Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY RM1 FRIDAY APR 19, 2024 SCAN ME No. 8504 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) Come join us! Photo released by the Indonesia Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation shows glowing lava and plumes of ash spewed at the height of the eruption. – AFPPIC NGOs call for open hearing Barring media from proceedings of Najib’s bid to have remainder of jail sentence served under house arrest will undermine people’s trust in justice system and democracy: CIJ and Bersih. Reports on hpage 2 Legal team defends in-chambers move Lawyer for ex-PM advises detractors to ‘check relevant law’, says procedure is ‘100% in line’ with Rules of Court Act 2012. Beware of gifts left at doorstep Report on hpage 5 Mt Ruang t Ruang awakens awakens Reports on hpages 3 and 7 Police warn public against scammers using ruse of free items and coupons to persuade recipients to scan malicious QR codes on packages that lead to fraudulent websites. Sulawesi volcano spews fiery lava and ash plumes thousands of feet into sky, triggering tsunami alert, mass evacuation, closure of airport in Manado and cancellations of Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia flights between KLIA and Sabah and Sarawak.
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 2 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper Make proceedings of Najib’s case public: Bersih, CIJ No change to petrol, diesel prices KUALA LUMPUR: The court proceedings involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s bid to have the remainder of his jail sentence served under house arrest must be made public, said the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Bersih in separate statements. Both NGOs added that barring the media from covering the case would undermine the people’s trust in the country’s justice system and democracy. They were responding to the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision on Wednesday to allow Najib’s application for proceedings of his judicial review bid to be held in chambers instead of in regular court proceedings. Judge Amarjeet Singh allowed Najib’s application to switch the open-court proceedings to one conducted in chambers. Najib’s counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the court the request was necessary as the application involved “sensitive” court filings. CIJ said while it respects the powers of the judiciary and the Malaysian judicial process, it cannot be seen to undermine democratic principles. “Najib’s bid to seek house arrest for the remainder of his jail term is a matter of public interest and the basic tenets of democracy require the judicial process to be transparent and not shrouded in secrecy. “This further sets a precedent in which the media cannot cover issues that involve political o‘Barring media coverage of ex-PM’s bid to serve remainder of jail sentence under house arrest undermines people’s trust in justice system, democracy’ expediency, creating a system of opacity which leads to a trust deficit. “His recent partial pardon has already set a precedent in which the grounds and justification for the decision have yet to be disclosed and made transparent to the public. “As such, we reiterate that the judicial system must be underscored by public interest and democratic principles and there should be no semblance of double standards present,” CIJ said. Meanwhile, Bersih said proceedings of such a high-profile case should be done openly. “Since the case involves a highprofile individual, is of public interest and involves public funds, it needs to be done openly and transparently so that it is available to the public. “Otherwise, it would create a perception of double standards, which can erode public confidence in the government and the country’s judicial system.” On April 1, Najib, 70, filed the leave application for judicial review at the High Court through the legal firm Messrs Shafee & Co. He named the home minister, commissioner-general of Prisons, attorney-general, the Pardons KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol as well as diesel will remain unchanged at RM3.47, RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre respectively for the April 18 to 24 period. The Finance Ministry said the prices were set based on the weekly retail prices of petroleum products using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula. “To protect consumers from the impact of the actual rise in global oil prices, the government is maintaining the retail price of RON95 petrol at the ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre and that of diesel at RM2.15 per litre, although the market prices of both products have exceeded the set ceiling price,” it said in a statement. It said the government would continue to monitor the trend of world crude oil prices and take measures to ensure that the people’s welfare and well-being are protected. – Bernama Kurup death huge loss for Sabah KOTA KINABALU: The passing away of Tan Sri Joseph Kurup at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday is a big loss to Sabah, where he had served with distinction. Kurup, 79, born in Tambunan on Dec 15, 1944, had a legal background with a Diploma in Public Administration from Institut Teknologi Mara, Bachelor of Law with Honours from the University of London and was a Barrister-at-Law in Inner Temple London. He joined Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and his political career began in 1985 when he won the Sook state seat in the Sabah state election and a year later became the party’s secretarygeneral. Kurup, who served five terms (1985-1994) as the Sook state assemblyman under PBS, set up Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and became its president in 1994. PBRS was a Barisan Nasional component party from 1994 to 2023. Under the PBRS ticket, he returned as the state assemblyman for Sook in 2004 and was elected as the MP for Pensiangan for two terms (2008 to 2013). In his illustrious career, he held various positions, including as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, deputy energy and natural resources minister and rural and regional development deputy minister. The Pensiangan, Keningau native had also served as Sabah deputy chief minister, agriculture and fisheries state minister, communications and works state minister, finance state minister, industrial development state minister, resource development and enterprise state minister as well as youth and sports state minister. His son Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, who was fielded in Pensiangan, continued his father’s legacy and has defended the seat twice in the 2018 and 2022 general elections and replaced the late Kurup as PBRS president in January 2023. Kurup is survived by his wife Puan Sri Melinda Mak Soak Fong, Arthur and five other children. – Bernama FRIENDLY CHECK ... Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming speaking to traders on problems faced at Taman Millenium in Kuala Kubu Bharu during a working visit yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Board for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform), directorgeneral of legal affairs at the Prime Minister’s Department and the government as the first to seventh respondents. The former Pekan MP is seeking a mandamus order to compel all or one of the respondents to respond and confirm the existence of an additional decree dated Jan 29. Najib is also seeking a mandamus order that if the additional decree exists, all or one of the respondents must enforce it immediately by transferring him from Kajang Prison to his residence in Kuala Lumpur for him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. He has been serving his sentence in Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted of embezzling RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon. On Feb 2 this year, the Pardons Board cut his prison term from 12 years to six, with the fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. █ BY ANDREW SAGAYAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com Legal team defends in-chambers hearing KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s legal team has slammed the view that court proceedings for the former prime minister’s judicial review application should not have been held in chambers. Lawyer Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee said claims alluding to Wednesday’s proceedings being held “in secret” are “completely misplaced”, pointing to relevant laws on court procedure. “To put the issue into context, the proceedings were scheduled for leave to commence a judicial review (and) not the substantive hearing itself,” Farhan said in a statement. “Pursuant to Order 53 Rule 3(2) of the Rules of Court Act 2012, an application for leave must be made ex parte (conducting proceedings without the presence of targeted respondents) to a judge in chambers. “The word ‘must’ suggests that this process is mandatory to be an in-chambers hearing, with the public not invited to sit in and this also includes the applicant himself (Najib), who was not present,” he added. He said since chambers matters have often been conducted in open court since the Covid-19 pandemic to facilitate social distancing, the request by Najib’s legal team for the public to be removed from the courtroom is “100% in line with present court rules.” “While I noted that the reasons cited by counsel was due to issues of potential sensitivity, which is a separate ground altogether, it does not change the fact that the law requires this stage of proceedings to be held privately in-chambers to begin with.” The lawyer took aim at reform movement Bersih and other NGOs for effectively calling for a rewriting or reinterpretation of the Rules of Court Act for Najib’s case. “This, ironically, goes against their overarching demands for equal treatment. “I strongly advise any critics to check the relevant law before disparaging parties, including the court, in this manner.” – scoop.my
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 3 PETALING JAYA: The much-anticipated introduction of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) new Account 3, also known as the “Flexible Account,” which is set to be announced by the end of April, has garnered public support. Under the revised system, monthly contributions will be distributed across three accounts – 75% into Account 1, 15% into Account 2, and the remaining 10% into the new Account 3. Account 3 is likened to a savings account, facilitating easy withdrawals, though members have the option to transfer funds to Accounts 1 and 2 to optimise capital gains. Among those eagerly waiting for the announcement is 42-year-old industrial engineer Ahmad Mustakim Ainuddin. He welcomed the introduction of Account 3 as a means to bolster his retirement savings. “Balancing my children’s educational expenses and my parents’ medical costs with just my income and my wife’s salary is challenging. Despite our efforts, there are times when we struggle. I have been employed for nearly 20 years and I am considering withdrawing from my EPF for the first time.” Ahmad Mustakim hopes that the funds from Account 3 will provide some relief, whether it is to cover his children’s tuition fees or his parents’ monthly medical bills. Similarly, single parent Nur Roslyana Abdul Manaf, 38, who is raising two children, said she views Account 3 as a lifeline to overcome her financial strain. “With two children to support on a single income, managing household expenses and their educational expenses is difficult. There are days when I worry about not being able to foot all my bills, so this account brings me a ray of hope.” In expressing support for the initiative, Nusantara Strategic Research Academy senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said with Account 3, EPF contributors can withdraw funds whenever they need, making access to money easier. “The allocation to Account 1 has increased from 70% to 75%, while Account 2’s share has decreased from 30% to 15%. “With Account 1’s share now increased, the overall retirement security for contributors is preserved. This is a critical aspect for retirement savings.” While Azmi stressed that the primary focus of EPF savings should be on bolstering retirement funds, “reducing the allocation to Account 2, which is earmarked for matters such as education, simplifies the withdrawal process. “Maintaining retirement funds is crucial because when individuals have sufficient savings to support themselves in retirement, it reduces the strain on public resources and allows the government to allocate budgets for other pressing needs and priorities. “Furthermore, investing in retirement funds fosters a culture of financial literacy and responsibility. It empowers individuals to take control of their financial future and make informed decisions about their retirement plans.” Malaysian Coalition on Ageing chairman Cheah Tuck Wing said as the country’s demographics shift towards an ageing population, it becomes increasingly crucial to ensure one has adequate financial security. Cheah said Malaysians tend to spend now and save later, which has long-term consequences, often felt after retirement. “The focus on bolstering retirement funds reflects a commitment to promoting individual financial security, resilience, and dignity in later life. Strengthened retirement funds contribute to broader societal well-being by reducing reliance on social welfare systems and government assistance programmes. “As such, the public and the government should prioritise enhancing the retirement funds so that they can have enough savings to face the financial challenges that often accompany retirement, such as healthcare expenses and daily living costs,” he said. While further details are yet to be officially announced, it has been reported that EPF contributions made from May onwards will be allocated to Account 3, which kicks off with a zero balance. Account 3’s introduction comes in response to substantial withdrawals during the Covid-19 pandemic, reportedly depleting RM145 billion from the EPF’s coffers. New Perak domestic water tariff on May 1 IPOH: The new water tariff rate for domestic users in Perak has been set at 75 sen per cubic metre compared with the previous 70 sen, effective May 1. Perak Menteri Besar Office, in a statement, said the increase of five sen involves the use of up to 20 cubic metres per month while the charge for the use of up to 21 to 35 cubic metres is set at a rate of RM1.08, compared with RM1.03 sen previously. It said to reduce the impact of tariff changes on domestic users, the Perak Water Board provides a rebate at the rate of 40 sen per cubic metre for the use of up to the first 10 cubic metres per month (equivalent to RM4 per month). “With the rebate, the average tariff rate for the use of up to 20 cubic metres can be reduced to only 55 sen per cubic metre compared with 75 sen without the rebate,” read the statement. It added that with an increase of five sen, the new water tariff in Perak is still much lower than the average rate of 22 sen set by the National Water Services Commission “The minimum charge for domestic use is RM7.50 before taking into account the rebate. After taking into account the rebate, the minimum charge is RM3.50 compared with the current rate of RM3,” it said. For non-domestic users, there will be an increase of five sen per cubic metre. It added that the new tariff also does not affect the free water programme of 25 cubic metres per month for target groups and the free programme of 20 cubic metres for houses of worship. The last adjustment to the state water tariff was made in 2006. – Bernama EPF contributors give third account thumbs up oMembers view flexible initiative as lifeline to ease financial burden and help bolster retirement savings 2,000 stranded at airport as flights cancelled TAWAU: More than 2,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellation of several flights from Tawau Airport, following the volcanic eruption of Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, yesterday. Tawau Airport manager Rehan Dhafiq Azizan said AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines flights were cancelled, while Firefly flights were delayed thus far, in addition to the “on hold” status for Malindo flights. “We are checking the flight schedules and found that there are cancellations. We have also asked passengers to check the status of their respective flights,” he said at the airport yesterday. “The check-in counters are still open to help stranded passengers find alternative flights, or changing the time or dates of their flight.” The Meteorological Department will keep us informed of any development, he said. Meanwhile, thousands of passengers were stranded at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, following the cancellation of flights involving KL International Airport (KLIA), Sabah and Sarawak yesterday. Raudah Borneo Travel and Services Sdn Bhd Syariah adviser Datuk Saifulzaman Sangul said the agency’s 66 prospective umrah pilgrims were among those affected. Several Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia flights were cancelled yesterday. Malaysia Airlines said 19 flights have been cancelled, of which 11 involved Sabah, while the other eight involved Sarawak. AirAsia said 16 of its flights connecting KLIA with Sabah destinations were cancelled, eight involving Kota Kinabalu and another eight involving Tawau. – Bernama 28,500 pupils ace Islamic exam PUTRAJAYA: A total of 28,531 candidates who sat for the Quran and Fardu Ain Class Assessment Test this year obtained As in all eight subjects. A total of 230,587 pupils took the examination this year. The subjects are Quran Studies, Ulum Syariah (Faith and Worship), Sirah (biography of the Prophet Muhammad), Adab, Jawi and Khat, Lughatul Quran (Quran Language), Penghayatan Cara Hidup Islam, and Amali Solat. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said 88% of candidates passed the overall score while the overall grade average score was 1.89 points. “I would like to stress that the success of a pupil is not measured by the number of As obtained but through Islamic practices that can be applied in daily life. “It is our hope that they will further boost the teachings of Islam in the future,” he said at the results announcement here yesterday. – Bernama █ BY SIVANISVARRY MORHAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com Ulama talks to be held next month PUTRAJAYA: The Muslim World League, with the cooperation of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia, is organising the Global Ulama Conference to be held for two days from May 7 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said it was approved by the Cabinet after receiving a memorandum from the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. “The government supports the holding of the conference in the hope that it will be able to gather scholars to discuss the latest matters involving the Muslim world, including extremism,” he said. It will be the second Global Ulama Conference to be organised. – Bernama The new Account 3 allows contributors to withdraw savings whenever needed, rendering easier access to funds. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 4 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON Malaysian Paper INSTAGRAM Call to turn dirt trail into alternative route TELUK INTAN: Villagers of Kampung Baru Palawan near Langkap have suggested that an unpaved dirt trail in Ladang Bikam be turned into an alternative road for users of the North-South Expressway. They said the alternative road could be used by motorists when the highway is congested, especially during festive seasons. Resident Lee Kim Chin, 65, said the route could also shorten the journey to Kuala Lumpur. “Road users only need to travel about 3km before exiting onto the main road in Kuala Bikam heading south.” Lee said the villagers were happy to open up the trail, which is a sandy and rocky route used only by lorries, four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles. Another villager, Law Kian Ming, 52, said during the recent Raya rush, his friends were at his coffee shop at about 10pm when they noticed many vehicles turning back. “We used a backhoe belonging to a friend to level the trail with sand but it couldn’t hold up for long and constantly needed work,” he said. Lee Weng Foong, 52, said they did not expect a video of the assistance provided by the villagers to be widely viewed online, adding that they offered help regardless of race and without expecting any reward. “As Malaysians, we must unite and help each other so that we can live in harmony,” he said. Motorist Zairul Annuar Mohd Zain, 47, uploaded a video of him using the Ladang Bikam trail to return to Nilai in Negeri Sembilan on April 13 after a group of villagers went out of their way to level the bumpy route so that regular vehicles could pass. Using the Google Maps app, Zairul said he tried to use routes from Gopeng to Ladang Bikam to return to Nilai after spending the Hari Raya holidays with relatives in Ipoh. – Bernama Sabah to revive padi, rice board to boost food security KOTA KINABALU: The state government has agreed to revive the Sabah Padi and Rice Board as part of initiatives to boost food production and ensure food security in the state since Sabah imports about 70% of its rice needs. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Cabinet will submit the recommendation to the head of state for the approval of the establishment of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board as stipulated in Section 3 of the 1981 Agriculture Produce Board Enactment. “Sabah needs to boost its food selfsufficiency and we will be able to do it with the revival of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board,” he said in a statement after the Chief Minister’s Department post-Cabinet meeting at Menara Kinabalu on Wednesday. The state Cabinet has also agreed to give special permission to investors operating in industrial parks in the state to set up power generation facilities for their own use to attract investors and sustain those already in operation affected by electricity issues. The chief minister also said in a bid to ease the power demand in Sabah, the state Cabinet has decided to allow shophouses, buildings and residential premises to install solar power systems without seeking approval from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd. On the Sabah My Second Home programme (SBH-MM2H), he said the state government has also approved the age limit of applicants to 30 years above and allowing participants of the programme to sell their property after five years on condition they must purchase a new home valued above RM600,000. “Under the new policy, the appointment of the SBH-MM2H agents must be from Sabah companies,” Hajiji added. – Bernama Penang to execute contingency plan to address drought GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PWSC) will draw from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) if it cannot extract sufficient raw water from Sungai Muda. Its CEO K. Pathmanathan said a maximum of 600 million litres of raw water per day (MLD) will be drawn from the EMD if Sungai Muda continues to shrink due to dry and hot weather. “As of Tuesday, the water level of Sungai Muda at the intake of the Lahar Tiang PWSC in Seberang Perai dropped to 1.72m, which is below the safe level of two metres, and on Wednesday the water level of Sungai Muda dropped to 1.61m at Lahar Tiang. oReserve water to be drawn from dam should supply from Sungai Muda be insufficient Kedah govt to send technical team to Japan ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government will send a technical team to Japan to observe the underground water catchment facilities there. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the proposal to build a similar facility in Langkawi worth over RM300 million had been approved at the Kedah State Water Resources Board level. “There is such a model in Japan. If we (build) it in Langkawi, it will be the first in Malaysia. Many of the islands in Japan use (underground water catchment facilities). “According to the Japanese consultant who proposed it, it is suitable to be built because there are stretches of rocks on the side and bottom, with a river above, we just need to dam it slightly to create an underground reservoir,” he said at the Kedah state secretary Hari Raya open house on Wednesday. Previously, the state government had proposed groundwater exploration as an alternative to address the problem of disruptions in clean water supply in the state. Kedah has six main dams that supply raw water to the domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors, namely the Pedu Dam, Muda Dam, Ahning Dam, Beris Dam, Bukit Malut Dam and Padang Saga Dam. – Bernama Initiative to help hearing-impaired generate income KUALA NERUS: The Roselpreneur project, implemented by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu for the hearing-impaired community, is anticipated to provide each participant with the opportunity to potentially earn up to RM1,000 monthly through roselle cultivation. Project head Assoc Prof Dr Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok said the 2.03ha venture in Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu, received sponsorship from Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, an agency under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry. According to her, the project began in September last year involving 100 participants from the B40 group. “All participants were given training and exposure to relevant knowledge, including nursery work, plant maintenance, harvesting techniques, and the production of various downstream products such as jam, juice and ice cream. “The number of hearingimpaired people registered with government and private organisations is minimal, approximately 210. Therefore, we are taking this initiative to help them generate additional income and get out of poverty,” she said in a statement yesterday. – Bernama DAZZLING DISPLAY ... A family taking a wefie at the Luna Light Wonderland exhibition in Kuala Nerus, which was organised by Red Bear Event in collaboration with the Terengganu City Council to boost the tourism sector in the state. – BERNAMAPIC “PWSC continues to extract sufficient raw water from the river without using EMD, however, PWSC also successfully conducted a drawdown trial run from EMD in preparation for a worst-case scenario,” he said in a statement yesterday. He said PWSC extracts about 1,200 MLD from Sungai Muda for optimal production of treated water at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant and the plant produces 85% of the treated water distributed in Penang daily. Pathmanathan noted that the maximum discharge capacity from the EMD is 600 MLD or about 50% of the raw water required by the Sungai Dua plant to operate optimally, Bernama reported. He said as long as PWSC can extract 600 MLD of raw water from Sungai Muda and release 600 MLD from EMD it will not cause unscheduled water supply disruptions in the state. However, he said the corporation is now on standby as Sungai Muda is Penang’s main raw water source and it will monitor the river water level closely. On Tuesday, Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd said the water level of the Sungai Muda showed a downward trend and there was a risk of water supply disruption in the Kuala Muda district due to the ongoing dry and hot weather. On Wednesday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the water supply in the state was not affected at present even though the water level of Sungai Muda, which involves the operation of Sungai Petani and Pinang Tunggal water treatment plants, showed a downward trend.
