Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY RM1 WEDNESDAY APR 17, 2024 SCAN ME No. 8502 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) Come join us! The suspect being led away upon arrival at the Police Air Wing Peninsular Base in Subang yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC ‘No risk of dry taps despite low level at dam’ Varsity’s in-house solution to water issue KLIA shooting suspect remanded Thirty-eightyear-old man being investigated under Section 8 of Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 8 of the Arms Act 1960. - Report on page 5 Govt taking proactive action to ensure Malaysia not affected by ongoing conflicts, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Report on — page 3 Report on — page 6 Penang Water Supply Corporation expects supply from Air Itam Dam to last until return of rainy season. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan builds tube well and water filtration system to address persistent supply disruptions. Report on — page 2 Close watch Close watch on Mideast n Mideast
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 2 Govt keeping tabs on conflict in Middle East: Anwar M’sia, China poised to strengthen relations KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China are poised to further strengthen relations with increased exchanges and movement of people at all levels as both countries commemorate 50 years of diplomatic ties this year, said Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) president Yang Wanming. He said as Malaysia is a popular destination among Chinese tourists, he anticipates that by the end of this year, the number of those visiting Malaysia would surpass the prepandemic figures recorded in 2019. “It is expected that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia this year will reach 3.36 million by the end of the year compared with 3.1 million in 2019,” he told Bernama after a meeting with Malaysia-China Friendship Association members here on Monday. Yang is leading a delegation of six CPAFFC members visiting Malaysia from April 14. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Putrajaya and Malacca. On the celebration of the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, Yang emphasised the longstanding cooperation between the two nations. He said China views Malaysia as an important country and trade partner in its diplomatic relations. “China places great importance in developing its relations with Malaysia. China and Malaysia are strategic partners.” He suggested various measures to strengthen ties, including the exchange of public servants across all sectors, promoting sister cities of both countries, as well as organising additional dialogue sessions, conferences and symposiums to foster mutual understanding. Yang also emphasised the importance of promoting cultural and arts exchanges between Malaysia and China, as well as the involvement of young leaders in these initiatives. Malaysia-China Friendship Association president Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan said over the past 50 years, Malaysia and China had nurtured their relationship to what it is today - very healthy and strong. “It reflects the significance both countries attach to the relationship. The upcoming 50th anniversary celebration is not merely an event or celebration, but embodies the success and achievements that have been reached in terms of mutual trust, mutual respect, understanding and the level of cooperation between Malaysia and China.” Abdul Majid suggested that Malaysia should capitalise on China’s strengths in new energy, artificial intelligence and various other fields for future collaborations. – Bernama Family reunited, thanks to PM KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to closely monitor developments in the conflict-stricken areas of the Middle East and take proactive measures to ensure the safety, welfare and well-being of Malaysians, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In a post on his Facebook page, Anwar said the nation’s interests would always be the top priority, and that he himself had chaired a National Security Council meeting yesterday to further discuss the situation there. Present at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and other senior government officials. He said the discussions and consecutive meetings being held for two days demonstrate the serious attention given by the government to the Middle East situation, and ensure that Malaysia and its people are not affected by the conflict. Anwar said Malaysia joins all of the civilised world to urge the Zionist Israeli regime not to aggravate an already extremely tense situation o‘Nation joins civilised world to urge Israeli regime not to aggravate an already extremely tense situation further’ KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s resolute efforts to successfully reunite the family of Cinta Gaza Malaysia CEO Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman shows the prime minister’s deep concern for the welfare of the people, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He said the mission to reunite Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri’s family, previously in Palestine, also highlighted the wisdom of Anwar’s globally respected leadership. “The Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) expresses our utmost appreciation for the prime minister’s determination to successfully reunite Nadir Al-Nuri’s family,” he said in a statement. Mohd Na’im also called on all quarters to continue supporting Anwar and expressing solidarity in the struggle for peace and well-being in Palestine. “In this blessed month of Syawal, let us strengthen our unity and pray to Allah for blessings and the wellbeing of the Palestinian people.” Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri, in his post on Facebook and Instagram, titled “183 Long Days”, revealed that Anwar played a crucial role in the mission to bring his family out of Gaza, Bernama reported. He said he was contacted by the prime minister’s political secretary Farhan Fauzi a day before Eid, to go to a specific location along with Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations CEO Dr Ahmad Sani Abdul Alim Araby, where he discovered that his family was waiting for him. Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri also described the mission to bring his family out of Gaza as a “crazy mission”, as it was not easy to evacuate his family amid rocket fire, bomb blasts and ongoing tensions at the border. Ministry mulls plan to repatriate students KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is considering the need to repatriate Malaysian students following the conflict in the Middle East. In a statement, the ministry said there are 1,872 Malaysian students in Jordan, 37 in Syria, eight in Iran and none in Lebanon and Iraq, Bernama reported. “The ministry acknowledges the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran and Israel, which has indirect impacts on neighbouring countries like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. “The ministry is actively monitoring the situation through Education Malaysia offices in Jordan and Dubai, while maintaining regular communication with the Malaysian Embassies in Tehran in Iran and Amman in Jordan, to ensure the safety of the students.” For inquiries, contact the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran by phone at (+9821) 88072444 or (+9821) 88078606, or via email at [email protected] and [email protected]. The Malaysian Embassy in Amman can be reached at (+962) 6590 2400 or (+962) 78590 2400, or via email at [email protected]. GOING GREEN ... Transport Minister Anthony Loke (centre) with (from left) RHB Banking Group CEO Mohd Rashid Mohamad, EVlution Sdn Bhd CEO Dr Jeffrey Ong, EVlution Sdn Bhd honorary adviser Tengku Datuk Dr Hishammuddin Zaiz and Mastercard Malaysia and Brunei country manager Beena Pothen launching the EVlution EV charging station at the RHB Building in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC further, Bernama reported. “There are clear signs that the international community does not want to see a worsening situation. The launching of drones by Iran is a legitimate action following the barbarous attack by the Zionist regime of Israel on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. “We are pleased to note the assurances given by the Iranian government that unless further attacked by the Zionist Israeli regime, this will be their only reaction.” Anwar said the key to resolving this issue is the just and immediate resolution of the inhumane situation in Gaza. “Therefore, global attention must be devoted fully to it, with no distractions. There must be a durable ceasefire which will enable the passage of humanitarian aid. In this connection, 100 containers (of humanitarian aid) is expected to leave Malaysia on April 27.” National Aidilfitri celebration in Sabah PUTRAJAYA: The National Aidilfitri celebration will be held on Saturday at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu, in collaboration with the National Unity Ministry and the Sabah state government. The event will be graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. In a statement, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the 2024 Aidilfitri Madani celebration is a platform for all Malaysians, regardless of backgrounds, to come together in the spirit of unity and harmony. “Aidilfitri celebrations have become a unifying force, bringing together people from various cultural and religious backgrounds in the country. The open house tradition, where people of different backgrounds gather to share joy and happiness, has been passed down from generation to generation.” He said themed “Unity Through Celebration,” the event should serve as a tool to unite all Malaysians. – Bernama
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 3 PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) has constructed a tube well and alternative water filtration system at a cost of RM300,000 to address persistent supply disruption. Its chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Razli Che Razak said the initiative was aimed at providing a sustainable solution to the problem affecting over 3,000 students, staff and faculty members. He said UMK has been grappling with water supply issues across its three campuses in Pengkalan Chepa, Bachok and Jeli since it was established in 2006. “Syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd has failed to supply sufficient clean water to meet the needs of our 9,000 students and 1,200 staff and faculty members. “At our main campus in Bachok, 97% of the supply is from groundwater. This lack of clean water has affected basic needs like drinking, cooking, bathing and sanitation, and significantly impacted their overall well-being.” Razli said to mitigate the issue, the university was compelled to find its own solutions, adding that UMK collaborated with the Minerals and Geosciences Department for its tube well construction and filtration system project. “We initiated the project in July 2020 and it was completed three days ago at a cost of RM300,000. “We are proud that our underground water treatment system was built using in-house technology and expertise from our campuses,” Razli said, adding that the initiative ensures a reliable daily supply of clean water for the campus community. He said it also successfully increased daily water production to 299,471 litres, surpassing the daily requirement of 249,837 litres. UMK administrative staff Mustakim Mat Hussein said the initiative has addressed the turbidity and discolouration of groundwater caused by high levels of iron and manganese. “Water extracted from underground sources often has a rusty appearance, rendering it unsuitable for consumption and other purposes. “To address this, UMK developed filtration system. This significantly contributed to alleviating the water supply crisis at our campuses,” he said. UMK student representative council member for welfare and cost of living Suria Abdullah said the on-campus water situation was dire before the tube well and filtration system were built. “It is not just about water scarcity but its quality too. Every time we turn on the tap, the water has a rusty colour and an odour. The water was unsafe to drink or cook with. “So, we bought water at RM20 per carton from nearby shops. It was an unnecessary expense, especially for students who were struggling financially.” Third-year animation student Thivyhaalakshmi Ganeson said: “Living on campus felt like we were constantly carrying the weight of water scarcity on our shoulders. “Our basic tasks like laundry or even taking a shower were a luxury we could not always afford. We struggled with water shortage for years, and every day felt like a battle. “But thanks to UMK’s initiative, we now have clean water all the time,” she said, adding that the university had previously initiated several measures to tackle the water supply issue. These include awareness campaigns to promote water conservation, collaboration with local authorities to explore sustainable water sources, and temporary solutions such as water tankers during emergencies. “We are now overjoyed to see students, especially those residing in the campus hostel, finally getting clean and reliable water supply. This project has brought relief and comfort to the students,” she added. In-house initiative solves water problem at varsity oUMK collaborates with Minerals and Geosciences Dept to build tube well and filtration system to provide stable supply Highway proposed to link Tanjung Malim and Lumut PARIT BUNTAR: The Finance Ministry has registered a proposed construction of a new highway alignment that will connect Tanjung Malim to Lumut. In confirming the matter, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the highway was necessary to facilitate export logistics services through the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) when the High Technology Automotive Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim begins operation. “If the products produced at LuMIC are sent to Port Klang (Selangor), it will create further congestion. That’s why we want to empower Lumut Port. “We want this highway project to be built at the same time as the AHTV development so that once the factories are operational, the products produced can be sent directly through the new highway,” he said after launching a 50-megawatt solar power plant and presenting Perak Sejahtera housing loan offer letters to 30 squatter residents in Sungai Kerian yesterday. Saarani said the registration of the project was a follow-up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to Perak. “We have listed 10 things to the prime minister for implementation in this state for consideration at the federal level. “We understand that the Finance Ministry has registered the proposed highway as a priority project and the Economic Planning Unit will study its implementation,” he said. On the power plant, Saarani said the solar farm costing RM250 million is capable of generating green energy for 25,000 households a year, reducing an estimated 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. He added that the construction of the solar farm was in line with the Green Technology Agenda (Solar and Hydro) in the Prosperous Perak Development Plan 2030. “It is an initial step to make the Kerian district a high-tech and green development hub as planned by the government in developing the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park in this district.“ – Bernama Razli said the tube well and filtration system ensures a stable supply of clean water for the campus community. – PIC COURTESY OF UMK MCMC to act against errant TikTok user KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been instructed to track down and take action against the owner of the TikTok account @janggut_putih, who is suspected of uploading content containing defamatory material. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the video from 2019 was uploaded to incite anger among the public. “This is a video from 2019, recycled to intentionally provoke anger. @MCMC_RASMI will track down the suspect and take action,” he said on X. Fahmi was responding to a complaint from an X user, who requested the Communications minister take action against the TikTok account owner concerned. In the 1.49-minute video, an individual alleged that the Education Ministry under the then Pakatan Harapan government (in 2019) forced parents and students to register for a debit card from an international bank. The suspect also used vulgar language when making the allegations. – Bernama Govt to host talks to promote harmony PUTRAJAYA: Those involved in provocative discussions about religion on social media will be called to attend a face-to-face meeting soon as a measure to ensure the country’s harmony is preserved. Deputy National Unity Minister K. Saraswathy said the session would hopefully encourage understanding and unity among the public and ensure religious provocative issues do not recur in the future. She said it was among the matters agreed to by National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang during a meeting with the ministry and Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) representatives in Putrajaya on Monday. “The minister emphasised that the ministry is concerned and encourages understanding and mutual respect between followers of all religions to ensure all individuals can practise their religion and faith peacefully.” – Bernama █ BY SIVANISVARRY MORHAN [email protected] Plan to bring back ‘priceless’ books IPOH: The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council will assist one of its Al-Azhar University students in Egypt, Muhammad Nur Hadi Salehuddin, to bring home more than 200 old indigenous Nusantara books that he collected during his studies there. Its CEO Syamsul Hazeman Md Salleh said the books, written by Malay scholars in the 1920s to the 1960s, are priceless treasures. The books, mostly written in Javanese and Acehnese and include the works of Sheikh Mohd Idris al-Marbawi and Sheikh Jaafar Hussein, were mostly printed by Mustafa alHalabi, one of the oldest printing and bookselling companies in the Middle East. – Bernama
