TELLING IT AS IT IS ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 No. 8356 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my Berjaya EnviroParks managing director Koh Chee Yong (left) briefing Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming yesterday on the company’s renewable energy plant in Bukit Tagar. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Set up schools for deaf in all states, govt urged Hearing-impaired students nationwide currently have to travel to Penang to sit for SPM exam at sole institution ‘Disgraceful to withhold wages of domestic workers’ No reason to justify such a shameful act, says Malaysian Maid Employers Association president Full report on hpage 4 Full report on hpage 3 Power from waste Bukit Tagar EnviroParks represents Malaysia’s first waste-to-energy plant, that can generate enough power for 4,000 domestic homes Full report on hpage 3
2 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME 12MP mid-term review tabled in Dewan Negara KUALA LUMPUR: The 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review (12MP MTR), which outlines policies and initiatives to strengthen the country’s development agenda and ensure the well-being of the people in achieving the objectives of the Madani Economy, was tabled at a special Dewan Negara sitting yesterday. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli tabled the 12MP MTR motion, which saw the unity government increasing the expenditure ceiling for the plan by RM15 billion. The motion will be debated by members of the Senate over a fourday sitting. Rafizi said the 12MP MTR provides new priority and emphasis on policies, strategies and initiatives for socioeconomic development and steps to enhance the country’s governance with three main focuses, namely strengthening oEmphasis placed on policies, strategies and initiatives for socioeconomic development and governance, says Rafizi BREAKTHROUGH ... Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang with the IS21 padi variety created with the help of nuclear technology, after launching the National Nuclear Technology Policy in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC sustainability, developing a prosperous society and moving towards a high-income nation. He expressed hope that all the senators would give their cooperation, support and blessings for the government’s efforts to plan and implement the national development agenda in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Madani, based on the framework of “Madani Economy: Empowering the People” tabled on July 27. “I also call upon all Malaysians to work together to ensure the sustainable growth of the national economy and that the distribution of the nation’s wealth is transparent, fair, and just.” The motion on the 12MP MTR involving a total allocation of RM415 billion was passed with a majority voice vote in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. The 12MP tabled on Sept 27, 2021 with an initial allocation of RM400 billion is the complementary phase of the country’s five-year development plan (2021-2025) towards achieving the status of a developed and inclusive nation, Bernama reported. The mid-term review was carried out to assess the achievements of the first two years (2021-2022) and the direction for 2023-2025 encompassing a review of targets, strategies, initiatives, development programmes, and projects to achieve the goal of inclusive and sustainable economic development. The 12MP MTR focuses on two aspects, namely assessment and review, including achievements, gap analysis as well as improvement and direction proposals. Earlier, Senate president Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the debate on the 12MP MTR would also take place today while replies from the relevant ministries are slated for Sept 25 and 26. He also welcomed newly appointed senators Susan Chemerai Anding and Datuk Mustafa Musa, who took their oath of office on Aug 21, and Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, who was sworn in on Tuesday. Support for startups and technopreneurs KUALA LUMPUR: The government will organise a startup convention in the near future to produce more local technopreneurs, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said that the development of startup companies is a prerequisite for accelerating the country’s economic transition towards technology and digital-based industries. He said the government would also ensure that the venture capital ecosystem continues to be strengthened to expedite the formation of technology-based startups. “This includes special initiatives to gather funding from government-linked companies. “Furthermore, emphasis will also be given to investors and earlystage startups to empower more local talents as technology creators and developers,” he said when tabling the motion on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review at the Dewan Negara. Rafizi said the government had allocated grants totalling RM266 million this year to local startup companies to create more unicornlevel companies, and of this amount, RM63.9 million has been disbursed to date. – Bernama Maintain decorum, senators told KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has reminded senators to always maintain decorum when debating the motion on the 12th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Negara. He said all Dewan Negara members should also refrain from touching on the personal affairs of ministers if they do not agree with the government. “With a check and balance role, senators must refrain from using inappropriate and unparliamentary language, and instead provide constructive feedback. “If you disagree with what a minister says, it is fine to (give views and suggestions), but don’t touch on his personal affairs. “This is a fundamental issue in the interest of the country and the people.” – Bernama Attack on Al-Aqsa mosque slammed PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has condemned the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque on Sunday by Israeli forces, who also attacked Palestinian worshippers at one of the entrances to the mosque compound in East Jerusalem. In a statement yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said the assault was a deliberate act of provocation and flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holy site, which clearly aims to challenge the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and Al-Haram AlSharif. “Malaysia therefore calls on the United Nations Security Council to fulfil its mandated responsibility of holding the Israeli regime responsible for continued acts of aggression against humanity and blatantly disregarding countless principles of international laws. “All acts of provocation and violence must be halted immediately in the interest of peace and security. There should be no disproportionate treatment in dealing with the conflict.” The statement added that the international community could not continue to disregard Israel’s continuous assaults and apartheid policy against the fundamental rights, lives, livelihood and dignity of the Palestinians of all faiths in their own land. “Malaysia continues to stand firm by our principled position that the Palestinians deserve their own independent and sovereign state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.” The incident happened when Israeli security forces ejected worshippers from the mosque and denied access to Palestinians below the age of 50 to clear the way for Israeli settlers on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, according to international media reports. Israeli settlers accompanied and protected by an intensified presence of security forces then made provocative incursions into the mosque. Many countries have condemned the provocative act including Saudi Arabia, which denounced the storming of the mosque. – Bernama Mutual benefits in M’sia-India cooperation KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) have benefited the citizens of both countries and strengthened bilateral ties, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin. He said collaboration between MTCP and ITEC had facilitated continuous skills development and competency enhancement among their citizens to meet the demands of the modern world. “ITEC and MTCP allow the two countries to benefit from comparative advantages. It is essential to continuously harness our skills and competencies to meet the demands of today’s world.” Alamin said this when officiating the ITEC Day event organised by the Indian High Commission here on Tuesday. The event was attended by Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy and several senior Malaysian government officials. Alamin added that more than 20 Malaysians had received training in India in the space sector, including remote sensing. He stressed the need for partnerships between both countries in areas like renewable energy, sustainable development and digital transformation. According to the official website of the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the ITEC programme offers training in various fields for Malaysian candidates, including banking, Information Communication and Technology, audit and accounts, hydrology and management. The programme initiated in 1964 involves 47 accredited institutions in India, offering training courses to 161 partner countries including Malaysia. – Bernama Asean-OIC efforts on Myanmar NEW YORK: Malaysia has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to collaborate with Asean to resolve the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said both OIC and Asean should ask for de-escalation and cessation of violence, especially by the military authorities in Myanmar. “Both organisations must coordinate humanitarian assistance without discrimination, including in areas not controlled by the military,” he told a media conference here on Tuesday. Zambry said he made the remark during the OIC Contact Group on Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He said the situation in Myanmar continues to spiral down, following the military coup in February 2021, and Malaysia and Bangladesh are among the countries badly hit as both are currently sheltering about 200,000 and one million Rohingya refugees, respectively. “The dire situation of Rohingya Muslims is still not improving. Rohingya Muslims are still subjected to extrajudicial and arbitrary killings, various forms of sexual violence and systematic evictions from their homes.” – Bernama
3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 HULU SELANGOR: Housing and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming yesterday launched the country’s first “waste-to-energy” renewable energy plant at Bukit Tagar EnviroParks, a Berjaya EnviroParks project. He said the renewable energy plant, which is connected to the national grid, could generate 12 megawatts of energy – enough to power 4,000 domestic homes. “Berjaya EnviroParks has transformed ordinary landfills into sanitary landfills that can recycle waste into energy. This is all achievable by using its state-of-the-art leachate treatment plant,” he said. Nga added that Berjaya EnviroParks invested RM310 million to build its first premier sanitary landfill and RM72 million to build the renewable energy plant. “It is part of the group’s initiative to help meet Malaysia’s sustainable development goals.” He said Malaysia aims to be a renewable energy powerhouse by 2035 and plans to do so by installing a waste-to-energy energy plant in every state. “We are also negotiating with our strategic partners in the private sector to invest in renewable energy and sustainable initiatives. “Traditional landfills around the country have to be transformed into sanitary landfills to reduce waste and generate renewable energy. “We cannot depend solely on the government to meet the target of the national renewable energy master plan. Everybody has to work together,” he said. As of this year, the current renewable energy produced in Malaysia is only 3%. The remainder is still generated by coal production, which is unrenewable and damaging to the environment. “We aim to increase the renewable energy production to 40% by 2035,” Nga said. He added that over 30% of waste in Malaysia is food waste, which can be used to feed a lot of people. “I hope people can reduce their carbon footprint by changing their attitude and embracing a sustainable lifestyle. We have to change our spending towards needs and not wants. “We have a responsibility to protect the environment for our future generation,” he said. Nga added that the launching of Bukit Tagar EnviroParks has also attracted China to invest in renewable energy in Malaysia. “During Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent working visit to China, Malaysia signed memoranda of understanding worth a total of RM19.84 billion with China, which includes renewable energy,” he said. Earlier, Berjaya EnviroParks managing director Koh Chee Yong said Bukit Tagar EnviroParks was developed in 2004 and has since expanded to over three phases. RM100m aid disbursed to 100,000 recipients PUTRAJAYA: An allocation of RM100 million to the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) under Budget 2023 has been fully disbursed and has benefited more than 100,000 individuals, said Mitra Special Task Force Committee chairman Datuk R. Ramanan. “This 100% distribution is the first time (it has been achieved) since 2016,” he told a press conference yesterday, adding that the allocation of RM100 million in 2016 and 2017 only reached 35% and 57% distribution respectively. Meanwhile, Ramanan said Mitra is in the process of preparing documents for disbursing funds for Mitra’s Hardcore Poverty Alleviation programme for Indian households, which will be implemented in phases. “The implementation of the first phase will focus on the hardcore poor Indian community in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, with a total of 1,800 households identified through the Implementation Coordination Unit’s e-kasih system.” Ramanan said the per capita income of the group is less than RM339 and it should be increased so that they can get out of hardcore poverty. He added that Mitra will ensure that the distribution of funds is transparent, with the details of each recipient under the programme being uploaded on Mitra’s website to avoid confusion. Regarding Budget 2024, which will be tabled next month, Ramanan said he was confident that more allocations for the Indian community would be provided since the RM100 million fund had been fully disbursed for this year. – Bernama First waste-to-energy plant in M’sia launched oBerjaya EnviroParks succeeds in transforming ordinary landfill into facility to convert refuse into electricity, says minister Association chief: Shameful not to pay domestic workers PETALING JAYA: It is disgraceful to withhold the wages of domestic workers no matter what reason an employer provides to justify the act, said Malaysian Maid Employers Association president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein. “Even if the person is a VIP, he has no right to withhold a worker’s wages. VIPs who have held back the wages of domestic workers do so because they are arrogant and think they can get away with it.” Engku Ahmad said as a signatory to the International Labour Organisation Forced Labour Convention, Malaysia needs to come down hard on people who commit such acts. He was commenting on a recent interview by Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono, who said reports of forced labour remain high involving those in the domestic sector. Hermono said there were 254 cases with elements of forced labour handled by his embassy from January to July, with the most common abuse being withholding wages. He said the embassy is also dealing with unpaid wages spanning up to 19 years. A total of 132 cases have been settled out of court, with unpaid wages of more than RM1.8 million recovered. Based on his estimates, the cases handled by his embassy make up no more than 20% of the real situation on the ground. Engku Ahmad said he believes cases involving unpaid wages should not be settled out of court and that those who have committed such acts should understand the severity of their actions. He said such people are hurting Malaysia’s international image and could discourage domestic workers from coming here. “There are employers who have been unable to pay the wages of their domestic worker because they cannot afford it. A question mark remains as to how these employers were allowed to hire a domestic helper in the first place.” Engku Ahmad also called on the government to review the rules and regulations when it comes to hiring domestic helpers. Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies president Datuk Jeffrey Foo said the law in Malaysia in regard to unpaid wages for workers such as domestic maids is strict. He said if an employer fails to pay a maid’s wages for more than six months, there is a possibility of the employer being charged with human trafficking. 73 million trees planted nationwide KUALA LUMPUR: More than 73.2 million trees have been planted nationwide through the “100 Million Tree Planting Campaign” by the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (Frim) deputy director-general (Research) Dr Norwati Muhammad said the campaign was a greening programme aimed at maintaining and increasing green cover in the country. “The five-year campaign, which started in 2021, also aims to increase public awareness on the importance of maintaining green cover and forests, and to encourage them to be actively involved in increasing the number of trees,” she said yesterday. She added that the campaign was also to support the government’s commitment to protect and maintain 50% of forest areas in the country, thus preserving the balance of the forest ecosystem in Malaysia. To make the campaign a success, Norwati said Frim is organising various courses, seminars and talks with experts on topics related to forestry science to increase public awareness on the importance of forests and environmental protection. – Bernama █ BY ALLEN WONG [emailprotected] More rice needed for programme SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan government has asked the state Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to make purchases and applications for additional supply of local white rice. State senior exco Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the 20 tonnes (2,000 packs of 10kg each) for the local white rice distribution intervention initiative, which began yesterday, was inadequate to meet the needs of the population. “I received a report that this supply will run out soon. This programme needs to be done regularly, including with the involvement of the Farmers’ Organisation Authority, to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of rice for the public. “We will try our best because this shortage occurs all over the country. We are confident that this situation can be resolved. If we supply at least 40 tonnes of local white rice a week, it will solve many problems,” he said after inspecting local white rice sales at the Fama operations centre yesterday. – Bernama █ BYRAJVINDER SINGH [emailprotected] SPORTY CREATIONS ... A visitor taking a photo of exhibits at ‘The Art of Wheels - Rim Design Challenge’ event in Dataran Sunway, Selangor yesterday. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN
4 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ ‘Open schools for deaf nationwide’ PETALING JAYA: An NGO, the Society Deaf of Johor, has urged the government to open schools for deaf students in every state. Its president Mohd Yazid Bain, who is based in Johor, said there are no schools for the deaf in the country. “There was one school for the deaf in Penang called the Federation School for the Deaf, but it has since been converted into the Penang Federation Special Education Secondary School,” he said. “This presents a serious problem oHearing-impaired students in other states currently have to travel to Penang to take SPM exams at sole institution █ BYQALIF ZUHAIR [emailprotected] for deaf students because they have to travel to Penang from their home states to sit for the SPM examination.” Mohd Yazid said there are a total of 35 special education schools in the country – six special education secondary schools and 29 special education primary schools, while the Indahpura Vocational Special Education Secondary School has been established in Kulai, Johor He said some 55,000 deaf people are registered under the Social Welfare Department, while the Johor district welfare department has recorded about 6,000 deaf people. “The special education secondary school in Penang provides dormitories, and the teachers are proficient in sign language, allowing students to sit for the SPM examination without any communication issues.” At a Temu Anwar Johor UTM event that was recently shared on social media, Ernie Yanti Mahmoud, who is deputy chairman of a special education school in Johor Bahru, said there are many deaf students in Johor Bahru with potential. “As Penang has the only school that allows deaf students to sit for their SPM, parents in Johor Bahru have no choice but to send their children there.” Other states have also called on the government to open more schools for the deaf. In 2018, the Sabah Society for the Deaf appealed to the Education Ministry to establish Form 4 and 5 classes for deaf students in the state. The society said there are only two schools in Sabah that provide formal education for deaf students, and efforts to establish classes for higher levels have been ongoing for over a decade, with no success. Mohd Yazid reiterated his call for swift action to remedy the situation and address the dearth of special education secondary schools in all states. “Deaf students in Johor can still attend the examination in regular secondary schools with integrated special education. “These integrated schools aim to provide inclusive education for deaf students by incorporating teachers who are proficient in sign language in classrooms, and teaching materials are modified to suit the learning needs of students,” he said. However, there are challenges faced by deaf students in integrated schools, such as shortage of teachers proficient in sign language. Other challenges are the shortage of accommodation and institutions that are equipped with comprehensive special education facilities for the deaf. In light of the challenges, Mohd Yazid said: “We need more teachers who are well-trained in providing special education.” He stressed that sign language serves as the primary language for deaf individuals. “I encourage the public and private sectors to promote sign language workshops and courses to enhance the deaf community’s inclusivity and ability to communication with normal people.” A special education data book released by the Education Ministry last year said 3,173 deaf students required special education. The figure included students from pre-school to secondary school. City Hall to restore neglected park PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall said yesterday it would restore the Taman Pudu Ulu Recreational Park, which is in a derelict condition because of poor maintenance and neglect. This comes on the heels of complaints made by Friends of The Pudu Ulu Park Association chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, which was highlighted in theSun on Tuesday. Lee said he had made several complaints to City Hall’s public park division, but they all fell on deaf ears. In a statement yesterday, City Hall said the original concept for the park was to make it an “active” one equipped with recreational and leisure facilities, including “waterplay” activities. “The Pudu Ulu Park canopy was severely damaged when a storm hit Taman Pudu Ulu and Taman Shamelin Perkasa. “City Hall had plans to reconstruct the canopy but after a site investigation, we found that there was soil movement and serious underground deposits around the canopy, wading pool and bridge.” The statement said the park facilities are currently closed. The effects of the soil deposit caused the wading pool to experience cracks, structural defects and significant leaks. “To repair the canopy, plaza, swimming pool and bridge, City Hall is conducting a study to identify the condition of the soil and the strength of the existing structure.” City Hall also said work to repair the damage, including reconstructing the canopy, will be carried out based on the conclusions of the soil condition and structural analyses. It added that it will carry out landscape maintenance every month, although there is still repair work to be done due to vandalism. Lee said on Tuesday the park was once one of the best in the city, but fell into disrepair due to years of neglect. “The main attraction is the wading pool. It was opened in 2017 but has not been functioning for almost a year.” – By QALIF ZUHAIR Enough rice supply in Johor: Exco JOHOR BAHRU: The public here has been advised not to resort to panic buying of rice as there is enough supply in the state. State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the monthly consumption of rice in the state amounted to 21,000 metric tonnes, while the supply is 23,000 metric tonnes a month. He said overall, Johor has a supply of 316,000 metric tonnes of rice a year and with the monthly consumption of 21,000 metric tonnes a month, there should be no worries about rice supply. “What is happening now is panic buying,” he said after opening the Madani Agro sales programme at Pasar Tani Kal in Jalan Datin Halimah, Larkin yesterday. Also present were Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry enforcement director Lilis Saslinda p*rnomo and Johor Padi and Rice Regulatory Office director Mohd Alieff Sabeh. On a related matter, Zahari said Johor also received an additional supply of 100 metric tonnes of rice from several agencies, including the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and the Farmers’ Organisation. – Bernama Consumers lining up to buy rice during an Agro Madani Sale at a farmers market in Larkin, Johor yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC
