The Sun - 12 December 2023

Uniten don warns of exaggerated or false claims of eco-friendly products Malaysian Paper by companies. www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY RM1 TUESDAY DEC 12, 2023 SCAN ME No. 8413 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) Alternative option to prevent chronic diseases RM50b mega project involves 665km railway line with 20 stations, comprising 10 for passengers and 10 to accommodate riders and cargo. Lifestyle medicine can boost immune system to treat, reverse maladies: Expert King officiates fficiates ECRL track installation Report on — page 4 Call to make dashcams mandatory Footage could facilitate probes in criminal, traffic cases: E-hailing firms, drivers Report on — page 6 Report on — page 3 Their Majesties witnessing the ceremony yesterday marking the official installation of the first track of the ECRL in Gebeng, Pahang. – BERNAMAPIC ‘Beware of greenwashing by businesses’ - Report on page 2

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 2 King officiates at ECRL event KUANTAN: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah officiated at the installation of the first track for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project yesterday. The King was accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at the ceremony held at the Section 10 ECRL station site in Gebeng. Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke, China’s ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujin, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) chairman Wang Tongzhou and menteris besar from the East Coast states through which the ECRL runs. The CCCC is the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contractor of the ECRL, which involves a 665km railway line with 20 stations, including 10 passenger and 10 combined passenger and cargo stations. The mega project, which was inaugurated on Aug 9, 2017 at an estimated cost of RM50 billion, is scheduled to start operating in January 2027. The ECRL will see passenger trains travelling at speeds of 160km per hour and freight trains at 80km per hour. Wang said in a statement that the launch marked a new era in the construction process of the ECRL in Malaysia, Bernama reported. He added that the installation of the track signifies CCCC’s commitment towards Malaysia’s progress, innovation and meaningful mobility connectivity. “We will continue our efforts by strengthening our dedication to excellence and safety. Our aim is to create a rail transport system that embodies Malaysia’s aspirations for a connected future.” The inauguration marked the key starting point for the installation of a 94km track from the Kuantan Port City (KPC) station in Gebeng to Dungun, Terengganu. Work on the track is expected to take about three to four months for completion. The next track to be installed will be from the KPC station to Temerloh. It will head northwards from Dungun to Kota Bharu in Kelantan before the final track is installed from Temerloh to Jalan Kastam in Selangor. oMega RM50b project involves 665km railway line with 20 stations, comprising 10 for passengers and 10 for riders and cargo Queen heads Ruler’s honours list KLANG: The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah headed the list of 97 recipients of state honours in conjunction with the 78th birthday of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday. Tunku Azizah was conferred the Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Dihormati. Selangor Royal Council member Tengku Datuk Setia Putra Alhaj Tengku Azman Shah Alhaj received the Darjah Kerabat Selangor Yang Amat Dihormati (Second Class). The recipients of the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor, which carries the title Datuk Seri, were Defence Force chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and YTL Power International managing director Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong. Selangor State Secretary Datuk Haris Kasim and Subang Jaya Medical Centre Consultant Urologist Prof Datuk Dr Tan Hui Meng were bestowed the Datuk Setia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (First Class) award, with the title Datuk Setia. Topping the list of nine recipients of the Darjah Kebesaran Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor (Second Class) award, which carries the title of Datuk for men and Datin Paduka for women, was Selangor state Finance Officer Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin. Also conferred the award were Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Dr Adina Kamarudin, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah and the Muzakarah panel of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs chief Datuk Nooh Gadot. Others were Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chief Ng Suee Lim, Berjaya Land Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Seri Robin Tan Yeong Ching, United Plantations Bhd CEO Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen and Royal Selangor International general manager Yong Yoon Li. – Bernama Sultan Sharafuddin conferring the award on Ng during the investiture yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Continue excelling in 2024, civil servants urged PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged civil servants to continue with their outstanding service in the new year by adopting good values and avoiding complacency. Speaking at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department yesterday, Anwar, who is also finance minister, said good values that underline Madani Malaysia could uplift the country’s dignity. “If we have (good) values, we absorb them into Madani. I am confident that we can uplift the government and stop past excesses. “We build from that strength and we leave the excesses that have happened. Hopefully, we can bring the curtain down on 2023 with a spirit of togetherness and open a new chapter in the history of the country.” Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Public Service Department director-general Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed. Anwar said civil servants should not be complacent and, instead, always strive to do better and excel. He called on civil servants to always improve themselves and find ways to increase productivity as well as avoid weaknesses and deficiencies. “That is what I have said from the start so as to adopt a culture of listening to criticism and constructive views. “It’s good to follow the culture of our society. People generally ask questions that are quite critical but polite because values and morals are maintained.” Anwar said as the country strives to reach for the sky in terms of advancement in several new fields such as artificial intelligence, digital and new energy, civil servants must use the basis of religion, morals, culture and values to stay firmly rooted to the ground. “At least we have provided a guideline that even as we reach for the sky, we must always have our feet firmly planted on the ground. “What we are trying to attain is new idealism, technological change, digital (transformation) and so on, finding ways and striving so that we can raise and restore the dignity of our beloved nation of Malaysia.” – Bernama Move to improve education quality PUTRAJAYA: Round table discussions will be carried out nationwide to obtain the views of stakeholders in the education sector to improve the quality of national education, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, after attending the first such discussion yesterday. “The discussion was a to get views to identify achievements, opportunities and improvements in the national education sector. “We discussed, among others, matters related to the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2013-2025 and the report on the Programme for International Student Assessment 2022 announced on Dec 5. “The discussions will not end here. It will be expanded with more in-depth and detailed discussions.” On the 2027 school curriculum, she said it is one of the matters that would be included in the nationwide Education Tour series next year. “The framework is ready. Now we are in the process of doing a roadshow to discuss this matter at the grassroots level.” – Bernama Build holistic society, says Sabah governor KOTA KINABALU: Every family, regardless of ethnicity, religion and culture, should be involved in the holistic development of society, including through the Malaysia Madani concept, said Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. He said all citizens should embrace the Malaysia Madani concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which is universal, and transcends religious and racial boundaries. Tun Juhar, who is also Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) chancellor, added that Malaysia Madani should be the main principle in implementing the community development and nation-building agenda, Bernama reported. “Although there are more than 32 ethnic groups in Sabah, we have internalised the values of a diverse family, harmony, openness and togetherness. “This makes Sabah a state that exemplifies unity and harmony in Malaysian society,” he said at the 25th UMS convocation ceremony at the UMS Chancellor’s Hall yesterday. Two new senators sworn in KUALA LUMPUR: Tebrau Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Murum branch chief Michael Mujah Lihan took their oath of office as senators before Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday. Abdul Halim’s appointment is effective from Nov 23 until Nov 22, 2026 and Michael’s from Dec 11 to Dec 10, 2026. The appointments are made with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin AlMustafa Billah Shah. Before starting the fifth day of the Dewan Negara sitting to debate the Supply Bill 2024, Wan Junaidi reminded members to maintain a productive momentum and continue to share debates and speeches with mainstream as well as electronic and social media. – Bernama

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 3 KUALA LUMPUR: Environmentally-conscious consumers should not be deceived by products and services that allegedly align with their sustainability values, warned a senior lecturer at Universiti Tenaga Nasional. Dr Abdul Rahman Zahari, who has a PhD in Technology Management (Entrepreneurship), said as the demand for eco-friendly options rises, so does the prevalence of “greenwashing”, that is a practice in which companies exaggerate or falsely claim that their products are environmentally friendly. “Greenwashing is a global issue affecting consumers. The term itself is a portmanteau of ‘green’, which is often associated with environmentalism, and ‘whitewashing’, which means to cover up or gloss over undesirable facts.” He said greenwashing is prevalent across various industries, including fashion and apparel, energy, beauty and cosmetics, food and agriculture, financial services, real estate, tourism and hospitality, packaging and plastics, and automotive. Abdul Rahman said detecting greenwashing practices in the market can present challenges for consumers. However, there are several effective strategies and key indicators that individuals can utilise to discern authentic from misleading claims. “One crucial aspect is the use of vague or generic terms such as ‘eco-friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘natural’ without specifying what makes the products environmentally friendly. “Moreover, scrutinising claims without substantial evidence or third-party certifications can also reveal potential instances of greenwashing,” he said. Abdul Rahman added that it is essential to seek concrete proof supporting a company’s environmental assertions. He also said lack of transparency can be another red flag, adding that companies dedicated to sustainability tend to be open about their practices. Companies withholding detailed information regarding their environmental initiatives might indicate questionable motives. Another way to identify these companies is to verify the credibility of environmental certifications associated with their products. “Not all certifications hold the same weight, so it’s crucial to look for those from reputable and established bodies within the industry.” Suggestions that a product or company is “greener” than alternatives without providing specific data or context for comparison should prompt scepticism. Overly positive labels that seem too good to be true should also raise awareness. He said considering the entire life cycle of a product rather than just its isolated environmental impact is crucial. To combat greenwashing effectively, he urged consumers to cultivate a critical mindset beyond superficial marketing ploys. The initial step to countering greenwashing is comprehensive research and education about sustainable practices and certifications. He said consumers should familiarise themselves with reputable eco-friendly labels and certifications, such as Sirim Eco-Labelling, Star, USDA Organic or Fair Trade, to ensure that chosen products genuinely adhere to stringent environmental standards. “Staying informed about industry practices and environmental issues equips consumers with the knowledge to make well-founded decisions. “Transparency matters and stands out as a hallmark of genuinely eco-friendly companies. Seek out businesses that openly share information about their supply chains, manufacturing processes and environmental initiatives.” Greenwashing often hinges on the use of vague or misleading language to create a perception of environmental friendliness. He called on consumers to initiate contact with brands through social media or customer service channels, seeking detailed information about their environmental practices. “Companies genuinely committed to sustainability will demonstrate transparency and responsiveness to consumer inquiries. “Consumers play an important role in holding companies accountable for their environmental claims,” he said. Abdul Rahman added that by staying informed, scrutinising marketing tactics and demanding transparency, consumers can effectively combat greenwashing, contributing to the growth of genuinely sustainable practices. Bar calls for review of constitutional amendments on citizenship KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has urged the government to re-evaluate and halt proposed amendments to Part III of the Federal Constitution relating to citizenship. Its president Karen Y.L. Cheah said the citizenship amendments will be studied by a committee established under the Home Affairs Ministry. She noted that the ministry engaged civil society organisations on June 23 to seek views on the proposed amendments. These include: i. entirely removing sections 1(e) and 2(3) of the Second Schedule, Part II, which fundamentally protect persons from becoming stateless; ii. removing the right of foundlings, including abandoned children, to citizenship by operation of law under Section 19B of the Second Schedule, Part III; iii. deleting the words “permanently resident” in Section 1(a) of the Second Schedule, Part II; iv. including provisions consolidating and granting more discretion to the government to reject or postpone citizenship applications; v. repealing Articles 15(3) and 16A for consistency; vi. lowering the age limit from 21 to 18 to obtain citizenship in particular Articles 15, 15A, 19 and 23(3); and vii. replacing the phrase “date of marriage” with “date of obtaining citizenship” in Article 15(1) read with Article 26(2). Cheah said the seven proposed amendments to the Constitution will have far reaching and detrimental effects on society. “(Through these proposed amendments), stateless persons would be denied access to formal education, healthcare, employment and justice. “Due to all these disadvantages, they become vulnerable and earmarked for abuse, mistreatment and subsequently, become victims of social ills.” She said the original (wording in the) Constitution took into account the dignity and freedom of individuals, and cannot be destroyed by any form of amendment. – by Joshua Purushotnam Beware of ‘greenwashing’ oPractice involves manufacturers falsely claiming products to be environmentally friendly Govt effectively addressing people issues KUALA LUMPUR: Issues related to the cost of living, pricing, shortage of essential goods and targeted subsidies have been prominent on this year’s agenda, with the government implementing various effective measures to address these concerns. The crisis involving packet cooking oil, eggs and rice earlier this year prompted public concern, as it involved essential commodities, leading to a degree of panic. The most significant concern revolved around the scarcity of local white rice, driven by consumers shifting from imported white rice due to a sudden price surge following India’s decision to halt exports of the staple. In a proactive response, the government announced four additional intervention measures in September. These included negotiating with 157 commercial factories to allocate 20% of their rice production to the government for centralised management and distribution, with the launch of “Operation BPT”. To address the scarcity, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry urged the Farmers’ Organisation Board and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority to distribute local rice to the public. For Sabah and Sarawak, the government agreed to provide a subsidy of RM950 per tonne for imported white rice starting from Oct 5, allowing it to be retailed at RM31 per 10kg. The year also saw the government initiate a phased approach to targeted subsidies, ending subsidies and price controls for chicken effective Nov 1, while maintaining the subsidy mechanism for Grade A, B and C eggs. The initiative targeted the reduction of subsidy leakage to foreigners and high-income groups, as the government had shouldered RM3.8 billion for egg and chicken subsidies since February 2022. In June, the government announced the adjustment of electricity tariffs through the Imbalance Cost Pass Through mechanism in the Peninsula for the period July 1 to Dec 31. The adjustment in electricity tariffs imposed a surcharge of 10 cents/kWh on domestic consumers using over 1,500 kWh or RM708 per month, affecting 99% of peninsular consumers and incurring an electricity subsidy cost of RM5.2 billion. This year, nearly RM8 billion was allocated for the Rahmah Cash initiative, benefiting almost 60% of the adult population. – Bernama █ BY JOSHUA PURUSHOTMAN [email protected] BRILLIANT YOUNGSTERS ... Education Ministry curriculum, sports and arts division director Zainuren Mohd Nor and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation chief innovation and enterprise officer Prof Vinesh Thiruchelvam presenting trophies and certificates to participants during the World of Robotics Championship yesterday. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 4 Selangor records RM2.5 billion revenue collection KLANG: Selangor recorded revenue collection amounting to RM2.57 billion as of Dec 6, which is 128% of the year’s revenue collection target of RM2 billion, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. He added that the amount indicates the seriousness of civil servants and members of the state government administration to drive the Selangor economy and increase revenue for the benefit of the people. “In fact, this achievement reflects the confidence of the investment community as well as the people of Selangor towards the attitude and responsibility of the state government in planning and distributing wealth in an effective and targeted manner.” Amirudin said last year, Selangor’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased to 25.5% while improving on its role as a state that contributes more than a quarter of GDP. He was speaking during the investiture held in conjunction with the 78th birthday of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Alam Shah yesterday. Amirudin also said the state government developed over 16,187ha of the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor (IDRISS). “His Majesty’s government intends to create new townships in the IDRISS area such as Shah Alam and Bangi.” He said the Mid-Term Review of the First Selangor Plan will outline several economic recovery initiatives such as the development of the Selangor Drone Centre of Excellence and the Selangor Centre for Artificial Intelligence. Amirudin said the study involved a plan to strengthen the public transport system by developing the Kita Selangor Rail Line from Klang to Kuala Selangor and then to Tanjong Karang and Sabak Bernam to enable people living in the West Coast area to access economically developed areas in the Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur. – Bernama Poverty eradication steps in Terengganu KUALA TERENGGANU: The State Development Office here, under the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, has planned and implemented several programmes for next year to eradicate poverty. Its director Abdul Kahar Abdul Latif said it included allocating RM22 million for a new building and home renovation programme. “Apart from implementing physical development programmes, we also coordinate the implementation of people’s welfare programmes to eradicate poverty in Terengganu. “The latest statistics show 6,506 heads of households in the hardcore poor category and 24,740 in the poor category have been registered in the eKasih system,” he said when speaking at a State Development Office media event yesterday. He added that his office has also implemented various initiatives, including the Usaha Kasih Programme, Income Improvement Programme and the Kasih Prihatin Programme, in collaboration with strategic partners. “This collaboration with the Terengganu Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council and the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation could expand the coverage of social protection to those registered with eKasih.” On another matter, Abdul Kahar said his office has completed the distribution of cash aid to 39,145 individuals affected by floods last year and this year, involving a total allocation of RM137 million. He said in collaboration with district offices, the Terengganu Development Office has also completed the maintenance of 215 school toilets under an allocation from the Education Ministry involving RM15.05 million. “The federal government has provided relatively high allocations for the implementation of development projects for PAS-administered Terengganu.” – Bernama Statistics literacy course for students KLUANG: A Statistics Literacy Programme was conducted by the Johor chapter of the Statistics Department with students of SM Sains Johor, in conjunction with state-level Statistics Day celebrations and the Agricultural Census 2024 campaign. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement yesterday the event is aimed at encouraging students to learn statistical science from an early age and expressed hope that it would leave a positive impact in their lives and careers. “It imparts more detailed understanding (on the matter) for teachers and students. For example, the implementation of the census is a method for collecting, processing and disseminating data on agricultural structures nationwide. “The event also promotes National Statistics Day, which is celebrated on Oct 20, to honour statisticians in Malaysia.” – Bernama 4,200 graduate from Sabah university KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has produced about 84,000 graduates since its establishment 29 years ago, which include 4,236 who are expected to receive their scrolls at its 25th convocation, said vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansur. He added that the event, held from yesterday until Thursday, will involve 106 doctorate, 307 master’s degree, 144 post-diploma, 3,617 bachelor’s degree and 62 diploma graduates. “We recorded a hike in (graduate) employability rates last year, which took into account the increasing number of job opportunities created within a year. “The UMS Career and Internship Fair was held on Dec 9 with the participation of 20 (companies) to increase graduate marketability,” he said, adding that the varsity offers 152 courses, covering various disciplines in science, social science and literature. Kasim also said 500 job opportunities were offered at the fair, which was jointly organised by the Student Career and Entrepreneurship Development Centre and Talentbank. – Bernama Alternative option to prevent chronic diseases KUALA LUMPUR: Practising lifestyle medicine can contribute to immune system resilience against chronic and contagious diseases such as Covid-19, said Malaysian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (MSLM) founder and president Dr Sivaneswaran Poobalasingam. Speaking at the 3rd Malaysian Lifestyle Medicine Conference, he said exploring lifestyle medicine and its innovative approaches could revolutionise healthcare and transform lives. The conference, themed “Prevent, Treat and Reverse Chronic Diseases with Evidence-Based Lifestyle Medicine”, was held recently at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel. “Research shows people who have chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from Covid-19. “To decrease the risk of Covid-19 infection, one must ensure not to get chronic diseases.” He said the key to preventing chronic diseases is to boost the immune system by adopting a healthier lifestyle. “A healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you must be a vegetarian. But three-quarters of a meal should consist of plant-based foods and only a quarter portion comprising meat. “Once your immune system is strong, the chances of getting chronic diseases and even contracting Covid-19 is lower.” He said it is important to engage in regular physical activity, manage stress, avoid substance abuse, ensure adequate Sivaneswaran speaking with Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance chair Dr Wayne Dysinger at the conference. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN oPractice of lifestyle medicine could boost immune system to treat, reverse maladies: Expert █ BY ALLEN WONG [email protected] sleep and foster healthy relationships to strengthen one’s immune system. Sivaneswaran said MSLM is working on introducing lifestyle medicine at public health facilities in Malaysia. “We are creating the ‘Lifestyle Medicine For Remission of Diabetes Module’ and training healthcare professionals at public healthcare facilities.” He added that Malaysia is probably the first country to incorporate a lifestyle intervention programme into the public healthcare system. He said the pioneering initiative in Negeri Sembilan marks a significant milestone and has the potential for replication in other public primary care facilities. “It could play a crucial role in preventing, managing and reversing Type 2 diabetes. Advancing healthcare through lifestyle medicine is a leap towards a healthier and more vibrant future for the country.” Sivaneswaran also said MSLM is in talks with several universities to develop a curriculum to nurture a new generation of healthcare professionals with a comprehensive understanding of lifestyle medicine. “We will start by introducing lifestyle medicine as a module in our undergraduate curriculum. The curriculum will train new doctors, healthcare professionals, nurses and nutritionists in incorporating it into their field of studies.”