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 4 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper Use technology to tap bioeconomic potential: Minister KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s flora and fauna biodiversity is not only famous but yields many benefits. However, it has to be harvested effectively so that the benefits can have a positive impact for the state and its people. Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said while residents have long reaped its benefits, many still rely on the old model of selling the products in their raw form. The Lahad Datu MP said they need to realise that profits could increase significantly if the raw products were processed into bioeconomic products, including in the pharmaceutical and high-technology agricultural sectors. “I see so much bioeconomic potential in Sabah. In terms of expertise, interests, we have everything but the one issue is that we don’t use science and technology to our benefit. Forest and palm oil products, for instance, when we sell them for a profit, we’re already happy, but it can’t always be this way. “Don’t just sell, we need to explore and benefit from science and technology, especially biotechnology to expand our business, don’t get too comfortable with the way we do business but innovate to continue to move into the future.” He said his ministry and its agency, the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), were always open to any entrepreneur requiring assistance to expand their business in the field of bioeconomy, and have prepared various facilities, including funds, training and expertise, to interested parties. “The potential is very high but we hope that people don’t just listen and watch, if entrepreneurs or companies have bioeconomic ties, come see us, there are lots of facilities, especially for Sabahans. Let’s explore them together,” he said. He added that the recent 2024 Bioeconomic Roadshow was conducted to spread information and seek out bioeconomic entrepreneurs. Mohammad Yusof said Bioeconomy Corporation has guided 28 companies under the BioNexus and Bio-based Accelerator, with companies benefiting from certification, laboratory tests, commercialisation, exemptions, intellectual property, training and innovation. According to the Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Borneo has over 12,000 species of plants, with over 4,000 of them trees, together with Mount Kinabalu being one of the most biodiverse areas in Sabah, having 234 identified plant species and thousands more in the research stage. – Bernama Culinary treat for special students, orphans LANGKAWI: A total of 157 special students and orphans, accompanied by their teachers and caregivers, were treated to a sumptuous meal recently at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort. The teachers and students were from SMK Tunku Putra, SMK Kedawang, SK Ulu Melaka, SK Selat Bagan Nyior, SMK Ayer Hangat, SK Penghulu Ahmad and the Anjung Kasih Langkawi Orphanage. Organised by Berjaya Hotels and Resorts, the special guests were served Malay cuisine favourites such as nasi kerabu, nasi tomato, ayam masak merah, beef rendang and chicken nuggets, among others. They also had traditional desserts, light snacks and kueh, which included tepung pelita, pulut panggang, agar-agar, popiah, roti jala and cakes. The students also received duit raya, which added to their joy. Some of the students put on heartwarming performances, which showcased their talents and creativity. Berjaya Hotels and Resorts area general manager Adrian Chung said hosting the event was part of the Berjaya Group annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. “Our CSR campaigns are always in line with the philosophy of Berjaya Group founder and adviser Tan Sri Vincent Tan. “He has always inspired managers and staff in all the companies within the group to give back to society whenever opportunities arise, so hosting this event is in line with that.” Chung said Berjaya Langkawi Resort, which is nestled amid picturesque landscapes of the island, has previously carried out other community outreach programmes. The event started at 6.30pm with Maghrib prayers led by religious leaders, followed by a buffet dinner. SMK Tunku Putra special education senior The children enjoying a sumptuous spread during the event. – PIC COURTESY OF BERJAYA oInitiative in line with philosophy of Berjaya Group founder and adviser to give back to society █ BY JOSHUA PURUSHOTMAN [email protected] Toxins still found in latest test on mussels SEREMBAN: The results of analyses on the second sample of mussels and water taken from Port Dickson still showed biotoxins above the safe limit. Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department (DOF) director Kasim Tawe said it was lower than the first sample but it is still not safe for humans at a rate of 800 parts per billion. “We need three tests to identify whether to continue or cancel the ban on taking and selling mussels from the location. The third sample was taken and the results are expected this Friday. “So for now, mussels in the area are still not safe to eat and the ban on selling them by retailers or fishermen is still in place.” He said the presence of biotoxins in the waters also occurs naturally and is likely to be accelerated by weather changes or the nutrient content of the seawater in the waters involved. On April 4, a laboratory analysis at the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Centre found that there was harmful algae that caused mussels in Port Dickson’s waters to be contaminated and unsafe for consumption. – Bernama Manage waste to avoid water pollution SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Water Management Board has advised residents holding Raya open houses not to dump household waste into streams and rivers in order to avoid water supply disruptions during the festive season. The agency has outlined some guidelines that can be followed by open house organisers, including ensuring that food and solid waste are disposed of at landfills by authorities to curb water pollution. “Raya open house hosts are reminded not to throw leftover food or garbage into the river. The disposal of food waste and garbage into water channels is strictly prohibited because it can cause river pollution that leads to water supply disruptions during the festive season,” the agency said in a Facebook post. According to the authority, used cooking oil should be taken to a recycling centre to avoid dumping it into the sink or drain. Members of the public who witnessed any such irresponsible activity that can cause water resource pollution should contact Luas at 03-55111800 or 0192647904 (WhatsApp) for further action. The agency also reminded residents not to throw any household waste directly into the river that could cause water pollution when cleaning their homes. Talks on new ICQS to be finalised next month GERIK: The Home Ministry, together with the Perak state government, will finalise discussions on the construction of the new Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Berapit, Pengkalan Hulu, this May. Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said discussions are mainly focused on several technical issues concerning the location, size and construction costs, Bernama reported. “In principle, the ministry has agreed and the discussion process is ongoing between the ministry and state government through the state economic planning unit. “The discussions are centred on the locations offered by the state government near the border checkpoints, indicating more effective efforts in these talks,” he said during a gathering staff and retirees of Pengkalan Hulu district police headquarters on Monday. On April 19 last year, KDN agreed to relocate ICQS Bukit Berapit to a new location due to its distance from the international border checkpoints. assistant Zalila Ramli also had one of her special students recite a doa. “We are thankful to Berjaya Resorts for hosting the children. It is not often that they get to have sumptuous meals at a hotel and this occasion will remain in their memories for a long time. “I also wanted to ensure the event is memorable for the children, which is why I got one of my students to recite the doa. “The songs and dances were performed by students from three schools – SMK Kedawang, SK Ulu Melaka and SK Penghulu Ahmad,” she said, adding that they were all excited to showcase their talents. Earlier, Chung said the resort was honoured to host such a meaningful event for the special children. “Witnessing the smiles on their faces and the sense of belonging they experienced truly touched our hearts. “As a resort that is a huge part of the local community, we are committed to using our resources and facilities to create moments of joy and togetherness.” He said even the staff were grateful for the opportunity to create a positive impact and are looking forward to continuing efforts to support those in need. Chung said as Langkawi’s premier hospitality destination, Berjaya Hotels and Resorts will continue to spearhead initiatives that embody compassion, inclusivity and solidarity with the local community.
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 5 Najib’s appeal to recuse judge to be heard on Aug 20 PUTRAJAYA: The Appeals Court has set Aug 20 to hear former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s appeal to recuse judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah from presiding over his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial. DPP Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam confirmed the date and said Appeals Court senior assistant registrar Nurul Azrina Mohamed Yusof set it during case management yesterday. Najib, 70, is appealing against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 18 last year to dismiss his application to recuse Sequerah. The former Pekan MP made the application after the judge disclosed that he and former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan had been partners in a law firm. In dismissing the application, Sequerah, now an Appeals Court judge, ruled that there had been no communication between them on a professional or personal basis since Loo left the firm in December 2008. Loo testified in the ongoing trial as the 50th prosecution witness. Najib is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. The trial will resume on April 22. – Bernama Accused ordered to undergo mental check KANGAR: The Sessions Court yesterday ordered a man who posted offensive communications on his Facebook page against Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail to be sent to a hospital for mental observation. Judge Musyiri Peet ordered Hasbullah Mohammad, 41, to be sent to a psychiatric hospital following a request by his lawyer Shazwan Shaidan. The judge also set May 15 for submission of the psychiatric report on the accused. Shazwan said his client is a Person with Disability card holder with a mental disability who is undergoing follow-up treatment at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital and is sometimes referred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Hasbullah had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is accused of committing the act using the profile name Muhammad Muhammad (Ku Tehh Ku Muhammad) at 3.26am on March 6. The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and provides a fine of not more than RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both. Perlis prosecution director Muhamad Asyraf Md Kamal prosecuted. – Bernama Boycott supporters held over threats KUANTAN: Police arrested five local men, including a civil servant and a trader, to assist in an investigation on threats and provocation against a customer at a fast food restaurant in Sungai Isap on Friday. Kuantan district police chief ACP Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the men, aged between 27 and 43, were arrested on Saturday and Sunday. “Some have criminal records, including drugrelated offences. They were remanded to assist in the investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code.” He said several men campaigning to boycott the restaurant reportedly provoked the customer using abusive language at 10.25pm. He was threatened with physical assault when he approached them, but the situation was defused by his wife. He then filed a report on Saturday. – Bernama Court to hear Muhyiddin’s bid to quash charges PUTRAJAYA: The Appeals Court has set July 9 to hear an application for leave by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to review its previous decision to reinstate four power abuse charges involving RM232.5 million against him. The court will hear preliminary objections filed by the prosecution on April 1, on grounds that the application is trivial and an abuse of court process. The hearing date was fixed yesterday during case management before Appeals Court senior assistant registrar Nurul Azrina Mohamed Yusof. Muhyiddin’s lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said the defence requested a five-man panel to hear the application, but was told to write in for Appeals Court president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim to consider the matter. Muhyiddin filed the application on March 27 and is represented by seven other lawyers, including Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Chetan Jethwani. The four charges had previously been struck out by the High Court. In the notice of motion, Muhyiddin said the decision of the Appeals Court was null as it was made without the jurisdiction required under Section 50(1) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964. Muhyiddin, 76, as prime minister and president of Bersatu at the material time, was charged with using his position to receive bribes amounting to RM232.5 million for the party from Datuk Azman Yusoff and three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd. He is accused of committing the act at the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and August 20, 2021. He also faces two charges of receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM195 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account. He allegedly committed the offence at CIMB Bank Menara KL Branch in Jalan Stesen Sentral between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021 and between Feb 8 and July 8, 2022. – Bernama KLIA shooting suspect remanded for seven days KOTA BHARU: The man who was arrested over the shooting incident at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on Sunday has been remanded for seven days. The Kota Bharu Magistrate’s Court issued an order yesterday to remand the 38-year-old suspect until April 22 to facilitate investigations under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 8 of the Arms Act 1960. The order was issued by Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid. The suspect arrived at the court in lock-up attire at 8.25am, escorted by several Mohd Shuhaily (in white) and Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun (left) showing the gun and other items seized from the suspect. – BERNAMAPIC oInvestigations show shooter to be of sound mind and had planned, executed attack on his own policemen. He was arrested in front of a private hospital at about 3pm on Monday by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers. In the 1.30am incident at KLIA, the man fired two shots at his wife at the arrival hall entrance but missed. One shot hit her bodyguard in the abdomen and he was admitted to a hospital and reported to be in stable condition. Police had earlier said they were looking for Hafizul Harawi, 38, to help in investigations, Bernama reported. Bukit Aman Police CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the suspect arrived in Kelantan by car on April 14, changed the registration plate number to avoid detection and stayed at a hotel in Kota Bharu. “The suspect has four identity cards belonging to other people and one was used to check in at the hotel.” He said the suspect used different identity cards to avoid being recognised by the public or detected by authorities. “Based on intelligence, police managed to arrest the man after a brief struggle.” Commenting on the man’s possible networks in the shooting case, Mohd Shuhaily said he moved alone. “The firearm is believed to have been obtained illegally from a neighbouring country. We will investigate how the suspect obtained it.” He added that an examination showed the suspect to be of sound mental condition and planned the shooting by himself. “After the suspect opened fire at KLIA, he did not go anywhere else or meet any individual for help, but instead (travelled) to Kelantan.” He said a week before the incident, the suspect returned from Saudi Arabia, went to Bangkok and then entered the country through Kelantan. Police also seized a Glock 19 pistol, a magazine containing eight bullets, a box containing 24 bullets, a car, six mobile phones, foreign currencies and a passport.