5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Woman loses RM110,000 to phone scam syndicate IPOH: A 48-year-old businesswoman lost RM118,880 to a phone scam syndicate in Teluk Intan as she feared being sent to the gallows for alleged involvement in serious crimes. Hilir Perak district police chief ACP Ahmad Adnan Basri said a man who impersonated an Inland Revenue Board officer called her on Sept 14, claiming that she had arrears totalling RM58,982, although she denied it. “He asked the woman to lodge a police report online, as her name was misused by a man claiming that she had conspired with him to commit money laundering and drug smuggling. “He then connected the call to a man posing as one ‘Corporal Iskandar’ and asked for RM98,000.” Ahmad Adnan said another individual introduced himself as “Sergeant Redzwa” and interrogated the woman, claiming that she could face the gallows and whipping for allegedly committing a serious crime. “This ‘Sergeant Redzwan’ contacted her again on Sept 15, asking the woman to declare all her assets. She also received a call from one ‘Datuk SAC Amirul’, asking her to take a picture of her husband’s bank card. “On the same day, she withdrew funds from Amanah Saham Bumiputera totalling RM21,500 and deposited the money into a bank account bearing the name of ‘Rokih’.” Ahmad Adnan said the woman was contacted again by ‘Datuk SAC Amirul’ on Monday, who instructed her to pawn her jewellery, which she did for RM97,380. “She was duped by ‘Datuk SAC Amirul’ to transfer her entire savings and the money from the jewellery, totalling RM118,880, to three local financial institutions,” he said, adding that the woman subsequently lodged a police report on Tuesday. – Bernama Trio involved in illegal rally sought by cops KUALA LUMPUR: Police are searching for three individuals to assist in investigations over a rally, which was held without a permit last Saturday. City police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid said yesterday the trio were unreachable to have their statements recorded. He said 16 of 28 individuals, who were identified as having participated in the gathering, have had their statements recorded. “The statements from the rest will be recorded soon. For these three individuals, we will release their names soon if they do not come forward to assist in investigations. “We are confident that the investigation papers would be completed this week.” It was reported that 800 people attended a rally organised by Perikatan Nasional Youth last Saturday, which did not comply with regulations under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. On a separate matter, Allaudeen said the crime index for the first eight months recorded a drop of 10.3%, or 344 cases, compared with 3,349 last year. He also said violent crime showed a decline of 115 cases, compared with 738 in the same period last year. “From January to Aug 31, we seized drugs valued at RM53.3 million and arrested 9,765 individuals for various drug offences and crimes.” – Bernama US$681m deposited into Najib’s account: Witness KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told yesterday that US$681 million from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was deposited into former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s personal account via eight transactions in 2013. Bank Negara Malaysia analyst and 47th prosecution witness Adam Ariff Mohd Roslan, 29, said the funds were transferred between March 22 and April 10, 2013 by Tanore Finance Corp, a company controlled by Eric Tan Kim Loong, who is alleged to be an associate of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low. It was reported that Tanore received US$890 million from 1MDB subsidiary 1MDB Global Investment Ltd (1GIL) via Devonshire Capital Growth Fund and Enterprise Emerging Markets Fund (EEMF) in March 2013. Adam Ariff confirmed that Tanore credited US$681 million into Najib’s oBank Negara Malaysia analyst says funds were transferred via company controlled by associate of fugitive Jho Low Duo charged with cheating KUALA LUMPUR: Two contractors pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to a charge of cheating a school board of governors three years ago over facility repair works valued at RM875,000. Mohd Syafeeq Mohd, 40, and Cheah Seng Nam, 48, were jointly charged with cheating the SJK Tamil Ladang sem*nyih board of governors into believing that they were contractors appointed by the Education Ministry. The offence was allegedly committed at the RHB Bank Taman Midah Branch from Aug 27 to Oct 8, 2020. The charge was framed under Section 420 and Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine. Judge Rozina Ayob allowed the duo bail of RM20,000 each in one surety and ordered that they report to the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office on the first week of every month. The court set Oct 5 for mention. On Sept 13, they were charged with committing a similar offence three years ago involving repair works valued at more than RM1.2 million. – Bernama Police arrest nine in four drug raids JOHOR BAHRU: Police arrested nine individuals, including three siblings, and seized drugs valued at RM231,000 in four raids on Tuesday in Seri Alam and Kota Tinggi. State police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said yesterday six men and three women, aged 22 to 36, were nabbed by officers from the Bukit Aman and state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department. “We seized 27.55kg of ganja, 1.81kg of heroin, 2.02kg of syabu, 0.59kg of ketamin, 0.08kg of yaba pills and 0.11kg of ecstasy. “Five types of firearms, 136 rounds of ammunition and 111 cartons of Chinese cigarettes were also confiscated.” He said the modus operandi of the syndicate, which had been active since May, was to rent several houses to store the drugs before distributing them to village areas and Felda settlements. “Five vehicles, jewellery and RM126,000 in cash were seized, bringing the value of drug and asset seizures to RM536,662. “Two suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, while six have criminal records.” – Bernama account between March 22 and April 10, 2013, Bernama reported. “According to Najib’s bank statement, it was revealed that RM465,000,000 was credited via three transactions on March 22, 2013, RM369,974,962.98 transferred on March 28 the same year via two transactions,” he said when verifying the money trail report at Najib’s trial involving the alleged misappropriation of RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds. On April 8 the same year, Adam Ariff said Najib received RM152,500,000 from Tanore and another RM304,000,000 and RM602,000,000 on April 9 and April 10 respectively. On the first day of the trial on Aug 28, 2019, the prosecution contended that on March 14, 2013, Najib signed a letter of support to raise a loan through the issue of bonds by 1MDB from the Bank of New York Mellon Group in the sum of US$3 billion and on March 19, 2013, a sum of US$2.72 billion was disbursed into the account of 1GIL with BSI Bank at Lugano in Switzerland. From the US$2.72 billion, US$1,060,606,065 was transferred to Devonshire and EEMF. Devonshire received US$646,464,649 in five tranches while EEMF received US$414,141,416 in three tranches. On March 21, 2013, Devonshire transferred US$430 million to Granton Property Holding Ltd, a company controlled by Tan, which then transferred the whole sum to Tanore the same day. Also on the same day, Devonshire transferred another US$210 million to Tanore. Between March 22 and 25, 2013, EEMF transferred US$250 million to Tanore, which by then had US$890 million in its account, and between March 21 and April 10, 2013, Tanore transferred US$681 million to Najib’s account. Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion belonging to 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. The trial before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues. Kamarul Zaman (third from left) showing one of the firearms seized from the syndicate during a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC
6 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME China blockade on Taiwan would be ‘monster risk’: US WASHINGTON: A Chinese blockade on the island democracy of Taiwan would be a “monster risk” for Beijing and likely to fail, while a military invasion would be extremely difficult, senior Pentagon officials told Congress on Tuesday. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, vowing to seize it one day, and officials in Washington – a key ally of Taipei – have cited 2027 as a possible timeline for an invasion. The growing worries come as China has ramped up military pressures on Taiwan, holding large-scale wargames simulating a blockade on the island, while conducting near-daily warplane incursions and sending Chinese vessels around its waters. Ely Ratner, the Pentagon’s assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, said a blockade would be “a monster risk for the PRC (People’s Republic of China)”, referring to China by its official name. “It would likely not succeed, and it would be a huge risk of escalation for the PRC, where it would likely have to consider whether or not it was willing to ultimately start attacking commercial maritime vessels,” Ratner told the House Armed Services Committee. “A blockade would be devastating to the international community and would likely induce the broad-based wide deep response from the international community ... that Beijing would likely be trying to avoid.” He was echoed by Army Maj-Ge Joseph McGee, a vice-director of the Joint Staff. “It is an option but it is probably not a highly likely military option ... It is much easier to talk about a blockade than actually do a blockade,” McGee said. He also pointed to island’s mountainous terrain and the Taiwan Strait waterway separating it from mainland China, saying “there is absolutely nothing easy about a PLA (People’s Liberation Army) invasion of Taiwan”. “They would have to mass tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of troops on the eastern coast and that would be a clear signal,” McGee said, adding that combined amphibious and airborne air assault operations would be “an extremely complicated joint operation”. “That would leave them in that (Taiwan Strait) gap, 90 to 100 miles – that would lead them susceptible to all the fire that could be brought to an invading force that was already telegraphing their intentions.” – AFP B R I E F SDRUG SMUGGLER, COP KILLED IN SHOOTOUT BANGKOK: A Thai drug smuggler and a policeman were killed in a shootout after authorities intercepted a vehicle carrying a tonne of crystal methamphetamine in the country’s north, police said yesterday. The incident followed a routine inspection of a vehicle transporting two men from the Lahu ethnic group in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai province. “The alleged drug smuggler shot a police officer dead, so the police had to defend themselves by shooting a suspect,” said Tiwapong Pluto, the local chief of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. “The other suspect escaped.” Police seized a tonne of crystal meth following the shootout. – AFP TORNADO IN EASTERN CHINA KILLS 10 BEIJING: A tornado in eastern China killed 10 people and seriously injured several others, state media said yesterday. “Yesterday afternoon, a strong tornado occurred in Suqian, Jiangsu Province. .. causing casualties and property loss in certain areas,” state broadcaster CCTV said. The tornado affected more than 5,500 people, with 137 houses collapsing, according to “preliminary statistics” cited in the report. More than 400 people have been temporarily relocated because of the twister, state media said. Video footage shared on social media by the People’s Daily showed high winds whipping debris around above residential buildings, as well as a street strewn with fallen signs and other objects. – AFP VIETNAM DETAINS THINK TANK CHIEF HANOI: Vietnam has detained the director of an independent energy policy think tank, a rights group said yesterday, the sixth person working on environmental issues taken into custody in the past two years. Ngo Thi To Nhien, executive director of the Hanoi-based Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition, was detained on Sept 15, according to The 88 Project, which advocates freedom of expression in the country. “Nhien’s detention is significant as it signals that research on energy policy is now off limits,” said Ben Swanton of The 88 Project. “This is the latest development in a disturbing trend of the Vietnamese government criminalising policy research and activism.” – AFP Former Singapore PM’s son charged with false trading SINGAPORE: The son of Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong has been charged with market rigging offences, police said yesterday. Goh Jin Hian, the former CEO of New Silkroutes Group, was charged in court along oGoh accused of conspiring with three others to rig New Silkroutes share price with two other former executives of the Singapore-listed investment holding company, police said in a statement. Another man, the director of a commercial market maker engaged by New Silkroutes Group at the time, was also charged with similar offences. The four men were each charged with 31 counts of false trading for manipulating the price of New Silkroutes Group securities in 2018. They allegedly engaged in “a conspiracy to create a misleading appearance with respect to the price of NSG securities”, the statement said. Thai lawmakers plan fresh push to tighten use of cannabis BANGKOK: Thailand’s legislators will renew a push for an overarching law on use of cannabis for medical and research purposes, a senior lawmaker said yesterday, more than a year after the narcotic was legalised without proper regulations. Last year, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalise cannabis, but in the absence of specific measures, the government had to hastily issue rules to prevent its unchecked use, particularly among children. The new law will target an industry projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion over the next few years, with cannabis shops having sprung up across the capital Bangkok and tourist hot spots such as the resort island of phu*ket. “Cannabis will be – double underline – for medical purposes and research,” said Saritpong Kiewkong of the Bhumjaithai party, which spearheaded the decriminalisation and is now the second largest component of Thailand’s 11-party coalition government. “There is no policy for recreational use,” the lawmaker told reporters in Parliament, adding that such measures were not yet being considered. The draft law, which consolidates measures against public use that the government now relies on to rein in misbehaviour, is expected to take a year to finalise and pass. It covers permits for growing plants, sales and distribution, and tighter measures against sales in temples, schools and amusem*nt parks. Last week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he supported only medical, and not recreational, use of cannabis. – Reuters If convicted they could face a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine of up to S$250,000 (RM858,000), or both for each charge. Goh faces another eight counts of false trading for allegedly placing orders and trading NSG securities through his personal trading account to push up their prices between Aug 31 and Dec 4, 2018. The businessman and former physician is the son of the elder Goh, who took over from founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1990. His father served as prime minister until 2004 and handed the reins to current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. – AFP Myanmar junta says boat sank in ‘whirlpool’ YANGON: A boat that sank on a Myanmar river foundered in a “whirlpool”, the junta said yesterday, as local media reported that at least a dozen bodies have been recovered. The vessel was travelling as part of a group, the junta’s information team said in a statement, though it is not clear whether the ships belonged to the military. The junta also gave no details of casualties, though local media said around 100 people were on board and BBC Burmese cited locals as saying 12 bodies had been found. The vessel sank in a “whirlpool ... near Mauk Ka Taw village of Mingin Township” in northern Sagaing region at around 10am on Tuesday, the junta statement said. It said the sinking was being “investigated”, without giving further details. Sagaing region is a hotspot of resistance to the military’s 2021 coup, and junta authorities regularly cut internet access in the region, making details difficult to verify. A spokesman for the Sagaing regional government did not respond to request for comment. – AFP WHIRL OF COLOURS ... Members of a Chinese ethnic dance group performing on stage at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre during the summer festival in Kuwait City. – AFPPIC
7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 India issues Canada travel warning NEW DELHI: India yesterday warned its citizens against visiting parts of Canada, the latest salvo in a diplomatic row over allegations New Delhi was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded India treat with “utmost seriousness” the bombshell revelation of its probe into the murder. oNew Delhi must treat Sikh murder allegation seriously, saysTrudeau The fallout prompted tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and a forceful denial from India, which said any suggestion it played a role in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar was “absurd”. Without explicitly referring to the row, India’s Foreign Ministry said it was concerned for the safety of its citizens in Canada because of “politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence”. “Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” a ministry statement said. “Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.” The advisory did not name specific cities or locations for Indians to avoid. Nijjar was shot dead by two masked assailants outside the Sikh temple he presided over in Surrey, an outer suburb of Vancouver. An activist for the creation of a Sikh state known as Khalistan, Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. He had denied those charges, according to the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, a non-profit organisation that says it defends the interests of Canadian Sikhs. The Indian government accuses Ottawa of turning a blind eye to the activities of radical Sikh nationalists who advocate the creation of an independent Sikh state to be carved out of northern India. Relations between Canada and India have been strained in recent months since the assassination of the Sikh leader and the demonstrations that followed in Canada. Trudeau, who met with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of this month’s G20 in New Delhi, said on Tuesday that his government did not rush to judgment in the case and had worked closely with its intelligence agencies. “India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. “We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate.” The United States has joined Canada in calling for India to reveal what it knows about the slaying. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau,” National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed, and the perpetrators be brought to justice.” – AFP Iran to toughen penalties for women flouting dress code TEHRAN: Iranian lawmakers passed a bill yesterday to toughen penalties for women who flout the country’s dress code, with jail terms of up to 10 years, state media reported. The assembly approved “the ‘Support for the Culture of Hijab and Chastity’ Bill for a trial period of three years,” the official IRNA news agency reported. Women in Iran have since last year’s mass protests been increasingly flouting the republic’s strict dress code that requires head coverings and modest clothes. The demonstrations broke out after the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly breaching the dress code. Hundreds of people were killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands arrested over what officials labelled foreign-instigated “riots”. Under the draft law, women failing to wear a headscarf or appropriate clothing, “in cooperation with foreign or hostile governments, media, groups or organisations”, could face five to 10 years’ prison. Covering the head and neck has been compulsory for women in Iran since the republic’s early years following the 1979 revolution. Authorities and police patrols have in recent months stepped up measures against women and businesses who fail to observe the dress code. Businesses have been closed over non-compliance and surveillance cameras have been installed in public places to monitor violations. – AFP B R I E F SRWANDA’S KAGAME SAYS HE WILL RUN FOR FOURTH TERM NAIROBI: Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said for the first time that he plans to run for a fourth term in elections due to be held next year. “Yes, I am indeed a candidate,” Kagame, who has ruled over the country with an iron fist for decades, told Jeune Afrique magazine in an interview published online on Tuesday. “I am pleased with the confidence that Rwandans have placed in me. I will always serve them, as long as I can,” the 65-year-old was quoted as saying. The Rwandan government in March decided to synchronise the dates for its parliamentary and presidential elections, which are due to be held in August next year. – AFP AUSTRALIA GIVES UP FIGHT TO ERADICATE PARASITE CANBERRA: Australia yesterday abandoned its fight to eradicate the Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet. Desperate to keep Varroa out of the country, authorities have destroyed more than 14,000 infected beehives since the tiny red-brown pest was first detected north of Sydney in June last year. The government yesterday conceded its US$64 million eradication plan could not stop the mite from spreading, saying the country’s beekeepers should now prepare to live with the incursion. Varroa mites attach themselves to honeybees and slowly feast on their body tissue. – AFP US AG denies political influence on prosecutions WASHINGTON: US Attorney-General Merrick Garland strongly denied on Wednesday that politics steered his investigative decisions, pushing back on Republican allegations he has “weaponised” the Justice Department against President Joe Biden’s top rival Donald Trump. With a Garland-appointed special counsel, Jack Smith, now pursuing two criminal prosecutions of Trump, the justice chief said in prepared testimony for a House hearing that he was neither Biden’s attorney nor Congress’s prosecutor. “Our job is not to take orders from the president, from Congress, or from anyone else, about who or what to criminally investigate. “Our job is to follow the facts and the law, wherever they lead. And that is what we do.” The Justice Department released excerpts from Garland’s planned testimony before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday morning. Garland was expected to come under scathing criticism from Republicans for prosecuting Trump while allegedly soft-pedalling an investigation of Biden’s son Hunter. Committee chairman Jim Jordan has accused Garland of doing Democratic President Biden’s bidding by going after his likely opponent in next year’s White House race. The committee has “serious concern that Mr Smith is not running an impartial and unprejudiced investigation and prosecution”, Jordan said in a letter to Garland last month. Garland named Smith as independent special counsel to investigate the former president last November. Since then Smith has brought two criminal cases against Trump: one in Florida for illegally concealing top secret documents, and the second in Washington over his effort to upend the results of the 2020 US election, which led to the Jan 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Trump and his supporters call the cases a political “witch hunt”, and some Republicans have threatened to impeach Garland. Republicans also accuse Garland of stalling the prosecution of Hunter Biden, who they allege, without evidence, improperly parlayed business schemes in Ukraine, China and elsewhere to earn millions of dollars for himself and his father. They say a second Justice Department special counsel, David Weiss, has gone easy on the president’s son, charging him earlier this month with an illegal firearm charge and probing him for tax evasion. Jordan said Weiss was not serious about the investigation, and that the gun charge was “largely an attempt to save face”. – AFP Murder, drug charges for owner of NY daycare where child died WASHINGTON: A New York woman is facing murder and drug charges after a one-year-old boy died from fentanyl poisoning at the daycare she operated and three other children became seriously ill, officials said on Tuesday. Grei Mendez, 36, was arrested over the weekend after emergency paramedics responded on Friday to reports of unconscious children at the Divino Nino Daycare in the Bronx. Police said a large quantity of fentanyl was found at the facility, including 1kg of the drug stored on top of children’s playmats. Four children under the age of three were hospitalised and one of them died. Mendez and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, a tenant in the apartment where the daycare was located, face New York state charges of murder, drug possession and intent to distribute. They were slapped with federal narcotics charges in an additional indictment unsealed on Tuesday. “Tragedy doesn’t begin to describe the events that took place at Divino Nino Daycare,” Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Frank Tarentino said in a statement. “This death and drug poisonings are every parent’s worst nightmare and clearly define the danger fentanyl poses to every New Yorker.” US Attorney Damian Williams said Mendez put children “directly in harm’s way, running a narcotics operation and storing deadly fentanyl out of the very space in which the children ate, slept and played”. – AFP HOLDING THE LINE ... Police officers guarding the entrance to a government building during clashes with protesters calling on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign in the capital Yerevan. Azerbaijan on Tuesday launched a military operation against the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, warning it would “continue until the end” in the territory, over which it has fought two wars with Armenia. – AFPPIC
