The SUN - 03 April 2024

Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY RM1 WEDNESDAY APR 3, 2024 SCAN ME No. 8493 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) It’s important to address issues related to religious and racial discrimination and not be swayed by individuals seeking to exploit these sentiments for personal gain. Upholding the pillars of unity and strengthening racial tolerance are crucial steps towards fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society. By promoting understanding, empathy and respect for all individuals, we can work towards creating a community in which diversity is celebrated and discrimination is eradicated " Jonathan Jesudas QUOTE OF THE DAY Treat foreign labourers humanely: NGO Unjustified arrests and detention of migrant workers, especially during public holidays, violate their rights and tarnish spirit of compassion and inclusivity, says North South Initiative. Report on — page 3 Well done, ell done, champ! Spotlight on fraud prevention Government closely monitoring enforcement agencies to curb illicit activities such as bribery among civil servants tasked with safeguarding national security and interests. Report on — page 2 KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday congratulated national female squash player S. Sivasangari for her triumph in clinching the London Classic championship. “Congratulations. May this victory pave the way for further successes in the future,” Anwar said in a Facebook post. He added that Sivasangari became the first Malaysian player to advance to the gold standard finals in the Professional Squash Association World Tour after former national squash queen Datuk Nicol David achieved the feat in 2015. Sivasangari made history by claiming the inaugural title of the London Classic championship, defeating world No. 2 player Hania El Hammamy from Egypt in the finals on Monday. The victory marks Sivasangari’s second win over El Hammamy in their six encounters. Her advancement to the finals of the prestigious championship equals the record set by Nicol in 2015. – Bernama School reopening impacts pre-Raya spending Hit hard by high household expenses, families with school-going children have little choice but to cut down on festive shopping. Report on — page 4 Sivasangari is all smiles after receiving her trophy. – PIC COURTESY OF PSA WORLD TOUR oPM congratulates squash ace for London Classic triumph Child sex abuse victims need prompt treatment Long-term consequences may result if therapy not commenced as soon as possible, says psychologist. Report on — page 5

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 2 Enforcement agencies being closely monitored: Anwar PUTRAJAYA: The government is closely monitoring enforcement agencies to prevent fraud in its fight against corruption, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He expressed hope that monitoring would help prevent fraudulent activities such as bribery among civil servants tasked with safeguarding national security and interest. “This is a reminder to the Customs, Inland Revenue Board and Immigration Department. “We are monitoring closely, and I hope that we can avoid these reports of fraud,” said Anwar, who is also finance minister, at the ministry’s assembly here yesterday. He said fraudulent activities did not involve all enforcement personnel but only a few, with some forced to accept (bribes) because of the culture in their agencies. o‘Move aimed at preventing fraudulent activities such as corruption among civil servants tasked with safeguarding national security and interests’ Foster unity, Islamic bodies told KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed hope that Islamic organisations in Malaysia will continue to play a central role in driving efforts to educate the people and foster unity in the country’s plural society. He conveyed his hope in a post on his official Facebook page after receiving a courtesy call from the leadership of Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia, led by its president Datuk Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman on Monday. Anwar said the meeting revolved around the challenges confronting the dakwah movement, Islamic thought and the role of nongovernmental organisations in addressing Muslim issues on the international stage. In a separate post, Anwar announced a donation to Che Gayah, the wife of Fuad Yaacob, the Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation chairman who died on March 23. The donation was delivered by Anwar’s political secretary Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, who visited Che Gayah on Monday. – Bernama KIND DEED ... Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (fourth from left) presenting food items and copies of the Al-Quran to single mothers and asnaf at Masjid Ibnu Khaldun Sungai Besi in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC No Raya celebration this year at Seri Perdana, says PM PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has no plans to hold an Aidilfitri celebration at his official residence at Seri Perdana this year but will attend the celebrations organised by ministries in the states. Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the government is being frugal and wants other government agencies to emulate it. He called on all agencies and ministries, especially the Finance Ministry, not to boast about holding Aidilfitri celebrations. “Don’t compete whose (celebration) is more impressive. The money spent is not even yours,” he said at the Finance Ministry’s assembly here yesterday. Anwar said the government’s decision to provide the Aidilfitri Special Financial Assistance to civil servants was made after taking into account the cost of living, which had increased slightly. “On Sunday night, I was thinking about the assistance and could not sleep. It’s not much, but at least it will ease the (civil servants’) burden and make them more motivated to work. (I) Hope the money is spent carefully and prudently.” Anwar said he realised that the RM2,000 in Early Incentive Payment given to civil servants last month could not cover their needs. “I have been to Sarawak, Pahang, Perak and Perlis. There are civil servants at the lower level complaining about the increase in the cost of living.” On Monday, Anwar announced an Aidilfitri aid of RM500 to civil servants in Grade 56 and below and RM250 each to all government retirees, which will be paid on Friday. Anwar urged all government agencies, statutory bodies and government-related companies to give similar financial assistance to their employees. “Consider the hundreds of thousands of workers. Reward them to lighten their burden to celebrate Aidilfitri.” – Bernama Malaysia sends 1,500 tonnes of aid to Gaza KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has dispatched over 1,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Ops Ihsan and several local NGOs, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin. In a post on his Facebook page he shared about the programme, “Gift For Gaza: Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan Dari Malaysia ke Palestin Melalui Penghantaran Laut”. “Malaysia remains committed to delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Malaysian government continues to play an active role and demonstrates a firm stance on the Palestinian issue.” Mohamad said Malaysia’s resolute stance did not only come into play on Oct 7, 2023, but was influenced by the ongoing oppression of the Palestinians by the Israeli regime for the past 75 years. According to Anadolu Agency, Israel has been conducting military attacks in the Gaza Strip since Oct 7 last year. Nearly 32,800 Palestinians have been killed and 75,300 injured while there has been widespread destruction and shortages of essential supplies. Israel has imposed restrictions affecting the Gaza Strip, resulting in its residents facing hunger. According to the United Nations, 85% of Gaza’s population has become homeless and 60% of the infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, while there are severe shortages of food, clean water and essential medicines. Israel also faces charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which last Thursday ordered it to take action to prevent starvation in Gaza. – Bernama Anwar said the reported recent corruption case involving Customs Department officers should not give a bad image of civil servants because it only involved a small number of individuals. “I congratulate the Customs director-general (Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin) for not looking at it negatively, continuing to take action, transferring and taking disciplinary action (against personnel involved). “Don’t let these few people tarnish the image of the public service.” Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was reported to have said that a total of 34 law enforcement personnel and 27 individuals and company owners had been arrested through Ops Samba 2.0 for protecting and facilitating the activities of smuggling syndicates, resulting in losses of more than RM2 billion for the country. On Monday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, King of Malaysia decreed that the MACC tackle corruption, as the King marked the end of his “honeymoon” phase. In a post on his Facebook page, Sultan Ibrahim made the announcement, after granting an audience to Azam Baki at Istana Negara. “As I have emphasised previously, my honeymoon is over, now go catch the bees,” Sultan Ibrahim stated in the post. During the meeting with Azam, the King mentioned that battling the threat of corruption, the nation’s enemy, is his main focus during his reign, Bernama reported. Sultan Ibrahim also handed a container of honey to Azam as a symbolic gesture marking the end of his “honeymoon” phase. The 30-minute meeting between His Majesty and Azam touched on developments involving the anti-graft commission. Additional RM14m for Wang Kelian ICQS project KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an additional allocation of RM14 million for the Wang Kelian Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) project in Perlis. In a post on his Facebook page, Anwar said the decision was made after taking into account the urgent need to promptly address congestion issues at the country’s entry point. The request for additional funding was raised by Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli when Anwar chaired the Perlis State Development Briefing during his brief visit to the state on Monday. “The Perlis menteri besar also raised the request for additional funding for the Wang Kelian ICQS project, scanning machines at the Perlis Land Port and operating allocations for the Perlis state government. “I also highlighted the potential of Perlis as a tourist destination and how our country spends heavily to subsidise the cost of basic goods, yet food prices in our country are still higher compared with tourist destinations in neighbouring countries.” Anwar said he believes that if there are efforts to address these issues, more people would visit tourist destinations in Perlis. – Bernama

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 3 PETALING JAYA: From toiling in agriculture fields to building vital infrastructure, migrant workers have tirelessly contributed to Malaysia’s progress, all while striving to build a brighter future for their families back home. Yet, instead of being met with the warmth of inclusion, these workers are all too often discriminated against by the public. Even enforcement officers randomly stop to check them without good cause. As the Hari Raya holidays approach, the North-South Initiative, which is a human rights and social justice organisation, has called for humanitarian treatment of migrant workers in Malaysia. Its executive director Adrian Pereira said every year, there are cases of unjustified arrests and detention of migrants during public holidays. “This practice violates their rights and tarnishes the spirit of compassion and inclusivity, which is at the heart of human relations.” According to the Statistics Department, there were some three million migrants in the country as of July 2023, which made up 8.9% of the country’s 33.4 million population. “Migrants play a significant role in contributing to the development of our country. They often fill labour gaps in key industries, driving economic growth by increasing productivity and expanding employment opportunities. “Their presence and contributions are integral to Malaysia’s dynamic development and prosperity. But their unjust treatment inflicts suffering and traumatises them.” Citing a recent incident, he said a Nepali security guard, Sherpa Dawa, was rewarded for handing in a suitcase containing over RM500,000 that he found at a parking lot. “This just proves that not all of them are bad, and it is crucial to avoid blanket generalisations about migrant workers. A commitment to fairness, empathy and recognising the individuality of each migrant is crucial rather than succumbing to stereotypes or prejudices.” Pereira said in recent years, there has been an increase in xenophobic, racist and hateful comments on social media about migrant workers who converge at public places during holidays. He said the remarks are linked to practices, policies and laws that dehumanise migrant workers and refugees. “These workers deserve joy, relaxation, love, friendship, leisure and to be part of a community. All individuals, irrespective of their nationality, documentation status, race, or skin colour, deserve to enjoy these same universal rights. “For migrant workers, public holidays are rare moments to explore and enjoy themselves. Their reality is vastly different from ours, so allow them to use public transport, explore tourist attractions and visit theme parks because they are spending their hard-earned money in our country,” he said. Pereira emphasised the importance of the authorities ensuring fair and humane treatment of migrant workers, as the current approach of just arresting them perpetuates a cycle of injustice and alienation. He said instead of resorting to aggressive measures, the authorities should focus on addressing the underlying issues that drive worker migration to Malaysia and foster a more inclusive and equitable society in which their happiness also counts. “Just arresting them can make things worse. Instead, the authorities could directly contact their employer to confirm their legal status in Malaysia.” He also stressed that it is important for migrant workers to follow Malaysian laws and regulations while in the country. “Doing so will help keep the peace and be an expression of their respect for local customs. It will also ensure they are safe from those who wish to (act) against them. “As we prepare to celebrate Hari Raya, let us be mindful to treat migrant workers well. It is time to end the unjust and discriminatory practices that mark festive seasons, and embrace a more compassionate and inclusive approach towards all members of our society.” New complaint hotline introduced KUALA LUMPUR: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has introduced an alternative channel to allow the public to lodge complaints regarding enforcement personnel misconduct through WhatsApp at 019-355 5215. The commission said complainants need to type “ADUAN SALAH LAKU” followed by the complainant’s name, address/phone number or email for contact purposes, the agency involved and complaint details along with evidence (photo/video/documents). “The hotline will only receive written complaints. An automatic acknowledgement will be sent to the complainant while it is processed for initial approval before being decided at a commission meeting.” The hotline will operate from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays. Besides the new hotline, the commission said complaints can still be made through existing channels, including the complaints resolution and investigation management system at the EAIC website, via email aduan@eaic.gov.my or at the EAIC complaints counter and customer service centre at Level G, Menara Usahawan in Putrajaya. “This new channel will enable the public to lodge their complaints accurately, easily and effectively so that immediate action can be taken,” the commission added. – Bernama Treat migrants fairly without prejudice: Group o‘Workers deserve universal rights and to be part of community irrespective of nationality, documentation status’ Israeli in guns case entered country legally: Minister KLANG: The Israeli man arrested by police with six pistols in his possession at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday entered the country using a valid French passport. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the passport was issued legally by the French embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel and allowed the man to provide authentic travel documents at security checks. “It proves that there was no weakness in enforcement at Malaysia’s entry points as alleged, as the Immigration Act allows any individual to enter the country if they possess legal travel documents, and Malaysia did not have any problems with the country issuing the documents. “Now, there are attempts at spinning the topic, trying to insinuate that our enforcement is lacking, and there are loopholes that allowed the individual to enter the country. “In aspects of the system and the Immigration Act, if the travel documents are valid and we have no diplomatic issues with the country issuing the documents, we will allow entry,” he said after inspecting Ops Pagar Laut onboard the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency vessel Tun Fatimah on Monday. Saifuddin Nasution said Malaysian authorities have lists and complete profiles of individuals blacklisted from entering the country, and the policy is applied at all entry points into Malaysia. He said the incident of an individual owning two passports at the same time clearly showed the importance of amending the Federal Constitution regarding nationality that is being undertaken by the government, which aims to ensure national security. On concerns voiced by a 28-year-old Palestinian, Yousuf Abuassi, who feared for his safety in the country after being contacted by the Israeli six times, Saifuddin said police have guaranteed every individual’s safety in the country, regardless of their backgrounds. – Bernama Recruitment of new teachers to start soon KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will soon make an announcement regarding the recruitment of new teachers, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. “It is the ministry’s ongoing effort and commitment to address the issue of teacher shortage in the country. I don’t think it’s a problem that can’t be dealt with because in terms of our planning and projections, it’s proceeding very well. It’s the same for the entry of teachers we have trained to fill every vacancy. “It is not a matter that cannot be resolved, except that we must take into account the fully residential schools to make more accurate projections and the vacancies can then be filled immediately,” Fadhlina said at a breaking of fast event at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Bintang Utara on Monday. On March 27, Fadhlina was reported as saying that the ministry had appointed 20,171 new teachers on a permanent and contract basis to overcome the issue of teacher shortage in schools last year. She said it was the highest achievement ever recorded by the ministry within a year. – Bernama Speed limit on federal roads reduced KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has announced a temporary reduction of 10kph in speed limit on federal roads nationwide from April 8 to 14 in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the speed limit on federal roads will be lowered from 90kph to 80kph during the period. This is part of the government’s effort to reduce risk of road crashes during festive seasons. Integrated operations and road safety campaigns will also be carried out during the same period, the statement said. According to the ministry, federal road concessionaires have been instructed to suspend non-critical construction and maintenance works on roads from April 5 to 14 to avoid traffic flow disruption, except for patching potholes, emergency and critical works, and construction activities outside road reserves. – Bernama Migrants play a significant role in contributing to the country’s development and fill labour gaps in key industries. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN █ BY SIVANISVARRY MORHAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 4 Rain captured on radar after cloud seeding in Sabah KOTA KINABALU: There was rain captured by weather radar after cloud seeding operations were carried out for three consecutive days in three target areas, including Papar, said District Disaster Management Committee chairman Mohd Fuad Abdullah. He added that the Gema Radar Image from March 28 to 30 showed that the average rainfall was between five and 10mm/h after the operation was conducted in the three target areas, namely Papar, Lahad Datu and Tawau. Mohd Fuad said the cloud seeding operations on March 30 only covered Lahad Datu and Tawau, while the operation in Papar could not be carried out as it did not receive clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to fly in that area. “Based on rainfall gauge readings, moderate to heavy rain was recorded in the target areas on March 28, while a drizzle was recorded on March 29, and no rain was recorded on March 30 in the target areas. “However, the Gema Radar Image showed that there was rain captured after the operation was conducted on all three days in the target areas, with an average rainfall of 5- 10mm/h,” he said in a statement. Mohd Fuad also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Office of Internal Affairs and Research in Sabah Chief Minister’s Department, which has cooperated with federal agencies in carrying out the operations. The initiative, aimed at increasing river water levels to meet domestic needs, also involved other agencies, including the National Disaster Management Agency, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Labuan Federal Territory Water Supply Division and Met Malaysia. In another development, Mohd Fuad said the water at the emergency water supply scheme water treatment plant in Limbahau, Papar, could not be treated due to a high water salinity level. – Bernama Three ministries forge cooperation on road maintenance KUALA LUMPUR: A strategic collaboration has been forged among the Works Ministry, Transport Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry in the implementation of road maintenance in the country. The Works Ministry, in a statement yesterday, said their involvement is mainly because their jurisdiction and enforcement are interconnected and require cohesive synergy in overcoming road safety issues. An engagement session on the matter was held at the Works Ministry on Monday and was attended by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu. “The engagement session discussed cross-ministerial cooperation in finding the best mechanism to deal with the issue of road damage under the jurisdiction of the respective ministries. “Other key matters discussed included the strengthening of cooperation between ministries to resolve road damage complaints received through the MYJalan application,” the statement read. According to Works Ministry, since the launch of the MYJalan application on Aug 24 last year until last March 29, it has received 13,391 complaints related to various road issues, with 26.51% of complaints involving roads under the ministry. “Thus, this engagement session is very significant in ensuring that user complaints can be resolved with the serious involvement of other road owners to ensure the comfort and safety of motorists,” it said. – Bernama High household expenses dampen Aidilfitri mood PETALING JAYA: Faced with tight finances due to educational expenses as schools reopen, household budgets have been stretched to the limit, causing Hari Raya shopping to take a back seat for most families with young children. Halizah Mohd Ariff, 46, said she only shopped for her three children aged 17, 14 and 12. “It’s tough this Hari Raya. Expenses for school uniforms, exercise books and stationery have come together with the school reopening. “My husband, who is a manager at a private company, and I decided to make do with some of the newer clothing we bought earlier this year. So, no shopping for us,” said the homemaker. Taxi driver Mohd Yusry Bukhary, 51, also said he reduced his Hari Raya shopping this year. “My wife works as a clerk in a law firm, so we can manage with our joint income. But even then, we only bought essentials such as clothing for our five children and some new curtains, which we purchased online. “School expenses hit us hard so we have little choice but to cut down on our Hari Raya spending.” oHari Raya shopping takes back seat for many due to combined costs of festive and school reopening spending █ BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com Express bus tickets selling fast KUALA LUMPUR: Out of a total 330,000 express bus tickets available at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) for the upcoming Hari Raya holiday, 220,000 have been sold, while tickets to the east coast are already sold out, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said this leaves only about 100,000 express bus tickets remaining, solely for trips to the north and south, Bernama reported. “The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) has approved 218 additional buses as of March 29 through applications for a temporary change of licence to meet the surge in demand for tickets for Aidilfitri. “The number of additional buses is expected to increase until the application deadline at 4pm yesterday. Last year, a total of 256 additional buses were approved by Apad,” said Loke during a press conference after checking on the operations at TBS here yesterday. Tamu Desa project to start this month KUALA LUMPUR: The Tamu Desa project in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak is set to kick off this month, said Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan. He said the project, with UDA Holdings Berhad as the implementing agency, aims to construct and enhance business facilities and entrepreneurial infrastructure in the two states’ rural areas. “The ministry is presently engaged in discussions with the governments of both states, particularly at the local authority level, to gather proposals regarding the scope and appropriate locations for the project. “This programme is anticipated to begin after Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said yesterday. The Tamu Desa project is aimed at enhancing the infrastructure requirements of small traders and hawkers in rural areas. – Bernama ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE ... Tourists wearing modesty robes provided by the mosque being briefed by an employee at Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Both Halizah and Mohd Yusry said unlike civil servants and retirees, who will receive RM500 and RM250 respectively as special financial assistance in conjunction with Hari Raya, senior citizens, the physically disabled and others received nothing to assist them at this time, so expenses have to be cut. Monash University economics professor Dr Niaz Asadullah said the reopening of schools has impacted consumer spending on Hari Raya preparations due to competing financial demands. “Many families have to prioritise one expenditure over another, making difficult choices about where to allocate their limited funds. “This includes the needs of school-going children such as purchasing uniforms and books, as well as balik kampung expenses on top of essentials for Hari Raya.” Niaz said the cautious stance taken by many families can be traced to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused significant shifts in household spending patterns. He said post-Covid-19, most households continue to be in financial distress with a considerable portion of family income still allocated for debt repayment, and servicing mortgages and vehicle loans. “The current financial difficulties have potential implications for the economy, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and vendors who rely on B40 customers to spend during religious and cultural festivals. “But their cautious spending will translate to decreased sales, adversely affecting financial performance and long-term business sustainability.” Niaz said in many Asian cultures, festive spending amounts to a sizable part of a household’s annual expenditure, which is also consistent with economic theory in normal circumstances. He said employees often receive bonuses, salary increments or gifts during festive periods, which means households will spend more. “Festive spending is driven by the need to preserve their social status in the community. This is also reinforced by peer influence that impacts consumer behaviour during festive seasons. “For example, any inability to give duit raya or host elaborate celebrations may cause social exclusion, which is why we see higher consumer spending regardless of an individual’s financial position,” he said. Niaz added that the trend of cautious consumer spending even amid the fastapproaching Hari Raya celebration may also have macroeconomic factors contributing to it. He said while official data indicates otherwise, concerns about inflation persist among the public, with some B40 families viewing the purchase of new baju raya as no longer feasible or necessary, given the current economic conditions. “Additionally, the Central Database Hub has also caused uncertainty regarding the implementation of targeted subsidies that may lead households to not spend on non-essential items.” He said consumers may delay their purchases until after Hari Raya to take advantage of lower prices. “This is part of their cautious approach to spending during a period of economic uncertainty.”

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 5 ‘Sustained support needed for child sexual abuse victims’ PETALING JAYA: Child sexual abuse victims will suffer long-term consequences if they do not receive prompt treatment, said clinical psychologist Evelyn Song. She was commenting on a March 29 case involving a jobless man who pleaded guilty in the Ipoh Sessions Court to charges of molesting and raping his 19-year-old daughter at a house in Batu Gajah. The assailant was also charged with using criminal violence against his daughter with the intent to outrage her modesty at the same location at 8:30am on March 20. Song, who specialises in working with underprivileged and at-risk youths, said it is imperative for child or teenage victims of sexual abuse and offsprings of such victims to receive therapy promptly. “The support should be sustained and extended to adulthood. Such an approach would address complex and enduring psychological impacts of their (trauma).” She said neglecting to offer such therapy would subject the victims oImpact from trauma includes challenges in academic pursuits, substance abuse and repressed anger █ BY NUQMAN ADAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com to a range of problems, with long-lasting repercussions. “One of the adverse long-term consequences of sexual abuse is the recurrence of re-victimisation incidents in which the victim may be at a heightened risk of being repeatedly victimised in the future. “This cycle of re-victimisation can perpetuate feelings of vulnerability, powerlessness and trauma, which worsens the psychological impact of the initial abuse.” Song said victims may also face challenges in their academic pursuits and interpersonal relationships, battle with substance abuse and express anger inappropriately. “They may also suffer depression, eating disorders, involve themselves in delinquent or criminal activities, participate in risky sexual behaviour or have suicidal thoughts.” Bar Council Child Rights Committee chairperson Kokila Vaani Vadiveloo viewed sexual offences as being among the most heinous of crimes as they cause immense short and long-term harm to the victims. “Strong punishment for sexual crimes provides justice to the victims and deters repeat offences. It also helps to ensure children, young girls and women in general are safer in society.” Kokila stressed the importance of imposing severe penalties in cases involving sexual offences and said those who rape their children are seemingly not afraid of the law, even after being sentenced to prison. A Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division spokesman said in 2023, police recorded a total of 3,226 reports of sexual harassment and assault cases involving females, while those involving males numbered 135. He said the statistics also revealed from 2021 to 2023, a total of 4,491 women reported they were raped. “A total of 18,326 child victims of sexual crimes were reported from 2018 to November 2023. Over 89% or 16,447 of the cases involved rape, physical sexual assault on a child and incest. All the cases involved physical harm. “More than 50% of all reported sexual crimes investigated by police resulted in prosecution, while the rest are under investigation.” ‘Casio boss’ to be charged over Spanco case KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has granted approval to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to charge Tan Sri Robert Tan Hua Choon over a RM4.5 billion project granted to Spanco Sdn Bhd to manage government agency vehicles. Tan is known as the “Casio King” as his company is the sole distributor of Casio watches and calculators in Malaysia. While details of the charge or charges to be faced by Tan have not been disclosed, it was learnt that he would be charged at the Sessions Court today. It was previously reported that MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said the commission would summon the main stakeholders, including a former prime minister and finance minister, who were involved in awarding the contract to Spanco in the 1990s. Azam was reported as saying on Feb 22 that a statement had been recorded from the former finance minister over the case. In January, MACC raided the residence of a corporate leader, believed to be a major Spanco shareholder, during which his personal and company accounting documents were seized. Statements recorded over KK Mart attack IPOH: Police have taken statements from seven individuals to help in investigations into a petrol bomb attack on the KK Mart outlet in Jalan Bruseh in Bidor last week. Tapah district police chief Supt Mohd Naim Asnawi said the statements were recorded from witnesses comprising workers of the shop and the public. “It is to help in investigations under Section 427 of the Penal Code,” he said on Monday, adding that police are trying to identify the suspect and have stepped up patrols at all KK Mart outlets to prevent a recurrence of the incident. On March 26, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the KK Mart outlet in Bidor but it did not explode. The shop’s CCTV recording showed a man alighting from a vehicle on the roadside and hurling the petrol bomb at 5.35am. In another incident on Monday, a petrol bomb was thrown at a KK Mart outlet in Kuching. It is the third incident in a week and the first in East Malaysia. KK Mart outlets in Bidor, Perak and in Kuantan, Pahang, were attacked with petrol bombs last week. – Bernama US technician claims trial over brawl death PETALING JAYA: A technician from the United States pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court yesterday to a charge of causing the death of a local man at an entertainment outlet last month. Thomas Joseph, 30, was accused of causing the death of K. Chandra Bose, 58, at 12.30am on March 23. He was charged under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 30 years and a fine. DPP Anis Hakimah Ibrahim opposed the granting of bail, citing the seriousness of the offense. “The court must take public interest into account and the fact that the accused is a foreign national. Granting bail presents a flight risk and potential failure to appear in future proceedings.” Anis Hakimah said if the court decides to grant bail, the prosecution suggests imposing a high amount with additional conditions, such as the surrender of Joseph’s passport, reporting to a police station monthly and refraining from interacting with prosecution witnesses. Joseph’s lawyer, Datuk Suraj Singh, applied for his client’s release on bail saying the charge is under Section 304 of the Penal Code and not Section 302, which pertains to murder. He gave an assurance the accused would comply with the additional conditions. Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh did not grant bail and set May 28 for case mention. It was previously reported that a local man was killed after he was punched by a foreign man at an entertainment outlet in Sea Park, Petaling Jaya. It is learnt the foreigner had bumped the shoulder of the victim, leading to an argument. The suspect is said to have punched the face of the victim during the argument. – Bernama Teens charged with murder of vocational college student LAHAD DATU: Thirteen teenage boys were charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with the murder of a 17-year-old male student at a vocational college last month. No plea was recorded from the accused as the case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The boys, aged between 16 and 19, were jointly charged with murdering Mohammad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan at Bilik Asrama 7 Resak and 5 Belian at the Lahad Datu Vocational College between 9pm on March 21 and 7.38am on March 22. The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which provides the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and not more than 12 strokes of the cane. The closed proceedings were held before Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani and only family members of the accused were allowed in the courtroom. The prosecution was conducted by DPP Ng Juhn Tao, while lawyers Amirul Amin Rashid and Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki represented two of the teenagers. The other 11 accused were unrepresented. The court set May 16 for mention pending chemist and autopsy reports. – Bernama The boys were jointly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which provides the death penalty or up to 40 years’ jail and not more than 12 strokes of the cane. – BERNAMAPIC