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 6 The Sun invites your esteemed organisation to subscribe to our latest education bulletin in response to the upcoming SPM results to be released. The Bulletin to be published on Friday May 3rd 2024 provides a variety of choices for SPM school leavers on the various pathways available, to pursue their studies. DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY, COME JOIN US! PUBLICATION DATE 3 May 2024 (Friday) BOOKING DEADLINE 26 April, 2024 (Friday) MATERIAL DEADLINE 29 April, 2024 (Monday) Contact theSun's Sales & Marketing team to book your advertising space. 03-7784 6688 [email protected] Malaysian Paper Visually-impaired cook looking at bright future DENGKIL: A local restaurateur defied all odds when he used his cooking talent to earn a living and support his family even after losing sight in his left eye in a workplace accident. Mohamad Farid Mohamad Rasidi, also known as Chef OKU (disabled chef), serves a range of cuisines from Morocco to Beijing at his restaurant, that he runs with his wife Siti Nur Zawani Najlaa Abdul Hamid. Dina Corner, located in Kampung Semarang, started operation in 2011 six years after Farid had his accident. Despite working with only one eye, Farid navigates the kitchen with finesse, attending to orders from customers who are greeted with a message on their tables that reads: “Please be patient, disabled chef in action.” “Only the patient frequents my shop. In the early days of my business, I almost had a confrontation with a customer due to delays in fulfilling his order. The experience spurred me to improve my cooking efficiency to ensure customer satisfaction.” “My left eye will not regain sight as it was hit by a falling rock at work, which damaged the tissues behind the socket,” he said, adding that he also suffers a bulging right eye due to a thyroid condition he was diagnosed with in 2014. Yet, that has not dampened my spirits. Who would have thought my love for exploring foreign cuisines while working abroad would support me now?” Sharing the menu, Farid said all rice-based dishes were prepared with fragrant rice and a blend of herbs. “The recipe originates from Beijing. I like to eat herbal rice, a dish I have tried to recreate after enjoying it many times while working in the city. “What I find delightful is that whenever I prepare fried or chicken rice with the herbal variety, the customers’ response is positive. They appreciate the fragrant dish,” said Farid, who previously worked in engineering and technical plumbing at a private company. The other 35 items on the menu include Beijing-style chicken, Chinese-style ginger chicken, sizzling chicken noodles, hand-pulled noodles, mee suah and marmosa claypot soup, a recipe from Morocco. “Our restaurant features a range of affordable dishes, all priced from RM2 to RM16. We also provide free meals for disabled customers.” Farid, who also offers work opportunities for locals and persons with disabilities, said he regularly seeks guidance through counselling services provided by the Social Welfare Department. “The counsellors often pay me a visit. They observe how I interact with customers to see how I am doing emotionally.” – Bernama GEORGE TOWN: A drop in the water level at the Air Itam Dam, which is currently at 30%, is not a cause for panic, said the Penang Water Supply Corporation. Its CEO K. Pathmanathan said yesterday the island may face a water shortage if there is no rainfall in the coming weeks. “So, even if the water level has been declining, we expect the supply to be sufficient. “However, to be on the safe side and to ensure supply sufficiency, we need to use water wisely and reduce consumption by 10%.” The dam serves about 170,000 residents in Air Itam, Paya Terubong and parts of Green Lane on the island. Water levels at the dam were recorded at 32.8% on Feb 5. On Feb 3, the Air Itam Water Dam Action Plan 2024 (AIDAP 2024) was implemented to potentially increase water levels to 50% by the end of this month. However, recent festivities necessitated an increase of raw water being treated at the Air Itam water treatment plant from April 12 to 14. On the low water level, the Penang Water Supply Corporation said in a statement that it has been operating on “alert status” since Jan 1. “At the beginning of this year, the effective capacity of the dam was 68.9%. “We have reduced the drawdown to the range of 11 million litres per day (MLD) of raw water from the dam since April 15 to increase the water level. “The raw water drawdown was 25.82 MLD between April 10 and 14. The corporation is still actively defending its remaining reserves through AIDAP 2024.” Pathmanathan said water reserve levels had previously gone down to 20% and yet, there was no water supply disruption. The annual average consumption in Penang was recorded at 877 MLD in 2023, an increase of 17 MLD from 860 MLD in 2021. In February, the average daily water consumption in Penang was 927 MLD. “There was a sudden surge of 50 MLD in water consumption year-on-year last month,” said Pathmanathan. According to international weather reports, there will be a transition from the hot and dry El Nino phenomenon to the wet and rainy La Nina phenomenon soon. The Meteorological Department has also forecast a higher rainfall in Penang between April and July, with the arrival of the inter-monsoon season. oAbsence of rainfall may result in water shortage but capacity expected to be sufficient: Penang Water Supply Corp █ BY T.C. KHOR [email protected] Pathmanathan said reserve levels at the dam had previously gone down to 20% but there was no water supply disruption. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN ‘Drop in dam level no ‘Drop in dam level no cause for ause for panic’
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 7 WHO warns of falsified cough syrup ingredients ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation issued an alert on Monday warning drugmakers of five contaminated batches of propylene glycol, an ingredient used in medicinal syrups, that appear to have been falsely labelled as manufactured by Dow Chemical units in Asia and Europe. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued three alerts between January and March over high levels of ethylene glycol (EG), an industrial solvent known to be toxic, found in drums purportedly made by subsidiaries of Dow Chemical in Thailand, Germany and Singapore. DRAP sent suspect drums of propylene glycol, a sweet-tasting alcohol used in over-thecounter medicines such as cough syrups, for testing. The samples were found to have EG contamination of 0.76-100%, according to the WHO. International manufacturing standards say only trace amounts of EG, below 0.1%, can be considered safe. Contaminated cough syrups made in India and Indonesia have been linked to deaths of more than 300 children globally since late 2022. The medicines were found to contain high levels of EG and diethylene glycol, leading to acute kidney injury and death. In the Indonesia case, authorities found that one supplier had placed false Dow Thailand labels onto drums containing EG that it sold to a distributor. Several of the batches seized by DRAP were labelled as having been made in 2023, the WHO said, months after the agency issued a global alert calling on drugmakers to verify supplies. The WHO said Dow confirmed that the materials identified in its Monday alert and found by DRAP were not made or supplied by the company. “The propylene glycol materials identified are considered to have been deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled,” the WHO said, noting batches may have been distributed to other countries and still be in storage. Dow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The WHO alert comes the same week regulators in Tanzania and Rwanda joined Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa to recall batches of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup after Nigeria said it found high levels of diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent known to be toxic. The batch of Benylin Paediatric syrup recalled was made by J&J in South Africa in May 2021, although Kenvue now owns the brand after a spin-off from J&J last year. – Reuters Philippines police seize 1.8 tonnes of meth worth US$230m MANILA: The Philippines has seized 1.8 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, President Ferdinand Marcos said yesterday, describing the bust as a record and the “right approach” to the drug war. Police found the illegal drugs, estimated to be worth more than US$230 million (RM1.1 billion), on Monday during a search of a van in Batangas province, south of Manila. The driver was arrested. Marcos inspected the drug haul yesterday and said it was the “biggest shipment of shabu ever caught” in the Philippines. Shabu is the local name for cheap and highly addictive crystal meth. “But not one person died, no one died, no gunfight, no one got injured,” Marcos said. “We did the operation carefully. That’s the right approach, for me, that should be the approach in the drug war.” Police were tracing the source of the drugs, but Marcos said they were not made locally. Thousands of people were killed in anti-drug operations under former president Rodrigo Duterte, sparking an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses. The drug war has continued under Marcos even though he has pushed for more emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation. More than 600 people have been killed in drug-related killings since he took power in June 2022, according to figures compiled by Dahas, a University of the Philippines-backed research project that keeps a count of such killings. Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde said Monday’s drug bust proved that going after narcotics “can be done without violence, if authorities really do their job and follow due process”. Conde challenged the Marcos administration to declare an end to the violent drug war and rescind Duterte’s orders for the bloody crackdown. “It’s time for Marcos to walk the talk on drug policy reform,” Conde said. – AFP Rebels raise flag at seized Myanmar base MYAWADDY: Myanmar resistance fighters on Monday burned the flag used by the military government and raised their own banner at a newly captured army base, as a senior rebel commander vowed they would hold the strategic area near the Thai border. The celebrations by fighters linked to the armed ethnic Karen National Union (KNU) came less than a week after the capture of Myawaddy, a key trading town on Thailand’s western border. Myawaddy’s fall marked another battlefield loss for the powerful military regime that seized control in 2021 from an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains in detention. Simmering anger against the government has turned into a nationwide armed resistance movement that is now increasingly operating in coordination with established ethnic rebel groups to challenge the military across large parts of Myanmar. Since last October, the army has lost control of key areas near its borders with both India and China to a loose coalition of allied resistance forces. The loss of Myawaddy at the Thai border could further dent trade revenue for the government. In a rare in-person interview, Colonel Nadah Htoo, an operational commander of Brigade 6 of the KNU’s military wing that captured the army base, said government forces have tried and failed to retake the area. “They have been unsuccessful in making a breakthrough twice now,” he said. He added that the rebels controlled most of the area and would continue to consolidate authority before handing over administration to the KNU’s political arm. “Our military operation will end at the end of April,” he said. A KNLA fighter raises the Karen national flag at Thingyan Nyi Naung village on the outskirts of Myawaddy on Monday. – REUTERSPIC oSenior commander confident of retaining control B R I E F SFOUR DEAD, 19 MISSING AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES SRINAGAR: Four people died and at least 19 were missing after a boat ferrying them across a swollen river capsized in Kashmir yesterday. Rescuers in rubber boats joined by marine commandos were scrambling to find survivors as hundreds of family members gathered at the riverbanks. The missing included several children who had been on their way to school when the boat overturned in the Jhelum River. “We have four dead,” said Muzaffar Zargar, superintendent of the city’s main hospital. Three others were being treated. At least 26 people were on the boat when it capsized. Days of rain across the Kashmir Valley had swelled the river. The small vessel had no motor, but its crew propelled it between riverbanks by pulling a rope fixed at both ends. Witnesses said the rope snapped with the force of the fast-flowing water, crashing the boat against a pillar of a bridge. – AFP CHINA, U.S. OFFICIALS TOUCH BASE ON ISSUES WASHINGTON: The top US diplomat for East Asia discussed Middle East developments, the South China Sea and Taiwan issues with Chinese counterparts in Beijing. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink met Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office Deputy Director Qiu Kaiming. The officials, including US National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan Sarah Beran and US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, discussed issues, including China’s support for Russia’s defence industrial base. “The visit builds on recent high-level diplomacy with the PRC to manage areas of difference and cooperation, while reducing the risk of miscalculation,” the State Department said. Though US officials say communication channels have largely normalised after months of tension, they warned that support for Russia’s war put ties at risk. – Reuters SULAWESI LANDSLIDE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 20 JAKARTA: Authorities said they have ended a search and rescue operation after a landslide in central Indonesia left 20 people dead. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides that struck two villages in the Tana Toraja regency in the South Sulawesi province on Saturday. Rescuers had been searching for two last missing persons whose bodies were located on Monday, a three-year-old toddler and her 43-yearold mother. “The joint search and rescue team found (the victims) not far apart,” said local search and rescue agency head Mexianus Bekabel. With the discovery of the final two victims, the search and rescue operation was concluded and rescuers returned to their units. Authorities had previously said 19 people were dead and two missing, but put the final toll at 20. Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season and the problem has been aggravated in some places by deforestation, with prolonged torrential rain causing flooding in some areas of the archipelago nation. – AFP A spokesman for the military government did not answer calls on Monday from Reuters. Faced with the rebel assault, several hundred soldiers tasked with defending Myawaddy withdrew from their positions, with a group of less than 200 retreating to near a bridge connecting the Myanmar town with Thailand’s Mae Sot. These soldiers must either surrender to Thai authorities or to the KNU, failing which they may be targeted by resistance troops, Nadah Htoo said. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said last week that the soldiers would be allowed to cross the border if they gave up arms and requested refuge. Chairman of the State Administration Council Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech last month that the forces fighting the military were “destroying the path towards forming a Union based on democratic values and federalism”. But for the allied resistance forces in Myawaddy, Monday was a day to celebrate. “We are very happy that our revolution has come this far. If we can take more Myanmar bases we will achieve our objective,” said Myo Myint Keyaw, a 26-year-old fighter in a People’s Defence Force, a militia allied with the KNU fighters. While the rebels celebrated, reporters in Myawaddy could hear air strikes as fighting raged on the frontlines about 40km to the west, where government reinforcements were trying to retake the area. Burnt down houses and buildings riddled with bullets were visible near the captured military base, where stray dogs roamed among empty buildings. – Reuters