8 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 SPEAK UP Get a jump start today on creating a successful tomorrow! For the best in local and international higher education institutions, catch theSun's fortnightly Education Focus. FOCUS 2023 EDUCATION Contact us now for special deals on digital, video and print advertising. Malaysia’s breakfast, melting pot of unity BEING a true Malaysian means taking pride in our local cuisine. Some people tend to plan their travel journeys based on what they want to eat rather than the places they want to see. So, what is unique in this ethnically diverse country that attracts people? Malaysia boasts a rich tapestry of local flavours, making it a unique culinary landscape. As the nation celebrates its 66th year of independence, let us reflect on this common love for food that unites this nation. The Malaysian Heritage Department of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry recognises that the Malaysian breakfast plays a prominent role in identifying, preserving and promoting our cultural heritage. This recognition holds great significance for our nation. Breakfast, as the first meal of the day, holds a special place in Malaysia’s culinary culture. It showcases the country’s ethnic diversity, with its wide array of dishes representing different ethnicities in Malaysia. Delving into the intricacies of Malaysian breakfast practices, a team of researchers from Taylor’s University’s School of Food Studies and Gastronomy recently shared their insights in an article titled “Much More Than Food: The Malaysian Breakfast, a Sociocultural Perspective,” published in the academic journal Sustainability. The study reveals a breakdown of the different breakfast dishes consumed in Malaysia, with each dish attributed to a particular ethnic group: the nasi lemak and nasi goreng are emblematic of the Malays, roti canai and chapati are favourite Indian dishes while the Chinese have their noodle soup, fried rice and dim sum. This research illuminates how the Malaysian breakfast can promote a sense of shared identity despite its diversity. These distinct dishes from various culinary backgrounds exemplify the uniqueness of the Malaysian breakfast, uniting different communities through their shared love for these morning flavours. The Malaysian breakfast serves as a canvas for expressing unique identities, allowing individuals to assert their affiliations with their respective cultures while embracing their broader Malaysian citizenship. In this culinary landscape, a wide range of establishments, including restaurants, food courts, mamak stalls and local vendors, participate in an informal economy. They play a pivotal role in supporting this food ecosystem, which, in turn, makes a substantial contribution to the Malaysian economy. While over 50% of the population enjoy a traditional Asian breakfast, such as nasi lemak, nasi goreng, kuih, roti canai and dim sum, 26.1% also opt for a Westernised breakfast, usually consisting of bread, cereal and milk. One plausible explanation for this trend is the marketing of breakfast products, including cereals and biscuits, in supermarkets and restaurants across the country. Furthermore, this preference for Western breakfast can be traced back to the influence of English colonialism, which has become an integral dimension of Malaysian breakfast culture. Multiculturalism enriches the distinct food identities, allowing us to relish the diverse dishes that have been passed down through generations. In this context, the acknowledgement of the Malaysian breakfast as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) would elevate the Malaysian breakfast as one of the hallmarks of our nation’s identity. This recognition also has the potential to propel our Malaysian breakfast onto the global stage, promoting cross-cultural appreciation and understanding while ensuring its continued relevance. Dr Elise Mognard is the programme director of Masters and PhD Food Studies at the School of Food Studies and Gastronomy, a part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management at Taylor’s University and Prof Dr Jean-Pierre Poulain is the Chair of “Food Cultures and Health” and holds a double affiliation with the University of Toulouse in France and Taylor’s University. Comments: [emailprotected] “Multiculturalism enriches the distinct food identities, allowing us to relish the diverse dishes that have been passed down through generations, and the Malaysian breakfast serves as a canvas for expressing unique identities, allowing individuals to assert their affiliations with their respective cultures.” We must do better to protect children EVERY child deserves a happy and carefree childhood without violence and harm. Unfortunately, Malaysia witnesses over 1,000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect each year, with many incidents going unreported. Failing to address this issue promptly can have serious repercussions on children’s physical and mental health and overall development. As such, the onus is on all of us, as members of society, to do our part in preventing child abuse. We should be aware of any indications of distress in children, such as unexplained injuries, prolonged periods of crying or outbursts, and evident neglect, which may manifest as inadequate clothing or poor nutrition. Teachers, in particular, must be alert to any changes in a student’s behaviour, academic performance, attendance or physical well-being as these can be indicators to identify potential abuse. A pivotal step and proactive measure is to engage in open, non-confrontational conversations with parents or caregivers if we suspect that abuse may be taking place. We have a moral obligation to express our concern and extend support as this can help beleaguered families in seeking help before the situation worsens. If we suspect that a child’s safety is compromised, we should report the matter to the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Social Welfare or the police. For the protection and well-being of the children involved, any reporting must be handled with confidentiality, and the identity of the person making the report remains anonymous. We should be compassionate listeners and show empathy when children confide in us about their domestic problems. Neglecting the situation, thinking it is not our concern, can have serious consequences, even endangering their lives. We should encourage them to have open communication, providing a safe space for them to share their concerns. If a friend suspects that another friend is being abused, he should confide in a trusted adult, such as a teacher or school counsellor, who can take appropriate action to ensure the child’s safety. Child abuse is a grave issue and must be addressed urgently. In Malaysia, as in any other society, the responsibility to prevent child abuse does not rest solely on the shoulders of parents and caregivers. As neighbours, friends and teachers, we also have vital roles to play. By being vigilant and supportive, and being prepared to take action when necessary, we can collectively contribute to the early intervention and prevention of child abuse, ensuring a safer and secure future for Malaysia’s children. The writer is from the Faculty of Business and Communication at Universiti Malaysia Perlis. Comments: [emailprotected] Over 50% of the Malaysian population enjoy a traditional Asian breakfast. – BERNAMAPIC COMMENT by Dr Mohd Shahidan Shaari COMMENT by Assoc Prof Dr Elise Line Mognard and Prof Dr Jean-Pierre Poulain
9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 With retirees outnumbering the working-age population, there is a risk of declining tax revenues, potentially causing pension payouts to outstrip contributions from younger workers. This can burden the younger generation, raising concerns about inter-generational equity. Policies must be thoughtfully crafted and implemented to counterbalance the ageing trend and mitigate the adverse effects of this demographic change by establishing an efficient ecosystem for the elderly to strive and sustain their livelihood and living. Much attention is needed in health and social care, transportation, urban planning, income security and employment. To tackle challenges from an ageing population, Malaysia can consider automatic adjustment of retirement age, with increasing life expectancy. This mechanism has been implemented in Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal and Finland. Raising retirement age Additonally, Malaysia can consider the World Bank’s suggestion of a gradual increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 over 10 years, allowing the public sufficient time to adapt to the changes. According to the Economic and Monetary Review 2022 report by Bank Negara Malaysia, it was stated that one of the urgent policy gaps is the issue of insufficient savings for post-retirement life. The retirement age in Malaysia currently stands at 60 years old, while the minimum age for EPF (Employees Provident Fund) savings withdrawal is 55. To discourage early retirement, the government can consider amending EPF regulations to allow fund withdrawals only at the age of 60 or older, with exceptions considered for exceptional cases subject to individual assessments. Furthermore, retirees should have withdrawal limits to prevent lump sum withdrawals. Allowing such withdrawals has led to many elderly Malaysians, often early retirees at 55, spending their entire EPF savings within a few years. According to professor of economics R. Holzmann, most retirees use up their EPF savings within five years. Per the report published by DOSM on Sept 28, 2022, Malaysia’s life expectancy in 2022 is 73.4 years. This means that the government needs to place regulations to ensure retirees’ EPF savings last them throughout their retirement. Another policy option for the government is to promote the immigration of highly skilled young individuals through less restrictive visa policies. The government should also aim to incentivise existing immigrants by allowing longer visa durations for those who demonstrate good conduct in their workplace and contribute to the economy. The government should also target bright and talented international students encouraging them to stay and work, especially in critical void occupations. A larger proportion of working-age immigrants can also reduce the age dependency ratio, which was 43.22% in 2022. Healthcare costs are another expense to consider because retirees are more susceptible to illness. Since a portion of the income must be set aside in the EPF for retirement purposes, a similar system could be introduced to cover healthcare expenses during retirement. The government can allocate a small portion of EPF contributions to create a dedicated fund covering post-retirement healthcare expenses. For example, Singapore practises a similar system, where employees contribute to their Central Provident Fund, under which they have a Medisave Account, specifically designed to cover healthcare expenses. Currently, many retirees rely on government budget subsidies for healthcare expenses. With Malaysia’s ageing population, this strain on the budget is expected to worsen. Although diverting some EPF funds to a healthcare account reduces retirement savings initially, it is important to recognise that a significant portion of these savings is allocated to postretirement healthcare expenses, offering long-term financial benefits to retirees. Post-retirement employment crucial To facilitate this, creating old-age-friendly workplaces for elderly individuals seeking to rejoin the workforce is essential. Government initiatives, such as income tax reductions to employers hiring older workers, can encourage active participation in the labour market. This is highly linked with inclusive urban planning, which involves the integration of elderly-friendly amenities to facilitate easy commutation of the elderly and improved mobility. Retirees’ participation in the labour force can enhance overall workforce numbers, thereby, increasing productivity. This aligns with the Madani economy framework’s goal of raising the labour share of income to 45% of the total income. Increased senior workforce participation can boost domestic consumption, creating a win-win situation for the ageing population and the broader economy. The decline in family support for the elderly, driven by smaller families and increased female participation in the labour force, has impacted the well-being of older individuals. It is crucial to explore alternative care options, such as elderly care centres and retirement villages, equipped with readily accessible medical services. For example, these retirement communities can include government-funded clinics offering free healthcare. While the ageing population presents challenges, it also offers numerous opportunities. With the right strategies in place, ageing populations can become valuable contributors to society and an additional stimulus for economic growth. Dr Rais Hussin and Chan Myae San are part of the research team at Emir Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research. Comments: [emailprotected] Malaysian ageing society at crossroads AS Malaysia heads towards being an aged nation, effective policies are needed to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of this inevitable phenomenon. The ageing population is a phenomenon where older individuals become a larger share of the total population. According to the United Nations (UN), an older person is defined as a person aged 60 years and above while globally, many countries, including Malaysia, define “elderly” as a person aged 65 and above. UN studies indicate that the global population of individuals aged 65 and above is growing faster than other age groups. The organisation also estimates the population of individuals aged 65 or older increased from approximately 260 million in 1980 to 761 million by 2021. Furthermore, from 2021 to 2050, the worldwide proportion of older individuals is expected to rise from under 10% to approximately 17%. The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes a similar trend in its reports and believes it will gain even more momentum in the coming years, especially in developing nations, including Malaysia. According to the most recent estimates by DOSM (Department of Statistics Malaysia), the composition of the population aged 65 and above increased from 7.2% in 2022 to 7.4% in 2023, comprising 2.5 million people. DOSM also projects that Malaysia will have a nearly equal share of the young (18.6%) and older population (14.5%) in 2040. The old age group will surpass 6.0 million. Several factors contribute to this shift-changing fertility rates, life expectancy, international migration and industry structure. For example, in Malaysia, a substantial decline in the fertility rate has been observed in recent years. According to the World Bank, the latest data on the fertility rate for Malaysia in 2021 was 1.8 births per woman – a substantial decrease from 6.4 births per woman in 1960. DOSM noted that the composition of the population aged up to 14 years (young age) in 2023 decreased to 22.6%, compared with 23.2% in 2022. The decline in fertility rate continues despite efforts made by the government to assist working women as provided in the 2020 federal budget, which includes various measures and incentives to support working mothers - i.e. a two-year RM500 monthly incentive for women aged 30 to 50 who re-enter the workforce and an extension of maternity leave from 60 to 90 days. Hence, the government must re-evaluate the initiatives using the InputOutput-Outcome-Impact framework for effective policies. To address declining fertility rates and promote higher female workforce participation, the government must collaborate with the corporate sector to enhance on-premises childcare facilities and implement flexible work structures catering to working women’s needs. Brain drain Mobilising under-utilised talents in the economy (female workforce, unemployed, underemployed, retired) to realise their full potential is paramount to mitigating the impacts of an ageing society. In countries that are experiencing large immigration flows, international migration can slow the ageing process, at least temporarily, since migrants tend to be in young working age groups. Therefore, a significant brain drain from Malaysia can also contribute to the ageing population as it represents the outflow of younger people to study or work and permanently settle down abroad, causing a lower proportion of working-age individuals in the home country. In the World Bank’s Economic Monitor (2011), “social injustice” ranked as the second most significant migration driver at 60%, following career prospects at 66%, suggesting the critical focus areas for impactful strategies aimed at returning bright individuals. It is better to start putting such plans forward as many experts foresee that by analogy with global currency and trade wars, migration wars for the highly skilled younger ones will become a new reality soon. The impact of an ageing workforce on the economy also depends on the structure of the economy. The higher the share of physical, semi-skilled jobs, the more difficult it is to combat the effects of ageing. Malaysia can no longer postpone taking measures towards a shift from low-productivity low-skilled sectors to high-productivity high-skilled ones to avoid fiscal catastrophe in the not-sodistant future. To maintain Gross Domestic Product growth, it is necessary to develop capital-intensive, knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive sectors (digitalisation and digital transformation) since with the ageing population, the contribution of labour to production will continue to decrease. This will slow the brain drain. Among the serious consequences of a reduction in the working-age population is a decrease in labour productivity and total savings, and therefore, a slowdown in investment, demand and economic growth, with increased fiscal and political pressures concerning public healthcare, pension and social protection systems. A falling fertility rate in an ageing economy reduces the effectiveness of monetary policy since the aggregate demand of the older generation is less sensitive to changes in the interest rate as per International Monetary Fund findings. At the same time, a lower birth rate in the long term will reduce supply in the labour market, which will decrease supply of goods. However, an increase in the share of net consumers (pensioners), with a decrease in the share of net savers (young people) will cause excess demand in the goods market, which may accelerate inflation. To address declining fertility rates and promote higher female workforce participation, the government must collaborate with the corporate sector to enhance on-premises childcare facilities. – BERNAMAPIC “Policies must be thoughtfully crafted and implemented to offset the ageing trend and mitigate the adverse effects of this demographic change by establishing an efficient ecosystem for the elderly to strive and sustain their livelihood and living. COMMENT by Dr Rais Hussin and Chan Myae San
10 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Malaysians’ intent to purchase homes remains strong: Study PETALING JAYA: More than half or 56% of Malaysians are keen to enter the property market in 2024 despite economic challenges and rising property prices, a study conducted by PropertyGuru Malaysia and iProperty Malaysia indicates. Its consumer sentiment study (CSS) for the second half of 2023 (H2’23) showed that the purchasing intent of potential homebuyers remains constant when compared with the H1’23 CSS at 55%. Additionally, the biannual study found that in terms of homebuying readiness, 31% have no interest to buy or rent property, while 14% prefer to rent property. Although the intention to buy is strong among Malaysians, 87% of respondents rank high property prices as the biggest barrier to their buying ambitions, followed by rising interest rates (66%), economic recession concerns (43%), inability to get bank home loans (42%), down payment (38%) and political instability (24%). Country manager Sheldon Fernandez saidt the local property market in the first half of the year was riddled with external economic pressures. He cited Bank Negara Malaysia’s data from June, which recorded a decrease in loan applications, as well as PropertyGuru’s Malaysia Property Market Report Q3’23 that saw a decrease in property Fernandez says consumers are willing to compromise on most property amenities to be able to afford homes. oIncome growth or buyer income main factor to be addressed to boost ownership, says PropertyGuru Malaysia country manager █ BYGLORIA HARRY BEATTY [emailprotected] enquiries in the second quarter of the year. “While we do expect slower transaction activity in the housing market for the rest of the year, we hope that the gradually stabilising economy will revive Malaysians appetite for properties in 2024,” he told reporters during a CSS H2’23 media briefing yesterday. Fernandez said rising property prices coupled with stagnant wages and increasing living costs have made home ownership aspirations harder to attain for most Malaysians. While lauding the government for implementing various schemes to boost home ownership, he pointed out that income growth or buyer income is the main factor that needs to be addressed. “If you look at income growth versus property prices growth over the last few years, there’s a disparity, the median income grew 2.5% last year as opposed to over 3% increase pre-pandemic. So you can see that median income needs to catch up with property prices, and it’s good and encouraging to see the government playing a role in this. Minimum wage increase is one factor that can help. “We see a lot of foreign investment into higher paying jobs, like data centres, that’s one key initiative. You also see the government giving a lot more room for entrepreneurs for SME growth, innovation that could hopefully spur opportunity for income growth,” he said. Fernandez said that with consumer budgets shrinking or being maintained against the backdrop of rising costs, consumers are willing to compromise on most property amenities to be able to afford homes. About 49% of respondents are willing to forgo gyms, playgrounds (46%), jogging tracks or recreational spaces (45%) and balconies (43%) if it leads to lower property prices as they prefer to prioritise parking spaces, functional kitchens and second bathroom. The shift highlights a changing consumer preference where practicality and cost savings are prioritised when selecting a home. I-Berhad, Wyndham team up for RM820m GDV luxury condo project at KL City Centre PETALING JAYA: I-Berhad, the developer of i-City in Shah Alam, is partnering with the world’s largest hotel chain, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, for its RM820 million gross development value luxury condominium project at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). As a result of the partnership, the 50-storey luxury residences at Zone 1 KLCC will now be known as Wyndham Suites KLCC. The strategic tie-up promises not only luxury living at its finest but also the prestige of owning a piece of the Wyndham legacy – often linked with five-star hospitality and guest services – to property investors. According to Wyndham Hotel and Resorts Asia-Pacific president Ooi Joon Aun, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is renowned for its “Count on Me” service culture and five-star hospitality service, with a global portfolio of about 9,100 hotels spanning more than 95 countries globally ensuring world-class comfort for its guests. “With the strong recovery of business and leisure travel across Asia-Pacific, Malaysia continues to be a popular destination for business and leisure travellers. We are delighted to partner with IBerhad for this esteemed project. This partnership will provide further growth opportunities for our portfolio of hotels by strengthening our flagship brand Wyndham’s presence in Malaysia.” On sealing the partnership, IBerhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, said, “This is yet another significant leap forward for IBerhad and we are thrilled to join hands with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to transform Wyndham Suites KLCC. This will not only enhance the group’s overall brand reputation and visibility, Wyndham’s vast global network will also provide a powerful platform for our RM10 billion GDV project in iCity Shah Alam to gain greater international exposure”. He said Wyndham Suites KLCC will attract families, business travellers and holidaymakers globally to Kuala Lumpur through the Wyndham Rewards ecosystem. Between November this year and January next year, Lim said, iCity will drive the One Shah Alam, One Destination programme that aims to enable visitors to experience the best of Shah Alam within one single destination. The programme will focus on enhanced lightscapes, immersive edutainment experiences and community engagement events. The group has invested RM10 million for the lightscape and immersive edutainment enhancements that include a 5D Immersive Winterland and a 50,000 sq ft indoor digital sports arena. “The influx of visitors to Wyndham Suites KLCC can naturally extend to i-City in Shah Alam, which is located just a 30- minute drive away through crosspromotional activities. This will leave a positive imprint on the tourism sectors of both Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” Lim said. IJM Land goes on campaign to ‘Make A Difference’ PETALING JAYA: Since its establishment in 1983, IJM Corp has emerged as a prominent global player in various sectors, including construction, heavy industry, toll highways and port infrastructure. Complementing this legacy, IJM Land, a subsidiary founded in 1989, has made a significant mark in property development. IJM Land has forged an extraordinary path, achieving unparalleled success over the years, steadily scaling to prominence in an already competitive arena. This rise is driven by the enduring draw of real estate as steadfast investment bastions and tangible assets contributing to a sustainable environment. As the latest milestone in its journey, IJM Land presents the “Make A Difference” (MAD) campaign, reaffirming its dedication to sustainability and community engagement. The initiative aligns with and commemorates IJM Corp’s 40th anniversary. “We conceived the MAD campaign as a new cornerstone in transformative execution and delivery,” IJM Land CEO Datuk Wong Tuck Wai said, adding that their objective is to build sustainable environments infused with positivity that enrich communities in general and lives in particular. In the campaign, IJM Land embarks on a renewed commitment to sustainability with immersive, ecocentric events, and collaborations across diverse regions. This strategic shift aligns with the evolving real estate landscape, expanding into untapped territories characterised by robust infrastructure and reshaping the industry’s paradigms. This year, the developer’s commitment to corporate social responsibility shines through as the community rallies to contribute 4,000 hours to clean-up efforts, organise blood donation drives, visit welfare homes and orphanages and refurbish homes for low-income families. “IJM Land stands firm as the vanguard of sustainable development, sowing the seeds of eco-friendly living while harmonising progress with ecoconscious responsibility. Each home we build seamlessly combines aesthetics, comfort and functionality. Today, as we celebrate our parent company’s remarkable achievement and resilience, we pledge to raise the bar alongside our community,” said Wong. During the campaign from Sept 15 to Dec 31, a super savers promotion has been crafted to reimburse a cumulative sum of RM40 million to new homeowners of IJM Land. It accords them four supplementary benefits, with no monetary obligation, subject to the terms and conditions within the purview of the respective IJM Land projects. Additionally, those who are enrolled in the IJM Land Priority Programme as a result of owning an IJM Land property will enjoy an extra 0.25% cash rebate for their next property purchase. SP Setia launches Laelia II double-storey houses at Setia Bayuemas township PETALING JAYA: SP Setia has launched Laelia II – the second phase of the Laelia double-storey terraced homes collection – at its Klang-based Setia Bayuemas township. “We aimed to offer a more exclusive product when we were designing Laelia as we identified the current demands of first-time homeowners and adapted our plans to meet their modern lifestyle needs. This is why Laelia II, similar to Laelia I, offers an alternative loftstyle design which is trending while providing that within a wellplanned township,” said SP Setia divisional general manager Razly Mohammad Rus. With the non-bumiputera units of Laelia I taken up during the launch and the accumulating enquiries since then, it is evident that the demand is present and, thus, SP Setia is taking the opportunity to launch the second phase of Laelia to meet the continuous demand for terraced homes within a more affordable price range, he added. With a gross development value of RM72.7 million, the 7.16-acre Laelia II will have 97 units of double-storey terraced homes of which 48 units are loft-style homes and 49 units are conventional terraced homes, offering three or four bedrooms and bathrooms. The loft-style units are priced from RM629,000 while the terraced units are priced from RM798,000. Similar to Laelia I, Laelia II will include Setia i-Home sustainable and future-ready features. Homes will be equipped with solar photovoltaic conduit and electric vehicle ports, as well as a green switch for convenient control of electrical appliances and a smart lock for extra security. Additionally, the features include the innovative Box 366 food and parcel delivery dropbox designed by SP Setia. The 545-acre Setia Bayuemas township is situated in the heart of southern Klang, Selangor. The master plan comprises affordable apartments, landed terraces, cluster homes, semi-detached houses and bungalows.
