM500 million from RM1 billion previously. – Bernama functions. About 53% of business owners believe in maintaining work equipment, such as employee computers and office equipment on a regular basis as a measure of creating a recession-proof business, in order to prevent costly repairs when there is downtime to avoid missed connections with customers for support and revenue generation opportunities. It said that downtime costs money – small businesses can lose US$137 (RM584.10) to $427 (RM1,820.51) for every minute of downtime. “Employee productivity will also be a f f e c t e d , with more than onet h i r d (37%) of the business owners facing disruption while doing important work, due to technology issues. The trade-off is between paying now to maintain your equipment or paying more later with a costly impact on both business and the customers they serve,” it said. Meanwhile, the survey also found that less than half of business owners were prioritising tech stack consolidation. The benefits include simplifying and improving processes between various departments in an organisation as well as reducing the management and costs businesses pay to different providers. “Employee experience is also crucial to ensuring a seamless remote working experience. Understanding the challenges that employees may have in learning new software or their experience from using disparate apps, will provide leaders with a view of how the software can be consolidated,” GoTo said. However, the study observed that only one-in-three (36%) businesses believe that outsourcing a helpdesk or other IT support functions to a managed service provider can help in an economic downturn. It said that reducing costs is no longer the key driver for using managed services, driven by the priority shift by organisations towards improving and connecting customer, employee and partner experiences. - by Gloria Harry Beatty Foreign investors remain net sellers with RM168.5m PETALING JAYA: Foreign investors net sold equities on Bursa Malaysia for the week ended Jan 20, at RM168.5 million, more than three times the amount net sold during the week ended Jan 13, according to MIDF Research. In its weekly fund flow report, it said that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) unexpectedly maintained its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75% last Thursday. However, MIDF’s economists believe that the OPR might be raised by 25 basis points at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in March as core inflation remains elevated. “Year to date, foreigners have net sold RM142.9 million of Malaysian equities. The week saw only net foreign inflows on Tuesday to the tune of RM85.4 million. The other four days of the week saw net selling by the foreigners. Heaviest net selling came in on Wednesday, a day before the BNM’s MPC meeting. The net selling on that day amounted to RM114.6 million,” it said in a statement yesterday. The research house added that the top three sectors that saw net foreign inflows last week were energy (RM31.0 million), healthcare (RM30.5 million) and technology (RM21.3 million), while the top three sectors that saw net foreign outflows were financial services (RM272.4 million), industrial products & services (RM9.9 million) and transportation & logistics (RM2.4 million). It said that local institutions remained net buyers for the second consecutive week after net buying RM391.6 million worth of equities last week. Every trading day was a net buying day except for Tuesday which saw a net outflow of RM64.3 million by the local institutions. Local institutions have been net buyers of domestic equities so far this year with a total net inflow of RM606.5 million. “Meanwhile, local retailers have net sold RM223.1 million last week, slightly lower than the RM292.6 million that were net sold during the week ended Jan 13. Every trading day was a net selling day by the local retailers last week with the heaviest net selling recorded on Friday at RM79.1 million. This could be due to profit taking ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. Year-to-date, local retailers have net sold RM463.6 million of Malaysian equities,” it remarked. In terms of participation, there was a decrease in average daily trading volume among local retailers (10.5%), local institutions (10.3%) and foreign investors (11.9%). Juniper names winners of 2023 Future Digital Awards for Telco Innovation KUALA LUMPUR: Juniper Research has announced the 2023 winners of the Future Digital Awards for Telco Innovation. In a statement, it said these awards recognise the most innovative and disruptive telecommunications solutions operating across numerous areas, including Communications Platform-as-aService (CPaaS), mobile security, 5G and roaming. The Judges’ Choice named winner for Excellence in Telco Innovation was Skymax Networks, while Mover & Shaker in Telco Innovation, winner was Ehsan Ahmadi, CEO & Founder of VOX Solutions. Under Enterprise Telco Innovation, among the winners are CPaaS Provider of the Year: Vonage Communications APIs – Platinum Winner; Best Carrier Billing Solution: DV PASS by Digital Virgo – Platinum Winner; and Best RCS Initiative: Infobip RCS Business Messaging – Platinum Winner. Also included under Enterprise Telco Innovation are Best Steering of Roaming Solution: Mobileum’s Steering of Roaming (SoR) – Platinum Winner; and, Best Mobile Video Solution: Huawei and China Unicom - Mobile 3D Video Solution – Platinum Winner. Meanwhile, Operator & Network Innovation winners include Best Digital Transformation Project in Telco: Data Services Inventory Matching and Automated Settlement by Deutsche Telekom – Platinum Winner; Best 5G Roaming Service Provider: TNS Roaming Hub – Platinum Winner; and, Network Virtualisation Innovation of the Year: Console Connect – Platinum Winner. Additional winners in Operator & Network Innovation are Best Operator 5G Solution: NTT Docomo’s EaaS (Edge as a Service) Solution in Partnership with VMWare – Platinum Winner; and, Best Cellular IoT Initiative: emnify – Platinum Winner, to name a few. For Security & Fraud Innovation, among the winners are Most Innovative Anti-SMS Fraud Solution: Mobileum SMS Firewall – Platinum Winner; Best Financial Clearing Solution: Financial Clearing & Settlement by TOMIA – Platinum Winner; and, Best Mobile Authentication Solution: Methics - Kiuru MSSP – Platinum Winner. Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector; providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary. – Bernama employees with the technology they need and creating a company-wide emergency fund,” GoTo said. In addition, it said that the top three actions they have taken to recession-proof their businesses are diversifying the business’ cash flow (53%), ensuring three months’ worth of ‘cash in bank’ (52%) and doing internal risk assessments (48%). GoTo observed that while most businesses are on the right track in shoring up t h e i r d e f e n c e s , more can be done on the technology front, from keeping work and office equipment up to date, consolidating tech stacks the number of providers and outsourcing helpdesk or information technology support
14 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 SUNBIZ Thai central bank raises key rate BANGKOK: Thailand’s central bank raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points for a fourth consecutive meeting yesterday, in an attempt to curb high inflation even as the return of Chinese tourists brightens the country’s economic growth prospects. With last year’s headline inflation at a 24-year high, the Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) monetary policy committee, at its first review of 2023, voted unanimously to raise the oneday repurchase rate by a quarter point to 1.50%, as widely expected. Thailand’s economy is expected to continue growing while headline inflation should decline and return to a target range of 1% to 3% late in the year, the central bank said. Any further rate hikes would be gradual and measured, it said, but added it stood ready to adjust them as needed. “The committee deems that a oRegulator says hikes to continue in line with growth outlook, sees higher foreign tourist arrivals as China reopens continuing gradual policy normalisation is an appropriate course for monetary policy consistent with the growth and inflation outlook,” the BOT said in a statement. It added it expected “increased risks from demand-side inflationary pressures due to the economic recovery”. Assistant governor Piti Disyatat reiterated in a news conference that interest rates would continue to rise for a while as “we’ve already taken off, with a sustained economic recovery”. With yesterday’s move, the BOT has raised the key rate by a total of 100 basis points since August, though the tightening cycle has been less aggressive than many of its regional peers as Thailand’s economic recovery has lagged that of other Southeast Asian nations. Some analysts expect a pause in the tightening cycle is nearing. “Given their expectations of elevated core inflation, our read is that the (central bank’s) balance of risk is tilted towards inflation rather than growth,” said Kobsidthi Silpachai, head of capital markets research at Kasikornbank. “We therefore see that the committee will do one last 25-bps hike in this tightening cycle, at its next meeting and pause at 1.75%,” he said. Exports were expected to slow this year, offsetting some of the economic gains from tourism, before picking up later this year or in 2024 due to improvements in advanced economies and China, it said. In November, the BOT forecast Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy would grow 3.7% in 2023, after estimated growth of 3.2% last year, and that inflation would drop to 3%. Official 2022 gross domestic product data is due next month. The BOT also raised its tourism forecasts on Wednesday, expecting 25.5 million foreign arrivals this year and 34 million next year, up from 22 million and 31.5 million, respectively. Thailand received a record of nearly 40 million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019. China’s reopening is expected to further boost Thailand’s tourism, with the government predicting at least five million Chinese visitors this year, about half of the 2019 figure. – Reuters Jakarta to make exporters hold forex earnings onshore for 3 months: Media JAKARTA: Indonesia plans to introduce a requirement for exporters to keep their foreign exchange (forex) earnings in the local banking industry for three months, a top government official was cited by media as saying yesterday. The government was discussing the plan with the central bank and a review on current requirements for export earnings was nearly complete, Airlangga Hartarto, the chief economics minister, was quoted as saying by mainstream media outlets. His ministry’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He earlier this month said Indonesia was considering revising a 2019 regulation that mandated exporters of natural resources keep earnings in a special account at domestic banks, including the possibility of setting a minimum holding period. He also said it might be expanded to cover exporters in the manufacturing sector. Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of thermal coal and palm oil. It is also a major exporter of nickel, tin, copper, and rubber, among other commodities. Separately, Bank Indonesia (BI) is aiming to launch a new forex instrument for banks next month. Banks will be allowed to pass on exporters’ deposits to the central bank and BI will pay a premium interest rate for the US dollar to encourage exporters to keep earnings onshore for longer, monetary policymakers said. – Reuters B R I E F SINDONESIA’S 2022 PALM OIL EXPORTS DOWN 8.5% JAKARTA: Indonesia’s palm oil exports fell 8.5% last year because of a volatile regulatory environment and sluggish output that is expected to continue this year, the Indonesia Palm Oil Association (Gapki) said yesterday. The world’s top palm oil producer exported 30.8 million tonnes of palm oil product in 2022, down from 33.7 million tonnes a year earlier. A slight drop in palm oil production last year amid rising domestic consumption in the energy sector also contributed to the lower exports, Gapki chairman Joko Priyono told a media briefing. – Reuters MAERSK, MSC TO END ALLIANCE FROM 2025 COPENHAGEN: Swiss-based MSC and Denmark’s Maersk, the world’s in January 2025, allowing them to pursue individual strategies, the latter said yesterday. The 2M alliance will come to an end 10 years after it was formed in an attempt to battle a glut of ships and weak demand. “Much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015,“ Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said in a statement. “Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies,” he said. – Reuters Microsoft restores cloud services after outage hits global users SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft Corp said yesterday it had recovered all of its cloud services after a networking outage took down its cloud platform Azure along with services such as Teams and Outlook used by millions around the globe. Azure’s status page showed services were impacted in Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Only services in China and its platform for governments were not hit. By late morning Azure said most customers should have seen services resume after a full recovery of the Microsoft Wide Area Network (WAN). An outage of Azure, which has 15 million corporate customers and over 500 million active users, according to Microsoft data, can impact multiple services and create a domino effect as almost all of the world's largest companies use the platform. Businesses have become increasingly dependent on online platforms after the pandemic caused a shift to more employees working from home. Earlier, Microsoft said it had determined a network connectivity issue was occurring with devices across the Microsoft WAN. This impacts connectivity between clients on the internet to Azure, as well as connectivity between services in data centres, it said. Microsoft later tweeted that it had rolled back a network change that it believed was causing the issue and was using “additional infrastructure to expedite the recovery process”. Microsoft did not disclose the number of users affected by the disruption, but data from outage tracking website Downdetector showed thousands of incidents across continents. The Downdetector site tracks outages by collating status reports from various sources including users. Microsoft’s cloud business had helped shore up its fiscal second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. It forecast third-quarter revenue in its so-called intelligent cloud business would be US$21.7 billion to US$22 billion (RM92.5 billion to RM93.8 billion) despite worries that the lucrative cloud segment for big tech companies could be hit hard as customers look to cut spending. Azure’s share of the cloud computing market rose to 30% in 2022, trailing Amazon's AWS, according to estimates from BofA Global Research. On Tuesday, Microsoft said sales slowed and profits slumped in the last quarter of 2022 as a darkening economic outlook pushed it to lay off 10,000 workers. The Washington state-based tech giant – owner of LinkedIn, Xbox and Windows – said overall sales rose just 2% in the October-toDecember period, to US$52.7 billion, the slowest rise in six years. Net profit landed at US$16.4 billion for the quarter, down 12% year-on-year, according to its earnings release. The results however met, or in some segments exceeded, expectations and Microsoft’s share price was up by more than 4% in late trading after the results were announced. The company’s “intelligent cloud” business, which brings together its servers and data analytics services, brought in US$21.5 billion in the second quarter of its fiscal year, up 18% year-on-year. – Reuters, AFP Japan cuts economic view as exports to Asia weaken TOKYO: Japan cut its view on the overall economy for the first time in 11 months in January, as China’s Covid-19 infections and a slowdown in global demand for technology and semiconductors hurt exports, especially to Asia. The government expects the economy, the world’s third largest, will pick up going forward but Japan needs to pay full attention to the impact from China’s spreading infections after it dropped stringent pandemic curbs, the report said. The economic downgrade followed the Bank of Japan’s move last week when it slashed its economic growth projections for the next two fiscal years amid worries that slowing global demand will weigh on Japan’s export-reliant economy. “The economy is recovering moderately but some weakness is seen recently,” according to the latest report by the Cabinet Office. The authorities slashed its assessment on exports for the first time since November 2011, while it also cut its view on imports for the first time in three months. The January report said both exports and imports are “weakening recently” compared with its previous view of “almost flat” last month. “China’s coronavirus rebound could affect Japan’s exports and production and such a possibility has become clearer than last month,” said an official at the Cabinet Office. The government also remained cautious over downside risks from the global economic slowdown amid monetary tightening, inflation and financial market fluctuations. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office maintained its assessment of Japan’s domestic demand, saying private consumption was “picking up moderately” in the latest report. But the government said the recovery in industrial production was stalling, Snow blanketing a road in Nagano yesterday. Japan’s government expects the economy will pick up but the country needs to pay full attention to the impact from China’s spreading Covid infections after it dropped stringent pandemic curbs. – AFPPIC unchanged from its view in December. In another development, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said yesterday he will make a decision on the next Bank of Japan governor while watching future economic trends. Kishida will appoint the next central bank chief based on the candidate’s aptitude at the end of incumbent Haruhiko Kuroda’s term, he said. The prime minister said on Sunday he would nominate a new governor next month as Kuroda’s second five-year term ends on April 8. – Reuters
2 6 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 T H U R S D A Y so that they can be easily stepped on to either enable or disable the pedals at any point during songs and gigs. For those seeking to buy their first pedal or are just interested in them, here are the most basic and common pedals a lot of musicians use. 0 Distortion Pedal Arguably the most popular pedal in rock and heavy metal, distortion pedals are often the first purchase for those who get into guitars with the intention of learning to play music from the aforementioned genres. Distortion is the aggressive “blowing out” that is commonly heard on rock and metal. It distorts what would usually be smooth chords into chords with loud, sustained crunch and attitude. 0 Overdrive Pedal Overdrive pedals work by keeping the sound generated by an electric guitar or bass in line with the amplifier both are hooked up to. If you increased the drive and level, you get a big sound from the pedal. If you decrease it, you get a more cleaner sound that the amplifier picks up from the guitar. This drive is versatile and is common on most pedalboards. 0 Reverb Pedal The pedal does what it says; it produces and allows control over the reverb. This is usually controllable through most amplifiers, but the reverb pedals allows direct finetuning. Depending on the music, this means players can create distinct “atmospheres” that depends on the settings of the pedal. Reverb pedals also work best with cheap amplifiers that don’t have fuzz controls. 0 Fuzz Pedal Punk, rock and metal are all known for sounds that have a distinct ‘buzzing’ sound when chords are playing, particulary bass guitars. That is done through fuzz pedals. 0 Wah Pedal This actually looks like a car pedal. The wah pedal is known for creating the “wah” sound whenever the pedal is stepped on in tandem with the playing. Where other pedals are enabled at the start of songs, the wah pedal is used throughout songs. Jimi Hendrix and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett are known for their extensive use of the wah pedal. 0 Tuner Pedal For new players who still can’t tune by ear, this pedal makes tuning easy. Even experienced players still use tuner pedals during shows, as it helps them cut down tuning time, especially in venues that are already loud. THE most common equipment or accessory seen with an electric guitar or bass – other than the strap and pick – are the pedals. For those who have been to music shows where musicians are using real instruments, you’ve probably seen them messing around with box-like objects in different colours, shapes and designs near their feet, often stepping on them as they tune and perform soundcheck. These are the all-important pedals. They function by giving the user the ability to manipulate the sound of their guitar tones to various effects depending on that particular player’s desire. Guitar pedals are designed to universally work well with electric and bass guitars, though there are different outcomes depending on the equipment. The pedals will usually come with adjustable knobs and switches, so that the user is able to fine-tune the sound to their liking. They’re also called “pedals” because every pedal is designed to b e p l a c e d on the floor, Putting pedal to the metal oHere is an in-depth look at one of the key pieces of equipment crucial to guitar and bass players Pedalboards consist of several pedals hooked into each other and into the guitar and amplifier. – ALL PIX BY FREEPIK █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR What a tuner pedal typically looks like. Pedals are enriching for new guitar and bass players to experiment with. Distortion pedals are without a doubt the most popular pedal for everyone from beginners to experienced musicians.