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 8 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper North Korea urged to resume talks SEOUL:The US ambassador to the UN visited the heavily-fortified border between North and South Korea yesterday, urging Pyongyang to return to talks as global enforcement of UN sanctions stumbles. Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived in South Korea on Sunday on a trip aimed at keeping up pressure on the nuclear-armed North after Russia last month used its UN veto to effectively end UN monitoring of violations of the raft of sanctions on Kim Jong Un’s regime. Experts have said the shift was a significant victory for Kim, who has ramped up ties with Moscow including, Washington and Seoul have claimed, sending Russia weapons for use in Ukraine. “The United States harbours no hostile intent towards the DPRK,” Thomas-Greenfield said at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, referring to the North by the acronym of its official name. “We have held the doors open for meaningful diplomacy and we remain open to dialogue, real, productive dialogue without preconditions,” she said. “All the DPRK (has) to do is say yes and show up to the table,” she added. Washington and Seoul have condemned Moscow for its move at the United Nations, calling it “irresponsible”. Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year, with Pyongyang’s leader declaring Moscow ties as his country’s “number one priority”. Seoul has since claimed that the North has sent 7,000 containers of arms to Russia. “This is clearly a concern of ours,” ThomasGreenfield said, when asked about North KoreaRussia ties. “It is certainly the reason we’re seeing Russia protect the DPRK in the council vetoing the 1718 Panel of Experts resolution, blocking efforts to hold the DPRK accountable for numerous violations of resolutions in the council,” she said. Kim earlier this year declared Seoul his country’s “principal enemy”, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over “even 0.001mm” of territorial infringement. – AFP B R I E F SSUSPENDED JUDGE CANNOT BE DEPORTED, COURT RULES SYDNEY: A Kiribati court has ruled that a High Court judge in the Pacific island nation suspended by the president cannot be deported to Australia where he was born until parliament considers the findings of a tribunal examining a complaint against him. High Court Commissioner Aomoro Amten said that although Lambourne’s suspension is valid, it was unconstitutional to withhold his salary, and he must not be deported until parliament considers the outcome of a tribunal. Lambourne’s lawyers had argued in court that none of the allegations made against him – including a disputed claim he took too long to make judgments – justified the president forming a tribunal to investigate his removal from office. – Reuters FRENCH MALL HERO OFFERED AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP SYDNEY: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday suggested a visiting Frenchman who heroically fended off a knife-wielding mall attacker using only a bollard could be offered citizenship. Damien Guerot has been dubbed a “hero” of Saturday’s attack that killed six people and wounded a dozen more. Albanese thanked Guerot for his “extraordinary bravery” in confronting Joel Cauchi on an escalator and preventing the 40-year-old attacker from reaching more victims. “I say this to Guerot who is dealing with his visa applications, that you are welcome here, you are welcome to stay for as long as you like,” he said. “This is someone who we would welcome becoming an Australian citizen, although that would of course be a loss for France. We thank him for his extraordinary bravery.” – AFP FBI opens probe in Baltimore bridge collapse WASHINGTON: The FBI said on Monday it opened a criminal investigation into the collapse of a Baltimore bridge in March when a ship crashed into a bridge support, while local officials confirmed the recovery of a fourth body from the incident. FBI agents boarded the cargo ship Dali to conduct court-authorised law enforcement activity, an FBI spokesperson said. The body of a fourth victim was recovered on Monday after divers spotted what they believed to be a missing construction vehicle, inside which they found the body, the Key Bridge Unified Command said in a statement. Details surrounding the victim’s identity were not made public at the request of family. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River on March 26, killing six men who were working on the span, after the massive container ship lost power and crashed into a support pylon. The bodies of two victims are still missing. The investigation into the collapse will focus in part on whether the crew of the Dali left the port knowing the freighter had serious problems with its systems. Safety investigators have recovered the ship’s “black box” recorder, which provides data on its position, speed, heading, radar, and bridge audio and radio communications, as well as alarms. The city of Baltimore said on Monday it hired two law firms – DiCello Levitt and Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Trial Lawyers – as it considered litigation against the owner, charterer and operator of the ship. The registered owner of the Singaporeflagged ship is Grace Ocean Pte Ltd. Synergy Marine Group managed the ship and Maersk chartered the vessel. The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board separately told Congress last week that its investigators had interviewed key cargo ship personnel. When the crash occurred, the Dali was leaving Baltimore for Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a crew of 21, plus two pilots on board. The same ship was involved in an incident in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2016, when it hit a quay as it tried to exit a North Sea container terminal. An inspection in June 2023 carried out in San Antonio, Chile, found the vessel had propulsion and auxiliary machinery deficiencies, according to data on the public Equasis website, which provides information on ships. According to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, the vessel passed foreign-port inspections last June and September. – Reuters Second Sydney stabbing triggers clashes, 4 hurt SYDNEY: Police yesterday said a knife attack on an Assyrian church bishop and some followers in Sydney was a terrorist act motivated by suspected religious extremism, as the country reeled from a second stabbing incident in three days. At least four people were wounded in the attack, including Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel of the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, when a man lunged at him with a knife during a service live-streamed on Monday. The incident at the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley triggered clashes outside the church between police and an angry crowd who demanded the attacker be handed over to them. Police arrested a male teenager at the scene and were forced to hold him at the church for his own safety. oOfficials deem no further threats to security “We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism,” said New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb. “After consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident.” Police said there was premeditation as the male attacker travelled to the church, far from his home, with a knife. But Webb said police at this early stage of the investigation believe the attacker was acting alone. Christ the Good Shepherd Church in a statement called the attack an isolated incident and said it was awaiting the police findings into the motive. “The Church denounces retaliation of any kind,” it said. Emergency crews said they attended to around 30 people after the clash outside the church, and seven were taken to hospitals with injuries. Several police personnel were also hospitalised with injuries and 20 police vehicles were damaged, Webb said. It was the second major stabbing attack in just three days in Australia’s most populous city after six people were killed and 12 injured in a knife attack at a beachside mall in the Bondi area on Saturday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was no place in Australia for violent extremism. “We’re a peace-loving nation. This is a time to unite, not divide, as a community, and as a country,” he said. Bishop Emmanuel’s live-streamed sermons attract a global audience and his video clips rack up hundreds of thousands of views online. He became well known for his hardline views during the pandemic when he described lockdowns as “mass slavery”. A sermon uploaded on YouTube last year showed the bishop making critical comments. Australia’s spy chief said he would check people close to the attacker to rule out any further threats. “It is prudent that we do this to determine there are no threats or immediate threats to security. At this time, we’re not seeing that,” said Mike Burgess, director-general of security for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. – Reuters FLYING COLOURS ... Visitors gather to watch and take photographs during a kite festival on Ao Manao Beach in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Monday. – AFPPIC
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 9 Israeli military vows response to Iran attack Iran willing to exercise restraint, China told BEIJING: China’s foreign minister held phone discussions with his Iranian counterpart, Beijing state media said yesterday, reporting that Iran was “willing to exercise restraint” after its first-ever attack on Israel’s territory. Israel has vowed to respond to the unprecedented Iranian missile and drone strikes over the weekend, which have prompted appeals for de-escalation by world leaders fearing wider conflict. The United States has repeatedly made public appeals for China to use its influence over Tehran to manage tensions in the region. During the call, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian briefed Wang Yi on the April 1 attack on a consular annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which Tehran says prompted its aerial assault, Xinhua said. Amir-Abdollahian told Wang that the UN Security Council “did not make a necessary response to this attack” and that “Iran has the right to self-defence in response to the violation of its sovereignty”. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran was “willing to exercise restraint” and had no intention of further escalating tensions, adding the regional situation was “very sensitive”. Wang said China “strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack” on the Iranian consular annex and regards it as a “serious violation of international law and unacceptable”. China noted Iran’s statement that, in response, it had taken limited action in “selfdefence”. “China appreciates Iran’s stress on not targeting regional and neighbouring countries as well as its reiteration on pursuing a goodneighbourly and friendly policy, Wang said. “It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity.” Tehran’s Foreign Ministry said AmirAbdollahian briefed Wang on Iran’s “legitimate action” and “warned the White House” that further attacks on Iran’s interests or security would invite a “decisive, immediate and extensive” response. China, historically sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, has been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “China is willing to maintain communication with the Iranian side and jointly push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue,” Wang said. – AFP Protesters block Golden Gate Bridge and roads across US B R I E F SPORTUGAL NOT READY TO RECOGNISE PALESTINE MADRID: Portugal is not ready to recognise a Palestinian state without a concerted EU approach, its new premier said on Monday after meeting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is trying to drum up support for recognition. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said his government would wait for the European Union and the UN to work out a common position before advancing. “We don’t go as far as other governments do with regard to recognising the state of Palestine,” he said. “We believe that this understanding should be built on a multilateral basis within the European Union and the United Nations.” On March 22, Spain issued a statement with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia saying they were “ready to recognise Palestine” in a move that would happen when “the circumstances are right”. During his visit to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier this month, Sanchez said Madrid could on its own officially recognise the state of Palestine by the end of June. – AFP THREE KILLED IN WEST BANK SETTLER RAMPAGES RAMALLAH: Armed Israeli settlers shot dead two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Monday, hours after Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teen during a military raid. Monday’s violence brought to eight the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or armed settlers since Friday, as Palestinian authorities reported increased settler rampages across the West Bank. Salah Bani Jaber, mayor of Aqraba, a town near the northern city of Nablus, witnessed Monday’s settler attack. He said that some 50 settlers, many of them armed, attacked members of his community and fired at Palestinian youth, killing two of them and wounding others. “There were Israeli soldiers at the scene who stood idly by watching the settlers,” he said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said soldiers blocked its ambulances from reaching the area and tending to the wounded. The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident. – Reuters TEL AVIV: Israelis awaited word on how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would respond to Iran’s first-ever direct attack as international pressure for restraint grew amid fears of an escalation of the conflict. Netanyahu on Monday summoned his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours to weigh a response to Iran’s weekend missile and drone attack. Military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Israel would respond. He provided no details. “This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response,” he said at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, which sustained some damage in the attack. Iran will respond to any action against its interests, President Ebrahim Raisi told Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday, according to the Iranian Student News Agency. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for what it says was an April 1 Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus, and signalled that it does not seek further escalation. While the attack caused no deaths and limited damage, it has increased fears of open warfare between the long-time foes and fuelled concerns that violence rooted in the Gaza war is spreading. US President Joe Biden told Netanyahu at the weekend that the United States, which helped Israel blunt the Iranian attack, will not take part in an Israeli counter-strike. Since the war in Gaza began in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iranaligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. Israel said four of its soldiers were wounded hundreds of metres inside Lebanese territory overnight. It appeared to be the first such known incident since the Gaza war erupted, although there have been several exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah. “We’re on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it,” Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “We have to step on the brakes and reverse gear.” French President Emmanuel Macron, oWashington says no advanced warning received German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made similar appeals. Washington and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also have called for restraint. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: “We don’t want to see a war with Iran. We don’t want to see a regional conflict.” He said that it was for Israel to decide “whether and how they’ll respond”. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Iran’s actions threaten stability in the Middle East and could cause economic spillovers. The US would use sanctions, and work with allies, to keep disrupting Iran’s “destabilising activity”, she said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Group of Seven major democracies were working on a package of coordinated measures against Iran. “I spoke to my fellow G7 leaders, we are united in our condemnation of this attack,” Sunak said in parliament. Italy, which holds the rotating G7 presidency, said it was open to new sanctions and suggested any new measures would target individuals. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said all G7 members would have to back new sanctions. – Reuters LOS ANGELES: Demonstrators blocked San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on Monday, halting traffic for hours as part of a coordinated day of action against Israel’s war in Gaza. Aerial footage showed stationary traffic in one direction on the iconic bridge, while lanes in the other direction were empty. Similar protests were held across the United States and around the world, after the group A15 Action called for coordinating a “multi-city blockade ... in solidarity with Palestine”. “In each city, we will identify and blockade major choke points, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact,” the group said on its website. Protesters blocked roads in Philadelphia and shut down highway traffic heading into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – forcing some passengers to make their way by foot to catch their flights. Demonstrators who were blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge held a banner reading “Stop the world for Gaza”. “We know that money is really what speaks to (elected leaders),” said an organiser, who gave her name as Hayshawiya. The California Highway Patrol said that officers were making arrests before announcing that traffic had reopened in both directions by noon. In Los Angeles, a few hundred people marched downtown behind a banner reading “End the siege on Gaza now, end US funding to Israel”. Other protests were held in Connecticut, where demonstrators blocked access to an aerospace manufacturer, and in Oregon, where a highway was shut down. In New York, protesters took to the Brooklyn Bridge and temporarily halted traffic. – AFP A displaced Palestinian reacts while inspecting a collapsed building in central Gaza Strip on Monday. – AFPPIC