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 5 Crashed MMEA chopper black box found SHAH ALAM: The black box of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) helicopter that made an emergency landing during a rescue exercise around the waters off Pulau Angsa in Kuala Selangor on March 5 was found after 44 days of searching. MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin said it was retrieved on Wednesday by a diving team after the tail of the helicopter was found 1.9 nautical miles south of Pulau Angsa, about 760m from the crash site. “After being retrieved from the seabed, the black box was taken to a laboratory for an analysis of the data to determine the cause of the incident. “MMEA expects the analysis results soon since the black box did not suffer severe damage.” Hamid said the search operation, which involved 21 divers, faced challenges due to strong currents and limited visibility around the muddy seabed. – Bernama Eight charged over mouse-deer parts SEREMBAN: Eight Federal Reserve Unit personnel pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to illegal possession of Java mouse-deer parts in 2021. Rusli Che Omar, Jafri Md Taib, Mohamed Khalid Ibrahim, Azaruddin Yahaya, Mohd Izammudin Zainol, Mohd Yusof Mohamed Yunos, Mahadzir Osman and Jasius Joseph, all aged between 36 and 50, entered their plea before Judge Mazni Nawi. They were jointly charged with keeping without a valid licence eight parts of a Java mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus), which is a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, in a container in the back of a vehicle. The offence was allegedly committed at Jalan Besar Kampung Talang, Empangan Talang in Kuala Pilah at 1pm on Jan 17. The charge was framed under Section 60(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both. The court set bail at RM2,000 for each of the accused and fixed June 12 for mention. – Bernama Call for police action on investment scam cases PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) has requested the Attorney-General’s Chambers to review the reports of 500 investment scam victims for investigation by police. Its secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the cases are believed to have been transferred to the Companies Commission of Malaysia and the Securities Commission, and no longer under police investigation. “We urge the Attorney-General’s Chambers to consider utilising discretionary powers to initiate criminal investigations under sections 420, 415 and 419 of the Penal Code. It is important the cases are reopened through the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, rather than referring them to other agencies,” he said after joining about 100 investment scam victims to submit complaint letters to a representative of the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Wednesday. MHO had previously exposed tactics used by investment companies, including impersonating famous corporate figures and offering unrealistically high dividends of up to 3.3% per month to deceive potential victims. Police had received 547 reports related to fraud cases involving three investment companies, resulting in the opening of 62 investigation papers under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – Bernama Cops: Be wary of free packages left at doorstep PETALING JAYA: Commercial Crime Investigation Division director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf has warned the public to be cautious of a recent scam tactic that entails scanning QR codes on free items left at residences. “Scammers will always devise innovative strategies to exploit unsuspecting individuals. QR code scams are now a prevalent method for fraud.” He was commenting on a video circulating on social media of a homemaker warning others not to scan the QR code on packages containing free thermos flasks that were left at house gates in her residential estate. Text below the QR code instructed recipients to scan it for a RM200 cash coupon. “Scanning a QR code often involves subsequent steps that the user is prompted to follow. So, do not blindly scan such codes as oScammers using malicious QR codes on gifts to deceive recipients through offers of rewards █ BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com they could lead individuals to fraudulent websites or phishing attempts.” Ramli said although some QR codes may lead to legitimate and trustworthy sites, most offers promising rewards are fraudulent. “Anyone who comes across a free package left at their house should not scan any QR code on it. I am issuing this caution to protect the public from being scammed. QR codes and the subsequent steps that victims are directed to take usually lead them into traps.” He said when victims report having been scammed, they usually claim they were “charmed” and incurred substantial losses. “Scammers are excellent ‘confidence tricksters’. The longer victims engage with a scammer, the more he controls their minds.” He added that last year, the National Scam Response Centre received 15,133 complaints or an average of 30 fraud cases daily, with more than RM173 million in total losses. “It is crucial for everyone to be aware of their legal rights. Police or other enforcement agencies will never make phone calls to the public and threaten them. Doing so is illegal and not part of our standard operating procedures.” He also said the best advice is not to trust offers that appear too good to be true, particularly those promising substantial rewards for little effort, adding that with advancements in artificial intelligence, criminals can employ new methods to deceive victims. “For instance, scammers can make video calls with backgrounds displaying logos of law enforcement agencies to convince victims. “Fraud is an ongoing issue, and criminals have ingenious minds. They are always finding more convincing methods to deceive people.” Ramli said although fraud is investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code and related laws, the investigation process is complex due to the nature of such crimes. “However, we are always diligent in collecting information, including phone numbers, bank account details and other relevant data to aid in our investigations.” Ramli advised caution before engaging in any suspicious transactions and not to be easily swayed by sophisticated scam tactics. 10% drop in fatal crash cases during Raya KUALA LUMPUR: The six-day Op Selamat 22, implemented by police from April 8 in conjunction with Aidilfitri, has managed to reduce the number of road collision cases. IGP Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said cases dropped by 1.41% from 8,989 last year to 8,862. “Fatal road collision cases dropped by 10% from 117 last year to 105, while the total number of fatalities dropped by 6% from 126 last year to 119,” he said in a speech that was read by Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department acting director Datuk Mohd Nasri Omar during an awards ceremony at the Police Training Centre yesterday for the best contingents and districts of the operation. Razarudin said the highest number of fatalities was motorcyclists and pillion riders, with 79 deaths recorded compared with 80 last year. “Based on studies, collisions occurred due to drivers failing to control their vehicles because of fatigue, as well as failing to maintain a safe distance between vehicles. “I believe the drop in cases is a positive result of public awareness on the importance of road safety and responsible driving practices.” He also said the department recorded an increase from 29,216 summonses issued during the last Op Selamat to 114,467. In addition, the statistics for burglary cases during the operation saw 189 cases reported, compared with 272 cases last year. – Bernama TOXIC TOYS ... Penang Consumer Association president Mohideen Abdul Kadir showing children’s toys made from plastic pellets containing various chemicals and dangerous substances. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 6 The Sun invites your esteemed organisation to subscribe to our latest education bulletin in response to the upcoming SPM results to be released. The Bulletin to be published on Friday May 3rd 2024 provides a variety of choices for SPM school leavers on the various pathways available, to pursue their studies. DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY, COME JOIN US! PUBLICATION DATE 3 May 2024 (Friday) BOOKING DEADLINE 26 April, 2024 (Friday) MATERIAL DEADLINE 29 April, 2024 (Monday) Contact theSun's Sales & Marketing team to book your advertising space. 03-7784 6688 advertise@thesundaily.com Malaysian Paper @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper KUALA LUMPUR: A report by the National Solid Waste Management Department revealed landfills are reaching their capacity limits, with 137 still in operation and 174 closed. There is an urgency to find sustainable solutions for managing bulk waste such as sofas, cabinets, bed frames, tables and chairs as such items take up a lot of space at landfills. To address the issue, two companies have joined forces to develop an innovative solution to facilitate the reuse and recycling of furniture that would otherwise end up in dumpsites. An online-only direct-to-consumer furniture retailer, CUURA Space, and the country’s first online barter-centric platform, Barnything, introduced a barter system in which individuals can trade in their old furniture, that will later be refurbished, repaired or repurposed. CUURA Space founder and CEO Benny Lim said the company’s partnership with Barnything came about after he realised there was a need to mitigate the impact of the furniture industry on the environment, Bernama reported. “We want to revolutionise the shopping experience by prioritising sustainability. CUURA Space and Barnything are leading a new era in the industry by integrating sustainable practices into our business models and encouraging eco-conscious choices. “We are also envisioning a future in which sustainability is not just an afterthought but an integral part of the process.” Lim, 37, said the barter system caters to a growing trend of sustainable and ethical consumerism, and its main purpose is to reduce waste and promote furniture reuse. “When individuals trade in their old furniture through the barter system, we carefully evaluate each piece. Depending on its condition and usability, our team will assess whether it can be refurbished, repaired or repurposed. This aligns with the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ ethos. “If a piece cannot be directly reused, we try to salvage its materials to ensure minimal waste. “For instance, wood from an old furniture might be reused and repurposed in new designs, reducing our reliance on raw materials and lessening our (carbon) footprint.” Under the barter system, customers can offload their old furniture by uploading photographs of the items they want to discard on the Barnything website. After the items are evaluated, they will receive a promo code for a discount of RM200 on any purchase of CUURA Space furniture. Their pre-loved furniture will eventually be sold at discounted prices or bartered, preventing them from ending up in landfills. Individuals can also choose to deliver the old furniture themselves or opt for a pickup service, which is provided free of charge if they purchase something from CUURA Space. “We understand the logistics challenges of transporting furniture, so we made sure to offer this service as part of our commitment to make it convenient.” Lim said individuals supporting the barter system are also promoting the circular economy by giving their unwanted furniture a new lease of life. He said CUURA Space plans to develop and produce more affordable furniture for those in the B40 income bracket as the current prices of their stock are geared towards the M40 group. “We need to recognise the importance of catering to diverse demographics, including those in the B40 income bracket. “As part of our ongoing development, we are exploring ways to produce more affordable furniture sets without compromising on quality or sustainability.” Old furniture given new life oTwo firms join efforts to allow sale, reconditioning and bartering to curb overload at landfills Boutique making a difference for PwD MARANG: The TAPAi Boutique at Wakaf Tapai in Terengganu has provided an avenue for seven persons with disabilities (PwD) to hone their skills in making batik products. One male worker and six female workers, all aged 20 to 41, craft batik items, with guidance from five teachers of the Wakaf Tapai Community Rehabilitation Organisation and two special teachers, who successfully implemented the Economic Empowerment Programme by the Social Welfare Department for PwD. TAPAi manager Wan Nur Akmal Wan Ibrahim said she has been running the boutique since 2017 after receiving a one-off grant of RM18,000 from the Social Welfare Department to enhance the programme, specifically for sewing work. “With that allocation, we purchased sewing machines and raw materials such as batik to produce handmade bags. “At the time, TAPAi operated with only five workers who have conditions such as learning and physical disabilities, and speech and hearing impairment. Now, we have workers with Down syndrome and autism. “We have seven workers and five of them are trainees from the organisation. “One trainee has a mental condition and one is from the Integrated Special Education Programme from a nearby school.” Wan Nur Akmal said all workers, including scheduled workers and five TAPAi graduates who work from home, have shown positive development in their work and social skills, adding that they are able to generate their own income. She said initially, they only completed one pencil case a day. But with continuous training, some of them can produce 30 bags a day. “They also have confidence to talk to strangers. Some even do (live streams) to sell the products on their personal TikTok (accounts) during working hours.” On TAPAi’s success, she said their products achieved outstanding sales at the Global Village in Dubai, which ran for six months in 2022. She added that the accomplishment is a result of government initiatives and foreign ambassadors in Malaysia, who visited the boutique to buy batik products to take back to their countries. Siti Zulaikha Abd Muin, 33, who was born with a physical disability, said working at the boutique since 2017 has helped her believe in herself. She said she began her career in TAPAi without any sewing skills and through continuous support from teachers and family, she has produced many products. Nurul Syakirah Ahmad Jais, 23, who was born with dwarfism, began working at the boutique after completing SPM in 2019 and now, she makes various types of bags, including handbags, mini pouches, ketupat bags and coin purses. “I intend to set up my own business in the future.” – Bernama Wan Nur Akmal showing batik bags created by her workers. – BERNAMAPIC
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 7 China’s Wang meets Jokowi, Prabowo JAKARTA: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto yesterday as Beijing seeks to boost its regional influence. The meetings come after Prabowo visited Beijing this month where Chinese President Xi Jinping praised relations with Jakarta, laying out a vision for regional peace as tensions rise between Beijing and other Southeast Asian neighbours, including the Philippines over disputed islets. Defence Minister Prabowo stormed to a first-round majority victory in Indonesia’s presidential election in February. He has voiced support for developing closer ties with Beijing. Wang also met Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi earlier yesterday before visiting Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, at the presidential palace and then Prabowo at the Defence Ministry. Retno said Jokowi and Wang expressed their desire for regional peace and stability, and repeated calls for a de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. “The president emphasised no one would like to see any escalation,” she told reporters after the meeting. “China’s and Indonesia’s position are the same on this issue and the president also conveyed his belief that China would also use its influence to prevent escalation.” Beijing’s top diplomat will then chair a session of the ChinaIndonesia High-level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism today before travelling to Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. Indonesia’s foreign policy is typically neutral and Jakarta walks a delicate diplomatic tightrope in its relations between Beijing and Washington, who are chafing over trade, Ukraine, the Middle East, Taiwan and the South China Sea. Retno said she hoped China would use its influence to prevent escalation in Gaza, emphasising the need for a two-state solution. Both countries pledged to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region, with Wang saying he expected that negotiations on the code of conduct on the South China Sea could be accelerated. Asean and China have for years been trying to create a framework to negotiate a code of conduct, a plan dating as far back as 2002. But progress has been slow despite commitments by all parties to advance and expedite the process. – Reuters Ban prompts X to work with Pakistan to resolve concerns ISLAMABAD: Social media platform X said yesterday it would work with Pakistan’s government “to understand its concerns” after authorities insisted a two-month ban was based on security grounds. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been rarely accessible since Feb 17, when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party called for protests following a government official’s admission of vote manipulation in the February election. “We continue to work with the Pakistani government to understand their concerns,” X’s Global Government Affairs team posted, in their first comments since the site was disrupted. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry on Wednesday said X was blocked on security grounds, according to a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court where one of several challenges to the ban is being heard. On the same day, the Sindh High Court ordered the government to restore access to X within a week. “The Sindh High Court has given the government one week to withdraw the letter, failing which, on the next date, they will pass appropriate orders,” said Moiz Jaaferi, a lawyer challenging the ban. The court’s full decision is expected to be published this week. The government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had earlier refused to comment. The Interior Ministry suggested intelligence agencies were behind the order. Mobile services were cut across Pakistan on election day. – AFP Thousands evacuated as Sulawesi volcano erupts MANADO: Rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people yesterday after a volcano erupted five times, forcing authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning about falling debris that could cause a tsunami. The crater of Mount Ruang flamed with lava against a backdrop of lightning bolts overnight after erupting four times on Wednesday, forcing authorities to raise its alert level to the highest of a four-tiered system. The volcano in Indonesia’s outermost region was still billowing smoke yesterday, prompting authorities to shut the nearest international airport in Manado city on Sulawesi island for 24 hours. oAuthorities close airport, issue tsunami warning CALL TO VOTE ... A Mumbai pedestrian walks past art school students giving finishing touches to election-themed posters placed along a street outside their class to encourage people to vote in India’s general election. – AFPPIC B R I E F SEIGHT INJURED AFTER JAPAN QUAKE TOKYO: Eight people were injured yesterday after a 6.3- magnitude earthquake struck off southwestern Japan, but there appeared to be no major damage or tsunami. The epicentre of the quake, which hit late Wednesday, was between the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, the US Geological Survey said. Japan experiences around 1,500 quakes every year. The vast majority are mild and even larger quakes usually cause little damage. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said the Ikata power plant in the area was operating as normal. “No abnormalities have been detected at the Ikata power plant,” it said. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed there were no tsunami warnings or abnormalities reported at power plants. There was no report of deaths directly caused by the quake but regional governments and media reported at least eight minor injuries. Sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire”, Japan is one of the world’s most tectonically active countries. – AFP TAIWAN LEADER MAKES TIME 100 LIST TAIPEI: Taiwan’s incoming president Lai Ching-te has made Time Magazine’s list of the “100 Most Influential People of 2024”, which the island hailed yesterday as a recognition of its “democratic achievements”. Vice-President Lai, who won the January presidential election to succeed Tsai Ing-wen, will take office on May 20 at a time of growing tensions between Taiwan and China. Taiwan’s Presidential Office praised Lai’s entry to the list, calling it an important recognition from the international community to the democratic achievements of the Taiwanese people. It added Lai would “bear the crucial responsibility of safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy”. Also making Time’s list was Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who ascended to the country’s number-two position last year. Tsai made the list in 2020, with Republican senator Ted Cruz calling her a “signal light casting out China’s looming shadow”. Beijing has denounced Lai as a “dangerous separatist”. – AFP Authorities said they were rushing to evacuate 11,000 residents from the nearby area that included the remote island of Tagulandang, home to around 20,000 people. Some residents were already trying to flee in a panic, according to officials. “Last night people evacuated on their own but without direction due to the volcano’s eruption and falling material, including rocks, so the people scattered to find evacuation routes,” said Jandry Paendong, an official from the local search and rescue agency. He said 20 staff were helping evacuate residents along the coastline near the volcano on rubber boats. He called for more boats and equipment so his team could “carry out evacuation for people in the coast or near the coast” facing the volcano. Tourists and residents were warned to remain outside a 6km exclusion zone. More than 800 people were initially taken to safety from Ruang to nearby Tagulandang island after the first eruption on Tuesday evening before four more eruptions on Wednesday. Authorities also warned of a possible tsunami as a result of the eruptions. “The communities in Tagulandang island, particularly those residing near the beach, (need) to be on alert for the potential ejection of incandescent rocks, hot clouds and tsunami caused by the collapse of the mountain side into the sea,” said Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesia’s volcanology agency. The authorities’ fears were compounded by previous incidents. In 2018, the crater of Mount Anak Krakatoa between Java and Sumatra islands partly collapsed when a major eruption sent huge chunks of the volcano sliding into the ocean, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured thousands. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. The impact of Mount Ruang’s eruption led to the closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado city, located more than 100km from the volcano. The airport runways were shut “due to the spread of volcanic ash which could endanger flight safety”, said Ambar Suryoko, head of the Manado region airport authority. The airport serves airlines that fly to Singapore and cities in South Korea and China. “All flights were delayed because the airport is affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang, volcanic ash,” said Dimas, an airport officer in Manado. The volcano’s last major eruption was in 2002, causing damage to nearby settlements and requiring evacuation of residents. – AFP
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 8 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper Six held in Canada’s largest gold heist BRAMPTON: Canadian and US authorities said on Wednesday six people have been arrested and three more are being sought in connection with what they called the largest gold heist in Canadian history – a cargo of over C$22 million (RM76 million) in gold and currency. The suspects, including two Air Canada employees, forged an airway bill to steal a cargo arriving from Switzerland of 6,600 gold bars weighing 400kg and C$2.5 million in foreign currency, police officials said. Speaking exactly one year after the heist, which took place at an Air Canada cargo facility at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, Peel regional police at a press briefing named the nine suspects and detailed the 19 charges they face. Five suspects were arrested in Canada and released on bail pending trial. One suspect, originally from Brampton, Ontario, was arrested in Pennsylvania along with firearms and remains in custody in the United States. Canada-wide warrants have been issued for the remaining three suspects. Air Canada said it had suspended one cargo division employee charged in the theft while the other, who worked in the same department at the time of the heist, had left the airline before the charges were announced. “As this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further,” Air Canada said. Investigators from the Peel regional police, working with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, recovered 1kg of gold and about C$434,000 in Canadian currency. “We believe that they’ve melted down the gold and then the profits they got from the gold, they used to help finance the firearms,” Detective Sergeant Mike Mavity said. Police also recovered some 65 firearms that investigators allege were bought with the proceeds from the theft. Following the heist, Miami-based transport and security services provider Brinks sued Air Canada in October, alleging “negligence and carelessness” by the airline. Brinks had been hired by Swiss bank Raiffeisen Schweiz and precious metals refining company Valcambi to move the valuables from Zurich to Toronto. – Reuters B R I E F SMICHELANGELO’S SCRIBBLE SELLS FOR US$200,000 NEW YORK: A square scribbled on a yellowed piece of paper by Renaissance genius Michelangelo sold for US$201,600 (RM963,176) – 33 times its estimated value, auction house Christie’s said on Wednesday. Found stuck to the back of a frame, the small drawing accompanied by a letter from Michelangelo’s last direct descendant was initially expected to sell for between US$6,000 and US$8,000. But Christie’s said the piece went under the hammer for “33.6 times its low estimate”, without disclosing any details of the buyer. The small work depicts a block of marble, with the word “simile”, or “similar” in English. It is believed to have been drawn while Michelangelo worked on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. – AFP WOMAN WHEELS CORPSE INTO BRAZIL BANK RIO DE JANEIRO: A woman brought a 68- year-old man in a wheelchair into a bank branch and tried to get him to sign for a loan, but he had been dead for hours, Brazilian police said on Wednesday. Erika Vieira Nunes wheeled the cadaver into the bank in a Rio suburb on Tuesday and told the teller the man wanted a loan for 17,000 reais (RM155,267), security camera video showed. She held a pen and moved his hand forward to no response. “Uncle, are you listening? You need to sign,” she said, according to the security video. Bank staff became suspicious as the man’s head kept falling back when the woman stopped holding it and they called the police, who arrested her on fraud charges. The corpse was taken to the morgue. – Reuters ‘Panama Papers’ accused face 12-year sentences PANAMA CITY: The prosecution sought 12-year prison sentences on Wednesday for the founders of a now-defunct law firm at the centre of the “Panama Papers” tax evasion scandal. Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca stand accused of money laundering in a trial that opened against them and more than two dozen others, mainly former employees, in a court in Panama City last week. The 2016 leaks revealed how many of the world’s wealthy stashed assets in offshore companies, exposing high-profile personalities and triggering investigations around the globe. Mossack, 76, said at the start of the hearing he was not responsible for alleged crimes. Prosecutor Isis Soto asked the court to impose the maximum sentence against the pair for money laundering, which in the Central American country is 12 years. Mossack and Fonseca are also accused of “concealing, covering up and providing false information to banks for the opening of accounts and concealing ownership of assets,” said the prosecutor. “Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca ... received and transferred funds from illicit activities in Germany and Argentina,” Soto said. The leaked trove of 11.5 million files from the law firm Mossack Fonseca implicated influential figures including billionaires, politicians and sports stars. Icelandic prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was forced to resign after it was revealed his family had offshore accounts. Then Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from office for life after being implicated in the documents. Others implicated included former British premier David Cameron, football star Lionel Messi, Argentina’s then-president Mauricio Macri and Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. The files were leaked to a German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Many of those caught up in the scandal put forward reasons to explain their offshore presence and said they did not act illegally. Even so, Mossack Fonseca said in 2018 that it would close due to “irreparable damage” to its reputation. The scandal dealt a severe blow to Panama’s image as an offshore financial hub. Defence lawyer Dionicio Rodriguez has argued that “activities are being prosecuted that are legal in many other countries”. The fact that some of its laws against money laundering did not exist when the Panama Papers revelations emerged could complicate the case. – AFP Stabbed bishop forgives attacker and calls him ‘son’ SYDNEY: A bishop brutally stabbed during a live-streamed sermon said yesterday he is recovering and forgives his attacker, declaring: “You are my son.” Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was slashed in the head and chest by a 16-year-old suspect on Monday, sparking a riot by followers of the Assyrian Christian church in western Sydney. “I am doing fine, recovering very quickly,” said the bishop of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley. The area is a hub for Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian community. Emmanuel has an online following of almost 200,000, courting controversy with his criticism of vaccines and lockdowns. “There is no need to be worried or concerned,” the bishop said in a video released yesterday, with audio of his voice accompanied by a photo of him in vestments. oFollowers told to stay calm, cooperate with police “I forgive whoever has done this act and I say to him: You are my son, I love you and I will always pray for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well.” The teenage suspect was taken to a Sydney hospital after the attack. Senior police said mid-week his treatment was expected to last for several days. The bishop called for calm after the stabbing sparked angry scenes outside the church. Hundreds of congregants and members of the community rushed to the site on the night of the attack. Some hurled rocks and other projectiles that wounded about 50 police officers and damaged several police cars. “I want you to always be calm,” the bishop said. “We need to be always law-abiding citizens as well. We need to co-operate with the police directives whether it be at a state level or a federal level. “We should never forget that we are very blessed to be Aussies.” A western Sydney doctor who is in contact with the teenager’s family said they were in “shock” and “disbelief about the horrible action their son has done”. Jamal Rifi said the family had also been unnerved at how quickly the event had been labelled a “terrorist” act, without speaking to the boy or his family first. The boy’s mother told Rifi her son had anger and mental health issues. Rifi said Australia was a diverse community and despite the differences in culture and faith, he had been reassured that so many had called for calm and denounced any retaliation attempts. “Reciprocal respect is the core that preserves social cohesion,” he said. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said yesterday the teenager remained in hospital and authorities were yet to question him. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns railed at misinformation and graphic content of online posts relating to the attack. Police charged a 19-year-old man on Wednesday in connection with the violence outside the church and have warned there will be more arrests. – AFP DRY SPELL ... A boat rests on a dry section of the Guavio reservoir in Gachala, Cundinamarca Province, Colombia. – AFPPIC
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 9 Israel reserves ‘right to protect itself’ Security Council to vote today on Palestinian membership NEW YORK: The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote today on a Palestinian request for full UN membership, said diplomats, a move that Israel ally the United States is expected to block because it would effectively recognise a Palestinian state. The 15-member council is due to vote on a draft resolution that recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations”, diplomats said. A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the US, Britain, France, Russia or China to pass. Diplomats say the measure could have the support of up to 13 council members, which would force the US to use its veto. Council member Algeria, which put forward the draft resolution, had requested a vote for yesterday to coincide with a Security Council meeting on the Middle East, which is due to be attended by several ministers. The United States has said that establishing an independent Palestinian state should happen through direct negotiations between the parties and not at the United Nations. “We do not see that doing a resolution in the Security Council will necessarily get us to a place where we can find ... a two-state solution moving forward,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Wednesday. The Palestinians are a nonmember observer state, a de facto recognition of statehood that was granted by the 193-member UN General Assembly in 2012. But an application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the Security Council and then at least two-thirds of the General Assembly. The UN Security Council has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognised borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in 1967. Little progress has been made on achieving Palestinian statehood since the signing of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank and is Israel’s partner to the Oslo Accords. Hamas in 2007 ousted the Palestinian Authority from power in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian push for full UN membership comes six months into a war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and as Israel is expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan accused the Security Council of “investing its time in promoting the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state”. “If the Security Council decides to recommend full membership for the Palestinian Authority, which incites and finances terrorism and has no control over its territory, it will lose all legitimacy,” Erdan said. A Security Council committee on the admission of new members – made up of all 15 council members – met twice last week to discuss the application and agreed to a report on the issue on Tuesday. “Regarding the issue of whether the application met all the criteria for membership ... the Committee was unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Security Council,” the report said. – Reuters Russian ‘cyber sabotage’ a global threat, says firm A cloud of smoke erupts following a blast in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. – AFPPIC B R I E F SGERMANY ARRESTS TWO OVER SABOTAGE PLOT BERLIN: Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting attacks, including on US military facilities, German prosecutors said yesterday. Authorities have searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service. One suspects, identified as Dieter S., had since October 2023 discussed possible plots with a person linked to the Russian secret service. Dieter had been prepared to carry out attacks on military facilities. The facilities included the Grafenwoehr army base in the southern state of Bavaria where Ukrainian soldiers receive training to use US Abrams tanks. The Russian embassy in Berlin did not respond to a request for comment. “The actions were intended to undermine the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression,” the prosecutors said. – Reuters ‘RELEASE PRISONERS HELD WITHOUT TRIAL’ RAMALLAH: Palestinians in the occupied West Bank rallied on Wednesday – Palestinian Prisoners’ Day – calling for the release of prisoners held by Israel without charge and for families to again be able to visit their incarcerated loved ones. Relatives have been denied access to visit prisoners since the Oct 7 attacks. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club advocacy group, the number of Palestinian detainees and prisoners has risen to over 9,000, compared to 5,200 before Oct 7. It said more than 1,000 inmates are being held in what is known as “administrative detention”, which allows for suspects to be held without charge or trial for renewable periods of up to six months. – AFP TEL AVIV: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country reserved the right to protect itself after Iran’s unprecedented attack, and that it alone would decide how to do so. Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend in an attack that caused little damage after most of the projectiles were intercepted. The Israeli military has vowed to respond, prompting a diplomatic flurry aimed at calming the Middle East. Israel’s allies in Washington and Brussels have pledged to ramp up sanctions against Iran, while British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock became the first Western envoys to visit Israel since the attack. Netanyahu told the visiting ministers that Israel “will reserve the right to protect itself”, his office said. The pair offered “all kinds of suggestions and advice” during a meeting, Netanyahu said. “However, I would also like to clarify: we will make our decisions ourselves.” For his part, Cameron said “we’re very anxious to avoid escalation and to say to our friends in Israel: It’s a time to think with head as well as heart.” Baerbock emphasised that “the region must not slide into a situation whose outcome is completely unpredictable”. Tehran has vowed to hit back if its arch-foe Israel responds to the oDiplomats scurry to calm Middle East Saturday attack, which itself was launched after a deadly strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate building earlier this month that was widely blamed on Israel. Citing three unnamed Israeli sources, ABC News reported yesterday that “Israel prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week.” Among the range of possible reactions considered by the Israeli war cabinet were options to attack Iranian proxies elsewhere in the region or to conduct a cyberattack, the sources told ABC. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza that has sent regional tensions soaring continued unabated with efforts at a truce appearing to flounder, as key mediator Qatar said it was re-evaluating its role in the stalling negotiations. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned after the attack of “a fierce and severe response” to any retaliation, and on Wednesday his country celebrated its annual Army Day with a parade featuring various attack drones and longrange missiles. Also on Wednesday, Tehranbacked Hezbollah wounded 14 soldiers, six seriously, in a strike on northern Israel, the Israeli army said. This was the third day in a row the Lebanese group had wounded people in Israel, amid near-daily cross-border fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Later, Israel hit targets in eastern Lebanon, far from the border, said a Hezbollah source. Israel’s top ally the United States has made clear it won’t join any attack on Iran, vowing instead to level more sanctions against the country’s missile and drone programme, its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian Defence Ministry. The Israel-Iran tensions have threatened to overshadow the Gaza war, even as deadly bombardment and combat raged in the besieged territory. Talks towards a truce and hostage release deal have stalled, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman AlThani, despite months of effort also involving US and Egyptian officials. He later said that his country was undertaking “a complete reevaluation of its role because there has been damage to Qatar”, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The Israeli military said Wednesday its aircraft had “struck over 40 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip” over the past day. Israel has faced growing global opposition to the relentless fighting in Gaza, which the United Nations and aid agencies have warned has pushed the north of the territory to the brink of famine. But Netanyahu rejected any claims about famine on Wednesday, saying Israel is doing “above and beyond” what is needed “on the humanitarian issue”, his office said. – AFP SAN FRANCISCO: A cyber group with links to Russian military intelligence is set to become a significant global threat after playing an increasing critical role in the conflict in Ukraine, a leading cybersecurity firm warned on Wednesday. Google-owned Mandiant said in a report that it is seeing nefarious operations by the group referred to as “Sandworm”. “We have observed the group sustain access and espionage operations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Latin America,” Mandiant researchers said in a report. “With a record number of people participating in national elections in 2024, Sandworm’s history of attempting to interfere in democratic processes further elevates the severity of the threat the group may pose in the near term.” A US grand jury five years ago indicted a dozen Russian military intelligence officers on charges stemming from their alleged interference with the 2016 US presidential election that put Donald Trump in the White House. Sandworm has repeatedly targeted Western electoral systems and institutions, according to the Mandiant report. Sandworm has “attempted to interfere with democratic processes in select countries by leaking politically sensitive information and deploying malware to access election systems and misreport election data,” Mandiant said. – AFP