16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Armas (Blonde), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Andrea Riseborough for tiny indie film To Leslie, which benefited from an unusual, 11th-hour campaign mounted by celebrity friends of the British actress. International voters All five men in the running for best actor are first-time nominees, with Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Austin Butler (Elvis) considered joint favourites. The remaining slots went to Paul Mescal in Aftersun and Bill Nighy in Living. In the best supporting actress category, Angela Bassett became the first star in a Marvel superhero movie to ever earn an Oscar acting nomination with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Spielberg made the best director shortlist, but no women were nominated in the category, sparking quick social media backlash. Speaking before the nominations, Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis told AFP this was one of the more unpredictable Oscars races, in part due to the recent massive growth in the number of international Academy voters. Those members have been credited with surprises such as South Korea’s Parasite winning best picture in 2020. This year, they got behind Netflix’s All Quiet on the Western Front, a World War I drama based on a German novel of the same name. An early Hollywood film adaptation of the same book won best picture at the third Academy Awards in 1930. Saved movies Actors Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) and Allison Williams (Girls) unveiled the Oscar nominations early on Tuesday morning (night in Malaysia) from Los Angeles. Television ratings for award shows including the Oscars have trended downwards, as Academy voters in recent years have veered toward honouring lesser-known indie hits like Nomadland and CODA. Many in the industry were hoping for a healthy spread of nominations among 2022’s crowd-pleasing sequels, which were sorely needed as giants such as Cineworld, the world’s second biggest cinema chain, filed for bankruptcy protection. As it turned out, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar: The Way of Water – which sailed past the US$2 billion (RM8.6 billion) mark globally last weekend – earned four nominations. Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise’s long-awaited sequel to his huge 1986 hit which came out in May during highly uncertain times for movie theatres and earned around US$1.5 billion (RM6.43 billion), received six. “That’s the one that feels like it could actually win best picture,” said Davis, before the announcement. “What better story the day after the Oscars air, than that the movie that saved movies was named the best movie? That’s a good story to tell.” – AFP THE surreal sci-fi flick Everything Everywhere All At Once topped the Oscar nominations Tuesday with 11, as Hollywood formally kicked off the race to the all-important Academy Awards. German anti-war movie All Quiet on the Western Front and Irish black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin followed with nine nominations each from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which will hand out the awards on March 12. As expected, Academy voters also rewarded blockbusters such as Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water for helping to bring audiences back to movie theaters after the pandemic. Both were nominated for best picture, Tinseltown’s most coveted prize, although another crowd-pleaser – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – missed out. The remaining best picture slots went to rock-and-roll biopic Elvis, Steven Spielberg’s quasi-memoir The Fabelmans, Cate Blanchett’s latest tour-de-force Tar, Cannes festival-winning satire Triangle of Sadness and literary adaptation Women Talking. Absurdist indie film Everything Everywhere All At Once portrays a Chinese-American immigrant family undergoing a tax audit, who are drawn into an inter-dimensional battle to save the multiverse from a powerful villain. It became a huge word-of-mouth hit and has grossed more than US$100 million (RM428.44 million) worldwide. The film earned four acting nominations for its cast, including best supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan – who appeared as a child in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom almost four decades ago – and best lead actress for Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh becomes just the second Asian woman – and the first Malaysian – nominated for lead actress in 95 years of Oscars history. Her co-star Stephanie Hsu was also nominated for supporting actress, along with Hong Chau of The Whale, in a banner year for Asian representation. “I think this is beyond just me,” Yeoh told The Hollywood Reporter after the nominations were announced. “It represents so many who have hoped to be seen in this way, to have a seat at the table, to say, ‘I am of value too, I need to be seen too.’” “My phone is going completely bananas from Hong Kong and Asia and China,” Yeoh added. But there was controversy elsewhere in the lead actress category, as no Black women were nominated, despite Viola Davis (The Woman King) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till) having been seen as frontrunners. Instead the remaining slots went to Ana de Few surprises in Oscar race oBox office hits Everything Everywhere, Elvis and Avatar land expected nominations for the March awards ceremony Best actress nominees ... (from left) Ana de Armas, Michelle Yeoh, Andrea Riseborough, Michelle Williams and Cate Blanchette. – AFP Best actor nominees ... (from left) Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy. – AFP Hosts Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams announced the nominees. – AFP The list of movies up for best picture. – AFP
17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 AWARD-WINNING Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun has released his fifth directed Chinese New Year folk music video Echoes of the New Year, which is produced by SunStrong Entertainment and co-produced by Janji Pictures, Southern Islet Pictures and The Classic Accents. Featuring the folk arts of Hakka, Cantonese, Hainanese, Teochew, Hokkien and Peranakan communities, the music video – filmed on the paddy fields of Sekinchan in Selangor – also gathers diverse cultural elements from sape to cak lempong, dragon and lion dance, Chinese opera, 24 festive drums, Chinese zithers and more. Chong, a winner of the Golden Horse Awards – the Chinese-language Oscars – is also known for his work in the preservation of traditional local arts and culture, having spent 18 years documenting local oral traditions of different Chinese dialects and sharing these stories with the larger community through various mediums. At the premiere ceremony at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Communications and Digital Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said she was impressed with the music video and even welcomed Chong to film in her constituency of Kulai, while Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker and Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim commended Chong for showcasing the beauty of Sekinchan. Ng vowed to promote the music video throughout the festive period and use it for the tourism promotion of Sekinchan this year. Also present at the ceremony were Pavilion Bukit Jalil marketing director Kung Suan Ai, painter Yap Hong Ngee, writer Ow Fuling, radio announcer Chan Fong, actresses Pearlly Chua and Pauline Tan, voice talent Dennis Gan, filmmaker Yeo Joon Han and music producer WEE. Guests were also treated to cultural performances by the Sung Fong Meng Cantonese Opera, Penang Teochew Puppet & Opera House and Souls Impact Percussion. The music video opens with a classic poem that gives a sense of renewal and hope as everyone can now look forward to celebrating the festive season again after enduring two years of hardship due to the pandemic. Props seen in the music video such as kuku kambing (traditional crowbar), millstone, bakul siah (auspicious basket), porcelain plates and paper windmill are real artefacts that belong to the elders in the different communities. SunStrong Entertainment founder and music video executive producer Jment Lim shared: “Collaborating with a creative as phenomenal as Chong for the second time, we are able to create works that showcase local folk arts, which allows us to ensure they thrive and live on. That way, the new generation get to know that besides the popular Chinese New Year songs we hear today, there is also folk music which has been part of our communities for centuries.” He added: “Despite the state of the economy, we at SunStrong Entertainment honoured our promise to support this production in an effort to preserve traditional arts and culture, as well as for the younger 1 generations to have a link with our past, so that our cultural heritage will have a brighter future.” The music video is performed by Sung Fong Meng Cantonese Opera, Penang Teochew Puppet & Opera House, Hainanese Opera actress Mah Ah Mooi, singer Winnie Ho, Kun Seng Keng Dragon & Lion Dance Selangor, Souls Impact Percussion, Klang Pin Hwa High School Drum Team and Rithaudin Nusantara Dance with music arranged by Alu8khan Chen and Chris M. Yong. Celebrating our diverse cultural heritage Director Chong Keat Aun (third from left), executive producer Lim, Communications and Digital Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching and Sekinchan state assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim. Scan the QR code to watch the MV FOR Varisu, Thalapathy Vijay has joined up with family-friendly movie director Vamshi Paidipally. The movie tells the story of how a wealthy mining tycoon ultimately finds the right heir to inherit his company among three of his sons. Vijay plays his youngest son, also named Vijay, who expresses no desire to join his pompous father’s company. I must admit that the plot didn’t please me. It’s difficult to believe that the family needs a ‘saviour’ when their problems are handled so easily. For example, I find it incomprehensible that (spoiler alert) a lady consents to forgive her unfaithful husband because Vijay saves the day rather than because the husband feels guilty. That seems absurd to me. Even worse, despite the fact that the movie is intended to be about issues within the house, we tend to focus more on general mining dealings and other outside-the-home issues. The movie would have been far more effective if it had concentrated on the things that took place within the home, where we could have witnessed the blossoming bond between Vijay and his father. Regarding the production, the computer visual effects used to introduce the actor unfortunately gave the impression that it was a low-budget production. The use of the green screen was also quite obvious.. Vijay himself is without a doubt the film’s main strength. His performance and charisma elevated even the most unimpressive moments. It’s good to see Vijay starring in a family comedy where his role is less intense. His comic routines were certainly quite amusing, and I obviously loved the comedians who were cast in this movie as well, since – to be completely honest – the movie would not have been nearly as funny without them. The interactions between the mother and son in this movie was also something I adored since it seemed really genuine. The film’s female heroine Rashmika does not get a lot of screen time. Her visuals and dancing contribute to the film’s songs, but that’s about it. One of the film’s greatest moments was oVarisu is a predictable family drama with no major plot twists Vijay effortlessly charms his devoted fan base with action, dance sequences and powerful dialogues. – THE HINDU One man show █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN 0Cast: Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna, Sarath Kumar, Jayasudha, Srikanth, Shaam and Prakash Raj 0Director: Vamshi Paidipally E-VALUE 6 ACTING 8 PLOT 6 Vijay returns to the big screen with a family drama. – MOVIE CROW an amusing 10-minute appearance by actor SJ Suryah. As Vijay’s on-screen father, R Sarathkumar did an amazing job, and of course his brothers, Srikanth and Shaam, was pretty decent too. Thaman’s music is of the highest calibre, and in a few scenes, he lifted Vijay with his energetic background soundtrack. To please Vijay fans and the audience, the filmmaker made sure the film included enough of family-friendly sentiment, action, romance, and humour. Overall, Varisu is that absolutely formulaic flick that pulls through thanks to its hero and a few overtly popular aspects of the setup. The truth is that Varisu is not even a bad movie; it just wasn’t what I had anticipated. And of course, Vijay gets credit for keeping the movie an enjoyable entertainment despite its numerous flaws. In all, Varisu is a good option if you want to see a familyfriendly movie and are ready to overlook its minor drawbacks. It is currently playing in cinemas. Rashmika and Vijay’s song and dance sequences were well received by the audience. – FLICKR