10 WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesun.my/ /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper Children’s right to privacy in digital age I N today’s digital age, social media platforms play a vital role in the lives of our society. In Malaysia, media has become an important tool for us to acquire, create and disseminate knowledge and information. With approximately 26.8 million users, or 78.5% of the population, Malaysians use social media to communicate, connect with others and participate in and shape their global community (Meltwater Social Media Statistics for Malaysia, 2023). As people spend more time online, whether for work, school or social interaction, extra attention is needed to address issues such as disinformation, deep fakes, data privacy and learners’ digital well-being. The Education Ministry has established guidelines regarding the appropriate use of social media platforms by teachers since 2017. Teachers have been advised to adhere to these guidelines diligently, and it has been emphasised that strict measures will be implemented should there be any breach. The National Parent-Teacher Association has disclosed that they receive at least one complaint daily from parents regarding their children being featured as content on teachers’ social media. Ensuring the security of learners’ data and privacy is crucial within the education sector. Education technology applications in the Southeast Asia region collect data on students, including location and learning activities. The switch to online learning during Covid-19 exposed children’s data, yet less than one in three countries guarantee data privacy in education by law or policy (United Nations (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Global Education Monitoring Report, 2023). Given the profound importance of technology and social media tools in the field of education, teachers and parents must exhibit proficiency in their utilisation. While social media can pose privacy risks, they can be managed with informed usage. There is also a huge upside where social media can be a great tool for modelling digital citizenship. Teachers can utilise social media to: 0 Share best teaching and learning practices. By discussing best practices and pedagogies, schools can join the online education community and make links with other schools. 0 Provide an authentic audience for their students’ work. Simple posts showing children’s work may prompt discussions at home and strengthen the link between learning at school and home. 0 Cultivate digital citizenship and values among students, and build more connected school communities. Many schools highlight their school values within their posts, and teachers look out for good examples to share. According to the Common Sense Education (2022), there are three questions you should ask before posting anything from your classroom or school on social media: 1. Is there anything in this post that personally identifies me or my students? 2. Do I have explicit permission to post it? You usually need parental consent to share student information. Refer to the social media guidelines and privacy policy for your school to learn how information is protected, collected and used. 3. Is what I am posting furthering the learning of my students or other learners? Let parents know if students need to communicate with people outside your class (other classes, experts and authors). Schools should obtain parental consent before posting photos of children on social media. Additionally, it is advisable to ask learners, while taking a photo, if they are comfortable with it being shared on the school’s social media platform. Full names should not be included alongside the photos. Some schools go the extra mile by blurring the faces of the children as an additional safeguarding measure. Another primary concern for schools when establishing a social media presence is the potential for negative comments on the school’s page. The key lies in making thoughtful choices regarding the settings. With the privacy settings feature, school teachers can decide who is allowed to follow them, send posts or comments, react to videos, take part in a duet and send them messages. They are also able to avoid undesirable content from being downloaded, create and edit a block list, set up a direct messaging button for parents to voice concerns and set up a code of conduct which teachers and parents must follow. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child released General Comment No. 25 in February 2021, highlighting the extension of children’s rights to the digital sphere. This landmark document underscores the importance of protecting children’s dignity and ensuring their equal rights in physical and digital environments. Similarly in Malaysia, measures to address online risks include the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, in which the primary role is to oversee and regulate personal data processing, emphasising protection and prevention of misuse in commercial contexts. Furthermore, raising awareness about the potential risks associated with data and privacy is essential. It is crucial to identify gaps in the existing practices of schools to ensure the digital safety of learners while empowering teachers and citizens, including parents, with media and information literacy competencies. This will make the teaching and learning process more resistant to external challenges and threats, and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The writer is a media and information literacy researcher, educator and trainer. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang. Comments: [email protected] “Given the profound importance of technology and social media tools in the field of education, teachers and parents must exhibit proficiency in their utilisation. Raising awareness about the potential risks associated with data and privacy is essential. – SUNPIC COMMENT by Lai Cheng Wong
11 WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 Urgent need for peacebuilders council I T is indeed a welcome move by civil society organisations to launch a #MZB365 campaign to encourage the practice of forgiveness yearround. It will be a great leap forward if this campaign is complemented by the formation of a National Peacebuilders Council to dampen the surging tide of fear-mongering religious nationalism igniting violence across the world. Fear-mongering hinges on the notion that minorities present a threat. Slights and perceived threats to one’s ethnic or religious community are sensationalised to provoke violent defensive reactions. Such viciousness has taken firm hold in three large regions of the world, setting at least 33 nations ablaze. In our country, incidents upon which the law enforcers have already taken stern action continue to be sensationalised despite top-level authorities issuing strong admonitions. Nusantara Academy Strategic Research political analyst Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, in calling for an end to boycotts of certain businesses, said to theSun on March 29: “The satisfaction felt by those participating in boycotts stems from a sense of having taken action, although it harms Malaysians, especially the majority of workers in the businesses who are (locals). Those calling for boycotts often disregard the repercussions, such as the possibility of Malaysians losing their jobs.” Azmi lamented: “What was once a sporadic occurrence has now become a common affair. Boycotts are now being called each time someone feels offended or wants to prove a point. But it is crucial to realise that such calls are no longer driven by geopolitical concerns, but by issues of race and religion.” Also speaking to theSun on March 29, International Islamic University Malaysia Department of Quran and Sunnah Studies senior lecturer Dr Abu Hafiz Salleh Huddin said the call for boycotts at every dissatisfaction has gone beyond reasonable bounds and contradicts Islamic teachings. “People must be moderate even in a state of anger. Similarly, any call for a boycott should avoid worsening inter-racial tensions in the country. Instead, efforts should be made to promote peaceful resolutions where conflicts arise.” It is heartening to note that the Machang Member of Parliament and youth chief of the Malay-based political party Bersatu, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Kamal, has called on his fellow Muslims to refrain from succumbing to paranoia. “This is getting ridiculous. Our actions need to be based on facts and not blind emotions,” he said. A National Peacebuilders Council, comprising of individuals who are dedicated to heeding the King’s call to build unity, should focus on spreading multiethnic, multicultural and multifaith understanding. The council must develop effective content to outdo the surge of harmful social media postings. On April 7, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching disclosed that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, in collaboration with social media platforms, removed 1,454 contents touching on issues of race, religion and royalty between January and March this year. Of the total, hate speech related to religion was the highest (727), followed by racial issues (588) and the royal institution (139). What is the danger of manipulating emotions through identity politics, inflammatory rhetoric and incendiary social media postings? The consequence is that it eventually splits the population of a country. The link between provocative rhetoric and violent outbursts is a well-established psychological fact. America, which claims to be the world’s most democratic Tribute to the ‘Tiger of Jelutong’ IT has been 10 years since the passing of the late Karpal Singh, whom I address as “boss”. He is renowned by the media and the public as the “Tiger of Jelutong”. Many within the legal field know him as the defender of the defenceless and the voice for the voiceless. Many remember him as one of the key builders of DAP. For me, I remember him as my greatest mentor, in law and politics. At the start of my legal career, I worked at his son Gobind Singh’s law firm. It was through this relationship with Gobind that I had opportunities to work on cases with my boss. I served as his junior counsel on numerous occasions and had the privilege to witness him arguing in Malaysia’s apex courts. Every point he articulated and every question he posed proved he was an eloquent lawyer, underscoring his love for the law and justice, defining his illustrious career. He was also willing to teach a new lawyer like me the tricks of the trade and instil in me on what is right and wrong. Never did he tire of ensuring that those who came to him received guidance and a strong moral compass. I continue to carry those invaluable lessons with me now as a partner in my law firm and as the state assemblyman for Kota Kemuning. I was deeply inspired by his strive for justice. Boss never hesitated to stand up for the “little” guy, especially when the person on the docket was a victim of misjustice. Despite all that, he had the highest respect for the courts of law. Once I assisted him on a case in the Court of Appeal. I was not wearing my robes when the judges entered the courtroom. In my haste, I tried to put them on. He stopped me and told me to go outside to do so, saying: “The court is not your changing room.” This shows his reverence for the institutions while fervently advocating for change. The spirit of standing up for the “little” guy can also be seen in the political arena. As an elected representative, boss never hesitated to say what is right, regardless of what opponents would say or do. In Parliament, the “Tiger of Jelutong” fearlessly roared to rally support for righteous causes, advocating for the repeal of unjust laws and the enactment of beneficial ones. Even when he was arrested during Ops Lalang, his resolve remained unyielding. Upon his release, he continued to fight for what was right without fear, demonstrating his commitment to justice. Despite being likened to a tiger, he was always friendly and humble. I recall attending a Bersih rally with him, and as he was making his way across the venue, he was mobbed by a huge crowd of supporters who wanted to take photos with him. With a smile he indulged their requests. He enjoyed meeting people he aimed to help. If you sought his counsel, he would welcome you with open arms, inquire about your concerns and work hard to help you. He was truly a man of the people. Exactly a decade after his passing, the party he helped build is now part of a unity government. This government is tirelessly working to serve all people regardless of race or religion. Parliament, the government and the courts are striving to ensure justice for all. It is now up to us, the new generation to uphold the legacy of Karpalism. We must try to transform all the principles he stood for into reality. Why? The reason is simple: Malaysia is built by Malaysians and it is only right for us to stand by them. Missing you boss, and I hope that as you look down from heaven, you can see that you are remembered through the principles you have stood for and that your legacy lives on in Malaysia, a nation you dedicated your life to help build. Preakas Sampunathan Kota Kemuning State Assemblyman LETTERS [email protected] “A National Peacebuilders Council, comprising of individuals who are dedicated to heeding the King’s call to build unity, should focus on spreading multiethnic, multicultural and multifaith understanding. Despite being likened to a tiger, Karpal was always friendly and humble. – SUNPIC nation, has already experienced the vicious effects. Donald Trump made fiery emotionladen speeches after losing the 2020 presidential elections. He was indicted for inciting a deadly riot at the Capitol building in Washington that caused US$2.7 billion (RM12.9 billion) in estimated costs. Five people, including a police officer, died. Religious nationalism was “the central driving force” of the assault, according to an expert testimony to Congress. Fear-mongering religious nationalist activism is spreading around the world as an increasing number of politicians are learning that the surest way to win elections and gain the power to rule is to project themselves as defenders and champions of the faith they subscribe to if that is their nation’s dominant religion. The four biggest world religions are being misused this way in a string of countries. This is a pathway to colossal disaster as excessive religious nationalism that induces violence is destroying almost all the countries in the Indian subcontinent and the African equatorial belt. Modern-day religious violence started with Pakistan. Founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah spoke in 1947 of the need to govern the nation on principles of inclusiveness, impartiality, rule of law, social equality, egalitarianism, harmony, justice and absolute civil supremacy. However, what emerged in the early 1950s and soon became solidified was entirely divergent from Jinnah’s vision. Radical clerics swept into power and the slightest perceived threat – real or imagined was met with attacks and the burning of establishments owned by minority groups. Jinnah’s vision was killed in its formative phases and the character of Pakistan changed. Let us move on to Sri Lanka where a siege mentality has long gripped the Buddhist majority. Lukman Harees wrote in the Colombo Telegraph in 2019 that the Sinhala-Buddhist hardline argument is that the island of Sri Lanka is “theirs” and the ethnic and religious minorities are “guests”. Riding on the Sinhala-Buddhist community’s socioeconomic grievances combined with a strong fear that Buddhism is under siege by other religions, radical nationalist Buddhist groups gained a firm foothold in Sri Lanka’s political scene and buried the ideal of a more inclusive society. The New York Times wrote in 2018: “Sri Lanka’s long and tragic civil war (1983-2009), for example, involved a great deal of specifically Buddhist nationalism on the part of a Sinhalese majority resentful of the presence of Tamil Hindus in what the former took to be the last bastion of true Buddhism.” The hardening of religious identities is destroying compassion for minorities in an increasing number of countries. We must prevent Malaysia from becoming an outcrop in a global tide of fearmongering religious nationalism. It is a “huge scandal” that religious denomination is a badge of conflict, said Ireland’s most senior Catholic cleric Archbishop Eamon Martin last year. The worst consequences of violenceinducing religious nationalism have befallen Africa, with 28 countries across the Great Lakes, Central Africa, Horn of Africa and West Africa having experienced riotous killings, civil wars and invasions brought about by a scorching combination of ethnic tensions, religious intolerance, jihadist attacks, militia activities, banditry and divisive politics. No politician should let our country go down this slippery road even at the cost of losing an election. The writer champions interfaith harmony. Comments: [email protected]
ESG ESG WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 12 Malakoff illuminates beyond power KUALA LUMPUR: Malakoff Corporation Bhd is now a step ahead and expanding from being an independent power producer (IPP) to a global energy generation and environmental solutions player after the company embarked on a new business journey, particularly through the acquisition of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd in 2019. Today, Malakoff has a diversified portfolio of businesses, with key focus on renewable energy (RE) (solar, small hydropower, biogas, biomass), integrated environmental solutions including waste-to-energy, carbon-free mobility infrastructure and water desalination. The group was successfully rebranded in May 2023. By aligning its core business practices through three business pillars (Malakoff Green Solutions, Malakoff Environmental Solutions and Malakoff Energy) with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, Malakoff is dedicated to minimising its environmental footprint, developing renewable energy solutions and promoting environmental stewardship. Managing director and group chief executive officer Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib said the group’s rebranding is vital as the company moves away from the traditional IPP image towards becoming a global RE and environmental player guided by clear sustainability and ESG considerations. “People look at us as being the old IPP organisation but we’re more than that when we acquired Alam Flora. The focus is now a bit different, we are growing in terms of the portfolio of businesses that we have. “We think these two have a synergy that addresses sustainability issues,” he told Bernama. Renewable energy plans He said for RE, the Group plans to achieve an RE capacity of 1,400 megawatt (MW) by 2031 and currently, its RE portfolio stands at 153 MW which is equivalent to 421,071 tonnes of carbon dioxide avoidance per annum. “To set ourselves apart, we aim to undertake larger-scale projects. We believe in pursuing ventures of 200 MW, 300 MW, and even 500 MW. “As a testament to our commitment, we have recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Masdar (during COP28) for a substantial 1,000 MW project,” he said. Malakoff has signed a heads of agreement (HoA) with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSCMasdar (Masdar) to collaboratively develop solar photovoltaic (PV) power project with an aggregate capacity of up to 1,000 MW and explore other potential RE projects across Peninsular Malaysia. Masdar is a clean energy pioneer and powerhouse that has been at the forefront of the global energy transition with investments in RE projects, especially solar PV, across 40 countries. Anwar Syahrin said the collaboration (with Masdar) aligns with the nation’s ambitious goal to achieve approximately 70 per cent RE by 2050. “We are presently conducting site visits to identify suitable locations for our projects. Our process involves conducting site surveys, radiation surveys and assessing connectivity options. “Subsequently, we will proceed with power system studies to determine the feasibility of grid connection,” he added. For 2024, the plan is to increase oCompany on new business journey after acquisition of Alam Flora the group’s RE portfolio besides looking at the right partners for mergers and acquisitions. “Getting at 200 MW a year would be the ideal