10 FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 Navigating family estrangement Q: How can we keep up a relationship with our son when his wife severed all contact with us several years ago? We have asked them many times to tell us how we have wronged them so we can make amends but there has been no response. Focus on the Family Malaysia: Our heart goes out to you. It does sound like this situation was triggered by some sort of offence, whether real or imagined. It could have been something you said or did. It may be a problem with your daughter-in-law. It may be nothing more than an unfortunate misunderstanding. The important thing is to keep your hearts open and communicate your love as best as you are able. Our counsellors suggest three things you can do to preserve peace and sanity on your end and keep your conscience clear: 0 Honour the boundaries your son and his wife have set, no matter how harsh or unreasonable. If they have asked you not to call, do not call. If you violate these boundaries, you will only end up validating their negative image of you. 0 Guard your heart. It would be easy to fall into depression and anxiety or to beat yourself up and blame yourself for what has happened. Do not fall into that trap. Do not become bitter and do not believe lies about your worthiness as a person. Do whatever it takes to stay emotionally healthy and keep yourself psychologically safe despite the circumstances. 0 If the situation allows – you know best if it does – send your son and his wife a card with a brief message expressing your love and goodwill a couple of times a year, perhaps on birthdays and important festivals. It is a small thing but it will let them know that your hearts are still open towards them. Q: I am in my early twenties, living in my parents’ home. I have had several relationships over the past few years but my mum and dad have not thought much of any of them. I want to honour my parents but I also need to live my life. How should I respond to my parents’ negative feelings about the people I have been dating? Focus on the Family Malaysia: To some extent, your present conflicts have less to do with the nature of your romantic interests than with the complexities of your living situation. You did not mention whether you are working full-time or attending university. In either case, you may want to begin working on a plan to become more independent and self-sufficient. A measure of financial independence can be surprisingly empowering and liberating. Once out from under your parents’ roof, you will find it easier to sort out the family dynamics that have been frustrating your relationships with members of the opposite sex. You are wise to take your mum and dad’s desires into account, and you certainly do not want to abandon the values they have worked so hard to instil in you during your growing-up years. At the same time, someone your age must learn how to think, choose and act independently. Living on your own will help you achieve the distance and perspective you need to do that. When and if you find yourself involved in another romantic relationship, it is advisable to move forward with caution and discernment. Give your parents’ perspective the careful consideration it deserves but take time to listen to the counsel of wise friends and advisors as well. This article is contributed by Focus on the Family Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening the family unit. It provides a myriad of programmes and resources, including professional counselling services, to the community. For more information, visit family.org.my. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com Embracing values and fulfilment amid challenges of high living cost IF you had told me 20 years ago that I would be earning a living and raising my family in Kuala Lumpur (KL), I would not have believed you. As a boy from Johor, KL seemed too noisy, crowded and fast-paced for my liking. Yet, here I am in 2024, proudly calling KL my home and city. Yes, it is still noisy and crowded and fast-paced but this is where I truly believe I belong. My family is here, my friends are here and this is where I can contribute the most to society. However, like everyone else in KL, I am also still grappling with the so-called “new normal” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the soaring living expenses. As we try our best to adapt, there has been a constant and prevailing notion that the ideal solution lies in cutting back, tightening our belts and spending less. Some even suggest changing our diet to ubi kayu (tapioca) in the face of rising rice prices, but I beg to differ, primarily because I believe these “solutions” are missing the point. For example, one of the areas that often comes under scrutiny is dining out, be it at the corner mamak stall or the high-end cafes. With rising costs and economic uncertainties, it is tempting to view eating out as an indulgence that we can no longer afford. However, to me, it is not just about the food but the experience, connections and the moments that come with eating out. When we dine out, it is not simply a matter of satisfying our hunger (which ubi kayu can address). It is about the company we keep, the conversations we share and the memories we create (which ubi kayu definitely cannot address). Some may even argue that eating out is part of our Malaysian culture. These intangible elements, be it the ambience of a bustling restaurant, the tranquillity of a cosy cafe or the friendly smile from the bhaiya who takes your order at the table, all add depth and richness to our lives, nourishing our souls in ways that go beyond the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. When we dine out, it is not simply a matter of satisfying our hunger. It is about the company we keep, the conversations we share and the memories we create. – SUNPIC Address road hazards before tragedies strike A RECENT road crash on Jalan Rasah in Seremban underscores the urgent need for action. A sinkhole along the route caused a vehicle to overturn, thankfully resulting in minor injuries to the driver. However, without prompt repairs, more accidents and potentially fatal outcomes, are inevitable. It is time for the Seremban Public Works Department to prioritise repairing this hazardous road section to ensure the safety of all commuters. It is unacceptable that taxpayers must fear for their lives due to neglected road conditions. These dangerous road hazards are often visible from the roadside but can be hard to spot while driving. As a regular walker in the area, I have personally witnessed these hazards and have taken photographs as evidence. Several pressing issues require immediate attention: 0 Open drains without covers pose a significant risk, large enough for someone to fall into. 0 Potholes of considerable size pose threats to pedestrians and motorists, causing accidents and vehicle damage. 0 Clogged drains, especially noticeable near the Seremban Post Office and Seremban Railway Centre, lead to flooding during heavy rains, with water levels reaching four to six inches. Given that these are low-lying areas, it is crucial to ensure proper drainage to prevent such occurrences. Regular maintenance of drains is essential, and the public can contribute by refraining from littering, which not only poses hazards when it clogs drains but also violates public ordinances against littering. Some residents have voiced their concerns to the Rasah state assemblyman, yet no action has been taken thus far. Despite numerous letters highlighting these issues, there have been no tangible results. Citizens are rightfully growing frustrated with the apparent inaction as it undermines the fundamental duty of elected officials to serve their constituents. Public trust is at stake as state officials remain inactive in addressing urgent issues. Citizens expect their concerns to be met with decisive action, especially regarding matters that pose immediate dangers to the community, such as the maintenance and safety of public roads. We once again urge the state authority to promptly resolve the long-standing road maintenance issues. Safety must be our foremost concern, especially as we aim to promote tourism this year. Let us strive to make Seremban a beautifully maintained city that we can proudly showcase to visitors. C. Sathasivam Sitheravellu Seremban COMMENT by Nahrizul Adib Kadri LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com Under One Roof So, when faced with the rising cost of eating out, the knee-jerk reaction should not be to abandon this cherished ritual or culture altogether. Instead, it is an opportunity to pause, reflect and rediscover the values that drew us to dining out in the first place. Perhaps, it is the sense of community we find in sharing a meal with loved ones or the joy of exploring new flavours and cuisines. Whatever it may be, these values are worth preserving. And the same value-defining effort should go to all these “solutions” to address the soaring costs of living in the city. We need creativity and resourcefulness to adapt to the challenges of expensive city living postpandemic, not shortcut responses. Rather than viewing rising costs as insurmountable barriers, we should seek alternative ways to fulfil our actual desires and aspirations. Perhaps, it could be hosting potluck lunches and dinners with friends, where each person brings a dish (or leftovers) to share. Or it can involve exploring outdoor picnics in the park or preparing prep meals for the whole week in the fridge. Whatever it is, the key is to embrace flexibility and open-mindedness, recognising that our values and priorities can remain intact even as our circumstances change. By shifting our focus from external constraints to internal values, we empower ourselves to live authentically and meaningfully, regardless of the challenges we face. Let us challenge ourselves to find creative ways to cultivate the same sense of fulfilment and joy in our everyday lives. After all, true abundance is not measured by the size of our bank accounts but by the richness of our experiences, just as succinctly summarised by Rumi the poet: “Live life as if it is rigged in your favour.” The writer is an associate professor and former director of the Corporate Communications Centre at Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
Enchanting Enchanting sakura season Cherry blossom-inspired herry blossom-inspired culinary delights in KL ulinary delights in KL – P12 WEEKLY FOCUS MONDAY Discover cuttingedge world of Gaming and Tech TUESDAY Ultimate guide to Travel and Leisure WEDNESDAY Latest in Fashion and Beauty sense THURSDAY Inside the world of Social Media Influencers FRIDAY Culinary delights and Beverage trends FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: lifestyle@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com SCAN ME p 21 A taste of Mexico p 22 Perfect food pairings p 23 Making use of the versatile tofu – 123RFPIC
LYFE LYFE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 12 ingredients sourced from Japan, guarantees a sensory journey through the spring season. 0 À la carte starts from RM32 nett per serving. 0 5-course set menus are priced at RM238 nett per person. 0 Hanami omakase is priced at RM358 nett per person. 0 Sakura wine dinner is available on April 25. Through these celebrations, Malaysians honour the rich cultural heritage of Japan while embracing the beauty of spring as the hanami festival serves as a reminder to cherish the moments of beauty and joy, for like the cherry blossoms, they too shall pass, leaving behind cherished memories to be treasured forever. READ OUR HERE /thesun Malaysian Paper Cherry blossom magic THE Hanami Festival, deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, holds significant cultural and spiritual importance. It symbolises the transient nature of life and the beauty of impermanence, with cherry blossoms (sakura) serving as a poignant reminder of this philosophy. As spring (March to June) arrives, cherry trees across Japan burst into magnificent blooms, painting the landscape in shades of pink and white. Hanami, which means “flower viewing”, is the traditional custom of appreciating these blossoms, a practice that dates back centuries. In Japan, hanami is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Friends, families and colleagues gather at outdoor spaces adorned with cherry blossoms. They spread out picnic blankets, set up food and drink stalls and spend hours enjoying the beauty of the blossoms. Traditional foods such as sushi, bento boxes and hanami dango are enjoyed alongside sake or tea. Some may engage in traditional activities like hanami dango making or attend cherry blossom viewing events organised by local communities. The atmosphere is joyous, with laughter filling the air. However, the celebration of hanami is not confined to Japan alone. In Malaysia, where there is a significant Japanese expatriate community and a growing interest in Japanese culture, hanami is also celebrated, albeit with a unique Malaysian twist. Malaysians embrace the spirit of hanami by organising cherry blossom viewing events in botanical gardens with tecoma trees or malls with cherry tree decorations. These events often feature cultural performances, workshops on Japanese arts and crafts and stalls selling Japanese food and beverages. Local Malaysians, along with the Japanese expatriate community, come together to enjoy the festivities. They partake in traditional Japanese foods like sushi, tempura and mochi while sipping on green tea or sakuraflavoured beverages. Malaysian musicians may incorporate traditional Japanese instruments into their performances, creating a mix of Japanese and Malaysian music. Families gather for picnics under the cherry trees, enjoying the serene beauty of the blossoms and creating cherished memories together. As hanami is a beautiful cultural event, some hotels and restaurants in Malaysia also join in the celebrations by offering special menus and experiences inspired by Japanese cuisine and the cherry blossoms. These establishments seek to capture the essence of hanami, providing guests with an opportunity to indulge Cherry blossoms in Japan are blooming from March to June. – PEXELSPIC oHanami celebrations bloom in Malaysia with a local twist Tatsu Japanese Cuisine’s Hanami Festival dining collection is inspired by the sublime season of the blooming Japanese cherry blossoms. Japanese restaurant Nobu KL has curated a hanami omakase menu, offering a unique and authentic dining experience. It takes about 10 days from flowering to full bloom. – PEXELSPIC in the flavours of spring while immersing themselves in Japanese culture. To experience a sakura-inspired culinary feast in KL, check out: Nobu KL Nobu KL is a renowned Japanese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. It is introducing an exclusive hanami omakase menu, available for a limited time until May 5. The menu features an array of dishes crafted with sakura-inspired flavours, showcasing the delicate balance of traditional Japanese ingredients and innovative culinary techniques. Dishes such as Sawara Calamansi Ponzu, Salmon Tataki Raspberry Citrus, and Chargrilled Wagyu promise an unforgettable dining experience, culminating in the sakura sphere – a celebration of spring flavours. The Nobu KL Hanami Omakase is priced at RM650++. InterContinental Kuala Lumpur Tatsu Japanese Cuisine – InterContinental Kuala Lumpur’s renowned Japanese dining destination will feature guest chef Kazuhiko Kojima from Japan alongside its executive chef Tommy Kuan in preparing its hanami feast. Running from Saturday to April 27, guests can indulge in a variety of culinary delights, including themed à la carte offerings, two curated set menus paired with premium sake or wine, a divine omakase experience, and a special wine pairing dinner. Each dish, crafted with the freshest
FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com SCAN ME Moomoo, Nasdaq reaffirm pledge to empower investors Cochlear Malaysia invests up to RM10m on expansion KUALA LUMPUR: Cochlear Malaysia is undertaking an expansion exercise of up to RM10 million and is committed to continue growing and broadening its operations in the country. “The current expansion we are going through is in the range of about RM10 million, excluding all the tools and equipment,” manufacturing and logistics vice-president Samuel Pooranakaran said during a press conference after a site tour of Cochlear Malaysia’s manufacturing, servicing and corporate facility. In terms of total investment to date, the company has invested close to RM50 million since 2016 for manufacturing-related activities. Samuel said the company is mindful that it would need to expand its operations space from the current premises within the next few years. “There is growth but it will be driven by the market, but definitely we are committed and we are going to be here for a long time.” Meanwhile, Cochlear (Asian growth markets) general manager Amy Zheng said Cochlear’s investment into its local manufacturing facilities will have a spillover or positive impact on its overall business in Malaysia. She pointed out that its first implant surgery involving its Cochlear product in Southeast Asia was performed in Malaysia. “We have really worked hand in hand with the (local) healthcare professionals … we definitely want to work with the government and look into ways so that we can have more patients access it,” she said. As part of its Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange programme, Australia’s assistant minister for trade and assistant minister for manufacturing Senator Tim Ayres led a delegation comprising 23 leading Australian businesses in the maritime, decarbonisation and renewable energy sectors to Malaysia and Singapore. “There is a very strong record of two way investment and trade between Malaysia and Australia. “Trade sits at about A$30 billion (RM92.5 billion) a year and our twoway investment is very strong, (with) Malaysian firms investing in Australian industrial capability and Australian firms like Cochlear announcing new expenditure and new expansions here but there’s enormous room for growth,” he said. Axiata, Dialog and Bharti Airtel ink deal to merge Sri Lanka operations PETALING JAYA: Moomoo, a subsidiary company of Nasdaqlisted Futu Holdings and one of the world’s leading investment and trading platforms, signed a global strategic partnership agreement with financial powerhouse Nasdaq yesterday to reaffirm their joint commitment to investor empowerment and improving market access. As a next-generation digital brokerage, Moomoo Malaysia recognises the importance of providing retail investors with access to products that were once only available to select groups of individuals. Its objective is to utilise technology to empower people from all walks of life with the tools and resources to attain financial independence. Moomoo is committed to promoting financial education by helping people develop critical skills to make rational and informed decisions about their financial futures. To that end, the Moomoo platform is replete with the resources needed to help investors make better informed decisions in their investment journey, such as its online learning portal Moo Learn and Moomoo Community. “We hold Nasdaq’s dedication to creating equitable opportunities in high regard, as it mirrors our commitment to fostering financial inclusivity and helping retail investors from diverse backgrounds realise their full potential. Realtime, accurate and in-depth market data are an important means to encourage investors to actively participate in various financial oPartners to enhance access to accurate, in-depth market data and to enable rational, informed decision-making market transactions. “For many years, we have been promoting close cooperation with major exchanges and data providers globally, including Nasdaq, to provide investors with the best data experience and to seize every investment opportunity,” Robin Xu, senior partner and senior vicepresident of Southeast Asia and Oceania at Futu Holdings, said. Moomoo Malaysia CEO Ivan Mok said, “The ongoing collaboration between Moomoo and Nasdaq underscores our dedication not just to market access but to enriching investors’ knowledge and capabilities. “Our platform is uniquely positioned to transform how our clients understand and interact with the markets, propelling them towards greater financial empowerment and independence. By making Nasdaq TotalView available for free for a limited time, we are equipping our users with unrivalled insights and fostering a more transparent trading environment. This is about putting powerful tools into the hands of those who were traditionally left out of the conversation – empowering them to make smarter, more informed decisions.” Nasdaq TotalView is a data product that includes full order book depth, including every single quote and order at every price level in Nasdaq. Brandon Tepper, senior vicepresident and global head of data at Nasdaq, said, “We’re continuing to hear from global investors about the need for transparency and their interest in gaining access to the US markets. We’re excited to continue growing our partnership with Moomoo to support retail investors through educational content to help make more informed investment decisions as they navigate the financial ecosystem.” The enhanced partnership between Moomoo and Nasdaq is set to introduce more innovative educational initiatives in the future and unlock more opportunities that help empower investors across the globe. KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd, Dialog Axiata PLC and Bharti Airtel Ltd signed a definitive agreement yesterday to combine their operations in Sri Lanka, including the acquisition of the entire issued shares of Bharti Airtel Lanka (Pte) Ltd. In a joint statement, they announced that Dialog will acquire 100% of the issued shares in Airtel Lanka, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, by issuing ordinary voting shares amounting to 10.355% of its total issued shares to Bharti Airtel. The transaction is subject to the approval of Dialog’s shareholders and pending completion of specific conditions outlined in the share sale agreement. These include clearance from the Colombo Stock Exchange and completion of other applicable legal, corporate, and regulatory compliance procedures, the statement said. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has granted its approval for the proposed merger, underscoring its vision to advance the adoption of telecommunications services across Sri Lanka. – Bernama Sin-Kung Logistics expects to raise RM26m from IPO KUALA LUMPUR: Integrated logistics service provider Sin-Kung Logistics Bhd expects to raise RM26 million from its initial public offering (IPO) en route to a listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 15. Managing director Alan Ong said the company plans to utilise RM10 million from the IPO proceeds to fund its warehousing and distribution services’ expansion to meet the future rising demand from manufacturing and e-commerce sectors. A further RM2 million of the proceeds will be used to purchase 100 commercial vehicles by 2025 as part of its strategy to expand its trucking and container haulage businesses. The remainder of the proceeds will be used to repay bank borrowings amounting to RM9.6 million, for working capital RM1.1 million and to defray the estimated listing expenses of RM3.3 million. For the IPO, Sin-Kung Logistics issued 200 million new shares and an offer for sale of 103.5 million existing shares, representing 16.7% and 8.6% of the company’s enlarged share capital respectively, at an issue price of 13 sen per share. Based on the enlarged share capital of 1.2 billion shares, Sin-Kung Logistics is expected to have a market capitalisation of RM156 million after its listing. The IPO is open for subscription until May 2. – Bernama █ BY GLORIA HARRY BEATTY sunbiz@thesundaily.com From left: Ayres, Zheng and Samuel at the press conference.
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 14 Systech forges ahead with transformation plan PETALING JAYA: Systech Bhd, an information technology solutions specialist focusing on human capital management solutions and cybersecurity, is going ahead with its proposed acquisition of the entire equity interest of Wilstech Sdn Bhd for a total purchase consideration of RM75 million – RM20 million in cash and RM55 million via issuance of 152.8 million Systech shares at an issue price of 36 sen per share. This follows the approval given by shareholders at Systech’s EGM held yesterday. Shareholders also gave approval for the proposed share issuance of up to 144 million new ordinary shares in Systech (Systech Shares) besides proposed bonus issue of up to 160.7 million new warrants in Systech on the basis of one warrant for every four existing Systech Shares held by entitled shareholders on an entitlement date to be determined and announced later. Shareholders also approved the proposed establishment of an employees’ share scheme of up to 15% of the total number of issued shares (excluding treasury shares) at any point in time during the tenure of the scheme for eligible directors and oShareholders approve proposed Wilstech deal, share issue and bonus warrants and ESS employees of Systech and its subsidiaries (proposed ESS). Speaking after the conclusion of its EGM, Systech executive director Teoh Keng Chang said, “We are certainly excited that our shareholders understand and share our vision for the future of the group. The proposals are a cornerstone of our transformation journey. “By streamlining operations through divesting non-performing segments and expanding through acquisitions of profit-making portfolios, we are now better equipped to deliver enhanced corporate solutions.” Following shareholders’ approval of the proposals, he added, they will have stronger resources to deliver the contracts on hand for the provision of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things solutions under their corporate solution business segment. In the meantime, Teoh said, they are in active discussions with several potential customers hence, the additional proceeds provide the support needed to scale their business. “Meanwhile, the proposed acquisition creates synergies with our existing offerings. With Wilstech, a one-stop B2B IT specialist, on board, we can expand and diversify our customer base while streamlining resources and unlocking new business opportunities. “More excitingly, this proposed acquisition includes a profit guarantee by the vendor that Wilstech shall achieve an audited profit after tax of not less than RM5.0 million for a year,” he added. Separately, he said the proposed bonus issue of warrants, which are issued at no cost to shareholders, serves as a reward for their continuous support all this while. “On balance, we are upbeat on the outlook of the group as we chart further progress on our transformation journey. “As we continue to execute our strategic plans, we are confident to see continuous improvement in our financial performances over the coming years,” Teoh said. The proposals, are expected to be completed by first half of 2024, barring any unforeseen circumstances and subject to all relevant approvals obtained. Petronas, Mercedes-Benz arms in after-sales pact PETALING JAYA: Petronas Lubricants International, one of the top global lubricants players with presence in 100 countries, and Mercedes-Benz Global Customer Service & Parts are collaborating to develop technical solutions that optimise vehicle performance and efficiency, aimed at driving advancements within the automotive after-sales sector. Leveraging their respective expertise, the two global companies will harness digitalisation strategies adoption, tailored market approaches, robust global collaborations as well as initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, to deliver enhanced customer value within the sector. “At Mercedes-Benz Global Customer Service & Parts, our top priority is to deliver the highest level of customer satisfaction, truly caring for their vehicles by offering highperforming, innovative and sustainable products for their vehicles,“ said Andreas Jorg, director of service & parts business and warranty & goodwill Mercedes-Benz Cars of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. He added that their strategic partnership with Petronas Lubricants International is an exciting opportunity to enhance their commitment to their customers by collaborating on innovative technologies that will shape the future of mobility and customer experience. The success history of the partnership is evidenced in the integration of Petronas Lubricants International’s advanced Fluid Technology Solutions with Mercedes-Benz’s engine – a partnership that, since 2010, has fortified the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team with eight-world championships. Petronas Lubricants International managing director and group CEO Hezlinn Idris said, “Leveraging our experience in the development of Fluid Technology Solutions, we will continue to deliver innovative solutions to cater to advanced engine technologies and meet the high-performance driving needs of our customers including delivering improved fuel efficiency, engine performance and safety.” She added that together with MercedesBenz Global Customer Service & Parts, they are expanding their global reach, making their solutions more accessible to the world while prioritising customer value at the core of their offerings. As part of their collaborative efforts, Petronas Lubricants International and Mercedes-Benz Global Customer Service & Parts will explore avenues for joint marketing initiatives, educational programmes and public outreach campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the significance of sustainable mobility solutions. AmanahRaya REIT targets higher occupancy across assets PETALING JAYA: AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust (AmanahRaya REIT) targets to achieve at least 90% of its portfolio occupancy rate by the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (FY25). At the company’s AGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, AmanahRaya REIT managing director Tunku Rozita Tunku Abdul Malek said the ambitious target reflects AmanahRaya REIT’s commitment to maximise value for unitholders and strengthen its position as a listed REIT on Bursa Malaysia. The increase in occupancy rates for Vista Tower is poised to significantly bolster the earnings potential for AmanahRaya REIT. Tunku Rozita said, ‘We aim to achieve at least 90% occupancy rates for the fund’s portfolio by the financial year ending 2025. Currently, we are in active discussions with numerous potential tenants, and the outlook is quite promising. Being the largest asset within the portfolio, we anticipate that the occupancy rate for Vista Tower to reach 60% by July 2024, up from 35% at the end of FY 2023, primarily due to the influx of new tenants.’ Looking ahead, she said they are confident that this positive trend will continue throughout FY24, with the potential to reach at least 70% occupancy rates. “The new leases we are securing have tenures ranging from 2 to 3 years, providing stability, and contributing to our long-term growth strategy,” she said. AmanahRaya REIT’s current portfolio comprises 11 properties, including the educational assets of SEGi University Kota Damansara, SEGi College Subang Jaya and Help University campuses. The portfolio also encompasses a variety of properties in the industrial, retail, and hospitality sectors. Moving forward, AmanahRaya REIT has announced its decision to fully divest from the hospitality sector, aligning with its ongoing initiative to optimise the portfolio by acquiring high-yielding assets and divesting non-core strategic assets. Tunku Rozita said their focus will primarily be on educational assets, industrial properties, particularly in logistics, and wellness facilities while being prepared to seize attractive opportunities that can drive their earnings growth. Shift, JLand Group to explore building marine battery fabrication facility PETALING JAYA: Shift Clean Solutions Ltd, a global producer of marine energy storage systems, and JLand Group Sdn Bhd (JLG), a real estate arm of Johor Corp, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to evaluate the establishment of a fabrication and production facility for marine batteries at Ibrahim Technopolis in Johor. The facility will leverage the Asean Free Trade Area agreement to promote regional economic growth and foster a more sustainable maritime industry. This latest partnership with JLG will strengthen Shift’s position as a frontrunner in clean energy storage solutions for the maritime industry in the region. “This MoU represents a pivotal moment for us,” stated Shift CEO Gary Doyle. “By strengthening our presence in Southeast Asia, we are strategically positioned to serve the From left: Shift Clean Solution directors Chan Wan Yin and Eirik Barclay, Muaazam and JLG general manager, business development, Khairuddin Ong, at the MoU signing ceremony during Singapore Maritime Week 2024. rapidly growing demand for marine electrification solutions in the region. This collaboration with JLG will enhance the regional supply chain and empower us to better support companies across Asean in their transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable maritime future.” Meanwhile, JLG managing director Muaazam Mahmud said their collaboration with Shift signifies a strategic alliance aimed at propelling innovation and creating a tangible impact in marine and port electrification.