18 TECH theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 FITNESS trackers are a deceptively complex device. Certainly, they must be practical and pleasing, but they must also be compatible with your lifestyle and physical activity schedule. The best fitness trackers can help you achieve your health and fitness goals, improve your sleep, and monitor your general well-being, all from your wrist. They can also track your progress and offer thorough feedback on how you’re doing, and potential areas for improvement. It is one of the finest investments you can make in yourself in 2023 if you intend to get into shape. Deciding which one fitness tracker is ‘the best above the rest’ really depends on you, and your goals. A simple, affordable fitness tracker may be suitable for step counting. An advanced model with all the advanced features may help you develop healthy habits faster and gives you more accuracy in terms of sensors. Below is a list of notable fitness trackers that I believe are worth the price, and could assist you in achieving your goals more quickly. Fitbit Inspire 3 Start off with this ideal fitness tracker that can improve your lifestyle. Dubbed the least expensive and most budget-friendly on the market, this Inspire 3 nails the basics: heart rate monitoring, reliable exercise tracking, and sleep stage logging. With a battery life of 10 days or more and a charging time of only one to two hours, this Fitbit is a gadget that will fit comfortably on your wrist. Compared to its predecessor, the Inspire 2, the Inspire 3’s AMOLED display is more bright and appealing. The only drawback is it doesn’t have a built-in GPS. So, if you’re looking for an affordable fitness tracker, you can never go wrong with the Inspire 3. These fitness trackers may provide you with a wealth of information about your health and encourage you to adopt a healthy lifestyle. – RUNNINGXPERT oThese are the top five fitness trackers for monitoring your heart rate, counting steps, and also keeping tabs on calorie burn Fitbit Inspire 3 is not overly complex but has all the essential features to keep you moving and motivated. – FITBIT Garmin Forerunner 955. – NOTEBOOKCHECK The Fitbit (left) is a great value Apple Watch alternative. – FITBIT Coros Pace 2. – RUNNINGXPERT Top fitness trackers barometer, GPS, and microphone will detect a severe accident or falls and alert emergency services if the user doesn’t respond within 10 seconds. Again, the watch only works with iPhones, and it only has a one-day battery life. Still, people think this model is the best one on the market in terms of price, features, and performance. Garmin Forerunner 955 The new Forerunner 955 multisport watch from Garmin appears to be the perfect training device for enthusiasts since it features enhanced stats, inbuilt maps, more accurate GPS, and solar charging. With features like offline maps, complex training tools, and extended battery life, the tracker is said to be the most advanced model the firm provides for running and triathlons. The 1.3in (3.3cm) LCD screen is brighter and more vibrant, and the touchscreen and buttons work together flawlessly. The 955 is more secure and sturdy when running hard due to its smaller casing and lower profile on the wrist and it weighs around 27g or less. Versa 3 If you want a Fitbit that is equivalent to the Apple Watch, the Versa 3 boasts an abundance of the same functions. It can monitor your heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen saturation (spO2) in addition to the standard steps and calories, yet costs only half as much as an Apple Watch Series 7. Sleep tracking is one aspect in which Fitbit performs really well, and the Versa is no exception. The spO2 sensor measures your blood oxygen levels so you can track the data when you awaken. However, some of the statistics can only be accessed if you have a Premium subscription. With a stated battery life of almost six days on a single charge and 12 hours when continuously utilising GPS, it is difficult to find a comparable device. You can also use the metallic charging station to charge the battery for a full day in just 12 minutes. Coros Pace 2 Sure, any fitness tracker with a dedicated GPS might monitor your brisk walk, but the Coros Pace 2 distinguishes apart for a number of reasons. It is exceptionally lightweight for its size, so you won’t be struggling with your watch when you’re attempting to achieve a new personal record. Besides its lightweight design, it also has a more powerful processor and additional memory capacity for add-on functions. The 20 days of battery life is accompanied by 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode and 60 hours of battery life in UltraMax GPS mode, all of which are respectable numbers whether you’re using the watch casually or competing in your first marathon. If running isn’t your thing, the Pace 2 comes with a variety of different activity modes designed for biking, swimming, and strength training. And while most fitness trackers have roughly 120 activity modes, this one has a whopping 200 workouts that allow you to target your upper body, lower body, and core, as well as a muscle heatmap that shows which muscle groups receive the most engagement. The Apple Watch (above) has many convenient smart features. – APPLE Apple Watch Series 8 People tend to hold on to their Apple Watches for years, and rightfully so – it is far and away the best fitness tracker if you have an iPhone. So if you are looking for one, you’re best off with the latest Series 8. Apple has top-notch health and safety measures. In Series 8, you’ll find an ECG monitor that can detect abnormal heart rhythms, a blood oxygen monitor, sleep tracking, as well as ovulation tracking for those with a menstrual cycle. It also has new safety features, such as Crash Detection. The Series 8’s new accelerometer, gyroscope, █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL
19 WELLNESS theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 The healing power of nature IN recent years, studies confirming the benefits of spending time in nature for our minds and bodies have been multiplying. What if the secret to cutting down on medication was to take forest baths, get out in the garden, or spend more time in the park next to your home? A recent study conducted by researchers at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare suggests that spending time in green spaces on a regular basis may reduce the use of certain prescription medications. To reach this conclusion, the researchers drew on the responses of 16,000 residents of three major Finnish cities (Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa), who were at least 25 years old and had participated in a national environmental health survey conducted between 2015 and 2016. The study authors looked at the number of green spaces (parks, forests, beaches, meadows, etc.) located near the participants’ homes, within a radius of one kilometre. They then looked at the city dwellers’ use of prescription medication, as well as the weekly frequency with which they visited or exercised outdoors in green spaces. When all this data was compiled, the researchers found that, compared with less than one weekly visit, visiting green space at least three or four times a week was associated with 33% lower odds of using mental health drugs, especially to treat insomnia or anxiety. The study reports similar findings for drugs used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure (36%) and asthma (26%). These associations between contact with nature and reduced drug use were particularly strong among people with the lowest incomes, whereas these associations were absent among people reporting the highest annual household income, the study notes. All of which appears to support the idea that people in more economically insecure situations can be faced with what is known as environmental inequalities. – ETX Studio A recent Finnish study estimates that visiting green space three or four times a week could help limit the use of prescription medication. – 123RF Caring for her own health AFTER being diagnosed with an illness, a medical lab technician transformed her life by shifting her focus from drawing blood samples from sick patients to caring for her own health. Chloe Yew Su Ern has always had a mission in her life – to help the sick Yew turned adversity into a chance to help others improve their health. oChloe Yew Su Ern changed her eating habits to improve her health, and later set up the healthy breakfast place Sunshine Express Hub █ BYS. TAMARAI CHELVI Mango Lychee Vanilla. Choco Strawberry. Berrylicious yoghurt. recover – and so she studied biomedical science at UTAR, Kampar in 2013 and obtained a degree, before being employed at a local hospital. Yew found her dream career, but soon the 32-year-old’s own health started to deteriorate. She suffered from fatty liver disease, a condition where extra fat is stored in the liver. In the long term, this could lead to liver damage. Yew also experienced hormonal imbalance, high cholesterol, weight gain, and other symptoms as a result of her condition. “I had a hormonal imbalance, my sleep, my mood, and my attention and focus were affected. My energy level was low, and I felt tired, all the time,” said Yew. “At this point, something hit me. I realised that I was losing my health due to strenuous work. I started to take care of my health, including my weight. I spent a lot of money and time at the slimming centre, but I did not get the expected results,” she added. She visited a doctor, who suggested that she needed to lose weight and prescribed her pills for a week. Despite her background in medicine, she admits that she could not think of an effective way to treat her condition, other than to take medication prescribed by the doctor. She explained: “I know drugs are bad because they have side effects. I tried a lot of methods to take care of my problem.” Then, her father told her about a breakfast shop that provided wellness consultations. The coach helped her with her dietary habits and improved her health and weight. “The day I met my coach, my life turned 180 degrees. I learned how I should eat and drink, and within two months, I had changed. My mood, appearance, and health all change for the better.” Yew changed her eating habits and her lifestyle. She found the whole experience very meaningful. She also heard life-changing stories from others, and decided to do something that could help others, and also give back to the community. Inspired by her own transformation, Yew opened up her own wellness consultation and nutrition club, which she called Sunshine Express Hub. “I find it very interesting and quite challenging because I started my own business, providing coaching services, weight and health management, designing new meal plans, counting calories, and setting health goals,” she said. She also organises health classes discussing health topics. “I will give them guidance on how their bodies can change, and provide them with the tools they need to take care of their own health.” Each customer’s age, weight and height are measured on a scale that calculates visceral fat, body fat, bone mass, metabolic rate, muscle mass and body water. Yew will also recommend a meal plan based on the assessment and give her thorough consultation, but no food is sold on the premises except for nutritious mixed soy protein drinks. These breakfast shakes are sold at the establishment from 7am to 11am, on weekdays. The main intention in setting up the place in 2017 was to help others improve their health or lose weight, just as she had been helped before. Sunshine Express Hub Address: 66(A), Jalan SS2/60, SS 2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 7.30am11am daily ALL PIX COURTESY OF SUNSHINE EXPRESS HUB