target, but considering the ever-changing market and industry landscape, acquiring 100 MW of RE capacity in a year would be an achievement on its own. “On the subject of identification of land for 100 MW, we need approximately 300 acres to 400 acres, depending on the terrain of the land itself. “If we can get that scale of RE capacity coming in, that will be useful and we can see the traction,” he said. Malakoff also has the strength to deliver large-scale solar projects. To date, in its portfolio, the group has 52 MW of solar installed capacity, from large scale solar (LSS) and rooftop solar (RTS). “We are in the midst of developing 3 small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 84 MW in Kelantan as these projects and have just achieved financial closing. “Hydropower has proven to be the cleanest low-carbon alternative offering the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of electricity generated,” said Anwar Syahrin. “Additionally, we are looking to further expand into e-mobility infrastructure. “Currently, we are providing two electric vehicle (EV) chargers at Gas Malaysia Bhd headquarters at Shah Alam and Gas Malaysia Jalan Gurney, Kuala Lumpur.” Last year, Malakoff signed numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and solar power purchase agreements (SPPAs). This includes MoU with ports under the MMC Group of Companies (MMC Ports); SPPAs with the DRBHICOM group of companies, Gas Malaysia and Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB); while the group also collaborates with Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd for RE financing programme. Biomass and WTE ventures Coal has its role to play and the transition of switching off coal completely can only be done when there is a stable source of alternatives. “At present, solar power has limitations, providing four hours of energy. “The integration of solar with batteries incurs significant costs and does not address the challenge of meeting base loads. “Additionally, the impact of weather conditions, such as daily rain and cloud cover, poses challenges in harnessing the full radiance within the limited four-hour window,” Anwar Syahrin said. Anwar Syahrin also shared Malakoff’s biomass effort at Malakoff’s 2,100 MW Tanjung Bin Power Plant in Johor. “Back in 2022, we successfully co-fired 0.5% with empty fruit bunch (EFB) pallets at Tanjung Bin Power Plant. So, for this year, we’re trying to co-fire with 2%,” he said. He said the group has undertaken investments in EFB, and is actively exploring co-firing options with environmentally friendly sources such as wood chips. This initiative is aligned with Malakoff’s commitment to counteract the negative perception surrounding coal by incorporating sustainable practices in its energy portfolio. Due to Tanjung Bin Power’s achievement in co-firing, Malakoff is now one of the driving champions for the government’s flagship catalyst projects under its new National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) alongside the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities. Besides biomass effort, Malakoff said there are also great potentials in the waste-to-energy (WTE) segment. The Housing and Local Government Ministry had announced six new WTE plants to be built nationwide by 2025 to efficiently treat solid waste while generating electricity based on a sustainable and integrated waste management concept. Malakoff is also seriously looking to venture into the WTE space as it can significantly reduce the volume of waste destined for landfills and offers comprehensive economic and environmental benefits. “We continue to seek and participate in potential greenfield and brownfield RE projects, environmentally related projects such as WTEs and water desalination projects (Middle East and North Africa region),” he said. Managing and reducing waste It said through Alam Flora and Alam Flora Environmental Solutions (AFES), Malakoff has a noticeable footprint in the waste management business. “We intend to grow further our concession and non-concession environmental solutions business to new concession areas within Malaysia such as Kelantan and Terengganu by providing solutions to our customers on managing and reducing waste. “We are also seriously looking to venture into the WTE space as it can significantly reduce the volume of waste destined for landfills and offers comprehensive economic and environmental benefits,” he added. On Oct 27, 2023, Malakoff entered into a conditional share sales and purchase agreement (SSPA) with Metacorp Bhd and Tuah Utama Sdn Bhd in relation to the proposed acquisition of 49% equity interest in E-Idaman Sdn Bhd. This strategic initiative aims to expand its waste management operations in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. On waste management, the group targets to collect, handle and manage waste volume of 10,000 tonnes per day by 2031. Additionally, Malakoff sets to achieve 15%-20% recycling rate by 2025, from waste collected by Alam Flora while at the same time focusing on achieving a Zero Waste Circular Economy goal. Sime Darby Property wins FIABCI environmental award ARA DAMANSARA: Sime Darby Property Bhd remains an environmental leader with a great win at the FIABCI Malaysia Property Award 2023 in the Environmental Category for its Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (ERKC) in City of Elmina, Shah Alam. The award acknowledges the Group’s contribution to environmental literacy and urban biodiversity conservation as well as its positive sustainability impact on Malaysia’s real estate industry. Sime Darby Property’s group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican said the ERKC showcases the group’s holistic approach to development, where nature and human well-being are intertwined. “Facilities like ERKC provide invaluable spaces for the community to engage in impactful nature conservation activities, educate younger generations about the importance of nature and also serve as a hub for research and co-working among forestry NGOs and related bodies.” “Building sustainable townships while nurturing healthy communities and ecosystems should be the way forward for property developments because it would in turn inspire residents and the public to care about and protect the environments they are living in, for a better future.” Organised by FIABCI Malaysia, the FIABCI Malaysia Property Awards 2023 is the gold standard in the property development industry and recognises companies in pursuit of excellence and continuous value creation along all steps of development. The ERKC was launched in October 2020 in partnership with the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC). Nestled within the 300-acre Elmina Central Park and adjacent to the 2,700-acre Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, the facility serves as a vital educational and conservation hub, offering a diverse range of activities aimed at fostering a deep connection between the community and Malaysia’s rich natural heritage. The ERKC has already made significant strides in conservation, with the cultivation of 187 species of plants, including 35,000 seedlings and 10,000 tree saplings at the Elmina From left: FIABCI Malaysia secretary-general Dr Yu Kee Su, FIABCI World past president Datuk Alan Tong Kok Mau, Sime Darby Property chief operating officer - township development Appollo Leong and FIABCI Malaysia president Datuk Seri Firdaus Musa. Living Collection Nursery (ELCN). This effort is part of a broader initiative to plant 50,000 trees from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List by 2030. In addition to environmental conservation, the ERKC and ELCN have become focal points for community engagement and education, hosting a variety of programmes that promote awareness of environmental issues and encourage active participation in conservation efforts. The Friends of ERKC community interest group further exemplifies this engagement, having attracted over 10,000 members, including students, educators, and representatives from various corporate and authority bodies. “Thank you FIABCI Malaysia for the honour. This acknowledgment is a testament to our triple bottom approach in building sustainable futures, and our Purpose to be a Value Multiplier for People, Businesses, Economies and the Planet,“ said Azmir.
WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN ME Wealth of 50 richest M’sians up slightly PETALING JAYA: The collective wealth of tycoons on the 2024 Forbes list of Malaysia’s 50 Richest rose by a modest 2% to US$83.4 billion (RM399.4 billion at an exchange rate of RM4.79 to US$1) this year, despite a declining ringgit offsetting a 9% increase in Malaysia’s stock market since the former’s last assessment. According to Forbes Asia, business mogul Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien continues to rank No. 1 on the list with a net worth of US$11.5 billion (RM55 billion). Kuok, who turned 100 last October, founded the Kuok Group 75 years ago in Johor Bahru as a modest business trading sugar, rice and wheat flour and built it into a thriving conglomerate. Hong Leong Co (Malaysia) executive chairman Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan takes the second spot with US$8.8 billion (RM42.15 billion). He retained his ranking despite a dip in his net worth from oModest increase to US$83.4b collectively, Robert Kuok still tops Forbes list with US$11.5b US$10.2 billion last year. The Teh siblings, who inherited a stake in Public Bank from their late father Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow, moved up to third place with a net worth of US$5.4 billion (RM25.86 billion). “They displaced aluminium magnates Tan Sri Koon Poh Keong and siblings, who slid to No. 5 amid weaker prices and demand for the metal and their net worth fell to US$5.3 billion (RM25.38 billion) from US$5.8 billion last year,” Forbes Asia said in a statement. Property gains propelled inheritors brothers Datuk Lee Yeow Chor and Yeow Seng (No. 4) into the top five for the first time with US$5.35 billion (RM25.62 billion) compared with US$4.6 billion last year. “Older brother Yeow Chor runs the family’s palm oil company IOI Corp, while younger sibling Yeow Seng oversees IOI Properties, which is preparing to open a multi billiondollar office complex in Singapore’s central business district,” it added. “The biggest gainers on this year’s list, in both dollar and percentage terms, among the 22 fortunes that were up this year are Tan Sri Francis Yeoh and siblings” Forbes Asia said. It noted that their combined fortune tripled to US$4.7 billion (RM22.51 billion) and jumped seven spots on the list to No. 7. Shares of their flagship YTL, which partnered with US tech giant Nvidia to build artificial intelligence infrastructure at its data centre park in Johor, have been experiencing rapid growth. Property magnate Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah whose Sunway is betting on healthcare for future growth, more than doubled his wealth to US$2.4 billion (RM11.49 billion) to enter the top ten for the first time at No. 8. Rounding up the list are Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay of Genting group with US$2.2 billion (RM10.53 billion) and QL Resources’ Dr Chia Song Kun with US$1.8 billion (RM8.62 billion) The minimum net worth to qualify for the list was US$320 million (RM1.53 billion), up from US$315 million in 2023. Possibility of BFood taken private gives positive spin to share price PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Corporation Bhd (BCorp) founder and adviser Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s consideration to take Kuala Lumpur listed Berjaya Food Bhd (BFood) private seemed to be giving a positive spin to BFood’s share price which closed 0.74% higher at 68 sen with 13.143 million units traded yesterday. This positive outlook comes in the wake of a Bloomberg report recently that stated the Malaysian tycoon is in talks with banks about financing for a potential buyout deal for BFood, which owns 100% of Starbucks’ Malaysian operations. Bloomberg said the people whom they spoke to had asked not to be named as the matter is private. BFood’s stock, which had lost more than a quarter of its value in the past year, jumped as much as 6.5% after the Bloomberg News report, the biggest intraday gain since September. BCorp, a company founded by Tan in 1984 and involved in the real estate, hotels and consumer sectors, has a deemed interest of 55% in Berjaya Food, according to its latest available annual report. Founded in 2009, BFood also runs brands including the Kenny Rogers Roasters chain of restaurants in Malaysia and Jollibean, a fresh soy milk operator. As at June 30, 2023, Starbucks Malaysia had 393 stores nationwide while Kenny Rogers Roasters had 80 stores. RM60-90b needed in next 10 years to fund critical projects: Nik Nazmi KUALA LUMPUR: In the next 10 years Malaysia requires RM60-90 billion to fund critical projects such as expanding public transport, strengthening grid infrastructure, and upskilling the workforce, said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. “A crucial component will be a robust and adaptable grid to handle the increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. The estimated cost for grid development is likewise substantial, reaching RM180 billion by 2050, to accommodate Malaysia’s clean energy ambitions,” he said at the MoU signing ceremony between Bursa Malaysia and the UK government’s Mobilising Institutional Capital Through Listed Product Structures (Mobilist) programme yesterday. Bursa Malaysia has entered into a collaboration on Mobilist, with the aim to bolster investments supporting the energy transition and advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia. Nik Nazmi said developed countries must play their part in climate change and environmental degradation because they are wealthier and because they have benefitted as well as continue to benefit from the huge carbon sinks that exist in developing regions. “Climate action will have little practical meaning if it is not linked with climate justice,” he added. The UN Conference on Trade and Development estimates that there is a staggering US$4 trillion (RM21.5 trillion) annual funding gap for developing countries to achieve the SDG by 2030. Nik Nazmi said that countries such as Malaysia are seeking to be proactive and responsible and understand trust and credibility are crucial, including in climate action. “And we believe our actions thus far warrant both from our counterparts in Western countries and the international community,” he added. Furthermore, he said considering the varying stages of decarbonisation technology development across countries, it is clear that progress relies heavily on alternative energy sources and strong regional and international collaboration. █ BY HAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] CTOS, airasia academy team up to upskill SMEs KUALA LUMPUR: CTOS, Malaysia’s leading credit reporting agency, is collaborating with airasia academy for an exclusive SME networking and edutech session. The collaboration, which encompasses strategic business education in the realms of digital marketing and branding, as well as networking opportunities, marks a pivotal step in their joint mission to empower SMEs in the region with the skills and proficiencies to succeed in today’s digital era. Yesterday, CTOS reintroduced its enhanced CTOS Verified service, which offers companies a mark of online credibility through the CTOS Verified Seal. COO Lee Shin Mei said it aims to onboard up to 3,000 SMEs in the programme. “Our target is around 2,000 to 3,000 SMEs to embark in this CTOS Verified programme. At the same time, this will be the batch of customers that we want to get them trained on social media and digital marketing by end of the year,” she added. CTOS Digital Bhd Group CEO Erick Hamburger said, “ SMEs are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fostering resilience. Similarly, at CTOS, SMEs have always been at the core of our business, contributing 46% of CTOS group revenue in FY2023.” He added that training services are essential for SMEs to remain agile, competitive and sustainable in today’s dynamic business landscape and CTOS takes pride in joining hands with airasia academy to offer businesses a unique avenue to enable themselves through exceptional learning opportunities. Hamburger said CTOS is committed to From left: CTOS Basis Sdn Bhd CEO Puven Sangaran, Lee, Hamburger, Fernandes and airasia academy strategy and innovation director Dr Ram Gopal Raj at the event. █ BY GLORIA HARRY BEATTY [email protected] providing a wealth of networking and learning opportunities through the CTOS Verified service which not only creates more opportunities for businesses but also underscores their credibility and trustworthiness to prospective clients, suppliers, and business partners. Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said: “Based on over 20 years of building the low cost ethos behind AirAsia, making flying accessible and the world a smaller place for the people in Asean, I firmly believe that there is a low cost model for education. “Education stands as the gateway to unlocking boundless opportunities. Since its birth, airasia academy has tirelessly worked to democratise education, offering accessible online and in-person courses that bridges the gap of digital economic needs. Through our partnership with CTOS, we anticipate equipping both CTOS Verified, SMEs and the broader business community with the tools necessary to enhance their marketability and proficiency in tech skills crucial for the current digitally-led business landscape”. Capital A president (investment & ventures) Aireen Omar said education and knowledge have always been at the forefront of any company culture that demands innovation and enhanced growth, more so now with today’s rapid technological advancements, learning has become even more crucial for SMEs to keep up with the latest knowledge and trends in their respective industries. Separately, responding to media reports on the recent High Court ruling, Lee said CTOS is not affected by it and will operate its business as usual. Based on reports, the company was ordered to pay RM200,000 in general damages to the owner of a resort for an inaccurate credit rating. “We are a credit scoring company … under the CRA Act, we are doing credit scoring; we are not doing credit rating,” she told reporters after the CTOS Verified launch. Lee declined to comment further on the matter.