KLCI 1,451.56 STI 3,242.00 1.25 HANG SENG 17,885.60 SCI 3,108.57 NIKKEI 33,023.78 218.81 TSEC 16,534.75 0.53 KOSPI 2,559.74 S&P/ASX200 7,163.30 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 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 September 20, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) EKOVEST 163,989,000 57.0 +1.5 MYEG 120,127,200 83.0 +2.5 IWCITY 105,302,200 75.0 +6.0 MRCB 91,740,000 48.5 +2.0 UEMS 91,678,400 91.0 +6.0 EXCHANGERATES SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.7585 4.6255 4.6155 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0940 2.9720 2.9560 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.4880 3.3880 3.3800 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.5380 3.4450 3.4330 1 EURO 5.0950 4.9320 4.9120 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8450 2.7410 2.7250 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.4880 3.3880 3.3800 1 STERLING POUND 5.9090 5.7260 5.7060 1 SWISS FRANC 5.2910 5.1690 5.1540 100 UAE DIRHAM 131.1500 124.4200 124.2200 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.4210 4.1340 3.9340 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 65.3000 62.8000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 61.5400 58.5000 58.3000 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.8200 5.4600 5.2600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0320 0.0290 0.0240 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.2270 3.1260 3.1160 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.9000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.6400 1.5400 1.3400 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.5100 8.0300 7.8300 100 QATAR RIYAL 132.0800 125.3900 125.1900 100 SAUDI RIYAL 128.3900 121.8800 121.6800 100 THAI BAHT 13.7900 12.2400 11.8400 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY September 20, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,755.00 -10.00 FBMKLCI 1,451.56 -6.10 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 558.15 -0.10 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 174.41 +0.72 CONSTRUCTION 184.97 +2.86 FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,218.30 -101.00 ENERGY 904.13 -3.60 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 584.83 -1.60 HEALTH CARE 1,718.99 +27.40 TRANSPORTATION 917.95 +0.62 PROPERTY 876.95 +13.50 PLANTATION 6,978.71 +22.00 FBMSHA 11,018.40 +18.50 FBMACE 5,204.13 -1.80 TECHNOLOGY 63.29 +0.34 TURNOVER VALUE 3.555 BIL RM2.513 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS September 20, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HAPSENG 6,177,800 4.71 +0.23 DLADY 77,300 22.60 +0.20 F&N 121,400 25.44 +0.20 PMBTECH 1,407,600 3.17 +0.10 AEONCR 182,300 11.40 +0.08 5 TOP LOSERS September 20, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM NESTLE 156,800 129.30 -0.60 HLFG 320,200 17.66 -0.32 PETDAG 868,600 23.20 -0.22 PPB 437,400 15.64 -0.16 BAT 720,900 9.42 -0.15 Bursa unveils novel tool to enhance listed issuers’ sustainability practices, reporting KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd (Bursa Malaysia) yesterday unveiled the Illustrative Sustainability Report (ISR), a novel additional tool to its sustainability reporting framework. The ISR aims to enhance the commitment of listed issuers to sustainability practices and disclosures, aligned with the increasing importance of sustainability reporting. To improve sustainability practices and disclosures among listed issuers, Bursa Malaysia had on Sept 26, 2022 introduced enhanced sustainability reporting requirements within its two listing guidelines: the Main Market Listing Requirements; and the ACE Market Listing Requirements. Concurrently, Bursa Malaysia also launched the third edition of the Sustainability Reporting Guide and Toolkits to aid listed issuers in meeting these augmented obligations. The ISR, complementing the Guide and Toolkits, offers a visual representation of the enhanced sustainability disclosure criteria. It systematically covers critical aspects of disclosures within each section of the Sustainability Statement or Report, presenting content in a coherent manner. This approach ensures concise presentations and enhanced readability, thereby facilitating better comprehension. The ISR cross-references pertinent requirements and recommendations from selected international sustainability reporting frameworks. By leveraging the ISR in conjunction with the Guide and Toolkits, listed issuers can independently undertake sustainability reporting, reducing reliance on external consultants. Bursa Malaysia chief regulatory office Julian Hashim said, “The Illustrative Sustainability Report aids listed issuers as they prepare for the phased implementation of the Enhanced Sustainability Reporting Framework, effective from financial year ending Dec 31, 2023.” Supermax to resume exporting disposal gloves to the US KUALA LUMPUR: Supermax Corporation Bhd (SCB) and its wholly owned units have been allowed to resume exporting disposable gloves to the US starting Sept 18. Its wholly owned subsidiaries are Supermax Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Maxter Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Maxwell Glove Manufacturing Bhd. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, SCB said the US Customs and Border Protection had modified the Withhold Release Order (WRO) issued against SCB and would no longer detain disposable gloves produced by SCB and its subsidiaries due to the successful remediation of forced labour indicators in the company’s supply chain. US Customs issued the WRO on Supermax products on Oct 21, 2021, based on evidence reasonably indicating the presence of 10 International Labour Organisation forced labour indicators. In response to the WRO, the company demonstrated to the USCBP that it has taken steps to remediate the forced labour indicators identified in its supply chain. – Bernama Malaysia continues to attract foreign investments NEW YORK: Malaysia continues to attract big investments from global companies due to its current political stability, strong supply chain ecosystem and the “top salesman” role being played by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the US-China trade war was also benefitting Asean countries with some companies relocating to Malaysia and Vietnam to realign their supply chain. According to him, Malaysia’s political situation is no longer a major concern among potential investors. “Our prime minister is Malaysia’s top salesman. He makes my job easier,” Tengku Zafrul said in jest during a press conference with the Malaysian media on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). According to Tengku Zafrul, Anwar’s influence and hard work being put by him were obvious during several international engagements, including the recent Asean Summit in Jakarta and the gruelling 14- Zafrul (centre) together with the Malaysian delegation meeting with business leaders of US firms at the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. – BERNAMAPIX oTengku Zafrul cites supply chain shifts, ‘top salesman’ role played by prime minister among factors 6.10 111.57 16.39 101.57 33.30 hour scheduled working visit to Nanning, China just a few days ago. “He attended the Malaysia Day celebration in Kuching and then immediately flew to Nanning where he arrived at 4am. “During his short stay in Nanning, the prime minister attended several events and met with China’s Premier Li Qiang, the third such meeting between them this year,” he said. Anwar also met with Chinese investors in Malaysia, China Communications Construction Company and Huawei, and witnessed the exchange of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) worth RM19.84 billion between companies from both countries. The prime minister will also be meeting with captains of industry when he arrives in New York yesterday to attend the UNGA, said Tengku Zafrul. Anwar, who is also Malaysia’s Finance Minister, is scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion with Fortune 500 Companies, as well as an engagement session with Invest Malaysia New York. He will also hold meetings with entrepreneurs and potential new investors from the US such as Boeing, Kimberly Clark, Phillip Morris International, and Procter & Gamble. – Bernama Participation 26.5 44.8 28.7 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 645.9 1088.7 779.2 2513.8 Sold RM m 685.1 1165.9 662.8 2513.8 Net RM m -39.2 -77.2 116.4 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) 20/9/2023
12 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 SUNBIZ GM Klang selected as Yiwu China’s first trade exhibition centre in Malaysia KLANG: GM Klang Sdn Bhd reached a key milestone by being selected by Yiwu China Commodities City (YCCC), the world’s largest commodity wholesale market hub, as the first trade exhibition centre in Malaysia. Its managing director Datuk Lim Seng Kok said the historical selection was made based on the ability to trade Chinese goods to Malaysia, which recorded a total of RM10 billion every year. “This Yiwu selection is worldwide (and) it chose GM Klang because we have been building the relationships for a long time. “Also, we are among the first to visit Yiwu City in April this year,” he said after officiating the launch of the Yiwu Selection Malaysia Showroom and Business Matching yesterday. Lim said the company is also committed to collaborating with the Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry to further strengthen trade relations between both nations as China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009. He said, thus far, YCCC has brought 26 of the best suppliers from China into Malaysia, thereby making it easier for Malaysian entrepreneurs to buy high-quality goods directly from the Chinese wholesale centres without going through third parties. “Dealers and wholesalers in Malaysia do not need to go to Yiwu (city) to procure Yiwu goods. Wholesalers can negotiate (directly) with Yiwu suppliers and see the samples on display (here),” he said. Lim also said Yiwu had offered GM Klang to open an exhibition centre in China a few years ago, but it could not be implemented due to a lack of readiness among local entrepreneurs. However, he said he would not refuse the opportunity if invited again in the future. Therefore, Lim urged local entrepreneurs to be more aggressive in seizing business opportunities at the international level. Among the products exhibited by YCCC at GM Klang are packaging products, kitchen appliances, accessories and cosmetics, among others. – Bernama AIBIM unveils myWakaf 2.0, flagship project KUALA LUMPUR: myWakaf 2.0, initiated by the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions of Malaysia (AIBIM), is working on 14 Solar Dome Dryers (SDD) projects aimed at serving the fishing communities across all states in Malaysia within the next three years. Phase 1 will see the completion of five projects in five states – Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Negri Sembilan and Selangor. “myWakaf’s transformation to myWakaf 2.0 underscores the commitment to positive change and sustainability,” said AIBIM. The flagship SDD project is poised to create a lasting impact, reflecting AIBIM myWakaf’s dedication to addressing diverse societal needs,” AIBIM said via a statement after the unveiling led by Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. The unveiling of myWakaf to myWakaf 2.0 was done in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF 2023) on Tuesday. Nine participating banks namely Affin Islamic Bank Bhd, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, Bank Rakyat, Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd, Maybank Islamic Bhd, MBSB Bank Bhd and RHB Islamic Bank Bhd, and 11 state Islamic religious councils are collaborating for this project. Previously in myWakaf 1.0, it completed six projects in multiple states with a total collection of over RM8 million. “The introduction of Wakaf Madani by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who announced Wakaf Madani during the tabling of the 2023 budget to maximise assets valued at RM1 billion with the commitment of the private sector,” AIBIM said. █ BYHAYATUN RAZAK [emailprotected] Malacca Securities expands partnership with Alibaba Cloud KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca Securities, a brokerage firm, participating organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities, and operator of M+Global App has selected Alibaba Cloud as its trusted public cloud solution provider. Alibaba Cloud is providing IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) solutions to Malacca Securities’ trading platform M+Global App, a digital trading platform that empowers Malaysians to navigate dynamic global markets, seize opportunities as they emerge, and take greater control of their financial future. “It is imperative that the financial services institutions sector embraces cloud-native environments to drive intelligent automation across their organisations to increase the agility of their businesses and improve software release cycles,” said Alibaba Cloud Intelligence general manager of Malaysia Kun Huang. Through this collaboration, Malacca Securities’ business operations will be supported by a suite of technology from Alibaba Cloud. Alibaba Cloud has been working closely with Malacca Securities since 2020 for M+ Online, its online trading platform to drive its digital transformation. Opcom to acquire 18% stake in Binasat for RM39m KUALA LUMPUR: Opcom Holdings Bhd is expanding into the satellite telecommunications sector following its wholly owned subsidiary Opcom VC Sdn Bhd’S (OVSB) proposed acquisition of 70 million shares, or an 18.03% equity stake, in Binasat Communications Bhd. In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, the company said that OVSB will acquire the sale shares for a total purchase consideration of RM39.2 million, representing RM0.56 per sale share. Opcom managing director Johnson Chang said the acquisition has immense potential as Binasat has a solid reputation for excellence in providing crucial support services to the telecommunications landscape. “With this acquisition, we not only expand our footprint in the telecommunications sector but also diversify into the power utilities business, a strategic move that positions us for continued growth and success,” he said. Meanwhile, Binasat managing director Na Boon Aik believes that the company can deliver even greater value to clients and stakeholders through the partnership. “We are committed to a seamless integration process and are excited about the possibilities ahead together,” he said. Binsat is an investment holding company with subsidiaries primarily involved in providing support services for satellite, mobile and fibre optic telecommunications networks, transmission and distribution network utility infrastructure construction services, as well as engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of solar facilities. The share sale agreement is expected to be completed by the first week of October 2023. – Bernama U Mobile partners Qualcomm, Food Merchant on smart retail KUALA LUMPUR: U Mobile, the data-centric and award-winning mobile and digital services company, is partnering with Qualcomm, the innovative connectivity solutions provider that intelligently connects everyone and everything, and The Food Merchant (TFM), the country’s first international premium grocer that has curated and sourced over 250 international brands in-store – to conduct a proof-of-concept (PoC) with the TROLLEE P1 smart retail solution for shopping carts at TFM’s outlet at Pavilion Embassy, Jalan Ampang. The PoC is currently ongoing and will run for a limited time only. With TROLLEE P1, shoppers can search for products by categories and recommendations by simply keying in the name of the product that they are looking for besides using the navigation feature to locate products in the store. They can even manage their shopping list and shopping budget by scanning the products with the device before placing them into the cart. The self-checkout feature in TROLLEE P1 also offers convenient, fast and contactless payment – eliminating the need for shoppers to queue at the cashier. Another innovative feature is the use of augmented reality (AR) technology in campaigns to engage shoppers with interactive games and activities, giving shoppers an immersive shopping experience. For retailers, TROLLEE P1 among others, presents an opportunity to bridge the gap between the online and offline customer journey as the smart shopping cart’s proprietary hardware and software is able to capture data on shopper patterns and preferences. This smart retail PoC collaboration between U Mobile, Qualcomm and TFM is particularly timely as Malaysia’s retail industry continues to track positively against projections, with Q1’23 growth recording a better-than-expected rate of 13.8% in retail sales, as compared to Q1’22. TROLLEE P1 is able to recommend customers a product on promotion with a pop up ad when they are in the supermarket. oTROLLEE P1 to bridge gap between online and offline shopping as it is able to capture data on shopper patterns and preferences The global estimate for smart retail market is also estimated to be worth US$91.36 billion (RM429 billion) by 2030, highlighting the interest that retailers have in wanting to achieve greater insights to their customers’ behaviour via digital transformation. U Mobile chief sales officer Alex Tan said their vision is to be Malaysia’s favourite digital services provider and true to that ethos, they are always looking at how they can leverage on digital innovations to enhance industries. “With the Malaysian retail industry rebounding so reassuringly post-pandemic, we believe that this is the best time for U Mobile to provide our connectivity expertise to power technologies that elevate the supermarket shopping experience for Malaysians. Hence, we are delighted to partner Qualcomm and The Food Merchant on this initiative as the insights provided by their customers will be invaluable,” he added. Tan said that smart retail is just the start as U Mobile is actively seeking to partner different industries to explore or implement digital solutions to contribute to Malaysia’s ambition to be a technology-based economy as outlined in the 12th Malaysia Plan. “As we look towards the future, The Food Merchant is at the forefront of technology adoption in the retail industry. From state-ofthe-art checkout systems to augmented reality shopping experiences, we believe that embracing technology is essential to make seamless shopping easier, faster, and more enjoyable for our customers. Simultaneously, we continuously curate our product offerings to ensure our customers have access to the finest and freshest options to enhance the overall shopping experience,” said TFM COO Leong Pei Khim. ST Liew, vice-president of Qualcomm Technologies Inc and president of Qualcomm in Taiwan and Southeast Asia said, “At Qualcomm, we believe that the future of retail lies in the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology. Our smart retail solutions empower businesses to transcend traditional shopping experiences, creating dynamic environments where datadriven insights meet personalised interactions. By seamlessly integrating AI-driven smart retail solutions, we’re not only enhancing customer experiences but also catalysing a broader digital transformation that’s redefining the landscape of business and connectivity.”