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 15 Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesun.my/ KUALA LUMPUR: OB Holdings Bhd, a fortified food and beverage (F&B) and dietary supplements manufacturing services provider, has obtained approval from Bursa Malaysia Securities to list on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities (IPO approval). OB Holdings, through its subsidiaries, is principally involved in the manufacturing of fortified F&B and dietary supplements for third party brand owners. Its range of fortified F&B products encompasses a wide variety of formulations including fruitbased products (beverages mix, chewable tablets and jelly), milk-based products (beverages and chewable tablets), herbbased products (beverages mix, chewable tablets, jelly and liquid beverages), collagen-based products (beverages mix and jelly), vegetable-based beverages mix, probiotic-based beverages mix, coffeebased beverages mix, oat-based beverages mix, soy-based beverages mix and teabased beverages mix. The dietary supplements comprise traditional medicines and nutraceuticalbased products. Additionally, the group manufactures, sells, and markets its own fortified F&B and dietary supplements under various house brands including Bonlife, GoHerb, Kids Vite, Zen Night, Sleepin’ Beaute, and EZ:Nitez. The group also offers contract packing services for various products such as milk powder, tea leaves, honey, herb powder, fruit powder, and liquid chlorophyll into retail packaging sizes, along with trading of milk powder and other activities. The initial public offering (IPO) involves a public issue of 120 million new ordinary shares, representing 30.64% of its enlarged issued share capital of 391.63 million ordinary shares. Managing director Teoh Eng Sia said “We are committed to excel in providing end-toend manufacturing services for brand owners to develop high quality fortified F&B products and dietary supplements. Our comprehensive services cover the development of product formulations, product registration, sourcing of supplies, manufacturing and packing of products, and delivery of products to our customers’ designated location.” Over the years, he added they have developed more than 900 formulations of fortified F&B and over 100 formulations of dietary supplements and their products are tailored to meet the diverse needs of consumers across various demographics and lifestyles, ensuring they adapt to consumer preferences and responding to emerging market trends. Teoh said the group plans to use the IPO proceeds, among others, for repayment of bank borrowings, purchase of machines, product development, marketing and advertisement, and for working capital requirements which is in line with growth in business operations. Beyond Malaysia, the group’s products are also exported to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, China, Australia and Taiwan. Barring unforeseen circumstances, OB Holdings targets to be listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities in the fourth quarter of 2024. OB Holdings gets Bursa’s nod to list on ACE Market oGroup to use IPO funds for repaying loans, buying machinery, developing products, marketing, and working capital KUALA LUMPUR: Smart Asia Chemical Bhd (Smart Asia) has signed an underwriting agreement with Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd for the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd. The IPO will entail a public issuance of 93.5 million Smart Asia’s new shares, of which Mercury Securities will underwrite 30.59 million IPO shares. Of the 30.59 million shares, 18.49 million will be allocated to the Malaysian public via balloting and 12.1 million will be allocated to eligible directors and employees as well as persons who have contributed to the success of Smart Asia and its subsidiaries. The remainder of 46.23 million IPO shares will be allocated to bumiputra investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and 16.68 million IPO shares will be by way of private placement to selected investors. Smart Asia managing director Goh Chye Hin said the signing of the underwriting agreement symbolises a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards innovation and growth. “Proceeds from the IPO will be utilised to partly finance the establishment of the Perak plant including the construction plans as well as the purchase and commissioning of an automated paint production system,” he said in a statement yesterday. The remainder of the proceeds will be used for the purchase of 250 sets of Smart Colour POS Tinting Machines, as well as the company’s working capital and listing expenses. “As we embark on this new chapter with the launch of the Perak plant, we are dedicated to advancing our operational and automation capabilities across our products and services towards an Industry 4.0 manufacturing plant,” he added. Smart Asia is expected to be listed in the second quarter of 2024. Goh said that Smart Asia is consistently upgrading to provide pioneering solutions that meet the changing needs of its stakeholders. “With a talented team and a strong vision, as well as the prompt support given by Mercury Securities, we are poised to unlock new opportunities and create lasting value for our stakeholders,” he added. Smart Asia is principally involved in the development, manufacturing, distribution and sale of a wide range of decorative paints, protective coatings and paint-related products for both household and industrial applications. – Bernama MIDF Research remains positive on property sector KUALA LUMPUR: MIDF Research has maintained a positive outlook on the property sector as it sees the landscape for the sector is improving, underpinned by a stable House Price Index (HPI) outlook, an unchanged overnight policy rate at 3%, and a noticeable reduction in residential overhang. In adiition, upcoming infrastructure projects such as the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and Penang Light Rail Transit will improve connectivity and support buying sentiments on property in Malaysia, the research firm said. According to the National Property Information Centre, Malaysia’s HPI has been on an upward trajectory since 2022, following the reopening of the economy. The HPI has been on a growth trajectory since the fourth quarter of 2021, experiencing a robust recovery throughout 2022, driven by improvements in the Malaysian property market. In the third quarter of 2023, the HPI stood at 219.4, marking a notable increase from 216.8 recorded in the second quarter of the year and 218 in the third quarter of 2022. – Bernama TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 7 arrives in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: TP-Link, the world’s leading provider of consumer Wi-Fi networking and smart home devices, is set to revolutionise the way people connect to the internet by introducing the latest in wireless technology Wi-Fi 7. “Whether you’re a smart home enthusiast, a gamer, or a working professional, everyone can experience cutting-edge wireless technology. TP-Link is proud to introduce the latest in wireless technology Wi-Fi 7 to the Malaysian market. Wi-Fi 7 arrives as a gamechanger, poised to revolutionise how we connect to the internet. “We’re also excited to introduce our newest Wi-Fi 7 routers, Deco BE85 and Archer GE800 combining cutting-edge technology with sleek designs. These routers deliver lightning-fast speed providing enhanced performance and reliability,” said TP-Link Malaysia and Singapore regional director Hugo Cai. Smart Asia in underwriting deal with Mercury Securities
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 16 Huawei starts sales of Pura 70 smartphone with the Pura 70 series being an important catalyst. Last year, Huawei sold about 32 million smartphones. “There may be some shortage at various channels but supply will be much better compared to when the Mate 60 was launched. We don’t expect any longlasting shortage,” Lam said. The Pura 70 series has four variants: the 70, the 70 Plus, the 70 Pro and the 70 Ultra. The starting price for the Pura 70 series is 5,499 yuan (RM3,636). The launch of the Mate 60 Pro last August sparked a spike in Huawei’s smartphone sales. According to Counterpoint, in the first six weeks of 2024, Huawei saw unit sales rise by 64% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone sales in China fell 24% during the same period. Huawei’s Kirin 9000S chip was reportedly manufactured by China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) despite US export restrictions seeking to limit Beijing’s chip-making capabilities. It was seen as a symbol of China’s technological resurgence despite Washington’s ongoing efforts to cripple its capacity to produce advanced semiconductors. The White House began a review of the chip earlier this year and said last month that SMIC might have violated US export rules, while adding it was still evaluating the situation. Besides targeting China’s chip manufacturers, the US has imposed trade restrictions on Huawei since 2018, viewing the company and its products as a national security risk, which the company denies. Elaborating on the pending Mate 70 smartphones on Tuesday, Xu said the goal is for it to use a “pure” version of its HarmonyOS operating system, developed in 2019 after US sanctions cut Huawei’s access to American technologies such as Google’s Android. HarmonyOS had still been reliant on the Android application ecosystem but Huawei plans to cut that relationship and make HarmonyOS completely independent and able to compete with Apple’s iOS and Android, he said. – Reuters People sitting near a screen showing the Pura 70 as the smartphone goes on sale at Huawei’s flagship store in Beijing yesterday. – REUTERSPIC oAnalysts expect it to contain advanced China-made chip TSMC posts 9% profit rise in Q1 TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced yesterday a nearly 9% increase in net profits in the first quarter of this year. The chipmaking giant – whose clients include Apple and Nvidia – controls more than half the world’s output of silicon wafers, used in everything from smartphones and cars to missiles. The company said yesterday its net profit increased 8.9% on-year in January-March to NT$225.4 billion (RM33.3 billion) compared to NT$206.9 billion in the same period last year. First-quarter revenues also rose 13% year-on-year to NT$592.6 billion, it said. “Advanced technologies, defined as seven-nanometre and more advanced technologies, accounted for 65% of total wafer revenue,“ it said. TSMC – which produces some of the tiniest, most advanced microchips in the world – had sought to quell investor fears in the past by pointing to the increasing demand for AI-related products, which need high-performing silicon wafers to function. Meanwhile, their customers – and governments concerned about critical supplies – have called for the firm to make more chips off the island. Self-ruled Taiwan is claimed by neighbouring China, which has in recent years ramped up political and military pressures against Taipei. In February, TSMC launched a new fabrication plant in the southern Japanese island of Kyushu – a coup for Japan as it vies with the United States and Europe to woo semiconductor firms with huge subsidies. Experts had called the new plant in Japan “the most significant TSMC international investment to open in many years”. TSMC also said this month it would build a third semiconductor factory in Arizona, raising its total investment in the US to US$65 billion (RM311 billion). It already had plans to build two plants in Arizona, and another one in Germany. The preliminary agreement with the US Commerce Department – tied to a major investment law called the Chips and Science Act – would see TSMC receiving up to US$6.6 billion in direct funding from the American government. They could also get up to another US$5 billion in the form of loans. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had said this would be the “first time” such advanced semiconductor chips will be made on American soil. “These are the chips that underpin all artificial intelligence,” she said at the time of the grant announcement, adding that 6,000 direct high-tech jobs could be created due to the agreement. – AFP Japan banks’ capital sufficient to withstand stresses: BOJ TOKYO: Japanese banks have improved their resilience to rising interest rates by rebalancing their domestic bond portfolios, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) said in its semi-annual report on financial systems yesterday. The BOJ’s latest analyses of risks in the financial system come as the central bank ended eight years of negative interest rates last month, making a historic shift away from its focus on reflating growth with decades of massive monetary stimulus. All types of financial institutions in the country have shortened the duration of their yen-denominated bond holdings, reducing interest rate risk, especially in the longer-term zone, the report said. It also noted that from a macro perspective, an improving economy and the resulting rise in interest rates can be expected to lead to an improvement in household income and the interest-related balance. Overall, Japanese banks have sufficient capital and stable funding bases to withstand various types of stress, the report said. But vigilance against tail risks was still warranted, it added, adding that the period of stress may be prolonged further with continuing global monetary tightening and the resultant concerns about a slowdown in foreign economies. – Reuters VinFast reports net loss despite higher revenue HANOI: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast on Wednesday reported a net loss of nearly US$620 million (RM2.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2024 despite a rise in revenue, but maintained an ambitious target for vehicles delivered by the end of the year. The communist state’s first homegrown car manufacturer is trying to break into the international market, aiming to compete with global EV giants such as Tesla. VinFast said in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that its revenue for the first three months of the year was US$302.6 million, up nearly 270% from the same period in 2023. A total of 9,689 VinFast electric vehicles (EVs) were delivered in the first quarter of 2024, a more than four-fold increase year-over-year. “Out of 9,689 EVs delivered in the first quarter of 2024, 56% were to related parties of the company,” according to VinFast’s SEC filing. But the firm also reported a net loss of US$618.3 million, up 3.5% year-over-year but down more than 12% from previous quarter. The company maintained its target of delivering 100,000 EVs this year. “We remain steadfastly committed to driving continuous improvements across our business,” VinFast chief financial officer Anh Nguyen said in a statement. “Our focus on materials optimisation, scale advantages and disciplined cost management will be key to delivering sustained value for our shareholders.” Since early this year, the company has continued to expand its international presence by signing with dealers in Indonesia, Thailand and Oman, as well as beginning construction of an EV factory in India. Vinfast listed on the Nasdaq in August, hitting headlines around the world as its valuation skyrocketed and then crashed. The company’s CEO is Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man and the chairman of VinFast’s parent company Vingroup. – AFP SHANGHAI: Chinese technology giant Huawei started selling two models of its highly anticipated, high-end Pura 70 smartphone series yesterday that many analysts expect to contain an advanced China-made chip like its Mate 60 handset. The Pura series developed by the Shenzhen-headquartered company has advanced cameras and is known for its sleek design, while the Mate series emphasises performance and business features. The launch of Huawei’s Mate 60 series last year was celebrated by Chinese state media as a triumph over US sanctions on the firm, as the handsets contain an advanced China-made chip that is considered only a few generations behind cutting-edge chips used by Western tech giants like Apple and Google in terms of computing power. Eric Xu, Huawei’s acting chairman, on Wednesday told a forum in Shenzhen that the company also plans to roll out a Mate 70 smartphone this year. The Pro and Ultra versions of the Pura 70 were available yesterday, while the Plus and base versions will begin sales on April 22. The phones were out of stock at Huawei’s official online store just a minute after sales started, and hundreds of the brand’s fans lined up at Huawei stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. One customer, Lucas Zhuang, tested the network speed of the Pura 70 and said it was at the level of 5G. Washington has banned the licensing of 5G chips to China but Huawei’s Mate 60 phones were already able to achieve 5G speed in many cases despite Huawei not branding it as 5G. “We didn’t know what chip the Pura 70 has inside. We only found out after we bought it,” Zhuang, who already owns the Mate 60, told Reuters after waiting in line at Huawei’s flagship store in Shanghai. “But we believe ... the chip it has will certainly meet people’s needs.” Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at research firm Counterpoint, said he expected shipments of about 60 million units from Huawei this year,
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 17 Biden seeks to triple tariffs on Chinese metals EU and US reindustrialisation accelerates: Study PARIS: Companies in Europe and the United States are set to plough more money into bringing manufacturing home after the Covid-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted the global economy, a study published yesterday found. The report by consulting firm Capgemini found that companies in 13 industrial sectors in 11 countries in Europe and the United States plan to invest US$3.4 trillion (RM16 trillion) over the next three years on bringing manufacturing home or to a nearby country. That is up from US$2.4 trillion in the past three years. “The rapidity with which reindustrialisation has taken hold is remarkable,” said the report. “Driving this is the imperative to promote supply chain resilience and flexibility; increase both the availability and appeal of skilled manufacturing jobs; meet climate targets; re-establish national security in strategic sectors, and regain the manufacturing might that the industrial powerhouses of Europe and North America once enjoyed.” The Covid-19 pandemic severely disrupted global supply chains, making many companies want to regain greater control over raw materials and components. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought to the fore the national security aspect of having control over essential supplies and the necessary manufacturing capacity. “We were surprised by the magnitude of the phenomenon” of relocalisation of manufacturing, one of the report’s authors, Etienne Grass, told AFP. He noted that the investment represents an average allocation of around 8.7% of revenue of the companies it surveyed. “That’s really a considerable amount.” Some 1,300 senior executives of industrial firms with more than a US$1 billion in annual revenue were interviewed for the survey in February. The companies were located in Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the US. The top reason cited by companies for reindustrialisation was to strengthen their supply chains, followed by the importance of establishing a domestic manufacturing infrastructure to ensure national security. In third place was reducing greenhouse gas emissions, followed by taking advantage of financial incentives to reindustrialise offered by their governments. While US companies have the largest reinvestment plans in absolute terms at US$1.4 trillion, it trails companies in other nations in terms of percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), said Grass. The German reindustrialisation effort is equivalent to 20% of GDP and the French effort is 13%, compared to 5% for the US despite the generous subsidies offered under the Inflation Reduction Act. – AFP Whistleblowers slam Boeing safety culture Biden delivering remarks at United Steel Workers headquarters in Pittsburgh. – REUTERSPIC PITTSBURGH: US President Joe Biden called on Wednesday for a hike in steel tariffs on China, accusing it of cheating as he courted blue-collar voters on an election campaign trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Biden accused Beijing of xenophobia too in a speech to union members in Pittsburgh that also sought to contrast his defence of workers’ rights with the record of his rival Donald Trump. “They’re not competing, they’re cheating. They’re cheating and we’ve seen the damage here in America,” the 81-year-old Biden said to cheers at the headquarters of the United Steel Workers union. The Democrat said Chinese steel companies “don’t need to worry about making a profit because the Chinese government is subsidising them so heavily”. Biden said he had called for the US Trade Representative to triple the tariff rates for Chinese steel and aluminum if Beijing was confirmed to be using anti-competitive practices. “They’re xenophobic,” he added. “They’ve got real problems. I’m not looking for a fight with China, I’m looking for competition – but fair competition.” Biden has taken an increasingly protectionist stance as he competes with Trump for the votes of blue-collar workers in America’s industrial heartland in November’s election. Beijing reacted furiously after Washington said it was also launching a probe into Chinese shipbuilding following a complaint by unions, including United Steel Workers. But Biden insisted there would be “no trade war” with China and insisted his tariffs would not hurt his ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders have tried to smooth tense ties in recent months, meeting in California last year and speaking on the phone recently. oBut American president denies trade war, insists ties with Xi not hurt Biden was on the second day of a three-day swing through Pennsylvania, which he narrowly won over Trump in 2020. The Pittsburgh stop was also designed to put a seal on his union ties, after United Steel Workers officially endorsed him for the election. Biden recently opposed a bid by Japan’s Nippon Steel to take over the Pittsburgh-based US Steel in a further attempt to woo the union. On Wednesday, he said “I promise” to keep the iconic company American-owned. He also took aim at Trump, saying his predecessor “never lifted a finger” to stop China siphoning off US jobs. Despite huge differences with Trump on everything from tax to abortion, Biden’s trade policies have increasingly echoed elements of his rival’s “America First” approach. But unlike Trump, Biden has invested huge amounts in infrastructure and green projects since taking office, hoping that it will bring manufacturing and production of key goods like steel back to the United States. The Biden administration views China’s practices as a barrier to that. – AFP WASHINGTON: Witnesses at a US Senate hearing on Boeing drew a disturbing picture on Wednesday of an aviation giant that blows off safety questions and sidelines critics as it chases faster production and bigger profits. “The attitude from Boeing from the highest level is just to push the defective parts, regardless of what it is,” Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Salehpour, who has worked at Boeing for 17 of his 40 years in aerospace, said he became a whistleblower after he was punished for raising safety questions about the top-selling 787 Dreamliner and 777. The engineer testified that he was blackballed by company higher-ups and feared for his personal well-being after raising concerns about safety. He maintains that the Dreamliner could show premature signs of fatigue, resulting in a catastrophic accident because of excessively large gaps in the plane’s assembly. He likened it to a paper clip that is bent repeatedly. “You do it once or twice, it doesn’t break, but it breaks at some time,” added Salehpour, who has said the entire 787 fleet should be grounded for investigation. Boeing acknowledged imperfections, but said it was making progress. “We know we have more work to do and we are taking action across our company,” the firm said after the hearing, pointing to an uptick in its “Speak Up” portal to field employee input. Former pilot Shawn Pruchnicki, now at Ohio State University, said a reporting culture was critical to improved safety, along with a chain of accountability all the way up to the CEO. Pruchnicki said despite promises he called “hollow”, there was no sign Boeing has reformed itself. “So it leaves one to wonder, have we gone backwards?” he asked. – AFP Tesla asks shareholders to reapprove huge Musk pay deal NEW YORK: Electric vehicle maker Tesla will ask its shareholders to vote again on a US$56 billion (RM268 billion) compensation package they had approved in 2018 for CEO Elon Musk before it was squashed by a US court earlier this year. In a filing with federal regulators on Wednesday, Tesla chairman Robyn Denholm said the board of directors stood by the original package and argued that the company’s “entrepreneurial spirit” had always been one of “big risks for the chance of big rewards”. Musk’s payout – worth as much as US$55.8 billion in 2018 – was voided in January by a Delaware court, ruling on a complaint by an individual shareholder alleging that Musk had dictated his terms to the board, which was not sufficiently independent from its star CEO. In the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Denholm expressed the board’s continued opposition to the court ruling, insisting it was not how corporate law “should or does” work. “Elon has not been paid for any of his work for Tesla for the past six years that has helped to generate significant growth and stockholder value,– she wrote. “That strikes us – and the many stockholders from whom we already have heard – as fundamentally unfair, and inconsistent with the will of the stockholders who voted for it.” In a second proposal ahead of the June 13 shareholder meeting, the carmaker asked shareholders to support moving the company’s state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas, which “is Tesla’s home”, Denholm said in the filing. The proposals come amid a difficult stretch for Tesla, whose shares have fallen 37% so far this year compared with a gain of about 6% in the S&P 500 over the same period. Earlier this week, Tesla announced it would lay off more than 10% of its global workforce. – AFP