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 6 Call for mandatory installation of dashcams oFootage would aid investigations in criminal, traffic cases: E-hailing firms, drivers PETALING JAYA: E-hailing companies and drivers are calling on the authorities to make it mandatory to instal dashcams to provide evidence in cases of criminal activities. In a recent incident, a teenager was caught on video allegedly trying to stab a 65-year-old e-hailing driver but failed to injure him. The teenager was later arrested by police. While dashcam footages helped capture evidence of criminal and traffic offenders, it is still not mandatory to instal such devices in private or public vehicles. E-hailing service myAider founder and CEO Steven Lee said since 2019, the Malaysia E-hailing Drivers Association has called on the government to make dashcams mandatory for e-hailing drivers. “A dashcam should be made compulsory for all e-hailing vehicles. It is helpful in a lot of crash investigations by police and insurance adjusters. “The footage acquired from the dashcam would prove useful when providing evidence in court. It could also prove the innocence of those who are wrongly accused.” Lee said making dashcams compulsory could be a challenge, especially for those in lower income groups, adding that dashcams should be subsidised by the government if they were to be made mandatory. “Drivers have to cover the cost of vehicle rentals and maintenance. Therefore, they would be reluctant to spend more money to purchase a dashcam. “Companies should also collaborate with dashcam companies to acquire the devices at lower prices.” Lee said many other measures could be added to improve the safety of drivers and passengers. “E-hailing companies should verify the passenger profile before permitting the use of their services. Passengers should only be allowed to book a ride after the front and back of their identity card has been uploaded into the system. “Another safety feature that should be compulsory is the Emergency Call button. By pressing the button, individuals will be directed to the Malaysian Emergency Response Services 999 (MERS 999) or emergency contact of their family members.” On privacy concerns raised over the use of dashcams, Lee said as a public transportation provider, safety takes priority over privacy. E-hailing driver Nick Yee agrees that dashcams should be made mandatory. In an incident before installing a dashcam, he said his vehicle was hit from behind but he was fortunate that the offender admitted it was his fault. “I believe dashcams are indispensable because they provide evidence in the event of a road crash. “The dashcam should be installed to record the exterior and interior view of a vehicle.” Yee said he has concerns over privacy regarding the use of dashcams but believes that safety comes first. “Some people would not want to be recorded but it is necessary in the case of e-hailing services, as long as it is not misused. “The camera should be positioned to make the driver and passenger feel comfortable.” In addition to dashcams, Yee said other measures that could be considered to improve driver safety is the addition of a partition between the front and rear seats. “Vehicle partitions are not mandatory but certain drivers could consider adding it for increased security.” Lee said the government should subsidise the cost of dashcams if such devices were made mandatory, as the extra expense could be a challenge for lower income groups. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Firm denies job discrimination claim PETALING JAYA: The producer of Massimo bakery products, Italian Baker Sdn Bhd, has denied it does not accept Indians for employment at its factory. The company said in a statement a video on the matter that has been widely viewed on Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp is “baseless and inaccurate”. “We were made aware of this misinformation thanks to the vigilance of a concerned individual, and we are especially appreciative to this individual whose TikTok video brought the issue to our attention, allowing us to take swift action. “Upon learning of the situation, we have taken immediate steps to address the matter by lodging reports with police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). “We are committed to ensuring the truth prevails and that our community is well informed.“ In the video, an Indian girl claims she responded to an advertisement on Facebook and sent her application for a factory job through a link that was provided. However, in WhatsApp responses, she was told by an alleged employee from Italian Baker that Indians were not allowed to apply. “Indians are not allowed to enter (to work at the factory)”, according to the text message she received. When contacted by theSun, Italian Baker holding company FFM Berhad corporate affairs manager Linda Keng said the advertisement was fake and that workers were not being recruited by the firm. “We did not receive any calls from the girl. “We reached out to her to ascertain the contact number which she communicated through and can confirm that it does not belong to us.” Keng said police and MCMC reports that were lodged were against the scammer, not the girl. “We made the reports on the scam. We leave it in the good hands of the authorities to investigate the matter. “The incident has been escalated to the Labour Department and it promptly visited us (to investigate further) and found no issues (as this was a scam).” Couple jailed 35 years for killing boss JOHOR BAHRU: An Indonesian couple was sentenced to 35 years’ jail each by the High Court yesterday for murdering their employer in Kulai three years ago. Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Katar handed down the sentence on Bartolomeus Fransceda and his wife, Ekalia, both 23, who pleaded guilty. The judge ordered them to serve their sentences from the date of their arrest on March 21, 2020 and also for Bartolomeus to be caned 12 times. Abu Bakar said the sentence on the couple was made after considering the oral and written submissions for mitigation by the defence lawyer, submissions on the weight of the sentence by the DPP and the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023. “The court also takes into account the victim’s impact statement and the facts of the case presented by the prosecution as well as the principles of sentencing.” They confessed to jointly killing Lau Yen Na, 73, in a house on Jalan Anak Bukit in Kulai at 2pm on March 17, 2020. The charges were framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by death or between 30 and 40 years’ imprisonment, and at least 12 strokes of the cane. Based on investigations and CCTV footage, the couple killed Lau with a small, sharp two-pronged hoe measuring 50cm, hitting her on the head while she was resting, and taking off with her vehicle and mobile phone. The couple then went to Kuala Lumpur to meet friends to seek work but were later nabbed at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya on March 21, 2020. A pathology report showed the cause of death as multiple slash wounds to the head. The victim’s DNA was found on the weapon and Ekalia’s DNA was also found on a pillowcase. DPP Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali prosecuted while lawyer Ooi Pen Lyn represented the couple. – Bernama Boat crew held over fish bombing LABUAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Labuan and the Fisheries Department detained a Malaysian and six foreign fishing crew members suspected to be engaged in fish bombing activities in Tanjung Kubong waters. MMEA Labuan director Kapt Izwanhadi Idros said the joint operation on Saturday targeted vessels without valid licences. “It was discovered the boat, accompanied by a smaller boat, had no valid licences. Further investigation uncovered 300kg of various fish species and an additional 300kg of dried marine products on board.” Izwanhadi said the 40-year-old Malaysian skipper and six foreign nationals, aged 25 to 61, were detained for investigations. “We also seized the catch and products, fish bombing equipment and boats,” he said, adding that two of the detained crew members, who had no valid travel documents, were handed to the Immigration Department. – Bernama Human trafficking victim rescued BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police rescued a 22-year-old woman confined by a human trafficking syndicate in a raid on a house at Taman Sanctuary in Machang Bubok on Dec 6. Central Seberang Perai district police chief ACP Tan Cheng San said police received information that the woman had been locked up in the house for several days. “Acting on information, police raided the house at 5.45pm on Wednesday and arrested a 34-year-old man, before rescuing the victim. “Investigations revealed the self-employed man wanted to take the woman to a neighbouring country to work as an operator for an online fraud syndicate.” He added police also seized two cars and a laptop during the raid, as well as various items related to prostitution, such as condoms and tissues. – Bernama █ BY ALLEN WONG [email protected] █ BY QALIF ZUHAIR [email protected]

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 7 Philippines summons Chinese envoy Philippine and Chinese boats at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship, with both countries trading blame. Diplomatic protests had been filed and “the Chinese ambassador has also been summoned”, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza told a news conference yesterday. Daza said declaring China’s ambassador Huang Xilian persona non grata in the Philippines was also “something that has to be seriously considered”. AFP correspondents outside the Foreign Ministry in Manila saw a Chinese-flagged SUV enter the compound at 3.15pm. China’s ramming and water cannoning of Filipino boats, as well as the use of a long-range acoustic device, was a “serious escalation” of their tactics, National Security Council assistant director-general Jonathan Malaya told reporters. But China’s Foreign Ministry said that moves by its Coast Guard against the Philippine vessels were “professional” and “restrained”, and it had “lodged stern representations” with Manila. The China Coast Guard earlier accused one of the Philippine supply boats of deliberately hitting its vessel despite “multiple stern warnings”. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis. It deploys boats to patrol the busy waterway and has built artificial islands that it has militarised to reinforce its claims. The US State Department called on China on Sunday to halt its “dangerous and destabilising” actions in the sea, while foreign diplomats in Manila also criticised China’s behaviour. The weekend confrontations were the most intense between Philippine and Chinese vessels in years, analysts said, as the countries seek to assert their competing maritime territorial claims. – AFP oUS calls on Beijing to stop ‘dangerous’ conduct in South China Sea Rohingyas face rejection in Indonesia JAKARTA: Myanmar’s Rohingyas face a wave of hostility and rejection in Indonesia, where regional communities say they are fed up of a spike in the numbers of boats carrying the persecuted ethnic minority to their shores. More than 1,200 Rohingyas have landed in Indonesia since November, data from the United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR showed. “There are still many poor people here,” said Ella Saptia, 27, a resident of Pidie in the province of Aceh, where people have been sympathetic to the the Rohingya refugees brought by dilapidated boats for years. “Why should we take care of thousands of Rohingyas who cause many problems?” This year the refugees have encountered animosity and threats that their boats will be turned back around. Last week, protesters on Aceh’s island of Sabang removed tents set up as temporary shelters for the Rohingyas and threatened to push their boat back to sea. “They are too many Rohingyas in Aceh,” said local resident Desi Silvana, 30. “This year there are hundreds, even thousands that have come.” About 135 Rohingya arrivals last weekend have been moved to the office of the provincial governor after a community in Aceh Besar district rejected them, media said. It is unclear what has sparked the backlash. “I don’t want to pay tax if it is used for Rohingya,” one user, with the handle trianiwiji9, said on the social platform X. Another described the Rohingyas as “parasites”. – Reuters Myanmar junta to jail fuel hoarders YANGON: Myanmar’s junta launched a new crackdown on fuel hoarding yesterday with authorities threatening to jail anyone found with more than 180 litres of petrol without a licence, as the country reels from an acute shortage. The Petroleum Products Regulatory Department began “supervision and inspection of unlicensed transport and storage” of petrol products on Sunday, said the Global New Light of Myanmar. Anyone caught storing or transporting “more than 180 litres of petroleum products without a licence” will face a year in jail or be fined US$2,370 (RM11,000) , the newspaper said. The crackdown comes as Yangon reels from a fuel shortage, with drivers queueing at dawn in the hope of securing the scarce commodity. The shortage also affects businesses and hospitals that rely on generators for power during the city’s frequent electricity blackouts. Myanmar’s kyat currency has plunged against the dollar since the military seized power in 2021, hitting importers’ ability to pay for fuel shipments. – AFP MANILA: The Philippines said it had summoned China’s envoy yesterday and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries’ vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea. Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats during two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday and Sunday. There was also a collision between

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 8 Australia to cut immigrant numbers oMeasures include tougher English test and higher wage thresholds CANBERRA: Australia yesterday unveiled plans to slash the number of migrants arriving in the country, hoping to curb a post-pandemic surge and address voter anger at the rising cost of living. The Labor government announced a raft of measures making it harder for everyone from foreign students to low-skilled workers to enter – including tougher English-language requirements and higher wage thresholds. Roughly half a million temporary migrants entered the country in the last year, a post-pandemic boom after years of closed borders. The government believes its reforms – along with short-term trends – will bring the number closer to 250,000 in 2024-2025. “We are going to make sure that we bring numbers back under control,” said Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, sketching parts of a 100-page strategy seen by AFP. Despite near-record employment rates, Australians are increasingly frustrated at soaring prices and an eye-watering real estate market. The Grattan Institute, a think tank, is among those who have linked high levels of immigration to rising rental costs. O’Neil stressed that immigration was essential to Australia’s prosperity, describing foreign workers as the “special sauce” that had made Australia great. “Virtually everything that we have done as a country that’s truly mattered has involved asking the best and brightest from around the world to come and try to help us,” she said. But nodding to growing public unease, she also vowed to “build a better-planned system around essential things like housing”. On Sunday, her government said it would impose a dramatic increase in fees on foreigners who buy homes and leave them empty. Rental prices in some areas of Sydney and Melbourne have risen about 25% in the last year. Rachel Stevens, an expert on the history of immigration at the Australian Catholic University, said the immigration reforms were “as much about politics as policy”. She told AFP that linking the rising cost of living with migration was misleading and risked scapegoating 2.2 million people who are on temporary visas. “They are separate things entirely,” she said, citing the impact of rising interest rates and surging markets after Covid lockdowns, among other factors. “Whenever there is a scarcity of a resource, whether it’s jobs or housing, it’s a very common reaction for people in many countries to blame immigrants.” Stevens suggested that the Labor government may have one eye on the conservative opposition’s rising poll numbers and elections expected by 2025. “It polls well”, she said, but “it’s really dangerous and quite reckless to put it all on migrants”. Conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused the government of having a “big migration programme”. “Our cities are full, the roads are congested, the infrastructure can’t keep up,” he said earlier this month while suggesting immigrant numbers should be cut. – AFP GRAND RECEPTION ... Vietnamese honour guards preparing the welcoming ceremony for Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi yesterday. – AFPPIC NZ arrests 12 after museum exhibit defaced WELLINGTON: A dozen protesters from a Maori activist group were arrested yesterday at New Zealand’s national museum after defacing an exhibit about the country’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. Police said a man absailed from above the exhibit at the Te Papa museum in Wellington, before using an angle grinder and spray paint to damage a panel which is several metres high. The protestors were from the Te Waka Hourua group, who describe themselves as defenders of justice for Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous population. A group spokesman said the exhibit was defaced because the English text “misleads visitors to believe it is an accurate translation” of the treaty’s Maori version. The incident follows protests last Tuesday that saw thousands criticise the newly elected conservative government for its policies toward Maori, posing an early leadership test for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Police said they made 12 arrests yesterday. Four people were charged with offences including intentional damage and breach of bail. Eight protestors were arrested for trespassing after refusing to leave the museum, but were later released without charge, police added. The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between British colonial powers and Maori chiefs. The original documents are housed at the National Library in Wellington, not at the Te Papa museum. There are Maori and English versions of the treaty, which differ. There is debate about whether Maori ceded sovereignty to the British crown in the indigenous text. A group from Te Waka Hourua later protested outside the museum in Wellington harbour with banners reading “Tell The Truth” and “Sovereignty Was Never Ceded”. No museum artefacts were damaged, a Te Papa spokeman said. The floor where it happened was shut following the incident, but the museum stayed open. – AFP India court upholds revocation of Kashmir autonomy NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court upheld yesterday a 2019 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to revoke special status for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and set a deadline of Sept 30 next year for state polls to be held. The region has been at the heart of 75 years of animosity with Pakistan since the birth of the two nations in 1947 at independence from colonial rule by Britain. The unanimous order by a panel of five judges came in response to more than a dozen petitions challenging the revocation and a subsequent decision to split the region into two federally administered territories. It sets the stage for elections in the region, which was more closely integrated with India after the government’s contentious move, taken in line with a key longstanding promise of Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The decision is a shot in the arm for the government ahead of general elections due by May. The challengers maintained that only the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir could decide on the special status of the region, and contested whether Parliament had the power to revoke it. The court said special status was a temporary constitutional provision that could be revoked by Parliament. The territory is divided among India, which rules the populous Kashmir Valley and the region of Jammu, Pakistan, which controls a wedge of territory in the west, and China, which holds a thinly populated high-altitude area in the north. – Reuters B R I E F SHK ELECTIONS SEE LOWEST-EVER TURNOUT HONG KONG: The Asian financial hub’s first district elections for “patriots” saw a turnout of 27.5%, the government said yesterday, a record-low share for a race that had shut out all opposition candidates. Previously, the lowest turnout since the city’s handover to China was 35.82%, recorded in 1999. Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong yesterday congratulated the city for holding an election that “uplifted the spirit and consolidated consensus”, adding the vote “injected strong momentum” for the city’s development. Chief Executive John Lee had earlier said that this year’s election was “the last piece of the puzzle to implement the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong”. – AFP U.S. WARPLANE CRASHES IN SOUTH KOREA SEOUL: A US F-16 fighter jet crashed yesterday in South Korea during a routine training exercise after experiencing “an in-flight emergency”, the American military said, adding the pilot had been rescued. The incident involving an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing happened early yesterday over the Yellow Sea, the US Air Force said in a statement. “The pilot ejected the aircraft. The pilot has been recovered by Republic of Korea Maritime Forces, awake and in stable condition,” the statement said, adding he would be evaluated further back at base. The US Air Force said the cause of the in-flight emergency was unknown. “The incident will be thoroughly investigated,” it said. – AFP