13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Scientex posts record high revenue of RM4b for FY23 PETALING JAYA: Packaging manufacturer and property developer Scientex Bhd attained net profit of RM438.1 million for the financial year ended July 31, 2023 (FY23) on record high revenue of RM4.08 billion. Its bottom line rose 6.9% from RM409.9 million from the year before as revenue increased 2.3% from RM3.99 billion. The group’s property segment drove topline growth, increasing by 29.1% to RM1.45 billion in FY23 from RM1.12 billion previously, on strong take-up rates for new launches as well as higher sales and steady construction progress in ongoing projects. The property division’s robust performance mitigated the packaging segment’s contribution, which continued to witness softer global demand coupled with higher operating costs. Packaging revenue fell 8.2% to RM2.63 billion in FY23 versus RM2.86 billion a year ago. For the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2023 (Q4’23), Scientex posted oGroup registers RM438m net profit for the year, proposes final dividend of 5 sen per share RM114.9 million net profit on RM1.07 billion revenue, compared with RM125 million net profit on RM1.11 billion revenue in the previous corresponding quarter. The decline in quarterly net profit was largely due to rising operating costs, particularly energy, in addition to an impairment of goodwill of RM22.7 million in relation to its Myanmar operations. The property segment continued to display favourable performance in 4Q23 with higher progress billings from ongoing projects in Malacca, Selangor and Penang, in addition to robust demand for new launches in Johor, Selangor and Kedah. This outshone the softer demand for all product segments in the packaging division, which witnessed rising operating costs. Scientex CEO Lim Peng Jin said he was heartened that on top of the group’s commitment to pursuing efficiency, its twin core strategy of packaging and property businesses had enabled Scientex to weather the vagaries of the macroenvironment. “We are confident that the positive performance of the property division will continue to gain momentum in the current financial year ending July 31, 2024 (FY224), as we reap the benefits of existing strategies such as bulk purchase, optimising land use and deploying Industrialised Building System to maintain affordability and competitiveness of our homes,” he added. Lim said Scientex endeavours to reiterate the similar discipline of production efficiency to its packaging division to mitigate the effects of softer global market demand and rising production costs. Furthermore, he added, it expects to explore more opportunities and expand into new markets more aggressively, resulting from its focus on innovating value-added products. As at July 31, 2023, the group’s ongoing development projects had a total gross development value of RM4 billion, comprising mainly double-storey landed homes priced at RM300,000 and below per unit. In the packaging division, the group remains on track in its growth strategy of expanding capacity and capability, as well as adopting advanced technology, to optimise quality and production efficiency. Scientex has proposed a singletier final dividend of 5 sen per share in respect of FY23 for shareholders’ approval. This is in addition to an interim dividend of 5 sen per share paid earlier. The total dividend payout of RM155.1 million represents 35.4% of Scientex’s FY23 net profit, thus exceeding its dividend policy of paying out a minimum of 30% of net profit. SME Corp channels RM100m aid to 20,700 MSMEs PUTRAJAYA: SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) has channelled RM100 million via the Micro Madani Strengthening Programme (Micro Madani) to help 20,700 entrepreneurs nationwide from the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the programme offers financial assistance in the form of grants, loans and MSMEstatus vouchers. At a press conference after launching the Micro Madani programme here yesterday, he said online applications can be made via http://smecorp.gov.my/MIKROMA DANI. Among the main criteria is that these MSME companies must have less than five employees and an annual income not exceeding Ewon (in brown shirt) at the launch of the Micro Madani programme. – BERNAMAPIC Local job market stabilising, computer & IT sector sees biggest median salary rise: JobStreet PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s job market is stabilising, with median salaries across most sectors (97.3%) reporting no substantial changes from the previous year, JobStreet’s Salary Guide 2023 shows. The Computer & IT industry experienced the highest median salary growth, with a 28% increase from RM3,750 to RM4,800. Computer & IT specialist roles also have the highest median salary among all specialisations at RM6,000, according to the report released by Malaysia’s leading online employment platform operated by SEEK. Despite a lower number of job advertisem*nts within the industry, compensation for entry-level, senior executive and manager level positions recorded year-on-year increases. This trend highlights the strong demand for entry level IT professionals, which is driving up salaries despite a potentially challenging job market. While Computer & IT functions were the highest paid specialisations, the corporate Computer & IT industry experienced a high 57.4% salary growth – far surpassing the second-highest industry (Communication Service 7.7%). Conversely, SME professionals specialising in Computer & IT experienced a 10.3% salary decrease. JobStreet Malaysia managing director Vic Sithasanan said, “Malaysia’s heightened focus on digital transformation initiatives, spurred by the government’s ongoing push in this area, is likely the reason for this surge in demand for IT roles. However, it’s also clear from the layoffs impacting major tech companies around the world earlier this year that this growth may not be sustainable in the long run. Ideally, educational reforms across Malaysia should be implemented to lay a solid foundation to producing more skilled IT specialists in the long term.” The manufacturing industry is also experiencing some growth, posting the highest number of job advertisem*nts for the second consecutive year, up 12.6% in 2023. This is in line with the industry’s steady, ongoing expansion – though salaries offered remained mostly unchanged. Companies may also be expanding teams and turning their focus towards business growth and sales, as job advertisem*nts for Sales & Marketing specialisations continued to surge, jumping 43.6% to mark over 76,000 job ads posted – the highest across all specialisations for the second consecutive year. Entry-level positions in particular for Sales & Marketing specialisations showed the highest growth at 20%. Interestingly, the Marketing & Advertising industry saw a 2.2% net decrease in salary overall in comparison. Meanwhile, the F&B sector recorded salary drops across all position levels, except for senior managers. The report also examined salary changes by locations, and found most cities saw salaries decline across most positions. Only Kuching experienced a 9.6% increase in median salary, while Putrajaya experienced no change at all. Positions in Kuantan were the most heavily affected, with a 29.4% salary drop. Overall, junior and nonexecutive roles experienced the highest decline. Minox aims to raise RM22.5m from IPO for ACE Market listing KUALA LUMPUR: Minox International Group Bhd aims to raise RM22.5 million from its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market, comprising a public issue of 90 million new ordinary shares. Based on the IPO price of RM0.25 per share and its enlarged issued shares of 360 million shares, Minox’s market capitalisation upon listing will be RM90 million. It said the majority, or 57.9% of the proceeds will be utilised towards business growth, including product development and deployment (RM4 million), construction of a warehouse (RM4 million), setting up a new warehouse in Singapore (RM5.01 million), and repayment of bank borrowings (RM4.50 million). Minox is a distributor of stainless steel sanitary valves, tubes and fittings. Managing director Cheong Chee Son said in tandem with the group’s impending listing, the company has charted a clear three-pronged growth strategy. “Firstly, we intend to strengthen our presence in the semiconductor industry where we see great potential where we are set to introduce our new vacuum fittings and valves to be used in semiconductor production lines such as electronic components, solar cells, storage media and LED manufacturing plants. “Next, we plan to construct our fourth warehouse in Puchong, Selangor which will give us an additional storage area of about 18,690 square feet to support our growing business volume,” Cheong said in a statement. Cheong said in order to facilitate their growth and expansion of business in Singapore, a new warehouse in Singapore has been set up with an expected storage area of 7,500 square feet. “It will provide us with additional capacity to store our new vacuum fittings and valves for the semiconductor industry as well as to store inventories that cater to our customers in Singapore and other overseas markets, such as Bahrain, Cambodia, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. “This new warehouse in Singapore will allow us to store additional inventories which in turn may lower our average cost per unit by leveraging on Singapore’s free trade agreements with its trade partners,” he added. Applications for the public issue are open from today and will be closed on Oct 3, 2023 at 5pm. Minox is slated to be listed on Oct 17. – Bernama RM300,000, he said. “MSME entrepreneurs will be able to get loan financing to meet working capital requirements, purchase machinery and equipment up to a maximum of RM200,000 at an interest rate as low as 2% annually in collaboration with Pembangunan Industri Kewangan Malaysia Bhd (MIDF). “For MSME-status vouchers, entrepreneurs are eligible to receive financial assistance worth RM100 in the form of registration process fee,” he said. To meet the objectives of the Madani Micro programme, Ewon said SME Corp will monitor the activities of all recipients to ensure the funding is used for its intended purpose. Meanwhile, SME Corp chief executive officer Rizal Nainy said promotional tours will be organised nationwide starting tomorrow in Kuantan, Pahang and conclude in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Oct 17. Rizal, optimistic that the programme will receive an encouraging response, said SME Corp will continue to support MSME entrepreneurs to lift the sector’s capabilities to a higher level to boost contributions to the national economy. The MSME sector recorded an encouraging 11.6% growth in 2022 against 1.3% in 2021. – Bernama
14 theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Japan’s exports extend fall as China slowdown bites TOKYO: Japan’s exports fell in August for a second straight month, weighed by declines in China’s demand for steel and heavy oil and stoking fears of a downturn in the face of elevated global interest rates. Ministry of Finance data showed yesterday exports fell 0.8% year-onyear in August, slower than economists’ median estimates of 1.7% decline and following a 0.3% drop in Japan’s overseas shipments. It was the second straight month of annual declines. By destination, Japan’s shipments to China, its largest oShipments drop for second straight month in August, trade balance remains in the red trading partner, fell 11% year-onyear in August, marking a third straight month of double-digit drops. “The growth of the Chinese economy itself is weak, or at least that is what is being reflected,” said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute. “Therefore ... the double-digit decrease in exports suggests that the situation continues to be quite bad, and that the situation does not seem to have bottomed out.” Exports to the United States rose 5.1% year-on-year in August, driven HDFC Bank flags hit to asset quality, margins post merger BENGALURU: India’s top private lender HDFC Bank has warned that its merger with HDFC Ltd would hit key financial metrics including its margins and bad loan ratios, sending shares down 4% yesterday and dragging the blue-chip Nifty 50. HDFC Bank’s gross bad loan ratio is expected to have increased to 1.4% as of July 1 post-merger, from a standalone 1.2% in the June quarter, while excess liquidity from the merger is seen dragging the lender’s net interest margins down about 25 basis points. The bank provided the outlook at an analyst meet held earlier in the week. HDFC Bank is expected to report its first consolidated earnings next month, though a date has not been announced yet. The two companies merged effective July 1, creating a US$40 billion (RM187.4 billion) behemoth. The warning on non-performing assets was prompted by a sharp rise in bad loans in the erstwhile housing financier’s corporate loan book, Nomura analysts wrote in a note, downgrading the stock to “neutral” from “buy”. The bank’s NIMs could also see pressure over the next 2-3 quarters, Nomura added, cutting NIM estimates by about 25 basis points for fiscal year 2024 and 15-20 basis points for FY25-26. “Key risk is lower profitability over longer term due to the merger,” Macquarie analysts wrote. Analysts also expect a hit to return on equity and see the stock struggling over the next 12 months. About 11.6 million HDFC Bank shares changed hands in early trade yesterday, versus a 30-day average of 21.1 million. HDFC Bank shares are down 3% so far this year, underperforming 6% gains in the bank index and 11% gains in the Nifty index. The merger between HDFC Bank and HDFC Ltd was the largest in India’s corporate history. – Reuters by shipments of cars, mining and construction machinery. Japanese policymakers are counting on external demand to pick up the slack and offset weak consumer spending. However, the trade data has dashed hopes for prospects of an export-led recovery. Partly reflecting weak domestic demand, imports fell 17.8%, weighed by energy costs. The trade balance came to a deficit of ¥930 billion (RM29.4 billion), marking two straight months in the red. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s export orders contracted for the 12th straight month in August and missed expectations, as demand remains subdued due to factors such as high interest rates and weak demand from China, though growth Surprise UK inflation dip raises prospect of BoE rate hike pause LONDON: Britain’s high inflation rate unexpectedly slowed, raising the prospect of the Bank of England (BoE) pausing its long run of interest rates hikes as soon as today. The pound fell and investors saw a nearly 50-50 chance of rates staying on hold at the BoE’s September meeting after the consumer price index sank to an 18- month low of 6.7% in August. That was only a small fall from July’s 6.8% but flew in the face of forecasts by economists polled by Reuters – and the BoE too – for an increase. Underlying measures of inflation weakened more sharply, opening up the possibility that BoE governor Andrew Bailey and his Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) colleagues will keep rates on hold today after 14 back-to-back increases since December 2021. “The big downside surprise to core inflation throws the Bank of England a major curveball,” Chris Hare, an economist with HSBC, said. Strong wage growth in recent data meant a rate increase was still the most likely outcome today but “today’s data raises a risk that the MPC will remain on hold”, he said. Sterling sank by half a cent to its lowest against the US dollar since May and it also fell against the euro The slowdown in inflation was driven by a drop in often-volatile hotel prices and air fares, and by food prices rising less than a year ago, the Office for National Statistics said. That offset a jump in global fuel prices and an increase in a tax on alcoholic drinks. Britain’s inflation rate has fallen from a peak above 11% last October but even after the latest drop it remained among the highest in Western Europe, topped only by Austria and Iceland in August. But core inflation – which strips out volatile food and energy prices – fell sharply to 6.2% from 6.9% in July. Service sector inflation – also closely watched by the BoE – lost some of its steam too, slowing to 6.8% from 7.4%. “Thursday’s Bank of England meeting just got a lot more interesting,” James Smith, an economist at ING, said. “It’s a very close call, but we’re still tempted to say the Bank will follow through with a hike tomorrow.” He said the expected increase was likely to be the BoE’s last for now. – Reuters may resume from the fourth quarter. Export orders last month fell 15.7% from a year ago to US$46.04 billion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. Export orders for goods from the island, home to tech giants such as TSMC, are an indicator of global technology demand. The rate of decline worsened from the 12.0% drop in July. But the tide appears to be turning, the director of the ministry’s statistics agency said. “Export orders in Q4 show positive growth based on what we’re seeing now,” said Huang Yu-ling, referring to the second half of the year when demand picks up for the traditional end-of-year shopping season in Western markets. – Reuters B R I E F SCHINA HOLDS KEY RATES AS ECONOMY FINDS FOOTING SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE: China kept benchmark lending rates unchanged at a monthly fixing yesterday, in line with expectations, as fresh signs of economic stabilisation and a weakening yuan reduced the need for immediate monetary easing. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.45%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.20%. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages. The medium-term lending facility (MLF) rate serves as a guide to the LPR and markets see it as a precursor to any changes to the lending benchmarks. – Reuters YELLEN: US GROWTH NEEDS TO SLOW AMID FULL EMPLOYMENT NEW YORK: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said US growth needed to slow to a pace more in line with its potential rate to bring inflation back to target levels since the economy was operating at full employment. But demand-supply imbalances in the labour market have abated, she said, which was a healthy sign for the economy. “Growth has to slow. I mean, you want growth to slow, you want it to be in line with potential when you’re operating at full employment,” Yellen told reporters on Tuesday after a climate finance event in New York during the U.N. General Assembly week. – Reuters Core inflation - which strips out volatile food and energy prices - fell sharply to 6.2% from 6.9% in July. – AFPPIC ADB warns of ‘intensified’ risks for developing Asia MANILA: Developing Asia faces “intensified” risks from China’s troubled property sector and high interest rates around the world, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday, as it trimmed its regional growth expectations. Gross domestic product is forecast to expand by 4.7% this year, the Manila-based lender said, slightly lower than its April estimate of 4.8%. It was faster than the 4.3% growth recorded last year. Developing Asia refers to the multilateral lender’s 46 emerging member economies, stretching from Kazakhstan in Central Asia to the Cook Islands in the Pacific. “Risks to the outlook have intensified,” the bank said in its latest update of forecasts for this year and next, noting weaknesses in China’s property sector could “hold back regional growth”. Other challenges included high interest rates and threats to food security from the El Nino weather phenomenon and export restrictions imposed by some countries. Inflation is expected to drop to 3.6% this year from 4.4% last year, the ADB said, pointing to the slowdown in China. The bank slashed its China inflation estimate to 0.7% for this year, from its April forecast of 2.2%. There was a burst of consumer exuberance after China lifted its strict zero-Covid policies late last year. But weak consumption, a crisis in the massive property sector and soft demand for China’s exports has complicated the recovery. – AFP
2 1 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 T H U R S D A Y Ariana Grande on her botox and fillers on page 16 The spooky & the kooky Horror movies takes over the screen on page 17 Tarsem Singh’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet on page 18 iPhone 15 offers console version of Assassin’s Creed on page 19
16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME ‘It is disrespectful’ TAYLOR Swift and SZA were reportedly among the top nominees for the MTV Video Music Awards 2023 (VMA), which recently concluded. However, eyebrows were raised when SZA was notably absent from the “Artist of the Year” category, despite her outstanding album release SOS, which received both critical acclaim and commercial Sza drops out of performing at this year’s VMA. – ROLLING STONE oSZA’s manager slams VMA Artist of the Year snub █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL success, making it one of the year’s standout albums. “Obviously, she had one of the best years, if not the best year, of any artist at this point. I don’t see why she wouldn’t be nominated for ‘Artist of the Year’. It just really didn’t make any sense to me. It’s disrespectful,” SZA’s manager, Terrence “Punch” Henderson, tells The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. Artist of the Year nominees included Beyoncé, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Karol G, Doja Cat and Taylor Swift, who ultimately won the award. Henderson told the publication that he contacted MTV about the lack of nominations in the category during a call about a possible performance with SZA at the ceremony, but “they were unable to provide a clear explanation as to why she was not nominated.” “It was just, ‘Well, she’s nominated for all these other awards.’” “Why wouldn’t she be nominated for Artist of the Year? Even with the other artists that were nominated for Artist of the Year, some of them were even off-cycle. They didn’t have an album out. I mean, no disrespect to them or anybody else; everybody’s great and all of that, but still, you can’t discredit what SOS has done and is currently doing,” he added, about the musician’s most recent album, which NME awarded five stars and described as a “comeback well worth the wait.” Despite SZA being nominated for other awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best R&B, Henderson found the lack of acknowledgement in the “Artist of the Year” category disheartening. Frustrated with the situation, he decided to withdraw SZA from the MTV performance, emphasising the need for her to be respected and recognised at the highest level. SZA eventually won the Best R&B Award for her song Shirt but did not attend the ceremony. No botox, no problem BEING as transparent as possible, Ariana Grande decided to be candid about her evolving views and relationship with beauty in a new makeup tutorial video that was done with Vogue. Early in the video, Grande admitted that she has received plenty of lip filler over the years, along with botox. “I stopped in 2018 ‘cause I just felt so… too much. I just felt like hiding, you know?” “I always associated each character I played with a different makeup kit,” she said, explaining her artistic process in her childhood theatre days. “In music, I don’t know, like a different look for each song and video. It became such an important piece of the puzzle, and it’s such an important part of being an artist and of storytelling.” Grande also revealed that being a child star had an impact on how she viewed beauty, with people and the entertainment industry being outspoken about appearances. “I used makeup as a disguise or something to hide behind… and that can be so beautiful at times, and I still do have The R&B singer is ready to embrace the natural ageing process. – ENTERTAIMENT TONIGHT █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR love for it.” Though her views on beauty have changed over the years, Grande noted that she does not hold a grudge against those who get beauty treatments. “Since I stopped getting fillers and botox – and maybe I’ll start again one day, I don’t know, to each their own, whatever makes you feel beautiful, I do support – but I know for me, I was just like, ‘Oh, I want to see my well-earned cry lines and smile lines’.” The singer also hopes that her smile lines will get deeper and that she will laugh more, before concluding by saying that ageing is a beautiful thing. Parineeti Chopra gets married BOLLYWOOD actress Parineeti Chopra is getting married to Raghav Chadha, an Indian politician from the Aam Admi Party and member of Parliament, soon. A week-long celebration was scheduled starting Sept 17, including a cricket match between Chopra and Chadha, before a grand wedding is expected to take place on Sept 24. The much-anticipated wedding is planned to be held at the Leela Palace in Udaipur, with a reception on Sept 30. Among the VIPs expected are Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also Aam Admi’s party national convener, and Parineeti’s cousin Priyanka Chopra. Parineeti joined as public relation consultant with Yash Raj Films and later signed a three-movie deal with the production house. She debuted in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, a romantic comedy with Ranveer Singh. Chopra and Chadha on their engagement day. – INSTAGRAM █ BYS. TAMARAI CHELVI Burton’s displeasure ACTOR Tim Burton is seemingly done with Warner Bros and Disney. In a recent interview with the British Film Institute, Tim Burton was vocal over his dismay over how Warner Bros once scrapped his Superman Lives film, which would have had Nicolas Cage as the Man of Steel, and how he felt seeing Cage as Superman and Michael Keaton’s Batman in DC Studios’ The Flash. “No, I don’t have regrets,” Burton said of the scrapped Superman project. “I will say this: when you work that long on a project and it doesn’t happen, it affects you for the rest of your life”. After the success of Burton’s first two Batman films in the early ‘90s, along with how the films helped propel a franchise, Burton was tapped by Warner Bros to direct Cage as Superman in Superman Lives in the late ‘90s. However, the film was cancelled after spending nearly two years in pre-production. Once The Flash was released this year, Cage or a CGI representation of him, appeared as Superman in a brief action sequence. Burton reacted to Cage’s Superman and Keaton’s Batman in The Flash, comparing the cameos to the recent trend of reimagining films and characters using an AI platform. “But also, it goes into another AI thing, and this is why I think I’m over it with the studio. They can take what you did, ‘Batman’ or whatever, and culturally misappropriate it, or whatever you want to call it,” Burton explained. “Even though you’re a slave to Disney or Warner Brothers, they can do whatever they want. So in my latter years of life, I’m in quiet revolt against all this.” Burton upset that Superman Lives no more – NATIONAL TODAY █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR
17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Demons or ghosts The Nun II terrifies audiences with spiritual possession scenes. – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY A Haunting in Venice star-studded cast includes talents like Fey, Yeoh, Jamie Dornan and Branagh. – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY WARNER BROS thriller The Nun II kept a narrow lead on a mostly spiritless North American weekend with an estimated take of US$14.7 million (RM69 million), industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported last weekend. This ninth chapter in The Conjuring series, a gothic tale of spiritual possessions featuring a demonic, red-eyed goat, stars Taissa Farmiga, Belgian actor Jonas Bloquet and Storm Reid. 20th Century’s A Haunting in Venice, the latest Kenneth Branagh take on an Agatha Christie mystery, had an estimated US$14.5 million (RM68 million) in ticket sales. With Branagh both directing and making his latest bigmoustached role as Belgian flatfoot Hercules Poirot, the movie took in an estimated US$14.5 million (RM68 million) for the Fridaythrough-Sunday period. “This is a lukewarm domestic opening” for the genre, said analyst David A. Gross, while adding that with a US$60 million (RM281 million) budget, “the movie isn’t going to lose money after it finishes playing in the foreign markets.” The film has a sceptical Poirot being lured out of retirement to attend a seance where, not-muchof-a-spoiler alert, someone is murdered. Tina Fey and Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh also star in the third installment of Poirot’s investigative adventures. The weekend’s third top moneymaker, at US$7.2 million (RM34 million), was Sony’s The Equalizer 3, starring Denzel Washington in his latest portrayal of a retired US Marine and drugenforcement agent taking on an endless stream of bad guys. In fourth place was another sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, from Focus Features and Universal Pictures. It earned an estimated US$4.7 million (RM22 million). Nia Vardalos, again playing the central character, directs. And heroically hanging on to fifth place in its ninth weekend out was Warner Bros Barbie. The Greta Gerwig film had ticket sales of US$3.9 million (RM18 million). Rounding out the top 10 were: Jawan, US$2.5 million (RM12 million) Blue Beetle, US$2.5 million (RM12 million) Gran Turismo, US$2.4 million (RM11.26 million) Oppenheimer, US$2.1 million (RM9.85 million) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Mutant Mayhem, US$2 million (RM9.38 million) – AFP oNun II narrowly outscares A Haunting in Venice FROM streetwear to elegant evening dresses, the catwalks of London Fashion Week were not short of choices as designers showcased their spring and summer 2024 collections. JW Anderson and clay The invitation to the show of fashion label JW Anderson was a block of clay, arousing the curiosity of the guests. The first models walked down the catwalk in Bermuda shorts and hoodies made from playdough, resembling moving sculptures. Then followed colourful ensembles made of shiny plastic material, crochet dresses and feathers worn as belts and on sleeves. Jonathan Anderson also showcased oversized bomber jackets, long enough to cover the thighs, and trenchcoats with long skirts. “Using jackets as dresses becomes very simple,” Anderson, who is also the creative director of Spanish fashion house Loewe, explained after the show. His show, a staple of London Fashion Week, attracted celebrities including British actresses Suki Waterhouse and Jenna Coleman, as well as actor Ncuti Gatwa of the TV show Sex Education. Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, was also among the guests, sitting next to Edward Enninful, the outgoing editor-in-chief of British Vogue. Enninful will be stepping down in January to take on a global advisor role at Vogue publisher Conde Nast Media. Reports have suggested a power struggle between the two but it did not show in front of the cameras. Red carpet fashion London-based designer David Koma is known for his contouring dresses. At his show, models walked the runway to the music of Beyonce, who is among the clients of the Georgian designer. His collection was dominated by dark colours, especially black, but there were also designs in yellow, orange and even neon pink. Some of the dresses were asymmetrical, short in the front and long at the back, and were worn with tall, over-the-knee boots. Evening dresses were also at the show of designer Feben, a recent graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins University. Among her collection were largely transparent dresses made entirely of beads with long fringed skirts. Eudon Choi, the impressionist The collection of South Korean designer Eudon Choi was inspired by the works of French Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot. Models of all ages walked the runway at his show, with some of Choi’s designs presented by older women. The collection, presented in the garden of a church in central London, was elegant and refined. The designer wanted to freeze a moment in time in the way Morisot, the 19th-century artist, had done in her paintings. The looks were often monochrome with a neutral colour palette. The tones evolved from a soft powder pink to anthracite grey. With the colours, the outfits transitioned from daytime to evening wear, combining transparent and opaque fabrics. Choi also used floral patterns and the contrast of black and white. Roksanda and Serbian monasteries Roksanda Ilincic, the founder of the fashion brand Roksanda, was inspired by the monasteries of her native Serbia. The tall headdresses worn by models at her show resembled those worn by Orthodox priests. The straight, almost austere lines of some pieces were countered by a vibrant pop of colour or heels with tassels. Silk dresses and capes were accessorised with large jewellery items, which blended in to become part of the garment. The silhouettes were sometimes straight and narrow, sometimes fluid and moving, and sometimes imposing and rigid. Labrum, “designed by an immigrant” British label Labrum’s collection was inspired by a nomoli, a figurine from Sierra Leone, where founder and creative director Foday Dumbuya was born. The winner of this year’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design opened his show with ex-footballer Ian Wright walking the runway in a double-breasted suit and Adidas Samba sneakers. The collection continued mixing casual and formal elements, with designs featuring mixed textiles and high-contrast patterns. Male and female models walked to music by singer-songwriter Tawiah, with piano accompaniment. Dumbuya chose the Four Seasons as his venue to bring the people of Brixton “into a world where they think they don’t belong”, he told AFP. “The story I’m telling is about population movements and migration”, added the designer, whose brand is known for the unofficial slogan “designed by an immigrant”. London Fashion Week continued over the weekend with showcases from Ukraine-born Masha Popova and fashion house Erdem, among others. – AFP Models prepare to present South Korean designer Eudon Choi’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection last weekend. British label Labrum’s collection was inspired by a nomoli, a figurine from Sierra Leone. Colourful ensembles made of plastic material, crochet dresses and feathers worn as belts and on sleeves. – PICS BY AFP London Fashion Week offers choices
18 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Premium, indulgent mooncakes AS the Mid-Autumn Festival quickly approaches, there is a gradual increase in the demand for and purchase of mooncakes. For those who are not interested in regular mooncakes, here are premium options that will surely make for great gifts as the Mid-Autumn Festival makes landfall at the end of the month. Timeless Treasures Mooncake collection Finely crafted and assembled, Lady Yi’s Timeless Treasures Mooncake Collection is functionally a lantern, with four compartments containing four hefty mooncakes in assorted flavours. A fifth (covered) compartment at the bottom houses a CR2032 battery-powered “candle”, that when turned on, lights up the entire lantern, bringing its Peranakan-inspired tile motifs to life. Priced at RM188+ per box, orders can be made online at ladyyisteahouse.oddle.me/en_M Y Oh Cha Snow Skin Mooncake Mooncakes, as delicious as they are, are not exactly healthy. For the health-conscious, Oh Cha’s Snow Skin Mooncakes is a great option. Known for its health-conscious options and exceptional matcha (green tea) creations, Oh Cha Matcha’s has brought back its mooncakes for a third year. Within its Chinese folkloreinspired packaging, four of Oh Cha Matcha’s signature mooncakes are housed: Matcha Mung Bean (Matcha Snow Skin), Hojicha Mung Bean (Purple Sweet Potato Snow Skin), Genmaicha Mung Bean (Blue Spirulina Snow Skin) and Gyokuro Mung Bean (Beetroot Snow Skin). These mooncakes are veganfriendly, sugar-free via the use of plant-based stevia as a sugar alternative, with no artificial colouring or syrup. The lantern is structurally sound enough to last several Mid-Autumn Festivals. oSpoil yourself and your loved ones with these elegant creations █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Tarsem Singh brings dark love story to Toronto film fest Video Music Awards in 1991, including Video of the Year. He went on to direct Jennifer Lopez in the sci-fi horror flick The Cell (2000) and other features including The Fall (2006), the Snow Whitebased Mirror Mirror starring Julia Roberts in 2012, and Self/less with Ryan Reynolds (2015). But the heartbreaking tale of Jassi and Mithu remained on his to-do list, and a meeting just before Covid-19 hit with screenwriter Amit Rai, who he said was “possessed” with the story, resulted in a script. Tarsem insisted on not using stars in the film, Pavia Sidhu (Jassi) had some acting experience, and Yugam Sood (Mithu) is a university student making his screen debut. “They would have liked for me to use somebody from Bollywood. They would have liked for me to make it in Hindi,” Tarsem said. “But I said, ‘It just needs to be this.’ It’s in Punjabi and it’s small.” Natural fit Tarsem turns the ripped-from-theheadlines drama into something of a folk tale: the film starts and ends with narrative verses from singer Kanwar Grewal. The format is akin to Shakespeare’s narrator in Romeo and Juliet, and Tarsem moulds his story to fit the broad strokes of the classic play: Jassi speaks to Mithu from a balcony, and there is even a sleeping potion. After their initial meeting in Punjab, the lovers are on opposite sides of the world for years, until Jassi returns to India and secretly marries Mithu. When her family discovers the union, Jassi is beaten and tricked into signing a criminal complaint against her husband. She manages to return to India, but a tender reunion quickly gives way to a deadly denouement, orchestrated by her own mother and uncle. In real life, Jassi’s relatives were only extradited to India last year. The case is still pending. For Tarsem, the story was personal in that the events unfolded not far from where he was born in Punjab. And he felt he could clearly convey the societal pressures at work, The Oh Cha Matcha mooncakes have rather experimental-sounding flavours. INDIAN director Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, known for his awardwinning music videos and visually arresting fantasy features, unveiled his first movie in eight years at the Toronto Film Festival – a shocking true-crime story about love, class and murder in 1990s Punjab. Dear Jassi is Tarsem’s first-ever film set in his home country and, in an interview with AFP, he explained how he waited for just the right time to make it. The 62-year-old Tarsem first heard the real-life tale of star-crossed love – a Canadian-born girl from a wealthy Punjabi family meets a rickshaw driver while visiting relatives in India – more than 20 years ago, and the idea never left him. “I gave my brother a call and said, ‘We either make the story right now or we wait at least two decades for it to become retro.’ This was not a subject matter that was going to get solved quickly,” he told AFP. At that time, Tarsem was already a known commodity in Hollywood: his dreamlike video for REM’s seminal hit Losing My Religion won six MTV packaged in, W Kuala Lumpur’s Moonlit Mirage Mooncake Collection will be available in scene-stealing chic bags instead. The bags will come in two colours, “Iconic Blue” and “Enigmatic Purple”, along with four mooncakes packaged within. Available mooncake flavours are Lotus Seed Paste Double Yolk, Mix Nuts, Red Bean with Tangerine Peel, Pure White Lotus, Black Sesame with Yam Eggsand, Jasmine with Red Dates, Puer with Lychee and Sea Salt Chocolate. A box of four includes the Limited Edition Moonlit Mirage Collection bag, and these are priced at RM268 nett per box. Additionally, there is also the Moonlit Mirage Mixology Kit, which contains a bottle of 200ml Roku Gin, mixers Cherry Yuzu, Osmanthus Elderflower, Kumquat Mandarin and Melon Matcha, a The Snow Skin Mooncake is priced at RM69.90 per box, with limited availability. Order from ohchamatcha.com Moonlit Mirage mooncake collection Somewhat ditching the traditional boxes that mooncakes tend to be especially in his depiction of Jassi’s mother. With nine daughters in a blended family, Jassi’s mother faced a choice. Tarsem says: “One goes rogue, and the other eight won’t get married; they are ruined. What do I do to get them married - write this one off or embrace her? “And the answer was to write her off. I don’t agree with it but I understand it”, he said. “She’s in pain and making the absolute wrong decisions.” Tarsem said having the world premiere of Dear Jassi in Toronto was a “natural fit”, given the story’s Canadian connection. It will also screen in competition at the London Film Festival in early October. When asked if he will make more movies in India, Tarsem is effusive. “Once I did this, I said, ‘Oh, I love the experience.’ I want to do a whole bunch of big ones there. And I’m probably going to go into it right away”, he said. So what type of movie could it be? “A massive Indian action flick”, he says. – AFP The flavours for the Snow Skin Mooncakes are set as only four. The “Enigmatic Purple” bag from W Kuala Lumpur. The “Iconic Blue” bag. T a r s e m brought his t r u e - l i f e l o v e / c r i m e story Dear Jassi to the Toronto Film Festival. – YAHOO limited edition stirrer and Roku Shot Glass, a recipe and instruction booklet, and of course, two mooncakes. This is priced at a higher price tag of RM348 nett per box. Unlike the previous two, the Moonlit Mirage Mooncake Collection can only be bought inperson from these locations: 0 Ground Floor of W Kuala Lumpur, from July 15 to Sept 29. 0 Pavilion Kuala Lumpur’s MidAutumn Festival, from Sept 4 to 29. 0 Old Wing, Ground Floor Centre Court, One Utama Shopping Mall from Sept 20 to Oct 1.
19 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 NEWS of Apple’s next iPhone has punctually arrived just in time for the pumpkin spice season. Unless you are one of those who are bound by unseen cosmic forces to buy every new iPhone released annually or risk being crippled by the lack of validation, the specs of the latest iPhone 15 are not going to impress you. That said, if you are into gaming, Apple’s latest flagship phone might pique your interest, as the iPhone 15 will supposedly come with impressive gaming power. Powered by Apple’s new A17 Pro chip, the iPhone 15 Pro will bring realtime ray-traced graphics into the hands of consumers. The new chip was introduced during the Sept 12 Apple event by Apple Silicon Engineering Group Vice President Sribalan Santhanam, with bold claims being that the A17’s internal GPU is able to run ray-traced reflections smoothly and four times faster than softwarebased rendering on current chips. He called it the “fastest chip ever on any smartphone”. The tiny piece of hardware is reported to be strong enough to power native mobile versions of Resident Evil Village, the Resident Evil 4 remake, Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Three of the former games have been announced to arrive for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max later this year, while Mirage and The Division Resurgence will come next year. “This is the first time a console version of Assassin’s Creed will be natively available on a smartphone,” said Apple Worldwide Marketing Senior Vice President Greg Joswiak. Apple games makes debut oiPhone 15 supposedly comes with impressive gaming power █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Apple ditches lightning cable OVER a decade later, Apple will be leaving behind the company’s proprietary Lightning connector oF its flagship iPhones. The news came with the iPhone 15 announcement at Apple’s annual fall product launch event on Sept 12. From the iPhone 15 and onwards, new models will feature USB-C charging ports. Apple executives touted the benefits of using the industry-standard USB-C, including higher data transfer speeds. The same cable can also be used to charge iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. The change comes due to new European Union legislation last year that mandated all smartphones sold in the EU to include a USB-C interface for charging before the end of 2024. A one metre USB-C-toUSB-C cable will be included with the iPhone 15s, with the 20W USB-C power adapter being sold separately. Apple also has a USB-C-to-Lightning adapter at a higher price. This tracks with the company’s standard of not including power adapters that began with the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020. All said and done, the iPhone 15s will also support wireless charging. The new standard models are the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. Alongside the standard models, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Pre-orders for all iPhone 15 models began Friday, Sept 15, with the products being available the next Friday, Sept 22. 70% of Gen Zers are using AI HALF the people in the world have already used generative artificial intelligence, according to a study conducted in the US, the UK, Australia and India. But there are gaps in usage between Generations Z and X. While younger people have largely embraced this new technology, older generations are not so convinced. It sometimes takes a bit of time between the arrival of a new technology and the moment that it becomes part of our regular practices. And when it comes to generative artificial intelligence tools, Gen Zers are far more inclined to use them than older generations, whether we’re talking about Gen Xers or “Boomers.” Seventy per cent of Gen Zers say they use this technology, while 68% of those who don’t use it are Gen Xers or Baby Boomers. These are the findings of the “Generative AI Snapshot Research: The AI Divide” survey of 4,000 people in the US, UK, Australia and India. More than a third of people who use generative AI do so on a daily basis and plan to use it even more in the future. Among users of generative AI, 65% are Millennials or Gen Z. 52% of Gen Z say they trust AI to help them make decisions. Meanwhile, three-quarters are looking to use AI in a professional context, notably to automate tasks at work, with 38% using it only for fun, compared with 34% to learn about topics they want more information on. Of the respondents who do not use generative AI (about half of t h o s e surveyed), 6 4 % concede that they would use the technology more if it were more secure. Eighty-eight per cent confess to not knowing what impact AI could have on their lives, and 32% consider artificial intelligence not to be useful for them. 70% of non-users would use it more if they knew more about the technology. “This data shows just how quickly generative AI usage has taken off in less than a year,” noted CEO of Salesforce AI Clara Shih. “In my career, I’ve never seen a technology get adopted this fast. Now, for AI to truly transform how people live and w o r k , o r g a n i s a t i o n s must develop AI that is rooted in trust and easily accessible for everyone to do more enjoyable, productive work.” A survey was conducted among 4,041 people aged 18 or over in the US, the UK, Australia and India from Aug 16 to 22. – ETX STUDIO █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Three quarters of Gen Z use TikTok as search engine WHEN it comes to online searches, Gen Z is turning to TikTok. In fact, TikTok has become the number one search engine for half of them and some 51% even prefer TikTok to Google, according to a US survey. The impact of TikTok on young internet users’ search habits has been apparent for over a year now. Among Generation Z, 74% now use TikTok searches to find content posted on the social platform. And, according to a survey by Her Campus Media, reported by Search Engine Land, 51% of Gen Z chooses TikTok over Google as a search engine. So what’s the appeal? According to the survey results, the biggest reason for preferring TikTok search, for 69% of respondents, is the video format of the results. Meanwhile, 65% feel that the answers they find are more relatable, and 47% cite personalised answers. With more young people using TikTok for searches, this is also influencing their purchasing behaviour. Almost three in four Gen Zers (72%) have bought a product after seeing it on TikTok. With the hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, which counts almost 70 billion views on the app, the platform is influencing the purchasing decisions of 62% of Gen Zers, a 15% increase compared to the 2022 edition of the survey. Moreover, 61% of respondents admit to trusting an influencer or brand more than a family member or friend for product recommendations. – ETX STUDIO
20 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Not just a pizza joint BANGSAR’S newest addition to its thriving mecca of independently run restaurants is Alta Pizza, nestled between Southern Rock Seafood and Chopsticks ChineseMuslim restaurant on Jalan Kemuja. I was so pleased to be invited to its soft opening and to sample its innovative and interesting menu that serves Neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas, a well-curated list of tantalising snacks, vegetarian-friendly sides and handmade pastas. Bangsar regulars will definitely recognise its name, as it is run by the same team that gave us the brilliant Sitka & Studio and the ever-popular Alta Cafe and Alta Burger. With so many years of delivering exceptionally crafted menus and service, you already know that this latest venture will be nothing short of excellent. Alta Cafe’s outer facade looks like a little slice of Santorini with its clean white and unfussed exterior with accents of cobalt blue. But step in and you cannot help but notice a Scandinavian vibe with its open concept kitchen that holds a state-ofthe-art Stefano Ferrara oven, also known as the Ferrari of pizza ovens. The design of the restaurant provides a laid-back feel where the focus is entirely on its menu and list of gorgeous natural wines. Almost everything on the menu is made in-house and you will definitely want to try its house made limoncello made with real Amalfi lemons. Zingy with an intense aroma, juiciness and semi-sweet notes, it is a great aperitif to start your meal. I know I mentioned their natural wines, but I cannot help raving about them again. I tried a rose, a chardonnay and an Australian red that I paired with the different courses, and I am still not over how stunningly delicious they were. I would go back just for their wines alone. Although the pizzas and pastas are the main stars here, we thoroughly enjoyed the small plates of snacks and appetisers that are great for sharing. We started with Alta’s famous Stracciatella with chipotle, zucchini and a delightful drizzle of chilli oil that gave it the perfect kick. This one is a “spicy” version of the Stracciatella dish at Alta Cafe, where it went viral on Instagram, and it comes with fresh figs and pine nuts that’s just lovely when spread on some crusty bread. We also had the house cured sardine on focaccia, the fried chicken with house made ranch and pickles, and bikini with toma, truffle and duck prosciutto. I honestly loved every single plate. The house c u r e d sardine w a s s o Alta Pizza’s open concept kitchen and dining area. – PICS BY PRISCILLA EMMANUEL/ THESUN oAlta Pizza impresses with innovative plates and showstopper pizzas █ BYPRISCILLA EMMANUEL Stracciatella with chipotle, zucchini and figs. Spaghetti with octopus, chilli crisp and house gremolata. Stracciatella with house made tomato, fior di latte and basil. Escargot pizza with garlic, lemon and chives. rich with omega oils, perfectly soaked into the focaccia, and I have never had fried chicken with pickles before; it was an unlikely pairing that I would absolutely want again. But as someone whose favourite sandwich is a grilled cheese, the bikini was tops for me. I have never had toma, a soft or semi-hard Italian cow’s milk cheese, and now I will not rest until I find some for my own personal pantry. Moving on to the mains, we had the spaghetti with octopus, chilli crisp and house gremolata. There was a wonderful oceanic saltiness to this dish with an unmistakable umaminess. However, there are more interesting pasta options like handkerchief pasta with smoked eel and egg yolk, as well as gnocchi with truffle and chicken jus, which that sounds absolutely sublime. As for the Neo-Neapolitan pizzas, we tried two of them: the Stracciatella with house made tomato, fior di latte and basil. Simple, well-executed and a classic for a reason. Its you-can’t-go-wrongwith-this pizza and it comes with additional toppings of oregano, the house made ranch and hot honey. The honey works fabulously with the Stracciatella, providing a wellbalanced sweet and mildly salty combination that is undeniably genius. But the piece-de-resistance for me was the escargot pizza with garlic, lemon and chives. Yes, you read that right. Herby, garlicky, plump and juicy escargot on a pizza? It was so unexpectedly decadent and u n i q u e that I w a s almost stunned into silence. I love when restaurants have one thing on their menu that is so completely in a league of its own; it is incomparable, and for Alta Pizza, it is the escargot. This was so perfect with the house chardonnay, I wanted to weep. Although we were fully satiated at this point, we never forego the customary practice of ending with dessert. We tried two seasonal desserts: the panna cotta with beetroot ice and the tiramisu with chocolate and orange liquor. The panna cotta was a miss for me, I did not find the combination of flavours as melodic as everything else, but the tiramisu totally made up for it, and closed the show with a rich and glorious finish. I have always obsessed over chocolate-orange anything, so, this felt like it was made just for me and I was extremely pleased. A round of applause for Chefowner Christian Recomio and his team. With such a brilliant start, I fully expect Alta Pizza’s cult following to grow exponentially. To discover more, check out their website at altapizza.co Alta Pizza 38, Jalan Kemuja, Bukit Bangsar Wednesdays – Sundays, 12pm – 11pm (pork-free) Tiramisu with chocolate and orange liquor.