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 18 Telegram boss says app reaches 900 million users DUBAI: The encrypted messaging app Telegram has reached more than 900 million active users and should pass the one-billion mark within a year, its boss said in an interview published on Wednesday. “Telegraph is spreading like a forest fire. Two-and-a-half million users sign up every day,” said Pavel Durov, the Russian who founded the company alongside his brother Nikolai, in a rare interview with controversial right-wing US talk show host Tucker Carlson. People “love the independence. They also love the privacy, the freedom, (there are) a lot of reasons why somebody would switch to Telegram”, Durov told Carlson. The encrypted messaging app, based in Dubai, has positioned itself as an alternative to US-owned platforms, which have been criticised for their commercial exploitation of users’ personal data. Telegram has committed itself to never disclosing any information about its users. Durov said he got the idea to launch an encrypted messaging app after coming under pressure from the Russian government when working at VK, a social network he created in his home country before selling it and leaving Russia in 2014. He said he then tried to settle in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco before choosing Dubai, which he praised for its business environment and “neutrality”. “I think we’re doing a great job with Telegram .... 900 million users will probably cross a billion monthly active users within a year from now.” By basing itself in the United Arab Emirates, Telegram has been able to shield itself from moderation laws at a time when Western countries are pressuring large platforms to remove illegal content. Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 members, which has led to accusations that it makes it easier for false information to spread virally, as well as for users to disseminate hateful, neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial and terrorist content. – AFP EU questions TikTok over new Lite app BRUSSELS: The EU gave TikTok 24 hours to provide a risk assessment on its new Lite app launched in France and Spain over concerns of its potential impact on children and users’ mental health, the European Commission said on Wednesday. The new rewards app TikTok Lite arrived in the two countries this month and allows users aged 18 and over to earn points that can be exchanged for goods like vouchers or gift cards. The commission said TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, should have carried out the risk assessment before deploying the app and now wants “more details”. The demand “concerns the potential impact of the new ‘Task and Reward Lite’ programme on the protection of minors, as well as on the mental health of users, in particular in relation to the potential stimulation of addictive behaviour”, it said. The commission said in a statement it also wants to know what measures the platform has put in place to mitigate the risks identified. The request for information was made under a new content moderation law known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which has stringent rules for 22 of the world’s biggest online platforms including TikTok. The demand is a first step in a procedure and does not mean TikTok will face further action. That would depend on what information the company gives to the EU. Alongside the 24-hour deadline for the risk assessment, TikTok must provide the other information by April 26, the commission said. – AFP IMF calls for fiscal restraint WASHINGTON: The path towards sustainable government debt levels around the world is under threat this year from the sheer number of elections taking place, the IMF said on Wednesday in a new report. “History suggests, and empirical evidence confirms, that governments tend to spend more and or tax less in election year,” Vitor Gaspar, the head of the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs told AFP, ahead of the publication of the Fiscal Monitor report. He added that the situation this year is particularly complicated because, “the political discourse is dominated by references to fiscal expansion and calls for fiscal support or public spending – or both”. The Fiscal Monitor report found that global public debt “edged up again” last year, reversing a couple of years of decline, due largely to a fall in revenues “as windfall revenues from inflation waned”. “Fiscal tightening is projected for 2024, but it is subject to considerable uncertainty,” the IMF report continued. Much of this uncertainty, the IMF said, is down to the fact that 2024 is the “Great oGlobal debt levels face ‘Great Election Year’ risk, says fund official Election Year”, when 88 economies or economic areas representing more than half of the world’s population have held, or are due to hold, elections. “Clearly, given the stronger link between fiscal policy and politics, it is perfectly reasonable to think that political factors and political discourse will play an added role right now,” Gaspar told AFP. The IMF predicts that current spending and taxation levels have put global public debt on track to rise from just over 93% of economic output last year to 99% by 2029. This trend is “driven by the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States, where under current policies public debt is projected to continue increasing beyond historical highs”, the IMF report said. The US experienced “remarkably large fiscal slippages”, last year, the IMF said, citing a steep decline in income tax revenues due to lower capital gains taxes and “delayed tax payment deadlines”. While the IMF expects the US fiscal deficit to remain stuck above 6% over the next five years, the country’s strong economic position makes it a “very strong outlier in fiscal development around the world”, Gaspar said. “The United States has ample fiscal space. “There are many measures that can be taken on the spending side and the revenue side.” Like the US, China’s fiscal deficit is projected to remain at elevated levels over the next five years, rising from more than 7% of GDP last year to around 8% by 2029. “China stands out as a country where the deficit as stayed elevated throughout,” Gaspar said. However, “China, as the United States, has policy room to correct the situation and can do it from a public finance viewpoint”, he continued, adding: “China does have room to manoeuvre.” “They should act quickly in guaranteeing the credibility of their local government finances, in particular in cases where they are in danger given real estate and property development.” Given China’s role as a leading bilateral lender to many of the world’s developing economies, its fiscal position carries consequences for countries around the world. The Fiscal Monitor report called for countries to make a “renewed push” toward consolidating their fiscal positions – especially given the expected loosening of tight monetary policy in many places through interest rate cuts later this year. To do this, the IMF recommended that countries should start by “immediately” phasing out pandemic-era support measures, scaling back fuel and energy subsidies, and enacting entitlement reforms in advanced economies with ageing populations. In emerging market and developing economies, governments should “renew efforts to rationalise large government wage bills, and reform social safety nets”, the IMF said. – AFP Court rejects Pablo Escobar trademark case LUXEMBOURG: A European court rejected on Wednesday a company’s bid to use the name of Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar to sell a range of products and services. The European Court of Justice ruled in favour of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) which refused a 2021 application to register “Pablo Escobar” as a trademark for a company called Escobar Inc. The public would associate the name with “drug trafficking and narco-terrorism and with the crimes and suffering resulting therefrom”, a statement from the Luxembourg-based court said. The European agency rejected the application on the grounds that it was “contrary to public policy and to accepted principles of morality” which led Escobar Inc to challenge the decision. The court ruled that the EUIPO had correctly justified its refusal due to the negative perception of Escobar’s name to the Spanish public – as it would be the most familiar with Escobar due to the links between Spain and Colombia. Escobar, founder and boss of the Medellin cartel who was killed by police in 1993, “is publicly perceived in Spain as a symbol of organised crime responsible for numerous crimes”, the statement said. – AFP Shirts with the image of Escobar on sale at a street stand in the Colombian city of Medellin. – REUTERSPIC
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 19 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) ALLIANZ-PA 21.5 -0.16 10 LPI 11.78 -0.16 1921 PANAMY 18.88 -0.16 208 GREATEC 4.48 -0.14 10340 HENGYUAN 3 -0.12 6,961 HCK 2.14 -0.11 1,680 HIBISCS 2.62 -0.1 38,454 BAT 8.39 -0.08 1,476 EITA 0.825 -0.08 45,106 HTPADU 2.3 -0.07 28,676 MSM 3.19 -0.07 15833 NAIM 1.01 -0.07 235,679 GOLDETF 3.53 -0.07 188 CARLSBG 18.46 -0.06 2,704 CDB 4.09 -0.06 22381 HLFG 16.48 -0.06 753 HLIND 10.52 -0.06 385 IGBB 2.46 -0.06 20,778 TECGUAN 1.65 -0.06 26 UNISEM 3.53 -0.06 3,564 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/-(RM) +/-(%) VOLUME BORNOIL 1,778,406 0.005 -0.005 -50 INGENIEU 1,299,120 0.14 -0.005 -3.45 SENDAI 716,335 0.405 0.03 8 FITTERS 690,482 0.045 -0.005 -10 VELESTO 652,276 0.27 -0.005 -1.82 BPURI 393,083 0.08 -0.005 -5.88 CIMB 285,982 6.59 0.06 0.92 TANCO 278,383 0.82 -0.02 -2.38 MYEG 274,747 0.78 0.005 0.65 WIDAD 271,511 0.065 - - MINETEC 263,429 0.15 0.005 3.45 SMTRACK 254,054 0.045 - - DNEX 251,945 0.4 -0.005 -1.23 UNITRAD 240,590 0.325 0.005 1.56 AVI 236,401 0.045 - - NAIM 235,679 1.01 -0.07 -6.48 YTL 231,555 2.56 0.06 2.4 CUSCAPI 229,379 0.205 0.025 13.89 SNS 218,216 0.38 0.005 1.33 SUNWAY 188,169 3.36 0.01 0.3 SUNBIZ presents a summary of the day’s trading activity on Bursa Malaysia and other markets in an easy to digest format. MARKET ROUND-UP: APRIL 18 [ Sources: Bursa Malaysia, Bernama, shareinvestor.com and websites DISCLAIMER: The data and reports are provided as a service to investors. Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences resulting from usage of the information. INDEX CHANGE FBMEMAS 11,616.90 +39.53 FBMKLCI 1,544.76 +4.34 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 580.32 +1.80 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 184.45 +1.14 CONSTRUCTION 217.89 +0.50 FINANCIAL SERVICES 17,132.60 +25.15 ENERGY 952.00 -7.17 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 586.28 -2.68 HEALTH CARE 1,973.09 +15.34 TRANSPORTATION 1,013.70 +2.05 PROPERTY 988.68 -2.11 PLANTATION 7,354.45 -3.43 FBMSHA 11,788.30 +31.02 FBMACE 4,947.52 +22.15 TECHNOLOGY 63.89 +0.09 TURNOVER: 3.838 bil VALUE: RM2.621 bil Top 20 Actives Top 20 Losers (By RM) Bursa Indices INDEX CLOSING DAILY DAILY CHANGE CHANGE (%) DJIA (US) 37,753.31 -45.66 -0.12 S&P 500 (US) 5,022.21 -29.20 -0.58 NASDAQ (US) 15,683.37 -181.88 -1.15 NYSE (US) 17,403.44 -10.54 -0.06 EURO STOXX 50 (EUR) 4,937.46 +23.33 +0.47 FTSE 100 (UK) 7,878.32 +30.33 +0.39 DAX (GER) 17,795.34 +25.32 +0.14 NIKKEI 225 (JPN) 38,079.70 +117.90 +0.31 TOPIX (JPN) 2,677.45 +14.30 +0.54 HANG SENG INDEX (HK) 16,385.87 +134.03 +0.82 CSI 300 (CHN) 3,569.80 +4.40 +0.12 SH SE COM (CHN) 3,074.23 +2.84 +0.09 KOSPI INDEX (SK) 2,634.70 +50.52 +1.96 MSCI ASIA PACIFIC 169.84 -3.65 -2.10 ASX 200 (AUS) 7,642.11 +36.52 +0.48 ALL ORDINARIES INDX (AUS) 7,898.86 +37.85 +0.48 SENSEX INDEX (IND) 72,803.75 -139.93 -0.19 FBM KLCI 1,544.76 +4.34 +0.28 STRAITS TIMES INDEX (S’PORE) 3,188.88 +34.19 +1.08 WTI (US$/BBL.) 82.06 -0.63 -0.76 BRENT (US$/BBL.) 86.7 -0.59 -0.68 GOLD (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 2,394.50 +6.10 +0.26 SILVER (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 28.53 +0.13 +0.46 PLATINUM (US$/T OZ) 945.95 +2.62 +0.28 COPPER (COMEX) (US CENTS/LB.) 444.70 +8.35 +1.91 COPPER 3MO (LME) (US$/MT) 9,582.50 114.50 1.21 CORN (US CENTS/BU.) 440.50 -0.50 -0.11 WHEAT (US CENTS/BU.) 556.75 +4.50 +0.81 SOYBEAN OIL (CBOT) (US CENTS/LB.) 45.43 -0.13 -0.29 COCOA (ICE) (US$/MT) 10,475.00 +409.00 +4.06 RUBBER (S’PORE) (US CENTS/KG) 163.50 -0.50 -0.30 World Stocks/Commodities as at 5pm, April 18 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) BORNOIL 0.005 -50 1,778,406 KGROUP 0.005 -50 1,280 PERMAJU-PA 0.005 -50 549 HONGSENG 0.01 -33.33 22,438 SCBUILD 0.01 -33.33 2,000 XOX 0.01 -33.33 9,320 ZENTECH 0.015 -25 299 BSLCORP 0.025 -16.67 28,850 CME 0.025 -16.67 300 G3 0.025 -16.67 15,300 LAMBO 0.025 -16.67 5,657 REACH 0.025 -16.67 3671 XDL 0.025 -16.67 1,200 CNOUHUA 0.04 -11.11 850 EVD-PA 0.045 -10 23,214 FITTERS 0.045 -10 690482 ITRONIC 0.045 -10 3583 TECHBASE-LA 0.045 -10 15800 VINVEST 0.045 -10 36 EITA 0.825 -8.84 45,106 Top 20 Losers (By %) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) DLADY 33.22 0.9 801 PIE 5.57 0.63 125,079 CRESNDO 3.9 0.36 19,732 MFCB 4.68 0.34 20,694 CHINHIN 4.58 0.25 2908 F&N 31.4 0.16 2,314 QL 6.31 0.16 30,792 AJI 19.18 0.14 137 EG 1.44 0.11 116,653 AIRPORT 10 0.11 33309 GHLSYS 0.735 0.1 144,913 HLBANK 19.38 0.1 6,198 MSC 2.88 0.1 22,179 PETGAS 18.1 0.1 6383 SHH 1.26 0.1 182 MCEMENT 4.9 0.09 3,598 PGF 1.96 0.09 3,790 YTLPOWR 3.99 0.09 182,181 BIPORT 5.84 0.08 98 PMBTECH 2.68 0.08 988 Top 20 Gainers (By RM) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) FINTEC 0.01 100 11,810 AGES-PA 0.015 50 3 COMPUGT 0.015 50 20,318 FOCUS 0.015 50 10 MQTECH 0.02 33.33 11262 SANICHI 0.02 33.33 2376 TURIYA 0.36 26.32 88,359 DFCITY 0.335 19.64 52 GHLSYS 0.735 15.75 144,913 TCS 0.195 14.71 142309 CUSCAPI 0.205 13.89 229379 PIE 5.57 12.75 125,079 MERIDIAN 0.045 12.5 728 BJCORP-LE 0.3 11.11 40 CRESNDO 3.9 10.17 19,732 CNH 0.055 10 5,596 MCLEAN 0.22 10 88,941 MENTIGA 0.615 8.85 70 BNASTRA-OR 0.8 8.84 2,421 SHH 1.26 8.62 182 Top 20 Gainers (By %) Bursa ends higher on improved sentiment BURSA Malaysia continued its upbeat momentum to end higher for the second straight day yesterday, on improving sentiment and a resurgence in bargain-hunting following the recent downturn, said an analyst. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI rose 4.34 points, or 0.28%, to 1,544.76 from Wednesday’s close of 1,540.42. The benchmark index, which opened 0.58 of-a-point easier at 1,539.84, moved between 1,538.68 and 1,548.46 throughout the trading session. On the broader market, gainers trounced decliners 570 to 469, while 493 counters were unchanged, 832 untraded, and 21 others suspended. Turnover widened to 3.84 billion units worth RM2.62 billion from 3.45 billion units worth RM2.67 billion on Wednesday. Mohd Sedek Jantan, head of wealth research and advisory and designated portfolio manager at UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors, said the local bourse’s performance reflected a promising step forward from the recent downward trend, instilling optimism among investors. Meanwhile, Apex Securities Bhd head of research Kenneth Leong said the improvement in the local market was evident as investors cheered the easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Among the heavyweights, Maybank added seven sen to RM9.67, CIMB gained six sen to RM6.59, Tenaga Nasional put on eight sen to RM11.60, Petronas Chemicals rose one sen to RM6.84, and Public Bank slipped one sen to RM4.14. As for the actives, Ingenieur Gudang, Borneo Oil, Fitters Diversified and Velesto Energy inched down half-a-sen to 14 sen, half-a-sen, 4.5 sen, and 27 sen, respectively. – Bernama 1,544.76pts April 18, 2024 Participation 21.06 40.56 38.38 100.00 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 513.63 1170.38 937.96 2621.97 Sold RM m 590.51 956.73 1074.74 2621.97 Net RM m -76.87 213.65 -136.78 0.00 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R ITIES S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 18/4/2024
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 20 MARKETS/FROM THE BROKERS SUNBIZ presents extracts of a selection of commentaries and research reports received from stockbrokers on counters that could be of interest to investors. [Compiled by SunBiz Team DISCLAIMER: The information is extracted from stockbrokers’ commentaries and research reports and do not represent the views or opinions of Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd. It is not a solicitation, recommendation or an offer to buy or sell the equities featured. Sun Media Corporation shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences resulting from usage of the information. WE understand that PIE, via referral from a key shareholder, has secured a new sizeable AI server client that will take up the entire Plant 6 (280k sq ft), its largest facility. We also understand that this is part and parcel of the key shareholder’s diversification strategy. A fast-track project, the qualification processes will be completed followed by small production before the year is out, paving the way for mass production in 2025. Ultimately, Plant 6 will produce approximately one-third of the new customer’s global volume. Separately, we understand that Plant 5 (approximately 100k sq ft) has been completed and is in the final stages of equipment installation. This entire plant will be dedicated to Customer A and is set to commence operations by the end of May, doubling the floor space allocation for Customer A, which currently occupies the entirety of Plant 3. The increased demand is driven by new model launches from Customer A, as well as a robust order pipeline, aligning with the optimism in the DeFi market. The group has also successfully on-boarded four smaller customers with products related to: (i) drone device for light shows, (ii) diagnostic device for oral cancer, (iii) smart home, and (iv) industrial sensors. The drone device and smart home customer have begun production with the diagnostic device for oral cancer to follow in March. Contributions from these new customers are expected to collectively account for c.8%−12% of total group revenue in FY24. We raise our FY25F earnings forecast by 10%, lift our TP by 69% to RM6.75 (from RM4) and reiterate our OUTPERFORM call. BASED on MNHB’s 2023 annual report, the group has greatly improved on its sustainability disclosures within the quantitative environmental (‘E’) category, particularly for scope 1, 2 & 3 carbon emissions. Once a trend is established through consistent annual disclosures, investors will be able to better track and monitor the group’s ESG progress. MNHB has published key areas to address under individual environment, social and governance pillars. However, concrete ESG targets remain absent in its latest sustainability statement. Note that its convenience store peers have not committed to long-term ESG targets as well. Our expectations for MNHB’s FY24E earnings turnaround is premised on narrowed losses for both its CU stores and food processing centre. The group’s focus on ramping up fresh food SKUs to existing Mynews stores could also gradually drive gross profit margin upwards, in tandem with MNHB’s new store opening target (+100 stores in FY24E). Our earnings estimates are unchanged. The ESG pressure faced by convenience stores in general mainly emanates from their usage of single-use plastic bags and other plastic materials in food product packaging. Positively, enhanced Government regulations have led to a decline in MNHB’s overall plastic usage per retail transaction, and lower biodegradable plastic uses in its food product packaging, especially ones that are manufactured in-house. Food wastage is another area that requires attention given MNHB’s foray into food manufacturing in 2019. Unsold third-party supplied food products are returnable but the group has yet to determine sustainable means of disposing its in-house manufactured food products at this juncture. Maintain BUY with an unchanged TP of RM0.62. IGBREIT’S Q1’24 core net profit of RM102.3 million met expectations, making up 27% and 26% of our full-year forecast and full-year consensus estimate, respectively. The group also announced a distribution of 2.96 sen, on track to meet our fullyear forecast of 10.8 sen. YoY, its Q1’24 revenue increased by 5% attributable to higher rental income in both Mid Valley and The Gardens Mall. That said, we noted that average occupancy rates closed at 94.3% (from near 100%) with a key tenant in Mid Valley (i.e. Metrojaya) surrendering its tenanted net lettable area of 200k sq ft at end-March 2024 for reconfiguration. Its net property margin declined slightly to 76.4% (-0.3ppt) owing to its attached cost. Excluding the fair value losses, its core net profit comes in at RM102.3 million (+6%). QoQ, its revenue increased by 3% likely due to positive rental reversions as occupancy rates were fairly full. Its core net income rose by 10% due to the low-base effect from the preceding quarter arising from hiked operating expenses, likely in lieu of year-end seasonal expenses and upkeep. In the immediate term, IGBREIT could continue to see encouraging seasonal spending supported by Hari Raya festivities. Aside from this, we opine that its assets should remain relevant thanks to their wide range of tenants that cater to various income groups. With regards to the tenancy status of Metrojaya, we understand from recent media articles that they are slated to rebrand to “MJ by Metrojaya” which could refresh the vibrancy of footfalls when it reopens during the targeted Q3’24 period. We maintain our forecasts, TP of RM1.68 and MARKET PERFORM call. FOREIGN CURRENCY SELLING TT/OD BUYING TT BUYING OD 1 US Dollar 4.8550 4.7210 4.7110 1 Australian Dollar 3.1470 3.0220 3.0060 1 Brunei Dollar 3.5700 3.4690 3.4610 1 Canadian Dollar 3.5250 3.4310 3.4190 1 Euro 5.1910 5.0260 5.0060 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.8850 2.7790 2.7630 1 Singapore Dollar 3.5700 3.4690 3.4610 1 Sterling Pound 6.0580 5.8700 5.8500 1 Swiss Franc 5.3210 5.1990 5.1840 100 UAE Dirham 133.8700 126.9600 126.7600 100 Bangladesh Taka 4.5110 4.2180 4.0180 100 Chinese Renminbi 67.5800 64.7500 N/A 100 Danish Krone 71.3200 65.6500 65.4500 100 Hongkong Dollar 62.7200 59.6200 59.4200 100 Indian Rupee 5.9100 5.5500 5.3500 100 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0310 0.0281 0.0231 100 Japanese Yen 3.1530 3.0540 3.0440 100 New Taiwan Dollar N/A N/A N/A 100 Norwegian Krone 45.3200 41.7100 41.5100 100 Pakistan Rupee 1.7800 1.6700 1.4700 100 Philippine Peso 8.6300 8.1300 7.9300 100 Qatar Riyal 134.7800 127.9500 127.7500 100 Saudi Riyal 131.0000 124.3600 124.1600 100 South Africa Rand 26.4800 23.9100 23.7100 100 Sri Lanka Rupee 1.6600 1.5200 1.3200 100 Swedish Krona 45.8200 41.7400 41.5400 100 Thai Baht 13.8100 12.2600 11.8600 Exchange Rates Source: Malayan Banking Bhd/Bernama Ringgit continues to gain ground against US dollar THE ringgit continued to close higher versus the US dollar yesterday in tandem with the 0.1% decline in the US Dollar Index (DXY) to 105.845 points, said an analyst. At 6pm, the ringgit rose to 4.7840/7870 against the greenback from Wednesday’s closing of 4.7910/7950. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said concerns over the Middle East conflict have somewhat receded, judging from the decline in Brent crude oil prices to US$86.90 per barrel. “However, markets are still wary of the geopolitical risks and, above all, the uncertain outlook on the US interest rates,” he told Bernama. He also said the focus on the local front will be on Malaysia’s advance gross domestic product estimate for the first quarter of 2024, which is slated to be released today. “Positive surprises should be good for the ringgit the way we see it,” he added. At the close, the ringgit traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies. It eased against the euro to 5.1050/1082 from 5.0981/1024 at Wednesday’s close, but edged up vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.0980/1002 from 3.0990/1018 and gained versus the British pound to 5.9671/9708 from 5.9720/9770 previously. The local note was traded mixed against Asean currencies. It appreciated versus the Thai baht to 13.0053/0188 compared with 13.0194/13.0373 at Wednesday’s close and improved against the Philippine peso to 8.36/8.37 from 8.37/8.39 previously. However, the ringgit fell vis-a-vis the Indonesian rupiah to 295.6/296.0 from 295.3/295.7 yesterday and slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.5176/5201 from 3.5171/5200. Bursa Carbon Exchange to offer renewable energy certs KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bursa Malaysia Bhd, will host its inaugural renewable energy certificates (RECs) auction on June 25. This auction marks a significant step towards the transition of BCX to be a one-stop Syariah-compliant multi-environmental product exchange. RECs is a new product offering by BCX, that first started enabling the trading of carbon credits in September 2023. This underscores Bursa Malaysia’s progress as a multi-asset exchange in democratising access to and creating new opportunities for the market through additional types of asset classes, investment and trading choices. For the auction, Sarawak Energy Bhd will supply the RECs from its Murum hydropower plant. This is part of the memorandum of collaboration that Bursa Malaysia had signed with Sarawak Energy together with Hydropower Sustainability Alliance and the I-REC Standard Foundation (I-REC Standard) during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties in December 2023. Sarawak Energy is Sarawak’s electricity utility which is at the forefront of championing the state’s energy transition agenda. The RECs will be issued under the I-REC Standard, a globally recognised standard body, which is renowned for their robust environmental attribute tracking system. Bursa Malaysia CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift said, “As sustainability becomes an intrinsic necessity for Malaysia to stay relevant and investable as a nation, Bursa Malaysia continues to play a pivotal role in enabling the nation’s implementation of policies and key projects through the capital market. RECs will support Malaysia’s energy transition roadmap which targets to substantially increase the country’s renewable energy capacity. We are pleased to collaborate with Sarawak Energy for our inaugural RECs offering.” IGB REIT Market Perform. Target price: RM1.68 Mynews Holdings Bhd Buy. Target price: RM0.62 P.I.E Industrial Bhd Outperform. Target price: RM6.75 Source: Kenanga Research Source: Maybank Investment Bank Source: Kenanga Research April 18, 2024: RM0.525 April 18, 2024: RM5.57 April 18, 2024: RM1.79
LYFE LYFE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 21 ARIES March 21 – April 19 Today marks the dawn of a new era for you. Embrace the energy of change and seize the opportunities that come your way. Your boldness and determination will pave the path to success. Trust in your instincts and believe in your abilities. The universe is aligning in your favour, empowering you to conquer any challenge. Use the power within you and let your light shine brightly. TAURUS April 20 – May 20 Today holds the promise of transformation and renewal. The winds of change are here, so allow yourself to grow beyond your limitations. Your resilience and tenacity will carry you through any adversity. Trust in the process and have faith in yourself. You are capable of achieving greatness beyond your wildest dreams. Embrace the journey ahead with courage and conviction. GEMINI May 21 – June 20 Today ignites a fire within your soul. Let the passion and creativity that flow through you. Channel your energy into pursuits that fuel your spirit and ignite your imagination. Your curiosity knows no bounds, leading you towards exciting discoveries and new horizons. Trust in your intuition and follow your heart’s desires. The universe is conspiring to manifest your dreams into reality. CANCER June 21 – July 22 Today is a day of emotional awakening and healing. Embrace the power of vulnerability and allow yourself to release any pent-up emotions. Your sensitivity is your greatest strength, guiding you towards deeper connections with others and yourself. Trust in the process of growth and transformation. Allow the beauty of your emotions lead you towards inner peace and fulfillment. LEO July 23 – Aug 22 Today radiates with the energy of confidence and self-assurance. Bring forth your inner strength and let your light shine brightly for all to see. Your charisma and magnetism draw others towards you, inspiring admiration and respect. Trust in your abilities and believe in your worthiness. The universe is aligning to support your dreams and ambitions. Get into the spotlight and seize the opportunities before you. VIRGO Aug 23 – Sept 22 Today is a day of clarity and purpose. Use the power of focus and determination to pursue your goals with unwavering commitment. Your attention to detail and practicality ensure success in all your endeavours. Trust in your ability to manifest your dreams into reality. The universe is conspiring in your favour, guiding you towards fulfillment and abundance. Embark on the journey with confidence and optimism. LIBRA Sept 23 – Oct 22 Today marks a turning point in your journey towards balance and harmony. Embrace the power of intention and set your sights on creating a life of peace and abundance. Look for resolution in any situation. Trust in the universe to provide you with the support and guidance you need. Embrace the beauty of equilibrium and let it lead you towards fulfillment. SCORPIO Oct 23 – Nov 21 Today resonates with the energy of transformation and rebirth. Release and let go of anything that no longer serves your highest good. Your intensity and passion fuel your journey towards self-discovery and empowerment. Trust in the process of renewal and embrace the opportunities that come your way. The universe is aligning to support your evolution. SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 – Dec 21 Today is a day of adventure and exploration. Embrace the spirit of curiosity and go on a journey of selfdiscovery. Your optimism and enthusiasm light the path ahead, leading you towards exciting discoveries and new experiences. Trust in your intuition and follow your heart. The universe is conspiring to expand your horizons and awaken your inner wanderer. Embrace the unknown with open arms and a courageous spirit. CAPRICORN Dec 22 – Jan 19 Today holds the promise of achievement and success. With determination, you can pursue your goals with unwavering resolve. Your practicality and ambition ensure that you reach new heights of accomplishment. Trust in your abilities and believe in your potential. The universe is aligning to support your endeavours and propel you towards greatness. AQUARIUS Jan 20 – Feb 18 Today resonates with the energy of innovation and progress. Let you ideas flow and see your creativity soar. Your unique perspective and visionary thinking set you apart from the crowd, inspiring others to follow your lead. Trust in your intuition and embrace the opportunities that come your way. The universe is conspiring to manifest your dreams into reality. PISCES Feb 19 – March 20 Today is a day of spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Leverage on the power of intuition and connect with your inner wisdom. Your empathy and compassion guide you towards deeper understanding and acceptance. Trust in the universe to provide you with the guidance and support you need. Embrace the journey towards enlightenment with an open heart and a receptive spirit. Your weekend horoscope Taste of Mexico Chicken Por Favor is located at Petaling Jaya. – PICS COURTESY OF MERVIN CHIN █ BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN TUCKED away in the vibrant neighbourhood of SS4, there is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. “Chicken, Por Favor.” Step inside, and you are greeted with a burst of Mexican zest that dances in the air. The aroma of fried chicken, the tangy allure of signature sauces, and the inviting buzz of friends gathering over glasses of tequila and mezcal — it is an experience waiting to unfold. Behind the magic of “Chicken, Por Favor” is Mervin Chin, a visionary with a passion for bringing the heart and soul of Mexico to the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur. From the moment you set foot in this cosy haven, you are transported to a place where time slows down, and every moment feels like a celebration. The vibe at this bar is nothing short of infectious — warm, welcoming, and oh-so-inviting. It is not a sprawling space, but that is part of its charm. Here, intimacy reigns supreme, and every corner feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. The interior is a feast for the eyes — a riot of colours and textures that pay homage to Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. Think vibrant murals and wooden furniture that beckons you to pull up a chair and stay awhile. But let’s talk about the star of the show — the food. At “Chicken, Por Favor”, it is all about Mexican fried chicken — a crispy, golden delight that is bursting with flavour. Paired with rice, fries or corn, it is a great match. Additionally, this place also offers a variety of alternative menu options, ensuring there is something to tantalise every tastebud. And do not even get me started on the drinks. The bar specialises in Mexican-style drinks, making sure classics like margaritas, Palomas, Charadas, Carajillos, and Mexican Mules, as well as new creative cocktails, are mixed perfectly. With an impressive selection of tequila and mezcal, this is paradise for any spirit enthusiast. Whether you are sipping on a classic margarita or trying one of their innovative modern cocktails, each sip is like a mini vacation to Mexico itself. But perhaps the most magical thing about this bar is the sense of community it fosters. It is the kind of place where strangers become friends over shared plates of chicken and stories exchanged over drinks. It is where every meal feels like a celebration, and every bite is savoured like a precious memory. So, if you are looking for a taste of Mexico in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, look no further than “Chicken, Por Favor.” And trust me when I say, once you experience it, you will never want to leave. Address: 1A, Jalan SS 4C/5, Taman Rasa Sayang, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Operating hours: Thursday to Sunday, 5pm to 12am Each bite at Chicken Por Favor has a perfect balance of Mexican cuisine. A variety of creative cocktails are available at the bar.