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 6 /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesun.my/ Heatwave bane and boon Madihah checking on her damaged fish farm in Kampung Sanding. – BERNAMAPIC MARAN: While many caged fish farm operators are overwhelmed with tens of thousands of their stock dying due to the El Nino phenomenon, an enterprising 34-year-old woman faces a different challenge. Madihah Jamal and her brother Azmi Jamal, 41, inherited an ikan patin (catfish) and tilapia farming business from their father last year, but the hot weather has caused a loss of thousands of ringgit. Their patin farm in Kampung Sanding, about 36km from Chenor town, was not spared when several locations along the river dried up to form wide sandbars the size of football fields. “The situation in Sungai Pahang is not new to Maran residents but this time, it seems worse as the heat is so extreme that it caused the river to become shallow and the sandy stretches to become longer. “It is a terrible loss. Even the fish cages suffered damage. Usually, the demand for patin and tilapia doubles at the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Syawal. But this time, we were unable to meet demand,” said Madihah. With Aidilfitri approaching, they were determined to find a solution. So, they went to the upper reaches of Sungai Pahang that were oSiblings suffer losses due to dried out fish farm but rebound with river bounty brought by hot weather Muhibbah event to boost social cohesion GEORGE TOWN: To promote unity during Ramadan, Senator Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa took the initiative to organise a Muhibbah Buka Puasa event on Sunday. The gathering was held at Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh in the George Town Unesco World Heritage enclave. “All religions should condemn radicalism of faith and curb acts of extremism. These are sown by exaggerating religious obligations and thus transgress the true teachings.” Mujahid, who is chairman of the mosque and Amanah deputy president, said Islam condemns such acts. “Malaysians have lived in peace despite our multiracial and faith (differences). But we should not be complacent as a trend towards animosity has grown of late due to racial and religious issues, which were highly politicised and sensationalised. “Radical and extremist elements across all divides have found breeding grounds to spread their message of hate to the innocent youth of our nation.” On those who take the law into their own hands and justify their actions in the name of religion or race, he said: “Violence has no religion because no religion subscribes to violence.” The event was attended by about 150 people from all walks of life, including Think City CEO Datuk Seri Anwar Fazal and Penang executive councillor for social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs Lim Siew Khim. “We assisted the mosque committee in inviting 18 expatriates from countries such as the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan who are members of the International Women’s Organisation to join this iftar event,” said Penang Walkabout founder and administrator Robert Teh. █ BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com not affected to search for ikan lais (butter catfish), Bernama reported. Madihah said this species of fish is increasingly difficult to find but can be easily caught in large quantities using small shrimp as bait during hot weather. “This elusive fish is seasonal. It is not always easily located and we can only find it once a year although it is usually abundant in scorching weather. During the hot and dry season, the water is clear, so it is easy to find ikan lais. “We fish early in the morning or evening for four hours and catch more than 2kg. We also hook udang galah (freshwater prawns). It is not difficult, just cast the line and you can catch something in 10 to 15 minutes,” she said, adding that all her catch is sold at the Chenor morning market. Selling at a relatively high price of RM40 per kg, buyers are attracted to the availability of the rare river fish. Some are even willing to drive from Kuala Lumpur to buy it. “Demand is very high because the flesh is sweet and it does not have many bones. It tastes delicious, especially when cooked in spicy coconut milk and eaten with rice, ulam and sambal tempoyak. “There are also some who use it to make pekasam (fermented fish) or asam pedas. The high demand sees some vendors selling it for more than RM60 per kg. It usually sells out in less than half an hour,” she said. “The livestock industry was not spared the impact of the heatwave, but there are other ways (to earn a living) if we look hard enough. “It is the season for ikan lais but not many people take advantage of this because to go fishing, one has to withstand the heat and it is quite challenging due to (fasting during) Ramadan. That is why not many fishermen are game.”

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 7 Prabowo visits China, promises close ties BEIJING: Indonesia’s presidentelect Prabowo Subianto visited Beijing on Monday on his first foreign trip since his election, and was quoted by Chinese state media as telling President Xi Jinping he aimed to continue the close ties under predecessor Joko Widodo. Prabowo “fully supports the development of closer IndonesiaChina relations and wishes to continue President Joko’s policy of friendship with China,” China’s CCTV quoted Prabowo as saying. The new Indonesian government will promote the alignment of development strategies between the two countries and push for more results in cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade and poverty alleviation, he said. oXi warmly welcomes ‘old friend’ READY TO SOAR ... Newly hired employees of Japan Airlines holding paper planes during their initiation ceremony at a Haneda Airport hangar in Tokyo on Monday. – REUTERSPIC Philippines, US security adviser meet over maritime row MANILA: The Philippines yesterday said its national security adviser and his US counterpart discussed “coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions” by Beijing in the South China Sea, as a diplomatic row intensifies between the two Asian neighbours. Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano “expressed his appreciation for the United States’ continued assurances and reaffirmation of its ironclad commitment” to their alliance, the Philippine National Security Council said in a statement. The phone call on Monday was on the heels of a series of maritime run-ins and heated verbal exchanges between China and the Philippines that has triggered concern about an escalation at sea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said last week there would be “countermeasures” against aggression by China’s coastguard, while Beijing accused the Philippines of treachery and reneging on a promise to tow away an old naval vessel grounded intentionally on a disputed shoal. Manila denies ever making that pledge. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told Filipinos in an open letter yesterday to “not fall into the trap set by Chinese propaganda”. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, policed by an armada of coastguard vessels, some more than 1,000km away from its mainland. China has maintained its responses have been appropriate in the face of Philippine encroachment. The rows come at a time when the Philippines and United States are deepening military ties, frustrating China, which sees Washington as interfering in its back yard. The Philippines has insisted it never agreed to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been guarded by a handful of soldiers since it was grounded at the Second Thomas Shoal 25 years ago. China has been accused of blocking resupply missions to those troops. The former spokesperson of Rodrigo Duterte, the previous president, has confirmed there had been an informal “gentleman’s agreement” with China to keep the status quo at the shoal, but not to tow the ship away. NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the Marcos government had not seen any document to support China’s claim of a Philippine promise to remove the ship. – Reuters S’pore convicts first suspect in US$2.2b money laundering case SINGAPORE: A court here convicted yesterday the first defendant in its biggest-ever money laundering case, media reported, in one of the city-state’s highest-profile crime investigations over which more than US$2.2 billion (RM10.4 billion) of assets has been seized or frozen. Defendant Su Wenqiang, a Cambodian national, admitted to 11 charges of money laundering and taking proceeds from illegal remote gambling, Channel News Asia reported. The Straits Times said he was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment. Reuters could not verify the reports and attorney general’s chambers did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation. Su, who holds passports from Cambodia, Vanuatu and China, is one of 10 foreigners holding multiple citizenships arrested in Singapore in August last year in simultaneous raids. The raids captured huge attention locally, with US$739.37 million worth of luxury properties, cars, gold bars, handbags and jewellery seized. Police had earlier said the 10 suspects were allegedly “laundering the proceeds of their overseas organised crime activities, including scams and online gambling”. – Reuters B R I E F SNORTH KOREA FIRES BALLISTIC MISSILE, AGAIN SEOUL: North Korea fired a mediumrange ballistic missile yesterday, the latest in a spate of banned weapons tests by Kim Jong Un’s government this year. The launch was the third ballistic missile test of 2024, after a solid-fuel one overseen by Kim in March and another tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead in January. It also comes less than two weeks after Kim supervised an engine test for a “new-type intermediate-range hypersonic missile”, according to North Korean state media, which has also said he oversaw “super large” rocket launcher drills and tank exercises this year. Seoul’s military detected what is presumed to be a mediumrange ballistic missile fired from Pyongyang into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The missile flew about 600km before splashing down. – AFP EX-HEAD OF CARMAKER UNDER INVESTIGATION BEIJING: The former party secretary and chairman of Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC), An Jin, is under investigation for corruption, China’s anti-graft watchdog said. An retired from state-owned JAC in 2021 after 46 years, having served as chairman for nine years. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on its website that An was suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law” but did not give any details of the case. JAC did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. JAC partners with both Volkswagen and Chinese electric car firm Nio. In 2017, JAC set up a 50-50 joint venture with Volkswagen focused on electric vehicles and the German automaker secured a controlling stake in the venture three years later after Beijing relaxed foreign ownership rules. – Reuters Prabowo, now Indonesia’s defence minister, also said that he viewed China as a key partner. “Regarding defence cooperation, I view China as one of the key partners in ensuring regional peace and stability,” he said in a statement, adding that he sought to boost defence cooperation with China. “I also commit to fulfil the needs of Indonesia’s military hardware, boost cooperation in the defence industry and establish productive dialogues.” Xi described Prabowo as an “old friend of the Chinese people” and said China views its relations with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective, standing ready to deepen all-round strategic cooperation. Prabowo, 72, was elected in February but will not be sworn in until October. A long-time rival of the outgoing leader popularly known as Jokowi, he is now widely seen as enjoying his predecessor’s strong support, winning his decisive victory with Jokowi’s son as his vice-presidential runningmate. “The key to the valuable achievements of China-Indonesia relations lies in adherence to strategic autonomy, mutual trust and mutual assistance,” CCTV quoted Xi as saying in the meeting. Prabowo’s decision to visit China ahead of Indonesia’s neighbours underlines the close partnership built up in the past decade under Jokowi, when China became Indonesia’s top trading partner. Jokowi’s first visit after his inauguration was to China, for an annual summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders in 2014. That was followed by six more visits. China has also ploughed billions into Indonesian infrastructure and industrial projects, including the JakartaBandung high-speed railway. It remains to be seen how Prabowo, now Indonesia’s defence minister, will navigate issues including the jostling for influence between China and the United States in Southeast Asia. Prabowo has previously said Indonesia was committed to its policy of non-alignment and would keep good ties with both China and the United States. China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea may present a test for his leadership, although the two countries’ overlapping claims have not become a vociferous dispute as has unfolded between China and the Philippines. Indonesia says the southern end of the South China Sea is part of its exclusive economic zone. China says the area is within its own territorial claim, marked by a Ushaped “nine-dash line” rejected by other states. China is willing to continue to deepen maritime cooperation with Indonesia, Xi said. – Reuters

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 8 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper Supplements linked to 157 hospitalisations TOKYO: Japanese dietary supplements at the centre of an expanding health scare have now been linked to at least 157 hospitalisations, a Health Ministry official said yesterday. The figure reflects an increase from the 114 hospitalisation cases that Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said on Friday were linked to its products containing red yeast rice, or “beni koji”. A Kobayashi spokeswoman confirmed the latest hospitalisation cases without elaborating further. On Friday, Kobayashi said it was investigating five deaths potentially linked to the dietary supplements, which are meant to lower cholesterol. The government and the company are investigating whether the supplements caused the deaths and other health problems, mostly with kidneys. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced on March 22 that it was recalling three kinds of overthe-counter tablets containing “beni koji” after customers reported kidney problems. Red yeast rice consists of rice fermented with a mould culture. It has been used in food, alcoholic drinks and folk medicines for centuries around East Asia. Kobayashi has said that it detected a potentially toxic acid produced by the mould at one of its factories. Government officials have been carrying out inspections. The scandal has dominated headlines in Japan and was a trending topic on social media, where it has also sparked disinformation posts. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is a household name in Japan, offering a wide range of healthrelated products. The company has said it also sold red yeast rice to 50 firms in Japan and two in Taiwan. Some of those companies have recalled food products containing the ingredient, including a rose-coloured sake and a salad dressing. Taiwanese companies have recalled 154 products containing red yeast rice. A woman in her 70s in Taiwan had also reportedly developed kidney failure after taking Kobayashi’s supplements for several years. – AFP B R I E F SSURVIVOR OF PEARL HARBOR BATTLESHIP SINKING DIES LOS ANGELES: The last survivor of the USS Arizona, the battleship that was sunk in the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, died aged 102 on Monday. Lou Conter was a 20-year-old quartermaster who helped rescue fellow sailors on Dec 7, 1941, after the US Pacific fleet came under attack. The assault, which catapulted the United States into World War II, damaged or destroyed most of the fleet at the naval base and resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 Americans. Over 1,100 people aboard the USS Arizona died. He had an exemplary career in the Navy and went on to be a pilot later, and was shot down twice. As an intelligence officer, he flew combat missions in Korea and created the Navy’s first SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape) programme. – AFP FINNISH STUDENT OPENS FIRE IN SCHOOL, THREE HURT HELSINKI: Three 12-year-old children were shot and wounded at a school in Finland yesterday and the suspect, also 12, was taken into custody. The victims were taken to hospital. At the school, a building had been cordoned off by police. Parents were picking up their children from another school building hundreds of metres away. The shooting took place at the Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb of Helsinki, which has around 800 pupils from first to ninth grade and a staff of 90, according to the local municipality. “The danger is over,” school principal Sari Laasila said. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the shooting was deeply shocking. Previous school shootings have put a focus on Finland’s gun policy. – Reuters Thai Marriage Equality Bill passes first reading BANGKOK: The Thai senate passed the first reading of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage yesterday, taking the kingdom another step closer to becoming the first Southeast Asian country to recognise marriage equality. The lower house easily passed the law last week and the legislation has moved to the country’s unelected senate, which is stacked with conservative appointees named by the last military government. “The senators voted to pass the bill with 147 agreed, four against and seven abstaining,” said senate deputy president Singsuk Singpai. Earlier, senators debated the legislation which would change references to “men”, “women”, “husbands” and “wives” in the marriage law to gender-neutral terms. oProposed changes go to senate committee for further consideration “Now I have faith in this country, that it can eventually change,” said campaigner Naiyana Supapung. The legislation will now pass to a committee for further consideration. The senate cannot reject the proposed changes but can send the bill back to the lower house for further debate for 180 days. It will come back for two more senate votes, with the next probably no earlier than July. Activist and a representative of the bill, Chanya Rattanathada, thanked parliament ahead of the vote. “The world is watching, and I thank everyone for making this happen.” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he was “proud” after the lower house voted to approve the bill in a 399-10 landslide. “The passing (of this law) in the parliament today is a proud moment for Thai society who will walk together towards social equality and respect differences,” he wrote on X. Across Asia, only Taiwan and Nepal recognise same-sex marriage. Last year, India’s highest court deferred the decision to parliament, and Hong Kong’s top court stopped just short of granting full marriage rights. Activists celebrated last Wednesday’s vote as a significant milestone on the road to equality. Paulie Nataya Paomephan, who won Miss Trans Thailand in 2023, said until recently she had never dreamed that transgender people would be able to legally marry in Thailand. “I think it is because politicians have to adapt themselves to the changing world,” she told AFP, adding that she and her boyfriend of three years planned to marry if the law passed. The prime minister has made the marriage equality policy a signature issue and told reporters last year that the change would strengthen family structures. Opinion polls reported by local media show the law has overwhelming support among Thais. While Thailand has a reputation for tolerance, much of the Buddhist-majority country remains conservative, and LGBTQ people, while highly visible, still face barriers and discrimination. – AFP First vessel passes Baltimore bridge channel WASHINGTON: A tugboat pushing a fuel barge became the first vessel to sail through a temporary channel opened beside the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore harbour, said authorities overseeing the cleanup operation. Two small, temporary channels are being opened for ships helping clean up the site of the catastrophe. Officials said the channels would initially only be open to smaller vessels involved in the cleanup, and would not be big enough to allow cargo and container ships to pass. The tugboat Crystal Coast pushing a fuel barge transited the first temporary channel on Monday, becoming the first vessel to transit since the bridge collapsed last Tuesday after being struck by an out-of-control cargo ship. The barge was used to supply jet fuel to Dover Air Force Base for the Department of Defence, the joint information centre for the agencies overseeing the cleanup said. A second, slightly deeper channel will be opened in the coming days, said Maryland governor Wes Moore. The opening of the temporary route “will help us to get more vessels in the water around the site of the collapse”, he told a press conference. This will allow more workers to pitch in toward the mammoth task of clearing the harbour of the bridge, which was destroyed last Tuesday when the Singapore-flagged Dali lost power and hit a bridge support column, killing six people. Shipping in and out of Baltimore, one of the United States’ busiest ports, has been halted, with the waterway impassable. The authorities hope that removing the bridge – by cutting it into smaller sections and lifting them out – will help rescuers recover all the victims’ bodies and reopen the crucial shipping lane. On Friday, President Joe Biden is due to visit the port city, which is about 64km north of Washington, the White House announced. The first temporary channel has a depth of at least 3.4m, a 80.5m horizontal clearance and vertical clearance of 29m. This temporary channel “is not big enough for any container or cargo ships to pass through”, said US Coast Guard petty officer Carmen Caver. The operation to recover the missing bodies and reopen the port to larger vessels has been hampered by the challenge of diving around the structure. – AFP CREATIVE TALENT ... A Sri Lanka artisan shapes a clay pot at a workshop in Biyagama yesterday ahead of the Tamil New Year. – AFPPIC

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 9 Israel bombs Iran embassy in Syria, kills key commanders Aid workers killed in Gaza strike WASHINGTON: An Israeli strike killed several people working for US-based charity World Central Kitchen in the Gaza Strip on Monday, according to the organisation’s founder. World Central Kitchen “lost several of our sisters and brothers in an IDF air strike in Gaza. I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family,” said chef Jose Andres. Earlier, the Gaza Health Ministry had said the bodies of four foreign aid workers and their Palestinian driver were brought to the hospital in the central town of Deir el-Balah after an Israeli strike targeted their vehicle. Hamas said in a statement that the aid workers included “British, Australian and Polish nationalities, with the fourth nationality not known”, and that the fifth person killed was a Palestinian driver and translator. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the White House was “heartbroken and deeply troubled by the strike”. “Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to swiftly investigate what happened,” she wrote on X. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “conducting a thorough review at the highest levels to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident”, adding that it had been “working closely with WCK” in the effort to provide aid to Palestinians. At the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, an AFP correspondent saw five bodies with three foreign passports lying nearby. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday confirmed one of the dead aid workers was Australian national Zomi Frankcom. “This is completely unacceptable. Australia expects full accountability for the deaths of aid workers,” Albanese said World Central Kitchen has been involved in delivering the aid arriving by boat from Cyprus, and in the construction of a temporary jetty in Gaza. – AFP Palestinians want April vote on full UN membership NEW YORK: The Palestinian Authority wants the UN Security Council to vote this month to make it a full member of the world body, the Palestinian UN envoy said on Monday. Riyad Mansour, who has permanent observer status in the UN, made the plans public as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza nears a six-month milestone and Israel is expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Mansour said that the aim was for the Security Council to take a decision at an April 18 ministerial meeting, but that a vote had yet to be scheduled. He said a 2011 application for full membership was still pending because the 15- member council never took a formal decision. Malta is president of the Security Council for April. Its UN Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said she had yet to receive a formal request for action from the Palestinians. Alongside a push to end the war, global pressure has grown for a resumption of efforts to broker a two-state solution – with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. An application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the Security Council – where the United States can cast a veto – and then at least two-thirds of the 193-member General Assembly. A Security Council committee assessed the Palestinian application in 2011 for several weeks. But the committee did not reach a unanimous position and the council never voted on a resolution to recommend membership. At the time, diplomats said the Palestinians did not have enough support in the council. Instead of pushing for a council vote, the Palestinians went to the UN General Assembly seeking to become a non-member observer state. – Reuters B R I E F SUS$18B ARMS TRANSFERS UNDER REVIEW WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration is weighing whether to go ahead with an US$18 billion (RM85.6 billion) arms transfer package to Israel that would include dozens of F-15 aircraft, five sources familiar with the matter said. The sale of 25 F-15s from Boeing Co to Israel has been under review since the United States received the formal request in January 2023, one of the sources said. This sale would boost that number to as many as 50 F-15s. One US official said the earliest the aircraft would be delivered is 2029, and that is if the formal notification were sent to Congress tomorrow and it were finalised immediately. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul gave the green light for the F-15 sale on Jan 30, a committee aide said, when the relevant congressional offices responsible for approving major arms transfers were notified. – Reuters JAPAN RESUMES FUNDING TO REFUGEE AGENCY TOKYO: Japan yesterday said it will lift its suspension of funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency as the relief body works to regain trust after an allegation that some of its staff were involved in the Oct 7 attack. Japan, the sixth-biggest donor to the agency, and 15 other countries paused US$450 million (RM2.14 trillion) in funding following the allegation by Israel in January, throwing the agency’s operations in Gaza into turmoil. Countries including Australia and Canada have since restored funding. Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the agency’s role was “indispensable” even as it works to improve governance and manage risks. “Japan will lift the moratorium,” Kamikawa said, adding that US$35 million of original funding was ready to be released. A Foreign Ministry official said Japan could not comment on the veracity of Israel’s allegations. – Reuters DAMASCUS: Israeli warplanes bombed Iran’s embassy in Syria on Monday in a strike that Iran said killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders, and that marked a major escalation in Israel’s war with its regional adversaries. Reporters at the site in the Mezzeh district of Damascus saw emergency workers clambering atop rubble of a destroyed building inside the diplomatic compound, next to the main Iranian embassy building. Emergency vehicles were parked outside. An Iranian flag hung from a pole by the debris. “We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and killed a number of innocents,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad who was at the site along with Syria’s interior minister. Iran’s ambassador to Syria said the strike hit a consular building in the embassy compound and that his residence was on the top two floors. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that seven Iranian military advisers died in the strike including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in its Quds Force, which is an elite foreign espionage and paramilitary arm. Israel has long targeted Iran’s military installations in Syria and those of its proxies, but Monday’s attack was the first time Israel hit the vast embassy compound itself. It has ramped up those strikes in parallel with its campaign against Iran-backed Palestinian group Hamas. Israel military has escalated airstrikes in Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, both of which support Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Israel typically does not discuss attacks by its forces on Syria. Asked about the strike, an Israeli military spokesperson said: “We do not comment on reports in the foreign media.” The New York Times cited four unnamed Israeli officials as acknowledging Israel had carried out the attack. Iran’s UN mission described the strike as a “flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the foundational principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises”. Saying the strike was “a significant threat to regional peace and security”, the Iranian o‘Attack flagrant violation of international law’ mission urged the UN Security Council to condemn the attack and said Tehran reserved the right “to take a decisive response”. Hezbollah, the Lebanese group seen as Iran’s most powerful armed proxy in the region, vowed to retaliate. “This crime will not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge,” the group said. Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned the attack, as did Russia. Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari, who was unharmed, told Iranian state TV that five to seven people, including diplomats, were killed and Tehran’s response would be “harsh”. Iranian state media said Tehran believed Mohammad Reza was the target of the attack. His deputy and another senior commander were also killed along with four others. Iran’s Arabic Language Al Alam Television said that Mohammad Reza was a military adviser in Syria who served as the head of the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington remained “concerned about anything that would be escalatory or cause an increase in conflict in the region” but did not expect the strike to affect talks on freeing Israeli hostages held by Hamas. – Reuters Syrian emergency personnel extinguish a fire at a bombed-out building next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus. – AFPPIC