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 14 EPMB, BAIC ink 10-year vehicle assembly deal Malaysia’s palm oil stocks drop to 1.7m tonnes in March G Capital, HK-listed CCIAM collaborate on clean energy B R I E F SABDUL RAHMAN AHMAD NAMED PNB PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXEC EFFECTIVE JULY 1 PETALING JAYA: Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra has appointed Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad as president and group chief executive of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), effective July 1. Abdul Rahman is currently group CEO of CIMB Group and CEO of CIMB Bank Bhd where he has served since 2020. He brings with him more than 20 years of leadership experience in various financial services and corporate sectors. Abdul Rahman served as the president and Group chief executive of PNB from 2016 until 2019, where he was instrumental in driving PNB’s strategic transformation. SMART#1 CEMENTS TOP 3 SPOT IN MALAYSIA’S PREMIUM EV SUV MARKET PETALING JAYA: smart #1, the flagship electric vehicle model sold by Pro-Net, designed by Mercedes-Benz and built on Geely’s sustainable electric architecture (SEA), has cemented its position as third ranked in category of EV SUVs priced above RM180,000. The EV sales volume in the Malaysian market surged from 3,079 units in 2022 to 11,624 units in 2023, accompanied by an increase in market share from 0.43% to 1.45%. smart Malaysia CEO Zhang Qiang said, “This milestone reflects the growing demand for urban mobility solutions in the region and reaffirms smart’s goal to position itself as a leader in the premium EV segment.” PETALING JAYA: EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has signed another landmark vehicle assembly agreement, this time with China’s BAIC International Development Co Ltd (BAIC) to solidify a strategic partnership spanning a 10-year period. Under the agreement, EPMB via its fully owned subsidiary, Peps-JV (Melaka) Sdn Bhd, will undertake the assembly and production of BAIC vehicles, marking a significant step towards enhancing the automotive landscape in Malaysia. The initial models slated for production include the x55ii and BJ40+, with a lineup of electric vehicles, scheduled to debut in 2025. BAIC will provide technical support and training, as well as guidance and supervision on the assembly and manufacturing process. It will also be responsible for the sales and marketing of the vehicles to maximise market penetration and brand visibility in Asean. EPMB is to serve as the vehicle assembler, ensuring that BAIC’s vehicles are assembled to the highest standards of quality and performance. This strategic partnership not only underscores EPMB’s dedication to innovation and excellence but also highlights Malaysia’s conducive business environment and skilled workforce. By leveraging EPMB’s state-of- theart facilities in Malacca and BAIC’s cuttingedge technology and expertise, the collaboration aims to meet the demand for high-quality BAIC vehicles in the Asean region and beyond. This synergistic alliance between EPMB and BAIC represents a convergence of Malaysian and Chinese expertise with mutual growth opportunities, poising Malaysia to emerge as a pivotal destination for BAIC’s production activities, fostering growth, job creation, and technological advancement. “I’m happy to note the positive momentum our company is gaining. EPMB is navigating a new agenda with new horizons,” said EPMB executive chairman Hamidon oSynergistic alliance represents convergence of Malaysian and Chinese expertise Abdullah (pic). “The strategic collaborations with OEMs from China signifies our commitment to chart a course towards better profitability for our stakeholders.” This development comes a few months following the announcement of EPMB’s pioneering automotive manufacturing facility in Malacca, which upon completion will have the capacity to produce up to 30,000 vehicles a year. EPMB signed a memorandum of understanding with BAIC International in August 2023, paving the way for the agreement. PETALING JAYA: Malaysian renewable energy development company G Capital Bhd, via wholly owned subsidiary Northern Star Hydropower Sdn Bhd (NS Hydropower) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CCIAM Logistic Co Ltd to set a framework on developing clean energy solutions. CCIAM Logistic is a subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchange-listed CCIAM Future Energy Ltd, which is principally engaged in the provision of energy-saving solutions, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for commercial, retail and industrial buildings, and the provision of financial investment and loan financing. A full-term agreement is expected within 60 days. CCIAM Logistic will act as the principal arranger for NS Hydropower to raise RM325 million for its 26 MWac small hydropower project development in Pahang. This collaboration extends beyond financing, encompassing the provision of comprehensive services to include the implementation of robust environmental, social and governance strategies. G Capita executive chairman Tan Sri Affendi Buang said he sees it as unlocking a gateway to abundant global green capital eager to invest in the company’s small hydropower portfolio. “CCIAM Future Energy aligns perfectly with our vision for a sustainable future. Their expertise and presence at HKEX bridge the gap between China and international markets,“ he added. Affendi said the strategic partnership is poised to accelerate Malaysia’s transition to clean energy by attracting foreign direct investment, fueling economic growth, and propelling the nation towards carbon neutrality. KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total palm oil stocks were reduced by 10.68% to 1.71 million tonnes in March from 1.92 million tonnes in February, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). In its industry performance report for March 2024, MPOB said the country’s crude palm oil (CPO) stocks decreased 22.22% to 797,974 tonnes in March from 1.03 million tonnes recorded in February. Meanwhile, processed palm oil stocks increased 2.56% to 916,999 tonnes in March from 894,131 tonnes previously, it said. On CPO production, MPOB said it grew 10.57% to 1.39 million tonnes in March from 1.26 million tonnes in the preceding month, while palm kernel output rose 13.98% to 343,850 tonnes from 301,671 tonnes in February. On exports, MPOB said palm oil exports rose 28.61% to 1.32 million tonnes in March from 1.02 million tonnes in February, but biodiesel exports slid 46.13% to 15,825 tonnes in March from 29,378 tonnes in February. Oleochemical export inched up 0.61% to 256,811 tonnes in March from 255,241 tonnes previously. Export of palm kernel oil surged 48.08% to 82,389 tonnes last month from 55,639 tonnes in February, while export of palm kernel cake improved 38.23% to 188,262 tonnes in March from 136,195 tonnes a month before. On imports, MPOB said palm oil imports in the month went down 32.75% to 21,894 tonnes in March from 32,556 tonnes in the previous month, while processed palm oil imports shrank 8.64% to 21,894 tonnes versus 23,964 tonnes in February. Total palm kernel oil imports jumped 157.70% to 11,686 tonnes in March from 4,535 tonnes in February, while no CPO import was recorded for March compared with 8,592 tonnes imported in February. – Bernama Agmo appoints Proneer Global to distribute JomeInvoice solution PETALING JAYA: Agmo Holdings Bhd, a homegrown digital solutions and application development specialist, through its subsidiary JomeInvoice Sdn Bhd, has appointed Proneer Global Sdn Bhd as the distributor for its JomeInvoice solution, targeting customers in Malaysia which fall under the Tier 1 category of annual revenue exceeding RM100 million. JomeInvoice is a middleware solution developed by JomeInvoice Sdn Bhd, which serves as a connector to the Inland Revenue Board's (IRB) MyInvois System, mitigating the challenges associated with the adoption of e-invoicing by businesses. The partnership with Proneer Global signifies a strategic move by Agmo to expand its reach and strengthen its presence in the Tier 1 market segment. With approximately 4,000 companies in Malaysia which fall under the Tier 1 category, this collaboration presents an unparalleled opportunity for both Agmo and Proneer Global to leverage the extensive network and expertise in both parties in serving high-revenue enterprises. “We are excited to appoint Proneer Global as our distributor for Jomelnvoice, focusing on Tier 1 customers,” said Tan Aik Keong, CEO of Agmo Holdings. “Their extensive experience and wellestablished relationships within the Tier 1 market segment position them as the ideal partner to promote Jomelnvoice and drive growth in this key segment. With the recent release of the MyInvois Sandbox by IRB for system integration testing, the timing is ideal to engage potential customers with a more refined product offering”. “Jomelnvoice is selected for the Tier 1 market due to its cutting-edge technology which allows for frictionless and seamless integration to existing systems and processes,” remarked Isabel Lee, CEO of Proneer Global.
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BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 16 Indonesia intervenes to stem rupiah’s slide JAKARTA: The Indonesian rupiah yesterday tumbled to its weakest in four years as the market reopened after the Eid al-Fitr holidays, prompting the central bank to intervene in the market to stem its slide. The rupiah declined as much as 2.27% to 16,200 per US dollar, its weakest level since early April 2020, leading the losses among emerging Asia currencies. While Indonesian markets were closed for the holidays, the American dollar had gained after strong US economic data and rising inflation led markets to push out expectations for when the Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates. Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo told reporters the central bank “is always in the market” to stabilise the currency by intervening in spot and domestic non-deliverable forwards, while also coordinating with the government. “BI is always in the market. We will ensure the currency is stable,” he said after attending a meeting with President Joko Widodo and a number of ministers to discuss the impact of rising geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Earlier, BI monetary department head Edi Susianto told Reuters that the central bank will also boost the attractiveness of rupiah-denominated assets. The BI said that pressure on the rupiah is also being exerted by a dent in sentiment towards riskier assets amid rising tension between Iran and Israel. Indonesia’s Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who was at the meeting with the president, said the government is monitoring the impact of rising tensions in Middle East on oil prices and logistic costs. Indonesia is a net importer of oil and a Pro-Palestinian protesters confronting a small group of Israeli demonstrators during dueling events outside the New York Stock Exchange. – AFPPIC oGovt monitoring impact of rising geopolitical tensions Equities sink, oil rallies on fears of wider war HONG KONG: Stock markets fell and oil prices climbed yesterday on growing fears of a wider war in the Middle East after Israel’s army chief vowed a response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on his country at the weekend. All eyes are on the Middle East after Tehran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at its regional enemy, saying the attack was retaliation for an April 1 strike on its Damascus embassy that killed seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals. While air defence systems destroyed the vast majority of the barrage and Iran said “the matter can be deemed concluded”, Israel’s General Herzi Halevi sounded a note of warning, fuelling worries of a dangerous escalation. “This launch of so many (Iranian) missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response.” However, he said the military would not be distracted from its war against Hamas in Gaza. Warren Patterson, at ING Groep, said the prospect of a response by Tel Aviv “means that this uncertainty and tension will linger for quite some time”. “The more escalation we see, the more likely we are to see oil supply from the region impacted.” Oil prices rose in Asian trade, having slipped on Monday on hopes for a de-escalation following US calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “take the win” and forgo a counterattack. Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei and Manila were all down more than 2%, while Tokyo shed 1.9%. Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Jakarta sank more than 1% each, while there were also losses in Wellington and Mumbai. London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down more than 1%. The losses in Asia followed a big sell-off on Wall Street, which was dragged down by tech giants including Amazon, Apple and Alphabet. That came after figures showed March retail sales beat expectations in yet another indication that the US economy remains strong despite two-decade-high interest rates. The reading followed news that inflation came in above estimates for the third time in a row last month, while jobs creation was also much stronger than forecast, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to hold off cutting interest rates. Investors are now betting on just two reductions this year, compared with six pencilled in at the beginning of January. And UBS has warned that borrowing costs could even go up if inflation is not brought under control. “If the (economic) expansion remains resilient and inflation gets stuck at 2.5% or higher, there would be real risk the (Fed policy board) resumes raising rates again by early next year,” said UBS strategists. – AFP New wind installations hit record last year LONDON: The global wind industry installed a record 117 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity last year but needs to add triple this amount annually by the end of the decade to meet climate targets, according to an industry report yesterday. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) report said capacity installation last year was 50% higher than the year before. Last year, new onshore wind accounted for 106 GW of the amount installed, while offshore wind accounted for 10.8 GW. GWEC expects 158 GW of new wind installations to be added per year until 2028. To meet targets agreed under a global climate pact, the industry must install at least 320 GW a year by 2030, taking cumulative capacity to 3 terawatts (TW), the report said. Cumulative wind power capacity passed 1 TW for the first time last year. “It took us over 40 years to reach the 1 TW mark of worldwide installed wind power. We now have just seven years to install the next 2 TW,” said GWEC CEO Ben Backwell. “Growth is highly concentrated in a few big countries like China, the US, Brazil and Germany, and we need many more countries to remove barriers and improve market frameworks to scale up wind installations.” The top five markets for wind installations were China, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany and India. China set a new record with 75 GW of new installations commissioned, representing nearly 65% of the global total, while Latin America also experienced record growth – up 21% from the year before – led by Brazil which had 4.8 GW of new installations. – Reuters Pakistan and IMF discuss new loan programme WASHINGTON: Pakistan has initiated discussions with the IMF over a new multi-billion dollar loan agreement to support its economic reform programme, its new finance minister told AFP on Monday. The South Asian nation is nearing the end of a nine-month, US$3 billion (RM14 billion) loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed to tackle a balance-of-payments crisis which brought it to the brink of default last summer. With the final US$1.1 billion tranche of that deal likely to be approved later this month, Pakistan has begun negotiations for a new multi-year IMF loan programme worth “billions” of dollars, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said during an interview in Washington. “The market confidence, the market sentiment is in much, much better shape this fiscal year,” said the former banker who took up his post last month. “It’s really for that purpose that, during the course of this week, we have initiated the discussion with the IMF to get into a larger and an extended programme.” An IMF spokesman said the fund is “currently focused on the completion of the current stand-by agreement programme”, referring to the ongoing nine-month programme scheduled for completion shortly. “The new government has expressed interest in a new programme, and IMF staff stands ready to engage in initial discussions on a successor programme.” During his visit to Washington, the Pakistani minister will also attend the spring meetings organised by the IMF and World Bank, which kick off in earnest yesterday, with two clear objectives – to help countries combat climate change and to assist the world’s most indebted nations. – AFP big spender on energy subsidies, including for fuels. Airlangga said the government will ensure the budget deficit will not exceed the legal ceiling of 3% of gross domestic product. Satria Sambijantoro, an analyst with brokerage Bahana Sekuritas, said upside dollar pressure may persist in the event of continued strength in US inflation and jobs data until the American presidential election in November. He said BI may need to hike its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.25% at its next meeting to help stabilise the rupiah. BI will hold its monthly policy meeting on April 23 and 24. Handy Yunianto, a fixed income analyst at Mandiri Sekuritas, who expects the rupiah to hover around the current level, said BI’s ample forex reserves will provide the central bank with some flexibility in stabilising the currency through market intervention. Yield of the benchmark 10-year bonds rose to as high as 6.888%, its highest since November last year. – Reuters