LYFE LYFE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 22 /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper Tomato and basil Simple yet sublime, the pairing of tomato and basil is a classic combination that celebrates the flavours of the Mediterranean. The juicy sweetness of ripe tomatoes is enhanced by the aromatic freshness of basil, creating a vibrant and aromatic union. Whether tossed together in a caprese salad or simmered into a flavourful marinara sauce, tomato and basil are a great combo. Fish and lemon Many seafood dishes work well with a hint of citrus. The tangy taste of lemon cuts through the delicate sweetness of fish, enhancing its natural flavours and adding a burst of brightness to every bite. Whether squeezed over grilled salmon, drizzled onto fried calamari or incorporated into a tangy ceviche, fish and lemon are a match made for seafood lovers. Burgers and fries This union is a beloved comfort food pairing that never goes out of style. The juicy, flavourful patty of a burger is perfectly complemented by the crispy, salty goodness of fries, creating a satisfying combination that hits all the right notes. Whether enjoyed at a dinner, pub or backyard b a r b e c u e , burgers and fries are a culinary classic that satisfies cravings time and time again. Strawberries and cream Adding another sweet pairing to the list, the juicy, vibrant flavour of strawberries is beautifully complemented by the luscious richness of cream, creating a dessert that is both elegant and indulgent. Whether served simply with a dollop of whipped cream or layered into a decadent strawberry shortcake, strawberries and cream are a match made for sweet moments. Tacos and guacamole The bold, savoury flavours of tacos are perfectly balanced by the creamy, buttery goodness of guacamole, creating a fiesta of flavours that is sure to please your palate. Whether filled with grilled chicken, carne asada or fish, and topped with a generous scoop of guacamole, tacos are taken to new heights with this fusion. These nine common food pairings showcase the magic that happens when complementary flavours come together. So why wait? Grab your favourite combos and savour them. The perfect matches are waiting to be discovered – one delicious bite at a time. FOOD pairings have the ability to change a simple meal to something extraordinary. As many have experienced, certain pairings have stood the test of time, tempting our palates and leaving us craving more. We have rounded up nine common food pairings that would surely excite your taste buds and inspire your food journey. Peanut butter and jelly This quintessential duo needs no introduction. The creamy richness of peanut butter complements the sweet, fruity jelly, creating a great blend of flavours. Whether sandwiched between slices of bread or crackers, peanut butter and jelly will be that snack that appeals to both kids and adults alike. There are varieties of fruit jelly flavours you can choose from to create your perfect combination. Wine and cheese A match made in heaven, wine and cheese have been paired together for centuries. The complex flavours of cheese, ranging from creamy brie to sharp cheddar, find their perfect counterpart in the diverse profiles of wine. Whether it is a bold red wine paired with aged gouda or white wine paired with tangy goat cheese, the interplay of flavours is sure to delight the senses. Explore different wine and cheese pairings from around the world, from the traditional French combinations to innovative pairings inspired by global cuisines. Chocolate and coffee This combo will be able to satisfy your sweet tooth. The rich, velvety sweetness of chocolate pairs beautifully with the robust bitterness of coffee, creating a decadent combination that is both comforting and invigorating. Whether enjoyed as a mocha latte or a simple chocolate truffle alongside a cup of espresso, this duo is sure to please every sweet lover’s cravings. Bacon and eggs A breakfast staple that never disappoints, bacon and eggs are a perfect match made for mornings. The salty, savoury flavour of bacon complements the rich creaminess of eggs, creating a hearty and satisfying meal. Whether served sunny-side up, scrambled or nestled in a breakfast sandwich, bacon and eggs are sure to start your day off on the right foot. Perfect pair oNine common food pairings █ BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Strawberries and cream are dream flavour pairings. Guacamole is an ideal match for tacos. Wine and cheese make the perfect pair. Bacon and eggs form the classic breakfast meal. Sweet flavour of basil balances the savoury juice of tomatoes. Mocha coffee is made with authentic coffee and rich chocolate. Lemon is a great way to add flavour to fish. Fries are the classic accompaniment for burgers. Sweet and nutty embrace between soft bread. – ALL PICS BY PEXELS
LYFE LYFE FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 23 Tofu feast WHITE tofu, with its delicate texture and neutral flavour, is an ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes to add protein and substance. Here are five recipes of this humble soy product you can try at home. 0 Tofu Pad Thai Tofu Pad Thai is a flavourful and satisfying noodle dish that is easy to make at home. Ingredients 0 1 block of white tofu, drained and cubed 0 200g rice noodles, cooked according to package instructions 0 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 0 2 cloves garlic, minced 0 2 eggs, lightly beaten (optional for a nonvegan version) 0 1 cup of bean sprouts 0 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts 0 Lime wedges, for serving 0 Fresh cilantro, for garnish 0 Pad Thai sauce (mix 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar and 1 tablespoon lime juice) Instructions 1. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. 2. Add garlic and tofu cubes, stir-fry until tofu is lightly browned. 3. Push tofu to one side of the skillet and pour beaten eggs onto the empty side, scrambling until cooked through. 4. Add cooked noodles, bean sprouts and Pad Thai sauce to the skillet, toss to combine. 5. Cook for an additional 2–3 minutes, until heated through. 6. Serve hot garnished with chopped peanuts, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro. Tofu stir-fry Tofu stir-fry is a quick and flavourful dish that can be customised with your favourite vegetables and sauces. Ingredients 0 1 block of white tofu, drained and cubed 0 2 cups mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrot, long beans) 0 2 tablespoons of soy sauce 0 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 0 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar 0 1 tablespoon cornstarch 0 2 cloves garlic, minced 0 1 teaspoon ginger, minced 0 Cooked rice or noodles, for serving Instructions 1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and cornstarch to make the sauce. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. 3. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for 1 minute. 4. Add tofu cubes and stir-fry until lightly browned. 5. Add mixed vegetables and sauce, cook until vegetables are tender and sauce has thickened. 6. Serve hot over cooked rice or noodles. Tofu caprese salad Tofu caprese salad is a refreshing twist on the classic Italian dish, featuring creamy white tofu instead of mozzarella cheese. Ingredients 0 1 block of white tofu, sliced 0 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 0 Fresh basil leaves 0 Balsamic glaze 0 Olive oil 0 Salt and pepper to taste Instructions 1. Arrange alternating slices of tofu and tomato on a serving platter. 2. Tuck fresh basil leaves between the tofu and tomato slices. 3. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and olive oil. 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5. Serve immediately as a light appetiser or side dish. Bean curd is stir-fried with rice noodles, crunchy peanuts and tangy tamarind sauce to creat a flavourful Tofu Pad Thai. – PIC FROM YOUTUBE @RECIPETIN EATS oFive mouthwatering bean curd recipes for every meal █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Vibrant veggies and tender tofu are wok-tossed with savoury sauces. – PIC FROM YOUTUBE @XIAO KITCHEN Tofu coconut curry Tofu coconut curry is a creamy and aromatic dish that is perfect for a great lunch. Ingredients 0 1 block of white tofu, drained and cubed 0 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 0 1 onion, diced 0 2 cloves garlic, minced 0 1 tablespoon of grated ginger 0 2 tablespoons of red curry paste 0 1 can of coconut milk 0 2 cups mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, broccoli and carrots) 0 Salt and pepper to taste 0 Cooked rice, for serving Instructions 1. Heat oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. 2. Add onion, garlic and ginger, sauté until softened. 3. Stir in red curry paste and cook for 1 minute. 4. Add tofu cubes and mixed vegetables, sauté for another 2–3 minutes. 5. Pour in coconut milk, bring to a simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes until vegetables are tender. 6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 7. Serve hot over cooked rice. Tofu caprese salad is a twist on the classic Italian dish. – PIC FROM YOUTUBE @VEGAN RECIPE Creamy coconut milk and aromatic spices meld with tofu, creating a flavourful curry. – PIC FROM YOUTUBE @VEGAN COCOTTE Tofu scramble delivers a protein-packed start to your day. – PIC FROM YOUTUBE @CAMY ARRIOLA Tofu scramble Tofu scramble is a great alternative to traditional scrambled eggs, perfect for a fulfilling breakfast or brunch. Ingredients 0 1 block of white tofu, drained and crumbled 0 1 tablespoon of olive oil 0 1/2 onion, diced 0 1 bell pepper, diced 0 2 cloves garlic, minced 0 1 teaspoon of turmeric 0 Salt and pepper to taste Instructions 1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. 2. Add onions, bell pepper and garlic, sauté until softened. 3. Add crumbled tofu and turmeric, cook until heated through. 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5. Serve hot with toast. From breakfast to dinner, tofu proves its variety in these five delicious recipes. Experiment with different flavours and ingredients to make these dishes your own, and enjoy the goodness of white tofu in your meals.
SCAN ME powered by Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: lifestyle@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 Old-school ld-schoolcharm HERITAGE is an important thing in the automotive business. It provides valuable marketing material for brands who leverage on the past to either show how far they have come or how long they have been doing it for, just to prove their credibility. Big brands know this and also know how to use heritage to their benefit as well. Volvo milks its safety related heritage while Mercedes-Benz talks about how innovative it has been. Lexus likes to show how far they have come when it comes to building one of the most refined cars in the market while Rolls-Royce and Bentley can’t seem to stop talking about how long they have been in the business. Then on the other end of the spectrum of luxury and heritage, you have cars like the Suzuki Jimny, which has largely remained unchanged for the better part of 40 years. Just like the shape of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, the general silhouette of the Jimny too has been the same over the years. That same boxy design with thin tyres and a spare mounted at the back on the third door, has persevered since the original was introduced in 1970s. The interior remains small with barely enough room for three adults and their luggage. Powering the little Jimny is a humble 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated engine making 100hp and 130Nm of torque. Sending power to the wheels is a four-speed gearbox, which can only be described as ancient when compared to the multi-ratio gearboxes in similarly priced pick-up trucks. It is also a part-time four-wheel-drive machine, but you need to work the lever of the low range transfer case to select four-wheel-drive (four high or four low) or two-wheel-drive. That is something this writer has not had to do since the 90s when I almost showed an Isuzu Invader the bottom of a mining pool. There is not much in terms of comfort inside the Jimny either. Because the interior is small, you sit shoulder-to-shoulder with adult passengers. The rear seats are only good for kids, pets, luggage or groceries. The audio system too seems like it is stuck in the 80s, and it takes a very brave development team to introduce a car with only two-speakers in the 2020s. But all is not lost for the Jimny, it may seem like a lost cause on paper, but in reality, it is an incredibly charming car to own and to drive. And despite the odds being so obviously stacked Jimny a refreshing prospect in world dominated by advanced tech █ BY KESHY DHILLON SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 1.5-litre with Variable Valve Timing Power: 100hp@6000rpm Torque: 130Nm@4000rpm Transmission: 4-speed auto Suspension: 3 link rigid axle with coil spring Price (as tested): RM171,900 Character, convenience. Two-speaker sound system, no keyless entry & push start button. The 1.5-litre engine makes 100hp and 130Nm of torque. The Black Edition gets carbon-fibre elements. Tyres are small and skinny, measuring in at 195/80/R15. A roof rack is also standard on the Black Rhino edition.
MOTORING MOTORING FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 25 against it, I used to look forward to driving the car. So what makes it so charming? The design for one is a blast from the past. In a time and age when car makers talk about co-efficiency of drag and how their aerodynamically slippery cars help increase range, the Jimny is a brick in your rear view mirror. It does not care about conforming but at the same time, it does try. The lights for one are LED – which is quite modern for a car that seems to be stuck in the 90s. There is also cruise control, a seven-inch touch enabled infotainment system complete with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But that is as far as it goes, you don’t even get reverse sensors. You do however get a reverse camera that looks like it has been installed at an accessories shop that prioritises revenue over customer satisfaction. But driving the Jimny is a true occasion, and a big part of its charm. As soon as you step behind the wheel, you will notice how far the windscreen is placed away from the driver and front passenger. The near 90° rake of the A-pillars too are not something you see very often, well, probably in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class or a Jeep Wrangler. This is an essential element for the classic, squarish, jeep design. Starting the Jimny is a very traditional sequence. You have to first reach into your pocket to search for that all important key, prod it into the slot and twist. It’s a sequence that is almost alien these days, and something that modern drivers don’t have to do anymore unless they have an old-ish car at home. I for one, can’t remember the last time I started a car that was made in the 2020s, with a physical key. On the move, the Jimny again shows that it still has its heart stuck in the old days. The steering wheel is powered but not electronically. Instead the steering rack is made up of an oldschool high-geared recirculating ball configuration, and that means that you have to turn the steering wheel more than usual to take on simple turns. This makes it feel like you have to work the steering harder than what you usually would in a modern day car. Newer, younger drivers may not like the steering feel of the Jimny. For the uninitiated, it may feel like there is something wrong with the steering, but those who have driven older cars will recognise the feel, and perhaps even love it. The ladder frame chassis of the Jimny further adds to its character. It connects to the old school feel and those who have driven the early day pickup trucks which had stiff suspension that jiggled the car (and its occupants) at every given chance and provided for sloppy handling, will find the Jimny to be the same as well. The ride and handling quality of the Jimny is typical of olden day cars. It is comfortable when you are driving around town or on kampung roads, but as soon as you try to push it, that when it gets scary. The tall centre of gravity, softish suspension and lack of steering feel can make tackling corners a rather dauting task. I also found it difficult to lay my trust in the skinny 195/80/R15 tyres, especially in the wet. With such numb steering feel that is typical of 90s off-roaders, I didn’t think I would feel the Jimny breaking grip fast enough to correct it. So I had to tune my driving style to match the character of the Jimny, and that is where I truly fell in love with it. To appreciate the Jimny, you have to slow things down a couple of notches. It has a top speed of 140kph but is at its best between 100-110kph. In town, you learn to take it slow but you can easily keep up with traffic. It’s height provides an excellent vantage point of everything around you and its small size and short wheelbase makes it easy to park just about anywhere. It also does not take much space on the road, which allows you to weave through traffic just like you could in a Myvi or Axia. The Jimny, despite feeling like it is stuck in the 90s, is a refreshing prospect in a world dominated by EV’s and advanced tech. It reminds me of how life once was and it is absolutely okay to slow down and dial things down a couple of notches. And despite staying true to its roots, the modern Jimny comes with safety features such as ISOFIX mounts, side impact door beams, ABS brakes, Electronic Stability Program, LSD, Hill Hold, Hill Descent Control and dual airbags. It is undoubtedly a charming car to drive and to go about your daily business. The only downside to it is its price. The model described here is called the Jimny Black Edition. It differentiates itself from the standard model with a multi roof rack, carbon fibre finish on many of the interior and exterior panels, it also has dual-tone Nappa leather seats, tinted glass and blacked out elements inside and outside the car. The Suzuki Jimny Black Edition sits second in the local line-up of four variants and is priced at RM171,900. The base model on the other hand will set you back RM158,900 but you lose out on a number of things and you get fabric seats. The top of the line model is called the Rhino and it is priced at RM174,900 and you get more features like a differential box guard and a Suzuki Heritage grille. You could turn to the parallel-import market but the price is not much different and you lose out on the official three year of 100,000km warranty. That is why you see a number of Jimny’s on the road but particularly in upmarket areas like Damansara and Bangsar. The rich folk seemingly don’t mind forking out for the Jimny, and that is also why it is Suzuki Malaysia’s best-selling model. It may not be perfect, but it is an expensive toy, though an extremely fun one. Spare wheel is mounted on the third door, just like it has been since the 70s. The dashboard has only the essentials but feels like it will last a long time. Thin-rimmed steering wheel feels old school. Analogue dials are a refreshing change from digital panels. Seven-inch infotainment screen also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Classic air-conditioning dials with single-zone AC Old school buttons are great too. Back seats are only for kids, pets and groceries. The Black Rhino edition gets Nappa Leather seats.
MOTORING MOTORING FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 26 ALFA ROMEO has unveiled the Milano as its latest addition to the SUV lineup and its first-ever seriesproduction electric car. Named after the brand’s hometown, the Milano is an urbanfocused crossover that aims to capture the essence of the Giulietta and Mito hatchbacks while offering premium appeal and engaging driving dynamics to attract a new generation of Alfisti. Jean-Philippe Imparato, Alfa Romeo boss, stated that the Milano is designed to transition the brand “from exclusive to inclusive,” emphasising its position alongside the ultra-exclusive 33 Stradale. He noted, “Alfa is the only brand that is able to sell a car at €2 million (RM10m) and €30,000 (RM153,059).” With dimensions of 4170mm length, 1780mm width, and 1500mm height, the Milano incorporates bold new design elements while paying homage to Alfa’s heritage. Its distinctive front-end grille features stylised elements from the brand’s logo in electric versions. For reference, the smart #1 measures 4270mm in length, 1636mm in height, and 1822mm in width. The Milano is available with either electric or mild-hybrid petrol power, sharing a platform with models like the Citroen C4, Fiat 600, Jeep Avenger, and Peugeot 2008. The Milano Ibrida combines a 1.2- litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V starter-generator and a 28bhp electric motor for 134bhp and the option of short-distance EV driving. Alfa emphasises the Milano’s driving dynamics, boasting optimal mass distribution and best-in-class handling tuned by the same team responsible for the Giulia GTA supersaloon. The top-tier Veloce variant offers the most driver-focused experience with a 237bhp motor, Torsen limitedslip differential, and agile chassis upgrades. In the middle of the dashboard and oriented towards the driver, a 10.25-inch touchscreen system was developed to work with widgets and graphic components designed for intuitive interaction with all the features. Every user can create their own homepage, where each of the car’s features is an app in itself. The Milano is available for order in Italy and will launch in 28 markets over the next six months. Huracan’s last dance LAMBORGHINI’S latest special edition, the Huracan STJ, may not be as visually extravagant as expected for a “Last Dance” model, but its performance enhancements make it a track-focused marvel. Building upon the already potent STO variant, the STJ prioritises setting blistering lap times. One of the key upgrades is the introduction of four-wayadjustable dampers, replacing the previous active setup, and significantly improving mechanical grip. This enhanced adjustability allows for lower spring stiffness without sacrificing control or steering feel. Coupled with bespoke Bridgestone Potenza race tyres on 20-inch centre-locking wheels, the STJ promises unparalleled handling. Powering the STJ is a dry-sumped 631hp 5.2L V10 engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering thrilling rear-wheel-drive performance. Aerodynamic enhancements include subtle revisions to the front splitter, new dive planes, and a 3° increase in the rear wing angle, boosting aerodynamic load without compromising balance. The “ST” designation pays homage to Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo racing series, while the “J” references FIA regulations and iconic Lamborghini models like the Miura SVJ and Aventador SVJ. These improvements translate to a more than one-second reduction in lap time compared to the STO at Lamborghini’s test track. Limited to just 10 units, the Huracan STJ offers customers a choice between two configurations and livery options, marking the culmination of the Huracan’s decade-long success story. It paves the way for an exciting new plug-inhybrid successor set to debut later this year. Enhanced features for 2025 Audi S3 THE Audi S3 Sedan and S3 Sportback have received substantial upgrades for the 2025 model year, following the recent facelift of the Audi A3. These enhancements focus on increasing power, improving driving dynamics, and updating the design and features. Under the hood, Audi’s engineers have finetuned the 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder engine to produce 328hp and 420Nm of torque. This represents an increase of 22hp and 20Nm over the outgoing model. With these improvements, the new S3 can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 4.7 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 250kph. Audi has also optimised the turbocharger’s performance by keeping it at a constant rpm during steady-speed driving with low to medium acceleration. Additionally, modifications to the seven-speed Stronic transmission have halved shift times under full load. The 2025 S3 now features the same torque splitter as the RS 3, enabling fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels. Enhancements extend beyond the powertrain. The 2025 S3 offers six driving modes, including a Dynamic Plus mode that maximises torque distribution to the rear axle and outside rear wheel during cornering, promoting oversteer. The throttle response is also sharpened in this mode. To further enhance driving dynamics, Audi has installed stiffer wishbone and pivot bearings, optimised the progressive steering, and included standard S sports suspension, which lowers the ride height by 15mm compared to the standard A3. Wheel-selective torque control has been refined, and the brakes now feature 357mm front discs and new two-piston callipers. Design updates include a new single-frame grille, revised LED and LED Matrix headlights, and configurable daytime running lights. Inside, the cabin boasts a new shifter, air vents, ambient lighting, and backlit fabric panels on the front doors. Exclusive S3 features comprise a black roof lining, stainless steel pedals, aluminium accents, sports seats, and carbon fibre elements. The S3 is digital and connected – thanks to numerous connect services, functions on demand, and a store for apps. The 2025 Audi S3 will arrive at European dealerships this quarter, with prices in Germany starting at €55,600 (RM286,889). Alfa’s first ever series production electric SUV Merc EQS gets significant updates MERCEDES-BENZ CONTINUES to push the boundaries with its EQS lineup, responding swiftly to market demands and customer feedback. For the 2024 change year, the EQS receives a significant update, offering enhanced range, comfort, and features. The EQS now boasts an increased batter y c a p a c i t y , resulting in up to 82km of additional range. With a maximum range of 799km for the EQS 450 4MATIC and 822km for the EQS 450+, Mercedes-Benz reaffirms its commitment to providing long-distance electric driving capabilities. Notably, towing capacity has been boosted for EQS and EQE sedans with 4MATIC, now capable of towing up to 1,700kg, aligning them with SUV derivatives. Additionally, a new brake system function ensures the maintenance of brake components, optimising longevity and efficiency. Externally, the EQS sports a redesigned radiator cover with chrome applications and an upright Mercedes star, blending avantgarde EQ aesthetics with iconic Mercedes-Benz symbolism. The interior receives upgrades too, with enhanced rear comfort features including a slanted footrest and a Rear Comfort Package Plus with executive seats. Fur thermore, M e rce d e s - B e n z introduces the “Automatic Lane Change” function, offering intelligent driving assistance on two-lane highways. This feature enhances the driving experience, allowing for seamless lane changes within predefined parameters. For enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of luxury and performance, the EQS Manufaktur Selection offers exclusive features such as obsidian metallic paint, AMG Styling, and opulent Nappa leather upholstery. This special edition exemplifies Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to craftsmanship and customisation.