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 9 Sudan faces ‘catastrophe’ as UN funds run short B R I E F SARGENTINE LEADER WARNS OF ‘SHOCK’ AUSTERITY BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s President Javier Milei took office on Sunday with a stark warning to citizens to brace themselves for painful austerity measures as he seeks to cut spending and curb triple-digit inflation, all with empty coffers. The 53-year-old libertarian addressed thousands of supporters from the steps of Congress, who waved flags and chanted “freedom!” and “chainsaw!” in reference to the power tool he carried around on the campaign trail to symbolise spending cuts. “There is no money,” said Milei, vowing to put an end to “decades of decadence” by his overspending predecessors who he said had left him “the worst inheritance” of any prior government. – AFP 17 LIGHTLY INJURED IN ITALIAN TRAIN CRASH ROME: Two trains crashed into each other at low speed in northern Italy on Sunday, injuring at least 17 people, none seriously, firefighters and the train operator said. The accident between a high-speed train and a regional train occurred on the line between Bologna and Rimini, the fire service announced on social media, saying at least 17 people were injured. But a spokesman for national train operator Trenitalia told AFP there were only “minor injuries”, saying most were bruised. “It was a collision at very low speed,” he said, adding that an investigation was underway. Photos published by firefighters showed the two trains had crashed head on, but the front of the regional train was still intact. – AFP Israeli forces push further into southern Gaza Trump cancels plan to testify in NY fraud trial WASHINGTON: Donald Trump changed his mind about testifying in his own defence in a New York fraud case yesterday, announcing that he will not take the stand as expected because he has “nothing more to say”. The 77-year-old posted the surprise statement on Truth Social on Sunday, adding that he has “already testified to everything” in the ongoing trial against him, his eldest sons Don Jr and Eric, and other Trump Organisation executives. Trump was questioned last month by the prosecution, which has accused him and the other defendants of exaggerating the value of their real estate assets by billions of dollars to obtain more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. For four hours on Nov 6, Trump sparred with prosecutors – with his acrimonious answers at times earning rebukes from Judge Arthur Engoron, who warned the current Republican frontrunner that “this is not a political rally”. On Sunday, Trump said he had already testified “very successfully and conclusively” in the case. The Trump real estate empire has been put in jeopardy by the civil suit, brought by New York Attorney-General Letitia James and one of a slew of serious legal actions facing Trump ahead of next year’s presidential vote. Even before opening arguments, Engoron ruled that the Attorney-General’s Office had already shown “conclusive evidence” that Trump had overstated his net worth on financial documents by between US$812 million and US$2.2 billion (RM3.8 billion and RM10.3 billion) between 2014 and 2021. As a result, the judge ordered the liquidation of the companies managing the assets in question, such as the Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street skyscrapers in Manhattan – a decision currently under appeal. The trial concerns several other crimes, including insurance fraud, and the financial penalty sought by the Attorney-General’s Office of US$250 million (RM1.2 billion). Unlike some of Trump’s legal battles – including the criminal case against him accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election – the suit brought by James, a Democrat, carries no risk of jail time. Since the start of the trial, which opened Oct 2, the billionaire Republican has denounced the proceedings as a partisan “witch hunt”. – AFP Smoke rising during an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip amid ongoing battles with Hamas. – AFPPIC KHARTOUM: The United Nations has only been able to reach a fraction of the nearly 25 million people needing aid in war-devastated Sudan, the head of the UN’s humanitarian response in the country says. But assistance to even those four million could soon stop if the chronic lack of funding continues, Clementine Nkweta-Salami told AFP in an interview on Sunday. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan said the situation is “catastrophic”, eight months into a conflict between rival generals that has torn the country apart. Aid workers have called it the “forgotten war”. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, turned their weapons on each other on April 15. Two years after the former allies jointly engineered a 2021 coup that derailed a fragile democratic transition, their power struggle has killed more than 12,190 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. That figure is only a conservative estimate, with entire parts of the country completely cut off from the world. There are also “seven million people displaced in Sudan, which is the highest displacement situation globally”, said Nkweta-Salami. Yet despite the scale of the crisis, the humanitarian response remains woefully underfunded. “We’ve received only 38.6 percent” of the total US$2.6 billion (RM12.2 billion) needed for 2023,” Nkweta-Salami said. “There will come a time when even if we have (physical) access, we will not have the resources to enable us to channel the relevant assistance that we need to do.” – AFP GAZA CITY: Israeli tanks yesterday sought to push further west in their battle against Hamas in and around Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip’s main city, as UN officials reiterated calls for a ceasefire to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. The fighting in Khan Younis comes as Israel refocuses its more than two month war effort to the south after pounding northern Gaza and driving the majority of the Palestinian enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes. Amid reports of a “catastrophic” health situation in Gaza from the World Health Organisation, Palestinian activists called for a global strike as part of a coordinated effort to pressure Israel into a ceasefire. “It is time – world wide total strike,” urged one call. But it was unclear whether the effort would catch on globally or have an impact on Israel’s war plans. The 193-member UN General Assembly was likely to vote today on a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire, diplomats said. On Friday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council proposal demanding an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. The US vote was criticised by Arab foreign ministers on Sunday at an international conference in Doha, the capital of Qatar, which played a key role in negotiating the ceasefire late last month. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would “not give up” appealing for a ceasefire. “I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. “Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it, but that does not make it less necessary.” According to Gaza health authorities, around 18,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks, with 49,500 injured. On Sunday, residents of Khan Younis said tanks had reached the city’s main north-south road. Warplanes were attacking an area to the west. Guterres said the city, with a population of around 626,000, could be on the verge of collapse with the possibility of epidemic diseases engulfing it. Israel and Hamas meanwhile engaged in a war of words on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement that dozens of Hamas fighters had surrendered. Hamas rebutted the claim and said it had destroyed 180 Israeli military vehicles. Worries of the war spreading were further fed by fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is backed by Iran. Syria’s army also reported it had shot down Israeli missiles fired towards the capital Damascus from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Sunday evening. Others missiles not intercepted caused some damage, the army said in a statement. The Israeli army declined to comment. Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of “a systematic effort to empty Gaza of its people” and pushing them to leave the territory. – Reuters oPalestinian activists call for global strike

10 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper Contact theSun's Sales & Marketing team to book your advertising space. Malaysian Paper 03-7784 6688 [email protected] Advertise with us on Chinese New Year Special on JAN 26, 2024 Chinese New Year SPECIAL Let’s welcome the Year of the Dragon with us! In the Chinese culture, the dragon represents good luck, strength and health, and those are what we wish for you, while you check out our Chinese New Year supplement, to let yourself be aware of the current and upcoming festive sales, deals and promotions. PUBLICATION DATE 26 JANUARY, 2024 (Friday) BOOKING DEADLINE 12 JANUARY, 2024 (Friday) Stop slaughter in Palestine PALESTINIANS have become sand in the eyes of the Mideast. How did this happen? From where did they come? According to the late Israeli prime minister Golda Meir – nowhere. She insisted Palestinians did not exist and were merely human flotsam and jetsam. The irony was evident, considering Golda Mabovich was born into a Jewish family in Kyiv, Russia. So, where did the Palestinians come from, who are now under terrifying siege by Israeli forces in and around Gaza, with 15,000 killed so far by Israeli bombing, half of them children? These Palestinians came from neighbouring region of Galilee in Palestine. They are third-generation refugees. In the early 1950s, my mother, a journalist and lecturer, went to Palestine with sponsorship from several US newspapers and, secretly, support by the US State Department. Newly founded Israel’s official position was that Palestine, and especially the fertile Galilee region, was a “land without people for a people without land (meaning Jewish immigrants)”. My mother discovered hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in huts made from tin cans or cardboard boxes. There were some tents erected by foreign aid agencies and the United Nations. The refugees were huddled together in the biting cold. Many were near starvation. There was only a handful of doctors or medical personnel, and no hospitals. Jewish settlers from Eastern Europe were moving in and seizing all the arable land. The US was financing these settlers. Donations to Israel in the US were, mostly, tax deductible. The propaganda book Exodus and subsequent film paved the way for the seizure of Palestinian land. Those who backed the creation of a greater Israel on lands owned by Palestinians were viciously assailed in the US. The newspapers for whom my mother wrote were cowed into silence. Newspapers were threatened with settlements on the border with Gaza. Israel’s newly impowered hard right – a group that the late great Israeli columnist Uri Avnery termed “Jewish fascists” – also had its eye on Gaza and its two million Arab inhabitants, who were the victims of the very kind of ethnic cleansing the US rightly condemned in Kosovo and Serbia. That is what lit the fuse for attacks near Gaza by Hamas, ironically whose founding was abetted and financed by Israel to split the Palestine Liberation Organisation, led by the late Yasser Arafat, who was later likely murdered by Israeli poison experts from Russia. Israel’s far-right has secured almost total control of President Joe Biden’s administration. Congress jumped to its feet to applaud Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu while cold-shouldering President Barrack Obama. Those taxdeductible US donations and over US$5.5 billion (RM26.66 billion) annual overt and covert aid to Israel (before Ukraine became the leading recipient of American money), plus similarly generated aid to Ukraine make the capture of US foreign policy possible. The few media critics who protest this kidnapping of US policy and funds are ignored, sidelined or blacklisted. For a shocking example, I was just “bought off” a major television public news network for a payment of US$2 million. Americans who rely for news on the Big Six news outfits get data prepared for them by Israel’s mighty propaganda machines. That is why the Mideast news in France, Italy and Spain is so different. Even Britain’s once independentminded BBC now toes the line from Israel while the man who exposed US war crimes in Iraq, Julian Assange, rots in a British maximum-security prison. So much for the famed “free press”. The writer is a syndicated columnist. Comments: [email protected] “Newly founded Israel’s official position was that Palestine, and especially the fertile Galilee region, was a ‘land without people for a people without land (meaning Jewish immigrants)’ . Climate activists raise banners during a joint “climate justice” and “ceasefire now” march, demanding an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip, at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai last Saturday. – AFPPIC █ BYERIC S. MARGOLIS boycotts by their vital advertisers if they did not eliminate my mother’s writings and lectures on Palestine. Worse, pro-Israel supporters began banging on our front door in New York City, screaming death threats that included throwing acid into my mother’s face and mine. The war was not long over then and emotions after the Holocaust were still raw. My mother was eventually terrified into silence because of threats of me being blinded by acid. She was forced to give up exposing the miserable fate of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Jews and non-Jews from Eastern Europe continued to pour into Palestine and expropriate Arab-owned land, usually with help from the Israeli government or American Zionist organisations. When Israel’s new hard-right government coalition came to power this year, one of its first acts was to proclaim it would continue ethnic cleansing in Galilee and further expand

11 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 Reflecting on solitude of days gone by LONG ago, in my early years as an assistant estate manager, I was frequently asked if living in a rubber estate felt lonely. It was hard to explain that while the place was vast, I had a lot of responsibilities. Each day would start with muster, where the workers would assemble before dawn to have their names called. I would note their assigned tasks by the supervisors and then proceed to the fields to oversee their work. It was still cool as the sun rose to dry the dew on the ferns and grass, some of which were noxious like the lalang, which had to be weeded out. Later, it was to observe the rubber tappers working down the lines of rubber trees, each with a task to complete. Most of the workers were Indian girls, living within the community. It was during these times that I would hone my skills in their language. There were days when I could speak the language fluently, with all the words I had learnt coming easily to mind. To enhance my proficiency, I engaged a worker’s son to teach me Tamil twice a week. Work in the fields was over when the tappers brought in their buckets of latex to the collection centre to be weighed. As I sat to take the readings, it was also a time to catch up on some news and rumours, most of which would turn out to be true. After the tankers take the day’s crop to the factory, I would spend at least two hours on desk work in the office. After lunch, I would record the costs as well as the attendance and output of each tapper, and write a short report of any new developments. I worked at Cashwood Estate in Ayer Tawar, Perak, in 1963 and later at Tanah Merah Estate in Tangkak, Johor in 1965. My job also required me to study botany and soils. When I passed my examinations in 1968, I worked at Pamol Estate, an oil palm plantation, near Kluang in Johor, around 10km from Mersing. Again, the nature of the work was the same, involving many supervisors and workers, except that the crop was new to me. I asked a lot of questions, read extensively and was given a detailed hand-over note from my predecessor. It was fun walking beneath the palm trees and breathing in the fresh air as I kept a sharp eye out for the smallest detail, noting if anything was amiss or done incorrectly. Once I had reported the mistakes to the person in charge, I would move on to the mature areas. It was pleasant to see the previous efforts rewarded by the sight of red and ripe bunches. Workers would walk along the rows of palms to harvest them, and the lorries would transport the bunches to the mill to be processed into palm oil and palm kernel. In the afternoons, I would attend to some work in the office and THE rise of vaping among schoolchildren has become a serious concern among teachers and parents. As a society, it is our responsibility to address this issue with a sense of urgency, and prevent it from getting worse. Vaping is not a harmless pastime, it poses serious health risks, especially for young individuals. The chemicals in e-cigarettes can damage developing lungs, lead to addiction and have adverse long-term effects. It is important to engage the young in open, non-judgemental conversations, using real-life stories and visuals to illustrate the potential consequences of this habit. We should also consider counselling services. Trained professionals can help students understand the psychological factors driving their vaping habits and provide guidance on healthier coping mechanisms. We should encourage peer support groups where students can share their experiences and struggles. This will create a safe space for them to seek help from friends, who may have overcome similar challenges. We should promote extracurricular activities and hobbies that can replace vaping, encouraging students to explore their interests, such as sports, arts or community service, as healthy alternatives to vaping. Shaming or penalising children may drive them further into the habit. Instead, let us foster an environment where they feel safe in seeking help and support. It should be the primary responsibility of parents to educate their children on the harmful effects of vaping. Teachers are already overburdened – with teaching, extracurricular activities, examinations and paper work. Parents are intimately acquainted with their children’s personalities, needs and quirks. They can tailor their disciplinary approaches to suit the unique characteristics of each child. This level of individualised guidance is hard to replicate in a school setting. Consistent discipline helps children understand boundaries and expectations. Discipline is not solely about punishment, it is also an opportunity for growth and learning. Parents have the advantage of building trust and open lines of communication with their children. This will enable children to confide in their parents and seek guidance when they make mistakes. It will also teach children to take responsibility for their actions, and that their choices have consequences. Additionally, there should be collaboration between parents and teachers to nurture responsible, respectful and well-rounded individuals. They should work together to address behavioural issues, creating a unified approach that benefits the child. The passing of the long-awaited Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill in parliment has helped to bring some form of control to vaping, which is currently unregulated. The Bill aims to prohibit the sale of all tobacco products and smoking substances to minors. Substances, such as nicotine, propylene and glyco, which are used in vape are also prohibited. We need to ensure that the law is enforced effectively to give meaning to the Bill. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Chairman Alliance for a Safe Community address whatever issues faced by the supervisors. Later in the evenings, I would go and watch my football team compete. We also had a management club, and this is where I would spend my evenings playing billiards to unwind. Interestingly, many of the staff were more skilled than I was. Back home, my evenings were spent on reading, where I delved into various books, such as Richard Mason’s The World of Suzie Wong. It was the story of a plantation worker whose solitude took its toll, compelling him to follow his dream of working as an artist in Hong Kong. The portrayal of loneliness in the story does hold some truth, as there are limitations to the activities one can engage in, especially during weekends, within the confines of the bungalow. I bought a set of encyclopedias, so that, when I came back for breakfast or to rest after lunch, I could take a volume and turn to a page. The random knowledge I picked up was handy as one advanced in the ranks. Sometimes, I had unannounced visitors on weekends, usually from salesmen, who were aware of recent transfers to the area. They often sold life insurance or handwoven carpets and rugs. They would lay out the carpets in the living room, ensuring I saw how well each unrolled smoothly, adding an air of luxury in the big mansion where I stayed alone. I also had visits from other planters, and during these occasions, we would engage in chess matches, have conversations or take rides in their cars. At that point, I did not own a car as I was expecting my first bonus for that. Alternatively, it may be my relatives, such as my mother, who would come with a heap of luggage. She would spend late nights sitting on the floor in the hall, diligently weaving mats from dried mengkuang pandanus leaves that she brought along. After spending a few days weaving, she would return home to check on her chickens and the cats even though others in my village of Kampung Mampong, near Rembau, were there to attend to them. However, in a few weeks, she would return, bringing along more things to weave. Occasionally, some friends from town would call and take me out, even if the roads were only two lanes and narrow. It was a fun outing, which extended late into the night. However, I showed up again the next morning for muster. It was a matter of professional pride for me to stand silently in the halflight, alongside the senior supervisor, ensuring that everyone was present and accounted for. So, if someone were to pose the question about loneliness to me, it may be due to a lack of prior explanation to him. My mind could take a long time to process, and I may find myself asking: “What was the question again?” The writer has extensive experience in the management of oil palm plantations. Comments: [email protected] The chemicals in e-cigarettes can damage developing lungs, lead to addiction and have adverse effects. – REUTERSPIC E STATE MANAGERWRITE S BY MAHBOB ABDULLAH LETTERS [email protected] Threat of vaping among schoolchildren “I bought a set of encyclopedias, so that, when I came back for breakfast or to rest after lunch, I could take a volume and turn to a page. The random knowledge I picked up was handy as one advanced in the ranks.