20 ENVIRONMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Too hot to handle TEMPERATURES in parts of Greenland are warmer than they have been in 1,000 years, the co-author of a study that reconstructed conditions by drilling deep into the ice sheet told AFP last week. “This confirms the bad news that we know already unfortunately ... (It is) clear that we need to get this warming under control in order to stop the melting of the Greenlandic ice sheet,” climate physics associate professor Bo Mollesoe Vinther of the University of Copenhagen told AFP. By drilling into the ice sheet to retrieve samples of snow and ice from hundreds of years ago, scientists were able to reconstruct temperatures from north and central Greenland from the year 1000 AD to 2011. Their results, published in the scientific journal Nature, show that the warming registered in the decade from 2001-2011 “exceeds the range of the pre-industrial temperature variability in the past millennium The melting of the Greenland ice sheet is already leading to rising sea levels. – AFP oA recent study has found that temperature in Greenland is at its warmest in 1,000 years with virtual certainty”. During that decade, the temperature was “on average 1.5°C warmer than the 20th century”, the study found. The melting of the Greenland ice sheet is already leading to rising sea levels, threatening millions of people living along coasts that could find themselves underwater in the decades or centuries to come. Greenland’s ice sheet is currently the main factor in swelling the Earth’s oceans, according to NASA, with the Arctic region heating at a faster rate than the rest of the planet. In a landmark 2021 report on climate science, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the Greenland ice sheet would contribute up to 18 centimetres to sea level rise by 2100 under the highest emissions scenario. The massive ice sheet, two kilometres thick, contains enough frozen water to lift global seas by over seven metres in total. Under the Paris climate deal, countries have agreed to limit warming to well under 2°C. “The global warming signal that we see all over the world has also found its way to these very remote locations on the Greenland ice sheet,” Vinther said. “We need to stop this before we get to the point where we get this vicious cycle of a selfsustaining melting of the Greenland ice,” he warned. “The sooner the better”. – ETX Studio Carbon credits -‘worthless’: media analysis A SYSTEM that allows big corporations to buy carbon offsets in rain forests to cancel out their harmful emissions is essentially “worthless”, an analysis by several media organisations showed last week. Buying carbon credits by financing projects to protect rainforests has become a popular way for companies to claim they are carbon neutral, even though their activities generate gases that cause global warming. However, some 90% of credits offered by the world’s leading provider, Verra, are likely “phantom credits,” said the study by British newspaper The Guardian, German weekly Die Zeit and SourceMaterial, a nonprofit investigative journalism organisation. Their nine-month investigation, including an analysis of existing studies into Verra’s rainforest schemes and on-the-ground reporting, found that the offsets largely did not lead to effective reductions in deforestation or any climate benefit. “Only a handful of Verra’s rainforest projects showed evidence of deforestation reductions, according to two studies, with further analysis indicating that 94% of the credits had no benefit to the climate,” said The Guardian. Verra, the world’s largest carbon credit provider that has issued over one billion carbon credits since 2009, wrote on its website that the studies cited had reached “incorrect conclusions.” It said their methodology did not account for “project-specific factors that cause deforestation.” To generate a “carbon credit”, a project must be implemented to protect a part of a rainforest and ensure it is not felled. Thus, the area saved corresponds to the amount of carbon those trees are able to absorb from the atmosphere. A company can buy credits to offset its emissions. Companies like Verra are supposed to ensure that the projects they invest in are real and effective, however, questions have long hung over the methodology used to determine this. Verra said it has “recently” reviewed its calculation methods and is in the process of standardising its methodology. – ETX Studio Buying carbon credits allows companies to greenwash their environmental record. – GETTY Reef sharks and rays risk extinction NEARLY two-thirds of the sharks and rays that live among the world’s corals are threatened with extinction, according to new research published Tuesday, with a warning this could further imperil precious reefs. Coral reefs, which harbour at least a quarter of all marine animals and plants, are gravely menaced by human threats, like overfishing, pollution and climate change. Shark and ray species – from apex predators to filter feeders – play an important role in these delicate ecosystems that “cannot be filled by other species”, said Samantha Sherman, of Simon Fraser University in Canada and the wildlife group TRAFFIC International. But they are under grave threat globally, according to a study in the journal Nature Communications, which assessed extinction vulnerability data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to look at 134 species of sharks and rays linked to reefs. The authors found 59% of coral reef shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, an extinction risk almost doubles that of sharks and rays in general. Among these, five shark species are listed as critically endangered, as well as nine ray species, all so-called “rhino rays” that look more like sharks than stingrays. Keeping reefs healthier “It was a bit surprising just how high the threat level is for these species,” Sherman told AFP. “Many species that we thought of as common are declining at alarming rates and becoming more difficult to find in some places.” Sherman said the biggest threat to these species by far is overfishing. Sharks are under most threat in the Western Atlantic and parts of the Indian Ocean, whereas the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia are the highest risks for rays. These regions are heavily fished and do not currently have management in place to reduce the impact on these species, said Sherman. Coral reef fisheries directly support the livelihoods and food security of over half a billion people, but this crucial ecosystem is facing an existential threat. Human-driven climate change has spurred mass coral bleaching as the world’s oceans get warmer. Modelling research has shown that even if the Paris climate goal of holding global warming to 1.5°C is reached, up to 99% of the world’s coral reefs will still not be able to recover. At two degrees of warming, the number rose to 100%. “We know coral reef health is declining, largely due to climate change, however, coral reef sharks and rays can help keep reefs healthier for longer,” said Sherman. The study was carried out by an international team of experts from universities, government and regional oceanic and fishery organisations as well as nongovernmental organisations across the world. – ETX Studio Research found that 59 percent of coral reef shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, an extinction risk almost double that of sharks and rays in general. – 123RF
21 * SPORTS theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PEREMBA PROJECTS SDN BHD Company No. 201001028534 (912453-T) REDUCTION OF SHARE CAPITAL Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to Section 117(1) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolution set out below was duly passed by the members of the Company on 25 January 2023. “RESOLVED THAT the issue and paid up capital of the Company be REDUCED from RM22,373,632.00, comprising 2 Ordinary Shares of RM1.00 each, 8,591 Redeemable Preference Shares of RM1,000.00 each and 1,378,263 Redeemable Preference Shares of RM10.00 each to RM21,173,632.00 by returning to the shareholders 1,200 Redeemable Preference Shares at RM1,000.00 each, which is in excess of the needs of the Company, in cash.” KHOI HOAY LING Director Shah Alam, Selangor Dated 26 January 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF KOJADI EWALLET SDN BHD Company No:201601035292 (1206233-A)] (Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the members of the Company will be held at Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre, 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Saturday 25th February 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes :- (1)To receive the Liquidator’s Final Accounts showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. (2)To determine under Section 518, Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and the Liquidator shall be disposed of. Dated: 26th January 2023 ONG WHEE TIONG Liquidator Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel : 03 - 7492 1166 322 Notices IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT SHAH ALAM IN THE STATE OF SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) COMPANIES WINDING-UP NO.: BA-28NCC-701-12/2022 In the matter of Section 465(1) (e) (h) and Section 466(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2016; AND In the matter of Konsortium Ipmines Merz Sdn. Bhd. (Company No.: 1116110- U); AND In the matter of the Companies (Winding -Up) Rules 1972 BETWEEN KK WOO ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 797773-T) … PETITIONER AND KONSORTIUM IPMINES MERZ SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 1116110-U) … RESPONDENT ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for the winding-up of the above-named company by the High Court was, on the 23rd day of December, 2022 presented by KK WOO ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 797773-T). And that the said petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Shah Alam at 9.00 o’clock in the forenoon, on the 3rd day of May, 2023; and any creditor or contributory of the said Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge of the same. The Petitioner’s registered address is at No. 18, Jalan Damai Perdana 2/3A, Bandar Damai Perdana, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and business address at No. 37-G & 37-M, Block H, Jalan Maju 3/3, Taman Lembah Maju, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. The Petitioner’s solicitors is Messrs Kee Sern, Siu & Huey of No. 468-11E(2), 2nd Floor, Block C, Rivercity, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (formerly Jalan Ipoh), 51200 Kuala Lumpur. sgd ……………………………….. Messrs Kee Sern, Siu & Huey Solicitors for the Petitioner Note : Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed solicitors, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitors (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than twelve o’clock noon on the 2nd day of May, 2023 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition). (Tel: 03-92122688) (Fax No: 03-40440448) (Email: [emailprotected]) (Ref: LPT/LKS/GL06)/KKW-IPM/180163 DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KLANG DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA GUAMAN NO: BL-A72NCvC-797-11/2022 ANTARA TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD (No. Syarikat: 199001009294) …PLAINTIF DAN JAMUNA A/P SHUNMUGAM (No. K/P: 650609-10-6652) …DEFENDAN NOTIS PENGIKLANAN (Dalam Perkara mengenai Penyampaian Ganti Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 14.11.2022 melalui Perintah Mahkamah bertarikh 5.1.2023) Kepada:- JAMUNA A/P SHUNMUGAM No.43, Jalan Dato Dagang 29, Taman Sentosa, 41200 Klang, Selangor AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 14.11.2022 (“Writ tersebut”) dan satu Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 5.1.2023 (“Perintah tersebut”) telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Majistret Klang oleh Tenaga Nasional Berhad (No. Syarikat: 199001009294) yang mempunyai alamat penyampaian di Pejabat Setiausaha Syarikat, Tingkat 2, Ibu Pejabat Tenaga Nasional Berhad, No. 129, Jalan Bangsar, 59200, Kuala Lumpur dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ dan Perintah tersebut disampaikan keatas kamu secara penyampaian ganti dengan mengeposkan sesalinan Writ tersebut berserta dengan sesalinan Perintah tersebut ke alamat terakhir Defendan yang diketahui secara pos biasa; dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ tersebut berserta dengan sesalinan Perintah tersebut di Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Klang; dan dengan mengiklankan satu Notis sekali dalam akhbar “The Sun”. DAN BAHAWA penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut hendaklah dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang sempurna dan mencukupi Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut keatas Defendan tujuh (7) hari selepas pelaksanaan terakhir tindakan pengeposan, penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. DAN AMBIL PERHATIAN SELANJUTNYA bahawa Saman tersebut akan didengar di Mahkamah Majistret Klang pada 27.1.2023, pukul 9 pagi di hadapan Majistret Nur Atikah Binti Zakaria di mana kamu perlu menghadirkan diri pada tarikh tersebut, suatu penghakiman ingkar boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu. Sesalinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut dan Perintah tersebut boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permintaan di Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh 17 haribulan Januari 2023 t.t. .................................. Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS PENGIKLANAN ini telah dikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Vin Law Co. beralamat di Suite 6.05, Tingkat 6, Wisma E&C, No. 2, Lorong Dungun Kiri, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif. Tel: 03-2093 3300 Faks: 03-2093 2200 / emel: [emailprotected] (Ruj: VR/LIT/17/2022/TNB-JAMUNA) 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT PENANG COMPANIES WINDING-UP NO. PA-28NCC-114-11/2022 In the Matter of Section 465 (1) (e) & (i) of the Companies Act, 2016 And In the Matter of ZAMBINA WAWASAN SDN. BHD. (Company No. 395166-M) Between JANAR RESOURCES SDN BHD Petitioner And ZAMBINA WAWASAN SDN. BHD. (COMPANY NO. 395166-M) .... Respondent NOTICE OF WINDING - UP ORDER In the matter of ZAMBINA WAWASAN SDN. BHD. Winding-up Order made the 17th day of January 2023. Name and address of Liquidator: Director General of Insolvency, Penang Tingkat 9, Bangunan Persekutuan Pulau Pinang, Jalan Anson, 10400 Pulau Pinang Dated the 17th day of January 2023 This NOTICE OF WINDING - UP ORDER filed by Messrs Subra & Partner, Solicitors for the Petitioner herein whose address for service is at 1st Floor, Room H, No. 29, Beach Street, 10300 Penang. (File Ref: SP20/22/RS). 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI DI PULAU PINANG DALAM KEBANKRAPAN NO: PA-29NCC-30-01/2022 EX PARTE: KHOR CHAI KOAN (NO. K/P: 631111-08-6419) ...PENGHUTANG PENGHAKIMAN PER: NG BACK TENG (NO. K/P: 481127-07-5393) ...PEMIUTANG PENGHAKIMAN NOTIS (Dalam Perkara Petisyen Pemiutang bertarikh 24/8/2022) Kepada: KHOR CHAI KOAN (NO. K/P: 631111-08-6419) 527, Jalan Tanjong Bungah, 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Pulau Pinang. ATAS PERHATIAN bahawa suatu Petisyen Pemiutang telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Pulau Pinang dalam Kebankrapan No: PA29NCC-30-01/2022 oleh Ng Back Teng (No. K/P: 481127-07-5393) yang beralamat di No. 3, Lorong Tambun Indah 7, Taman Tambun Indah, 14100 Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang DAN ADALAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Petisyen Pemiutang tersebut disampaikan ke atas kamu secara penyampaian ganti dengan penampalan sesalinan Petisyen Pemiutang tersebut bersama dengan Perintah penyampaian ganti di Papan Notis di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Pulau Pinang, penampalan di alamat terakhir Penghutang Penghakiman yang diketahui iaitu 527, Jalan Tanjong Bungah, 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Pulau Pinang dan melalui pengiklanan Notis ini sekali dalam surat khabar tempatan berbahasa Inggeris “The Sun” dan penyampaian tersebut hendaklah menjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dan mencukupi akan Petisyen Pemiutang tersebut ke atas kamu tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan/ pengiklanan tersebut dan juga ambil notis bahawa Petisyen Pemiutang akan dibicarakan di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Pulau Pinang pada hari Isnin, 20/2/2023 pada pukul 9.00 pagi iaitu hari yang kamu dikehendaki hadir, dan jika tidak Mahkamah boleh membuat Perintah Kebankrapan terhadap kamu dalam ketiadaan kamu. Petisyen Pemiutang ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan memohon kepada Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Pulau Pinang Bertarikh pada 20 Disember, 2022. …………t.t.…….…… TUNKU INTAN NADIAH BINTI TUNKU MOHAMMED NAZARIN Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya Georgetown NOTIS INI difailkan oleh Tetuan Cheng, Lee & Goh, Peguambela & Peguamcara, yang beralamat di No. 88-5-2, Jalan Jelutong, 11600 Pulau Pinang. Peguamcara bagi Pemiutang Penghakiman (Ruj Kami: 40215/L/CTK/jg) Tel: 04-281 3955; Faks: 04-2813836; Emel:[emailprotected] IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF KOJADI ASSETS MANAGEMENT SDN BHD Company No:201601035368 (1206309-V) (Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the members of the Company will be held at Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre, 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Saturday 25th February 2023 at 11.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- (1)To receive the Liquidator’s Final Accounts showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. (2)To determine under Section 518, Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and the Liquidator shall be disposed of. Date: 26th January 2023 ONG WHEE TIONG Liquidator Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel No.: 03 - 7492 1166 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GULF S.E.A. SDN. BHD. (198901000045) (177351-U) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016, a Final Meeting of the abovementioned Company will be held at UOA Business Park, Tower 3, 5th Floor, K03- 05-08, 1 Jalan Pengaturcara U1/51A, Section U1, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan on Monday, 27th day of February 2023 at 11.00 a.m., for the following purposes:- 1. To receive and consider the Liquidator’s account of winding up of the Company and any explanations arising thereof. 2. To resolve that under Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act 2016, all books and papers of the Company and of the Liquidator be destroyed upon the dissolution of the Company. Dated this 26th day of January, 2023 Jason Sia Sze Wan Liquidator QUINTOUR SDN BHD (474567-W) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016 the final meeting of members in the abovementioned company will be held at No 9-2, Jalan sem*nyih Sentral 8, sem*nyih Sentral, 43500 sem*nyih, Selangor on 27th February 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes :- 1. To receive the Liquidator’s statement of account showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear explanations that may be given by the Liquidator. 2. To determine pursuant to Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the company and of the Liquidator thereof, shall be disposed of. Dated this 18th day of January 2023. YONG SWEE LIN Liquidator 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT SHAH ALAM, IN THE STATE OF SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. BA-28NCC-495-09/2022 In the matter of Companies Act 2016 And In the matter of Section 464 (1) (b), Section 465 (1)(e) & (h), Section 466 (1)(a), of Companies Act 2016. (formerly Section 217(1)(b), Section 218(1)(e)(i), Section 218(2)(a) of Companies Act 1965) And In the matter of Johan Utama Sdn. Bhd. [Company No.: 815808-U] BETWEEN LAM LEE CONSTRUCTION (Business Registration No: 000821104-X) (to sue as a firm) … PETITIONER AND JOHAN UTAMA SDN BHD (Company No: 815808-U) … RESPONDENT NOTICE OF WINDING-UP ORDER In the matter of Johan Utama Sdn Bhd. Winding-up Order made on 16th day of January, 2023. Name and address of liquidator: Director General of Insolvency Jabatan Insolvansi Malaysia, (Unit Liquidasi) Lot F23-F45, Level 1, Bangunan IDCC Shah Alam, Jalan Pahat L 15/L, Seksyen 15, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Azam-Malek & Soh ………………………………. Messrs Azam-Malek & Soh Solicitors for the Petitioner This Notice of Winding-Up Order is filed by M/s Azam-Malek & Soh, Solicitors for the Petitioner whose address for service is at No 17, Jalan Miri, Off Jalan Raja Bot, 41400 Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Ref No. L/417/YKH/Klg/22 Tel: 33427372 Fax: 3341 0602 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF SOUTHERN RANK SDN BHD 199201023005 (254509-U) (MEMBERS’S VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016, that the Final Meeting of Members of the abovenamed Company will be held at 171, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru on 28 February 2023 at 2.00 p.m. for the following purposes: (a) To receive an account from the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and the property of the Company disposed of and to hear any explanations that may be given by the Liquidator; (b) To receive the resignation of the Liquidator; and (c) To determined by Resolution the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator shall be disposed of. LOR LI MENG (Liquidator) Dated: 26 January 2023 Note: A member entitled to attend and vote at the Members Meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his stead, a proxy need not be a member of the Company. The instrument appointing a proxy must be deposited at 171, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru at least 48 hours before the time appointed for meeting. 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF KOJADI MANAGEMENT SERVICES SDN BHD Company No: 201601035365 (1206306-W) (Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the members of the Company will be held at Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre, 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Saturday 25th February 2023 at 10.30 a.m. for the following purposes :- (1)To receive the Liquidator’s Final Accounts showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. (2)To determine under Section 518, Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and the Liquidator shall be disposed of. Dated: 26th January 2023 ONG WHEE TIONG Liquidator Suite 705, Block A, Kelana Business Centre 97, Jalan SS 7/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel : 03 - 7492 1166 322 Notices India top ODI rankings after thrashing Kiwis BLAZING centuries from skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill powered India to a 3-0 series sweep of New Zealand and go top of the one-day international rankings yesterday. The hosts hammered the Kiwis by 90 runs in the third match in Indore after Rohit (101) and Shubman (112) put on 212 for the opening wicket to guide the hosts to 385-9 in Indore. In reply, Devon Conway’s 138 was in vain as India bowled out New Zealand for 295 in 41.2 overs for their second successive whitewash. The victory takes India to the top of the ODI rankings ahead of World Cup holders England and New Zealand who slip from second to fourth behind Australia. Qualification for the World Cup in India later in the year is unaffected, however, as the Kiwis have already qualified. But Rohit, who recorded his first ODI century since January 2020, and Shubman stood out in the highest opening partnership by any team against the Kiwis in the 50-over format, surpassing the 201-run stand of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in 2009. “In the last six games we’ve done most things right in ODIs,” said Rohit, whose side whitewashed Sri Lanka in three matches before this. “We’re consistent in our approach with the bat and ball.” Fast bowler Shardul Thakur was named man of the match for his three wickets and crucial 25 runs batting down the order. “Shardul has been doing it for a while,“ said Rohit. People call him magician in the squad and he came and delivered.” New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said the experience would help them in the World Cup. “It’s our last experience in India before the World Cup so the guys are exposed to these conditions in the three games and hopefully it’ll be helpful in October,” said Latham. The two teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals starting tomorrow in Ranchi. – AFP JON RAHM is playing lights-out golf and believes he can play even better. The Spanish star, up to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, is riding high entering this week’s Farmers Insurance Open after winning each of his past two starts. A win this week at Torrey Pines in San Diego, the site of his first PGA Tour victory in 2017, would make Rahm the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive starts on tour. “It is on my mind, obviously,” Rahm said yesterday. “I’ve been reminded of it many, many times. And even more knowing where we’re coming, right, a place where I’ve played so good at. I still need to go out there and shoot a very low score to win.” Rahm kicked off the calendar year with a come-from-behind victory over Collin Morikawa at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui. After a week off, he returned to the fairways at last week’s tournament, The American Express in La Quinta, California., where he held off Davis Thompson to win his ninth PGA Tour title. Rahm’s body of work at Torrey Pines speaks for itself. His 2017 victory at the Farmers Insurance Open came in his tournament debut. After a 29th-place finish in 2018, he’s been in the top five ever since – fifth, second, seventh and third. Oh, and Rahm’s lone major victory, the 2021 US Open, also took place at Torrey. Amid the questions about his terrific form, Rahm said he’s only focused on doing what he needs to do to prepare for another tournament. He will “step back” and appreciate it when the time is right. That doesn’t mean he’s taking his hot streak for granted. “I’m aware very few people have been able to do this,” Rahm said. “I saw some list, think there’s only five or six of us to start the year with two wins – Justin Thomas being the most recent one six years ago. “I’m aware this is very rare and I appreciate it because if anything, it’s a humbling feeling of how much work you need to put in to be able to do something like this because of the talent you have out there.” – Field Level Media Rahm eyes third straight win Rahm. – REUTERSPIX