21 * SPORTS theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of DAMAI AKRAB SDN. BHD. (199701009669 (425165-A)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Hasnol Hadi Bin Md Khaidzir Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of GEMILANG KENARI SDN. BHD. (198201005217 (84969-X)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Muhammad Nor Bin Saliman Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT JOHOR BAHRU IN THE STATE OF JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. JA – 28NCC – 136 – 08 / 2023 In the Matter of Section 465 of the Companies Act 2016 And In the Matter of Tek Automotive Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. [Company No. 201701007146 (317954-P)] BETWEEN KINGSTON LOGISTICS SDN. BHD. (Company No. 1241878-W) …Petitioner AND TEK AUTOMOTIVE MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. [Company No. 201701007146 (317954-P)] …Respondent ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court was on the 15.8.2023 presented by KINGSTON LOGISTICS SDN. BHD. (Company No. 1241878- W) and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court sitting at Johor Bahru at 9.00 a.m. in the morning on Tuesday, 10.10.2023 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 creditors or contributories of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is c/o Messrs. Jal & Lim, Suite 33.02, Level 33, City Square (Office Tower), 106- 108, Jalan Wong Ah f*ck, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor. Dated this 15th Semptember 2023 Signed MESSRS. JAL & LIM Solicitors for the Petitioner NOTE : NOTE—Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the above named Solicitors for the Petitioner notice in writing of his intention to do so. 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 above named not later than twelve o’ clock noon of the 9.10.2023 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition). [10.10.2023] IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of BENUA ASAS SDN. BHD. (199001014619 (206288-H)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Azman Hanafi Bin Abdullah Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of PERSADA MODEN SDN. BHD. (200201009117 (576780-V)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Rais Bin Hasnan Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, MALAYSIA (BAHAGIAN KELUARGA) PETISYEN PERCERAIAN BERSAMA NO.: WA-33JP-1979-12/2018 Dalam Perkara berkenaan dengan SeksyenSeksyen 5, 11, 19A dan 19B Akta Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak 1961 (Guardianship of Infant Act 1961) Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan Seksyen-Seksyen 88, 89, 95, 96, dan 97 Akta Perkahwinan Membaharui Undang-undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan dengan Bidangkuasa Mahkamah Yang Sedia Ada menurut Aturan 92 Kaedah 4 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012 Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan dengan Perintah (Perceraian) bertarikh 13.12.2018. ANTARA ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067) …PEMOHON ISTERI DAN KEE TEIK HUAT (NO. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) …RESPONDEN SUAMI (melalui tindakan asal) Dalam perkara Petisyen Bersama KEE TEIK HUAT (No. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) dan ARISA HOMNAN (No. Paspot Thailand: AA8135128 sebelum ini dikenali sebagai L577067) DAN Dalam perkara Seksyen 52 Akta Membaharui Undang-undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 ANTARA KEE TEIK HUAT (NO. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) …PEMPETISYEN PERTAMA DAN ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AA8135128 sebelum ini dikenali sebagai L577067) … PEMPETISYEN KEDUA NOTIS Kepada: KEE TEIK HUAT No. 8, Jalan Hujan Emas 6, Taman Overseas Union, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dalam Guaman WA33JP-1979-12/2018 oleh Pemohon yang beralamat di Lumpini Condo, Room 601/84, Building C, Prachauthit Rd., Samsennok, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310, yang mana tuntutan Pemohon adalah seperti berikut: A. untuk mengubah terma-terma Perintah (Perceraian) bertarikh 13.12.2018 (“Perintah Perceraian tersebut”) seperti berikut: 1. Perenggan (a) Perintah Perceraian tersebut diubah dengan berikut: 1.1 Bahawa hak jagaan, kawalan dan pemeliharaan tunggal (sole custody, care and control) Anak-anak tersebut yang bernama Kee Pei Yi (No. Sijil Kelahiran: BT 32513 / No. MyKid: 060919-14-0418) dan Kee Lim Yan (No. Sijil Kelahiran: CE 92640 / No. MyKid: 090915-14-0506) diberikan kepada Pemohon Isteri, ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 (sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067)) di mana akses munasabah ke atas Anak-Anak tersebut diberikan kepada ahli keluarga terdekat Responden Suami dan/atau Responden Suami sahaja; 2. Perenggan berikut ditambah ke dalam Perintah Perceraian tersebut:- 2.1 Bahawa hak penjagaan tunggal (sole guardianship) ke atas Anak-anak tersebut yang bernama Kee Pei Yi (No. Sijil Kelahiran: BT 32513 / No. MyKid: 060919-14-0418) dan Kee Lim Yan (No. Sijil Kelahiran: CE 92640 / No. MyKid: 090915-14-0506) diberikan kepada Pemohon Isteri, ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 (sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067). B. Bahawa kos permohonan ini dibayar oleh Responden Suami. C. Apa-apa perintah dan relief yang selanjutnya sebagaimana Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini fikir adil dan patut. Jika kamu ingkar apa-apa kehadiran yang demikian maka suatu penghakiman boleh dibuat terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada ...................................... PEGUAMCARA BAGI PEMOHON NOTIS ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Low & Partners, Peguamcara bagi Pemohon yang mempunyai alamat penyampaiannya di No.5, Jalan SS 21/23, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, 47400, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No.: 03 – 7729 5293 Fax No.: 03 – 7729 5298 Ruj. Kami: LP/DV/12102/03/23/LHY/TY/CT_AWP IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016, AND IN THE MATTER OF NASDRA SDN. BHD. Co. No. 201901016148 (1325476-V) (IN MEMBERS VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459, Companies Act, 2016, that the Final Meeting of Members of the above company will be held at Suite 1603, Level 16, Plaza Pengkalan, Batu 3, Jalan Tiong, Off Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur on 20th October, 2023 at 11.00 am to consider the following : 1. To receive and consider the Liquidators Statement of Accounts and any explanations therefrom. 2. To consider the disposal of the books, accounts and documents of the company. Signed ……………………………… Taufik bin Mohd Salleh Liquidator Dated 20th September, 2023 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP (Section 50(4)(a) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012) Notice is hereby given that HONG RC PLT (LLP No. 202004000433 (LLP0023201-LGN)) will be making an application to the Registrar of Limited Liability Partnerships for a declaration of dissolution pursuant to section 50(2) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012 within seven (7) days after the publication of this notice. Any partner or creditor of the LLP desiring to object to the application may do so in writing to the Companies Commission of Malaysia within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. LAND FOR SALE 5 Vacant Lands and 1 Vacant Land both located at Jln. Kampung Besar, Bukit Mertajam. For sale at RM28-RM33 per sqft. Total approx. 15acres in 2 difierent sites. Interested, contact Chris 012-5559398 / MayFang 012-4553727 204 Land for Sale 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-9394-06/2023 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat:201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN AFIQ IZZUDDIN BIN MOHD FAUZI (No. K/P: 980517-03-5123) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) AFIQ IZZUDDIN BIN MOHD FAUZI SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur , dalam Guaman No. WA-A72M-9394-06/2023 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di di Tingkat 19, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 16.06.2023 dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu dengan menghantar melalui serahan melalui menampalkan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dan mengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’ dan penyampaian Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan sedemikian akan disifatkan sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 21 haribulan September, 2023 ...........t.t........... TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh Tetuan GM Tan & Company,peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :[emailprotected] Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami:GMT/YIR(RCE)/00825/2023 DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-9274-06/2023 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat:201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN AHMAD AZLY BIN ABDUL RAZAK (No. K/P: 860424-05-5145) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) AHMAD AZLY BIN ABDUL RAZAK SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur , dalam Guaman No. WA-A72M-9274-06/2023 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di di Tingkat 19, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 15.06.2023 dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu dengan menghantar melalui serahan melalui menampalkan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dan mengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’ dan penyampaian Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan sedemikian akan disifatkan sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 21 haribulan September, 2023 .……………t.t.…………… TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh Tetuan GM Tan & Company,peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :[emailprotected] Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami:GMT/YIR(RCE)/00825/2023 322 Notices 322 Notices Advertise with us & connect to our urban readers. KLANG VALLEY PENANG | KEDAH PERAK | PERLIS PAHANG | KELANTAN TERENGGANU MS. Shoba TEL: 03-7784 8888 FAX: 03-7784 4424 MALACCA MR. Rajah TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of DAMAI AKRAB SDN. BHD. (199701009669 (425165-A)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Hasnol Hadi Bin Md Khaidzir Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator DAMAI AKRAB SDN BHD (199701009669 (425165-A)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of GEMILANG KENARI SDN. BHD. (198201005217 (84969-X)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Muhammad Nor Bin Saliman Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator GEMILANG KENARI SDN BHD (198201005217 (84969-X)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT JOHOR BAHRU IN THE STATE OF JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. JA – 28NCC – 136 – 08 / 2023 In the Matter of Section 465 of the Companies Act 2016 And In the Matter of Tek Automotive Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. [Company No. 201701007146 (317954-P)] BETWEEN KINGSTON LOGISTICS SDN. BHD. (Company No. 1241878-W) …Petitioner AND TEK AUTOMOTIVE MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. [Company No. 201701007146 (317954-P)] …Respondent ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court was on the 15.8.2023 presented by KINGSTON LOGISTICS SDN. BHD. (Company No. 1241878- W) and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court sitting at Johor Bahru at 9.00 a.m. in the morning on Tuesday, 10.10.2023 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 creditors or contributories of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is c/o Messrs. Jal & Lim, Suite 33.02, Level 33, City Square (Office Tower), 106- 108, Jalan Wong Ah f*ck, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor. Dated this 15th Semptember 2023 Signed MESSRS. JAL & LIM Solicitors for the Petitioner NOTE : NOTE—Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the above named Solicitors for the Petitioner notice in writing of his intention to do so. 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 above named not later than twelve o’ clock noon of the 9.10.2023 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition). [10.10.2023] IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of BENUA ASAS SDN. BHD. (199001014619 (206288-H)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Azman Hanafi Bin Abdullah Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator BENUA ASAS SDN BHD (199001014619 (206288-H)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Special Resolutions as set out below were duly passed by the members of PERSADA MODEN SDN. BHD. (200201009117 (576780-V)) on 18 September 2023:- 1. THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Ms. Chong Ai Ling of SOHO Suites @ KLCC, Block A2, Level 32-3A, No. 20, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur be and is hereby appointed as the liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up. 2. THAT Ms. Chong Ai Ling, the Company’s Liquidator, be and is hereby authorised to distribute either in cash, specie or in kind any surplus assets of the Company as she shall think fit to the contributory of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests therein. Rais Bin Hasnan Director Dated this 21st day of September 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovementioned Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required, to send in their names and addresses on or before 21 October 2023, with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:- The Liquidator PERSADA MODEN SDN BHD (200201009117 (576780-V)) SOHO Suites @ KLCC Block A2, Level 32-3A No. 20, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Chong Ai Ling Liquidator Dated this 21st day of September 2023 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, MALAYSIA (BAHAGIAN KELUARGA) PETISYEN PERCERAIAN BERSAMA NO.: WA-33JP-1979-12/2018 Dalam Perkara berkenaan dengan SeksyenSeksyen 5, 11, 19A dan 19B Akta Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak 1961 (Guardianship of Infant Act 1961) Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan Seksyen-Seksyen 88, 89, 95, 96, dan 97 Akta Perkahwinan Membaharui Undang-undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan dengan Bidangkuasa Mahkamah Yang Sedia Ada menurut Aturan 92 Kaedah 4 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012 Dan Dalam Perkara Berkenaan dengan Perintah (Perceraian) bertarikh 13.12.2018. ANTARA ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067) …PEMOHON ISTERI DAN KEE TEIK HUAT (NO. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) …RESPONDEN SUAMI (melalui tindakan asal) Dalam perkara Petisyen Bersama KEE TEIK HUAT (No. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) dan ARISA HOMNAN (No. Paspot Thailand: AA8135128 sebelum ini dikenali sebagai L577067) DAN Dalam perkara Seksyen 52 Akta Membaharui Undang-undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 ANTARA KEE TEIK HUAT (NO. K/P.: 780621-14-6089) …PEMPETISYEN PERTAMA DAN ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AA8135128 sebelum ini dikenali sebagai L577067) … PEMPETISYEN KEDUA NOTIS Kepada: KEE TEIK HUAT No. 8, Jalan Hujan Emas 6, Taman Overseas Union, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dalam Guaman WA33JP-1979-12/2018 oleh Pemohon yang beralamat di Lumpini Condo, Room 601/84, Building C, Prachauthit Rd., Samsennok, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310, yang mana tuntutan Pemohon adalah seperti berikut: A. untuk mengubah terma-terma Perintah (Perceraian) bertarikh 13.12.2018 (“Perintah Perceraian tersebut”) seperti berikut: 1. Perenggan (a) Perintah Perceraian tersebut diubah dengan berikut: 1.1 Bahawa hak jagaan, kawalan dan pemeliharaan tunggal (sole custody, care and control) Anak-anak tersebut yang bernama Kee Pei Yi (No. Sijil Kelahiran: BT 32513 / No. MyKid: 060919-14-0418) dan Kee Lim Yan (No. Sijil Kelahiran: CE 92640 / No. MyKid: 090915-14-0506) diberikan kepada Pemohon Isteri, ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 (sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067)) di mana akses munasabah ke atas Anak-Anak tersebut diberikan kepada ahli keluarga terdekat Responden Suami dan/atau Responden Suami sahaja; 2. Perenggan berikut ditambah ke dalam Perintah Perceraian tersebut:- 2.1 Bahawa hak penjagaan tunggal (sole guardianship) ke atas Anak-anak tersebut yang bernama Kee Pei Yi (No. Sijil Kelahiran: BT 32513 / No. MyKid: 060919-14-0418) dan Kee Lim Yan (No. Sijil Kelahiran: CE 92640 / No. MyKid: 090915-14-0506) diberikan kepada Pemohon Isteri, ARISA HOMNAN (P) (NO. PASPOT THAILAND: AC3842750 (sebelum ini didaftarkan sebagai AA8135128 dan L577067). B. Bahawa kos permohonan ini dibayar oleh Responden Suami. C. Apa-apa perintah dan relief yang selanjutnya sebagaimana Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini fikir adil dan patut. Jika kamu ingkar apa-apa kehadiran yang demikian maka suatu penghakiman boleh dibuat terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada ...................................... PEGUAMCARA BAGI PEMOHON NOTIS ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Low & Partners, Peguamcara bagi Pemohon yang mempunyai alamat penyampaiannya di No.5, Jalan SS 21/23, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, 47400, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No.: 03 – 7729 5293 Fax No.: 03 – 7729 5298 Ruj. Kami: LP/DV/12102/03/23/LHY/TY/CT_AWP IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016, AND IN THE MATTER OF NASDRA SDN. BHD. Co. No. 201901016148 (1325476-V) (IN MEMBERS VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459, Companies Act, 2016, that the Final Meeting of Members of the above company will be held at Suite 1603, Level 16, Plaza Pengkalan, Batu 3, Jalan Tiong, Off Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur on 20th October, 2023 at 11.00 am to consider the following : 1. To receive and consider the Liquidators Statement of Accounts and any explanations therefrom. 2. To consider the disposal of the books, accounts and documents of the company. Signed ……………………………… Taufik bin Mohd Salleh Liquidator Dated 20th September, 2023 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP (Section 50(4)(a) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012) Notice is hereby given that HONG RC PLT (LLP No. 202004000433 (LLP0023201-LGN)) will be making an application to the Registrar of Limited Liability Partnerships for a declaration of dissolution pursuant to section 50(2) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012 within seven (7) days after the publication of this notice. Any partner or creditor of the LLP desiring to object to the application may do so in writing to the Companies Commission of Malaysia within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. LAND FOR SALE 5 Vacant Lands and 1 Vacant Land both located at Jln. Kampung Besar, Bukit Mertajam. For sale at RM28-RM33 per sqft. Total approx. 15acres in 2 difierent sites. Interested, contact Chris 012-5559398 / MayFang 012-4553727 204 Land for Sale 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-9394-06/2023 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat:201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN AFIQ IZZUDDIN BIN MOHD FAUZI (No. K/P: 980517-03-5123) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) AFIQ IZZUDDIN BIN MOHD FAUZI SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur , dalam Guaman No. WA-A72M-9394-06/2023 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di di Tingkat 19, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 16.06.2023 dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu dengan menghantar melalui serahan melalui menampalkan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dan mengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’ dan penyampaian Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan sedemikian akan disifatkan sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 21 haribulan September, 2023 ...........t.t........... TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh Tetuan GM Tan & Company,peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :[emailprotected] Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami:GMT/YIR(RCE)/00825/2023 DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-9274-06/2023 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat:201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN AHMAD AZLY BIN ABDUL RAZAK (No. K/P: 860424-05-5145) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) AHMAD AZLY BIN ABDUL RAZAK SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur , dalam Guaman No. WA-A72M-9274-06/2023 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di di Tingkat 19, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 15.06.2023 dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu dengan menghantar melalui serahan melalui menampalkan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dan mengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’ dan penyampaian Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan sedemikian akan disifatkan sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 21 haribulan September, 2023 .……………t.t.…………… TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh Tetuan GM Tan & Company,peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :[emailprotected] Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami:GMT/YIR(RCE)/00825/2023 322 Notices 322 Notices Advertise with us & connect to our urban readers. KLANG VALLEY PENANG | KEDAH PERAK | PERLIS PAHANG | KELANTAN TERENGGANU MS. Shoba TEL: 03-7784 8888 FAX: 03-7784 4424 MALACCA MR. Rajah TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549 LINEOUT France eye Namibia springboard FRANCE coach Fabien Galthie (pix) is taking inspiration from Charles Darwin to prepare for minnows Namibia in Marseille tomorrow (3am Malaysian time) in what should be a further step to topping Pool A in the Rugby World Cup. After seeing off New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match in a 27-13 thriller, Galthie rung the changes for the second game against Uruguay. That threw up more questions than answers for the coaching staff, however, as a largely second-string side laboured to a 27-12 victory over the South Americans. It was a win, however, that did not see France bag a try-scoring bonus point, so Galthie has this time plumped for a near full strength team, leaving no room for error. “Our method is based on adaptability,“ the coach mused. “It’s a bit like Darwin’s theory: it’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Be that as it may, France will anyway be massive favourites going into the match against Namibia, the African side having already lost 52-8 to Italy and 71-3 to the All Blacks in Pool A. Irish have to hit South Africa hard: Doris IRISH backrow forward Caelan Doris says he is confident Ireland’s attack can inflict serious damage on defending champions South Africa if they match them for physicality in their Rugby World Cup Pool B match on Sunday. The 25-year-old said he and his teammates were prepared for the cauldron of the Stade de France and the 80,000 spectators, their confidence bolstered by having beaten the Springboks last November in Dublin. Doris concedes their opponents have “evolved quite a bit” since then but so too, he added, have the Irish: ranked No.1 in the world they secured the Six Nations Grand Slam in March and are now on a 15-match unbeaten run. The run includes a 19-16 win over the Springboks in Dublin last November which Doris says has “definitely” given them confidence. “I think looking back to the game (against the Springboks) we knew we had to be on it in terms of our defence, in terms of our physicality. “That week in Dublin, we took a step up and we know we require the same this week. “I think if we match them there we’ve a lot of belief in what we can do in terms of our attack. “We’ve shown some of that over the last couple of weeks but it’s definitely a test.” Springboks’ Kleyn a changed man SUNDAY’S (3am) Rugby World Cup game between champions South Africa and Ireland will be a unique one for Springboks lock Jean Kleyn. The 30-year-old could be in line for his sixth Test appearance for his country of birth after he was picked on the bench for the potential Pool B decider. Four years ago during the last World Cup in Japan, Kleyn won the last of his five caps for Ireland. This World Cup is the first edition of the competition since laws changed to allow a player to feature for a second country they qualify to represent, following a stand-down period from international rugby. “The two are quite detached to me. I was a different person back then,” Kleyn told reporters after last week’s 76-0 win over Romania. “I was much younger, I paid a lot more attention to what people said compared to now, especially in the media. “There was massive pride for me to represent Ireland back then and now I have a massive opportunity to be able to represent my country of birth,“ the Munster second-row added. Some have criticised the move from World Rugby, including the body’s former vice-chairman and ex-Argentina scrum-half Agustin Pichot. “It’s a lot of outside noise to me, I try to focus on what happens inside the team and my family,” Kleyn said. “I know the reasons why I do things and I know those reasons will change,” he added.