SPORTS SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 27 NOTIS JUALAN SECARA LELONG AWAM Akta Pemegang Pajak-Gadai(81)1972 Sandaran-sandaran yang tidak ditebus Pemegang Pajak Gadai yang tersebut dibawah ini yang mana sandaran-sandaran itu telah di-gadaikan dalam tempoh seperti di bawah Akan Di-jual Dengan Lelong Umum Di The YMCA of Penang, No 211 Macalister Road, 10400 Georgetown, Penang. Pada Hari 2hb May 2024, Waktu 2.00pm. NEGERI PULAU PINANG No. NAMA PAJAK GADAI ALAMAT PAJAK GADAI 1 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon (Bayan Baru) Sdn Bhd 54 Jalan Tengah, Taman Sri Tunas, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Penang. 2 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon Sdn Bhd (Jelutong) 124 Jalan Jelutong, 11600 Georgetown, Penang. 3 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon Sdn Bhd (Bukit Jambul) 88Q Jalan Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Bukit Jambul, Penang. 4 MCG Pawnshop Sdn Bhd 2952 Jalan Perai, Taman Inderawasih, 13600 Seberang Perai, Penang. 5 Hoong Goon Pawnshop Sdn Bhd 4-D Jalan Bayan Lepas, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang. 6 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Sdn Bhd 500 Jalan Dato Keramat, 10460 Penang. 7 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Fettes Sdn Bhd 16 Jalan Fettes, 11200 Tanjung Tokong, Penang. 8 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Farlim Sdn Bhd 63 Jalan Pisang Embun, 11500 Farlim, Penang. 9 Pajak Gadai Cheng Chang Sdn Bhd 8 Jalan Penanti 1, Taman Penanti, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang. 10 MCG Pawnshop (Nibong Tebal) Sdn Bhd 34 Jalan Besar, Taman Merbah, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang 11 Pajak Gadai Moneymax (Bukit Mertajam) Sdn Bhd 227 Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang Sandaran-sandaran tersebut boleh diperiksa dengan Pemegang Pajak Gadai berkenaan diatas pada 19hb Apr 2024 sehingga 25hb Apr 2024, pukul 10.00 Pagi sehingga 4.00 Petang sebelum tarikh jualan lelong itu. Neoh Boon Hooi Licensed Auctioneer Pelelong Berlesen 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PUBLICIS COMMUNICATIONS MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. (Registration No. 198301006453 (101677-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 459 (2) of the Companies Act 2016, that the Final Meeting of the Members of the above-named Company will be held at Level 7, 33B, Jalan Pahang, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- (1) To receive and consider the Liquidator’s Statement of Receipts and Payments showing the manner in which the winding up of the Company has been conducted and to receive any explanations thereon. (2) To resolve, pursuant to Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act 2016, that the books, accounts and records of the Company be destroyed after the expiration of three (3) months from the date of filing of the Return by Liquidator relating to Final Meeting. ONG KHAI JIET Liquidator Level 7, 33B Jalan Pahang, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang Dated : April 19, 2024. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF COMPANIES (WINDING UP) RULES, 1972 AND PERFECT SELECTION SDN. BHD. (In Liquidation) (Registration No. 200301019881 (622301-K)) No. 67 (Rule 112) NOTICE OF MEETING TAKE NOTICE that a creditors’ meeting of the abovesaid Company will be held at Liquidator’s office at MAZARS RISK MANAGEMENT SDN. BHD., Wisma Golden Eagle Realty, 11th Floor, South Block, 142-A, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10th May 2024 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- 1. To receive an account from the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. 2. To determine the remuneration of Liquidator in winding up by Court pursuant to Sections 479(2)(b) and/or 479(2)(c) and/ or 479(4) under Companies Act, 2016; 3. Any other matters. KHOR YONG YONG LIQUIDATOR Dated this 19th day of April, 2024 Forms of general and special proxies are enclosed herewith. Proxies to be used at the meeting must be lodged not later than 12 o’clock noon on the 8th day of May, 2024. 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-2244-01/2024 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat: 201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN NOORALIZA BINTI RAMLI (No. K/P: 630828-05-5498) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) NOORALIZA BINTI RAMLI SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur, dalam Guaman No. WAA72M-2244-01/2024 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di Tingkat 20, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman Terpinda bertarikh 22.02.2024 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda bertarikh 22.02.2024 diserahkan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu melalui penampalan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur, penampalan di alamat-alamat terakhir kamu yang diketahui Plaintif dan pengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’, dan penyampaian Writ Saman Terpinda dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda sedemikian akan dianggap sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 4 haribulan April 2024 ……………t.t………… TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY, peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :genetan@gmtan.biz Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami: GMT/YIR(RCE)/00905/2023 If you feel you have what it takes, to join us in the interesting media industry, send your resume (together with a photo of you) via email to hr@thesundaily.com You can call us at +603 7784 6688 theSun is published by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Level 4, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. MARKETING EXECUTIVE Responsibilities 1. Handle both local & outstation Agents and Vendors. 2. Handle sales of newspaper-corporate sales e.g.: Hospital, Hotels, etc. 3. Actively engage in outbound sales activities to acquire new newspaper subscribers. Requirements 1. Minimum Diploma in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field with at least 2 years of experience. 2. Proven experience in sales, preferably in the media or publishing industry would be an advantage 3. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 4. Excellent selling, communication and negotiation skills. Malaysian Paper MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE / AGENT (FREELANCE) Requirements 1. Minimum 1 year sales experience in newspaper bulk sales and digital advertising 2. Attractice commision package and incentive 3. Able to start immediately 4. Central, Nothern, Southern, East Coast and Sabah/Sarawak IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT SHAH ALAM (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) COMPANIES (WINDING UP) NO.: BA-28NCC-115-02/2024 In the matter of sections 465(1)(e) and 466(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2016 And In the matter of Gooil Sdn Bhd (Company No. 202001010884 (1367204-T)) BETWEEN POH SING CHONG (NRIC No.: 741123-03-5173) …PETITIONER AND GOOIL SDN BHD (Company No.: 202001010884 (1367204-T)) …RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed company by the High Court was, on the 26th day of February 2024, presented by POH SING CHONG (NRIC NO.: 741123-03-5173). And that the said petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at the High Court of Malaya at Shah Alam, Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan at 9 o’clock in the morning, on the 27th day of June 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 for service is at A-12-13, Tower A, Tropicana Avenue, Persiaran Tropicana Golf and Country Resort 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs Yy Tan & Co. of A-12-13, Tower A, Tropicana Avenue, Persiaran Tropicana Golf and Country Resort 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. .....................t.t...................... Solicitors of the abovenamed Petitioner Messrs Yy Tan & Co. 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, 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 solicitor (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 26th day of June, 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the bearing of the petition). Tel No. : 013 233 5598 / 03 7886 0189 Email : admin@yytanco.com Ref No. : 22.0175 302 Jobs 322 Notices NOTIS JUALAN SECARA LELONG AWAM Akta Pemegang Pajak-Gadai(81)1972 Sandaran-sandaran yang tidak ditebus Pemegang Pajak Gadai yang tersebut dibawah ini yang mana sandaran-sandaran itu telah di-gadaikan dalam tempoh seperti di bawah Akan Di-jual Dengan Lelong Umum Di The YMCA of Penang, No 211 Macalister Road, 10400 Georgetown, Penang. Pada Hari 2hb May 2024, Waktu 2.00pm. NEGERI PULAU PINANG No. NAMA PAJAK GADAI ALAMAT PAJAK GADAI 1 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon (Bayan Baru) Sdn Bhd 54 Jalan Tengah, Taman Sri Tunas, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Penang. 2 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon Sdn Bhd (Jelutong) 124 Jalan Jelutong, 11600 Georgetown, Penang. 3 Pajak Gadai Sheng Lon Sdn Bhd (Bukit Jambul) 88Q Jalan Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Bukit Jambul, Penang. 4 MCG Pawnshop Sdn Bhd 2952 Jalan Perai, Taman Inderawasih, 13600 Seberang Perai, Penang. 5 Hoong Goon Pawnshop Sdn Bhd 4-D Jalan Bayan Lepas, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang. 6 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Sdn Bhd 500 Jalan Dato Keramat, 10460 Penang. 7 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Fettes Sdn Bhd 16 Jalan Fettes, 11200 Tanjung Tokong, Penang. 8 Pajak Gadai Wangmax Farlim Sdn Bhd 63 Jalan Pisang Embun, 11500 Farlim, Penang. 9 Pajak Gadai Cheng Chang Sdn Bhd 8 Jalan Penanti 1, Taman Penanti, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang. 10 MCG Pawnshop (Nibong Tebal) Sdn Bhd 34 Jalan Besar, Taman Merbah, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang 11 Pajak Gadai Moneymax (Bukit Mertajam) Sdn Bhd 227 Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang Sandaran-sandaran tersebut boleh diperiksa dengan Pemegang Pajak Gadai berkenaan diatas pada 19hb Apr 2024 sehingga 25hb Apr 2024, pukul 10.00 Pagi sehingga 4.00 Petang sebelum tarikh jualan lelong itu. Neoh Boon Hooi Licensed Auctioneer Pelelong Berlesen 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PUBLICIS COMMUNICATIONS MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. (Registration No. 198301006453 (101677-V)) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 459 (2) of the Companies Act 2016, that the Final Meeting of the Members of the above-named Company will be held at Level 7, 33B, Jalan Pahang, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- (1) To receive and consider the Liquidator’s Statement of Receipts and Payments showing the manner in which the winding up of the Company has been conducted and to receive any explanations thereon. (2) To resolve, pursuant to Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act 2016, that the books, accounts and records of the Company be destroyed after the expiration of three (3) months from the date of filing of the Return by Liquidator relating to Final Meeting. ONG KHAI JIET Liquidator Level 7, 33B Jalan Pahang, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang Dated : April 19, 2024. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF COMPANIES (WINDING UP) RULES, 1972 AND PERFECT SELECTION SDN. BHD. (In Liquidation) (Registration No. 200301019881 (622301-K)) No. 67 (Rule 112) NOTICE OF MEETING TAKE NOTICE that a creditors’ meeting of the abovesaid Company will be held at Liquidator’s office at MAZARS RISK MANAGEMENT SDN. BHD., Wisma Golden Eagle Realty, 11th Floor, South Block, 142-A, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10th May 2024 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- 1. To receive an account from the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. 2. To determine the remuneration of Liquidator in winding up by Court pursuant to Sections 479(2)(b) and/or 479(2)(c) and/ or 479(4) under Companies Act, 2016; 3. Any other matters. KHOR YONG YONG LIQUIDATOR Dated this 19th day of April, 2024 Forms of general and special proxies are enclosed herewith. Proxies to be used at the meeting must be lodged not later than 12 o’clock noon on the 8th day of May, 2024. 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO: WA-A72M-2244-01/2024 ANTARA YAYASAN IHSAN RAKYAT (No Syarikat: 201201017719 [1003231-A]) …PLAINTIF DAN NOORALIZA BINTI RAMLI (No. K/P: 630828-05-5498) ...DEFENDAN NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) Kepada: - 1) NOORALIZA BINTI RAMLI SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur, dalam Guaman No. WAA72M-2244-01/2024 oleh Yayasan Ihsan Rakyat (“Plaintif”) yang beralamat di Tingkat 20, Menara Teo Chew, No. 1, Jalan Lumut, 50400 Kuala Lumpur di mana Plaintif menuntut terhadap kamu antara lain untuk membayar semula pinjaman, faedah dan kos. DAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa Writ Saman Terpinda bertarikh 22.02.2024 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda bertarikh 22.02.2024 diserahkan secara penyampaian ganti terhadap kamu melalui penampalan pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur, penampalan di alamat-alamat terakhir kamu yang diketahui Plaintif dan pengiklankan sekali di suatu penerbitan akhbar ‘The Sun’, dan penyampaian Writ Saman Terpinda dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda sedemikian akan dianggap sebagai penyerahan lengkap dan sempurna terhadap kamu dalam masa tujuh hari (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan atau pengiklanan yang terakhir tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguamcara kamu. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 4 haribulan April 2024 ……………t.t………… TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY Peguamcara Plaintif NOTIS (IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI) ini telah difailkan oleh TETUAN GM TAN & COMPANY, peguamcara pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di C-10-28, Block C, Lobby 2, Centum Oasis Corporate Park, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/2, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel No. : +603 2714 5456 E-mel :genetan@gmtan.biz Faks No.: +603 2714 5457 Ruj Kami: GMT/YIR(RCE)/00905/2023 If you feel you have what it takes, to join us in the interesting media industry, send your resume (together with a photo of you) via email to hr@thesundaily.com You can call us at +603 7784 6688 theSun is published by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Level 4, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. MARKETING EXECUTIVE Responsibilities 1. Handle both local & outstation Agents and Vendors. 2. Handle sales of newspaper-corporate sales e.g.: Hospital, Hotels, etc. 3. Actively engage in outbound sales activities to acquire new newspaper subscribers. Requirements 1. Minimum Diploma in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field with at least 2 years of experience. 2. Proven experience in sales, preferably in the media or publishing industry would be an advantage 3. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 4. Excellent selling, communication and negotiation skills. Malaysian Paper MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE / AGENT (FREELANCE) Requirements 1. Minimum 1 year sales experience in newspaper bulk sales and digital advertising 2. Attractice commision package and incentive 3. Able to start immediately 4. Central, Nothern, Southern, East Coast and Sabah/Sarawak IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT SHAH ALAM (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) COMPANIES (WINDING UP) NO.: BA-28NCC-115-02/2024 In the matter of sections 465(1)(e) and 466(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2016 And In the matter of Gooil Sdn Bhd (Company No. 202001010884 (1367204-T)) BETWEEN POH SING CHONG (NRIC No.: 741123-03-5173) …PETITIONER AND GOOIL SDN BHD (Company No.: 202001010884 (1367204-T)) …RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed company by the High Court was, on the 26th day of February 2024, presented by POH SING CHONG (NRIC NO.: 741123-03-5173). And that the said petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at the High Court of Malaya at Shah Alam, Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan at 9 o’clock in the morning, on the 27th day of June 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 for service is at A-12-13, Tower A, Tropicana Avenue, Persiaran Tropicana Golf and Country Resort 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs Yy Tan & Co. of A-12-13, Tower A, Tropicana Avenue, Persiaran Tropicana Golf and Country Resort 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. .....................t.t...................... Solicitors of the abovenamed Petitioner Messrs Yy Tan & Co. 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, 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 solicitor (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 26th day of June, 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the bearing of the petition). Tel No. : 013 233 5598 / 03 7886 0189 Email : admin@yytanco.com Ref No. : 22.0175 302 Jobs 322 Notices SCAN ME FRIDAY APR 19, 2024 TEL: 03-7784 6688 FAX: 03-7785 2625 EMAIL: classifieds@thesundaily.com Shanghai hanghai surprise urprise F1 faces fresh challenge on return to China FORMULA ONE returns to China for the first time since 2019 with even world champion Max Verstappen facing a new challenge at a circuit that provided his Red Bull team’s first grand prix victory 15 years ago. The weekend will host the first sprint of the season, with only one hour of free practice today to fine tune the cars and do tyre assessments, and the teams have only simulator data to go on. The last time they raced at the Shanghai International Circuit, the cars had 13-inch tyres and a flat floor instead of the current 18-inch Pirelli rubber and ground-effect aerodynamics. The track has also seen little use since 2019 and could be bumpier than before. “It’s going to be quite hectic anyway with the Sprint weekend,” said Verstappen after winning in Japan for his third victory in four races. “So, yeah, only one practice session to really get into it again. So I think it will be quite interesting.” The 26-year-old has been critical, with some others, of the decision to have a 100km Saturday sprint in China when there are so many unknowns. “It would have been better to have a normal race weekend there. But on the other hand, it probably spices things up a bit more, and that’s maybe what they would like to see,” he said. “We’ll see what we get there. I mean, I always loved driving there. So yeah, hopefully we can hit the ground running as well as we can, and hopefully we don’t need to fine-tune too many things on the car.” Verstappen has won three championships since he last raced in China and such is his domination that another victory on Sunday would mean the Dutch driver has won half of all the F1 races held since Shanghai’s last appearance on the calendar. It would also be his first win in China, which was Lewis Hamilton territory until the Covid-19 pandemic brought down the shutters. Mercedes’ seven times world champion has won a record six times in Shanghai but arrives this time on the brink of 50 successive races without standing on the top step of the podium. Ferrari are likely to be Red Bull’s closest rivals, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc third and fourth behind Verstappen and team-mate Sergio Perez in Japan, and Mercedes beaten by McLaren and Aston Martin. Verstappen is 13 points clear of Perez in the standings and 18 ahead of Leclerc with George Russell the highest placed Mercedes driver in seventh. Hamilton is ninth. “The headline results didn’t necessarily show it, but we made solid progress with our car in Japan,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We are looking forward to building on that this weekend.” – Reuters DELHI CAPITALS captain Rishabh Pant produced a wicketkeeping masterclass in yesterday’s Indian Premier League (IPL) victory against Gujarat Titans to strengthen his claim on a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pant is playing his first tournament since suffering serious injuries in a car accident in December 2022 that kept him out of last year’s IPL as well as the 50-overs World Cup in India. The 26-year-old’s batting has not been rusty on his return though and he is Delhi’s leading scorer with 210 runs from seven matches, including two fifties, this season. His glovework was equally impressive yesterday as he took two catches, including a stunning grab to dismiss David Miller, and produced a couple of stumpings as Delhi bundled out Gujarat for 89. Pant then made 16 not out as Delhi cruised to the target inside nine overs en route to their third win in seven matches. Delhi bowling coach James Hopes said they sorely missed Pant’s neat keeping and explosive batting last season. “Last year, we tried really hard to cover that gap,” he said. “But it is very hard to cover a world-class wicketkeeper, if not the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world, when he’s going on. “Now that he is back, you can see everything about his game, his keeping, his captaincy.” – Reuters Pant boosts World Cup hopes Verstappen
SPORTS SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 28 One last hurrah French Open the moment to give everything: Nadal RAFAEL NADAL said the upcoming French Open will be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur yesterday. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of the 2023 season, is hoping to compete at the French Open in May where he is the record 14- time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was not the moment he was saving himself for, instead targeting his Roland Garros return as the time to go for broke in what he expects will be the last year of his career. “On a personal level, for what is to come, the 6-1 in the second set is what had to happen today,” said Nadal, who explained there were bigger challenges ahead. “It wasn’t today that I had to give everything and die, I have to give myself the chance to do that in a few weeks, or at least try to,” Nadal told reporters. “I will try to take a step further in Madrid, then another one in Rome and, in Paris... there is the moment to do it, whatever happens, there is no better place to.” Nadal said the key to being able to triumph at Roland Garros was continuing to build in the weeks ahead. “(I need to be) getting the weeks of experience, of matches, and feeling more comfortable with everything,” continued Nadal. “Today I felt more comfortable than yesterday… I have to be realistic, today I cannot have a game that goes for two and a half hours, or three.” The Spaniard, who has won the Barcelona clay-court title on 12 occasions, eased past Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday in his first ATP Tour match since January. However he came up short against De Minaur, who has now won his last two clashes against the former world No. 1. Despite showing flashes of his supreme quality on the court named after him, Nadal was defeated in what he said would “realistically” be his final appearance at the tournament. “I’m sad because nobody wants Rafa to stop playing,” said De Minaur. “I never thought I’d get a win over Rafa on clay, it’s something I’ll be able to say when I finish my career.” Earlier Norway’s three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud came out on top in an entertaining 6-3, 6-4 match with Alexandre Muller to reach the third round. “This year is much better than last year, I’m having a good year,” said Ruud, who defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic last week. Monte Carlo Masters winner Stefanos Tsitsipas dispatched Sebastian Ofner in straight sets with a 6-4, 7-5 victory. – AFP Gauff, Raducanu shine in Stuttgart WORLD NO. 3 Coco Gauff was pushed hard by American compatriot Sachia Vickery before overcoming the qualifier 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 at the WTA Stuttgart clay-court tournament yesterday. The US Open champion needed two hours 27 minutes to silence her second round opponent, ranked 134th in the world. Gauff began brightly, rattling off the first three games, but from then on it was to become an error-strewn struggle. She double-faulted 15 times, enabling Vickery to get 19 break points, of which she converted seven. Gauff converted six with the most important one coming in the seventh game of the deciding set. Trailing 0-2, Vickery fought her way back to take a 4-2 lead, with Gauff then clinching the crucial game on her fourth break point. “She gets a lot of balls back and I was just trying to be patient and also be aggressive. I think I got passive. She played well and I think I did a good job of staying in the match,” said Gauff. Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu defeated three-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-1 in her first round match. At the weekend Raducanu led Britain past France and into the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup in November and she continued that claycourt form in Germany. Raducanu hit 26 winners to 11 unforced errors while two-time Stuttgart champion Kerber was undone by 29 unforced errors. The British player will next face the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova where a win would put her into her second Stuttgart quarterfinal. Ninth-ranked Ons Jabeur snapped a fivematch losing streak by beating Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) in the second round. “I have thought about withdrawing from this tournament so many times because I couldn’t take another loss,” said Jabeur. “It was very, very difficult.” The victory over 16th-ranked Alexandrova was just Jabeur’s third win of 2024 and first since beating Raducanu in Abu Dhabi. Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, runner-up in the German city for the last three years, advanced when close friend Paula Badosa retired from their second round clash with a left thigh injury in the final set. – AFP THE Scottie Scheffler Show steamrolls its way into South Carolina this week when the PGA Tour holds its next signature event, the RBC Heritage, at Harbour Town Golf Links. When the field of 69 tee off today in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina., Scheffler will be the overwhelming favourite again, and deservedly so. The 27-year-old not only posted a four-shot win at the Masters on Sunday for his second green jacket in three years, but he has also gone first-first-T2-first in his past four starts on tour and has not shot an over-par round all season. Scheffler said he made a commitment to playing the RBC Heritage and gave no thought to taking the week off. He celebrated his major championship with family and friends on Monday, then it was back to business. “When I was first coming up on tour, I always wanted to compete with the guys that were playing the best,” Scheffler said. “I got excited for the events like this where the best players were there. “Yeah, I think it would be enjoyable (for others) if I’m up there on the leaderboard on Sundays because I think guys want to beat players when they’re at their best.” The field is stocked with players who hung with Scheffler at the Masters before fading. Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg posted a solo-second finish in his major debut. Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood all tied for third and are taking another swing at it this week. Aberg has been on tour for less than a year, and this will mark his first time at the Heritage, yet the 24- year-old is in such strong form that he is one of the top four betting favourites. “I think as a golfer, it’s always going to be an endless challenge of trying to get a little bit b e t t e r, whether it’s your putting or chipping or short game or hitting balls or whatever it is,” Aberg said. “I think I’m always trying to make sure that the things that I’m working on are going in the right direction. “Obviously I can’t do anything about Scottie. He’s an unbelievable player and a person, and I respect him so much.” – Field Level Media Scheffler clear favourite at Heritage SHORTS Korda chases LPGA history WORLD NO. 1 Nelly Korda will be chasing a record-equalling fifth straight LPGA triumph when the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the year, tees off on today in Texas. The American, who pushed her 2024 winning streak to four tournaments with a victory in the LPGA Match Play in Las Vegas this month, could match the fivetournament streaks achieved by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and Annika Sorenstam in 2005. But the 25-year-old said she’ll be focusing only on the task at hand – adding a second major victory to the Women’s PGA Championship she won in 2021. “I’m so in the present that I don’t let myself think about (the streak) too much,” Korda said. “I feel like that just comes with a little bit more added pressure.” Homa confident after Masters showing MAX HOMA is as confident as ever heading into this week’s RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island. Homa tied for third at the Masters on Sunday, his best finish in a major championship. It was just the second time he landed in the top 10 at a major, also doing so at The Open Championship in 2023. “I guess it reinforces that my golf game is good enough. I think most anybody who plays a major, it is. But until you get to feel that, you don’t know,” Homa said. “I did absolutely nothing special on the weekend and had a very good chance, minus a bad bounce on the 12th. So that’s kind of what I’ve taken going into the other ones, that I didn’t have any magic on the weekend. “I didn’t chip in. I didn’t make a putt outside of 12 feet for two days, and standing on 12 tee, I’m about to be one back of Scottie (Scheffler), best player in the world and one of the best players I think we’ll ever see. “So I think that just physically I take that with me, that my physical golf game is good enough.” Clark admits to being ‘spooked’ at Augusta WYNDHAM CLARK admitted to having a scary experience during his first appearance at the Masters last week. Speaking ahead of the RBC Heritage, Clark said yesterday that he was frustrated with the windy conditions at Augusta National. The World’s No. 5 player carded a 78 in the second round and missed the cut after finishing at 7-over par. “I was just really bummed that my first Masters experience was under such extreme conditions because I felt like I was playing good golf, but going off late on Friday was very challenging, and the wind honestly spooked me on the greens,” Clark said. “I hit a couple putts that were uphill, downwind, and I hit them 4, 5 feet by, and then ever since that happened on the third hole, I wasn’t getting putts there. “I was just a little spooked. My game was there. That’s what was frustrating is I hit a lot of great shots, I just didn’t score. “I’m just putting that as a tough draw. Didn’t putt well, but that’s one week, and moving on to this week.” Scottie Scheffler. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 29 MA N C H E S T E R UNITED have faced an array of problems that have plagued Erik ten Hag’s dire second season in charge, few more noticeable than the shortcomings in midfield. Ten Hag has tabled criticism for his tactical setup and how it leaves his midfield and defence over-exposed to attacks, but the issues could be self-imposed for a different reason. Unsurprisingly, there are mounting concerns over whether the Dutchman can fix what has spiralled into a mess as the 2023/24 campaign has progressed. Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with a focus on transforming United’s midfield into a dominant unit capable of dictating football matches as his Ajax teams did. He signed Christian Eriksen on a free transfer and named Frenkie de Jong his priority target. United agreed an £85 million (RM506m) deal with Barcelona but the player said no. Casemiro later arrived from Real Madrid in a £70m (RM416m) move. An exciting addition, sure, but questions were rightfully raised over his contrasting style to De Jong and Ten Hag’s Ajax profiles. Kobbie Mainoo’s sensational breakthrough has been a silver lining. The 18-year-old looks like a player United and England can build around for the next decade. However, Mainoo has been left to fuel the engine room by himself on too many occasions. The Red Devils desperately lack energy in midfield, which is no surprise given the personnel. Ten Hag splashed £55m (RM330m) to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea last summer, but his injury struggles prevented him from making an early impact. United made an emergency swoop for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, signing him on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day. In the same window, Ten Hag sanctioned a cut-price deal that saw Fred leave for Fenerbahce, while he opted against making Marcel Sabitzer’s loan from Bayern Munich permanent. Both of those decisions have proven to be mistakes, with Casemiro looking past his best and Amrabat struggling to adapt to the speed of Premier League football. Ten Hag will always struggle to implement his style with Casemiro and Amrabat as two of his leading midfield options, which makes his decision to target both all the more confusing. If he is given the chance to manage United for a third year, both players will likely not be involved. Ten Hag must solve his problem by replacing them with the correct profiles – physical athletes who are comfortable with the ball. Everton’s Amadou Onana being touted as a primary target is a promising early sign. – Express Newspapers Enclosed is my payment of RM payable to SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD. 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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 Subscribe now for Monday-Friday copies of theSun newspaper only per copy Devil’s boss made two costly decisions that may have contributed to struggles JUVENTUS must pay Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo €9.7million (RM50m) in back wages for the 2020- 21 season, the Italian courts announced yesterday. The Court of Arbitration, to which Ronaldo appealed, “orders Juventus Turin to pay the sum of €9,774,166.66”, plus interest and procedural costs, it stated in its decision. The sum equates to the difference between the salary actually received by Ronaldo and that which he should have received after tax and other deductions. Ronaldo, who spent three seasons in Italy with Juventus (2018-21) before joining Manchester United (2021-22) and then the Saudi club Al Nassr, was claiming €19.5m (RM100m) but the arbitration panel reduced that by 50%. “The arbitration board… ascertained the validity of (Ronaldo‘s) compensation reduction agreement in relation to the 2020/21 sporting season,” Juventus said in a statement sent to Reuters. The arbitration tribunal ruled Juve had to pay half of the sum requested by the 39-year-old Portugal striker. “The Company, also with the support of its legal counsel, is reviewing the decision made by the arbitration board, reserving all assessments and initiatives to preserve its rights,” Juve said. According to the rankings drawn up by the American business magazine Forbes, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was the world’s highestpaid sportsman in 2023, with US$136m (RM650m), including US$46m (RM220m) in wages. Juventus, who are listed on the stock exchange, recorded losses of €123.7m (RM631m) in the 2022-23 financial year, which ran to the end of June, it announced in October. No provision has been made in the accounts of Italian football’s most successful club, currently third in Serie A, for the payment of this wages backlog. – AFP/Reuters Juve ordered to pay Ron RM50m in back wages On the chopping block Ronaldo
SPORTS SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 30 ARSENAL paid the price for not winning their Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich and Mikel Arteta admitted he had no words to “lift” his players in the dressing room after Joshua Kimmich’s 63rd-minute header was the difference in Germany yesterday night. Tied 2-2 from the first leg at the Emirates last week, the Gunners were well below par at the Allianz Arena. Bukayo Saka offered little threat while Gabriel Martinelli wasted a good opportunity to score in the first half. And Arteta admits the north Londoners should’ve won on home soil last week, when Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane cancelled out Saka’s opener before Leandro Trossard’s late equaliser. Arsenal couldn’t find a winner despite putting the Bundesliga giants under pressure late on. The Spaniard, reflecting on his team’s defeat in Munich, admitted he was lost for words when addressing his players. “It’s a gutted dressing room. Very disappointed. I cannot find the right words to lift them. I wish I could,” he said to TNT Sports. “We have to go through it. We tried against a team that has a lot of experience. Through the tie, I think the margins have been very small. “There were moments we were better. We gave them two goals in a tie, that’s a big advantage to give away. “It was a margin of error. Zero. We made a mistake defending the box - a big one. Then we conceded the goal. It’s difficult. We tried in many different ways but it’s difficult. “It’s a moment to stay next to the players and give them support and stick with them. They are the ones who took us on this journey.” A frustrated Arteta insists Arsenal should’ve won the home leg, saying they had an opportunity to do so. “We missed a mistake from them or a magic moment that unlocks the tie. The first leg we didn’t manage to win it at the end. I think we could’ve done, we were better than them. “Today we had a lot of moments of dominance but that spark around the box is what you need in these ties. “The club has been without playing Champions League for seven years. We wanted to be in the semifinals or the final this year. “We all wanted that so badly. But you can see in many other clubs it can take six or seven years to get to that stage. We were very close, that’s the reality.” Days after a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates dealt a body blow to their hopes of winning the Premier League, Arsenal were hoping to lift themselves with European joy. Instead, they have suffered backto-back defeats for the first time since the start of January. But Arteta added: “What we have to play is beautiful. Six games to go. We are two points behind (Manchester) City and a very difficult schedule for everybody. “We have to go through the pain tonight, tomorrow get up and come with the same attitude we came here and hopefully beat Wolves.” – Express Newspapers FORMER Arsenal defender Martin Keown didn’t hold back in decrying the Gunners’ performance as below the required standard as Mikel Arteta’s team were knocked out of the Champions League. Speaking on TNT Sports at fulltime, Keown lamented Arsenal’s inability to raise their performance and cause any kind of defensive issue for the German side, suggesting the Gunners lacked both the quality and mental strength required to win on the big stage. “I feel as flat as the performance – it was hugely disappointing. We didn’t really lay a glove in the second tie, it was there for whoever wanted it but Bayern had more resolve and were more direct,” he said. “Arsenal lacked it. We’ve come up short again when it really matters. The cautiousness of the game really helped Bayern – it was such a flat performance. You go out of these competitions because you don’t deserve to go through if you play like they did tonight.” Following on from a disappointing defeat to Aston Villa which has cost them the lead in the Premier League title race, Keown added that the squad must use this as fuel to get their season back on track quickly. “The players will be hugely disappointed. It comes down to fine margins and decision-making on the pitch. But I just feel that Arsenal never really gave a proper account of themselves. When it matters most, they don’t seem to be able to deliver. “You have to suck it up. The players will be hurting but you have to use that as oxygen for the rest of the season and get up again. It’s hugely disappointing for the supporters – you just want the players to deliver to their maximum and it didn’t happen tonight. “I think the mentality in those moments, you just saw that lack of experience, not being in that moment too many times.” Owen Hargreaves, formerly a Bayern Munich midfielder, suggested the Gunners would have regrets after the second leg even though the Bavarians were a strong opponent. “There’s no shame in going out against Bayern but they’ll look back and see there have been chances to win the game. They didn’t create anything, didn’t have many [dangerous] touches. Bayern today were the better side.” – The Independent PEP GUARDIOLA insisted there were no regrets after Manchester City’s bid to retain their Champions League crown ended in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Real Madrid. The holders were beaten 4-3 on spot-kicks by the Spanish giants after their quarterfinal tie ended 4-4 on aggregate – 1-1 on the night – despite a dominant display from Guardiola’s side in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. City fell behind early to a Rodrygo goal but created a host of chances as they sought to regain control of the tie but Kevin De Bruyne’s 76th-minute equaliser was their only reward. City manager Guardiola said: “I would have preferred to win, but congratulations to Real Madrid, they defended so deep with incredible solidarity, and we did everything. “I don’t have any regrets about what we have done. Always we try to create more chances and concede less, because we believe that helps you to win and we did everything. “We played exceptionally in all departments, and unfortunately, we could not win.” Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic both missed in the shoot-out, with the former’s effort proving a particularly comfortable save for Andriy Lunin. Guardiola refused to blame the Portuguese for his failure to register. He said: “Bernardo asked to take it, he’s a reliable player and decided to shoot in that way. What a game he had played. It happens.” Guardiola also had no complaints about Real’s tactics, with the Spanish side forced to sit back and defend deep for much of the game. “I don’t judge,” he said. “I’m not here to do this. It’s football. In this competition, that’s the way football happens.” City’s loss also ended their hopes of winning a second successive treble and they must now pick themselves up for Saturday’s (Sun 12.15am Malaysian time) FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea at Wembley. Guardiola said: “Now we will rest and on Friday we travel to London to play the game. “We will see how people will react. Of course the recovery is easier when winning, rather than losing, but it is the semifinal of the FA Cup and we will try to compete as much as possible.” – The Independent No regrets, says Pep after penalty heartbreak █ BY KARL MATCHETT █ BY ANDY HAMPSON Kane lauds Munich’s ‘unbelievable win’ HARRY KANE hailed an “unbelievable win” over Arsenal as Bayern Munich booked their place in the Champions League semifinals. Joshua Kimmich’s commanding header in the second half secured Thomas Tuchel’s side a 1-0 win on the night and 3-2 victory on aggregate to set up a last four encounter with Real Madrid, who beat Manchester City. Bayern have missed out on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen after 11 consecutive domestic crowns, but march on in search of European silverware. And Kane, who moved to Munich at the start of the season, is confident his side can build from a fine defensive performance to keep their Champions League run going. “It’s an unbelievable win,” Kane told TNT Sports. “It’s been a tough season for us, we’ve had to fight and really grind at times, and today was that. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we knew at home that we could make a difference with our fans there. It was what we expected. “A great goal from Josh made the difference from us and then it was about defending and keeping that clean sheet. “To reach the semifinals is a great achievement for us and we can enjoy this one.” Kimmich’s header was all that separated the sides on a night that Arsenal struggled to create clear chances. Kane was largely a peripheral figure, but Leon Goretzka and Raphael Guerreiro struck the woodwork for the hosts as they picked up the tempo after the halftime interval to progress. “Always in these types of games, the first half can be a bit cagey,” Kane explained. “We said at halftime just to up the tempo, up the pressing and create more chances, and that’s what we did. “Even towards the end there, we probably could have finished it off and made it easier for ourselves, but these games are tough and you just have to find a way to get through them. “The expectation here is to try and win the Champions League. We were missing some tempo in the Bundesliga compared to the Champions League and it can’t happen next season. It’ll be tough in the semis, and we have to recover now.” – The Independent █ BY HARRY LATHAM-COYLE Keown floored as Gunners come up short again Arsenal boss frustrated after Bayern loss Arteta lostfor words for words Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane (left) and Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli vie for the ball during their Champions League quarterfinal second leg match. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 31 Unexpected title drought Rashid disappointed Malaysia has not won Thomas Cup since 1992 I T NEVER occurred to national badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek that Malaysia would experience such a long Thomas Cup drought. Rashid, part of the national squad led by the Sidek brothers that last captured the Thomas Cup back in 1992 in Kuala Lumpur, said he is disappointed because badminton is one of the most popular sports in the country and, yet, Malaysia still can’t regain the coveted Cup. The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games men’s singles bronze medallist was also surprised by the long title drought despite there being no shortage of talented shuttlers and Malaysia having all the necessary facilities and better infrastructure compared to during his time. “I never thought Malaysia would find it so difficult to bring home the Thomas Cup. I thought maybe within 10 or 20 years we would win it back, but it’s been 32 years now,” he said when met by Bernama yesterday. Sharing his memory of lifting the Thomas Cup, Rashid said its impact was very significant for Malaysia. “The impact was very good... everyone wanted to play badminton. Even on the sidewalks, one could see people playing badminton. So, I hope Malaysia can regain the Thomas Cup because its impact is really fantastic,” said the 55-year-old Rashid. Apart from Rashid, the doubles combination of Sidek brothers Razif-Jalani also played a pivotal role in defeating Indonesia 3-2 in the 1992 final and helping Malaysia bag the Thomas Cup for the fifth time. After the 1992 edition, Malaysia emerged as runners-up four times – in 1994 (Jakarta, Indonesia); 1998 (Hong Kong), 2002 (Guangzhou, China) and 2014 New Delhi (India). Commenting on Malaysia’s chances of emerging as champions in the 2024 Thomas Cup Finals, which will be held in Chengdu, China from April 27-May 5, Rashid admitted that it won’t be a walk in the park. “Frankly, it won’t be easy for Malaysia to win it this time. It’s not that they can’t, but it will be extremely difficult. To win it this time, they must have a balanced squad, at least two singles players and two doubles pairs that are equally good, just like in 1992. “So, if we only have one good singles shuttler and two good pairs, we will be relying on just these three players. It’s not that we can’t depend on the other two but it will be obvious that they have not reached the required standard,” he explained. Meanwhile, he picked Denmark and Indonesia as the favourites to win the Thomas Cup this year but he does not rule out the possibility of another team pulling off a major surprise like India did when they won their maiden title in the 2022 edition in Bangkok, Thailand. “Based on strength, Denmark stand a chance, So do Indonesia simply because Jonatan Christie (men’s singles) is in top form at the moment. These two teams can emerge as champions,” he said. In the 2024 Thomas Cup campaign, Malaysia, who will have the likes of professional singles ace Lee Zii Jia and former world men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the squad, have been drawn in Group D with Denmark, Hong Kong and Algeria. – Bernama Sports industry plan in final phase of development: Ahmad Zahid THE Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is in the final stage of developing the Sports Industry Plan which outlines strategies and initiatives to benefit the sports industry sector and, thus, provide returns to the country’s economy. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also chairman of the Sports Development Cabinet Committee, said the matter was brought up at the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Sports Development No 1/2024 which he chaired yesterday. “The government will greatly emphasise the growth of sports as a high-value industry. “Based on the Preliminary Report of the Sports Satellite Account 202, the gross value added of the sports industry reached a total of RM19.6 billion in 2022 compared to RM17.5 billion in 2021,” he said in a statement after the meeting. The meeting aimed to coordinate and update the delivery system of sports development initiatives and programmes, including enhancing cooperation of various sectors to achieve the goal of turning Malaysia into a sporting nation. Meanwhile, he said the meeting also agreed with the implementation of strategic collaboration between the Anti-Doping Agency Malaysia (Adamas) and the KBS with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health in Anti-Doping Education. “This strategic collaboration will be implemented for athletes in institutions of higher learning, athletes competing in the 21st Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) and 2024 Sarawak Para Sukma as well as the implementation of Kenali Ubat Anda (Know Your Medication) education,” he said. Ahmad Zahid said all ministries must play their respective roles in improving the sports programmes, facilities and equipment to accommodate the expected demographic changes in the country, which is expected to achieve an ageing population status by 2030. “According to projections issued by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), 15 per cent of the Malaysian population will be aged 60 and above in that year,” he said. He said the meeting is also a platform which can, hopefully, resolve all sports-related issues effectively. “It can also be expanded by involving all government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) towards empowering sports development inclusively to produce a healthy, active and prosperous society. “The planning and implementation of this initiative require the cooperation of all stakeholders to achieve the government’s goal as outlined under the National Sports Policy and National Sports Vision (VSN) 2030,” he said. – Bernama UZBEKISTAN pounced on two individual errors to sink Malaysia 2-0 in their opening Group D match of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday night. The Harimau Muda squad, under the guidance of head coach Juan Torres Garrido, found themselves trailing early in the match after defender Muhamad Syahir Bashah fouled Ruslanbek Jiyanov in the box. Referee Ahmed Faisal Al Ali of Jordan had no hesitation in blowing the whistle and showing Muhamad Syahir the yellow card before Uzbekistan skipper Jasurbek Jaloliddinov calmly slotted home the spot-kick in the 11th minute to put the champions of the 2018 edition 1-0 ahead. Uzbekistan, who also finished runners-up in the 2022 edition and coached by Timur Kapadze, nearly doubled their lead at the end of the first half when Alibek Davronov headed over the bar from close range, with Malaysian goalkeeper Muhammad Azim Al Amin Kamaruddin rooted to his spot. Malaysia, playing with two centrebacks often seen with the senior squad in Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal and Nooa Laine, ended the first half without a shot on target and having just 44% of possession. Garrido made some changes after the break but his men still could not prevent Uzbekistan from dominating the game and coming close to finding the net. With 10 minutes to go, Uzbekistan capitalised on another mistake by Malaysia to double their lead. Garrido, though disappointed with the defeat, remains hopeful that his men can improve their performance before the next two games. He highlighted the importance of cutting down on making mistakes in crucial areas that may result in spot kicks, especially after his team conceded penalties to the opposition in their two warm-up matches. “With the short preparation, we improved. So, for sure, this game will help us to improve (further)… We probably need to do some extra work for the way we want to attack. “Today, we faced a good opponent. In future, we must be a bit ‘vertical’ and improve the way to reach the opponent’s half,” he told a post-match press conference. Garrido also denied that fitness was the team’s main problem tonight, saying his players paid too much respect to their opponents. The defeat means Malaysia will now have to get something from their match against Vietnam at the same venue on April 20 before they face Kuwait in their final group match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah on April 23. – Bernama Harimau Muda beaten in Asian Cup opening match CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Quarterfinals, 2nd leg) Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 63) Arsenal 0 – Munich win 3-2 on agg, Manchester City 1 (De Bruyne 76) Real Madrid 1 (Rodrygo 12) aet – 4-4 on agg; Madrid win 4-3 on pen. RESULTS KDA FC settle salary arrears and retain national licence KEDAH DARUL AMAN FC (KDA FC) have fully settled the salary arrears for the 2023 season and will now be able to retain their national licence to compete in this season’s Super League campaign. KDA FC acting chief executive officer Shahrul Samsudin said the club settled the salary arrears of all the players and officials in the Super League, KDA FC B, KDA FC C, and KDA FC D teams as well as that of the club’s administrative staff yesterday. “The management team settled the arrears issue which has plagued the club since the end of last year through the efforts of all parties, especially KDA FC majority owner Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar, who worked tirelessly to create space and opportunity to find the best solution for the club. “With the issue of salary arrears for the financial year 2023 settled before the April 20 deadline set by the First Instance Body (FIB), KDA FC have met the requirements and successfully retained the licence,” he said in a statement today. He said they are positive that with the latest development, KDA FC will focus on implementing the direction that has been planned for the 2024/2025 season and future seasons in a more organised, effective and precise manner. “For the 2024/2025 season, KDA FC will kick off the local football season with KDA FC C competing in the President’s Cup on April 21, followed by KDA FC D in the Youth Cup on May 4 before the main team compete in the Super League with their opening game against PDRM FC on May 11. “So, we hope all parties will give us their support and contributions to enable the continuation of the Kedah football legacy, which reaches 100 years this year,” he said. He also thanked all their loyal supporters for donating whatever they could towards efforts launched by the KDA FC management team. – Bernama Terengganu FC’s Ismaheel Akinade (left) is pushed by Penang FC’s Richmond Ankrah in the 2024 Pre-Season Four Corners Tournament at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Gong Badak Stadium on Wednesday night. TFC beat PFC 1-0. – 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 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com SCAN ME FRIDAY | APR 19, 2024 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 Shanghai surprise -Story on page 28 -Story on page 27 One last hurrah Real pedigree Bellingham reveals secret to Madrid’s ‘massive reward’ of Champions League semifinal J UDE BELLINGHAM praised the selflessness of his Real Madrid teammates and the work rate the squad put in during their Champions League quarterfinal win over Manchester City. Los Blancos progressed courtesy of a penalty shootout victory, after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium resulted in a 4-4 aggregate draw. Man City had most of the ball, the territory and the chances in the second leg, but had to come from behind to force extratime and spot-kicks after Rodrygo’s early strike for the visitors. That meant plenty of off-the-ball running for La Liga’s finest, but they stuck to the task throughout and got their reward by edging the tie from 12 yards when they couldn’t be separated over 210 minutes. And Bellingham, who scored his own spot-kick in the shootout, named Real’s endeavour and concentration as the biggest factors in ensuring they stayed in the game. “It’s relief. You put so much into the game, I’ve played against City before when you’re close and you think you’re going to get something and then they snatch it away,” he said on TNT Sports. “I’m dead on my feet at the end of the game so it’s a massive reward. It’s so difficult to keep focus, they move you around and put you in positions you don’t want to be in. “Most teams would fall apart when City get on top but we stood up really well and worked hard. “You’ve got to see (the Real shirt) as a responsibility, not a pressure. You have to be willing to be under the scrutiny and spotlight. If you’re here it means you can handle it so trust the process. “It’s incredible (to knock out the holders). Today it’s come down to mentality, to running, to track (players)... you get that right and then the moments like the lads keeping their heads in penalties, it’s a mix of that.” The run to the Champions League latter stages could yet cap an incredible debut campaign in Spain for the England international, with Real Madrid closing in on the domestic title too. Signing for the club has more than lived up to expectations, he explained – with manager Carlo Ancelotti a big part of that. Bellingham praised his boss for finding a way to fit so many great talents into the lineup and revealed he had a novel way of calming players down. “I could never dream of it, not just the goals but the feeling of playing for the club every day – the badge on your chest every day is amazing and hopefully there are more nights like this. “We had some different roles tonight in the team but there are adjustments and sacrifices to your own game you have to make. “Our biggest strength is (Ancelotti) finds a way to let the boys play with freedom. Other teams are structured with their patterns of play but we’re so off the cuff at times. “I caught him yawning before the game and he said ‘you need to go and excite me’! That’s the calmness he brings.” Real will now face Bayern Munich in the semifinals but Bellingham says playing the Bavarians will not mean a change of tactic. “We’ve got nothing to be worried about with Bayern but we respect them and we’ll approach it the same as today,” he said. Ancelotti praised his team’s resilience in their penalty shootout win, saying “everybody gave us up for dead, but Real Madrid never die.” “There was only one way to come out of here alive, and that was to take our chances – we took one early – and then by defending well. There’s no other way against City,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “I’ve seen Real Madrid do this a lot. It’s this badge, it brings something out of you that you didn’t know you had,” Ancelotti added. – The Independent/Agencies -Story on page 30 Arteta lost for words Real Madrid’s Luka Modric (centre) and teammates celebrate winning the penalty shootout during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg match against Manchester City yesterday. – REUTERSPIX