HEALTH HEALTH 12 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 Heartfelt changes in study on twins oExploring cardiovascular resonance in vegan and omnivore diets FROM weight loss to energy levels to digestion, one scientific study after another lauds the merits of the vegan diet. This way of eating may also improve cardiovascular health, according to US researchers who evaluated the effects of vegan and omnivore diets on identical twins with similar upbringings and lifestyles. Limiting meat consumption could lead to better overall health. But the many studies conducted on the subject tend to have certain limitations, most often linked to genetics or lifestyle. That is why researchers at Stanford Medicine, the medical school of Stanford University in the US, decided to evaluate the effects of a vegan diet on identical twins who grew up in the same household with similar lifestyles. Twenty-two pairs of twins were included in the study, conducted between May and July 2022, in which one twin from each pair was assigned a vegan or omnivore diet. The scientists point out that both diets were considered healthy, being rich in vegetables, legumes, fruit and whole grains and free from refined sugars and starches, but that the vegan diet was based solely on plant-based products, while the omnivore diet included chicken, fish, eggs, cheese and dairy products. Participants received delivered meals for the first four weeks — for breakfast, lunch and dinner — and then prepared their own meals for the following four weeks of the study. Each individual also kept a diary listing the foods they had eaten. Lower “bad” cholesterol levels Published in JAMA Network Open, the study findings suggest that a vegan diet has the potential to improve heart health in just eight weeks. “This suggests that anyone who chooses a vegan diet can improve their long-term health in two months, with the most change seen in the first month,” explains the study’s senior author, professor Christopher Gardner, in a news release. Indeed, one of the findings of this research is that more improvements were observed in the first four weeks following the change in diet. The researchers also report that the vegan participants had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the bad kind), insulin and body weight than the omnivorous participants — markers that scientists with better cardiovascular health. “Based on these results and thinking about longevity, most of us would benefit from going to a more plant-based diet,” Professor Gardner continues. The aim of this research is not to force people to adopt a 100% vegan diet, as the scientists are aware of the difficulties and upheaval this could represent for some. The aim is to encourage people to limit their meat consumption and turn to plant-based alternatives. “What’s more important than going strictly vegan is including more plant-based foods into your diet. Luckily, having fun with vegan multicultural foods like Indian masala, Asian stir-fry and African lentil-based dishes can be a great first step,” concludes the senior author of the study. Previous research has compared the Mediterranean and vegan diets, both of which are considered beneficial to health, although researchers identified greater benefits for the latter. Other studies have even looked at the impact of a vegan diet on pets (dogs and cats), revealing that four-legged vegans were healthier. — ETX STUDIO Cutting all animal products from your diet could lead to better heart health, reveals a study. Night shifts’ impact on health and well-being WHATEVER the job, working for around eight consecutive hours, five days a week, remains a standard reference in many cultures. However, some employees work unusual hours or even night shifts, which can be detrimental to their health. A new study suggests that night shifts, in particular, can promote the onset of sleep disorders, with an impact on the physical and mental health of those concerned. “There is a lot of evidence that shift work reduces the quality of sleep. “However, little is known about the influence of different types of shifts on the prevalence of various sleep disorders and how this may vary depending on demographic characteristics,“ explains Dr Marike Lancel, researcher at the GGZ Drenthe’s Mental Health Institute in the Netherlands, in a statement. This inspired a team of Dutch researchers to try to assess the association between different shift patterns, which result in employees working at night, certain sociodemographic factors, and sleep disorders. To do this, they studied data from 37,662 workers, classified according to their work schedules (standard day, early morning, evening, night and shift work). In addition to the demographic information provided to the researchers, participants were asked to answer a questionnaire focusing on sleep disorders. One out of two night workers concerned Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, this research suggests that regular night work is the most debilitating condition regarding sleep. In particular, one out of every two participants in this category indicated that they had slept less than six hours within 24 hours, while 51% reported one sleep disorder and 26% at least two sleep disorders. By way of comparison, almost a third of all participants were affected by at least one sleep disorder, and almost 13% by at least two such disorders. Looking at demographic factors, men seem to be more affected by sleep deprivation than women, but women suffer more from sleep disorders. Disparities are also observed according to age group — older workers sleep less, but it is young people aged 30 and under who suffer most from sleep disorders. “We showed that, compared to working regular shifts during daytime hours, working other shift types is associated with a higher occurrence of disordered sleep, particularly in rotating and regular night shift work. Because those working night shifts will remain desynchronised with the day-work-focused environment they live in, it is unlikely to completely prevent all the negative consequences of night work,” noted Dr Lancel. This is not the first time these late-night working hours have been singled out for their impact on health. In 2018, France’s Anses agency reported, “Changes in work organisation are now leading an increasing number of French people to work night shifts,“ citing in particular “the proven effects of these schedules on the occurrence of sleep disorders, as well as the probable effects on the onset of cancers and certain cardiovascular pathologies and also repercussions on the worker’s psychological health.” The French agency followed this with a report that encouraged better supervision of this type of work or reducing it to a minimum — ETX STUDIO Examining the health ramifications of shift work.– PIC COURTESY OF 123RF

TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2624/5 E: [email protected] Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 F: 03-7784 4424 SCAN ME E: [email protected] ‘Halal-ESG compliance overlap means bigger market to tap’ oNeed to meet standards in the two spaces opens up greater access for Malaysia, says co-founder of Sarawak-based startup KUALA LUMPUR: The overlap between halal and environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance provides a wider market for Malaysia to access, according to Sinisana Technologies Sdn Bhd co-founder and CTO Jonah Lau (pic). “There are so many things within the halal space that actually aligns with the global sustainability standards and that’s an amazing opportunity that Malaysia should capitalise on as a leader in halal economy. “If we can position our halal products to not just meet Muslim standards, but also ESG standards, then the market becomes a lot bigger because you’re not just talking about US$7 trillion, you’re talking about a few hundred trillion dollar market that our exports would be able to tap into,” he told SunBiz. The Sarawak-based tech startup company utilises enterprise blockchain technology to pioneer more sustainable supply chains. “One of the biggest global trends is that consumers want more visibility and are concerned on where their products are sourced from, how is it made, has it been ethically made? Has it been processed in a way that does not harm the environment?,” Lau said, adding that based on feedback, the growing ethical interest is not only limited to the T20 groups albeit B40 group have equally voiced their concerns. “We see the global mega trend of the move towards more ethical consumerism. Yet there are about two thirds of global companies that are not able to monitor their respective supply chain on a continuous basis. Hence, they are unable to meet these consumer demands,” he shared. Lau said Sinisana focuses on several pressing global issues such as the need for halal compliance, food security, ethical sourcing related to forced labour as well as the whole resource lifecycle tracking for the circular economy. Currently, it has four key products on the market – Sinisana Intersect, Engage, Saraf and an unnamed product which he described as an ESG circular economy offering. “Sinisana Intersect is a digital product passport platform which helps businesses provide end to end traceability to consumers. For example, our halal digital product passport allows a Muslim consumer to have full assurance. “Say, with a piece of beef, they will know that the food is actually halal because it gets tracked all along the supply chain. Back to the original cow or cattle and we keep track of the yield. So even if a cow weighs 380kg but after the slaughtering process, it weighs 250kg, we are able to keep track of that along the supply chain itself,” said Lau. Sinisana’s Engage is a forced labour monitoring platform as it is an issue in Malaysia and the country needs to comply with global requirements to stay competitive internationally. “Malaysia has the second largest number of companies in the world that have been banned from the United States because of forced labour issues, with China being number one. Yet all the solutions that we’ve seen so far have been coming from the US. Our company wants to provide a local solution that focuses on creating a consensus between businesses and workers,” Lau said. Sinisana’s third offering, Saraf, is an agrofood production traceability which collects data to help provide government, industry and agencies with detailed visibility on farming activities and production. Lau shared that Sinisana is in talks with the government for a particular project but declined to disclose details before its launch. On the unnamed offering, he said that recently, it has partnered exclusively with Origo Eco Sdn Bhd to develop the world’s first blockchain traceable logistics pallet technology. “In the global logistics supply chain industry, there are about 600 million pallets floating around and the majority of them are wooden pallets that require us to cut down a lot of trees, raising the issue of deforestation,” he explained. “With our technology, every single pallet is traceable so that any company that uses it is able to generate ESG reports which can be submitted as part of its decarbonisation or net zero goals on how it is actually meeting its commitment towards sustainability,” he said, adding that the information will be vital for all stakeholders. Lau said the partnership on pallet tracebility is currently exclusive. However it is open to talk with interested parties on any other area or products involving circularity. BNM not expected to cut OPR in 2024, based on current data PETALING JAYA: Given the tight cash flows of businesses and households, will Bank Negara Malaysia slash the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) in 2024? According to Emir Research social, law and human rights head Jason Loh Seong Wei, BNM is not expected to cut the OPR, at least not in the first half of the year, based on current economic data. He added that this assumption holds unless a severe slowdown or recession were to occur in the second half of 2024. “It’s opined that Bank Negara should be prepared to cut the OPR in order alleviate the financial challenges of businesses and households given that interest rate payments are included in the cost of business and affect the cost of living. “That is to say, Bank Negara’s rate cut would be due or in response to the weakened ringgit (which is the opposite of, again, the standard rationale of increasing rates (to strengthen the currency) and thereby help to promote and reinforce price stability domestically,” Loh told SunBiz. He said that based on Bank Negara’s own approach, cutting the OPR in relation to the supply-side (production costs) would balance and “realign” with the prior increases on the demand side. This would ensure that price stability remains constant over the medium term, considering the weakened ringgit and the BOP (balance of payments) deficit in food imports, he said. “It’s still a proactive measure by Bank Negara in relation to the ringgit dynamics as a floating currency which helps to cushion against external shocks. The OPR cuts would signal Bank Negara’s determination to do precisely that, i.e., provide indirect but critical support, nonetheless, to our ringgit by relieving imports of the cost pressures,” Loh said. Meanwhile, Bank Islam chief economist Firdaos Rosli said the OPR is expected to remain static for the whole of 2024. “The window to hike has lapsed, while there is no urgent need to cut OPR amid a resilient domestic demand growth,” he told SunBiz. Similarly, MIDF Research expects OPR to stay at 3% in 2024. “This is supportive and accommodative, based on the expectation of the stabilisation of core inflation rate and challenging external environment,” it stated. ECRL’s local company contract value hits RM12.99b, exceeds target KUANTAN: The contract value of local companies’ involvement in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has reached RM12.99 billion, surpassing the target of RM10.8 billion, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook. As for the involvement of bumiputera companies, Loke said a total of RM2.59 billion, or 74% of the target of RM3.5 billion, for ECRL civil works have been given to bumiputera contractors, consultants and suppliers. Loke said Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), as the project owner, and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), which is the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contractor of ECRL, will step up efforts to ensure that the involvement of bumiputera companies continues to increase. “Among the initiatives being taken is collaboration with the (respective) state government to screen bumiputera contractor companies from the G1 and G2 categories, further opening up opportunities for them to jointly develop the ECRL project within a suitable scope of work. “MRL and CCCC are in the process of short-listing the companies for that purpose,” he said while speaking at the launching ceremony at the installation of the first ECRL track at the Section 10 ECRL Station Site in Gebeng here yesterday. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, officiated the ceremony. Also present were the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujin, MRL chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, CCCC chairman Wang Tongzhou and the menteris besar from the three east coast states involved in the project. Loke said that as many as 2,800 local companies, consisting of contractors, consultants and suppliers, have been involved in the implementation of ECRL, starting from 2017 until October this year. The 665km railway line, across Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, was inaugurated on Aug 9, 2017, and is scheduled to operate in 2027, involving passenger trains at a speed of 160kph and freight trains at a speed of 80kph. Loke said the Transport Ministry recommended that a 50-50 joint venture company between MRL and CCCC to operate the rail link be established in 2024, which demonstrates both parties’ confidence in the prospect of ECRL’s profitability, as well as guaranteeing the quality and sustainability of the service. The joint venture, according to Loke, will also provide technical assistance and intensify the transfer of railway technology, as well as in the aspects of operation and maintenance of the ECRL for the long term. – Bernama █ BY GLORIA HARRY BEATTY [email protected] █ BY HAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] Loh sees no cut, at least not in the first half of the year Firdaos cites resilient domestic demand growth

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 14 READ OUR HERE /thesun Malaysian Paper Local telecom sector set for robust growth: Twimbit KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s overall telecommunications (telecom) market revenue is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% between 2023 and 2027, to reach about RM46.6 billion by 2027, according to Twimbit. The research firm said the sector’s overall revenue growth will be driven by the government’s initiative to offer affordable telecom services. In its Malaysia Telecom Update 2023 report, Twimbit said the Malaysian telecommunications market is poised for significant expansion, primarily propelled by robust growth in the enterprise and fixed broadband segments. “Telecommunications companies (telcos) are enhancing their digital capacities in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and cybersecurity to address the increasing demands of business digitalisation. “Projections indicate that the enterprise sector is anticipated to experience a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2027, while fixed broadband subscriptions are expected to surge by 8.2%, resulting in an overall revenue growth of 3.7% over the same period from 2023 to 2027,“ it said. In the meantime, Twimbit said, overall mobile segment revenue is estimated to witness a modest growth of 2.7% over 2023- 2027 to reach RM22.5 billion by 2027, owing to stagnancy in average revenue per unit (ARPU) level existing due to high competition level. “The blended ARPU for telcos has experienced a decline, and this trend is likely to persist due to the launch of the “Unity Package” by the Malaysian government, aimed at providing affordable internet access. “While this might lead to a mild dilution of ARPU in the midterm, stability in ARPU is anticipated over the longer term,“ it said. Twimbit said the local telecom market is currently undergoing a phase of digital inclusion, which is likely to intensify, driven by increased adoptions of high-speed mobile internet plans, increase in 5G adoption, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting revenue. “Additionally, the Malaysian government intends to divest its stake in Digital Nasional Bhd once certain network rollout targets are achieved and plans to implement a second 5G wholesale network rollout. “As a result, 5G subscription penetration to the overall mobile broadband subscriptions is predicted to surge from 0.8% in 2021 to approximately 22.6% by 2027 to reach 12 million subscribers in 2027,“ it added. Twimbit said that aligned with the government’s Jalinan Digital Negara initiatives, telcos are consistently expanding their network infrastructure to deliver improved broadband services, particularly in underserved regions. – Bernama FatHopes Energy eyes Dubai SAF market PETALING JAYA: Biofuel feedstock supplier FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubaibased Lootah Biofuels LLC to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to airlines flying out from Dubai International Airport. The MoU, signed during COP28 in Dubai recently, was witnessed by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and United Arab Emirates Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri. The collaboration between FatHopes Energy and Lootah Biofuels aims to explore the potential development of a SAF refinery that can supply SAF to the aviation sector in Dubai or directly to the airport. The location of the plant will be determined based on strategic factors, such as proximity to the point of consumption in Dubai or the availability of feedstock in Malaysia. The MoU includes plans for Lootah Biofuels to study, adapt and implement FatHopes Energy’s used cooking oil (UCO) aggregation technology that has been developed for the past decade. This includes mobile apps and other digital solutions, along with an entrepreneurship programme and franchisee scheme throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. The goal is to secure a consistent supply of raw materials for the SAF refinery and establish a circular economy model that turns waste oil into valuable fuel. The initiative between FatHopes Energy and Lootah Biofuels also outlines a comprehensive plan for assessing and exploring the collaborative establishment of a UCO feedstock aggregation hub located in Westports, Malaysia. Planned as a From left: Vinesh, Nik Nazmi, Mariam and Yousif Saeed after the MoU signing in Dubai recently. oMalaysian company and partner Lootah Biofuels to explore potential development of sustainable aviation fuel refinery regional consolidation centre, this hub is designed to efficiently manage all waste-derived feedstock spanning all of Asia. The hub will be vital in maximising the transport and processing of feedstock for the SAF refinery with 200,000 tonnes of annual capacity. Beyond its operational function, the hub is positioned to enhance regional collaboration and trade within the renewable energy sector, contributing to the development of a more interconnected and sustainable landscape. FatHopes Energy and Lootah Biofuels will also study the establishment of essential biofuels infrastructure in Southeast Asia to support the biofuels industry throughout the entire supply chain. Nik Nazmi said, “This collaboration marks a significant stride towards a more sustainable future for the aviation industry. The commitment of FatHopes Energy and Lootah Biofuels to develop the most competitive and carbon-efficient solution from waste for this sector is truly laudable. This partnership not only strengthens the ties between our nations but also exemplifies our shared efforts in fostering environmental responsibility.” FatHopes Energy founder and CEO Vinesh Sinha said, “Partnering with Lootah Biofuel provides us with the opportunity to explore the possibility of building a SAF refinery that can supply green jet fuel to the aviation sector in Dubai and beyond. “We believe that this MoU will pave the way for a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership, as well as support the global agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry.” Lootah Biofuels LLC CEO Yousif Saeed Lootah said they are excited about the positive impact this initiative will have on the aviation industry and the broader global community. MTDC, SME Corp to help small, medium firms expand exports PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) and SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) yesterday sealed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and build partnerships to foster entrepreneurial growth of Malaysian small and medium enterprises. The strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both parties to establish networks, provide access to technologies and help SMEs to navigate challenges, expand their market reach through exports. MTDC and SME Corp will work closely to develop a symbiotic relationship and platforms, share valuable business insights and create comprehensive programmes to enhance the competitiveness and innovation of Malaysian entrepreneurs. Through the collaboration, a programme called Transforming SMEs into Exporters (TSMEX) will be introduced to support and prepare more local SMEs to expand their businesses abroad. The two-phase programme will involve training sessions, workshops and advisory and handholding activities. MTDC CEO Mohammad Hazani Hassan said, “This renewed partnership with SME Corp. will further strengthen our collaboration and leverage our expertise in nurturing and supporting technology-driven enterprises. By combining our resources and expertise, we can provide a robust platform for SMEs to thrive in the ever-changing market and prepare our local SMEs for the export opportunity.” Meanwhile, SME Corp CEO Rizal Nainy said that through targeted training initiatives and strategic guidance under TSMEX, SMEs stand to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience that MTDC brings to the table. TSMEX, which will be curated and executed by MTDC’s training academy, Technopreneur Training Academy, will begin with a seven-day training programme for 300 companies. ‘Dedollarisation could have positive impacts on Malaysian economy’ KUALA LUMPUR: The move towards dedollarisation could have positive impacts on the Malaysian economy, said Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC) executive director Lee Heng Guie. He said dedollarisation would boost the country’s trade relations with trading partners via the use of local currencies in trade settlement. “Malaysia wants to increase the use of the ringgit with its trading partners as part of a strategy to shore up the ringgit and reduce reliance on the greenback,” he said during the Panel Session at the Mini USD/CNH Futures product launch here yesterday. However, he said the move might negatively influence Malaysia’s Overnight Policy Rate and inflation. Lee said if a very disruptive dedollarisation occurs, the US economy would be affected, and in turn, it would have a lot of impact on other countries as well. “I think there will be a significant impact on capital investors as they lose confidence, and Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Bhd and Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift (centre), Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited head of South Asia & Middle East business development Narendra Hegde (left) and Bursa Malaysia acting director of derivatives market Mohd Saleem Kader Bakas launching the Mini USD/CNH Futures yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC investor sentiment would also be affected due to concerns about dedollarisation in the global market,” he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously said that the use of local currency in trade was well received particularly by China and Asean members Indonesia and Thailand. He said a total of 25% of the total trade with China used the ringgit, amounting to RM39.2 billion in ringgit and renminbi, from a total of RM157 billion. Anwar also said that as of August, 16.7% of the total trade with Indonesia used the ringgit and rupiah totalling RM10.7 billion, while with Thailand, 19.6% of the total trade used ringgit and baht amounting to RM8.2 billion.– Bernama