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 10 PUBLICATION DATE 3 May 2024 (Friday) BOOKING DEADLINE 26 April, 2024 (Friday) MATERIAL DEADLINE 29 April, 2024 (Monday) 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 Navigating rising food cost RAMADAN is universally recognised for its significance in the Islamic calendar, bringing Muslims together in observance of fasting, prayer and acts of charity. Central to the Ramadan experience is the breaking of the fast, or iftar, where families and friends gather to share meals and strengthen bonds of kinship. However, recent years have seen a shift in how Malaysians approach iftar, with a growing trend towards eating out at restaurants or purchasing food from bazaars. While this may offer convenience and variety, it also comes at a cost. Prices have been on the rise, driven by factors such as escalating costs of essential ingredients. Prices of staples such as rice, flour, cooking oil and vegetables have risen due to various factors, including inflation, changes in weather patterns affecting agricultural yields and disruptions in the supply chain. For example, according to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry’s latest market data, the national average price of Indian red onions is RM7/kg. This is almost double the baseline price of Indian red onions in 2022, which was RM3.90/kg. The situation has led to most traders increasing their prices for Ramadan bazaars this year, leading to backlash from the public as the costs of raw ingredients have been largely unchanged. Furthermore, the implementation of the sales and service tax has led to increased costs for producers and consumers. This, in turn, has resulted in higher prices for goods and services, including food items. This puts a strain on household budgets, especially for those with limited financial resources. Another factor contributing to food price inflation is the global market dynamics. Malaysia relies on imports for certain food products, and fluctuations in international commodity prices, exchange rates and geopolitical tensions impact the cost of imported goods. For instance, changes in the price of crude oil, a key determinant of transport costs, affect the price of imported food items. In addition to external factors, domestic policies and regulations also influence food prices. Government interventions such as subsidies and price controls aim to stabilise prices and ensure food affordability for consumers. However, the effectiveness of these measures may vary, and unintended consequences such as market distortions and inefficiencies arise. The cumulative effect of these factors is felt by consumers, especially during periods of increased demand, such as Ramadan and Hari Raya. The traditional iftar meal, with its emphasis on family dining together and festive feasting, puts additional strain on household budgets as individuals seek to procure ingredients for elaborate dishes and delicacies. The rising cost of food has implications beyond economic concerns, impacting food security, nutrition and overall well-being. Amid the challenges posed by high food prices, home dining emerges as a viable and sustainable solution. By preparing meals at home, individuals and families can exercise greater control over ingredients, portion sizes and cooking methods, thereby promoting healthier eating habits. Additionally, dining at home offers significant cost savings compared with eating out as homemade meals are generally more economical and can be tailored to suit dietary preferences and budgetary constraints. To facilitate home dining during Ramadan, several strategies can be adopted such as meal planning. Meals can be planned ahead of time, and setting a budget for groceries can prevent impulse purchases and ensure that ingredients are used efficiently. On the contrary, busy working adults may argue that they lack the time and energy to cook elaborate meals at home after a long day of work. For this group, allocating time on weekends for meal prepping and relying on simpler recipes can streamline the cooking process and make home dining more feasible. By dedicating a few hours to preparing meals in advance, individuals can have ready-to-eat options available throughout the week, minimising the need for daily cooking. While dining out or ordering takeout may be associated with socialising and spending quality time with family and friends, sharing cooking responsibilities among family members or housemates can make the activity enjoyable. This alternatively can enhance socialisation and bonding at home. Additionally, supporting local restaurants through occasional takeout or delivery can help strike a balance between convenience and costeffectiveness. By patronising local eateries, individuals can still enjoy restaurant-quality meals while contributing to the local economy. Ultimately, it is about finding a balance that works for everyone’s lifestyle and priorities, whether it is cooking at home or dining out occasionally. The trend towards eating out reflects broader societal shifts in lifestyle and consumption patterns. Factors such as urbanisation, changing demographics and socioeconomic status all play a role in shaping individuals’ food choices. However, amid these changes, it is crucial to preserve the tradition of home dining during Ramadan as a means of fostering family cohesion, promoting healthier eating habits and safeguarding financial well-being. By embracing home dining during this holy month, Malaysians can uphold traditions, nurture relationships and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the blessings of food and community. Dr Salini Devi Rajendran is a senior lecturer at the School of Food Studies and Gastronomy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management at Taylor’s University. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com “Prices have been on the rise, driven by escalating costs of essential ingredients due to various factors, including inflation, changes in weather patterns affecting agricultural yields and disruptions in the supply chain. COMMENT by Dr Salini Devi Rajendran

11 WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 Nip religious tensions at the start THE KK Mart socks incident that culminated in the throwing of three Molotov cocktail firebombs should have spurred leaders of all nonMuslim religions to jointly play a counselling role alongside Muslim organisations at the initial stage, and hence, transform the situation into an opportunity to foster better inter-communal understanding. Interfaith organisations such as the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) should adopt a proactive approach and speedily undertake on-the-ground service work whenever ethnic or religious tensions surface. The occasional interfaith forum or seminar featuring representatives from various religions talking about the good points of their respective faiths is a long outdated style. It has no impact on society. Our religious leaders and the National Unity Ministry should do more during the month of World Interfaith Harmony Week, as currently no significant grassroots programmes are conducted. Some nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisations (NGOs) that aim to be peacebuilders have also shied away from the task and now focus on charity work rather than exploring solutions to intercommunal problems besetting our nation. The socks incident and the ensuing bitterness that kept spiralling upwards ought to serve as a wake-up call to the National Unity Ministry and all NGOs with a public service goal that their top priority must be to establish nationwide reconciliation. In recent years, such NGOs have narrowed their scope to serving fragments of society rather than adopting a whole-of-society approach. Religious groups also seem to have lost their grand vision or have abandoned whatever broad vision they used to hold dear. All have forgotten this all-important verse in the Book of Proverbs addressed to an entire nation: “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint and run wild.” Religious organisations should break out of the parochial focus on teaching their faiths only and embrace a divine vision of multicultural and multifaith unity to hold the nation tightly together. They must strive to work collaboratively and undertake service to the public in all matters that affect national unity. King Abdullah II of Jordan and his late father King Hussein are widely acknowledged as world leaders who initiated the interfaith era for humanity. In 2006, King Abdullah was invited to address a large evangelical Christian audience at a national prayer breakfast in Washington and he called upon people of all faiths to discard the idea of a clash of civilisations. It was he who introduced the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the 65th United Nations General Assembly in 2010. On that memorable occasion, he told the plenary session: “It is essential to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially among peoples of different religions. The fact is, humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by mutual interests but by shared commandments to love God and neighbour, to love the good and neighbour.” Yet in Malaysia, nobody follows his initiative fully despite such harmful incidents as the socks debacle and similar potentially inflammable but fortunately rare incidents such as the occasional destruction of temple stone images by misguided vandals. After KK Mart had issued an apology, an interfaith team from M C C B C H S T a n d perhaps with the inclusion of the smaller but more tightly-knit Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship should have visited the directors soonest possible and advised them to make atonement through an act of sacrifice taught by all religions. The sacrifice could be in the form of several thousand ringgit worth of halal food packs donated to various mosque committees for distribution to poor Muslim families. KK Mart could even pledge to distribute halal food packs every Ramadan. In view of the escalation into bombthrowing, this is a fit occasion to explain the practice of sacrifice. The trail leads from human sacrifice to animal sacrifice, to sacrifice in the form of charity and finally back to human sacrifice in a completely transformed manner – the most efficacious sacrifice with high relevance to Malaysia’s political situation. The notion of sacrifice arose from observation of nature in ancient times. For instance, the scarlet worm dies soon after giving birth so that the larvae may feed on her body for nourishment. This is self-sacrifice for the sake of new life. The octopus, squid, salmon, common mayfly, praying mantis, spider, scorpion and aphid are among many other species where it has been observed that mothers die soon after birth – often to feed predators who then refrain from eating the newborn. Humans imitated the sacrificial character of nature by inventing the practice of child sacrifice, and it became standard practice in the early days of all ancient civilisations. In 2020, archaeologists in China excavated a human skeleton in a sacrificial pit dating back to the Shang Dynasty around 3,600 years ago. The skeleton was found in a kneeling position with both hands crossed in front. The sacrificial person had been beheaded. In 2018, archaeologists in Peru found evidence of the biggest-ever human sacrifice, uncovering the remains of more than 140 children who were slain in a sacred ritual at the time of the Chimu civilisation. More than 20 years earlier, archaeologists had found a wellpreserved mummy of an Inca maiden, no older than 15 years, who was sacrificed by a blow to the head. In pre-Roman times, child sacrifice was prevalent throughout Western Europe. Some 15 years ago, archaeologists found evidence of a young, healthy and strong man whose body was painted in mysterious symbols being sacrificed by having his head clubbed and throat slit. He was a hero of the druids in Britain who were fighting to ward off the Roman invaders. The druids had sacrificed him as an offering to God to fight alongside them. Child sacrifice was equally prevalent in West Asia including the Holy Land. The Torah describes child sacrifice by Canaanites and Israelites. In the second book of Kings, the King of Moab took his eldest son and offered him a burnt offering after a battle with the Israelites. In the book of Judges, an Israelite commander-in-chief defeated the Ammonites and in thanksgiving to God he made a burnt offering of his daughter who was his only child. As civilisations grew aware of human rights, an offering of the best animals and farm produce was devised to substitute for child sacrifice. The food was then consumed – by humans, of course. This switch to a substitutionary sacrifice was dramatised in a chilling story about an ancient patriarch Abraham and his son. Abraham took his son Isaac on a journey up a mountain, built an altar, laid his son on it and placed a bundle of chopped wood to make a burnt offering of the boy. Just as he was about to slay his son with a knife, he stopped, looked around and spotted a ram caught in a thicket. He burnt the ram instead. This epic drama symbolised the abandonment of child sacrifice by civilisations. Animal slaughter in sacrificial rituals became the vogue and remains the favourite to this day. The livestock animals picked to give their lives are preferably sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and chickens. Fruits and vegetables are also placed on altars. However, awareness of animal rights and environmental destruction is leading to growing revulsion over the forced slaughter of innocent lives. Bear in mind that the main purpose of sacrifice is reconciliation: to re-establish a broken link or to mend a damaged relationship, and also to influence higher powers to work in your favour. Thus, in any incident wherein a relationship with one community has been damaged, the distribution of food packs to poor members of that community is the most suitable form of reconciliation. Two religions indigenous to India, Hinduism and Sikhism, have long traced the cause of all broken or damaged relationships to one root cause: human ego. These two religions have transmuted the ritual into the loftiest form of sacrifice – the sacrifice of ego. Known as purusayajna in Sanskrit, or the sacrifice of collective humanity, the call is to sacrifice biasness, selfish gain and parochialism. Instead, practise non-attachment, sacrifice of self and communal exclusivity, and embrace a whole identity. Purusayajna contains a lesson for many politicians around the world whose favourite indulgence is to garner selfish gain for power, sacrifice national interests for party advancement and aggravate tensions to widen their grip on traditional voter bases. The Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is hard-hitting. Here is a short list of powerful verses: “Everyone worships God while abiding in ego, and so, one’s mind is saturated not with God, nor one gathers peace. One utters prayers to gratify one’s ego, and so wastes away one’s life, and one’s dedication avails not. “Where there is avarice, there is death and where there is forgiveness, there is God himself. Of what avail is the abandonment of maya, if man abandons not his self-conceit? Ego destroys all one’s merit. Ego eats all up. “Power breeds ego and pride must have a fall. He who is alive to his ego dies, and he who is dead to his ego becomes eternal. I indulge in self-esteem, and egoistic is my speech. He alone attains to the gate of salvation who stills his ego from within himself. “The ego has burnt down the whole world.” The writer champions interfaith harmony. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com Religious organisations must strive to work collaboratively and undertake service to the public in all matters that affect national unity. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/SUNPIC “It is essential to resist forces of division that spread mistrust, especially among peoples of different religions. — King Abdullah

ESG ESG WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 12 transparency with established environmental, social, and governance pillars in sustainability reporting, thereby enabling companies to identify strengths and weaknesses in their sustainability management. Moreover, ESG Verification serves as a platform for effective stakeholder engagement, fostering trust and credibility among investors, customers, employees, and communities. Through this process, companies gain profound insights into sustainability principles and best practices, empowering them to refine strategies and align business objectives with broader sustainability goals. ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Beyond a mere standard, the ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification offered by Sirim QAS International serves as a roadmap for businesses to optimise energy efficiency, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact. By implementing ISO 50001, organisations can utilise energy resources, curtail energy consumption, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Attainment of ISO 50001 certification not only enhances competitive advantage but also reinforces financial performance while ensuring compliance with energy efficiency regulations and governance mandates. ISO 50001 certification underscores an organisation’s commitment to environmental responsibility, fostering enduring operational efficiency and fiscal sustainability. Sirim QAS International sustainability key account manager Nadia Aqilah Mohd Sofie advocates for organisations to pursue this certification to reaffirm their commitment to sustainable practices. “As the exclusive certification body accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia and a member of the International Certification Network (IQNet) for ISO 50001 EnMS, Sirim QAS emerges as the preferred ally for entities aspiring to fulfil energy efficiency and carbon reduction objectives.” SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS In essence, Sirim QAS International assumes a pivotal role in advancing Malaysia’s sustainable development goals by championing environmental responsibility and resource efficiency. Through its comprehensive suite of sustainability services, including ESG Verification, ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification, and Energy Efficiency Testing, Sirim QAS empowers businesses to embrace sustainable practices and diminish their environmental footprint. Amidst the intricacy of sustainability and energy management, Sirim QAS International emerges as a trusted partner, steering enterprises toward a future characterised by sustainability, efficiency, and prosperity. The journey toward sustainability necessitates collaborative endeavours among businesses, government agencies, and certification bodies like Sirim QAS International. By synergising their expertise, stakeholders can effectuate meaningful change and advance sustainability initiatives. While businesses play a pivotal role in embedding sustainable practices within their operations, government agencies provide regulatory frameworks, incentives, and support to foster compliance and innovation. Certification bodies like Sirim QAS contribute by delivering independent verification, and certification services, enabling businesses to navigate intricate sustainability initiatives and demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices. Through an unwavering commitment to excellence and effective collaboration with government bodies, Sirim QAS International is paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. oSirim QAS empowers businesses to enhance energy efficiency, champion responsible conduct KUALA LUMPUR: In the Malaysian business landscape, companies prioritising environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles are poised to experience sustained higher valuations and long-term investment returns. In parallel, KPMG in Malaysia – a global professional services firm noted that public-listed companies embracing ESG investments consistently demonstrate elevated valuation multiples, showcasing a positive correlation with increased shareholder returns and profitability. Its head of sustainability advisory, Phang Oy Cheng, mentioned that various factors are driving ESG considerations in corporate decision-making, with attention also paid to investors’ demands, which enable access to funding and investments. “More than two-thirds of global CEOs have fully embedded ESG into their business as a means to create value. “It’s also important to note that 35% of global CEOs say they have changed the language they use to refer to ESG both internally and externally, reflecting a shift in the dialogue about ESG and signalling a trend toward prioritising the areas that make the most sense for their organisations,” she told Bernama. Ultimately, Phang said that ESG considerations should be seen not just as a compliance matter but as an indispensable facet of business management, addressing the concerns of customers, collaboration partners, regulators and investors. She added that investors’ demand for high-quality, timely and comparable ESG data is one of the drivers behind the issuance of sustainability-related rules and reporting standards. “But regulation is not their only mechanism for obtaining ESG data; annual shareholder meetings continue to be leveraged by investors and other stakeholders to request for ESG disclosures where proxy votes speak louder than words. “Increasingly, we observe investors are seeking clarity on net-zero and decarbonisation initiatives. From an investment perspective, they are examining how these strategies affect business sustainability as well as the required investments in carbon adaptation technologies. “Hence the need for mandatory disclosure requirements, accompanied with reliable supporting data is crucial as insights from KPMG’s report reveal that 53% of deals were cancelled due to material findings in an ESG due diligence,” she said. As a sustainability advisory expert, Phang said that common challenges include the ability to integrate ESG strategies with the company’s overall long-term business strategy, securing boardlevel accountability for the company’s ESG strategy, and ensuring the ESG plan is embedded into every segment of the business covering the entire supply chain. Another challenge companies face is in measuring their ESG performance. “The KPMG ESG Assurance Maturity Index 2023 found that only 27% of companies have robust policies and procedures to support the development of their ESG disclosures. Only 26% have a clear audit trail to support their non-financial information. “The key to an effective ESG practice is to align ESG practices with the overall business objective with well-defined milestones and accountable owners to commit the required resources to move the dial forward on value creation. “Opportunities can present themselves internally, as embedding ESG practices fosters higher efficiency with the implementation of purposeful structures and processes. This translates to operational cost savings and increased worker productivity.” Increasing volumes of ESG-related information are being publicly disclosed and over the next few years, it might impact companies and their investors. “However, disclosures have to stand up to objective scrutiny and this will drive the demand for external assurance of ESG data. Ultimately, it will be a regulatory requirement to obtain assurance in many jurisdictions and companies should prepare for this eventuality,” said Phang. – Bernama OCR cultivating sustainable future in Kuantan KUANTAN: Integrated property developer OCR Group Bhd in affirming its commitment to sustainable development, hosted recently a tree planting ceremony at the Priya project in Penor, Kuantan. Representatives from OCR, including management and staff members, gathered to plant Eugenia and Ficus Gold trees, for their suitability to the local ecosystem and contribution to the biodiversity of the Priya project. The initiative is in line with OCR’s dedication to harmonious coexistence between urban development and the environment. The Priya project, a collaboration between the Group’s subsidiary OCR Properties (Kuantan) Sdn Bhd and Yayasan Pahang, is just 20km away from Kuantan City and 26km from Pekan. Spanning 100 acres, the development is envisioned to house a vibrant resident population of 5,000. The Priya project is OCR’s commitment to affordability, offering planned residential development with a diverse array of housing options, ranging from affordable single-story terrace houses at RM125,000 to enticing semi-detached homes priced at RM160,000. Despite pandemic-induced delays and cost increases, OCR delivered the highest standards of quality throughout the Priya project, reflecting its commitment as a socially responsible developer towards community well-being. The strategic planning and community-oriented design of Priya resulted in increased property values, with units now commanding prices exceeding RM180,000. OCR Group Bhd managing director Billy Ong Kah Hoe said: “OCR’s commitment goes beyond environmental stewardship, reflecting our dedication to the well-being of Pahang residents. “We are committed to delivering accessible and affordable housing, as well as a sense of community. The Priya project provides a vibrant and secure living environment where residents can thrive.” The recent tree planting initiative complements previous plantings of diverse species such as xanthostemon chrysanthus, plumeria pink, mimospo elengi, tabebuia pentaphylla and lagerstroemia speciosa, further enriching the Priya project’s environmental landscape. KUALA LUMPUR: In recent years, Malaysia has witnessed a profound shift in its corporate landscape, with a growing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Aligned with the 12th Malaysia Plan, the nation is steadfast in its commitment to global and national well-being, striving towards its long-term objective of becoming a carbon-neutral entity. This entails prioritising socioeconomic development, fostering resilience to climate change, and preserving natural resources and ecosystems Ministry of Economy, 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025. Amidst the escalating concern for environmental issues, evolving customer expectations, and stringent regulatory requirements, businesses across various sectors are recognising the imperative of integrating sustainability into business operations. Beyond mere compliance, companies embracing sustainability and ethical practices stand better poised to manage risks, fortify long-term resilience, and seize opportunities. At the forefront of Malaysia’s sustainability journey stands Sirim QAS International, playing a pivotal role in bolstering the nation’s environmental and social aspirations. As the leading provider of certification and verification services, Sirim QAS empowers businesses across diverse industries to elevate their environmental performance, enhance energy efficiency, and champion responsible business conduct. ESG VERIFICATION SERVICES For enterprises seeking to refine their sustainability reporting mechanisms, Sirim QAS’ ESG Verification proves indispensable. Through rigorous verification assessment, Sirim QAS ensures accuracy, traceability and OCR staff planting trees at the Priya project in Penor. Insights on businesses’ Bolstering sustainability practices Malaysia’s environmental and social aspirations

WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 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 EPF revises list of unit trust funds “This scheme enables qualified members to diversify a portion of their EPF Account 1 funds into qualified unit trust funds offered for investments in local and global markets to enhance their retirement savings. “The list includes sustainable and responsible investment-based (SRI) unit trust funds to play a role in driving sustainable investment agenda at the EPF as we empower members to make informed investment decisions through a wide range of funds,” she added. The funds approved under the EPF MIS are evaluated annually based on EPF’s established criteria approved by the Ministry of Finance. The two qualifying criteria for funds evaluation includes the consistency of performance and its relative performance against benchmark. The qualifying threshold set for these criteria are reviewed from time to time in order to ensure only funds with the highest quality are listed. Under EPF MIS, members are given the option to invest with the FMIs up to 30% of the amount in excess of their EPF Account 1 savings. This includes investing with unit trust management companies and private mandate companies, depending on their eligibility based on the basic savings quantum. “Since the launch of the i-Invest platform in 2019, around RM2.5 billion has been transacted as at December 2023,” said Rohaya. o189 approved for investment by members for 2024/2025 NISP secures booking for 60% of capacity SEPANG: The first phase of NCT Smart Industrial Park (NISP) has already secured bookings for 60% of its capacity amounting to RM2 billion. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the RM2 billion constitutes a portion of the total gross development value (GDV) for the three phases which amounts to RM10 billion. “(This is) from the 250 acres of land from the whole 800 acres development. And the GDV value is about RM2 billion so far,” he said during the press conference at the launch of the sales gallery for Malaysia’s first certified managed industrial park at NISP yesterday. The NCT Group of Companies launched NISP with the goal to become the first net-zero emissions industrial park by 2050, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and a low-carbon industrial framework. The project is taking root within Selangor State’s Integrated Development Region in South Selangor (IDRISS) initiative, where NSIP will introduce clean electrification and other climate-friendly alternative energy sources. NCT Group founder and group managing director Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy said NSIP is poised to revolutionise the industrial ecosystem in Selangor and Malaysia. “We are setting a new benchmark in the sector as a net zero park. “NSIP’s development is premised on delivering a transformative environment that facilitates profitability and growth. “It also intends to be respectful to the environment and communities, and we will not compromise on our sustainability principles. “This direction aligns closely with our corporate commitment to achieving a 45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035, with NSIP a key contributor to the group’s Ringgit value unlikely to impact foreign investments in Johor JOHOR BAHRU: The declining value of the ringgit and the uncertain global economic environment are unlikely to affect foreign investments in Johor this year. Johor Trade Investment, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said on Monday the state government has received more than 200 investments as of March 31. Manufacturing, electricity and electronics, food processing, and chemicals and petrochemicals were among the sectors that received the most investments, he said. “Johor received investments amounting to RM43 billion last year, 751 projects were implemented. We are confident that Johor will record a high level of foreign investments this year. “Although the value of the ringgit has fallen, the economic growth rate and investment (level) continue to trend positively,” he told reporters after the Ramadan Rahmah Bazaar walkabout at the Perling Mall here. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry state director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo was also present. Lee said the implementation of several large-scale projects in the state is also expected to attract more new foreign investment in the future. “Development projects such as the widening of the North-South Highway that begins in June and the widening of the Senai-Desaru Highway that commences in September will further boost the local economy. “We will also sign a special agreement involving the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, in addition to the special financial zone in Forest City and many more.” According to Lee, the entry of various foreign investments will directly benefit the state and improve the people’s living standards via the creation of quality employment opportunities. “As many as 19,000 new jobs were created last year from all the state’s foreign investments,” he said. – Bernama KWASA DAMANSARA: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has revised the qualified list of unit trust funds under the EPF Members Investment Scheme (EPF MIS), effective from April 1. Under the EPF MIS, there are 296 approved funds from 18 Fund Management Institutions (FMIs). Based from the annual evaluation as at December 31, 2023, 189 funds met the minimum qualifying criteria and are qualified to be offered to EPF members for 2024/2025 offering period. Of the qualified funds, 151 funds, or 79.9%, are local funds; 107 funds (56.6%) are equity funds; and 76 funds (40.2%) are shariah funds. “The EPF continues to provide option and flexibility for qualified members to explore wider investment opportunities through EPF-appointed fund management institutions,” EPF chief investment officer Rohaya Mohammad Yusof said. █ BYHAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com Amirudin delivering his keynote speech at the sales gallery launch yesterday. “The EPF encourages more members to take advantage of the i-Invest facility following enhancements to the platform made early this year that enabled transactions for private mandate portfolios. “The enhancements allow members to transact approved private mandate portfolios, in addition to qualified unit trust funds offered currently, on the i-Invest platform.” She added that the private mandate portfolios and unit trust funds under the EPF MIS provided flexibility for members to delegate their investments to professional asset managers based on their individual investment objectives, preferences and risk tolerance. Members can easily transact through i-Invest where the initial sales charge payable by members to FMIs is capped at 0.5% per buy transaction. Members are advised to exercise caution when making any investment decision and seek the right information or professional advice before committing to any transactions. They may consult the EPF’s Retirement Advisory Service, available at any EPF branch nationwide, prior to participating in MIS. While EPF has approved these funds, it neither endorses nor recommends any individual fund for members to invest in. overarching goals, while we support the national net-zero target by 2050.” Among the electrification technologies to be spearheaded at the park are rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations to power operations by optimising energy systems for maximum efficiency and enhanced mobility. To support its digitalised industrial and energy system management, NSIP will introduce a digital twin technology deployed on a cloud-based Al IoT platform. Yap said they are seeking to catalyse energy supply decarbonisation and drive industrial sector efficiency, thereby unlocking market opportunities through the scaling up of pioneering technologies and innovative services. With its technology and integration of Environmental, Social and Governance principles, the park incorporates the Al-Low Carbon Industrial Park concept. Other key features of the park include an Al-Managed Centralised Labour Quarter (CLQ), with high-quality accommodation for up to 30,000 workers, rainwater harvesting systems and a ground-breaking 100-year flood mitigation plan. In line with a circular economy, NSIP, which is spread over 732 acres and comprises three phases, will feature solar-ready factories and a low-carbon global centre. Designed to meet the burgeoning needs of high-tech industries, including Meticual and electronic, semiconductors and smart logistics, NSIP will also unleash the transformative benefits of smart manufacturing through the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and other innovative trends.