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Bull charge to resume Verstappen primed to roar back at Suzuka RUNAWAY Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen will be determined to roar back at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after his record streak of 10 straight wins ended in Singapore. The Dutchman finished fifth under the Marina Bay lights after starting 11th on the grid, meaning he will not be able to clinch his third straight world title at Suzuka. But Verstappen, who has won 12 of the 15 races so far this season, can move to the cusp of retaining his crown while his Red Bull team can seal the constructors’ championship. The 25-year-old told reporters after struggling with Singapore’s street circuit, where overtaking is all but impossible, that “this track is so different to Suzuka and it doesn’t relate”. “We have learned a bit from today and have a few ideas with what we got wrong,” he said after Carlos Sainz triumphed for Ferrari to ruin Red Bull’s perfect record this season. “I cannot go into details but I feel good about Suzuka.” Verstappen certainly enjoyed his last visit to Japan, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to clinch last season’s championship there. The Dutchman won a chaotic race shortened by rain and then saw nearest rival Leclerc relegated to third by a fivesecond penalty, handing Verstappen the title. Verstappen was only informed he had clinched the championship midway through the post-race TV interview, and even the driver himself was not sure if he had secured the title. With Verstappen a whopping 151 points clear of Red Bull teammate and nearest challenger Sergio Perez in the current campaign, he could be crowned champion again as early as next month’s Qatar Grand Prix. This year’s race in Japan has been shifted two weeks earlier in the Formula One calendar and the forecast is for dry conditions. That should give Verstappen the chance to cut loose on Suzuka’s sweeping bends and dramatic elevation changes. He could barely contain his excitement last year as the race returned after a threeyear absence because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Nothing feels like here in Suzuka because of just the old-school nature – the gravel and the grass,” he said. “You know you have to really build up your confidence and really build up to the limit.” Perez finished eighth in Singapore in a rare weekend to forget for Red Bull, whose hopes of sweeping every race in 2023 came to an end. The last time neither Verstappen nor Perez stood on the top step of the podium was in Brazil in November 2022. Instead it was Ferrari’s Sainz who took the honours in Singapore, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell was pushing hard for the victory until he crashed on the final lap. After the drama and unpredictability of Singapore, the Red Bulls will start as heavy favourites to restore normal order on Suzuka’s high-speed circuit. Red Bull lead nearest challengers Mercedes by 308 points in the constructors’ championship and will clinch the title this weekend with a one-two finish with the fastest lap. Like with Verstappen, it is only a matter of time. “I’m expecting Red Bull to be dominant again for the next few weekends,” conceded Norris. “We’re getting there, we’re making progress and that’s the best thing that we can do at this time.” – AFP Back-to-back wins for Cardiff CARDIFF CITY’S momentum continues to build under Erol Bulut as they condemned Coventry City to their second defeat of the season. Second-half goals from Karlan Grant and Kion Etete ensured back-to-back Cardiff wins for the first time since February. Coventry, who had drawn their last four, looked as though they might make it five when Matt Godden cancelled out Dimitrios Goutas’ early opener. But, although not completely convincing – and despite a late second from Godden – it was a straight-forward enough 3-2 win for Bulut’s side, who moved into the top-half of the table for the first time this term. Last year’s play-off finalists Coventry, who had not lost since their opening day defeat at Leicester, slipped further having never truly imposed themselves, despite striker’s Godden’s best efforts as he made it six goals in eight games. And while Cardiff - nor the Cardiff City Stadium atmosphere - carried the same fervour and frenzy as their south Wales derby win against Swansea City at the weekend, the result ensured that the feel-good factor continues into Sunday’s trip to Sunderland. “Saturday (against Swansea) was a great victory, but we couldn’t celebrate too much because of this game, we had to rest and work,” Cardiff boss Bulut told BBC Sport. “This was a hard game against a very good team and I’d told my players we had to work very hard, we had to go 100% for 100 minutes, to get these three points and we must continue the same every game. “We are learning from mistakes we have made before and we are looking forward. It is always good to have victories, but we must continue. “We rested Aaron (Ramsey) because he had a problem with stiffness in the second game with Wales and again in the final minutes against Swansea and I already have enough injuries. “We need all our players; Aaron is a great player and we showed today when he’s not on the field we can replace him with other players. “Maybe we can keep the ball better with him, create more chances, but the guys on the field showed all the team is important, not the individual.” – Agencies Cardiff City’s Karlan Grant celebrates after scoring against Coventry City. – Cardiffcityfc.co.uk
23 SPORTS theSUN ON THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start yesterday as a Kylian Mbappe penalty set them up for a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes. The French champions had dominated the first half without overly troubling the Dortmund defence, but they went ahead four minutes after the break when Mbappe scored a spot-kick awarded for a Niklas Suele handball. Achraf Hakimi added a memorable second, and PSG could have won the Group F encounter by a far more handsome margin in the end. The result immediately puts them in control of the group, after AC Milan and Newcastle United drew 0-0 earlier, and coach Luis Enrique will hope they can build on this performance when they visit the English side next in a fortnight. “It was an almost perfect evening,” said Luis Enrique. “I enjoyed practically everything about it, our intensity from the very beginning, the way we controlled the game for the first 75 minutes. “We could have scored at least another goal but this win gives us confidence going forward. This is going to be a difficult group for everyone.” PSG are in the early weeks of a new era following the departures of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti, and Luis Enrique’s arrival. The former Spain coach, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, insisted on the eve of this game that he needs time to get his ideas across to his players, many of whom also arrived over the summer. There were five new signings in PSG’s line-up here, including Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani in attack. PSG All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY 930/23 20/09/2023 0841 5784 8168 1110 2209 5213 2311 0546 2892 0489 9861 3818 6106 2075 7481 5682 3648 3941 8039 6185 5453 2222 2438 RM17,506,479.21 RM572,863.25 0841 + 5784 5784 + 0841 8168 + 0841 0841 + 8168 5784 + 8168 8168 + 5784 2 4 6 11 14 20 31 35 28 34 RM2,758,048.07 RM113,153.55 4 1 8 4 6 8 4 1 8 4 6 1 8 4 6 8 4 1 8 4 8 4 6 8 4 1 8 4 6 8 4 1 6 8 8 4 0 8 PSG start strong French champions get better of Dortmund in European opener controlled the first half, while Dortmund and their fi ve-man defence sat back and offered little going forward. The Parisians got the breakthrough just after half-time when a shot by Mbappe struck Dortmund defender Suele at close range. Mbappe stepped up to stroke in the penalty for his eighth goal this season, and the home side had done the hard part. “The handball rule is not really clear,” lamented Terzic. “PSG naturally will say it was a handball and we will say it was not but in the end what annoys me the most is that we were just not aggressive enough.” The home side scored again on 58 minutes as Vitinha and Hakimi combined for the latter to run through and prod home from close range. It was a great goal, although Hakimi was helped by Mats Hummels throwing himself to the floor rather than standing up and trying to make a block. PSG squandered several chances to score again and substitute Ramos had an effort ruled out for offside at the death. – AFP Felix at the double for Barcelona JOAO FELIX struck twice as Barcelona flexed their muscles with a crushing 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp in the Champions League yesterday, showing their determination to be considered among Europe’s elite once again. After consecutive humiliating group stage eliminations Barcelona are desperate to go deep in this season’s competition, last winning it eight years ago. The victory followed a 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis on Saturday, leading coach Xavi Hernandez to describe these two performances as the best since he joined the club in November 2021. “I think these last two games are the best level we have shown with me as coach – it’s the path to follow,” he told Movistar. Felix shone for the Spanish champions on a stroll on a warm night in the Catalan capital, helped on their way by an own goal, with Robert Lewandowski and Gavi also scoring. After a troubled spell at Atletico Madrid and an even worse loan at Chelsea, the Portuguese forward finally seems ready to flourish. “We all played really well, I am happy with the win and enjoying myself,” said Felix. “The most difficult thing now is to maintain this level. I have started well, the team is playing well. “Getting to this level it’s not the most difficult thing, it’s maintaining it. We all have to work hard to do that.” Barcelona’s 2015 triumph was the last in a run of four victories over a golden decade in the club’s history, during which current coach Xavi Hernandez was a key figure in midfield. Xavi said those feats weighed heavy on the club now, that the current team were under “brutal” pressure to succeed in Europe. It did not show against Antwerp, with Barcelona brushing aside Marc van Bommel’s Belgian title-winners with ease in their first Champions League appearance at the Olympic Stadium. “Joao Felix has a lot of quality, a lot of talent and he’s showing it,” De Jong told Movistar. “I hope he can keep going like this. If he keeps working like now, he will give a lot to us.” Xavi said Barcelona’s aim was to make it through the group first before worrying about bigger challenges, and this was a confident first step. “It’s an honour to watch the team play at the moment but we have to remain consistent now,” warned the Catalan coach. “We have to maintain these performances, the hunger, the focus… the players are enjoying themselves, we’re creating a lot in attack.” – AFP Rodgers rues Celtic ‘inexperience’ after Feyenoord loss A “bitterly disappointed” Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was left to rue the “inexperience” of two players sent off in a 2- 0 Champions League loss to Feyenoord but said the Scottish champions had proved they could be competitive. Before Celtic went down to nine men in the space of five minutes halfway through the second half, “we were well in the game,“ Rodgers said. “Unfortunately for us, we got the two players sent off and it’s a difficult level 11 vs 11, but 11 vs nine is really difficult,” he said. Defender Gustaf Lagerbielke was shown a second yellow card after pulling back Brazilian striker Igor Paixao in the box. He was barely down the tunnel when substitute Odin Thiago Holm also saw red for a studs up late challenge. “I think it’s inexperience by the two guys, you’ve just got to let the ball run through, you don’t have to be in the fight,” said the manager. But Rodgers was heartened by the “spirit and mentality” of the nine men left on the pitch, who managed to keep the score respectable, with Feyenoord having two late goals disallowed. “Overall, I’m frustrated for the players because they gave so much, but the point for me was that their spirit was never broken,” said the Hoops boss. Celtic welcome Feyenoord to Glasgow in the last game of the Group E matches and he vowed to give the Dutch champions a real fight. “We’ve been dismissed as a team that’s not at this level… but I think we surprised Feyenoord with our intensity,” he said. “You’re always disappointed as a professional when you lose, but there is a manner in which you lose and I think the pride the supporters will take… is that the team was competitive,” he said. – AFP Brighton relish ‘incredible’ rise from exile BRIGHTON’S “incredible” journey from homeless exiles facing oblivion to their current status as Premier League trendsetters will reach a memorable climax when they host AEK Athens in their firstever European match tomorrow (3am Malaysian time). For a generation of Brighton fans, AEK’s visit to the Amex Stadium in the Europa League group stage is the kind of occasion that would have been unthinkable in the dark days, when the club appeared set to implode. Once as decrepit as the fire-ruined West Pier on the south-coast city’s pebble beach, Brighton now possess one of the most admired business models in world football. Clubs seek to emulate Brighton’s ability to scour the globe for obscure youngsters such as Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Marc Cucurella. The innovative formula helped the Seagulls defy the odds with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season. They have made another a strong start this term, including Saturday’s 3-1 embarrassment of Manchester United at Old Trafford. “This has been an incredible project. There is definitely a broader awareness of Brighton now,” said Albion chief executive Paul Barber. “One European club I spoke to takes a feed of all our games, and their coaching staff sit down on Monday mornings and watch them from start to finish.” “Since 1997 we have risen 86 places in the league. European football was a pipe dream for fans back then,” Barber said, referring to last season’s finish. “It was only about survival and having somewhere to play football. They would never have imagined this would be possible.” – AFP CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group E: Feyenoord 2 (Stengs 45+2, Jahanbakhsh 76) Celtic 0, Lazio 1 (Provedel 90+5) Atletico Madrid 1 (Barrios 29). GROUP F: AC Milan 0 Newcastle United 0, Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Mbappe 49- pen, Hakimi 58) Borussia Dortmund 0. GROUP G: Young Boys 1 (Elia 33) RB Leipzig 3 (Simaken 3, Schlager 74, Sesko 90+2), Manchester City 3 (Alvarez 47, 60, Rodri 73) Red Star Belgrade 1 (Bukari 45). GROUP H: Barcelona 5 (Felix 11, 66, Lewandowski 19, Bataille 22-og, Gavi 54) Antwerp 0, Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Kelsy 13) Porto 3 (Galeno 8, 15, Taremi 29). ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Cardiff 3 Coventry 2, Preston 2 Birmingham 1, QPR 1 Swansea 1, Bristol City 4 Plymouth 1, Southampton 0 Ipswich 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Middlesbrough 1. RESULTS Paris St Germain’s Achraf Hakimi (below) celebrates scoring the second goal with Kylian Mbappe. – REUTERSPIX
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] or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME Class of champions Guardiola hails ‘really good’ Man City response in Champions League opener PEP GUARDIOLA felt his team were given a useful test after coming from behind to begin their Champions League defence with a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade. The holders were stunned when the Serbian champions claimed a shock lead on the stroke of half-time through Osman Bukari in yesterday’s Group G clash at the Etihad Stadium. Yet as they did in the Premier League at West Ham last weekend, they hit back to win after the break, this time with two goals from Julian Alvarez and one from Rodri. City manager Guardiola said: “At the end, going in at half-time 1-0, after what we’ve done that’s nice – after winning the treble we need to be the type of champions who prove to ourselves that we are able to make a comeback. “In this situation it’s nice to prove it. In both games we played incredible and immediately at the start of the second half. “We have things to improve in general but that’s really, really good.” Guardiola was particularly impressed with the performance of his goalscorers. Alvarez has benefited from a run in the side this season while Rodri, match-winner in last season’s final, continues to excel. Guardiola said of Alvarez: “His movement was so quick and he’s so young. What a signing the club have done. “He has everything – fighting, goals, assists. Incredible. And he’s a lovely guy. Playing behind Erling (Haaland) he is an incredible threat.” Rodri has developed into one of the best midfielders in the game during his time at City and Guardiola is in no doubt he is now at the top. He said: “Yes, he’s the best – but hopefully he can be better. He has a good mentality and good things to improve. “But we were lucky again that the club has signed these type of players.” On not scoring after 22 shots in the first half, Guardiola said: “Having 22 shots on goal means you are playing really good. “It has to be the responsibility of the people in front to have to score the goals. If we scored two goals early in the beginning it would’ve been completely different.” The downside for City was the loss of Bernardo Silva shortly before half-time with an unspecified injury. Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with the doctors but apparently for the next games he will not be able to play.” The Portuguese joins an injury list that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic. Guardiola said: “When we have five important players – really, really important players – injured, to sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is. “We cannot have the salaries and budgets for transfers to have 55 players. It would be chaos for the clubs and they would be bankrupt. Sometimes it happens.” City goalscorer Rodri, speaking to TNT Sports, after the game said “I think it was a tough game even though to be fair we could’ve scored two or three goals in the first half. We weren’t clinical enough. “They scored with the first chance and the same thing happened against West Ham. “The most important thing is at half-time talking to the guys and saying ‘don’t panic, let’s keep doing our job’. “In the end we scored three goals, Julian (Alvarez) was incredible, Kyle (Walker) was close, I scored, so a complete game in all terms.” Red Star coach Barak Bachar admitted City were the better side. He said: “We tried, we fought, but we conceded an early goal in the second half. They should have scored more. “They are a great team, they have exceptional players. After we conceded it was difficult to maintain the pace, because we never play at this pace in our league. We learned a lot from this match.” – Agencies EDDIE HOWE feels the hard-fought point with which Newcastle emerged from their trip to AC Milan could serve them well as their Champions League campaign continues. The Magpies, who needed goalkeeper Nick Pope to make five first-half saves to ensure they came away from San Siro with a 0-0 draw, managed to frustrate the hosts for long periods and open their Group F account on their return to European football’s top table after an absence of two decades. Head coach Howe said: “I thought the crowd were very good for Milan tonight. It was a hostile atmosphere for us, the players had to adjust to that and that’s why I don’t think you can underestimate the performance and the point that we get. “I think it will look better and better as time goes on because it’s a new experience for a lot of people – me included – tonight and hopefully we can grow from this into the tournament. “Again, I’ll praise the players for the defensive qualities that they showed today. We know we can do better with the ball, but hopefully that will come.” Pope’s heroics provided the foundation on a night when he had to be at his best to keep the Rossoneri at bay three days after keeping a clean sheet in a Premier League victory over Brentford. Howe said: “I thought he was outstanding today. He was excellent against Brentford – although he didn’t have a lot to do – and his all-round game was at his highest level. “It’s no coincidence, two big displays and two clean sheets from him which is absolutely crucial to us. He was a huge part of our success last year and no doubt he’ll be the same this year.” Newcastle might even have snatched victory at the death when midfielder Sean Longstaff forced a crucial save from substitute keeper Marco Sportiello deep into stoppage time, and Howe was not countenancing suggestions his side had been fortunate. He said: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I didn’t think the draw was luck. We were slightly disappointed with how we played with the ball tonight, but there are a lot of different reasons for that.” However, for all that the visitors defended with impressive resilience, particularly in the second half when they limited Milan to few clear-cut opportunities, they had already been let off the hook when Portugal international Rafael Leao had danced through the black and white shirts and with only Pope to beat, tried to back-heel a shot past him and simply fell over. It was arguably Milan’s best opportunity of the game, and last season’s semifinalists seemed to run out of ideas in the second half. With PSG and Dortmund to come, the home fans would perhaps have seen this fixture as their best chance for a home win, and it remains to be seen just how costly those first-half missed chances prove to be in the long run. Rossoneri boss Stefano Pioli said: “Rafa Leao is much-appreciated by every football lover because he tries impossible things. He gives it a try. These are impossible things for the rest of the players. “On the other hand, he tries to get that ‘Wow!’ effect, and sometimes he achieves it. If I had been there in front of the goal, I would have shot and probably I would have missed the goal. “I’m sorry for my players because they have given their utmost and maybe more. It was a very intense game. We were tired because we ran so much. “I’m sorry for our fans because they supported us throughout the whole game, and I’m sorry about not winning the first game in the group phase because this will be a very tough one. “We wanted to win, but we couldn’t, so we’re not happy about the result.” – The Independent Newcastle’s point at Milan will look better and better: Howe THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak (right) fights for the ball with AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw during their Champions League Group F match at the San Siro stadium. – AFPPIX