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY 16 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 PENANG: five-storey walk-up flats at Rifle Range A stone’s throw from the Community farms start to flourishere is a plot of community farm tended by the Kampung Bahru Village Community Management Council (MPKK) under the Air Putih constituency. MPKK Kampung Bahru chairman Habibah Mat tends to it daily. “I go to the farm from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 5pm to 6.30pm. Those who wish to buy fresh pesticide-free vegetables at an affordable price would come over to the farm in the evening to make the purchase. “We plant cabbages, kangkong, sawi, bayam, okra, brinjals, chives and a variety of other herbs in the farm,” she said, adding that the fruit trees occasionally yield produce. MPKK Kampung Bahru’s community farm is roughly 1,250 sq m. “Unfortunately, our sales have not been very good. It is insufficient to cover the cost of maintaining our kebun. “Our water bill comes up to about RM200 monthly, and we need to use our MPKK’s funds to pay for other necessities. Although we receive some funds from our assemblyman Lim Guan Eng, we still need to try to be self-sufficient,” she said. Once a dumping ground for the residents, Habibah and MPKK members cleaned up the area in 2014 and transformed it into a farm. Initially, they started planting fruit trees but switched to growing vegetables in 2018. “Our former chief minister, who is the current state assemblyman for the Air Putih constituency, officiated the community farm in 2015.” The transformation from a dumping ground to a vibrant green space teeming with life is a sight to behold. In addition to being a source of fresh produce, the farm also has a recycling and compost corner. The use of organic fertilisers made from recycled materials is not only beneficial for the soil but also serves as a good model for ecologically friendly farming practices. “At present, we make our own organic fertiliser using a machine donated by CIMB (Bank) and Penang Habitat. We utilise leftover vegetables and fruits from the food bank, along with dried leaves and grass to create fertiliser for our garden,” Habibah said. She and MPKK members hold a gotong-royong every fortnight to maintain the garden’s cleanliness. “Some residents who live nearby join in to help trim the grass with grass cutters, and we hire arborists to prune the tree branches.” As the farm’s growth progresses, it also serves as a community hub, instilling in residents a sense of belonging and pride in the neighbourhood. Another community garden thrives at Kota Permai in the Padang Lallang constituency, overseen by Evelyn Oh, the chairman of MPKK Kota Permai. “Ours is a small garden, roughly 10ft by 12ft,” she said. “We only started in May this year, with the encouragement of Datuk Seri Chong Eng, our former assemblyman. “Due to the lack of space, we are also experimenting with vertical planting. “Bernard Cheen also contributed to our funding for constructing a structure suitable for the creeping plants,” said Oh, attributing the blue Habibah waters the vegetable crops in the community farm in Kampung Bahru, Air Itam. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN oProjects also serve as communal hubs, instilling sense of belonging and pride in neighbourhoods █ BYT.C. KHOR [email protected] structure with a corrugated transparent roof to the generous support of the councillor of Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP). Despite its modest size, this community garden is making good progress, thanks to the determination and resourcefulness of its caretakers. Oh and her MPKK committee members are committed to cultivating this small plot. “We have a duty roster. Some water the plants in the morning, and some in the evening. Among us, we have eight people attending to the garden,” she said. Their garden boasts a diverse array of vegetables grown by members for sharing within the community. “We grow a variety of vegetables such as brinjals, cucumbers and a selection of herbs. We also have passion fruits in our garden,” Oh said, adding that they were not selling any of their produce yet. “We are still at the trial-and-error stage as most of us have no experience in farming. Sometimes, we try out new things that we learn on Habibah shows brinjals that are almost ready for picking at the farm. The farm has its own org

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY 17 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 sh in Penang KUALA LUMPUR: National zoos across the world often rely on the work of passionate volunteers who put their hearts into animal welfare and conservation and make a meaningful difference to the zoos that they volunteer in. “Seeing their smiles and positive feedback from the young volunteers who have contributed to wildlife conservation awareness at Chester Zoo makes me feel very satisfied and happy,” United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo volunteer manager Lindsay Marston said after a sharing session on zoo volunteering with Zoo Negara recently. On her volunteering journey, Marston said it all began when she decided to join Chester Zoo as a volunteer in 2019. “Volunteering has a significant impact on people, making them feel better about themselves, enhancing their communication skills and fostering confidence, which is beneficial for their overall personal development. “The journey aims to ensure they fulfil the volunteer criteria, essentially contributing to a positive and rewarding experience,“ said Marston, who is head of Chester Zoo’s wildlife conservation and education team. Chester Zoo was named UK’s best zoo and sixth in the world, which currently has a grand total of 35,139 animals, from more than 500 of the world’s rarest species recorded in 2020. Marston said in addition to educating about wildlife conservation, the young volunteers were also exposed to awareness on the importance of stopping deforestation, especially concerning endangered wildlife species such as Bornean orangutans. “Although it is not in their national curriculum to learn about deforestation and biodiversity loss, we try to expose them to the dangers faced by nearly extinct wildlife YouTube, like adding vinegar or baking soda to the compost, which, by the way, isn’t effective,” she said. “Our biggest headaches are pests. Recently, we had to clear our vegetables due to a pest attack,” Oh said, expressing the need to find organic solutions to repel insects. “We’re considering experimenting with natural substances like chilli, lemongrass and salt sprays. “Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, the state assemblyman for the Padang Lallang constituency, has also been very supportive of this community initiative. “Gooi has provided us with resources and encouragement to sustain and expand our garden.” Like in Kampung Bahru, the community at Kota Permai conducts regular gotong-royong for the garden’s upkeep. “We gather every weekend to clean, ensuring our garden remains tidy and well maintained,” Oh said, highlighting the collaborative spirit that acts as a crowd-puller, fostering communal bonding and promoting sustainable living. At MPKK Tanjung Bungah, a community farm has also been set up. Damien Fong, its chairman, said: “We just expanded the farm to include growing mushrooms. And we also contribute our product to the Mutiara Food Bank.” According Pemamg Agriculture Department director Mohd Muhaimin Ibrahim, there are currently 25 community-operated and 27 school-operated farms in the state, compared with 23 and 14 respectively in 2019. “Those who fall under the category of community or schools may also apply for funding of up to RM20,000 from the Agriculture Department. “The state Agriculture Department plays a role in driving agriculture activities in the state. “Our doors are always open to those who seek advice on planting and managing their farms,” he said. He cited the Bandar Cassia’s “Farmers to Farmers” hydroponic project jointly set up by the Penang state government and the state Agriculture Department as an example of a successful implementation. due to deforestation for oil palm plantations in a very simple and enjoyable way. “This is because these are very complex issues. “When we talk about biodiversity loss, climate change and wildlife conservation, we need to engage with young people in a very interesting and simple way to help them better understand and, therefore, explain to the zoo’s visitors the importance of keeping endangered wildlife alive.” She said besides that, the young volunteers also managed to inspire their friends in schools and family members to choose sustainable palm oil by recognising the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) logo and the Rainforest Alliance logo on some paper products. “When they introduce the Bornean orangutan, for example, while explaining about the species and its endangered status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they also explain how our daily actions can have a positive impact on saving these endangered animals. “By supporting sustainable palm oil products with RSPO logos, they can actually help stop deforestation and assist society in making a difference in preventing biodiversity loss,” she said. Orangutans are currently listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List. Meanwhile, Zoo Negara deputy president Datuk Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana said there are plans to enhance its partnership with Chester Zoo for more robust education and conservation projects in the future. He said the national zoo was looking to also join forces with other members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza) for more robust wildlife education and conservation projects. “Both Zoo Negara and Chester Zoo are Waza members dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world. “The augmented partnership between both zoos raises the benchmark for our future programmes while further increasing the possibility of collaborating with other Waza members,” he said. Meanwhile, Zoo Negara education head Junaidi Omar said the zoo is also encouraging more school children, teenagers and university students, as well as the public to get involved in its volunteer programme via “Keeperku” (My Zookeeper) project. ganic fertiliser machine that was donated by CIMB Bank and Penang Habitat. Marston (middle, holding a plaque) with participants after conductung a session on zoo volunteering with Zoo Negara recently. – BERNAMAPIC Rosly says there are plans to enhance its partnership with Chester Zoo for more robust education and conservation projects in the future. Zoo volunteering inspires youth, children on wildlife conservation

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 18 said. Tins of Nestle’s Quality Street, trading at £5 each, and Mondelez’s Cadbury selection boxes, trading at £1.50, are proving popular. In contrast, the average selling price of a toy in Europe is about £13, according to data firm Circana, formerly known as NPD. Several toy makers told Reuters earlier this month that demand was lower this year. Retailers like Sainsbury’s and Tesco are offering discounts on Quality Street and Celebrations to customers with loyalty cards. Other Nestle brands that typically sell well during the holiday season include KitKat Santa, which costs just over £1 and Milkybar Festive Friends, which costs £1.25. Manufacturers are also launching more “premium” chocolate products that they can sell at higher prices to help mitigate the impact of cocoa prices hitting 46-year highs this year. “It will help fourth-quarter earnings, as the Christmas period is the strongest for chocolate companies,“ said Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy. Nestle has said its underlying trading operating profit margin will be 17-17.5% this year, compared with 17.1% in 2022. The global chocolate market is worth US$123.5 billion (RM576 billion), according to Euromonitor International and the holiday season is the busiest period of the year. Less expensive indulgences are particularly popular among younger adults, said Susan Nash, trade communications manager at Mondelez. – Reuters /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper TikTok set to make return to Indonesian e-commerce scene oInvestment into GoTo unit Tokopedia could allow Chinese video app giant to restart online shopping business JAKARTA: China’s TikTok has agreed to spend US$840 million (RM3.9 trillion) to buy most of Indonesian tech conglomerate GoTo’s e-commerce unit – a move that appears to allow it to restart its online shopping business in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. It also said it will invest further in the business, Tokopedia, which is Indonesia’s biggest e-commerce platform, for a total outlay of US$1.5 billion. TikTok had been forced to close its relatively new e-commerce service TikTok Shop in Indonesia after the country banned online shopping on social media platforms in September, citing the need to protect smaller merchants and users’ data. The new partnership will commence with a pilot period carried out in close consultation with and supervision by relevant regulators, the companies said in a joint statement. “We are creating an Indonesian e-commerce champion, combining Tokopedia’s strong local presence with TikTok’s mass market reach and technological prowess,” GoTo CEO Patrick Walujo said in a statement. “GoTo now sits on a much stronger foundation and we expect this partnership to bring many benefits not just for e-commerce, but for our on-demand services and fintech businesses as well,” he said. GoTo’s businesses include ridehailing, delivery and financial services. Under the deal, TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, will buy 75.01% of Tokopedia and inject TikTok Shop’s Indonesia business into the enlarged Tokopedia entity. Officials at Indonesia’s trade ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Many of Indonesia’s more than 270 million people are active social media users and TikTok has been looking to translate its 125 million user base there into a significant source of e-commerce revenue. TikTok Shop is currently available in only a few countries including the US, Britain and Singapore, according to its website. The deal will be concluded by the first quarter of 2024 and Tokopedia will receive a US$1 billion promissory note from TikTok that can be used to fund working capital needs, the companies said. Tokopedia competes with Shopee owned by Singapore-headquartered Sea and Lazada owned by Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba. It saw half-year gross revenue climb 14% to 4.5 trillion rupiah (RM1.3 billion) in August while its underlying loss narrowed sharply to 752 billion rupiah from 3.7 trillion rupiah a year ago. Shares in GoTo, however, tumbled 13% yesterday – their biggest percentage decline in six months – as some investors took profits after the stock had rallied on expectations of a deal with TikTok. – Reuters Confectioners eye holiday boost as UK shoppers snub costly gifts LONDON: Quality Street maker Nestle and Cadbury owner Mondelez are seeing higher sales of confectionery in Britain this holiday season driven by cash-strapped shoppers seeking cheaper gifts. Shoppers hit by inflation and higher mortgage rates are buying cheaper gifts this year, according to analysts and consumer companies. Some are snubbing toys and gadgets in favour of chocolate which, despite price rises over the past year, remains relatively inexpensive, executives say. “Boxed chocolates have had a particularly strong start, with a yearon-year increase of 8.7% in value sales,“ according to Fran McCargo, customer category manager lead for Nestle UK & Ireland, referring to the August-November period versus last year’s. “Twistwrap chocolates have seen (sales) growth of 2.1%,“ she said, adding that Nestle was seeing more shoppers buy chocolates as holiday gifts. Shoppers typically spend under £10 (RM60.62) on such items, she Governments race to regulate AI tools GDANSK: Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT are complicating governments’ efforts to agree laws governing the use of the technology. Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate AI tools: Australia 0 Planning regulations Australia will make search engines draft new codes to prevent the sharing of child sexual abuse material created by AI and the production of deepfake versions of the same material. Britain 0Planning regulations Leading AI developers agreed on Nov 2, at the first global AI Safety Summit in Britain, to work with governments to test new frontier models before they are released to help manage the risks of the developing technology. China 0Implemented temporary regulations China published proposed security requirements for firms offering services powered by generative AI in October, including a blacklist of sources that cannot be used to train AI models. European Union 0Planning regulations EU lawmakers and governments reached on Dec 8 a provisional deal on landmark rules governing the use of AI, including governments’ use of AI in biometric surveillance and how to regulate AI systems such as ChatGPT. France 0Investigating possible breaches France’s privacy watchdog said in April it was investigating complaints about ChatGPT. G7 0Seeking input on regulations The G7 countries agreed on Oct 30 to an 11-point code of conduct for firms developing advanced AI systems, which “aims to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI worldwide”. Japan 0Planning regulations Japan expects to introduce by the end of 2023 regulations that are likely closer to the US attitude than the stringent ones planned in the EU, an official close to deliberations said in July. United Nations 0Planning regulations The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Oct 26 announced the creation of a 39-member advisory body, composed of tech company executives, government officials and academics, to address issues in the international governance of AI. United States 0Seeking input on regulations The US, Britain and more than a dozen other countries on Nov 27 unveiled a 20-page non-binding agreement carrying general recommendations on AI such as monitoring systems for abuse, protecting data from tampering and vetting software suppliers. – Reuters B R I E F SUK PROPERTY ASKING PRICES DROP MORE THAN USUAL LONDON: Average asking prices for newly listed houses and apartments in the UK fell by 1.9% in December, more than the historic average decline for the final month of the year, figures from property website Rightmove showed yesterday. Prices were 1.1% lower than a year earlier, the data showed. The weakness contrasts with data from mortgage lenders Halifax and Nationwide over the past two weeks, which showed modest monthly price rises, suggesting that the past year’s fall in house prices had bottomed out. – Reuters NVIDIA TO EXPAND TIES WITH VIETNAM, BACK AI DEVELOPMENT HANOI: US chipmaker Nvidia’s CEO said yesterday the company will expand its partnership with Vietnam’s top tech firms and support the country in training talent for developing artificial intelligence as well as digital infrastructure. Nvidia, which has already invested US$250 million (RM1.2 billion) in Vietnam, has so far partnered with leading tech companies to deploy AI in the cloud, automotive and healthcare industries. “Vietnam is already our partner as we have millions of clients here,“ Jensen Huang, Nvdia’s CEO said at an event in Hanoi in his first visit to the country. “Vietnam and Nvidia will deepen our relations, with Viettel, FPT, Vingroup, VNG being the partners Nvidia looks to expand partnership with,“ Huang said, adding Nvidia would support Vietnam’s artificial training and infrastructure. – Reuters BOEING TIPPED TO NAME STEPHANIE POPE AS COO BENGALURU: Boeing is expected to name company veteran Stephanie Pope as its chief operating officer, setting her up as the likely successor to CEO David Calhoun, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Sunday. Pope, who currently heads Boeing Global Services, was expected to be named COO yesterday, according to the report. Calhoun is likely to remain in the top job at least one more year, the report added. Pope has a two decade history at Boeing and is an executive vicepresident of the company apart from serving as the president and CEO of Boeing Global Services. – Reuters Shoppers hit by inflation are snubbing toys and gadgets in favour of chocolate for gifts that, despite price rises over the past year, remain relatively inexpensive. – AFPPIX

LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 22 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON Malaysian Paper INSTAGRAM The land below the wind. oEnchanting odyssey of Sabah, Borneo █ BY ACE EMERSON Giants of the rainforest. Proboscis monkey of the rainforest. N Tale etched in green ESTLED in the expansive South China Sea, Sabah invites you to embark on an extraordinary journey. Aptly named “The Land Below the Wind”, this living canvas elegantly entwines nature and myth, creating a harmonious dance of wonder and discovery. As the sun caresses Sabah’s rainforests, a symphony of life unfolds on this 130 million-yearold rainforest. Towering trees, some of the oldest and most majestic on earth, create a green cathedral that filters sunlight, casting a tranquil ambiance upon those who venture into its depths. It is a land out of time, reminiscent of a primordial era where colossal dinosaurs roamed. The rainforest floor transforms into a kaleidoscope of colours, with exotic butterflies and elusive creatures found nowhere else. Massive ferns, resembling prehistoric ones, unfurl beneath the ancient canopy. It is a scene straight out of the land before time, where colossal trees stand as silent witnesses to the passage of centuries. As you explore this ecological marvel, the air comes alive with the hum of bees, the thrill of songbirds and the vibrant chatter of cicadas. The elusive proboscis monkey, with its distinctive appearance, adds a touch of magic as it gracefully swings through the treetops. Sabah, a treasure trove of nature’s wonders, unfolds its secrets with every step. In addition to proboscis monkeys, this rainforest is home to the pygmy elephant, one of the smallest and friendliest in the world. Roaming freely in this lush wilderness, these gentle giants captivate travellers with their playful antics and unique adaptation to their ancient environment. The rare and endangered pygmy rhinoceros also finds sanctuary in these dense jungles, showcasing Sabah’s commitment to conservation and preserving its unique biodiversity. Another fascinating inhabitant of Sabah’s rainforest, is the orangutan. These intelligent primates are a wonder to behold, swinging through the trees with ease. Visitors to the island can witness these majestic Natural waterfall. creatures in their natural habitat, observe their behaviour and learn about their crucial role in the ecosystem. Beyond its ecological wonders, Sabah’s rainforest is a sanctuary of healing and renewal. For centuries, the indigenous people have harnessed the therapeutic power of the plants and herbs thriving in this ancient landscape. The rainforest becomes a refuge, offering a profound connection to nature and an opportunity to tap into the rejuvenating energy that flows through its roots, leaves and natural springs. As sunlight filters through the rainforest canopy, it illuminates not just the physical beauty of Sabah, but also the rich tapestry of myths and legends that adorn its history. The Kadazan-Dusun people, custodians of the island’s cultural heritage, speak of a sacred union between the goddess of the sky and the deity of the sea. According to their beliefs, this union birthed the island, rendering it a sacred space where prayers and rituals are offered during the annual harvest festival. The legends of a haunting “white lady” and a formidable sorcerer add layers of mystery to Sabah’s landscape. The ethereal tale of the lovelorn princess, whose spirit is said to wander in search of lost love and the lingering presence of the sorcerer create an atmosphere where reality blends seamlessly with folklore. These stories transform the island into a living, breathing narrative, inviting you to become part of its enchanting chronicle. While Sabah’s allure is woven with mystery and enchantment, it is also a haven of tranquility. The island beckons those seeking respite from the cacophony of the world to lose themselves in its magical beauty. Here, time seems to slow and the outside world fades into a distant murmur. Sabah’s wildlife coexists in harmony with the lush surroundings, creating a retreat where the soul can connect with nature on an intimate level. In the grand tapestry of travel destinations, Sabah stands as a rare masterpiece — a land where the echoes of nature’s symphony blend harmoniously with the whispers of myth and legend. As you immerse yourself in the wonders of its ancient rainforests and the mystique of its tales, Sabah, becomes more than a destination — it becomes a narrative etched in the soul. In the heart of this primaeval beauty, the island emerges not just as a travel destination but as a journey into the soul of nature. Its landscapes and legends, intertwined like vines in a dense forest, beckon those seeking an immersive and transformative travel experience. As Sabah continues to enchant and reveal its secrets, it stands as an invitation to explore the magic woven into the fabric of the “land below the wind.” Whether you are seeking adventure, relaxation or a deeper connection with the natural world, Sabah, is a destination that will leave an indelible mark on your soul. The peak of Mount Kinabalu.

LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 23 IZMIR in Turkey is one of the cities you might want to put on your bucket list next year. This city, which is located in the Aegean region, has recently been named among the 2024 best cities by travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet’s travel guide series listed Izmir as one of the best cities because of its historic bazaar, cultural and artistic venues, vineyard routes, beautiful beaches and ancient ruins, that are compelling reasons to visit the region. It also highlights the annual International Izmir Festival, held between June and July, which includes various concerts and dance performances in notable venues such as the Smyrna Agora. The guide also recommends visiting Urla, one of the vineyard routes in Izmir to sample local wines. Although the town receives millions of visitors due to the ancient city of Ephesus, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Izmir is not yet fully discovered. Lonely Planet’s team of travel experts compiled a list of top destinations that is divided under five categories, namely country, region, city, sustainable and value. Among the other cities that made the list are Paris in France, Manaus in Brazil, Jakarta in Indonesia, Prague in the Czech Republic, Philadelphia in the US, Montreal in Canada, Nairobi in Kenya and Mostar in Bosnia. – BY I. HANIM Izmir Clock Tower The ancient city of İzmir Pergamon. Izmir named ‘Best in Travel 2024’ Safety is a paramount concern for solo travellers. Navigating unfamiliar territories alone can make individuals more vulnerable to theft, scams or other security risks. Staying vigilant and taking precautionary measures become essential aspects of the solo travel experience. Costs and logistics Solo travel may be costlier compared with group travel, as expenses like accommodation, transportation and guided tours are not shared. Additionally, managing logistics, especially in destinations with language barriers, can be more challenging when flying solo. Decision fatigue While the freedom to make decisions is empowering, it can also lead to decision fatigue. Constantly choosing between options, planning routes and making choices on where to eat or what activities to pursue can become mentally exhausting, affecting the overall enjoyment of the journey. Limited social interaction Solo travellers may miss out on the camaraderie and shared memories that come with group experiences. The lack of companionship can limit the opportunity for social interactions, making it more challenging to forge new friendships or engage in meaningful conversations. Solo travel is a double-edged sword, offering unparalleled opportunities for personal growth and adventure while presenting challenges that test the limits of one’s resilience. Whether it is the freedom to explore without compromise or the potential for loneliness, solo travel remains a unique and transformative experience. The key lies in embracing both the pros and cons, as each contributes to the rich tapestry of self-discovery that solo travel weaves. S OLO travel has emerged as a transformative trend for those seeking adventure and self-discovery. Many people experience excitement and trepidation when they consider travelling the world by themselves. Here are the pros and cons of solo travel with some special experiences and difficulties that come with going it alone. 0 Pros Personal growth and independence Travelling alone is a great way to grow personally and discover who you are. Without the safety net of familiar faces, individuals are forced to rely on their own judgement, problem-solving skills and adaptability. Overcoming the difficulties of an unfamiliar setting cultivates independence and resilience. Freedom and flexibility The absolute freedom that comes with travelling alone is one of its most appealing features. Solo travellers are free to create their itineraries, change plans on a whim and explore destinations at their own pace. The absence of compromises allows for a more personalised and spontaneous adventure. Cultural immersion Travelling alone encourages deeper engagement with the local culture. Solo travellers are more likely to venture outside of their comfort zones, engage with locals and immerse themselves in real experiences. This cultural exchange can lead to a richer understanding of different lifestyles, traditions and perspectives. Increased confidence Successfully navigating solo travel builds confidence. Overcoming language barriers, managing logistics and making decisions independently contribute to a greater sense of confidence. These newfound skills often extend beyond the journey, positively impacting various aspects of life. Mindful reflection Solitude during solo travel provides an opportunity for introspection and self-reflection. The absence of external influences allows travellers to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life, fostering a sense of mindfulness and enabling a deeper connection with one’s thoughts and emotions. 0 Cons Loneliness and isolation One of the most significant drawbacks of solo travel is the potential for loneliness. Feelings of loneliness can arise from dining alone, seeing attractions by yourself and having no shared experiences, particularly for extroverted people who enjoy social interactions. Safety concerns oSolo travelling pros and cons Travelling solo opens doors to self-discovery, allowing individuals to navigate new landscapes and cultures at their own pace. – PICS BY PEXELS █ BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Embracing solitude Solo travel cultivates a sense of empowerment as individual navigate challenges independently. The beauty of solo travel lies in the freedom to shape one’s journey spontaneously. Solo travellers often find themselves more immersed in local cultures.

LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 24 his focus on portraying a more mature Hyun-su, while Jin-uk credits actor Kim Sung-cheol for helping him navigate the complexities of his character. Si-young credits director Eung-bok for guiding her through the emotional depth of Yi-kyung’s journey, and Min-si explores Eunyu’s relentless pursuit to find her brother. The director’s response Addressing concerns about expanding the show’s scale without losing the essence of season one, the director emphasises the necessity of showcasing the world outside Green Home to intensify and expand the story. He acknowledges the challenges but assures viewers of maintaining the show’s magic and teases season three, expressing gratitude for the cast and crew’s passion. Global recognition and future prospects As Sweet Home season two unfolds, Song Kang and Min-si reflect on the global success of season one, with both actors becoming synonymous with Netflix. Song Kang expresses gratitude for the opportunity and sees Sweet Home as a significant first step in his career, while Min-si confidently anticipates season two’s success. Sweet Home season two promises an exhilarating continuation of the monster apocalypse saga, exploring new dimensions of survival, character development and the expanded universe. With a talented cast, a dedicated director and a captivating storyline, the series aims to maintain its global appeal while addressing season one’s shortcomings and delivering an even more compelling narrative. As audiences embark on this new chapter, the anticipation for Sweet Home’s future remains high, ensuring that the monster-filled world will continue to captivate viewers worldwide. Sweet Home season two is streaming on Netflix. elaborates on Hyun-su’s guilt and maturation in the face of the monsterisation crisis. Jin-uk explores the complex fusion of Sang-wook and Eui-myeong, while Si-young embraces the dual facets of warrior and motherhood in Yi-kyung. Min-si delves into the desperation of Lee Eun-yu to find her brother and Jin-young portrays the principled military man, Private Park Chan-yeong. Challenges and approaches The actors share their challenges in portraying these complex characters. Song Kang discusses /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper oSweet Home season two explores new horizons and character depths HORROR K-drama Sweet Home season one became a global sensation on Netflix, captivating audiences with its thrilling narrative set in the chaotic Green Home Apartments during a monster apocalypse. Now, as season two unfolds, the director, Lee Eung-bok and the talented cast, including Song Kang, Lee Jin-uk, Lee Si-young, Ko Min-si, Jung Jin-young, Yoo Oh-seong and Kim Moo-Yeol, shared insights into the unique storytelling and character dynamics in a recent virtual press conference. Characters’ perspectives The cast introduces their roles in season two, shedding light on the evolving storyline and the challenges their characters face. Song Kang, reprising the role of Cha Hyun-su, teases the exploration of survivors venturing beyond Green Home and encountering new monsters and phenomena. Jin-uk discusses his dual role, adding layers to the characters of Pyeon Sang-wook and Jung Eui-myeong. Si-young delves into the emotional journey of Seo Yi-kyung, now a pregnant warrior searching for her husband. New additions and perspectives Newcomers Jin-young and Oh-seong express gratitude for joining the successful series, with █ BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Si-young plays Yi-kyung. Jin-young plays the role of Private Park Chanyeoung of the Special Forces Guard. INITIALLY sceptical over the intent behind Wonka, Timothee Chalamet quickly changed his mind after reading the film’s script. “Like many people, when there are remakes, I feel very protective over the original characters and versions you love,” Chalamet told GamesRadar+. “Your eyebrows go up with scepticism about whether this is a legitimate, worthwhile story or a cynical money grab.” After reading the first three pages of the film’s script, Chalamet was convinced to come on board, taking on the titular role as a young Willy Wonka. In a July interview with Rolling Stone, Wonka director Paul King revealed that Chalamet did not audition for the role, as the actor was his “only choice” as the chocolatier. “I love musical theatre and I love song and dance,” Chalamet also said. “And I love old Fred Astaire movies and the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder. I didn’t think I’d get a chance to do it, not like this. But Paul King is one of these directors that you don’t say no to.” Wonka is currently playing in cinemas. - BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR The new film focuses on a young Willy Wonka during his early days as a chocolatier. – WARNER BROS PICTURES Convinced within three pages Jin-young portraying a military character, Private Park Chan-yeong and Oh-seong playing Master Sergeant Tak In-hwan. MooYeol, a fresh addition as Sergeant Kim Yeong-hu, emphasises the sense of duty and responsibility his character holds towards his team. Director’s vision for expanding the universe Director Eung-bok reveals the unexpected extension of Sweet Home to seasons two and three, attributing it to Netflix’s support and fans’ love. He shares the process of developing an extended worldview, collaborating with the webtoon creator Kim Kanbi and integrating new characters with the existing ones. Season two explores life beyond Green Home, delving into the characters’ struggles for survival and their reflections on the apocalypse. Character transformations The cast members discuss the transformations of their characters in season two. Song Kang Sweet Home season two has eight episodes. – PICS BY NETFLIX Song Kang reprised his main role as Hyun-su in Sweet Home season two. Monstrous unveilling

LYFE LYFE TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 25 Bob, who made special appearances at the entrance, which attracted a mini-crowd among toddlers and their parents, who had grabbed a chance to snap a photo. Tickets are priced at RM85 for adults, RM59 for children and RM256 for a family bundle of two adults and two children. The exhibition opens from 12pm to 9pm from Monday to Friday and from 11am to 9pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Tickets are available for purchase at bit.ly/a-minions-perspective. result is shown on a large screen. There are also games to test memory power, to find a matching minion personality, “Bananaaaa” games and even to dance to match Balthazar Bratt’s steps. Walking through each room in the exhibition felt like being transported into the imaginary world, as each room never stops to excite us with its cuteness, humour, mischief and scenes from the movies. At the end of the exhibition, we found a retail merchandise store selling exclusive Minion items. Surpisingly, there were toasters, air fryers and hand blenders in the signature bright yellow colours, apart from the usual merchandise items like cuddle-worthy stuff toys, T-shirts, caps and stationery. Last but not least, some of us were lucky enough to meet Kevin and recognisable characters from Despicable Me. Later, a delegation of media members had the privilege to visit the exhibition for an exclusive experience. It began with a screening of the Minions. A yellow world Next, we got to hear the real story behind the creation of the Minions movies from the makers, actors and comedians through videos. The most impressive room was Felonius Gru’s Lab, which has gadgets, testing machines and a gigantic Gru’s Airship that we could not resist posing next to the famous villain against the backdrop of the airship. We were in awe of the adorable minion “girls” room with Agnes Gru and Fluffy the Unicorn, a fascinating room full of villains like Scarlett Overkill, taking a closer look at the lovable large-size fluffy and entering a game room with an oversize banana. We got to learn about the evolution of the minions from a yellow organism to their comical presence during historic moments around the world, from being a king to a soldier in the battle. One of the best things about the exhibition is the variety of interactive games for both children and adults. Although children will enjoy the games, adults will be tempted to participate just for fun. These games got us connected with the inner child inside us. For example, colouring favourite Minions characters. When you colour your favourite character on a small screen, the immediate Step into the Minions’ lair GET ready to celebrate the cute yellow characters with their quirky attitudes and immerse yourself in the world of the Minions, as they are now in Malaysia. Brought by Universal Live Entertainment and Illumination from the US, “A Minion’s Perspective Exhibition” is a first-of-its-kind exhibition based on the popular Illumination’s Despicable Me and the Minions. The exhibition, which takes place in Resorts World Genting’s Pavilion Hall, SkyAvenue, began on Dec 5 and runs through March 10, 2024. Its producer is Beast Kingdom and the local partner is Ace Media Network. On Dec 4, a day before the exhibition opened its doors to the public, a launch event with a yellow ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Times Square Stage, Sky Avenue. “A minion’s perspective is a firstof-its-kind official touring exhibition inspired by Illumination’s Despicable Me and the Minion films,” said Universal Destinations and Experiences’ president of global business development, Michael Silver. He added that covering over 1800 square metres of experience, the exhibition includes seven thematic zones, films with picture-worthy settings, interactive activities featuring minions, as well as some The attractive entrance to the minion exhibition - BY RESORTS WORLD GENTING oMischievous and lovable Minions hits Malaysia █ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI The word “Bello” welcomes visitors at the entrance and it is a good spot for Instagram. Gru and Gru’s airship. The Minions inside a lab. Merchandise items. Silver enlighting the guests about the little yellow mischiefs. The Minions characters posing before an oversize banana.

EDUCATION EDUCATION 26 TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 The 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject places MSU as World Top 50 University for Hospitality and Leisure Management, a World Top 150 University for Art and Design, and a World Top 350 University for Business and Management Studies. As an applied enterprise university focused on enhancing graduate employability, MSU graduate employability currently ranks at 97.5%, as its graduates successfully secure employment within six months of graduation. This is based on the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) tracer study and further rated by MOHE with a SETARA Tier-5 Excellent Status for Emerging University. Extensive partnerships and collaborations at over 300 institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide provide comprehensive mobility opportunities for all MSU students, enhancing their graduate employability through global exposure via studies and internships abroad. These include the Global Mobility Programme, that allows students one semester and up to one year of studies at any of MSU’s partner universities worldwide. There is also the Global Leadership Programme (GLP), an immersive learning experience overseas for MSU students. Currently structured to enhance the learning experience, GLP involves short-term yet effective inter-cultural engagements abroad that allow insights into a student’s chosen field of study, through volunteering and academicrelated activities. In addition, the Global Internship Programme prepares prospective graduates for their future lives of professional contribution to a globalised society, by providing them with a period of work-integrated learning experience in an international workplace setting. As an applied enterprise, holistic and international university, MSU offers foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and flexible programmes through an entry system that facilitates admission of students from all walks of life, and ensures their success in a globalised world. S HAH ALAM: Students contemplating their next step upon completion of their SPM, STPM or pre-university studies should consider Management and Science University (MSU), given its status as a well-ranked global university, offering award winning programmes. As a Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and global-ranked institution, MSU’s focus on building holistic human capital, while envisioning a better, more sustainable future for all, champions equality by providing a level playing field. Its extensive efforts in transforming lives and enriching the future of students through compelling learning experiences has propelled it to the level of a global well-recognised university. MSU offers a great opportunity for prospective students and parents to obtain detailed information on the university, through sessions with academic counsellors to explore education pathways, scholarships and financial assistance. This assists prospective students and parents to decide on career pathways at MSU, and also find out more about the facilities available at the campus. The university’s award-winning academic programmes meet stringent standards of both local and international bodies. Among the many organisations that accredit MSU programmes are the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, United Kingdom Accreditation Services for International Schools, Colleges and Universities, Japan Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow, the Netherlands Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities, United Kingdom Institute of Biomedical Science as well as the Sri Lanka University Grant Commission. MSU currently ranks in the top 100 among the world’s top young universities, top 200 among Asia’s best universities and top 301+ for Graduate Employability Ranking. It is also world ranked by both QS and Times Higher Education. MSU leads the way as university of choice oApart from high rankings, international partnerships and award winning programmes, overseas ‘Mobility’ and internship options provide students with worldwide exposure Participants of the MSU Global Mobility Programme at Mingchi University of Technology in Taiwan.

SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 28 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR AT FEDERAL TERRITORY OF MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO.: WA28NCC-1185-11/2023 In the matter of UM Land Builders Sdn Bhd; And In the matter of Section 465(1)(e) of the Companies Act 2016 Between GOLDEN STAR CONSTRUCTION SDN BHD (Company No.: 201101005136 (933277- D)) …Petitioner And UM LAND BUILDERS SDN BHD (Company No.: 199701023270 (438767- U)) …Respondent ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for winding-up of the abovenamed Company, UM LAND BUILDERS SDN BHD (Company No.: 199701023270 (438767- U)), by the High Court was, on the 22nd day of November 2023, presented by GOLDEN STAR CONSTRUCTION SDN BHD (Company No.: 201101005136 (933277- D)), and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at the High Court of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur at 9.00 a.m. on the 27th day of February 2024; and any creditor or contributory of the said Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s registered address is at #02-08, Blok A, Permas Mall, No. 3, Jalan Permas Utara, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia and business address at No. 9, 1st Floor, Jalan Mesra, Taman Sayang, 86000 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia. The Petitioner’s solicitors is Messrs. Tuang, Chu & Co of A-G-23A, Menara Prima, Jalan PJU 1/39, Dataran Prima, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Dated this 5th day of December 2023 -sgd- ………………… Messrs. Tuang, Chu & Co Solicitors for the Petitioner NOTE – Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Petitioner’s solicitors, Messrs. Tuang, Chu & Co, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitors (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed solicitors not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 26th day of February 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the petition). This ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION is prepared by Messrs Tuang, Chu & Co, solicitors for the Petitioner and whose address for service is at A-G-23A, Menara Prima, Jalan PJU 1/39, Dataran Prima, 47301 Petaling Jaya. (Tel: +603 7490 2001) (Email: [email protected]) (Ref: CW.2023.10.000708) IN THE HIGH COURT OF SHAH ALAM (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) WINDING UP NO. : BA-28NCC-325-06/2023 In the matter of Section 465(1)(e) Companies Act 2016; AND In the matter of Companies (WindingUp) Rules 1972. BETWEEN WYNER LAND SDN. BHD. (No. Co.: 1268280-A) … PETITIONER AND MERCHANT SYNERGY SDN BHD (Co. No. 923062-M) … RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed Company, MERCHANT SYNERGY SDN BHD. (Co. No.: 923062-M) by the High Court was on 26th June 2023, presented by the Petitioner, WYNER LAND SDN. BHD. (Co. No.: 1268280-A) and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at the High Court of Malaya Shah Alam at 9.00 a.m. on 29th January 2024; and any creditor or contributory of the said Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is No. 65, Jalan Tasik Senangin 10/15, Seksyen 10, Bandar Tasik Senangin, 71750 Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs Satvinder K & Associates of No. 3 Jalan Hujan Emas 10, Overseas Union Garden, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. ………… signed………… MESSRS SATVINDER K & ASSOCIATES Solicitors for the Petitioner abovenamed NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Solicitors for the Petitioner Messrs. Satvinder K & Associates, 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 served and signed by the person or firm, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 28th January 2024 (a day before the date fixed for hearing of the Petition). This ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION is filed by MESSRS SATVINDER K & ASSOCIATES, Solicitors for the Petitioner abovenamed, whose address for service is at No. 3 Jalan Hujan Emas 10, Overseas Union Garden, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. (Our Ref. : SK 1193/06/2023 (L) Tel No. 03-7980 9798 ; 010-3572786) (Email:[email protected]; [email protected]) 322 Notices 322 Notices Historic istoric win Superb Girona stun champions Barca to lead La Liga S HOCK Spanish title contenders Girona earned a historic 4-2 win over rivals Barcelona yesterday to move top of La Liga, with coach Michel saying he believes his team can beat any opponent. Girona defeated their Catalan rivals for the first time ever in the top flight in a pulsating battle to rise two points above Real Madrid, second, after their 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Saturday. Champions Barcelona are fourth after Atletico Madrid, third, beat Almeria earlier on, and Xavi’s side trail Girona by seven points. Artem Dovbyk sent Girona ahead and after Robert Lewandowski pulled Barcelona level, Miguel Gutierrez slammed home again for the visitors. Valery Fernandez extended Girona’s lead with 10 minutes remaining, before Ilkay Gundogan netted to set up a frantic finale. Veteran striker Cristhian Stuani struck from close range in stoppage time to wrap up a stunning victory which reaffirms the minnows’ title dream. “We’re enjoying the moment, we’re in a hugely positive dynamic,” Michel told reporters. “I don’t know if we have the ability to win La Liga, but we are able to beat any opponent.” Defeat leaves Barcelona’s title defence badly dented. “They deserved it, they’ve got a lot of merit, they’re seven points ahead of us,” Xavi told DAZN. “We want to cut down the gap, this is our reality – this is a Barca under construction, although they have criticised me for (saying) it. “You take one step back to be able to take two steps forwards. “I think the match was even, it is decided by details. We lacked effectiveness. We played well in the game. “We shot 30 times, we could have equalized at 3-3 but no. Girona’s plan was very courageous and they were more efficient. “The match was equal. If Barcelona won, we would say it was fair. We had little effectiveness and mistakes in defence affected us.” Michel said beforehand that a win would send his team into a new dimension and there can be little doubt now they are genuine title contenders this season. Barcelona’s title defence, however, is on the ropes. “We’re seven points behind, which is a lot, but there’s more than half a season to go,” Frankie De Jong told DAZN. “There’s time, but we have a lot to come back from.” Earlier Diego Simeone’s Atletico took an early two-goal lead through Alvaro Morata and Angel Correa, but Leo Baptistao pulled Almeria into the game after an hour. Atletico held on for the victory as the Andalucian strugglers threatened to pull level at the Metropolitano. “They pressed us in the second half, we couldn’t find solutions and it was hard for us,” Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann admitted to Movistar. Athletic Bilbao’s visit to Granada was stopped in the 18th minute because a fan died in the stands, with the match subsequently abandoned. Inaki Williams had sent the Basques ahead and they will resume play with the lead overnight from 17 minutes. – AFP/Agencies Young rivals have awoken his inner ‘beast’: Djoker NOVAK DJOKOVIC turns 37 next year but the Serbian says his appetite for success will only increase with young challengers awakening the “beast” in him. The world No. 1 enjoyed an extraordinary 2023 by winning three out of the four Grand Slams to take his tally to 24, two more than his great rival Rafa Nadal and four more than the retired Roger Federer. Djokovic did not have it all his own way, however, with 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz denying him a fifth-straight Wimbledon crown in a thrilling final and 22-year-old Jannik Sinner dashing his hopes of Davis Cup glory. “The young guys who are very hungry and very inspired to play their best tennis against me is an additional motivation,” Djokovic said on CBS News programme 60 Minutes. “I think they kind of awaken a beast in me.” Djokovic beat Alcaraz in three of their four meetings this year – including the French Open semifinals where the Spaniard suffered full-body cramps – but the Serb said his young rival had become a real threat. “He’s as a complete of a player as I have seen in ages,” Djokovic said, adding that he used his defeat in the Wimbledon final as motivation for the US hardcourt swing, where he won at Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows. “It’s a great opportunity for me to reinvent myself and really push harder than I ever did.” – Reuters PAUL MCGINLEY has accused Jon Rahm of betraying golf fans’ trust after the reigning Masters champion’s defection to LIV Golf. Once a staunch critic of the breakway Saudibacked series, Rahm has signed up with LIV on a deal reported to be worth up to £450 million (RM2.6b). It serves as another blow to the PGA Tour, with Rahm one of golf biggest current stars and a leading voice for the sport. The Spaniard had previously said that he did not like LIV’s 54-hole, no cut tournament format, while also suggesting that the monetary rewards on offer “would not change” his lifestyle. McGinley, a four-time winner on the European tour, has criticised Rahm’s apparent hypocrisy. “So many people have completely reversed their position,” the Irishman told Sky Sports. “Jon came out very, very strongly in support of the tours, and came out very strongly that this was not a good format, that he didn’t enjoy it, he didn’t see any future in it. “(He said) he was chasing his own career and titles on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, and obviously the Ryder Cup. He knows that, by going here, it’s going to put a lot of that in jeopardy. “Whether it does or not, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s a complete reversal of the position that he has stood very strongly on. “A number of players who have gone over to LIV have done the same thing – they’ve said one thing and then done another. “Who do you believe any more? You can’t take anyone’s word any more because people reverse their positions quickly and, it seems, pretty easily.” Rahm’s move comes amid discussions over a possible partnership between LIV and the two established tours. The PGA and DP World organisations announced earlier this year that they would discuss a merger, with a deadline of the end of the year set to conclude a deal. McGinley wonders if Rahm’s defection suggests that an agreement is not close. “I’m not involved in these high-level discussions that are going on,” McGinley said. “There is rumoured to be a deal, and I think ultimately there is going to be a deal. I’m hoping that the game will be unified again at some stage. “I thought we were going to do a deal with Saudi and there was going to be an announcement, but obviously that has taken a turn for the worse. “Saudi probably didn’t think things were going their way to get an agreement together, so they have brought out the chequebook to put things in their favour.” – The Independent Golf fans don’t know who to trust: McGinley █ BY HARRY LATHAM-COYLE Lukaku sees red in Roma draw ROMELU LUKAKU scored but was sent off in the closing minutes as Roma finished with nine men in a 1-1 draw at home to Fiorentina on yesterday in Serie A. Paulo Dybala picked out Lukaku with a clever cross as the Belgium striker headed Roma in front in the fifth minute at the Stadio Olimpico. Defender Lucas Martinez Quarta glanced in from Christian Kouame’s curling delivery to equalise for Fiorentina midway through the second half, just after Nicola Zalewski was dismissed for a second yellow card. Roma were then left clinging on as Lukaku also saw red late on for a wild challenge on Kouame. Jose Mourinho’s side reclaimed fourth place from Bologna, who had briefly moved into the Champions League spots with a 2-1 win at bottom club Salernitana. Monza climbed into the top half of the table courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Genoa, while Frosinone and Torino played out a goalless draw. Leverkusen pull clear of Bayern XABI ALONSO’S Bayer Leverkusen extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga yesterday with a 1-1 draw at fellow high-fliers Stuttgart. Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz scored a second half equaliser as the visitors came from behind to steal a point from in-form Stuttgart and strengthen their grip on top spot. Alonso’s side are now four points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the table. “It’s a point which keeps both Stuttgart and Bayern at arm’s length, so it could prove to be really valuable,” Leverkusen midfielder Jonas Hofmann told DAZN. He added that Alonso had raised his voice in the dressing room after a poor first half showing from Leverkusen. “He can get louder and more emotional, and he needed to be today because we really slept through the first part of the game.” Lacazette hattrick lifts Lyon A QUICKFIRE first half brace and late sealer from Alexandre Lacazette earned Lyon their second win of the season at home to Toulouse yesterday. Lyon captain Lacazette fired his side to a 3-0 victory against 15th-placed Toulouse, allowing them to reduce the gap from safety to three points. The hattrick from the former Arsenal man earned Ligue 1’s bottom club an invaluable win in the race for survival against the side just above the relegation zone. “It’s a relief to be able to score, to be useful to the team in the way that’s expected of me. It makes you feel a bit lighter,” said Lacazette. “We’re still in the same position (last), but we’re going to take it one step at a time, stay humble and keep working.” SIDENETTING Girona’s Jhon Solis (left) in action against Barcelona during the Spanish La Liga match yesterday. – REUTERSPIX

SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 29 ARSENAL fans have expressed their frustration online with referee Jarred Gillett and English football’s officiating body PGMOL after a couple of tight decisions went against them during the 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa. The Gunners wasted a number of gilt-edged chances during the defeat but supporters were keen to focus on a strong penalty claim that was turned down for Douglas Luiz’s challenge on Gabriel Jesus and the fact that Kai Havertz’s apparent last-minute equaliser was ruled out for handball. On both occasions, the VAR sided with referee Gillett but Arsenal fans took to Twitter/X after the game to vent their ire. “This is what we as Arsenal fans have to deal with, knowing the League doesn’t want us to win,” claimed one supporter, while another fan posted a two-minute compilation video of decisions that went against Arsenal alongside the post, “What kind of corruption is this? @FA_PGMOL”. Meanwhile, a third took aim at the entirety of refereeing, saying: “Make this make sense @FA_PGMOL all fans want is consistency or are you 1. actually a corrupt organisation 2. Totally useless 3. Your on field staff inept and not fit to do their jobs 4. The VAR team aren’t fit for purpose? And some were urging collective action, stating: “We need the big 6 clubs to come together, pool their lawyers and expertise and go after the PGMOL. That’s the only way change is going to happen.” Meanwhile, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta – who was watching from the directors’ box at Villa Park as he served a one-match touchline ban – would not be drawn on the decisions, having already been hit with an FA charge for his stinging postmatch criticism of the officiating following a 1-0 loss at Newcastle last month. Asked about both calls, the Spaniard replied: “Clear and obvious. Clear and obvious. That’s my opinion, that’s all I can say.” Any further questions on the matter were shot down but Arteta did go on to say he felt his side had done enough to win the game. “I’m very disappointed with the result, especially with the way we played,” he said. “I think we deserved much more than what we got. “We were the much better team. I haven’t seen a team do what we did to Villa since we won here in February.” Meanwhile in related news, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara said the Gunners boss has created a “massive problem” with the signing of David Raya and the demotion of Aaron Ramsdale. Raya had a night to forget against Luton the previous week, arguably being at fault for two of the Hatters’ goals. O’Hara claims Raya has proved he is not an upgrade on Ramsdale and believes the England star should be playing. He told Grosvenor Sport: “Arteta has got that signing wrong. For me, Ramsdale was a really solid goalkeeper who was only going to get better, and he had a good season when they finished second in the League last year. “The next season, he signs David Raya who, in my opinion, isn’t any better than Ramsdale. His distribution might be a tiny bit better, but he can’t come for a cross and he’s got shots going underneath him all the time.” – The Independent/Express Newspapers Enclosed is my payment of RM payable to SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD. Please WhatsApp your bank-in slip to 0182929936 or email to [email protected] *Not inclusive of vendor service charge Stay informed with the latest news and trends All the best articles from Monday to Friday 32 pages full colour Subscribe now for Monday-Friday copies of theSun newspaper 6 month subscription (128 issues) for only RM110* (Normal price RM128) 1 year subscription (258 issues) for only RM200* (Normal price RM258) 1 year subscription at normal price RM258* (258 issues) + RM50 administration fee to get 2nd year free PERSONAL PARTICULARS Name: NRIC: Race: Malay Chinese Indian Others Profession: Commencement date: Delivery Address: Residence Ofice Postcode: State: Tel: Mobile No: E-mail: DETAILS OF CURRENT NEWS VENDOR (IF ANY) Vendor name: Contact no: For your convenience, you may call or send in your subscription particulars via any of the following: Tel: KL/PJ 03-7781 4000, 03-7784 6688 (9.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday) Fax: 03-7781 4484 Post: P.O. 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Muruku Buntong entrepreneur’s Deepavali snack, made from a still a national favourite 60-year-old recipe, is constantly in high demand. Chicken price float benefits consumers A week after subsidies ended, market prices are competitive and lower than subsidised prices, says expert. Full report —on page 3 Full report —on page 6 Full report —on page 4 Citing protection of country’s interests in terms of diplomatic, economic relations and security as reasons for joining meeting, Anwar says he remains steadfast in defending justice and rights of Palestinians. I will show up at Apec Story on page 2 Full story -on page 2 SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE Gunners fury Arsenal fans vent anger on social media, say ‘League doesn’t want us to win’ Villans will keep feet on ground: McGinn JOHN MCGINN insists Aston Villa will remain level-headed despite being touted as Premier League title contenders. Villa captain McGinn scored the winner as Unai Emery’s side beat Arsenal 1-0 to move two points off the top of the table. The victory also extended Villa’s winning League run at home to a club-record 15 games. “It’s a huge win but we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground,” McGinn told VillaTV. “These teams are used to being up and around there and we’re not. We need to try and manage the games as best we can going into a really busy spell.” Former Gunners boss Emery said he had to be “clinical” with his substitutions having opted to name the same Villa starting XI in both games. The tiredness in some of his players was clear to see as Sunday’s clash p ro g re s s e d, but Villa held on and McGinn was keen to praise the effort of the whole squad. “A big shout to all the boys who came on,” he added. “It’s a huge win but we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. “It’s not easy coming into a game like that. Arsenal have scored a lot of late goals this season, so we had to be switched on and really concentrate. “The tiredness from the past two weeks started to kick in and there were some dead bodies out there – me included – but it was an absolutely monumental effort. It wasn’t pretty at times but they’re a great side. What a week.” The result meant Arsenal slipped off the top of the table but captain Martin Odegaard said: “We have to look to the next one. The games are coming so quickly now so it’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves. “We have to get back to working hard to improve and bounce back in the next game, and that’s what we’re going to do now.” – The Independent █ BY MARK MANN-BRYANS John McGinn. – AFPPIX

SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 30 PEP GUARDIOLA said Manchester City refused to “feel sorry for ourselves” after going in a goal down at halftime against Luton before hitting back to claim a 2-1 Premier League triumph at Kenilworth Road. The hosts looked on course to inflict a fifthconsecutive winless game on City when Elijah Adebayo rose at the back post to head in Andros Townsend’s cross on the stroke of the interval. It was just reward for an opening period in which they had weathered the champions’ early pressure well, with Guardiola’s side resorting to shooting from distance after goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski had denied them with a string of fine saves, most impressively from Phil Foden’s low drive. And Rob Edwards’ side held their lead beyond the hour mark as a stunning victory appeared within reach, until the champions turned the game on its head inside of three whirlwind minutes. First, Bernardo Silva pounced on a loose ball to lash home an equaliser into the bottom corner before Jack Grealish stabbed between the legs of Kaminski to send Luton to their second narrow home defeat in five days. And Guardiola said his players did not allow the prospect of losing for the second time in a week and ending the weekend seven points off the Premier League summit to distract them in the second half. “The most important thing to change the dynamic is winning games,” he said. “That helps a lot. “We didn’t get results sometimes when we deserved, but that’s what it is. Today was a good test for the fact that we played a really, really good first half against this type of team, this type of stadium. We did it perfect. We concede not much, created enough chances to score.” Guardiola admitted he had been concerned by the prospect of failing to win for a fifth game in a row when Adebayo headed Luton in front. “I thought about that,” he said. “But I said to (the players) ‘what do we have do to, feel sorry for ourselves?’ “We don’t have to feel sorry for ourselves. It’s football, it’s life, it’s happened. “What are we going to do? Complain about being unlucky? Strikers, be more aggressive, score goals guys. Defend better the cross in the last minute and be positive. “We have to remember ourselves. Big characters, big teams, like this team is. They are defined in these situations. “I don’t like to see the players when we win 3- 0, 4-0 in 10, 14, 15, 18 games in a row. That doesn’t define who we really are. Four games without winning – 1-0 (down) in a tough stadium. “They don’t need to prove to me what they are capable of, because they are an extraordinary group of players and characters. But the competition demands to prove it again. It’s normal to say ‘City are not the same – it’s over’. “Yeah, that’s nice, let them prove we want to still be there. Let’s do it. It’s so nice. We need that.” – The Independent @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper No time for ‘self-pity’ City refused to feel sorry for themselves after Luton opener: Guardiola Blues need to improve in next transfer window, says Pochettino MAURICIO POCHETTINO believes Chelsea need more transfer window surgery in January to lift them out of the malaise which has left them 12th in the table and well adrift of Champions League qualification. A 2-0 loss at Everton was their seventh Premier League defeat of the season and bridging the 14-point gap to Manchester City in fourth looks near-impossible for a side short of goals and consistency. Chelsea have spent over £1 billion (RM5.8b) in the last three transfer windows but many of those preceded Pochettino’s summer arrival and he wants his own players in to help kickstart his Stamford Bridge rejuvenation. “This was a game to win. It’s a problem we need to check. We need to talk and to try and improve in the next transfer market,” he said. “We are dealing with this. After five months, or the first half of the season, we need to check and that’s the reality. If we are not aggressive enough (on the pitch) maybe we need to do something. “It’s not as easy to build something new, that is why it is about being strong in that we assess and be clever and take decisions to try to improve in the second part of the season, to be more competitive and get the results a club like Chelsea deserves.” Pochettino’s side had 72% possession and had 16 shots but only four on target compared to Everton’s five on target from nine. Despite their territorial dominance the visitors never really looked like troubling Jordan Pickford and goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and substitute Lewis Dobbin, his first in the Premier League, gave Everton a third win in just over a week. “We need to score if we want to win a game and be in a different position in the table because we played well and dominated the game against a difficult team and were much better than them but in the end you need to score,” added Pochettino. – The Independent ANGE POSTECOGLOU paid tribute to Tottenham forward Richarlison after his brace downed Newcastle and earned them their first victory since Oct 27. Spurs were Premier League leaders at the beginning of November, but had endured a barren run since after a succession of injuries and failed to win any of their last five matches despite taking the lead in each fixture. It was a different story this time with Ange Postecoglou’s team selection paying dividends with the recalled Richarlison scoring twice after Destiny Udogie broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Son Heung-min, who was shifted back to left wing, grabbed the fourth after claiming two assists but the night belonged to fitagain Richarlison, who has struggled since his £60 million (RM336m) move last year and recently had groin surgery to correct a longstanding issue. “Yeah, Richy was great, really important,” Postecoglou reflected. “I thought him and Pape (Sarr) coming in gave us some real energy. “We were going to need it today with the midweek fixture (against West Ham) and I thought they did that. “Obviously for Richy, getting a couple of goals as a striker that was positive for him. “Richy was important to us at the start of the year too, but he wasn’t fully fit. I think you could tell he was kind of restricted with his movements. “At times we had to play him out wide just to get him through games. Since he’s come back, it’s fair to say he feels a lot better physically and I think that’s helped him mentally as well. “Great for him to get two goals today, but it wasn’t just his goals, it was his general work-rate, energy and physicality. “Hopefully we’re coming out the other side and just having Richy and Pape back today, making those two changes after a midweek game... I just felt we had more energy and legs and we needed it today.” – The Independent Postecoglou salutes ‘really important’ Richarlison █ BY ROBERT O’CONNOR █ BY CARL MARKHAM █ BY GEORGE SESSIONS Silva hails ‘brilliant performance’ from Cottagers FULHAM boss Marco Silva hailed his side’s 5- 0 thrashing of West Ham as even better than the display that had seen them beat Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline four days earlier. The floodgates have certainly opened for the Whites in recent weeks, with David Moyes’ men the latest side to be put to the sword as five different scorers struck in a fine home win. Raul Jimenez opened the scoring to take his personal tally to four in five games. Willian and Tosin Adarabioyo goals then had the hosts coasting at the break before a fine effort from substitute Harry Wilson and late effort from Carlos Vinicius added the gloss. Silva said he had “no doubts” that the overall performance of his side eclipsed Wednesday’s win (againat Forest), adding: “It was a brilliant performance from us. A great one at a very, very good level. “We were the best team on the pitch, not just because we won 5-0 but also the way we performed from the first minute and the players understood the plan and executed it so well. The way we did it was almost a perfect afternoon for us. “First of all of course, confidence builds confidence and the best example of this is Raul – since he scored the first goal against Villa. “We are not really different now, we changed and adjusted some things but the faith in our players was always there.” While he was able to celebrate 10 goals across the last two games, Silva was also delighted his side kept two clean sheets as Fulham moved into the top half of the table. “I think it is crucial,” he added. “It is really important to create this mentality, try to win games but also try to be as solid as you can… I’m really pleased for it and it was one of the best feelings we got.” – The Independent █ BY MARK MANN-BRYANS Richarlison (right) shoots to score Tottenham’s third goal during the English Premier League match against Newcastle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIX

SPORTS SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 31 FORMER national shuttler Datuk James Selvaraj feels that current players should play once in two weeks amidst the densely packed schedule in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) calendar year. Expressing concern about the relentless pressure that comes with playing in a series of tournaments at the moment, James said such a balanced approach would help preserve freshness and, more significantly, minimise injuries among players. “You cannot play tournament after tournament all the time. When are all these players going to rest? “I think they (BWF) should cut down the number of tournaments,” he said when met recently. As such, James, a member of the 1976 Thomas Cup silver medal-winning team, advised players to be strategic in choosing the tournaments that would align with their progress. The 73-year-old believes that if all the players, including the top-ranked shuttlers, exercise discernment in tournament selection, it could prompt the BWF to re-evaluate the value of an overly saturated calendar. Describing the current calendar year as crazy, former badminton great Datuk Lee Chong Wei suggested in May that the BWF should reduce the number of tournaments to produce quality players. However, BWF president Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen quickly rebuffed the idea, saying what they needed to do was to create a tournament system like a “ladder” by rearranging all competitions according to priority. – Bernama Second title for Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal NATIONAL men’s doubles pair Choong Hon JianMuhammad Haikal Nazri’s four-month partnership is now bearing fruit as they emerged as champions of the 2023 Guwahati Masters Championship in India today. It is their second consecutive title within a week after winning the Syed Modi International Championship in India the previous Sunday. Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal took only 39 minutes to dispatch their Taiwanese opponents Lin Bing Wei-Su Ching Heng 21-17, 23-21 in the final match at Sarju Sarai Indoor Sports Complex. The Malaysians had earlier beat fellow compatriots Boon Xin Yuan-Goh V Shem 21-18, 21-17 in the semifinals. Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal have played in three finals this season, including the Indonesian Masters last October. FAM defends M’sia Cup referee THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have defended their selection of S. Logeswaran as the referee for the Malaysia Cup final, which Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) won after defeating Terengganu FC 3-1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Friday. FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said the selection of Logeswaran of Selangor was made after getting the approval of the FAM Referees Committee by taking into account that he had performed admirably throughout this season’s Malaysia League (M-League) campaign. He said Logeswaran was also chosen because of his status as a neutral referee. “Logeswaran is among the senior referees in the M-League and he is also a Category A national referee,” he said in a statement today. According to Noor Azman, the selection of Logeswaran was also influenced by FAM’s constraints to appoint six local match officials with the status of International Football Federation (FIFA) referees. Kuching City lose, Cops go on rampage KUCHING CITY FC failed to capitalise on their home advantage, losing to Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City) 3-2 in a 2023 Super League match at the State Stadium in Sarawak yesterday. KL City wasted no time taking the lead as T. Saravanan’s cross was neatly finished by team captain Paulo Josue in the 19th minute. Josue then seized another opportunity to score KL City’s second in the 41st minute, but the home side got one back just before the break through a spot-kick by Liberian import striker Abu Kamara. Kuching City equalised through Yuki Tanigawa in the 72nd minute, but Arif Syaqirin Suhaimi’s goal in the 81st minute broke the hearts of the home fans. Meanwhile, PDRM FC had a goal fest at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium (MBPJ), beating Kelantan FC, 7-2. Bruno Suzuki emerged hero for the Cops as he scored a hattrick (62nd, 65th and 90th minutes). James wants fortnight game plan for shuttlers ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton 2 (Doucoure 54, Dobbin 90) Chelsea 0, Fulham 5 (Jimenez 22, Willian 31, Adarabioyo 41, Wilson 60, Vinicius 89) West Ham 0, Luton 1 (Adebayo 45+2) Manchester City 2 (Silva 62, Grealish 65), Tottenham 4 (Udogie 26, Richarlison 38, 60, Son 85-pen) Newcastle 1 (Joelinton 90+1). P W D L F A Pts Liverpool 16 11 4 1 36 15 37 Arsenal 16 11 3 2 33 15 36 Aston Villa 16 11 2 3 35 20 35 Man City 16 10 3 3 38 18 33 Tottenham 16 9 3 4 33 23 30 Man Utd 16 9 0 7 18 21 27 Newcastle 16 8 2 6 33 21 26 Brighton 16 7 5 4 33 28 26 West Ham 16 7 3 6 26 30 24 Fulham 16 6 3 7 26 26 21 Brentford 16 5 4 7 23 22 19 Chelsea 16 5 4 7 26 26 19 Wolves 16 5 4 7 21 26 19 Bournemouth 16 5 4 7 21 30 19 Crystal Palace 16 4 4 8 15 23 16 Nottm Forest 16 3 5 8 17 28 14 Everton 16 7 2 7 20 20 13 Luton 16 2 3 11 17 32 9 Burnley 16 2 2 12 16 34 8 Sheff Utd 16 2 2 12 12 41 8 Note: Evertondeducted 10pts LA LIGA: Atletico Madrid 2 (Morata 17, Correa 22) Almeria 1 (Baptistao 62), Granada 0 Athletic Bilbao 1 (I Williams 6) – match abandoned after 18 minutes following the death of a Granada supporter, Cadiz 1 (Marti 19) Osasuna 1 (Budimir 70-pen), Barcelona 2 (Lewandowski 19, Gundogan 90+2) Girona 4 (Dovbyk 12, Gutierrez 40, Valery 80, Stuani 90+5). TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Girona 16 13 2 1 38 20 41 Real Madrid 16 12 3 1 34 10 39 Atletico 15 11 1 3 32 14 34 Barcelona 16 10 4 2 30 18 34 Sociedad 16 8 5 3 29 18 29 SERIE A: Frosinone 0 Torino 0, Monza 1 (Mota 83) Genoa 0, Salernitana 1 (Simy 75) Bologna 2 (Zirkzee 9, 20), Roma 1 (Lukaku 5) Fiorentina 1 (Martinez Quarta 66). TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 15 12 2 1 37 7 38 Juventus 15 11 3 1 23 9 36 AC Milan 15 9 2 4 26 18 29 Roma 15 7 4 4 28 17 25 Bologna 15 6 7 2 18 12 25 BUNDESLIGA: Stuttgart 1 Bayer Leverkusen 1, Cologne 0 Mainz 0. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Leverkusen 14 11 3 0 39 12 36 B. Munich 13 10 2 1 44 14 32 Stuttgart 14 10 1 3 34 16 31 RB Leipzig 14 9 2 3 34 15 29 Dortmund 14 7 4 3 28 23 25 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Lorient 2 Marseille 4, Lyon 3 Toulouse 0, Clermont 0 Lille 0, Metz 0 Brest 1, Strasbourg 2 Le Havre 1, Nice 2 Reims 1. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Paris SG 15 11 3 1 38 12 36 Nice 15 9 5 1 16 6 32 Monaco 15 9 3 3 31 20 30 Lille 15 7 6 2 19 11 27 Brest 15 7 4 4 19 15 25 RESULTS & STANDINGS SHORTS NATIONAL junior sprinter Muhammad Hazriq Cik Mat Kilau intends to outshine national 110m hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian and make his mark at the international stage in the event. Muhammad Hazriq, fresh from his 110m hurdles victory at the Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championship in Bangkok, Thailand last Thursday, also intends to ensure he has a podium finish in every championship he participates in. “Previously, Rayzam was the one who shone, it’s my turn to bask in the limelight,” the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tun Hussein Onn state sports school student from Johor told reporters upon his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. He also plans to book a slot to next year’s World Youth Athletics Championship in Peru by running under 14.20s at the upcoming 2023 SAECA-BJSS Innotex Athletics Open at the Bukit Jalil Mini Stadium on Dec 19 to 20. “I expect to hit 13.9 s at Innotex, I believe my coach and the programme I’m in. I will focus on the world championship with the finals as my target,” he said. Muhammad Hazriq’s recent win, with a time of 13.44 s, at the Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championship also smashed the championship record of 13.71s set by Thailand’s Kittipong Kongdee in Jakarta in 2011. He also was part of the gold-winning men’s 4x100m team, along with teammates Dylan Leo Saran Stephen, Danish Irfan Tamrin and Danish Iftikhar Muhammad Roslee, and recorded a time of 40.56s. The Malaysian contingent at the championship, comprising of 25 men and 19 women, won 21 medals overall, four gold, five silver and 12 bronze. The gold medals came from the men’s 110m hurdles, men’s 4x100m event, the women’s 100m sprint (Nur Izzati Eliana Suhaidi – 12.39s), and men’s triple jump (Mark Paladius – 14.78m). – Bernama My turn to bask in limelight, says SEA Youth Athletics champ Muhammad Hazriq uhammad Hazriq wants the spotlight Terengganu’s Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal (right) and Johor’s Muhammad Hazriq Cik Mat Kilau pose with their trophies at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Paroi Stadium. – BERNAMAPIX

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: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME Malaysian Paper Read iPaper at Malaysian Paper Malaysian Paper -Story on page 29 -Story on page 28 Neville dismisses ‘nonsense’ idea of sacking United boss Ten Hag FORMER Manchester United captain Gary Neville has said the idea of the club sacking boss Erik ten Hag is “absolute nonsense”. United suffered their 11th defeat of the season in all competitions, and seventh in the Premier League, on Saturday as they crashed to a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth. Neville says there is “no way” Ten Hag should be sacked this term and pointed the finger at United’s owners the Glazer family. Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said of Ten Hag: “I fear for him generally, not really just because of this week (when United play Bayern Munich and Liverpool). Just more generally around the way in which a cycle is repeating itself again. “I hope that somehow Erik ten Hag can turn it around this season and that ultimately he can improve what’s happening at the moment – or else he will be in trouble, it’s just inevitable. We’ve seen it with (previous United managers) Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), Jose (Mourinho) and Louis van Gaal. “There’s no way they should change him this season, this idea of sacking him is absolute nonsense. I wouldn’t be in favour of that. “The lack of leadership and structure above him… I know people say you can’t blame the Glazers – yeah you can. “You can because 10 years of failure, of miserable recruitment comes down to the fact they have not got a sporting director, a proper head of recruitment in place. “That is why this happens. Ultimately managers look above them and think ‘I haven’t got anyone there to help me so I might as well just try and do it myself’. “This is all down to the leadership. If it happened once, fair enough, if it happened twice you would ask a question, but this is five times, five times in 10 years.” It is expected that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of 25% stake at the Old Trafford club will be announced soon, with him acquiring significant control over footballing operations. Neville added: “He has got to come in and sort this out, and you wonder how he is going to be able to pull it out of it, that’s the concern I have. “What we need is a change of structure at the top, that will hopefully happen in the next few weeks, hopefully that will change the way in which the sporting project is looked at because you can’t come in and leave everything as is. “And maybe, with some leadership and structure around the club, Manchester United could have some sort of ability to cope with the other clubs who recruit a lot better and do business a lot better.” Only victory against German champions Bayern tomorrow (4am Malaysian time) will give United any chance of progress to the last 16 and even then, they need FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray to draw in their final Group A match. United are fortunate to even have a shot at the knockout stages after a return of just four points from their opening five matches. No English side has ever conceded as many as the 14 goals that Ten Hag’s men have in five Champions League group games. A series of high-scoring shootouts in Europe contrasts sharply with United’s troubles to score goals in the Premier League. No United forward has scored at home in the Premier League all season as Marcus Rashford’s demise has contributed to his side’s struggles. Rashford scored 30 times in a careerbest campaign for goals last season but has just two so far this season – one of which came from the penalty spot. Bayern may already be assured of their place in the last 16 as group winners but have a point to prove themselves after being thrashed 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. And the last time Bayern lost a Champions League group game was six years ago. – The Independent/AFP -Story on page 30 No time for self pity SCAN ME No way! TUESDAY | DEC 12, 2023 Historic win Villans will keep feet on ground: McGinn Neville and Ten Hag (top right). – REUTERSPIX