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 14 CMM, Climate Bonds launch interactive toolkit KUALA LUMPUR: Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) in collaboration with the Climate Bonds Initiative (Climate Bonds) yesterday launched its interactive Transition Strategy Toolkit (toolkit), aimed at supporting local and regional efforts towards the global net zero goal by leveraging transition finance among mature and mid-tier corporates. The toolkit is designed to offer corporations in Asean seeking to attract capital for their transition needs with insights on building credible science-based climate transition plans that are aligned to the Paris Agreement targets or respective national climate goals. The toolkit details the underlying principles and elements to be incorporated when developing climate transition plans, by guiding users through the Climate Bonds five principles for an ambitious transition, enabling investors to easily identify investments that support a low-carbon transition. SC managing director and CMM oMachinery will help Asean corporations in securing funding by advising on credible science-based climate plans Tech upcycle to spur manufacturing sector’s recovery KUALA LUMPUR: The recovery of Malaysia’s manufacturing sector may gradually pick up pace in the second half (2H) of 2024 on the back of an expected technology upcycle, said Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd. Commenting on the decline in S&P Global Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) to 48.4 last month from 49.5 in February 2024, it said this was largely due to subdued demand conditions both in the domestic and international markets. “We reiterate our outlook that domestic manufacturing conditions, especially in the export-oriented sector, will continue recovering in the coming months, especially in 2H24, backed mainly by technology upcycle and China’s gradual economic recovery following an expected significant stimulus injection from its government,“ it said in a note yesterday. The investment bank said growth is also expected to be bolstered by the continued expansion among regional peers and stronger-thanexpected demand from advanced economies, driven by resilient domestic demand. In a statement yesterday, S&P Global announced that the seasonally adjusted Malaysia Manufacturing PMI eased to 48.4 in March 2024 from 49.5 in the previous month, signalling a slight moderation in the health of the sector. Meanwhile, Public Investment Bank Bhd (PIVB) said that in the near term, Malaysia’s PMI is likely to mirror global trends, suggesting a level Global semiconductor market expected to rebound strongly by 13.1% in 2024, up from previous forecast of 11.8%. – UNSPLASH PIX Petronas, Jera to study CCS potential between Japan and Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas, through its subsidiary Petronas CCS Solutions Sdn Bhd (PCCSS), recently signed a joint study agreement (JSA) with Jera Co Inc (Jera), to evaluate the feasibility of the entire carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain including separation and capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by Jera in Japan, cross-border transportation, and CO2 storage in Malaysia. This agreement will strengthen the collaboration and contribute towards building a global network for crossborder CO2 transport and storage. The JSA represents a notable stride forward in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Asia Pacific region, especially in Malaysia and Japan. PCCSS CEO Nora’in Md Salleh said, “This agreement signifies a pivotal step towards enhanced collaboration with an important partner. This spirit of collaboration will speed up progression and enrich CCS delivery by leveraging the vast experiences of the two organisations. This is in line with Petronas’ commitment in accelerating the development of prominent CCS hubs in Malaysia, for the region. Petronas is championing CCS as a key solution in addressing emissions from its operations as well as other industries. Recognising the importance of regional collaboration in addressing climate change, Petronas continues to form strategic collaborations as part of its deliberate steps in building a resilient and sustainable portfolio, while accelerating its NZCE 2050 pathway. TH supports govt goals, prioritising domestic investments KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) will continue to focus on investments in Malaysia compared to expanding its portfolio overseas in line with the government’s aspiration to support and stimulate domestic investments. Its group managing director and CEO Syed Hamadah Syed Othman said the strategic asset allocation for TH’s investments abroad is around 10%, and at the moment, the pilgrimage fund board has no plans to make additional investments. “The investment opportunities abroad are wider and can provide competitive returns but we will continue to support the government’s aspiration to focus on domestic investments in the short to medium term,“ he said at a press conference to announce TH’s profit distribution for FY23 yesterday. He said the mandate given to TH is to ensure the safety of depositors’ funds and to provide stable returns, and this can be achieved by adhering to disciplined strategic asset allocation that always focuses on returns commensurate with the risks taken. More than half or 58% of TH’s current investments are in the form of fixed income or sukuk, and this forms the basis that enables the institution to obtain recurring and safe returns, he said, adding that the remaining investments are focused on equities, money market, and real estate both domestically and overseas. TH announced a profit distribution after zakat of 3.1% for FY23, the same as the previous year. – Bernama board member Datin Azalina Adham said the toolkit takes a consultative approach in offering guidance to corporations operating across Asean as it is designed to consider the specific nuances of decarbonisation goals of each Asean country, while providing a benchmark against the Climate Bonds Initiative’s ambitious transition methodology. Malaysian corporates, she added embarking on their transition strategies, financial institutions offering transition financing and institutional investors looking to invest in credible transition projects will find the toolkit useful in identifying and assessing plans, targets and goals that meet globally accepted transition principles. “The launch of this toolkit builds on the SC’s continued efforts to support Malaysia’s carbon neutral aspirations laid out in recent policy initiatives such as the National Industrial Masterplan 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap by providing best practice guidance to corporations seeking to attract capital for transition projects that will advance our national climate agenda. While we progress on our journey to carbon neutrality, it is important to ensure that the principles for a just transition are adhered to,” she said. Climate Bonds founder and CEO Sean Kidney said, “We are delighted to collaborate with CMM to develop this toolkit for Asean corporations. Transition plans are essential in the journey towards the Paris goals. They must be built on clear targets, effective strategies, ample financial support, and unwavering leadership. Harmonisation of key principles underpinning transition plans will encourage the flow of green capital to Asean businesses.” The web-based toolkit utilises an interactive question and answer (Q&A) interface that begins with a risk assessment supported by key definitions and the CBI methodology to offer essential and systematic guidance on areas to consider when developing comprehensive transition plans. By going through the interactive Q&A, businesses will be able to determine where they stand and identify key areas to address to achieve the five hallmarks that are fully aligned with and build on the thematic guidelines from the International Capital Market Association, as well as the disclosure requirements from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. In conjunction with the launch of the toolkit, CMM hosted a webinar on Transition Finance in Asean on March 27, featuring speakers from the Climate Bonds Initiative, UK Transition Plan Taskforce and the Securities Commission Malaysia, highlighting recent global initiatives in supporting transition finance. above the critical expansion threshold of 50 points. It said the global semiconductor market is forecast to see a robust recovery of 13.1% in 2024 compared to the earlier projection of 11.8%, auguring a pivotal juncture for Malaysia’s manufacturing sector and the semiconductor industry worldwide. “The anticipated upswing is particularly promising for major electrical and electronics (E&E) exporters like Malaysia, given that exports of E&E products constitute over 40% of the nation’s total gross exports. “Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) anticipates a substantial 5.5% increase in manufactured goods exports for 2024, further underpinning the optimistic sentiment,” it said in a separate note. However, both Kenanga Investment and PIVB expressed concerns over downside risks that include escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and a possible renewed US-China tensions, which could potentially disrupt global supply chains, elevate business costs and lead to a prolonged slowdown in global trade. “Despite these risks, an anticipated uptick in electronics exports and favourable base effects could partially offset negative impacts. As such, we forecast Malaysia’s exports of goods and services to rebound with a growth rate of 5.4% in 2024,” said PIVB. Kenanga Investment opined that Malaysia could conversely benefit from trade diversion, thanks to a significant rise in approved manufacturing sector investments recorded last year which reached RM152 billion from RM84.3 billion in 2022. “Therefore, we keep the 2024 gross domestic product forecast of 4.5% to 5%, aligning with Bank Negara Malaysia’s and MoF’s projections of 4 to 5%,“ it said. – Bernama

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 15 Enclosed is my payment of RM payable to SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD. Please WhatsApp your bank-in slip to 0182929936 or email to subscribe@thesundaily.com *Not inclusive of vendor service charge Stay informed with the latest news and trends All the best articles from Monday to Friday 32 pages full colour 6 month subscription (128 issues) for only RM110* (Normal price RM128) 1 year subscription (258 issues) for only RM200* (Normal price RM258) PERSONAL PARTICULARS Name: NRIC: Race: Malay Chinese Indian Others Profession: Commencement date: Delivery Address: Residence Ofice Postcode: State: Tel: Mobile No: E-mail: DETAILS OF CURRENT NEWS VENDOR (IF ANY) Vendor name: Contact no: For your convenience, you may call or send in your subscription particulars via any of the following: Tel: KL/PJ 03-7781 4000, 03-7784 6688 (9.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday) Fax: 03-7781 4484 Post: P.O. Box 179, Jalan Sultan, 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Attn: Subscription Email: subscribe@thesundaily.com *Terms & Conditions apply Important note: SMCSB reserves the right to revise the price at any time without prior notice. Pay to Maybank ( Account number 508177700420 ) Account name ( SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD ) Nov 8 to Nov 10 Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1 WEDNESDAY NOV 8, 2023 No. 8389 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) SCAN ME Casino chip heist: Five more identified Police have detained a total of 10 suspects, including a Chinese national, in connection with the RM4.6m theft at Genting Highlands on Oct 28. Congratulations! You are holding the first edition A new sunrise of our new 32-page paper featuring more of the great content you have loved for the past 30 years. Copies will be free until Friday and will be available via subscription and at newsstands beginning Monday for only RM1. 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 BJAK’s RM150m initiative speeds up govt’s digital road tax transition KUALA LUMPUR: BJAK Sdn Bhd, a digital insurance platform, has launched its RM150 million free road tax programme to transform how people renew road tax in Malaysia. This initiative will provide vehicle owners a chance to renew their motorcycle and car road tax for free. Since its establishment, BJAK has been at the forefront of digital innovation in the automotive industry. With millions of transactions completed, BJAK has earned its reputation as a reliable and efficient service provider. The pledge of RM150 million to subsidise vehicle owners’ road tax renewals for free through BJAK platform has commenced since March 2024. The company’s mission is to drive digital adoption and streamline administrative processes for vehicle owners and over six million users across the nation. “We are excited to offer all Malaysians the opportunity to renew their road tax for free through this campaign. As a technology-driven company, we are committed to accelerating the digitalisation of Malaysia, and this initiative perfectly aligns with our vision,“ said BJAK marketing vicepresident Mandy Foong. She added that this significant investment aims to encourage more Malaysians to embrace digital solutions for their road tax renewal, accessing the benefits of digitalisation with simplicity, choice, and convenience. The programme is not only in line with the government’s MyRoadTax digitisation efforts but also supports Malaysia’s broader agenda for digital transformation. By promoting online renewal, BJAK aims to reduce the need for physical visits to renewal centers, thereby cutting down on queues and increasing overall efficiency. In addition to the free renewal offer, BJAK is also addressing the financial concerns of vehicle owners by providing an insurance renewal installment plan. This plan allows customers to spread their payments over up to 12 months, making the process more accessible and manageable for everyone. The campaign is also a testament to BJAK’s commitment to environmental sustainability. By reducing the need for paperbased transactions and physical travel, the initiative contributes to a greener, more sustainable future. Marriott to launch The Westin brand in Penang PENANG: Marriott International signed a hotel management agreement with Westfield Global Sdn Bhd to bring The Westin brand to the popular island of Penang. Located along Gurney Drive, the 217 room Westin Hotel, Penang is slated to open in 2026. Marriott International development, Asia Pacific excluding China, senior director Andree Susilo said they are confident that The Westin Hotel, Penang will exceed expectations in offering both leisure and business travellers a thoroughly fresh, yet familiar and certainly enjoyable stay in Penang. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Marriott International to bring The Westin Hotel to Penang. This partnership is a significant step towards advancing The signing ceremony was graced by Tuanku Raja Muda of Perlis and chairman of Westfield Global Sdn Bhd (5th from left) flanked by Yeoh (left), and Marriott International senior vice-president hotel development Asia Pacific Kevin Chen. Witnessing the event are directors from Westfield Global and representatives from Marriott International. oPartnership will boost tourism with its top-notch wellness hospitality, enhancing the state’s global appeal Penang’s tourism sector and this underscores our goal of providing a world-class wellness hospitality experience which enhances the reputation of Penang as a global travel destination. We both share a commitment to offering guests an experience and residents a life like no other and The Westin is known around the world to offer the gold standard of hospitality”, said Westfield Global Sdn Bhd group managing director Datuk Yeoh Yih Sean. The hotel is anticipated to be Marriott International’s fourth Westin in Malaysia, in addition to The Westin Kuala Lumpur, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa.

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 16 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON Malaysian Paper INSTAGRAM TOKYO: Japan announced up to ¥590 billion (RM18.5 billion) in fresh subsidies yesterday for next-generation semiconductor venture Rapidus, as it seeks to become a big player in the chip sector again. Motivated by geopolitical concerns surrounding Taiwan, Japan is vying with the United States and Europe to attract chipmakers with massive subsidies ahead of a predicted revolution in artificial intelligence. Rapidus involves a host of Japanese firms including Sony and Toyota, and is collaborating with US giant IBM with the aim of mass-producing two-nanometre logic chips in Japan from 2027. The world’s biggest chipmakers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), are racing to reach full production for their 2nm-process chips, which will be installed in everything from smartphones to AI hardware. “The Rapidus project is extremely important (as it concerns) state-of-the-art semiconductors that can influence the competitiveness of Japan’s industry as a whole,” Japanese Economy Ministry official Hidemichi Shimizu told reporters. Tokyo has already said it is making up to ¥4 trillion in state sweeteners available to help triple the sales of domestically produced chips to more than ¥15 trillion by 2030. Rapidus, which began building its facility in the Hokkaido region in September, had already secured ¥330 billion in public money in addition to the ¥590 billion announced yesterday. Tokyo is hoping to bring back the 1980s glory days when Japanese firms such as Toshiba and NEC dominated the microchip market. Competition from South Korea and Taiwan saw Japan’s global market share slump from more than 50% to around 10 %. In February, chip behemoth TSMC opened a new US$8.6 billion (RM41 billion) factory on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. The Japanese government pledged to pay more than 40% of the costs for the facility. Lured by more Japanese government support, TSMC has announced a second facility, which will make more advanced chips, and is reportedly eyeing a third and possibly a fourth. Others getting state funds include Japan’s Kioxia and Micron of the United States. TSMC’s new facility is also part of a push by the firm to diversify production away from Taiwan. China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and has not ruled out taking it by force. TSMC is building a second factory in the US state of Arizona and plans another in Germany, its first in Europe. But despite the US government offering subsidies of US$52.7 billion for the sector, the Arizona facility has been delayed and has seen disputes with unions. The new TSMC plant in Japan took a relatively short 22 months to build, earning praise from the firm’s founder Morris Chang, 92, who made a rare overseas trip to open the plant. However, there are concerns about whether Japan, whose population is the world’s second oldest and is shrinking, will have enough workers. – AFP Country Garden shares suspended HONG KONG: Trading in debt-ridden Chinese property developer Country Garden was suspended in Hong Kong yesterday, days after it postponed the release of its 2023 results. The firm is among a number of China’s largest developers battered by a crisis in the country’s property sector and struggling under a mountain of debt, fuelling concerns about the stability of the world’s second-largest economy. “At the request of the company, trading in the shares of the company on the stock exchange will be suspended ... pending publication of the 2023 annual results,” Country Garden said in a Hong Kong exchange filing. The real estate behemoth last Thursday postponed the expected release of its 2023 results, saying it “needs to collect more information to make appropriate accounting estimates and judgements”. “Due to the continuous volatility of the industry, the operating environment the group (is) confronting is becoming increasingly complex,“ the statement added. Chinese property firms Modern Land, Central China Management and Ronshine China were among several other firms whose shares were also suspended in Hong Kong. Country Garden in 2022 suffered its first full-year loss – more than six billion yuan (RM4 billion) – since listing in 2007. The company has defaulted on offshore payments and is facing a winding-up petition in Hong Kong. The petition, filed in February, came weeks after Hong Kong’s High Court granted a similar petition against developer Evergrande, kickstarting its offshore assets liquidation and management replacement. Country Garden has incurred debts estimated in June at 1.36 trillion yuan. – AFP Japan chip venture handed ¥590 billion subsidies oTokyo hoping to bring back 1980s glory days of semiconductor dominance Hong Kong leads Asian markets higher HONG KONG: Stocks in Hong Kong rallied yesterday as traders returned from an extended weekend break to forecast-beating Chinese factory data that lifted hopes for the world’s number-two economy. However, a stronger-than-expected reading on US manufacturing and prices paid kept sentiment in check for other Asian markets and sparked questions about the Federal Reserve’s timeline for cutting interest rates. Focus is now turning to the release of US jobs figures at the end of the week, which could have a bearing on the central bank’s decision-making in light of a recent batch of above-par inflation readings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was the standout, piling on 2% on the first day of trading since Thursday as investors cheered data showing China’s manufacturing grew more than forecast last month. The news suggested the economy may have turned a corner after struggling for more than a year since the lifting of zero-Covid measures, though observers are still hoping for more stimulus measures and support for the troubled property sector. Chinese consumer tech giant Xiaomi led gains in Hong Kong, soaring as much as 15% on news that orders for its first electric vehicle – launched in Beijing last Thursday – had topped estimates. The firm got close to 90,000 orders for the SU7 within 24 hours of the launch, Bloomberg News reported, adding that some had predicted it could become as popular as Tesla’s Model 3 EV. Other Asian markets were mixed. Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei stayed in positive territory but Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Manila, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta slipped. London and Frankfurt opened with gains, while Paris was down. Markets are now pricing in about 65 basis points of cuts this year, lower than the Fed’s guidance of 75 points. Interactive Brokers senior economist Jose Torres said: “Investors are indeed front-running the possibility of yet another hawkish pivot from the Fed. “The Fed’s first rate cut may arrive in the second half of the year after all – with probabilities of a reduction this June inching closer to coin-flip odds.” – AFP Tesla set to reclaim top EV seller title from BYD BEIJING: BYD, China’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) maker, reported that its first quarter 2024 sales fell 43% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, which may mean it will hand back the title of world’s biggest EV seller to Tesla after winning it last year. BYD sold 300,114 EVs in the first quarter of this year, it said in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange late on Monday, down 43% from a record quarterly high of 526,409 units sold in the previous three-month period, when it surpassed Tesla. First-quarter sales were up 13.4% from a year ago. But, the quarterly drop may mean Tesla will take back the sales title, based on forecasts for record sales of 458,500 vehicles in the quarter to March 31, per analysts polled by Visible Alpha. Tesla is set to report first-quarter sales today. Tesla’s Q1 estimate is down more than 5% from the previous three months amid softer overall demand and a slowdown in the Chinese market where local rivals led by BYD upped the ante in a price war for buyers. Tesla taking back the sales crown illustrates its global clout will not be easily challenged, especially as both companies expect a slowdown in Chinese EV sales growth this year. It also demonstrates that BYD’s short-lived dominance followed from its domestic price cuts. BYD sold 626,263 units of all vehicle types in the first quarter, up 13.4% from a year earlier, but down 33.7% from a record quarterly high of 944,779 in the fourth quarter. March sales were 302,459 vehicles, a 46% jump from a year earlier and its second-highest monthly sales tally. BYD reported an all-time monthly high of 341,043 units in December. Sales of its purely electric models hit 139,902 in March, a 36.3% increase year-on-year, while sales of plug-in hybrids rose 56.4% to 161,729 units. – Reuters Employees assembling automated guided vehicles at a Lonyu Robot Company factory in the China city of Tianjin. – REUTERSPIC

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 17 Pre-election rally eludes Indian stocks South Asia’s jobs creation lags population growth COLOMBO: Job creation in South Asian economies is not keeping pace with the rise in the working age population, putting the region on a path that risks “squandering its demographic dividend”, the World Bank said yesterday. “The danger is the demographic dividend is missed. Its squandered,” said World Bank chief economist for South Asia Franziska Ohnsorge. “If only they can be employed. It’s a fantastic opportunity to grow but until recently employment ratios have been falling.” During the period between 2000 and 2023, employment grew 1.7% a year while the working-age population expanded 1.9% a year, data included in the report showed. In absolute terms, the region created an average of 10 million jobs a year when the working-age population was growing by an average of 19 million a year. The World Bank expects output growth in South Asia at 6% to 6.1% in the financial year ending March 31, 2025, largely due to strong growth in India where the economy is seen expanding at 6.6%. India’s central bank forecasts stronger growth of 7% during this period. In India, growth has rebounded strongly after the pandemic, driven by government spending and more recently the construction industry but private investment has remained weak, hurting job creation. Between 2000 and 2022, the employment ratio in India declined more than any other South Asian country except Nepal, but preliminary data suggests a rebound in 2023 that partially reversed the earlier decline, said the World Bank. “Overall, employment growth was well below the average working-age population growth and the employment ratio declined.” The World Bank, in its report, said South Asian nations need to address several policy weaknesses to accelerate job creation. These include policies that encourage productive firms to hire workers, streamline labour and land market regulations and greater openness to international trade. – Reuters Thai Cabinet approves plan to raise 2025 Budget deficit BANGKOK: Thailand’s Cabinet approved a plan to increase next year’s Budget deficit by 152.7 billion baht (RM19.8 billion), a senior official said yesterday, a move aimed at stimulating an economy lagging its peers in the region. The revision would bring next year’s Budget to 3.752 trillion baht, up from 3.6 trillion previously planned, director of the Budget bureau Chalermphol Pensoot told reporters. The announcement comes as the government seeks funding sources for its signature 500 billion baht “digital wallet” scheme, a one-time giveaway of 10,000 baht to 50 million Thais to be spent in their communities. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy needed major stimulus and the handout plan could get it out of a “crisis”. Last month, the government said it would adjust the 2025 budget to accommodate the digital wallet, a key campaign promise of the ruling Pheu Thai party. It has been delayed to the fourth quarter this year due to funding issues. Chalermphol said the budget would be used to stimulate the economy but did not specify if it would be used to fund the digital wallet programme. Some experts have called it policy fiscally irresponsible and that fixing Thailand’s economy requires addressing structural problems. – Reuters NEW DELHI: With weeks to go before India starts voting in a general election that the incumbent government is widely expected to win, Indian equity markets are uncharacteristically languid and not seeing the traditional pre-election rally. Analysts say this time is different, pointing to a stellar rally in the past year, rich valuations and uncertainties around political issues such as corruption and electoral funding as factors giving investors reason to pause. The Nifty index has climbed over 30% over the past year, the second biggest gain among Asian indexes, but has faltered this month. Abhisekh Goenka, founder and CEO of wealth management firm IFA Global, said stocks had been weighed down by profit-taking at the financial year end in March and political factors. Parliamentary elections will be held in phases from April 19 to June 1. The consensus is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition to win the elections. But a string of recent developments including disclosures on political funding for Modi’s party, and other tax and corruption charges against parties in the Congress-led opposition alliance have cast doubts over whether Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can get a resounding victory. “The uncertainty will loom till election results are out, and as widely expected, if BJP sweeps the polls, we expect a further breakout rally in the equities,” Goenka said. Historically, Indian equities have started strong in election years, with the Nifty index averaging a 5.2% return in the first quarter of the previous three election cycles. However, the index saw only a modest 2.7% increase in the same period this year. Foreign capital inflows have also dried up. In contrast to the US$3.08 billion received from foreign investors in the first quarter of the past three election years on average, the inflow has dwindled to just US$1.33 billion in the same period this year. “Heading into elections, we could see some volatility amongst specific areas of the Indian market, such as small-cap stocks, which have rallied over 54% over the past 12 months,” Malcolm Dorson, senior portfolio oEquity markets uncharacteristically languid with weeks to go before general election manager and head of emerging markets strategy at Global X ETFs. “Prices have moved ahead of earnings momentum, making some of these names more vulnerable to headline risk.” However, the Nifty Volatility index, commonly known as India’s VIX, is trading around 12, its lowest in the run-up to the election compared to the last three cycles. Not everyone is apprehensive. Investors betting on India’s strong growth say its stock market is more appealing than that of other emerging markets. Martin Schulz, head of the international equity group at Federated Hermes, said he has increased allocation to India in the fund’s investment strategies over the past year, reaching 16% of its emerging markets strategy funds. Fitch revised its economic growth projections for India upward for this fiscal year and next, citing robust domestic demand and continued growth in business and consumer confidence. Earnings prospects also look strong, with LSEG SmartEstimates data indicating a 26.8% net profit growth for India’s large and mid-cap companies this year, compared with Asia’s average profit growth of 14%. “Polls expect a Modi victory, which would suggest economic continuity and act as a catalyst for positive flows,” said Dorson. – Reuters Central Reserve Police Force personnel standing guard along a street ahead of the general election in the city of Amritsar. – AFPPIC Hyundai Motor ends Indonesia aluminium agreement SEOUL: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co and PT Adaro Minerals Indonesia Tbk have ended an aluminium supply agreement after calls by a climate campaigner backed by K-pop fans not to procure supplies of the metal produced using coal power. Millions of young K-pop fans have thrown their considerable weight at times behind various global campaigns and social causes, often using social media. Hyundai Motor said in a statement yesterday that it had ended its non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Adaro, a unit of Indonesia’s second-largest coal miner Adaro Energy Indonesia, at the end of 2023, adding that the companies had decided to explore other opportunities independently. Wito Krisnahadi, director of PT Adaro Minerals Indonesia, also confirmed the companies had decided not to renew the agreement following its expiry. The South Korean automaker signed the MoU with Adaro Minerals in 2022 to secure the right to purchase aluminium produced by Adaro’s subsidiary PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry. At the time of the signing, Hyundai said it expected to procure aluminium from Adaro that meets the automaker’s carbon neutralisation policy amid growing demand for aluminium among global automakers. Smelting aluminium requires huge amounts of energy and when using coal produces large volumes of carbon emissions. Adaro plans to power the third phase of its aluminium smelter project with a hydropower plant its group is currently building. The climate activist group Kpop4Planet that had been calling for an end to Hyundai’s aluminium agreement welcomed the decision by the carmaker. “It is the victory of thousands of K-pop fans who genuinely care about the climate crisis, especially in Indonesia,” Kpop4Planet told Reuters, adding that it will continue to monitor Hyundai’s sourcing of materials for its manufacturing. – Reuters