22 theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 SPORTS 5587/2023 25/01/2023 (WED) 1658 3660 6651 8894 5139 9733 1372 6796 8467 3175 8337 7914 6491 3821 3116 2126 0809 3366 4591 2484 6342 3118 1237 8,639,373.75 1658 1658 1658 6651 6651 3660 6651 6651 3660 3660 1658 3660 174,568.13 1658 3660 6651 TIGER 44824 37971 7971 971 66701 7 1 8 4 958484 58484 8484 484 95848 9584 958 9 5 7,770,241.66 1,713,749.26 22 30 33 40 54 57 232,455.01 102 19 24 27 28 1 2 7 18 33 47 42 9,470,981.66 RM282,635 Toto 4D Jackpot 2 won on 24/01/2023 ! 908 500 + TIGER 784 130 + OX 802 698 + RABBIT Draw Date: 25/01/23 (Wed) Draw No: 5534/23 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB 8500 4130 2698 3789 + 4189 5458 + 0862 9943 + 2413 0765 + 8017 8114 + 2671 4225 + 5991 9040 + 8048 3664 + 7165 1167 + 8792 0178 + 4262 RM14,428,232.10 8500 + 4130 4130 + 8500 8500 + 2698 2698 + 8500 4130 + 2698 2698 + 4130 RM331,954.20 RM2,086,002.90 RM961,666.60 RM2,145,972.10 923 789 704 189 905 458 350 862 249 943 582 413 650 765 968 017 698 114 672 671 194 225 445 991 029 040 188 048 013 664 767 165 641 167 018 792 780 178 374 262 500 130 698 RM804,954.70 500 + 130 + 698 130 + 698 + 500 500 + 698 + 130 698 + 500 + 130 130 + 500 + 698 698 + 130 + 500 Exclusively for dmcGO: Grab your CNY GO Packages now! Unstoppable! Djokovic mows down Rublev to reach semis NOVAK DJOKOVIC delivered another masterclass at the Australian Open yesterday to thump fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 and reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park where he is bidding for a record-extending 10th crown and 22nd Grand Slam title. It marked the 44th time that Djokovic reached the last four at the Grand Slams, leaving him six ahead of Rafa Nadal and only two behind his other great rival and 20-times major champion Roger Federer. “I can’t be happier with my tennis, I was solid from the back of the court. I love these conditions, this court, it’s definitely special for me,” Djokovic said. Djokovic targeted Rublev’s forehand and second serve with venomous returns in windy conditions on Rod Laver Arena and went ahead 3-1 in the first set after the Russian fifth seed double-faulted on breakpoint and the Serbian pulled away from there. “You have to make adjustments and adapt,” Djokovic said of playing in testing conditions. “It wasn’t breezy at six in the evening and it started all of a sudden. “People in the stands or watching on TV don’t see it. But it makes a huge difference, as you have to pick and choose your shots and open up the court. The ball toss is a gamble. “The scoreline in the opening two sets does not show the r e a l i t y . Andrey’s a great opponent, he has one of the biggest forehands. “I knew the gameplan, but it’s one thing to imagine and another to execute.” After taking the lead in the match with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner, Djokovic showed how hard he is to beat on the grandest stage despite a strapped thigh due to a hamstring issue after the fourth seed broke in the fifth game of the second set. He played exquisitely to save a breakpoint in the next game and let out a huge roar before going on to double his advantage in the contest after a frustrated Rublev unloaded on his coach in the stands following another double fault. Djokovic pounced early in the next set with Rublev appearing bereft of ideas and a seventh quarterfinal defeat at a major looming, as the former number one closed out a convincing win on serve to set up a last-four meeting with American Tommy Paul. “If I have to sum up the important shots, I found my best tennis,” Djokovic said. “Obviously he (Paul) doesn’t have much to lose being in the semifinals for the first time. He has been playing terrific tennis in the last 15 months. “I have to be ready for the match mentally and not approach it differently. If I play this way, I have a good chance to go through.” – Reuters Sabalenka battles ‘tough moments’ to reach last four ARYNA SABALENKA said she had to overcome “a lot of really tough moments” yesterday against a dogged Donna Vekic to reach her maiden Australian Open semifinal. The 24-year-old Sabalenka is the highest-ranked player left in the draw and plays unseeded Magda Linette of Poland for a place in Saturday’s final. The Belarusian fifth seed was constantly under pressure in a 1hr 49min tussle on Rod Laver Arena before grittily coming through 6-3, 6-2 against unseeded Croat Vekic. “There were a lot of really tough moments,” said Sabalenka, who faced break points in all of her service games and is closing on a first Grand Slam crown. “I just kept saying: ‘Just stay in the game, fight for it, don’t give her easy points, make her work for it.’ “Before I would go for aces, go for crazy shots to get out from that situation easily,” she said. “Now I keep saying: ‘No, work for it. It’s not going to be easy. You have your shots, you have your serve. Just work for it,‘” she said. “It’s just a different approach.” Dream come true for Linette UNSEEDED Magda Linette marched into her first Grand Slam semifinal yesterday and said it was a “dream come true” after stunning former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 at the Australian Open yesterday. Linette continued flying the flag for Poland after the shock exit of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, taking 1hr 27min to set up a clash with Aryna Sabalenka for a place in Saturday’s final. “I’m so emotional, I can’t really believe it,” Linette said after the biggest win of her career. “It’s a dream come true. I’m super grateful and happy. Thank you for cheering and supporting, I really needed this. “So we keep going. I don’t want to get too excited because we are still in the tournament,“ added the world No. 45, who will break into the top 30 for the first time. Pliskova rues misfiring serve KAROLINA PLISKOVA’S serve deserted her at the worst possible time as she fell to a 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Magda Linette yesterday but the Czech said she would take some positives from her run at Melbourne Park. “Super disappointed about today, because I just thought this was a match which I should win and I could win,” Pliskova told reporters. “Obviously the serve was not great today at all. “I suppose you can have days like this. I have been serving really well for like all my matches, and pretty much like for the last two, three weeks.” “On the other hand, I think I played some good tennis here,” she added. “All the matches were quite good. For sure, some positive things. Just happy to be back in this stage of tournaments. I’ve got to keep trying.” Novak Djokovic in action during his quarterfinal match against Andrey Rublev. – REUTERSPIX SHORTS
23 * SPORTS theSUN ON THURSDAY | JANUARY 26, 2023 823/23 25/01/2023 4716 2894 8054 9002 7790 0414 6014 3822 7545 1429 2965 6816 2774 9169 9620 7296 1525 5556 2019 2646 1571 7250 5015 RM 7,501,915.55 RM 147,377.73 4716 + 2894 2894 + 4716 8054 + 4716 4716 + 8054 2894 + 8054 8054 + 2894 01 06 14 15 20 26 30 35 28 29 RM 7,702,095.57 RM 238,175.49 1 6 9 4 5 4 16945 69454 1694 9454 169 454 16 54 94 0 7 Is this the end of Lampard? Can axed Everton manager recover from troubling time on Merseyside NINE MONTHS ago Frank Lampard was bouncing on the roof of an executive box at Goodison Park. Now he has been dismissed with only goal difference keeping Everton off the foot of the Premier League. Lampard’s sacking had taken on an air of inevitability. Farhad Moshiri had argued that Everton’s previous managers were dismissed as much by the fans as by him. Lampard, however, was fired by results: for 11 defeats in 14 games, for the poorest record in the Premier League over the last three months, for the lowest points total in 20 games in their history. He was not hounded out; just dismissed in a bid to preserve their top-flight status. Lampard exits with the lowest win percentage of any p e r m a n e n t Everton manager since Mike Walker. Yet he also goes with the sense that it wasn’t all his fault. The context and culture rendered it a difficult job; briefly he flourished, and ultimately he floundered. His was a reign of two quick fixes, both impressive at the time, but which were preceded and followed by runs of defeats. The comeback against Crystal Palace to keep Everton up, an achievement forged by victories over Manchester United and Chelsea, demonstrated Lampard briefly united a club further divided by Rafa Benitez, forging a bond with the supporters and galvanising a group of players; yet Goodison, a bearpit then, became a place where Everton lost to Wolves, Brighton and Southampton in recent weeks. Everton’s early-season improvement, based around Lampard’s recruitment of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, produced a rearguard that briefly had the division’s best defensive record. A talisman of their spring surge was Richarlison. Everton’s overspending, which predated Lampard, meant the Brazilian was soon sold. Their difficulty in funding up-front fees meant his r e p l a c e m e n t s ended up being Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay. Neither really felt his first choice in the market, but E v e r t o n ’ s r e c r u i t m e n t became based on who they could get more than who they really wanted. T h a t L a m p a r d has never really had a fit and firing Dominic Calvert-Lewin has exacerbated their problems in front of goal. As Everton unravelled, there were recurring themes. Senior players have a tendency to go off Lampard in time. His Chelsea teams could get caught on the counter-attack and so did Everton. He struggled to find the balance between defence and attack and, when Everton showed solidity earlier in the campaign, Lampard looked to tweak his tactics to add more goals. Instead, Everton conceded more. For a while it seemed as though his evident good intentions, his good relations with both his employers and the supporters, his attempts to add leadership on the pitch and encourage some younger players might be enough. Yet though he brought a sense of responsibility, he never really recovered from the loss of Richarlison. Now Everton’s alarming slide invites questions where he will manage again and if they are unmanageable. – The Independent Toffees not for sale, insists owner EVERTON owner Farhad Moshiri has insisted the troubled club is not for sale but said he is close to a deal with a minority investor to help finance their new stadium at BramleyMoore Dock. Moshiri has been searching for investment for almost a year and had described the cost of Bramley-Moore Dock as £500 million (RM2.7b) before saying earlier this month it was £760 million (RM4.1b). He had been in talks for several months with the American billionaire Maciej Kaminski but it is understood no discussions have taken place since the World Cup. Moshiri claimed he has now found a partner who will provide extra funds and expertise as he said Everton, who are 19th in the Premier League and sacked manager Frank Lampard on Monday, are at their most critical time ever. He told the club’s Fan Advisory Board: “The club is not for sale but I have been talking to top investors, really quality, to bridge a gap on the stadium. I can do it myself and the reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors to Everton. “We are close to having a deal done. It is not selling the club at