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 18 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper IKEA Foundation backs emerging market EV push LONDON: A global initiative to accelerate electric vehicle uptake has received a US$100 million funding boost from the IKEA Foundation to help developing countries bypass gasoline-driven vehicles and go straight to the greener alternative. The Drive Electric Campaign, whose charitable investors also include the European Climate Foundation, said the IKEA Foundation’s latest funding donation would be used to help support lobbying efforts and campaign for the EV transition in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia under an initiative to be called the “Leapfrogging Partnership”. The world’s emerging economies are set to account for the bulk of growth in demand for cars, trucks, buses and two- or three-wheeled vehicles by 2050, and the hope is that investing in the countries now can help ensure the growth is all electric. “Road transportation accounts for roughly 15% of energy related greenhouse gas emissions so if we are serious about a global transition towards 1.5°C of global warming then we cannot reduce emissions without it,” IKEA Foundation’s portfolio manager for the real economy Edgar van de Brug told Reuters. The grant, one of the IKEA Foundation’s largest ever charitable donations, will support local partners working to tackle key barriers to expansion like limited charging infrastructure and a lack of EV-friendly policies, as they seek to create better market conditions to unlock public and private finance, he added. Collectively, the grant could help save around 43 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by 2050 in countries including Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and South Africa, Drive Electric Campaign said. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving clean air, EVs can also benefit the wider economy by accelerating battery development, driving down costs and improving storage capacity, van de Brug said. “Electrification of road transportation is one of the super leverage points... that could help reduce emissions in more than 10 sectors of our economy,” he said. Drive Electric programme director Rebecca Fisher said the broader societal benefits of moving to electric were also marked. “We know that communities are already experiencing the benefits of e-mobility, from delivery drivers saving money on fuel to public transit workers breathing cleaner air. “Now is the time to supercharge the momentum of EV innovation with ambitious public policy, business leadership, and strong partnerships.” – Reuters Google to delete incognito search data SAN FRANCISCO: Google has agreed to delete a vast trove of search data to settle a suit that it tracked millions of US users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. If a proposed settlement filed on Monday in San Francisco Federal Court is approved by a judge, Google must “delete and/or remediate billions of data records” linked to people using the Chrome browser’s incognito mode, according to court documents. oSettlement will let tech giant avoid trial in privacy suit “This settlement is an historic step in requiring dominant technology companies to be honest in their representations to users about how the companies collect and employ user data, and to delete and remediate data collected,” lawyer David Boies said in the filing. A hearing is slated for July 30 before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is to decide whether to approve the deal that would let Google avoid a trial in the class-action suit. The settlement calls for no cash damages to be paid but leaves an option for Chrome users who feel they were wronged to sue Google separately to get money. The suit originally filed in June of 2020 sought at least US$5 billion (RM24 billion) in damages. “We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless,” Google spokesman Jorge Castaneda said in a statement. “We are happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalisation.” The object of the lawsuit was the “Incognito Mode” in the Chrome browser that plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm. But internal Google e-mails brought forward in the lawsuit demonstrated that users using incognito mode were being followed by the search and advertising behemoth for measuring web traffic and selling ads. The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google’s practices had infringed on users’ privacy by intentionally deceiving them with the incognito option. The original complaint alleged that Google had been given the “power to learn intimate details about individuals’ lives, interests, and internet usage”. “Google has made itself an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it,” it added. The settlement requires Google, for the next five years, to block third-party tracking “cookies” by default in Incognito Mode. Third-party cookies are small files which are used to target advertising by tracking web navigation and are placed by visited sites and not by the browser itself. Google earlier this year began limiting third-party cookies for some users of its Chrome browser, a first step towards eventually abandoning the files that have raised privacy concerns. Google announced in January 2020 that it would begin eliminating third-party cookies within two years, but the start has been delayed several times amid opposition from web media publishers. Cookies have recently been subject to greater regulation, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation introduced in 2016 as well as regulations in California. – AFP Judge approves 3M deal with water suppliers on ‘forever chemicals’ NEW YORK: US conglomerate 3M’s settlement with public water suppliers received final court approval, the company announced on Monday, clearing the way for billions of dollars to test for and filter out dangerous chemicals. District Judge Richard Gergel last Friday gave final approval to a US class-action settlement in which 3M agreed to pay as much as US$12.5 billion to resolve litigation over polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are often called “forever chemicals”. In his order, Gergel cited figures from a court-appointed official who said that just 7.5% of the class opted out of the agreement. 3M cited “overwhelming” support for the deal. “This is yet another important step forward for 3M as we continue to deliver on our priorities,” said chief executive Mike Roman. “The final approval of this settlement and continued progress toward exiting all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 will further our efforts to reduce risk and uncertainty as we move forward.” 3M said previously it was accounting for US$10.3 billion over 13 years. Funds will go to public water suppliers for PFAS treatment technologies and nationwide testing for PFAS. Found in everyday products such as non-stick frying pans and waterproof clothing, PFAS can linger in the environment for a long time and have been linked to serious health conditions including cancer and birth defects. Attorneys had alleged that 3M and other manufacturers sold PFAS-containing products when they knew of potential health and environmental problems. 3M did not admit liability in the case. Michael London, a lead attorney in the class-action suit from Douglas and London, said the settlement represented the largest ever for clean water. “It’s an enormous step and it comes after years of litigation. “It is a great deal and it helps get money to these water districts who need it.”– AFP US manufacturing expands for first time since September 2022 WASHINGTON: US manufacturing expanded last month for the first time since September 2022, according to industry data published on Monday, with positive demand and strong output helping to snap 16 straight months of contraction. The data underscores the enduring strength of the US economy despite elevated interest rates, which is good news for Joe Biden as he seeks to talk up his record ahead of the November presidential election. But it also highlights the challenges the US Federal Reserve faces as it debates when to start cutting interest rates in a way that does not cause a fresh surge in inflation. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its manufacturing index hit 50.3% last month, pushing it above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction. This was sharply above February’s figure of 47.8%, and was also higher than market expectations of continued contraction, according to Briefing.com. “Demand was positive, output strengthened and inputs remained accommodative,” ISM survey chief Timothy Fiore said in a statement explaining why the manufacturing sector returned to growth. “Demand remains at the early stages of recovery, with clear signs of improving conditions,” he continued, adding production execution had surged. “Suppliers continue to have capacity but are showing signs of struggling, due in large part to their raw material supply chains.” Four of the six largest manufacturing industries, including food, beverage and tobacco products, registered growth in March, according to Fiore, helping to push the overall economy into its 47th straight month of expansion. Meanwhile, the ISM’s services index decelerated slightly last month, while continuing its expansion for a 14th consecutive month. “There was plenty to like in the March ISM manufacturing report,” Oxford Economics US economist Matthew Martin told clients. “Comments from panelists in March paint a rosy picture, with strong demand and expectations for improvement.” – AFP A General Motors assembly worker loading engine block castings on to the assembly line at the GM Romulus Powertrain plant in the US state of Michigan. – REUTERSPIC

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 19 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) PETGAS 17.84 -0.42 6,548 UTDPLT 23.64 -0.34 3,885 HSI-HS8 0.695 -0.295 150 HEIM 23.5 -0.2 437 HSI-HSZ 0.465 -0.165 18,601 HSI-HUT 0.635 -0.16 950 SAM 4.74 -0.16 4,288 HSI-HS2 0.465 -0.155 102,102 AIRPORT 9.64 -0.12 51,451 HSI-HSK 0.15 -0.115 2,720 HSI-HUF 0.3 -0.115 80 HSI-HUN 0.38 -0.115 9,600 RADIUM-CC 0.035 -0.115 15,200 HSI-HSY 0.155 -0.11 1,037,345 HSI-HUK 0.3 -0.1 3,492 DJIA-CE 0.245 -0.085 200 HSI-HUQ 0.255 -0.085 2,950 GREATEC-C8 0.07 -0.08 2,000 HSI-HUS 0.22 -0.08 20,000 LYSAGHT 2.4 -0.08 11 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/-(RM) +/-(%) VOLUME HSI-CVE 0.165 +0.045 +37.50 2,133,104 HSI-HUE 0.14 -0.035 -20.00 2,008,401 HSI-HSL 0.045 -0.03 -40.00 1,597,113 ALPHA 0.33 +0.005 +1.54 1,251,044 HSI-CVB 0.17 +0.045 +36.00 1,114,415 HSI-HSY 0.155 -0.11 -41.51 1,037,345 AZRB 0.25 +0.030 +13.64 836,515 WIDAD 0.08 -0.005 -5.88 765,084 AZRB-WA 0.02 +0.015 +300.00 757,273 SNS 0.33 +0.040 +13.79 729,034 ZANTAT 0.505 +0.015 +3.06 657,166 HSI-HSM 0.01 -0.01 -50.00 548,052 PANDA 0.315 +0.020 +6.78 518,494 EMCC 0.54 +0.015 +2.86 451,859 TWL 0.03 - - 445,065 VELESTO 0.3 +0.005 +1.69 370,122 NCT 0.51 +0.060 +13.33 361,872 MINETEC 0.165 +0.010 +6.45 343,384 HSI-HSW 0.11 -0.07 -38.89 334,075 TOPGLOV 0.825 +0.025 +3.13 333,570 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 2 [ 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 11,640.40 +31.83 FBMKLCI 1,547.99 +3.97 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 579.70 +4.51 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 179.84 -0.21 CONSTRUCTION 221.07 -0.29 FINANCIAL SERVICES 17,360.40 +25.15 ENERGY 956.92 +4.37 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 593.75 -0.23 HEALTH CARE 1,979.24 +29.72 TRANSPORTATION 1,001.86 +0.18 PROPERTY 1,002.52 -3.80 PLANTATION 7,310.65 -5.77 FBMSHA 11,733.90 +53.06 FBMACE 4,947.80 +45.72 TECHNOLOGY 65.04 +0.27 TURNOVER: 4.530 bil VALUE: RM2.821 bil Top 20 Actives Top 20 Losers (By RM) Bursa Indices INDEX CLOSING DAILY DAILY CHANGE CHANGE (%) DDJIA (US) 39,566.85 -240.52 -0.6 S&P 500 (US) 5,243.77 -10.58 -0.2 NASDAQ (US) 16,396.83 17.37 0.11 NYSE (US) 18,216.20 -96.47 -0.53 EURO STOXX 50 (EUR) 5,101.54 18.12 0.36 FTSE 100 (UK) 7,977.48 24.86 0.31 DAX (GER) 18,492.95 0.46 0 NIKKEI 225 (JPN) 39,838.91 35.82 0.09 TOPIX INDEX (JPN) 2,714.45 -6.77 -0.25 HANG SENG INDEX (HK) 16,931.52 390.1 2.36 CSI 300 (CHN) 3,580.68 -14.97 -0.42 MSCI ASIA PACIFIC 176.88 0.59 0.33 SHANGHAI SE COM (CHN) 3,074.96 -2.42 -0.08 KOSPI INDEX (SK) 2,753.16 5.3 0.19 SENSEX INDEX (IND) 73,821.75 -192.8 -0.26 ASX 200 (AUS) 7,887.87 -8.99 -0.11 ALL ORDINARIES INDX (AUS) 8,145.78 -7.97 -0.1 FBM KLCI 1,547.99 3.97 0.26 STRAITS TIMES INDEX (S’PORE) 3,247.72 12.83 0.4 WTI (US$/BBL.) 85.14 1.43 1.71 BRENT (US$/BBL.) 88.84 1.42 1.62 GOLD (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 2,282.40 25.3 1.12 SILVER (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 25.81 0.74 2.94 PLATINUM (US$/T OZ) 915.22 9.46 1.04 COPPER (COMEX) (US CENTS/LB.) 408.6 3.75 0.93 COPPER 3MO (LME) (US$/MT) 8,867.00 17.5 0.2 CORN (US CENTS/BU.) 434.25 -1.25 -0.29 WHEAT (US CENTS/BU.) 552.5 -4.5 -0.81 SOYBEAN OIL (CBOT) (US CENTS/LB.) 48.5 0.26 0.54 COCOA (ICE) (US$/MT) 10,210.00 90 0.89 RUBBER (S’PORE) (US CENTS/KG) 164.9 -1.6 -0.96 World Stocks/Commodities as at 5pm, April 2 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) RADIUM-CC 0.035 -76.67 15,200 HSI-CT3 0.005 -66.67 70 UOADEV-CZ 0.01 -60.00 1,000 GREATEC-C8 0.07 -53.33 2,000 ARMADA-C87 0.01 -50.00 1,000 BORNOIL-WD 0.005 -50.00 1,825 BORNOIL 0.005 -50.00 102,267 EDUSPEC-WB 0.005 -50.00 3,343 FBMKLCI-HMU 0.01 -50.00 19,850 FINTEC 0.005 -50.00 2,217 FITTERS-WC 0.005 -50.00 19,039 HKEX-CO 0.035 -50.00 333 HSI-HP9 0.055 -50.00 1,000 HSI-HSM 0.01 -50.00 548,052 PERMAJU-PA 0.005 -50.00 1,000 XOX-PA 0.005 -50.00 10 HSI-HSX 0.05 -47.06 235,192 HSI-HSK 0.15 -43.40 2,720 PMETAL-C99 0.085 -43.33 200 HSI-HUA 0.035 -41.67 33,840 Top 20 Losers (By %) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) DLADY 33.5 +1.000 1,212 NESTLE 119.1 +1.000 931 PANAMY 19.08 +0.980 734 F&N 30.1 +0.720 1,555 AJI 19.34 +0.560 541 PETDAG 22.28 +0.480 3,367 GESHEN 3.88 +0.350 6,182 AMWAY 7.65 +0.240 857 CARLSBG 18.7 +0.220 2,732 KLK 22.8 +0.220 12,102 SUNWAY-C16 0.47 +0.220 301 HLIND 10.66 +0.200 665 CHINAETF-MYR 4.41 +0.140 116 HSI-CVV 0.63 +0.135 8,301 AEONCR 6.48 +0.130 6,072 HARTA 2.82 +0.130 37,926 YOCB 1.98 +0.130 1,193 HSI-CV5 0.54 +0.125 250 KLCI2XL 2.055 +0.125 26 HARISON 9.12 +0.120 15 Top 20 Gainers (By RM) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) AZRB-WA 0.02 +300.00 757,273 PINGAN-C21 0.11 +266.67 2,915 CNASIA-WA 0.01 +100.00 32 KGROUP 0.01 +100.00 13,616 MNC-WB 0.01 +100.00 60 MYEG-C5S 0.01 +100.00 10,000 SUNWAY-C16 0.47 +88.00 301 AEM-WB 0.025 +66.67 100 PETDAG-C8 0.025 +66.67 27 XIAOMI-C29 0.115 +64.29 400 MRDIY-C23 0.14 +55.56 14,367 MPI-C3 0.115 +53.33 260 CHEETAH-WA 0.015 +50.00 1 COMPUGT 0.015 +50.00 10,006 FOCUS 0.015 +50.00 1,110 HSI-CTK 0.09 +50.00 269,010 KLK-C29 0.045 +50.00 550 PARAMON-WA 0.015 +50.00 1,390 PUC-WA 0.015 +50.00 654 RHBBANKC51 0.03 +50.00 24,600 Top 20 Gainers (By %) Bursa ends higher for third day running on better sentiment BURSA Malaysia ended higher for a third consecutive day yesterday in tandem with the improving sentiment across the region, said an analyst. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI gained 3.97 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 1,547.99 from Monday’s close of 1,544.02. The benchmark index, which opened 0.49 of-a-point lower at 1,543.53, moved between 1,540.77 and 1,550.99 throughout the trading session. On the broader market, gainers beat losers at 583 to 506, with 446 counters unchanged, 748 untraded, and 13 others suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.15 billion units valued at RM2.81 billion from 3.16 billion units worth RM2.13 billion on Monday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the key regional indices trended higher with Hong Kong stocks leading the gains due to strong buying on Xiaomi’s shares after the consumer electronics company began taking orders for its newly launched electric vehicle. In the commodities market, the Brent crude oil and palm oil futures remained elevated and it is believed that this offers an opportunity for investors as short-term play. Among the heavyweights, Sime Darby advanced 9 sen to RM2.68, Petronas Dagangan bagged 48 sen to RM22.28, Telekom Malaysia increased 11 sen to RM6.10, YTL Power International rose 6 sen to RM3.97, and MRDIY added 2 sen to RM1.51. For most actives, Alpha IVF Group edged up half-a-sen to 33 sen, Ahmad Zaki Resources gained 3 sen to 25 sen, SNS Network was 4 sen firmer at 33 sen, Zantat rose 1.5 sen to 50.5 sen, and Widad eased half-a-sen to 8 sen. – Bernama 1,547.99pts April 2, 2024 Participation 22.62 44.31 33.07 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 611.59 1209.62 1000.29 2821.50 Sold RM m 664.57 1290.95 865.98 2821.50 Net RM m -52.98 -81.33 134.31 0.0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 2/4/2024

BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 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. INDUSTRY-BLENDED ASPs have held up at US$20 (RM94.50) per 1,000 pieces from US$19-20 previously (although nitrile ASP was relatively lower, at US$17-18 vs latex glove at US$20). According to our channel checks, Chinese glove makers’ ASPs are expected to increase to US$16-17 from US$15-16. The continued narrowing of the ASP gap means the prolonged price war is approaching its tail-end – allowing Malaysian manufacturers to compete via product quality rather than price. Malaysia’s gloves export volume spiked 6% m-o-m (+2% y-o-y) in Feb 2024, continuing its m-o-m growth for two consecutive months. Export value grew 7% m-o-m (+11% y-o-y), with m-o-m growth surpassing export volume growth – indicating that cost passthrough is picking up gradually. Meanwhile, China glove exports contracted 15% m-o-m in February, following a 4% m-o-m growth in January. We maintain our 2024 global glove demand growth of 7%, premised on the recovery of glove restocking activities in 2H24. Following a period of consolidation, we estimate the global glove effective capacity to be reduced by 53.4 billion in 2023 (with 40 billion, 13 billion, 3 billion, and 5 billion from Top Glove, Hartalega (HART MK, BUY, TP:RM3), Kossan Rubber (KRI MK, BUY, TP:RM2.20), and Supermax Corp (SUCB MK, BUY, TP:RM1.03); offset by 3 billion in newly-added capacity from Chinese glove makers i.e. Intco Medical Technology and 4.6bn in planned capacity expansions from Thailand. We expect a marginal change in the global industry supply to 2 billion planned capacity replenishment by HART (commissioning of NGC 1.5 production line by 2H24) and 1.1 billion planned capacity by Sri Trang Gloves. Maintain NEUTRAL with new RM0.83 TP from RM0.93, 4% upside. MISC has secured three time-charter contracts for assets named Polaris Five, Polaris Six, and Polaris Seven with QatarEnergy, covering a firm period of 15 years starting from 2026. These three LNG vessels will be constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries. We estimate that the DCR for each of the three vessels could be around US$120,000 (RM567,000), at a slight premium to recent market rates to reflect bigger ship capacity. The potential capex for the three vessels is estimated at US$780 million, based on the latest market price and referencing the capacity of 165,000 cbm from MISC’s Feb 2024 monthly newsletter, similar to the ship capacity for its 2022 contract win from QatarEnergy. The latest vessel investment will increase MISC’s net gearing of 0.26x as at end-Dec 2023 to 0.35x which is still highly manageable. Assuming an 80:20 debt-to-equity ratio and a 75% EBITDA margin, the three new vessels will contribute RM75 million net profit annually, accounting for 4% of FY24F earnings. We do not foresee any issues with project execution given its involvement in a similar contract for QatarEnergy as part of a consortium that includes MISC, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, and China LNG Shipping. We like MISC due to: (i) recent fleet expansion and modernisation, (ii) success in securing mega FPSO projects (i.e. Mero-3) and new contracts from international clients, and (iii) margin expansion coupled with improved earnings visibility following diversification into less commoditised specialised vessels However, incoming FPSO Mero 3 project’s execution risks remain high particularly when final acceptance is expected to approach in Q4 C24. We maintain our forecasts but lift our TP by 2% to RM7.69 (from RM7.51) and maintain our MARKET PERFORM call. WE recently visited Karex’s manufacturing plant in Hat Yai, Thailand, which reinforces our optimism on its outlook. The plant is the largest of KAREX’s total four plants with the remaining in Port Klang, Pontian, and Senai, Malaysia. This Thai plant boasts 25 manufacturing lines with a capacity of 2.5 billion pieces annually. It employs approximately 1.5k Thai workers, making up about 44% of KAREX’s total workforce. Note that, the group has zero migrant worker in both its Thai and Malaysian plants, which will spare it from forced labour issues that plagued certain glove producers in recent years. In addition, the plant has also initiated two nitrile glove lines, being part of its plan to eventually boast an annual capacity of 500 million pieces. Synthetic condoms pending CE certification. KAREX remains upbeat on its high-margin new product, i.e. synthetic condoms, which is thinner (and thus require less material to produce) with improved heat sensitivity (which may boost customer satisfaction resulting in repeat purchases). It is currently engaging with key OEM clients with a product launch targeted in FY25. It remains hopeful to secure CE certification (compliance with EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements) by June 2024, followed by US FDA approval in 1H FY25. KAREX is enhancing efficiency in its tender business (which accounted for c.16% to the group’s 1H FY24 turnover) by automating testing process to handle standardised client orders. The firm has already deployed five automated electronic testing machines in its plants in Thailand and Klang. Additionally, a planned 2.5MW solar installation at its Thai plant is expected to reduce the plant’s energy bills by 30% to 50%. We maintain our forecasts, TP of RM1.06 and OUTPERFORM call. FOREIGN CURRENCY SELLING TT/OD BUYING TT BUYING OD 1 US Dollar 4.8130 4.6800 4.6700 1 Australian Dollar 3.1430 3.0200 3.0040 1 Brunei Dollar 3.5580 3.4560 3.4480 1 Canadian Dollar 3.5450 3.4510 3.4390 1 Euro 5.1770 5.0120 4.9920 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.8770 2.7730 2.7570 1 Singapore Dollar 3.5580 3.4560 3.4480 1 Sterling Pound 6.0510 5.8620 5.8420 1 Swiss Franc 5.3050 5.1840 5.1690 100 UAE Dirham 132.7000 125.8900 125.6900 100 Bangladesh Taka 4.4720 4.1820 3.9820 100 Chinese Renminbi 67.0600 64.2700 N/A 100 Danish Krone 71.1500 65.5000 65.3000 100 Hongkong Dollar 62.2100 59.1400 58.9400 100 Indian Rupee 5.8700 5.5100 5.3100 100 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0314 0.0284 0.0234 100 Japanese Yen 3.1810 3.0810 3.0710 100 New Taiwan Dollar N/A N/A N/A 100 Norwegian Krone 45.0900 41.5000 41.3000 100 Pakistan Rupee 1.7600 1.6500 1.4500 100 Philippine Peso 8.6900 8.1900 7.9900 100 Qatar Riyal 133.5900 126.8200 126.6200 100 Saudi Riyal 129.8800 123.3000 123.1000 100 South Africa Rand 26.3600 23.8100 23.6100 100 Sri Lanka Rupee 1.6500 1.5200 1.3200 100 Swedish Krona 45.9900 41.9000 41.7000 100 Thai Baht 13.7500 12.2000 11.8000 Exchange Rates Source: Malayan Banking Bhd/Bernama Ringgit ends lower vs greenback amid higher US inflation THE ringgit ended lower against the US dollar as the greenback strengthened further, trading at a multi-month high after yesterday’s economic data pointing that a US inflation was nudging higher, undoing June rate-cut predictions, said an analyst. At 6pm, the ringgit slipped to 4.7515/7535 against the greenback from Monday’s close of 4.7285/7325. SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said the ringgit weakened in line with broader moves in Asia FX and the G-10 space following improved ISM manufacturing data in the US, which bolstered dollar interest rate differentials to their most favourable levels this year. “However, the bad news for the ringgit came from the prices paid component, which rose to 55.8 from 52.5, raising concerns about sticky inflation. “This development reduced the odds of a June Federal Reserve rate cut from 70% to 55%, which was bullish for the US dollar,” he told Bernama. At the close, the ringgit was also traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It depreciated against the euro to 5.1036/1057 from 5.1002/1045 at Monday’s close, weakened vis-a-vis the British pound to 5.9717/9742 from 5.9674/9729, and was also lower versus the Japanese yen at 3.1326/1339 from 3.1232/1260 previously. The ringgit was traded mostly lower against Asean currencies except versus the Thai baht. The local note slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.5134/5151 from 3.5054/5087 at the last close and slid vis-a-vis the Indonesian rupiah to 298.9/299.1 compared to 297.4/297.8 previously. JPG secures approval from SC to list on Main Market JOHOR BHARU: Johor Plantations Group Bhd (JPG), an upstream oil palm plantation company, has obtained approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. Pursuant to the listing, JPG’s initial public offering (IPO) of up to 875 million shares will comprise a public issue of 464 million new shares and an offer for sale of up to 411 million existing shares. Of these 875 million shares, up to 485 million will be made available to Malaysians and foreign institutions, 312.5 million will be allocated to bumiputra investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, 50 million shares will be made available for application by the Malaysian public by way of balloting while the remaining 27.5 million shares will be earmarked for eligible persons who have contributed to the success of the JPG group. JPG’s managing director Mohd Faris Adli Shukery said “With the recent approval for our listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, we are poised to expand into the downstream segment of the plantation business and diversify our product offerings to include specialty oils and fats for food production. This strategic move will enhance our position as a fully integrated oil palm producer and generate additional revenue across the entire value chain. It is also expected to generate positive shareholder value, reflecting our commitment to long-term wealth creation for our investors. With this in mind, we will strategically utilise part of our IPO proceeds to construct an integrated sustainable palm oil complex while ensuring business continuity through disciplined replanting strategies. Given our reputable track record, we are confident in our future growth trajectory and will remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver excellence while adhering to sustainable plantation practices.” Karex Bhd Outperform. Target price: RM1.06 MISC Bhd Market Perform. Target price: RM7.69 Top Glove Corporation Bhd Neutral. Target price: RM0.83 Source: RHB Research Source: Kenanga Research April 2, 2024: RM7.73 Source: Kenanga Research April 2, 2024: RM0.825 April 2, 2024: RM0.81

INSIDE Eid fashion fashion Step out in tep out in style this Raya. tyle this Raya. - P22 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 WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 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 23 Retro chic with classic sneakers p 24 Chanel’s film noir inspiration p 25 Doja Cat announces new single – NURGALLERYPIC INSIDE p 26 Joker 2 set for musical stage

LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 22 READ OUR HERE /thesun Malaysian Paper EID AL-FITR is a joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims worldwide, marking the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, reflection and spiritual growth. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting and expressing gratitude. One of the highlights of this festive season is, of course, donning traditional attire, which for many Malaysian men means adorning the elegant and timeless classic baju Melayu. The Baju Melayu holds a special place in Malaysian culture, embodying tradition, heritage and a sense of identity. Its origins can be traced back to the Malay historical era, where it was worn by nobility and commoners alike. Over time, it has evolved into a symbol of Malay cultural pride and is often worn during significant cultural and religious events, including Eid al-Fitr. Despite the surge in modern Raya clothing trends, there are still those who deeply appreciate traditional styles, valuing their timeless charm and cultural significance. Here theSun highlights the various styles of traditional Baju Melayu that the men folk can don this festive season. Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga The Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga, also known as Baju Melayu Johor, has its roots in Teluk Belanga, a place in Singapore, and is closely associated with the Johor Sultanate back in the old days. Suitable for both men and women, the Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga features a hip-length hemline for men and a knee-length hemline for women. While men’s shirts typically include three pockets (one at the top and two at the bottom), women’s shirts do not. However, the most distinctive feature of this attire lies in its neckline. The Teluk Belanga shirt has an open, collarless neckline with a single button closure, often embellished with embroidered stitches. Additionally, men complement this outfit with a samping, a sarong worn from the waist to the knees, using the berdagang dalam style, where the sarong is tied underneath the shirt. This attire exudes a casual charm and versatility, suitable for occasions beyond the Raya celebration, serving as a stylish alternative to a longsleeved T-shirt. Baju Melayu Cekak Musang While Baju Melayu Cekak Musang also traces its roots back to Johor, it has gained immense popularity in the northern and central regions of Malaysia. In fact, it stands out as one of the most commonly worn variations of Baju Melayu, cherished for its long standing heritage dating back centuries up until today. The name itself reflects its defining feature – a distinctive standing collar adorned with multiple buttons. Traditionally, the number of buttons, ranging from three to four, holds significance, each carrying its symbolic meaning. Typically, this style of Baju Melayu is paired with a samping worn in the berdagang luar fashion, where the sarong is tied outside of the shirt. The design of the shirt may vary depending on the boutique or tailor, with some featuring three pockets while others have just one situated at the top left. Kurta While kurta may not be native to Malaysia, they have been gaining popularity in recent times, especially during festive occasions like Raya. With its Persian and Indian roots, the kurta has become a timeless fashion staple for events and ceremonies worldwide. Traditionally, a kurta features a long knee-length hemline with side slits and a collarless neckline. It may also include pockets on both sides. However, Malaysians have put their own spin on the kurta, adapting its design to modern tastes. This includes introducing slim-fit variations and experimenting with different necklines, drawing inspiration from traditional Malay attire such as the Teluk Belanga and Cekak Musang styles, or even combining elements of both. The kurta should not be confused with the jubah (cloak), despite their similar long hemlines. While both garments share certain style elements such as their length, they are distinct types of outfits with their own unique characteristics. Baju Melayu Modern Baju Melayu Modern, also known as “slim fit”, is currently trending, especially among the younger generation. This style offers a more streamlined and fitted silhouette compared to traditional Baju Melayu designs. With its sleek and contemporary look, it has become a popular choice for various occasions, reflecting the evolving preferences of modern fashion enthusiasts. Other than that, the inclusion of pockets in modern Baju Melayu varies depending on the designer or tailor. While traditional versions often feature pockets for practicality, many contemporary renditions opt for a pocketless design to achieve a cleaner aesthetic. Nevertheless, all of these choices come down to personal preference and the boutique or tailor’s discretion. Upping the style for Eid oExplore the appeal of traditional Baju Melayu fashion to look sharp this Raya The Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga traces its origins to Johor and is characterised by its unique design elements. – KHATAMPIC Baju Melayu Cekak Musang is one of the most popular Baju Melayu styles, cherished for its centuries-old heritage. –PIC FROM FACEBOOK @BULANGBINTANG A kurta typically has a long knee-length hemline with side slits. – FRENCHCROWNPIC The slim fit design has become popular among today’s youth. – POKOKSPIC █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL

LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 23 Are you ready to samba? WHEN it comes to iconic footwear, the Adidas Samba unquestionably holds its ground as a timeless favourite. Since its inception, these shoes have attained legendary status, and now they are making a remarkable resurgence, dominating the fashion scene with numerous collaborations and endorsements. Renowned not only for its design but also for its array of vibrant colour options, the Adidas Samba offers a variety of choices to suit different tastes. Among these, the white and black Sambas stand out prominently, each with its distinct appeal. In this comparison, we will dive into the world of Adidas Samba sneakers, comparing the white and black versions against each other to assist you in determining which aligns best with your style and preferences. Legacy of Adidas Samba: A brief overview Before diving into the colour showdown, here is a quick trip through the history of the Adidas Samba. Originally crafted for indoor soccer, the Samba boasts a rich heritage dating back to the 1950s. While it has evolved into a lifestyle sneaker, its athletic origins remain intact. The appeal of the Adidas Samba is not just about its history. With two distinct colour options available, these sneakers offer versatility to match different tastes. There is the timeless white version with black stripes and the sleek black version with white stripes. theSun compares the two allowing discerning fashionistas to decide what looks best on them. Cool white The white Adidas Samba is celebrated for its simplicity and adaptability, earning it a cherished status among sneaker aficionados. Moreover, white sneakers have become universal and go well with every outfit. Could this mark the reign of the white regime? A distinctive design element of the white Samba is the three black stripes adorning its sides, serving both as a stylish accent and a representation of the Adidas logo. These stripes create a striking contrast against the clean white leather upper, enhancing the shoe’s aesthetic appeal while also offering additional structural support. Crafted from full-grain leather, the white Samba boasts a premium look and feel, ensuring durability and maintaining its fresh appearance over time. Complementing its classic It is hard to miss the Samba trend these days, as people everywhere are rocking these iconic sneakers in a variety of colours. – PICS BY ADIDAS oExploring the iconic sneaker’s timeless appeal and versatility in this white vs black showdown ▪BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL Black Adidas Originals Samba just shouts urban sophistication. Samba comes in a wide variety of colours. design, the white Samba features a gum rubber outsole, providing a retro 80s touch while offering excellent traction on various surfaces. This feature enhances the shoe’s practicality, making it suitable for both sports activities and casual wear. Back in black Meanwhile, the sleek black Adidas Samba radiates sophistication and urban style. Unlike its white counterpart, the black version showcases white three stripes, offering a sharp and eye-catching contrast. This design detail not only highlights the iconic Adidas branding but also elevates the overall aesthetic of the sneakers. Textured leather panels are often incorporated into the black Samba’s design, introducing depth and visual appeal. These textured elements not only enhance the shoe’s appearance but also contribute to its durability. Also, like the white Samba, the black iteration is equipped with a gum rubber outsole, ensuring exceptional traction while infusing a hint of retro charm. Comparison Both white and black Sambas have their dedicated fan bases. White Sambas are often favoured for their clean, classic look, while black Sambas attract those who appreciate urban sophistication. The popularity of each colour varies by region and personal style. White Sambas are incredibly versatile and can seamlessly blend into various fashion styles, from casual to smart-casual. Black Sambas, on the other hand, are known for their ability to add an edgy and urban touch to outfits, making them a preferred choice for streetwear enthusiasts. The downside to white sneakers is they are notorious for showing dirt and scuffs more prominently. In contrast, black sneakers are forgiving when it comes to looking presentable. Always consider sneaker care and maintenance before deciding on the colour. In the end, the choice between white and black Sambas boils down to individual style preferences and the intended fashion statement. Verdict: Personal style prevails Both colours offer exceptional style options, solidifying Samba’s status as an iconic brand. With the Samba continuously gaining popularity and trending in recent years, sneaker fans cannot go wrong with either choice. Stepping out in a pair of Adidas Samba will definitely add to the cool quotient, regardless of colour.

LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 24 Silver screen inspired Chanel draws inspiration to create a campaign that pays homage to A Man and A Woman’s enduring elegance. – PICS BY CHANEL oChanel looks to classic French cinema for handbag campaign █ BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ Pitt (left) and Cruz recreate chemistry of the actors from the original film. Witness to love At the heart of Chanel’s campaign lies the iconic handbag, a symbol of luxury, elegance and allure. Just as Anne and Jean-Louis’s love story unfolds, the handbag bears witness to their journey, from their chance encounter presumably at the Deauville boarding school to their passionate reunion on the sunkissed beach. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the handbag epitomises Chanel’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship, making it the perfect companion for every modern-day Anne and Jean-Louis. Match made in heaven Chanel’s homage to A Man and A Woman is a celebration of fashion’s Chanel beautifully captured the essence of the original film in its latest ad campaign. Chanel’s handbag takes centre stage in the short film. From the deserted beaches to the luxurious hotels, every frame of the campaign oozes sophistication and style, reminiscent of the film’s lush cinematography. Chanel’s handbag is a symbol of luxury, elegance and allure. BRIEFSTGV OPENS NEWEST IMAX AT SURIA KLCC TGV Cinemas’s newest Imax with laser and 12-sound technology is now available at Suria KLCC outlet, marking the opening of its ninth Imax cinema. The outlet in Suria KLCC is currently undergoing major upgrading works, but the new Imax hall is complete and ready, just in time to host a line-up of blockbusters including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire, KKN di Desa Penari 2: Badarawuhi, Suga Agust D Tour ‘D-Day’ The Movie, Kingdom of the Planet of The Ape, Deadpool & Wolverine and more. MALAYSIA’S TEXTILES HERITAGE AT AIRPORTS THIS RAYA Malaysia Airports is collaborating with Kraftangan Malaysia for the first time to promote the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia through textiles. Under the theme Jalinan Aidilfitri: Pesona Kraf Tekstil, this campaign celebrates the vibrant and timeless beauty of local textiles such as batik, songket and tenun by local artisans. The campaign takes place until May 15, spanning across all international airports in Malaysia. At KLIA Terminal 1 is the centerpiece attraction Rumah Kampung Limas, where Malaysian textiles adorn every corner, from tablecloths to cushion covers and other textile based decorative pieces. Beneath the house lies a spacious batik canting station, with the yard featuring a garden pergola equipped with traditional songket weaving tools. Each designated area features a QR code for visitors to scan with their smartphones to experience the sight of wau batik soaring against an airport backdrop. TAIWANESE BAND ACCUSEFIVE BRINGS CONCERT TO M’SIA Taiwanese trio Accusefive’s Malaysian leg of their world tour – 1st Live Tour Around The New World – will be held at the Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil on June 15. The tour commenced with four sold-out shows in Taipei and Kaohsiung in April 2023, followed by 25 performances across various major cities in China and the US. Notably, their debut at the Lincoln Center in New York catapulted them as the shortestestablished Chinese band to grace the centre’s stage since its inception. Accusefive was hailed as one the most prominent bands of 2023, achieving success on major music platforms with over 200 million cumulative streams. Their classic songs include The One And Only (Wei Yi), You Are My Magic (Gei Ni Yi Ping Mo Fa Yao Shui) and Somewhere In Time (Ai Ren Cuo Guo). Organised by Star Planet and co-organised by Live Nation, tickets for Accusefive’s concert will go on sale tomorrow. Tickets are priced from RM238. enduring love affair with cinema. From the elegant ensembles worn by Cruz and Pitt to the meticulously curated accessories, every element of the campaign pays tribute to the film’s iconic style. With the monochrome palette, and timeless chic, Chanel expertly blends the worlds of fashion and film into a mesmerising visual experience. WHEN Claude Lelouch’s A Man and A Woman graced the silver screen in 1966, it was not just a run-of-the-mill romantic caper but a visual masterpiece that captured the essence of love, passion and style. This iconic French romantic drama did not just tell a story – it painted a picture, a vivid tapestry of emotions, set against the timeless backdrop of Deauville and the French Riviera. Now, decades later, Chanel draws inspiration from this cinematic gem to create a handbag campaign that pays homage to the film’s enduring style and elegance. Perfect pairing Just as Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant brought Anne and JeanLouis to life on screen, Chanel’s campaign features the screen charisma of Penélope Cruz and Brad Pitt. Cruz, a long-time admirer of A Man and A Woman, finds herself stepping into the shoes of Anne, the independent and stylish widow. Pitt, on the other hand, embodies the spirit of Jean-Louis, a dashing race car driver with a heart of gold. Together, they recreate the original film’s magic, not as actors, but as a man and woman lost in a world of luxury and romance. Ideal backdrop With its charming seaside allure and rich history, Deauville serves as the ideal setting for Chanel’s campaign. This picturesque town, intimately linked to the House of Chanel, echoes the film’s romantic atmosphere, transporting viewers back to a time of classic elegance and timeless beauty. From the deserted beaches to the luxurious hotels, every frame of the campaign oozes sophistication and style, reminiscent of the film’s lush cinematography.

LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 25 AMERICAN rapper, singer and songwriter Doja Cat’s latest single Masc signals the start of a new musical era for the artiste with her return to rap. Her most recent studio work dates back to September last year when she released her fourth studio album Scarlet. The Los Angeles-based artiste, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, recently announced on Instagram about the upcoming song, which will be released this Friday. She shared a brief preview of the track along with the post, featuring ethereal, layered synth accompanying her vocals. In January, the 28-year-old shared a whiteboard, which contained a track listing suggesting that a deluxe edition of Scarlet was in the pipeline. Among the seven songs listed, Masc was included alongside Acknowledge Me, Head High, Gang, Rider, Urrrge and Hungry. In a recent appearance on The Therapy Gecko Podcast last month, she revealed that the deluxe version of Scarlet will be titled Scarlet 2: Claude Frollo, named after the character from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “I feel like it connects to the story of Scarlet in some way. . . and if you look up his personality traits and who he is and his story, you’ll understand the whole connection. There’s a control aspect. He just abuses his power and his control,” Doja explained. Scarlet was crafted as a return to Doja’s rap origins, aiming to address criticisms that she had leaned too far into pop territory, with some fans and critics dismissing her previous two albums as “cash grabs”, or worse, “sell outs”. The project debuted at fourth on the Billboard 200 and generated hit singles such as Agora Hills, and Paint the Town Red, the latter topping the Hot 100 chart. Doja is currently set to headline at Coachella, followed by her inaugural headlining arena tour in the UK and Europe as part of her Scarlet world tour. Doja Cat signals a new era oAmerican rapper teases musical return with new song Masc Doja Cat announces new single ahead of impending release of the deluxe edition of Scarlet. – LIVE NATIONPIC █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL My Chemical Romance singer launches new comic Paranoid Gardens MY Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way is set to make a return to the comic world with the launch of a new horror-themed series Paranoid Gardens. Teaming up with Dark Horse Comics, the famed artiste, best known for his work on The Umbrella Academy, will collaborate with co-writer Shaun Simon on the new series, which is scheduled to be released in July, according to media reports. “I’m excited to be back with my incredibly handsome and talented brother-from-anotherbasement Shaun Simon penning a story that’s really special to us, and honoured the masterful Chris Weston joined us to create a visually powerful and emotionally tangible physical object that is this comic. “I’m now more complete getting to share something we’ve wanted to for a very long time, and working with this fantastic group of individuals in the process,” Way said. The synopsis for Paranoid Gardens describes the setting as: “Loo is a nurse at the most bizarre care centre around. The staff are not entirely human, and the cases are downright unearthly. Aliens, ghosts, superheroes and other creatures haunt its halls as doctors, patients and the hospital seem self-aware. Loo believes she is been called to this mysterious place despite a recent job failure and rises to the challenge. Along the way, she must overcome corrupt staff, powerful theme park cults, and her own demons and trauma to discover the gardens’ secrets.” Illustrations for the comics will be handled by Chris Weston, recognised for his work at Vertigo and DC, as well as for contributing concept art to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The cover art for the first issue will be provided by Motohiro Hayakawa. Way rose to prominence when he created and wrote the comic book series The Umbrella Academy. The series achieved significant success and was subsequently adapted into a highly popular Netflix television series. This adaptation has spanned three seasons thus far, with a fourth season anticipated for release later in 2024. “A lot of people at the time, right before Umbrella came out, knew me as a singer in a band. “I had this long history with comics and kind of making my own and getting published at 15 and using my grandmother’s typewriter. But then I went to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and my major was cartooning. So I had all these comic book classes, and in my senior year I interned at DC – I interned there for like a year.” In other My Chemical Romance news, the band is scheduled to perform their 2006 album The Black Parade in its entirety at this year’s When We Were Young Festival, taking place on October 19 and 20. – by HAZIQUE ZAIRILL Way’s Paranoid Gardens is a graphic novel in the horror genre. – NETFLIXPIC Cillian Murphy opts for vegan lifestyle IRISH actor Cillian Murphy recently spoke about his decision to adopt a plant-based eating regimen. During an appearance on the WTF podcast with Marc Maron, the Academy Award winner shared with the host: “I’ve been trying the vegan thing.” Reflecting on his transition to the plantbased diet, which excludes meat, dairy and eggs, Murphy candidly admitted: “I miss cheese.” However, he asserted that he does not miss meat, stating: “I’ve been off the meat for a long time.” When questioned about his motivation for adopting the diet, whether ethical or healthrelated, the Peaky Blinders star replied: “Both, now.” Murphy further elaborated on an additional factor influencing his initial shift towards a plant-based diet, citing concerns over the prevalence of mad cow disease during that period. “I was vegetarian for about 15 years. But it was never a moral decision. It was more that I was worried about getting mad cow disease.” Despite his dietary choices, Murphy disclosed that his trainer advised him to incorporate meat into his diet to prepare for the first season of Peaky Blinders, purportedly to alter his appearance and avoid appearing “like a skinny Irish fella.” Murphy has fully embraced the plantbased diet, emphasising its positive impact on the environment. “I think it’s better for the planet, right?” he added, underscoring his commitment to sustainability. In other news, Murphy will reprise his iconic role as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby in an upcoming Peaky Blinders movie. – by HAZIQUE ZAIRILL The star of Peaky Blinders says his decision is based on both health and ethical reasons. – AFPPIC

LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 26 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper UPCOMING film Joker: Folie à Deux is set to be mainly a jukebox musical, featuring a lineup of at least 15 well-known songs in its much-anticipated sequel. Reprising his role as the enigmatic Joker, Joaquin Phoenix returns to the screen alongside the addition of Lady Gaga, who joins the franchise as Harley Quinn. Slated to release on October 4, the film’s premiere aligns with the fifth anniversary of the original Joker film. According to media reports, sources familiar with the filming suggest that audiences can anticipate the movie to include reinterpretations of “very wellknown” songs, with one mentioned specifically as That’s Entertainment, widely recognised as one of the tunes from Judy Garland’s 1953 film The Band Wagon. The report hints at the possibility of a few original songs making their way onto the film’s soundtrack as well. The report continues that there may still be an opening for a couple of original songs on the film’s soundtrack too. Last September, Hildur Guðnadóttir – who composed the score for the first film and return for the sequel, hinted at the sequel’s musical emphasis, suggesting that it will feature “a lot of music”. In addition to Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the ensemble cast of Joker: Folie à Deux includes Emmy nominee Zazie Beetz from Atlanta. Joining them are Oscar nominees Catherine Keener, known for her role in Being John Malkovich, and Brendan Gleeson, recognised for his work in The Banshees of Inisherin. Director Todd Phillips collaborated on the screenplay with Scott Silver. Phillips also shared three posts from the film in February, offering glimpses of Gaga and Phoenix in character. The first image depicts Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix fully adorned in makeup and costume, standing under a spotlight amid a backdrop of darkness. In the second image, Gaga and Phoenix share an intimate moment as they press their noses together through Joker’s prison bars, hinting at the complex relationship between their characters. Lastly, the third image captures the duo dancing together on a rooftop, suggesting a musical moment within the film and adding to the intrigue surrounding their dynamic. oBatmannemesis set to rock screens with Broadway-style sequel Sequel to the 2019 film Joker will be released in October. – PIC FROM INSTAGRAM @TODDPHILIPS █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL AFTER a rough few years, Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man is set to release soon, with him also starring as the lead in the action film. In a recent media question and answer discussion, Dev spoke at length about the difficulties he and the crew encountered, which he claims is the most demanding project he has done. The film initially began development back in 2018, with filming planned to take place in 2020. Several weeks before principal photography began in India, Dev says the financier wanted to shut down the film. Right afterwards, the Covid-19 pandemic kicked off and the film lost its production designer and cinematographer, effectively killing the film. “We pivoted and went to a tiny island in Indonesia where we could create a bubble in an empty hotel for the whole crew of nearly 500 people,” he says, calling the next nine months gruelling. Dev plays ‘Kid’, an anonymous man who seeks revenge on corrupt Indian leaders over his mother’s death. – UNIVERSAL PICTURESPIC Feline-inspired monster Godzilla’s mannerism was inspired by the director’s feline companion. – PIC BY WARNER BROS PICTURES Dev (centre) also co-wrote and coproduced Monkey Man. THE fifth film in Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse franchise, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (GxK) hit the big screen last week. Director Adam Wingard recently spoke on how he approached the film after previously directing Godzilla vs Kong and looking at the feedback from critics and audiences. Due to the large focus on humans in the previous four MonsterVerse films, including his own 2021 film, Wingard placed a larger emphasis on the franchise’s monsters in GxK, particularly on Kong as he is the main character in the new film. Meanwhile, the giant ape’s atomic lizard friend is hibernating elsewhere, which proved to be a slight conceptual problem for Wingard, as he had to figure out how to depict how a massive monster like Godzilla would sleep. Going back and forth with the film’s production designer, the director found a spark of inspiration on the floor of his workspace. “My cat Mischief is my biggest inspiration in life, and as we were having this discussion with my production designer, my cat was curled up in a ball and sleeping in her circular little cat nest. “And I thought, wow, would it not be funny to see Godzilla laying in the Roman Colosseum exactly like this?” Wingard says. After taking a picture of his cat, Wingard sent it to concept artists and they brought the idea to life. He also says there are photos of his cat throughout the film. Furthermore, Wingard later found out he was not the only person to have done this. “I met Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki – it turns out that his cat was a major influence on him as well, in terms of his approach towards Godzilla and his mannerisms,” Wingard adds. “So if you’re a Godzilla director right now, cats are mind-controlling us or something.” - by Mark Mathen Victor A musical Joker 2 Guerilla filmmaking Due to the borders being closed, they could not bring in actors for supporting roles, which forced Dev to put “every tailor, lighting guy and accountant in front of the camera”. The crew was apparently forced to keep stepping up their improvisational filmmaking, especially when their equipment began breaking and new equipment could not be flown in. “We literally shot stuff on (mobile phone and GoPros). When a crane broke, (we created) a camera rig from rope which I termed ‘the pendulum cam’. It would swing over a large crowd of people, detach and the operators run through the crowd while it was rolling”. The film reportedly concluded its filming in 2022. After Netflix acquired the film’s rights, it sat on the shelf until Jordan Peele acquired the rights to distribute the film through Universal Pictures. Monkey Man hits cinemas tomorrow. - by Mark Mathen Victor

SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 27 PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-37-01/2024 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0799SC2021005205 (bertarikh : 19/02/2021) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah Hakmilik Strata no. Hakmilik Geran 78881/ M1B/16/322, Lot 10090, Mukim 13, Daerah Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA PUBLIC BANK BERHAD (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) ...PLAINTIF DAN WONG SEOK LUAN (No. Kad Pengenalan : 761108075458) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 18 Mei 2023 dan 8 Mac 2024, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/ Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Khamis, 25 April 2024, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan aqar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanqqunqan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum jualan lelonqan dijalankan. Sila layari https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : Hakmilik Strata No. Hakmilik Geran 78881/M1B/16/322 No. lot : Lot 10090 Mukim / Daerah / Negeri : 13 / Timur Laut / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Pajakan No. Petak/No. Tingkat/ No. Bangunan : 322 / 16 / M1B Keluasan Tanah : 710.0000000000 kaki persegi 66.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Registered Proprietor : Trustees of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (Penang) Registered. Registered Lessee: Wong Seok Luan for a term of 99 years expiring on 5th May 2110 thus, having an unexpired term of about 87 years Syarat Nyata : Petak ini hendaklah digunakan untuk tujuan rumah pangsa sahaja. Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : 1. A private caveat lodged by Public Bank Berhad vide Presentation No. 0799B2021000838 registered on 29th January 2021. 2. The 99-year leasehold interest in the subject property is presently charged to Public Bank Berhad vide Presentation No. 0977SC2021005205 registered on 12th March 2021. 3. A private caveat lodge by Tan Kok Wei vide Presentation No. 0799B2021001895 registered on 16th March 2021 Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : 1.Nombor Pers: 0799B2021000838 Kaveat Persendirian Atas Petak oleh PUBLIC BANK BERHAD didaftarkan pada 29 Januari 2021 2. Nombor Pers: 0799B2021001895 Kaveat Persendirian Atas Petak oleh TAN KOK WEI didaftarkan pada 16 Mac 2021 LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah A Three-bedroom apartment yang beralamat pos di 6-16-02, Lengkok Angsana, Mukim 13, 11500, Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 342,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: TIGA RATUS EMPAT PULUH DUA RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butirbutir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2023-025/WSL(RS/j) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN THE FEDERAL TERRITORY, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) PETITION NO: WA-28NCC-271-03/2024 In the Matter of Section 465 and Section 466 of the Companies Act, 2016 And In the Matter of the Companies (WindingUp) Rules 1972 And In the Matter of MALAYSIAN MARITIME & DREDGING CORPORATION SDN BHD (Company No. 200201015768 (583431- H)) BETWEEN TRIMIRTA RESOURCE SDN BHD (Company No. 200301001868 (604288-P)) ...Petitioner AND MALAYSIAN MARITIME & DREDGING CORPORATION SDN BHD (Company No. 200201015768 (583431-H)) …Respondent ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed company, Malaysian Maritime & Dredging Corporation Sdn Bhd by the High Court was on the 20th day of March 2024, presented by Trimirta Resource Sdn Bhd AND that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur High Court 9:30 in the forenoon, on the 10th day of July 2024; AND any creditor or contributory of the said company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is Unit 23- 05B, Level 23, Mailbox 23-05B, Menara Landmark, 12, Jalan Ngee Heng, Johor Bahru, Johor. The Petitioner’s Solicitors is Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co of No. 95-2, Block H, The Suites, Jaya One, 72A, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. signed ..................................................... Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co Solicitors for the Petitoner NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than twelve o’clock of the 9th day of July 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition). HOME APPRECIATION SDN. BHD. Registration No.: 200701024614 (782634-V) (Incorporated in Malaysia) Members’ Voluntary Winding Up NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING UNDER SECTION 459(1) OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 Notice is hereby given that the Final General Meeting of the members of the company will be held at B-2-13, Tingkat 2, Intan Business Centre 2, Lebuh Medan Ipoh, Bandar Baru Medan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak on 6th May, 2024 at 10.30 am for the purpose of receiving the accounts and reports of the Liquidator in relation to the winding up of the Company in pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016 the books and papers of the company and or subsequent to the commencement of the company be destroyed accordingly. CHAN WAI MENG Liquidator Date: 3rd April, 2024 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KOTA BHARU DALAM NEGERI KELANTAN DARUL NAIM, MALAYSIA PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT NO.: DA-28NCC-9-03/2024 Dalam perkara Seksyen 465 (1) (e) Akta Syarikat 2016, peruntukan-peruntukan dalam Akta Syarikat 2016 dan KaedahKaedah (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972 DAN Dalam perkara Farra Secret Beauty Sdn. Bhd. [No. Syarikat: 201401027888 (1103974-D)] ANTARA BANK KERJASAMA RAKYAT MALAYSIA BERHAD [NO. PENDAFTARAN KOPERASI.: 2192] …PEMPETISYEN DAN FARRA SECRET BEAUTY SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201401027888 (1103974-D)] …RESPONDEN IKLAN PETISYEN NOTIS adalah dengan ini diberi bahawa Petisyen Penggulungan Syarikat yang dinamakan di atas oleh Mahkamah Tinggi di Kota Bharu adalah pada 25hb Mac 2024 dikemukakan kepada Mahkamah tersebut oleh Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad. Dan bahawa Petisyen tersebut diarah untuk didengar di hadapan Mahkamah Tinggi Insolvensi yang bersidang di Kota Bharu pada hari Ahad, 26hb Mei 2024 pada pukul 9:00 pagi dan mana-mana pemiutang atau penyumbang syarikat tersebut yang ingin menyokong atau menentang pembuatan perintah ke atas Petisyen tersebut boleh hadir pada masa pendengaran oleh beliau sendiri atau Peguamcaranya untuk tujuan itu dan salinan Petisyen akan diberikan kepada mana-mana Pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang memerlukannya oleh penandatangan di bawah (‘undersigned’) atas pembayaran caj terkawal untuk yang sama. Alamat Pempetisyen adalah di Menara 1, Menara Kembar Bank Rakyat, No. 33, Jalan Rakyat, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Peguamcara Pempetisyen ialah Tetuan Kama & Wan, yang beralamat Tetuan. Kama & Wan, yang beralamat di 5-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 4A, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. ………………………… Tetuan Kama & Wan Peguamcara bagi Pempetisyen NOTA: Mana-mana orang yang berhasrat untuk hadir pada pendengaran Petisyen tersebut hendaklah menyampaikan atau menghantar melalui pos kepada Tetuan Kama & Wan yang dinamakan di atas, notis bertulis tentang hasratnya berbuat demikian. Notis itu mesti menyatakan nama dan alamat orang itu, atau, jika firma, nama dan alamat firma itu dan mesti ditandatangani oleh orang atau firma itu atau Peguamcaranya (jika ada) dan mesti disampaikan, atau jika dipos, mesti dihantar melalui pos dalam masa yang mencukupi untuk sampai kepada yang dinamakan di atas tidak lewat pada pukul 12:00 tengah hari 25 Mei 2024. Iklan Petisyen ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kama & Wan, Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi pihak Pempetisyen No. 5-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 4A, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. (Tel: 03 89221485) (No. Ruj: WS/BR/FBSB/1955(L)(FP)) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA IN KUALA LUMPUR IN THE FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR COMPANIES (WINDING UP) NO.: WA-28NCC-192-02/2024 IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 465(1)(e) & (h) AND SECTION 466 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF EXELLE MEDICAL SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201301001518 [1031355-M)]) BETWEEN INTERMEDECO SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201901025452 [1334781-P]) … PETITIONER AND EXELLE MEDICAL SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201301001518 [1031355-M]) … RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for the winding-up of the above-named company by the High Court was, on the 27th day of February 2024, presented by INTERMEDECO SDN. BHD. And that the said petition is directed to be heard before the court sitting at the High Court of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur at 9.30 o’clock in the morning, on the 15th of May 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 from the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The petitioner’s address is at L-1-3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 60, Plaza Damas Sri Hartamas, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs. Amar Syiimir Izzat & Sham, whose address of service is at C-09-06, Plaza Mont Kiara, No. 2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara 50480 Kuala Lumpur. t.t …………………………… Messrs. Amar Syiimir Izzat & Sham Petitioner’s solicitor Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named petitioner or his advocate or solicitor, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitor (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 14th May 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the petition). [Ref No.: ASIS/2024-13 322 Notices 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 PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-1023-12/2023 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0799SC2013033041 (bertarikh : 06/09/2013) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah GRN 171384 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S. (D) 57820), Lot 31721 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai PT 3493), Mukim 15, Daerah Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA PUBLIC BANK BERHAD (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) ...PLAINTIF DAN GOH SEOK LIANG (No. Kad Pengenalan : 790630075015) OOI NAI LEE (No. Kad Pengenalan : 880103355364) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 15 November 2023 dan 21 Februari 2024, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Selasa, 23 April 2024, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan aqar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanqqunqan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum jualan lelonqan dijalankan. Sila layari https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : GRN 171384 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S. (D) 57820) No. lot : Lot 31721 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai PT 3493) Mukim / Daerah / Negeri : 15 / Seberang Perai Tengah / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Kekal No. Petak/No. Tingkat/ No. Bangunan : Keluasan Tanah : 223.0000000000 kaki persegi 2400.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Goh Seok Liang, Ooi Nai Lee Syarat Nyata : (FIRST GRADE) The Land comprised in this title: (a) shall not be affected by any provision of the National Land Code limiting the compensation payable on the exercise by the State Authority of a right of access or use conferred by Chapter 3 of Part Three of the Code or on the creation of a Land Administrator’s right of way; and Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : Charged to PUBLIC BANK BERHAD vide Presn No 0799SC2013033041 dated 19-09-2013 Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah A three storey semi-detached house yang beralamat pos di No. 7, Lorong Machang Bubok 56, Taman Machang Bubok, 14020, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 700,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: TUJUH RATUS RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir- butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2023-389/GSL(RS/j) 302 Jobs CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS MS. SHOBA / MS. BALQISH 03 7784 8888 018 261 6626 advertise@thesundaily.com SCAN ME WEDNESDAY APR 3, 2024 TEL: 03-7784 6688 FAX: 03-7785 2625 EMAIL: classifieds@thesundaily.com MIKE TYSON will be 58 when he takes on Jake Paul on July 20 in Texas but he said fans are still clamouring to see the former heavyweight champion in action. The bout between one of the most feared fighters in history and YouTuberturned-boxer Paul will be held at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington and streamed live on Netflix. “I’m 58 and what? I’m getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting,” Tyson told Reuters. “Everybody, even most of the athletes, they’re jealous, that’s whack… I say in your prime you couldn’t draw a million people, man. What are you talking, you couldn’t sell out arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?” “Iron Mike”, who has a 50-6 record with 44 knockouts, said the 27-year-old Paul recognises the public’s enduring interest in him. “Why you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else?” Tyson said of Paul, who has a 9-1 record with six knockouts. “Everybody wants to fight him, all the boxers want to fight him. But if he fought them the only people that will come are the people that like him. “The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them. That’s just keeping it real. They’re too boring for their children to watch, it’s like watching grass grow.” The fight is the first for Tyson since he took on Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout in November 2020, where Paul was on the undercard. Although it has yet to be officially announced, the fight is also expected to be designated an exhibition, the USA Today reported. That would mean the rounds would be two minutes as opposed to the traditional three, the boxers would wear heavier gloves that make it safer and there will be no official judges to score the rounds, so a victory could only come by knockout. While the official rules for the fight are yet to be announced, Jones, insists it won’t just be a glorified sparring session as some fans have speculated. “The Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight is not an exhibition, I’ve heard it’s been upgraded to a fight,” Jones shared during his chat with The Lunch Club. “If it’s a fight, it’s very intriguing how it may turn out because Jake Paul has gotten a lot better as a boxer over the days but Mike Tyson even at 58 or however old he is, is still Mike Tyson.” – Reuters/Agencies Iron Mike says still huge draw despite age PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-37-01/2024 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0799SC2021005205 (bertarikh : 19/02/2021) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah Hakmilik Strata no. Hakmilik Geran 78881/ M1B/16/322, Lot 10090, Mukim 13, Daerah Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA PUBLIC BANK BERHAD (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) ...PLAINTIF DAN WONG SEOK LUAN (No. Kad Pengenalan : 761108075458) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 18 Mei 2023 dan 8 Mac 2024, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/ Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Khamis, 25 April 2024, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan aqar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanqqunqan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum jualan lelonqan dijalankan. Sila layari https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : Hakmilik Strata No. Hakmilik Geran 78881/M1B/16/322 No. lot : Lot 10090 Mukim / Daerah / Negeri : 13 / Timur Laut / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Pajakan No. Petak/No. Tingkat/ No. Bangunan : 322 / 16 / M1B Keluasan Tanah : 710.0000000000 kaki persegi 66.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Registered Proprietor : Trustees of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (Penang) Registered. Registered Lessee: Wong Seok Luan for a term of 99 years expiring on 5th May 2110 thus, having an unexpired term of about 87 years Syarat Nyata : Petak ini hendaklah digunakan untuk tujuan rumah pangsa sahaja. Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : 1. A private caveat lodged by Public Bank Berhad vide Presentation No. 0799B2021000838 registered on 29th January 2021. 2. The 99-year leasehold interest in the subject property is presently charged to Public Bank Berhad vide Presentation No. 0977SC2021005205 registered on 12th March 2021. 3. A private caveat lodge by Tan Kok Wei vide Presentation No. 0799B2021001895 registered on 16th March 2021 Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : 1.Nombor Pers: 0799B2021000838 Kaveat Persendirian Atas Petak oleh PUBLIC BANK BERHAD didaftarkan pada 29 Januari 2021 2. Nombor Pers: 0799B2021001895 Kaveat Persendirian Atas Petak oleh TAN KOK WEI didaftarkan pada 16 Mac 2021 LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah A Three-bedroom apartment yang beralamat pos di 6-16-02, Lengkok Angsana, Mukim 13, 11500, Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 342,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: TIGA RATUS EMPAT PULUH DUA RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butirbutir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2023-025/WSL(RS/j) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN THE FEDERAL TERRITORY, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) PETITION NO: WA-28NCC-271-03/2024 In the Matter of Section 465 and Section 466 of the Companies Act, 2016 And In the Matter of the Companies (WindingUp) Rules 1972 And In the Matter of MALAYSIAN MARITIME & DREDGING CORPORATION SDN BHD (Company No. 200201015768 (583431- H)) BETWEEN TRIMIRTA RESOURCE SDN BHD (Company No. 200301001868 (604288-P)) ...Petitioner AND MALAYSIAN MARITIME & DREDGING CORPORATION SDN BHD (Company No. 200201015768 (583431-H)) …Respondent ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed company, Malaysian Maritime & Dredging Corporation Sdn Bhd by the High Court was on the 20th day of March 2024, presented by Trimirta Resource Sdn Bhd AND that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur High Court 9:30 in the forenoon, on the 10th day of July 2024; AND any creditor or contributory of the said company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is Unit 23- 05B, Level 23, Mailbox 23-05B, Menara Landmark, 12, Jalan Ngee Heng, Johor Bahru, Johor. The Petitioner’s Solicitors is Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co of No. 95-2, Block H, The Suites, Jaya One, 72A, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. signed ..................................................... Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co Solicitors for the Petitoner NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Messrs Isaac Wong, Lim & Co, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than twelve o’clock of the 9th day of July 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition). HOME APPRECIATION SDN. BHD. Registration No.: 200701024614 (782634-V) (Incorporated in Malaysia) Members’ Voluntary Winding Up NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING UNDER SECTION 459(1) OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 Notice is hereby given that the Final General Meeting of the members of the company will be held at B-2-13, Tingkat 2, Intan Business Centre 2, Lebuh Medan Ipoh, Bandar Baru Medan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak on 6th May, 2024 at 10.30 am for the purpose of receiving the accounts and reports of the Liquidator in relation to the winding up of the Company in pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016 the books and papers of the company and or subsequent to the commencement of the company be destroyed accordingly. CHAN WAI MENG Liquidator Date: 3rd April, 2024 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KOTA BHARU DALAM NEGERI KELANTAN DARUL NAIM, MALAYSIA PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT NO.: DA-28NCC-9-03/2024 Dalam perkara Seksyen 465 (1) (e) Akta Syarikat 2016, peruntukan-peruntukan dalam Akta Syarikat 2016 dan KaedahKaedah (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972 DAN Dalam perkara Farra Secret Beauty Sdn. Bhd. [No. Syarikat: 201401027888 (1103974-D)] ANTARA BANK KERJASAMA RAKYAT MALAYSIA BERHAD [NO. PENDAFTARAN KOPERASI.: 2192] …PEMPETISYEN DAN FARRA SECRET BEAUTY SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201401027888 (1103974-D)] …RESPONDEN IKLAN PETISYEN NOTIS adalah dengan ini diberi bahawa Petisyen Penggulungan Syarikat yang dinamakan di atas oleh Mahkamah Tinggi di Kota Bharu adalah pada 25hb Mac 2024 dikemukakan kepada Mahkamah tersebut oleh Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad. Dan bahawa Petisyen tersebut diarah untuk didengar di hadapan Mahkamah Tinggi Insolvensi yang bersidang di Kota Bharu pada hari Ahad, 26hb Mei 2024 pada pukul 9:00 pagi dan mana-mana pemiutang atau penyumbang syarikat tersebut yang ingin menyokong atau menentang pembuatan perintah ke atas Petisyen tersebut boleh hadir pada masa pendengaran oleh beliau sendiri atau Peguamcaranya untuk tujuan itu dan salinan Petisyen akan diberikan kepada mana-mana Pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang memerlukannya oleh penandatangan di bawah (‘undersigned’) atas pembayaran caj terkawal untuk yang sama. Alamat Pempetisyen adalah di Menara 1, Menara Kembar Bank Rakyat, No. 33, Jalan Rakyat, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Peguamcara Pempetisyen ialah Tetuan Kama & Wan, yang beralamat Tetuan. Kama & Wan, yang beralamat di 5-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 4A, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. ………………………… Tetuan Kama & Wan Peguamcara bagi Pempetisyen NOTA: Mana-mana orang yang berhasrat untuk hadir pada pendengaran Petisyen tersebut hendaklah menyampaikan atau menghantar melalui pos kepada Tetuan Kama & Wan yang dinamakan di atas, notis bertulis tentang hasratnya berbuat demikian. Notis itu mesti menyatakan nama dan alamat orang itu, atau, jika firma, nama dan alamat firma itu dan mesti ditandatangani oleh orang atau firma itu atau Peguamcaranya (jika ada) dan mesti disampaikan, atau jika dipos, mesti dihantar melalui pos dalam masa yang mencukupi untuk sampai kepada yang dinamakan di atas tidak lewat pada pukul 12:00 tengah hari 25 Mei 2024. Iklan Petisyen ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kama & Wan, Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi pihak Pempetisyen No. 5-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 4A, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. (Tel: 03 89221485) (No. Ruj: WS/BR/FBSB/1955(L)(FP)) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA IN KUALA LUMPUR IN THE FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR COMPANIES (WINDING UP) NO.: WA-28NCC-192-02/2024 IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 465(1)(e) & (h) AND SECTION 466 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF EXELLE MEDICAL SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201301001518 [1031355-M)]) BETWEEN INTERMEDECO SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201901025452 [1334781-P]) … PETITIONER AND EXELLE MEDICAL SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201301001518 [1031355-M]) … RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a petition for the winding-up of the above-named company by the High Court was, on the 27th day of February 2024, presented by INTERMEDECO SDN. BHD. And that the said petition is directed to be heard before the court sitting at the High Court of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur at 9.30 o’clock in the morning, on the 15th of May 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 from the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The petitioner’s address is at L-1-3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 60, Plaza Damas Sri Hartamas, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs. Amar Syiimir Izzat & Sham, whose address of service is at C-09-06, Plaza Mont Kiara, No. 2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara 50480 Kuala Lumpur. t.t …………………………… Messrs. Amar Syiimir Izzat & Sham Petitioner’s solicitor Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named petitioner or his advocate or solicitor, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitor (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 14th May 2024 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the petition). [Ref No.: ASIS/2024-13 322 Notices 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 PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-1023-12/2023 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0799SC2013033041 (bertarikh : 06/09/2013) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah GRN 171384 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S. (D) 57820), Lot 31721 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai PT 3493), Mukim 15, Daerah Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA PUBLIC BANK BERHAD (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) ...PLAINTIF DAN GOH SEOK LIANG (No. Kad Pengenalan : 790630075015) OOI NAI LEE (No. Kad Pengenalan : 880103355364) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 15 November 2023 dan 21 Februari 2024, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Selasa, 23 April 2024, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan aqar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanqqunqan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum jualan lelonqan dijalankan. Sila layari https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : GRN 171384 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S. (D) 57820) No. lot : Lot 31721 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai PT 3493) Mukim / Daerah / Negeri : 15 / Seberang Perai Tengah / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Kekal No. Petak/No. Tingkat/ No. Bangunan : Keluasan Tanah : 223.0000000000 kaki persegi 2400.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Goh Seok Liang, Ooi Nai Lee Syarat Nyata : (FIRST GRADE) The Land comprised in this title: (a) shall not be affected by any provision of the National Land Code limiting the compensation payable on the exercise by the State Authority of a right of access or use conferred by Chapter 3 of Part Three of the Code or on the creation of a Land Administrator’s right of way; and Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : Charged to PUBLIC BANK BERHAD vide Presn No 0799SC2013033041 dated 19-09-2013 Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah A three storey semi-detached house yang beralamat pos di No. 7, Lorong Machang Bubok 56, Taman Machang Bubok, 14020, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 700,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: TUJUH RATUS RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir- butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2023-389/GSL(RS/j) 302 Jobs CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS MS. SHOBA / MS. BALQISH 03 7784 8888 018 261 6626 advertise@thesundaily.com

SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 28 Max’s future still uncertain Hamilton’s comments after Aussie GP may have put Verstappen off Mercedes move I T’S a potential switch that no one would have envisaged four months ago, but the future of reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen is still up in the air after he was linked with a sensational move to Mercedes. The 26-year-old is currently the overwhelming favourite to land a fourth straight drivers’ title, despite being forced to retire from the last Grand Prix in Australia following wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. But his place at Red Bull remains under scrutiny following a reported fallout with Christian Horner. The team principal was recently cleared following an internal investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female member of staff, but the complainant is appealing that verdict and may yet take the case to an employment tribunal. That saga has reportedly prompted a power struggle between Horner and Red Bull chief Helmut Marko, with Verstappen seemingly siding with the latter. His father Jos has also publicly called for Horner to be removed from his position, leading to crisis talks between the three. And the Englishman’s opposite number at the Silver Arrows, Toto Wolff, has now sought to capitalise. The Austrian has made contact with the Dutch driver with a view to him replacing Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, after the seven-time world champion announced he would be joining Ferrari on a two-year deal. However, the current performance of the W15 cars threatens to scupper any hopes that Silver Arrows personnel hold of snaring Verstappen. Hamilton himself is currently floundering, managing just eight points in the opening two races before failing to finish in Melbourne. George Russell has fared marginally better, picking up 18 points before also having to retire Down Under. But the perception that Wolff’s team would be more competitive in the 2024 campaign following a barren two years has thus far proved misplaced. And after only qualifying in 11th down under, Hamilton implied that the team had failed to address the instability of their vehicles that has plagued performance since 2021. “I really struggled with the car yesterday, and then FP3 I was really much happier with the car, with a slightly bigger wing, but I was losing two-tenths in the straight,” he said. “But I gained some stability back, and I was I was much, much happier, and I thought I would carry that into qualifying. But unfortunately, the bouncing is still there. It makes it very, very, very difficult to push through that for a session. That’s why we were so slow in that first sector.” Given Verstappen’s obvious desire to continue dominating the sport, he’s unlikely to try and tolerate a team that can’t provide him with a championship-winning car. He’s currently contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, and has recently voiced his intention to see out that deal despite the team’s current internal strife. – Express Newspapers PACE BOWLER Trent Boult returned figures of 3-22 to set up a crushing six-wicket victory for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL match against winless Mumbai Indians yesterday. Boult’s sensational spell of left-arm pace helped restrict hosts Mumbai to 125-9, a total Rajasthan overhauled with 27 balls to spare for their third win of the season in three matches. Five-time winners Mumbai, who named Hardik Pandya as captain in place of veteran Rohit Sharma, fell to their third loss to stay bottom of the 10- team table. Pandya had another unforgettable evening after he was met with boos at the toss by the home fans, prompting presenter Sanjay Manjrekar to say “behave”. “Yes, a tough night, we didn’t start the way we wanted to start,” Pandya said after the loss. Pandya top-scored with 34 for Mumbai but admitted his wicket made them slip. “I wanted to counter, we were in a decent position to get us around 150-160,” said Pandya. “But my wicket allowed them to get back more into the game, I needed to do a lot more.” Boult’s skills with the new ball make him a real asset for Rajasthan Royals, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson said after the fast bowler’s devastating opening spell in a six-wicket Indian Premier League (IPL) win over Mumbai Indians. “Trent Boult is just so accurate,” Watson said on Jio Cinema. “He rarely misses his execution with the brand new ball in the first over. He hits the ground, sprinting, so accurate. “Ball swinging back in, he is just an absolute weapon and he continues to do it over and over again. It’s like he is just getting young with age.” Rajasthan, who top the IPL standings with three wins from three matches, next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday. – AFP/Reuters IF Cameron Smith needed any extra motivation to perform well at the Masters later this month, his desperation to get to the Olympics in Paris in August will provide it. The 2022 British Open champion tied for 10th at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago but, as world No. 62, he has four other Australians ahead of him in the world rankings, which will determine which two players go to Paris. Smith’s defection to the LIV Tour means he earns no rankings points from most of his events so doing well at Augusta as well as May’s PGA Championship and the US Open in June is essential if he is to play at Le Golf National from Aug 1-4. “It’s desperately a place that I want to get to and represent Australia,” the former world No. 2 told reporters from Florida yesterday. “I have to play well to get there, I know I have to play well, and I’m probably only going to get three or four shots at it before they make the selection. I guess it is more pressure.” Smith has finished in the top five at Augusta three times in seven visits and getting his hands on the famous green jacket remains another major ambition. “It’s just such a cool place… I desperately want to get it and it would be awesome if I did,” he added. “We’ve just had three weeks off and I’ve been out on the course focusing on shot-shaping and controlling flight, which I think is pretty crucial for playing good around there.” The 30-year-old is getting used to having more time off with the much-touted unification between LIV and the US PGA Tour still looking a long way off. Smith is not complaining. “I’ve probably got another four or five weeks off every year in the last couple of years and been able to spend more time in Australia,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m willing to sacrifice being away from my family and stuff as much as I had in the past.” – Reuters Olympic spot an extra driver for Smith’s Masters tilt SHORTS Singapore’s Schooling retires JOSEPH SCHOOLING, who famously beat his idol Michael Phelps in Rio to become Singapore’s first and only Olympic champion, said yesterday he was retiring from competitive swimming. Schooling made the announcement on social media eight years after stunning the world by beating American great Phelps to win 100m butterfly gold. Schooling failed to qualify for the same event at Tokyo 2020 and his career started to ebb after winning gold medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter – I will be retiring from competitive swimming,” the 28-year-old said on Instagram. “I am filled with gratitude for every experience that swimming has brought into my life. “The victories were exhilarating, the defeats humbling and together they have forged a resilience in me that I will carry forward into my next chapter.” In an interview with the Straits Times newspaper, Schooling said he had become complacent. “My mistake was the complacency to think that this will last forever because I’m so far ahead,” he said. “Add on ego, add on pride. Add on that ‘I’m never going to be shut down attitude’. That’s a recipe for complacency. That’s one of the lessons that I learnt. While I am stepping away from competing, swimming will forever be a part of who I am,” he said. “It has given me a platform to inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter the odds.” Pakistan mend captaincy crisis PAKISTAN Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi yesterday held crisis talks to resolve the row after sacked captain Shaheen Shah Afridi denied quotes backing his successor. Afridi, replaced by Babar Azam as skipper on Sunday, insisted he had not made comments backing his replacement that were quoted in a PCB statement. The PCB yesterday said Naqvi “held a meeting with the selection committee to talk about the team’s selection ahead of the New Zealand T20I series”. “The meeting was also attended by captain Azam,” the PCB added without mentioning any separate meeting with Afridi. However sources confirmed to AFP any confusion after Afridi’s statement denial had been removed and the former captain was shown shaking hands with Naqvi in a picture released by the PCB. The crisis developed following a PCB statement saying Afridi had “nothing but respect” for returning skipper Azam. But a source close to Afridi denied he had signed off on the statement that implied a harmonious transfer of the top job. Stokes out of England's World Cup title defence TEST captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of England's T20 World Cup title defence, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced yesterday. The 32-year-old said he was skipping the tournament in the United States and the West Indies to make sure he could be a fully-fledged all-rounder in Test cricket. “Opting out of the IPL (Indian Premier League) and the (T20) World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the allrounder I want to be for the foreseeable future,” Stokes said in an ECB statement. Stokes’s withdrawal was something of a surprise given that, when asked last month if he would participate in the T20 World Cup in June, he said he had “not even thought about that but I’m available”. Stokes withdrawal is a major blow for England white-ball captain Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott. “I wish Jos, Motty and all the team the best of luck in defending our title.” Boult stars for Rajasthan as Mumbai slump Rajasthan Royals’ Trent Boult bowls during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. – AFPPIX

SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 29 Sinner’s ‘special moment’ Miami Open champion lifted trophy without parents in attendance J ANNIK SINNER said he is enjoying every moment of his sensational start to the 2024 season after winning the Miami Open on Sunday for his third title of the year. The Italian thoroughly outplayed Daniil Medvedev in the semis and Grigor Dimitrov in the final to improve to 22-1 on the year and rise to a career-best world No. 2. “This is a special moment,” Sinner said after beating Dimitrov 6-3, 6-1 in the final for his second Masters 1000 title. “You never know if this is the last time or not. So you have to enjoy this for one day, and now a new chapter is coming, clay-court season is coming, so completely different. “Let’s see how I will play from now on. But for sure, the hard-court season until now has been very good.” Behind an improved serve and textbook shotmaking, Sinner has been on a roll this season, winning the Australian Open in January for what is expected to be the first of many grand slam titles. His only loss of the year came to Carlos Alcaraz in the semis at Indian Wells but after his triumph in South Florida, the Spaniard will now be looking up to his rival in the rankings. “Being No. 2, it’s an amazing feeling,” Sinner said. “I never thought to come to this point. Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill told reporters that the 22-year-old was loving life but also staying grounded. “He appreciates every single moment that is happening to him, but he’s also got his feet on the ground knowing it’s just a sport, it’s just a tennis match,” Cahill said. “Whilst he’s professional in everything he does, he enjoys his life. He’s a normal 22-year-old kid. There’s a lot to learn from him, a lot of good to learn from both him and Carlos. I think they’re very similar in many, many ways. “That’s why I think tennis is in great hands at the moment with the likes of those two and many other players coming through that are going to carry the torch through a generation we have been so fortunate to sit through the last 20 years. “It’s important to have these types of sports people coming through.” Sinner has explained that his parents do not attend the majority of his tennis matches. Despite their son’s success, Johann and Siglinde Sinner both lead humble lives and remain in work, with their commitments keeping them from travelling the world to support the tennis star. I come from a very normal family. My dad is still working, as my mom, too. For me sport is one thing and life is different. “They will continue to do their life, and then I do my life. For sure, my dad… in Indian Wells he came. “There are, like, three, four tournaments where they could arrive. Monaco they might arrive. Rome and Vienna and the end of the year hopefully in Turin if I play. And that’s it.” The 22-year-old admitted that he did miss them when on tour and travelling so often, but understands their reasoning and pledged to make up for time lost when he hangs up his racket and retires. – The Independent/Express Newspapers SAUL NIGUEZ slotted home an 87th minute winner to help Atletico Madrid to a 2-1 win over Villarreal yesterday, taking his team fourth in La Liga. Diego Simeone’s side capitalised on Athletic Bilbao’s defeat by leaders Real Madrid on Sunday to move back into the Champions League qualification places, even if they left it late. Axel Witsel nodded Atletico ahead after nine minutes but Alexander Sorloth pegged back the visitors soon after halftime of an entertaining clash. Substitute Saul decided an even game in the final stages less than five minutes after coming on. Atletico moved two points clear of Athletic with eight matches remaining, still trailing thirdplace Girona by seven points. “(Saul) entered the game well and scored a great goal,” Simeone told Movistar. “I’ve put him on a bunch of times because I believe in him and I hope he can give us a lot.” Simeone said his team still needed to improve to lock down Champions League qualification for next season. “Athletic are having a very good season, Girona aren’t giving up, and we have to improve,” said the coach. “Pace of play and intensity decide things and we have to improve in that regard.” Witsel drew first blood with a fine header from Rodrigo Riquelme’s corner, twisting his body to meet the ball at the near post and direct it looping home at the far. Sorloth pulled Villarreal level five minutes into the second half with an accurate low finish from the edge of the box. Saul stroked home from the edge of the box soon after coming on from the bench, and although Atletico had to nervously wait out a VAR check for a possible offside, the goal was given. Villarreal came close to levelling deep in stoppage time when Bertrand Traore’s cross evaded everyone and flew just past Oblak’s far post. Defeat leaves Villarreal 10th in what has been an underwhelming season for them. “I’m happy, more for the win than for the goal, it was important,” Witsel told Movistar. “(Simeone) will want us to do better, but he’ll be very happy with the win.” – AFP INTER MILAN took another step towards the Serie A title yesterday with a straightforward 2-0 win over struggling Empoli which maintained their 14-point lead at the top of the league. Federico Dimarco put Inter ahead after five minutes at the San Siro before substitute Alexis Sanchez sealed the points in front of delighted home fans with nine minutes remaining. Yesterday’s comfortable victory left Inter needing just 11 more points from eight matches to beat second-placed AC Milan to a 20th Italian league crown. Inter have a huge lead on their local rivals thanks in large part to academy product Dimarco, whose first-time strike from Alessandro Bastoni’s neat clipped pass separated the hosts from their spirited opponents for most of the match. It was Bastoni’s third assist in as many league matches and the Italy defender joked: “It was the worst of the lot, Dimarco’s finish made it look much better!” “We’re really happy with the win because we’ve just come off the international break and it’s never easy winning after travelling around the world,” added Bastoni. Simone Inzaghi’s side were far from the scintillating form they showed before being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid last month. But Inter have dropped only two points since the turn of the year and yesterday’s win was a good way to end what has been a difficult couple of weeks. A fourth straight defeat without scoring a goal left Empoli back in the relegation zone on goals scored, swapping places with 17th-placed Frosinone who drew 1-1 with Genoa on Saturday. “If that run had knocked our confidence you’d have seen it tonight with a bad performance but that didn’t happen,” said Empoli coach Davide Nicola. Bologna cruised past Serie A’s bottom side Salernitana 3-0 to continue their charge towards a first-ever appearance in the Champions League. Stunning first half strikes from Riccardo Orsolini and Alexis Saelemaekers and Charalampos Lykogiannis’ fine finish in stoppage time ensured that Bologna would stay in fourth place, five points above Roma who were held to a goalless draw at Lecce. Juve are just two points ahead of Bologna in third following their last-gasp defeat at Lazio on Saturday. Salernitana have not won a single game since the turn of the year and are 12 points from safety. – AFP Inter beat Empoli to close in on Serie A title Inter beat Empoli to close in on Serie A title SHORTS Fenerbahce players probed after bust-up NIGERIAN international Bright OsayiSamuel is one of three Fenerbahce players who will appear at a disciplinary hearing of the Turkish Football Federation following a bustup with Trabzonspor fans, the TFF announced yesterday. Home supporters invaded the pitch at Trabzonspor’s stadium after the final whistle of the Super Lig match on March 17 that Fenerbahce won 3-2. The attacks took place after the Fenerbahce players and coaching staff celebrated their victory, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic being punched in the face. Osayi-Samuel, 26, punched one of the supporters who ran onto the pitch with his face masked, with Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde accused of kicking the same supporter. A third player will also appear before the disciplinary body along with two club employees for “fighting”, the TFF said. A Trabzonspor assistant coach will also appear before the disciplinary board. FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the violence as “absolutely unacceptable”. Thirteen Trabzonspor supporters were arrested with five placed in pretrial detention. It was the latest violent incident to affect Turkish football this season. Germany to redesign national jerseys THE design for the No. 4 on Germany’s national team shirts will be changed over concerns that the No. “44” resembled the symbol used by Nazi “SS” units, the German Football Association (DFB) said yesterday. The new kit, launched before Germany host the European Championship in June and July, debuted during their 2-0 friendly win over France last month. “The DFB checks the Nos. 0-9 and then submits the Nos. 1-26 to UEFA for review. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the creation process of the jersey design,” the DFB said in a statement on X. “Nevertheless, we take the comments very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussions… we will develop an alternative design for the No. 4 and coordinate it with UEFA.” The DFB’s official supplier Adidas had earlier said that they would remove the No. 44 from their range of customisation options. “We will block the No. 44 as quickly as possible,” Adidas spokesman Oliver Bruggen told German media. “As a company we actively oppose xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in any form.” Saul takes Atletico fourth with late Villarreal winner Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez (left) tries to score past Empoli keeper Elia Caprile during their Serie A match. – AFPPIX

SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 30 RUBEN AMORIM has furiously hit out at speculation linking him with a move away from Sporting at the end of the season. The Portuguese boss has been shortlisted as one of the leading candidates to become Liverpool’s manager this summer, following their failed pursuit of Xabi Alonso. Jurgen Klopp announced in January that he was set to leave the Reds at the end of the season as he is “running out of energy” in the position and felt that it was his responsibility to step down when the time was right. The shock announcement sparked the Anfield outfit into life in the managerial market, with several options being explored. Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi and Simone Inzaghi are among those to have been linked with a move to Merseyside as a result, though Amorim has now emerged as the favourite for the position. However, the 39-year-old has hit out at reports tipping him to leave Sporting and claims that he will be replaced by Bayern Munich assistant manager Anthony Barry, formerly of Chelsea. Asked about how important it is for him to ignore the reports which are circulating, he said: “Completely, the only thing that annoys me is that they already had a replacement for me. “That’s what got me the most upset, even today I told Viana (Hugo Viana, Sporting director of football) to calm down because it’s not like that. That’s the only thing I’ve paid attention to.” Amorim was then asked whether he felt that his Sporting side, who are currently top of the Liga Portugal, were being affected by suggestions that he is set to leave, to which he replied: “No, because it’s part of their lives. What affects the players is their own future “Everyone is thinking about themselves. That can interfere with the preparation of a game if they’re involved in talks with other clubs. It’s normal for players to go through that. “When it’s the manager, they don’t think about any of that. And the manager is clearly Sporting’s manager, Sporting’s manager and only Sporting’s manager. “And they know how much they want to win and I want to win titles for Sporting. So the work was the same, the preparation was the same and they’re clear that everyone is focused on winning titles.” It remains to be seen whether Liverpool attempt to make their move to poach Amorim before the end of the season, with Bayern Munich also monitoring his situation closely and set to be in the market for a manager this summer. – Express Newspapers Nothing Sporting othing Sporting about rumours Reds target Amorim ‘annoyed, upset’ as speculation grows Ipswich go top with comeback win over Saints JEREMY SARMIENTO proved to be a “super sub” after scoring a stoppage-time winner as Ipswich returned to the top of the Championship yesterday with a dramatic 3-2 win at home to Southampton. With both teams pushing for a return to the Premier League, it seemed as if goals from Che Adams and Adam Armstrong had put Southampton on course for victory following Leif Davis’s well-struck opener for Ipswich. But Ipswich, who’ve now won 31 points from losing positions this season, again proved themselves masters of the comeback. Nathan Broadhead equalised in the 68th minute with a shot on the turn before Southampton’s Jason Bree was sent off five minutes from the end of normal time for dragging back Davis. Ipswich’s never-say-die attitude was summed up when Sarmiento, despite a slip, struck in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time to spark delirious scenes at Portman Road. Victory left Ipswich two points clear of Leicester, who won earlier in the day and meant they could not be overtaken after Leeds defeated Hull 3-1 in a late kickoff. “It was right up there,” said Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. “It was another brilliant day, brilliant match to be involved in… Of course when you win it with the last-minute winner like that, it’s a moment to really cherish.” Defeat effectively ended Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion, with manager Russell Martin lamenting: “We were the best team, we didn’t deserve to lose “Even at 2-2, I thought we were going win the game and then with 10 men, David Brooks goes through in the box and squares, we nearly score.” Late goals from Crysencio Summerville and Dan James ensured Leeds United stayed in the Championship’s automatic promotion places after beating Hull City at Elland Road. The win kept Leeds in second place after Leicester City’s victory over Norwich on Easter Monday. Daniel Farke’s side are a point behind Ipswich and one ahead of Leicester, who have a game in hand. “There was no doubt this was a well-deserved win. I think we had six times the amount of expected goals that they had, but it was a complicated game for us,” Farke told the BBC. – Express Newspapers MANCHESTER CITY defender Manuel Akanji is puzzled as to how Arsenal got away with some “clear yellow cards” during Sunday’s foul-filled scoreless draw. After seeing Liverpool move top with a comeback win against Brighton, the other title contenders played out a forgettable 0-0 draw featuring just three shots on target at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal seemed happier with the point than City, whose frustration was palpable as the visitors avoided booking for the 20 fouls against them by referee Anthony Taylor. The only yellow cards they did receive were for time wasting against Gabriel Jesus and David Raya, leaving defender Akanji irritated. “I don’t understand,” the City man said. “One in the first half (from Kai Havertz) was a very late tackle on Stefan (Ortega). For me it is clearly a yellow card. “I don’t want to say just against us. There were also some decisions against them that I didn’t understand that he gave a foul for. “There are some rules and I think there are clear yellow cards where it should be. “I remember the action with Jorginho when he’d already done a tackle foul and did the second one and he didn’t even give a yellow card for one foul. “I didn’t understand some decisions but, in the end, we still should be able to score a goal.” Put to Akanji the approach worked for Arsenal, he said: “Definitely. When we got through sometimes they stopped us with the fouls and if there’s no actions to it it’s hard.” City, who sit third in the table, have to shake off that frustration as attention quickly turns to tomorrow’s (3.15am Malaysian time) home match against fourth-placed Aston Villa. Pep Guardiola’s men have not lost in all competitions since December’s 1-0 reverse at Villa Park and Akanji believes everything is to play for in the title race. “Yeah, I mean how many games do we have left? Nine, so yeah 27 points to get,” he said. “That’s our goal to get all of them and then we’ll see how it ends.” Arsenal also return to action tomorrow, kicking off 45 minutes earlier (2.30am) against relegationthreatened Luton. The Gunners will go back top of the Premier League should they win as Liverpool do not return to action until Friday (2.30am against Sheffield United) and Jesus is just focusing on what they can do in the title fight. “It’s the Premier League, it’s a tough League and anything can happen,” the former City forward said. “It is only two points the difference (with Liverpool) and then we have a very good goal difference. Everything counts at the end, but there are still a lot of games.” – The Independent Yellow cards’ query from Akanji █ BY SIMON PEACH SHORTS Varane sounds concussion alarm MANCHESTER UNITED and former French international defender Raphael Varane yesterday called for better concussion care for players after several scares during his career. “When we look at three of the worst matches of my career, there are at least two before which I had a concussion a few days earlier,” Varane told French sports daily L’Equipe. Varane pointed to France’s 1-0 quarterfinal defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup and a 2-1 Champions League last 16 second leg loss while playing for Real Madrid in 2020 against Manchester City. A few days before the Germany game the 30-year-old said he took a ball to the side of the head during a last-16 match against Nigeria. “I was weakened, but ultimately I played and rather well… What we’ll never know is what would have happened if I had taken another knock to the head. “When you know that repeated concussions potentially have a fatal effect, you tell yourself that it could go very wrong. “As footballers used to playing at the highest level, we are accustomed to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these (concussions) are symptoms which are quite invisible. “We need to talk about the dangers linked to second impact syndrome, and to the repetition of knocks because of head play,” he added. Grealish tackles heckling as compliment MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Jack Grealish, often the target of heckling since moving to the Premier League champions, says he endeavours to take the jeers from opposition supporters as a compliment. Grealish won the treble with the Manchester club last season during which he was booed at Stamford Bridge, at Leeds United and at other games. The 28-year-old, who joined City from Aston Villa for a fee of around £100 million (RM580m) in 2021, has been sidelined with injury over the last few months but is hoping to play his part in City’s bid to win the treble again this season. “I always wonder, ‘why do they boo me?’ and my mum always asks me about it as well,” Grealish told the club’s online magazine. “At every single away ground I go to now, I get booed and I’m not entirely sure why it is – I just have to try and take it as a positive or a compliment. “Now is where the biggest games are coming… hopefully, I can be there for the lads, the manager and for our fans and try and be successful in these last two months.” Ruben Amorim. – REUTERSPIX

SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 2024 31 New queen of the court Sivasangari clinches first squash gold-event crown since Nicol in 2015 NATIONAL women’s squash player S. Sivasangari secured her first gold-event title at the London Classic when she caused an upset against Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy, who is ranked second in the world. In a gripping final played in a best-of-five format, the 13th-ranked Sivasangari prevailed with a score of 3-2, winning 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 12- 14, 11-8 in a thrilling 81-minute encounter. Hailing from Kedah, Sivasangari, who recently ascended three spots to achieve her career-high 13 in the PSA Tour world rankings, made history by becoming the first Malaysian women’s player to reach the tournament final since Datuk Nicol David in 2015. Reflecting on her remarkable victory, Sivasangari spoke to PSA World Tour, expressing her pride in overcoming her long-standing rival and emerging victorious in the tournament. “There are no words to summarise this moment, but I am extremely pleased with how I conducted myself this week, defeating top 10 players three times. They are all exceptionally talented players. “Hania has been my rival since our junior days, and it was a close match. In the fifth set, I focused on maintaining composure as she fought back at every point. However, I am simply elated with my triumph in the tournament. “This victory is monumental. The last time I participated in a gold event, I was eliminated in the quarterfinals, so reaching the final this time was an unbelievable feeling. I am proud of the journey that led me to win this tournament,” said the 25-year-old. Sivasangari also extended her gratitude to her parents, US coach David Palmer, Malaysian coach Ajaz Azmat, as well as her sponsors for their unwavering support. “Without my coaches David in the US and Ajaz in Malaysia, as well as Jesse Engelbrecht, my mental trainer, strength coach, and sponsors, I wouldn’t have reached this point. “I am also grateful to my family, David and Ajaz, whose guidance has been instrumental in my success. “Thanks to them, I am achieving victories in tournaments. So, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to them.” Sivasangari, who missed out of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 after being involved in a major road accident, added: “Given the challenges I faced in recent years, I am genuinely content with my achievements.” At the London Classic, Sivasangari defeated not just one but three players from the top 10, including Hania, en route to lifting the coveted trophy. Her journey included a stunning performance in the quarterfinals, where she ousted top-ranked Nour El Sherbini of Egypt, followed by a victory over fourth-ranked Nele Gilis of Belgium in the semifinals. – scoop.my Perfect pre-season run-up for KL City my priority, says Fahmi KUALA LUMPUR (KL) City FC patron Fahmi Fadzil’s priority is to help the City Boys go through the pre-season build-up perfectly, ahead of the 2024/2025 Malaysia League competition which is scheduled to start next month. Fahmi said he wants to ensure that all KL City’s needs are managed well so that the 2021 Malaysia Cup champions would be ready to kick off the new season. The Minister of Communications said that he recently met Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh to discuss the commercial agreement between Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and KL City. “I want to ensure that issues such as salaries, the level of readiness of this stadium (Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium), so we focus a lot on some basic things,” he said at the squad’s training session at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras last night. He said this when asked if he was ready to lead the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) following its former president Khalid Abdul Samad’s resignation last month. He said he is willing to consider leading the KLFA in the future, to ensure that it is steered well besides helping affiliated members and the teams under his umbrella. In the meantime, Fahmi said the presence of Harimau Malaya star midfielder Brendan Gan, who has just joined KL City, can inject positive elements into the team. “I believe he (Brendan) will add fuel to the spirit of my friends in the team in preparation for the start of the season in May,” he said. Brendan joined KL City after being with Selangor FC for three years from 2020 until last season. – Bernama THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin confirmed not receiving any letter from Harimau Malaya head coach Kim Pan Gon, who is rumoured to be leaving the team. According to Hamidin, the rumours were an attempt to create controversy following two consecutive 0-2 defeats to Oman in the Group D action of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers last month, dropping to third position with six points after having topped the group. “Pan Gon himself has denied news reports which cited sources as saying that he has sent a letter to FAM and is ready to leave the Harimau Malaya squad,” he told a press conference after the 60th FAM Annual Congress in Subang Jaya yesterday. Recently, the national football arena was rocked by news reports that Pan Gon and his coaching staff had sent a letter to FAM and were prepared to leave the national team if their services were no longer needed. However, in a statement on FAM’s official Facebook the same day, the 54-year-old coach from South Korea denied the news report and expressed his commitment to the team until his contract ends at the end of next year. Pan Gon said his main mission is to get Malaysia to qualify for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and secure an early spot for the 2027 Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Hamidin also denied that Pan Gon’s assistant coach, Pau Marti Vicente, had left the team as he was not seen on the bench during the match against Oman at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last March 26. “He was admitted to a hospital on March 23, which is a day after the national squad returned from Muscat, Oman, for health problems. “He was warded for six days and was only discharged on March 28. Pau Marti is still with the Harimau Malaya squad,” said Hamidin. – Bernama Hamidin denies Pan Gon leaving Harimau Malaya CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 1 Preston 0, Coventry 1 Cardiff 2, Ipswich 3 Southampton 2, Leeds 3 Hull 1, Leicester 3 Norwich 1, Middlesbrough 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0, Plymouth 0 Bristol City 1, Rotherham 2 Millwall 1, Stoke 1 Huddersfield 1, Sunderland 1 Blackburn 5, Swansea 0 QPR 1, West Brom 2 Watford 2. TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Ipswich 40 26 9 5 84 51 87 Leeds 40 26 8 6 75 31 86 Leicester 39 27 4 8 77 35 85 Southampton 38 22 8 8 76 51 74 West Brom 40 19 11 10 62 39 68 Norwich 40 19 7 14 72 58 64 Coventry 39 16 12 11 63 46 60 Preston 39 17 8 14 52 55 59 Mid’boro 40 17 7 16 56 53 58 Hull 39 16 10 13 54 51 58 LA LIGA: Villarreal 1 (Sorloth 50) Atletico Madrid 2 (Witsel 9, Saul 87). TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Real Madrid 30 23 6 1 66 20 75 Barcelona 30 20 7 3 61 34 67 Girona 30 20 5 5 62 36 65 Atletico 30 18 4 8 56 35 58 Bilbao 30 16 8 6 50 28 56 Sociedad 30 13 10 7 43 31 49 Real Betis 30 10 12 8 36 36 42 Valencia 29 11 8 10 32 32 41 Osasuna 30 11 6 13 36 43 39 Villarreal 30 10 8 12 48 53 38 SERIE A: Bologna 3 (Orsolini 14, Saelemaekers 44, Lykogiannis 90+2) Salernitana 0, Cagliari 1 (Sulemana 74) Verona 1 (Bonazzoli 30), Inter Milan 2 (Dimarco 6, Sanchez 81) Empoli 0, Lecce 0 Roma 0, Sassuolo 1 (Defrel 41) Udinese 1 (Thauvin 44). TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Inter 30 25 4 1 73 14 79 Milan 30 20 5 5 57 34 65 Juventus 30 17 8 5 44 24 59 Bologna 30 16 9 5 45 25 57 Roma 30 15 7 8 55 35 52 Atalanta 29 15 5 9 54 32 50 Lazio 30 14 4 12 37 33 46 Napoli 30 12 9 9 44 36 45 Torino 30 11 11 8 29 26 44 Fiorentina 29 12 7 10 42 34 43 RESULTS & STANDINGS Jia Xin’s two-year ban stays THE two-year ban on participation in all competitions, imposed on Ngu Jia Xin, remains in effect after the national high jump athlete was absent from the appeal proceedings held on March 18. Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) director, Azura Abidin, stated that no further calls would be made to the female athlete who tested positive for doping at the Malaysia Athletic Federation Track and Field Championship at the National Sports Council Mini Stadium in February 2023. “Jia Xin submitted an appeal, however, as she did not turn up on the scheduled appeal date, we are sticking to the original decision regarding her suspension. “We have tried to contact her, sent letters, emails, followed up, but to no avail. Even her coach can’t locate her,” she added. Meanwhile, when contacted by Bernama yesterday, Datuk R Annamalai, chairman of the Medical Committee of the Athletics Union of Malaysia, affirmed the continuation of the penalty against Jia Xin. Jia Xin was suspended from all competitions from June 2 last year to June 1, 2025, following Adamas’ confirmation of the athlete testing positive for the banned substance sibutramine. – Bernama Malaysia’s Sivasangari celebrates after beating world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy from Egypt at the London Classic final yesterday. – PSA WORLD TOUR Minister of Communications and patron of KL City FC Fahmi Fadzil (front, 2nd left) having a chat with The City Boys at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium yesterday. – 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 WEDNESDAY | APR 3, 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 ‘Iron Mike’ says he is still huge -Story - on page 28 Story on page 27 Boult stars for Rajasthan MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik ten Hag has been warned his side could have serious problems this week with pivotal fixtures against both Chelsea and Liverpool. United were just seconds away from victory at Brentford on S a t u r d a y b e f o r e Kristoffer A j e r struck a 99th minute leveller moments after Mason Mount had given the Red Devils the lead, but on the balance of play the visitors were fortunate having been comprehensively outplayed. And in reality, Ten Hag’s side now need six points from their next two games to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive. The team finishing fifth in the Premier League are set to be handed a place at Europe’s top table next season, but the Red Devils are currently eight points adrift of that spot after Tottenham’s win over Luton on the weekend. Former player Gary Neville was one of many pundits to offer a savage analysis of the display at the Gtech Community Stadium, labelling it a “horrible performance” and outlining his concerns for the visit of the Reds on Sunday. “It was a horrible performance to the point where when Mason (Mount) scored, I think we may have had to start a petition to give Brentford two points back,” Neville said. The Premier League leaders go to Old Trafford three days after United play at Chelsea, and will be seeking payback following their dramatic FA Cup defeat at the same venue next week. “Just worrying signs really that you can get to that level of low in a performance,” he said on The Gary N e v i l l e Podcast. “ Y o u think back to before the i n t e r n a t i o n a l break and where Manchester United were at. They had one of the most incredible moments and should be absolutely bouncing into Brentford. “But then we saw what we saw. They won’t be that bad come Sunday, they can’t be that bad. But if Liverpool do their jobs then Manchester United are going to be in a lot of trouble. There will be something different, it can’t get any worse.” United are now unbeaten in five games in all competitions, but that hasn’t stopped the pressure mounting on manager Ten Hag. And with new minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe linked with a summer swoop for England boss Gareth Southgate, the speculation will only ramp up if United under perform this week. Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has also reportedly been looked at by United since Ineos took over football operations, but he has denied knowing of any interest from Old Trafford. Neville also voiced concerns that the team appeared to be lacking direction on the field. And the Sky Sports pundit implied that the manager was responsible for the apparent lack of togetherness. “I’m not saying the defenders or midfield players are blameless because they could do a lot better themselves,” he added. “But there’s just not a unity at all. There’s no idea of how to defend or how to play without the ball.” Ten Hag himself has frequently been defiant over his future, reiterating he’s only focussed on the job in hand. “You know at Man United there will always be noise, rumours around the club, the manager, the players,” Ten Hag said. “We are focusing on the process, we are focusing on the team to play better, to improve the way of play, so I don’t care about (it).” Ten Hag realises there will always be scrutiny of a manager at a club of United’s status. He said: “I was trainer at Ajax. Similar. You get used to it, so we don’t care. Players don’t care, I don’t care. “We are together in the boat and we know we have to perform and get the right results.” Ratcliffe has declined to publicly back the Dutchman, and is expected to sanction an overhaul of club personnel this summer. This week could go some way to deciding whether or not the manager is part of that overhaul. – Express Newspapers/Agencies -Story on page 29 Sinner’s ‘Special moment’ Crunch week for Ten Hag … as Manchester United face crucial games against Chelsea, Liverpool Man United manager Erik ten Hag.