all. It is bringing more expertise in terms of sponsorship, commercial development and a lot of specialist sport investors have this pool of knowledge. “The stadium is the best-performing area of our operation at the moment: on time, on budget. Once we get through the current under performance fans can start dreaming with me. “The stadium was never a luxury for Everton. For us, it was a necessity. If you want to start it today, the cost would be well in excess of £1.1 billion (RM6b). This stadium lasts well past my tenure, well past our lives. It should be part of that hope for our fans to get us through this.” – The Independent Devils hamstrung by Glazers asking price MANCHESTER UNITED fans’ hopes of welcoming new owners or investors have been hit by a fresh blow after the Glazers reportedly refused to budge from their asking price for the club. The American family are said to value the club at £6 billion (RM32.5b), which has priced out prospective buyers from making an offer, sparking fears that a takeover might not materialise. The Glazers, who took control of the club in 2005 in a £790 million (RM4.3b) deal, have proved unpopular with fans due to their financial management of the club. Their bid was packaged by way of a leveraged buyout, which entailed a significant amount of borrowed money used to fund the company’s bid, with the loan debt secured against the club. Last year, it emerged that co-owners Joel and Avram Glazer had finally agreed to listen to offers concerning the sale of the Red Devils. However, the Daily Mail report they are unlikely to budge from their £6 billion asking price and that has put off investors from the United States and the Middle East in pursuing a potential bid. Given that renovations have been put forward for Old Trafford, which may cost up to £1 billion (RM5.4b) in itself, the asking price is viewed as unrealistic given the club’s position in the world. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos have formally registered an interest, but it is unlikely the Briton would recommend paying £6 billion for the club in its current state. – The Independent █ RICHARD JOLLY █ RICHARD JOLLY ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP SEMIFINAL 1ST LEG: Southampton 0 Newcastle 1 (Joelinton 73). FA CUP 3RD ROUND REPLAY: Accrington 1 (Leigh 97-pen) Boreham Wood 0 aet. SERIE A: Lazio 4 (Milinkovic-Savic 4, Zaccagni 38, Luis Alberto 67-pen, Anderson 75) AC Milan 0. Top 5 P W D L F A Pts Napoli 19 16 2 1 46 14 50 AC Milan 19 11 5 3 35 24 38 Lazio 19 11 4 4 35 15 37 Inter Milan 19 12 1 6 38 25 37 Roma 19 11 4 4 25 16 37 BUNDESLIGA: Bayern Munich 1 FC Cologne 1, Hoffenheim 2 Stuttgart 2, Hertha Berlin 0 Wolfsburg 5, Schalke 1 RB Leipzig 6. Top 5 P W D L F A Pts B. Munich 17 10 6 1 51 15 36 RB Leipzig 17 9 5 3 37 23 32 E. Frankfurt 16 9 3 4 35 24 30 Union Berlin 16 9 3 4 27 21 30 SC Freiburg 16 9 3 4 25 23 30 Lazio thump champions Milan LAZIO shot into Serie A’s Champions League places yesterday after hammering AC Milan 4-0 to leave the champions’ title defence hanging by a thread. Lazio breezed up to third on goal difference ahead of Inter Milan and local rivals Roma and a point behind second-placed AC Milan, who gave a disastrous display at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put Lazio ahead after three minutes with a first-time finish, and by the time Mattia Zaccagni bundled in the hosts’ 38th-minute second they could have already been up by three. Luis Alberto ended the match as a contest by smashing home a penalty midway through the second half his beautifully disguised pass set up Felipe Anderson to roll in a deserved fourth in the 75th minute. “If we play like the we have in the last few matches, we can really go far,” said Milinkovic-Savic, who thinks a title bid under Maurizio Sarri is a possibility in the future. “Why not? If we play like this against the champions, why can’t we go for the league?” Kimmich saves point for Bayern A 90th-minute equaliser from Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich saved his side from a second loss of the season, as they drew 1-1 at home against a dogged Cologne yesterday. Cologne, who put seven goals past Bremen on Saturday, picked up where they left off, pressuring Bayern and winning a corner after just three minutes. Cologne defender Julian Chabot kept the ball in the air from the corner, superbly finding an unmarked Ellyes Skhiri at the far post for the Tunisian international to tap in from close range. Cologne kept wave after wave of Bayern attacks at bay and looked set for their first win at Bayern since 2009, but midfielder Kimmich scored pulled back a point for the hosts in the last minute of regulation time. Cologne manager Steffen Baumgart said he was “a little annoyed” about the late equaliser but was “completely satisfied with the performance we showed.” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side “played a very good game in the second half” but “it was not enough in the end.” RESULTS & STANDINGS SIDENETTING Lampard
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [emailprotected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [emailprotected] NICK POPE was hailed as the “best goalkeeper in the world” after his 10th successive clean sheet helped put Newcastle on the brink of Wembley. The England international produced two superb second-half saves from Southampton forward Che Adams as the Magpies secured a vital 1-0 win from a breathless Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at St. Mary’s. Joelinton set aside a disallowed goal and a shocking miss to claim the visitors’ 73rd-minute winner, while Saints substitute Adam Armstrong had a leveller ruled out for handball following VAR intervention. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who warned there is still a long way to go in the tie ahead of next week’s return meeting, saluted the impact of his in-form keeper, while Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes went a step further. “One goal is important, we could score more but most important was to be one goal in front of Southampton,” the Brazilian midfielder told Sky Sports. “I want to thank Nick Pope, I think he’s the best goalkeeper in the world. Let’s keep it going.” Speaking of a player he signed from Burnley in the summer, Howe said: “Nick made some big saves today, especially the first one from Adams (which) I thought was a big moment in the match. He stood up tall for us, as he has done all season. “It (10 clean sheets in a row) is a brilliant thing for Nick. I think he deserves that accolade. He’s been excellent on and offer the pitch in every respect since he signed for the club. “I can’t speak highly enough of him, I can’t praise him enough and I can’t rate him highly enough. He’s a brilliant shot stopper and I think he’s in a very good place currently.” After Joelinton was controversially adjudged to have handled before finishing in the 39th minute, the game burst into life following the restart. The Magpies midfielder somehow blazed over with the goal gaping before Pope quelled mounting Southampton momentum by denying Adams when clean through and expertly clawing away a later effort. Alexander Isak then teed up Joelinton for the decisive goal before Newcastle academy graduate Armstrong was frustrated by a Stockley Park review having bundled home with the aid of an arm. Southampton finished a frenetic encounter with 10 men after defender Duje Caleta-Car was dismissed for a second booking four minutes from the end. “I don’t think we were at our best today but I felt we did enough to deserve to win,” said Howe. “There were lots of talking points, obviously VAR involved. “It’s half-time, we’re 1-0 up, that’s all it is. We’re pleased with our work tonight but there’s a long way to go.” While Newcastle boosted their quest for a first major domestic trophy since 1955, Southampton were left frustrated and with work to do at St. James’ Park. Saints boss Nathan Jones, who also praised Pope, was pleased with his team’s display as he expressed further VAR disappointment on the back of having two goals ruled out during Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa. “You can’t celebrate a goal any more,” said the Welshman. “You can’t show any emotion because you know it’s going to VAR one way or another, unless someone picks the ball up from the goalkeeper, runs through 11 players and slots it past the keeper without anything else happening. “We thought we scored two good goals on the weekend, both overruled by VAR. Tonight is exactly the same. “I’m frustrated but it’s really difficult because these are one-off games. “The performance level is there, it’s just the edges that make or break good teams and seasons – we’re just coming out on the wrong end of it.” – The Independent ‘Best in the world’ Midfielder Guimaraes hails goalkeeper Pope after Magpies down Saints JURGEN KLOPP says he signed a new contract with Liverpool because he wants to build a new team, but said people have to accept it can’t happen “overnight”, thanks to an inability to spend like Chelsea. Klopp stressed that the club has to think “long term” as he also said he didn’t like how the concept of “loyalty” was questioned, as it is what can help “big things grow”. The 55-year-old meanwhile added that he doesn’t see himself as managing into his seventies like many of his famous counterparts, and that his wife, Ulla, has been crucial in stopping the game from completely consuming him. In an enlightening interview for BT Sport podcast Mike Calvin’s Football People, the Liverpool boss was asked how difficult it is to develop a new side, while there was also a mild question about Chelsea. “I’m not saying it’s the biggest challenge, but it’s a challenge, and it was one of the main reasons why I signed a new contract because I knew it’s necessary,” explained Klopp. “It will not go overnight… I’m obviously not a miracle worker. That’s why it’s good how it is, because all the problems you have in a transition time period, we have an awful lot of injuries, and that makes life really complicated. “I have no problem with that because I see obviously… I know the majority of the outside world is just interested in the short term but we have to be long-term focused as well, and that’s what we are. “There are obviously plenty of different ways you can do it, but it’s all based on the situation you are in, especially with the things happening around, Chelsea with the new ownership obviously, nobody knows exactly how they do it, how they can spend this much money. “Other teams, nobody likes me talking about that… but transition needs time if you don’t have endless money, otherwise you can change overnight pretty much, bringing in 10 players. “Last week I got a question if I am too loyal, I’m not too loyal but questioning loyalty in general is a sign of our time, the time we are living in as well, which I really don’t like too much. “I never saw anything bad in loyalty, to be honest, to your friends, to your family, to your company, in an ideal world you are loyal, and it’s not a one-way word. That’s an ideal world when both sides feel the same and big things can grow.” Klopp was also asked whether the job takes much out of him, or lets it get to him too much. It was here he said he cannot see himself emulating figures like Roy Hodgson. “My missus is a hard judge of that, and would tell me that’s it now, so it’s really like that. I could get lost in working like this, in firing everything out at work, coming home and having 0.0 energy level and sit there like a zombie in the corner,” he added. “That could happen with me, but it’s thankfully not with Ulla, we have found good ways to switch off. “I know I dream of football, so that’s not cool… the job is incredibly demanding, it is, but it’s great as well. “So that’s why I say when Roy Hodgson came back again, when he came in, I saw him and ask him ’You go again?’ and he says “I love it”. “I cannot see myself beyond 70 and still standing on the dugout… But I understand a little bit where they are coming from and I hope other things are that interesting to me that I am really fine with not being involved any more.” – The Independent Klopp explains difference between Liverpool and Chelsea rebuilds █ ED ELLIOT █ MIGUEL DELANEY It is on my mind, obviously… I’ve been reminded of it many, many times. And even more knowing where we’re coming, right, a place where I’ve played so good at. I still need to go out there and shoot a very low score to win.” World No. 3 golfer Jon Rahm QUOTE OF THE DAY THURSDAY • JANUARY 26, 2023 Newcastle keeper Nick Pope (2nd right) in action with Southampton’s Lyanco (right). – REUTERSPIX