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 17 BEIJING: Cooperation between China and Germany was not a “risk” but a guarantee for stable ties and an opportunity for the future, President Xi Jinping said yesterday, amid complaints by the European Union (EU) about Chinese goods flooding the bloc’s markets. The industrial and supply chains of China and Germany are deeply intertwined and their markets highly interdependent, Xi told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing. “We must view and develop bilateral relations in an all-round way from a long-term and strategic perspective.” After their second meeting in Beijing since Nov 2022, the two strolled in the grounds of the Diaoyutai state guesthouse, a sprawling complex of villas, lakes and gardens where many foreign leaders have been received, images on state broadcaster CCTV showed. Scholz’s visit coincided with EU concerns about the threat to European businesses from Chinese goods, including electric vehicles and other green technologies, flooding its markets. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has complained about China’s overproduction being unfairly supported by “massive” state subsidies. “China’s exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products have not only enriched global supply and alleviated inflationary pressure, but also contributed greatly to the response to climate change and green and low-carbon transformation,” Xi told Scholz. “(Germany and China) should be vigilant against rising protectionism, look at the issue of production capacity objectively and dialectically from a market-oriented and global perspective.” Scholz has been cautious about pushing away China, an important market for Germany, saying the EU should not act out of protectionist self-interest. However, competition between China and Germany ought to be fair, Scholz said in Shanghai on Monday. “At some point there will also be Chinese cars in Germany and Europe. The only thing that must always be clear is that competition must be fair,“ Scholz told students at Tongji University in the commercial hub. “In other words, that there is no dumping, that there is no overproduction, that copyrights are not infringed,” Scholz said. – Reuters China economy beats growth expectations BEIJING: China’s economy expanded far more than expected in the first quarter of this year, data showed yesterday, but disappointing retail and industrial figures suggested leaders face severe headwinds to hit their annual growth target. Beijing has set a goal of around 5% for 2024, which officials have already admitted will “not be easy” and which analysts said was ambitious given the challenges the world’s second-largest economy is confronting. For the first three months of the year, gross domestic product rose 5.3%, compared with 5.2% in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. The figures well exceeded analysts’ expectations, with those pooled by Bloomberg having forecast 4.8%. “The national economy continued the good momentum of a rebound,” the NBS said, calling it a “good start”. The GDP data remains a key insight into the health of the world’s second-largest economy, despite being eminently political. Yesterday’s figures “beat the market expectation by a wide margin”, said Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China. “Consumption and housing investment (were) the main drag, while manufacturing and infrastructure were the main engines.” It reflects “the fundamental policy shift from a focus on (the) consumer market and service sector to ... industrial growth”, she said. But woes in the property market remained a millstone for the economy as home prices continued to fall and top developers including Country Garden and Vanke sent out distress signals over their profits and challenges paying off debt. Reflecting those difficulties, last month also saw a fall in property prices in China’s major cities, data showed. Fears about a return to deflation are also looming. Derek Scissors, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, warned that “the good news ends” with the real GDP figure, which is adjusted to take into account inflation. “Deflation is evident in GDP and in producer prices,” he said, adding that “benchmark indicator retail sales were slower than last year at this time”. “There are two reads on the full set of figures – China’s surprising real GDP growth is unsustainable or China’s surprising real GDP growth is fake.” Some sectors are doing well, notably services, as customers return to restaurants, travel internally and visit tourist spots. However, both retail sales – the main indicator of household spending – and industrial output slumped last month, officials said. Retail sales grew just 3.1% on-year, down from 5.5% in the first two months of 2024, while industrial production rose 4.5%, compared with 7% in January-February. The unemployment rate fell last month to 5.2%, from 5.3% in February. That figure, however, paints an incomplete picture as it only includes workers in cities, effectively excluding millions of migrant labourers from rural areas who are particularly vulnerable to the downturn and whose situation has been exacerbated by the housing crisis. – AFP oBut retail and industrial figures disappoint Samsung regains smartphone crown SAN FRANCISCO: Samsung regained its position as the top smartphone seller, wresting back the lead from Apple as Chinese rivals close the gap on both market leaders, industry tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) reported Monday. South Korea-based Samsung overtook Apple as worldwide smartphone shipments grew nearly 8% in the first quarter of this year to 289.4 million, IDC said, citing its preliminary data. It was the third consecutive quarter of growth in the global smartphone market, signalling that a recovery from a slump in the sector is underway, according to IDC. IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers team vice-president Ryan Reith expected top smartphone firms to gain share and small brands to struggle for position as recovery progresses. Samsung shipped 60.1 million smartphones in the first quarter of this year, claiming nearly 21% of the market, according to the data corporation’s figures. Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, garnering just over 17% of the market in the same period, IDC reported. Apple smartphone shipments were down 9.6% in a quarter-over-quarter comparison, while Samsung shipments slipped less than 1%, according to the market tracker. Meanwhile, China-based Xiaomi saw shipments grow about 33% to 40.8 million and Transsion about 85% to 28.5 million, taking third and fourth positions in the overall smartphone market, IDC reported. “While Apple managed to capture the top spot at the end of 2023, Samsung successfully reasserted itself as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter,” Reith said. IDC expects Samsung and Apple to maintain their hold on the high end of the smartphone market while Chinese competitors seek to expand sales, according to Reith. “There is a shift in power among the Top Five companies, which will likely continue as market players adjust their strategies in a post-recovery world,” said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team. “Xiaomi is coming back strong from the large declines experienced over the past two years and Transsion is becoming a stable presence in the Top Five with aggressive growth in international markets.” – AFP Scholz attending an event with students at Tongji University in Shanghai. – REUTERSPIC PwC rejects allegations on Evergrande audit HONG KONG: Accounting firm PwC on Monday rejected an anonymous letter that criticised the company’s involvement in auditing beleaguered Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, saying the letter contained “false allegations”. Heavily indebted Evergrande has become a symbol of the years-long crisis in China’s property market and last month its onshore unit was accused of a US$78 billion (RM374 billion) revenue overstatement. Chinese authorities are examining the role of PwC in auditing Evergrande, though no decision regarding penalties has been made, Bloomberg News reported last month. The firm said on Monday it was aware of a letter purportedly written by some PwC partners that was circulating on social media. “We believe the letter contains inaccurate statements and false allegations ... (that) could tarnish PwC’s reputation and infringe our legal rights,” the company said. PwC said it had reported the matter to authorities and will fully investigate the incident with “high priority”. The letter, written in Chinese and titled “Who led PwC into the firepit that was Evergrande?”, placed the blame on a senior figure within the firm and alleged problems with its corporate culture. AFP is unable to verify who wrote the letter and its claims. PwC was the auditor for Evergrande for more than a decade before resigning last year amid disagreements on the audit of the firm’s 2021 accounts. Chinese regulators said last month it would ban Evergrande chairman Xu Jiayin from the securities market for life on grounds of financial fraud. Earlier this year, the real estate behemoth was handed a winding-up order by a Hong Kong court after struggling for years to repay creditors after its 2021 default. – AFP Xi tells Scholz cooperation not a ‘risk’
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 18 READ OUR HERE /thesun Malaysian Paper Meta ‘temporarily’ closes Threads network in Turkiye ISTANBUL: Facebook owner Meta said on Monday it would “temporarily” shut down its Threads short-messaging service in Turkiye after an order from Ankara’s competition watchdog over data-sharing. The interim ruling from the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) has “no impact” for Meta’s other services like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in Turkiye, the company said in a statement posted to its website. “We disagree with the interim order, we believe we are in compliance with all Turkish legal requirements, and we will appeal,” Meta said – although it had “no choice but to temporarily shut down Threads” in Turkiye. Meta launched Threads last year as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter), with boss Mark Zuckerberg saying in February the service had 130 million monthly users worldwide. It was available in Turkiye from the start, while European Union users had to wait months for Meta to come up with a version adapted to strict data protection and competition laws. In its March finding, the TCA had said Meta’s combination of user data from Instagram with people’s Threads profiles “will lead to irreparable harms”. Given its vast user base, data collection and financial resources, “Meta’s practices in the market constitute a barrier to entry” for prospective competitors, the authority added. Meta said it would allow existing Threads users to delete or deactivate their profiles ahead of the April 29 cut-off, with a chance of reactivating them should the ruling be overturned. – AFP Goldman Sachs profit boosted by uptick in mergers NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs reported higher first-quarter profit on Monday on a strong performance across most businesses, benefiting from a boost in merger activity and increased markets revenues. Profit was US$3.9 billion, up 27% from the year-ago period and translating into much better earnings per share than expected. Revenue rose 16% to US$14.2 billion. The investment bank enjoyed “significantly” higher revenues in debt underwriting, as well as an uptick in equity underwriting from initial public and secondary offerings. The New York giant also pointed to an increase in completed mergers. Goldman Sachs also won higher revenues from its markets businesses, as well as higher fees from asset and wealth management, which reflected an increase in assets under management. These buoyant figures were partly offset by a modest rise in operating expenses and US$318 million in provisions for credit losses, due in part to credit card charge-offs. The broadly positive results come despite a series of high-level executive departures in recent months that have included officials in asset management and global banking and markets. CEO David Solomon said the results “reflect the strength of our world-class and interconnected franchises and the earnings power of Goldman Sachs”. – AFP US to grant Samsung up to US$6.4b for chip plants WASHINGTON: The United States announced on Monday grants of up to US$6.4 billion (RM30.7 billion ) to South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung to produce cutting-edge chips in Texas. The award is the latest from the US government as it looks to cement its lead in the chip industry – especially for chips needed for the development of AI – both on national security grounds and also in the face of competition with China. President Joe Biden’s administration has previously approved billions in grants to US titan Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as it tries to avoid the prospect of shortages of semiconductors – the lifeblood of the modern global economy. “The US Department of Commerce and Samsung Electronics (Samsung) have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to US$6.4 billion in direct funding under the Chips and Science Act,” said a statement published by the Department of Commerce. Samsung “is expected to invest more than US$40 billion in the region in the coming years, and the proposed investment would support the creation of over 20,000 jobs”, it said. Chips are crucial in powering everything from smartphones to fighter jets. They are also increasingly in demand by automakers, especially for electric vehicles, adding to the pressure to raise production. The global chip industry is currently dominated by just a few firms, including TSMC and US-based Nvidia. That means the United States is highly dependent on Asia for chips and is vulnerable to shocks to semiconductor supply chains, especially during geopolitical crises that affect places such as Taiwan. This has fueled a US push to strengthen production. The Chips and Science Act, passed in 2022, calls for tens of billions of dollars in funding to overhaul the US semiconductor industry, with the idea that making public money available for this purpose will lure private investment. The Samsung agreement will “cement central Texas’s role as a state-of-the-art semiconductor ecosystem”, Biden said in a statement. “These facilities will support the production of some of the most powerful chips in the world, which are essential to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and will bolster US national security.” Under the latest agreement, Samsung will not only build a new facility to produce advanced chips but also expand its existing facility in Texas, according to the Department of Commerce. “We’re not just expanding production facilities; we’re strengthening the local semiconductor ecosystem and positioning the US as a global semiconductor manufacturing destination,” Samsung official Kye Hyun Kyung said in the Commerce Department statement. – AFP Tesla laying off more than 10% of staff globally BERLIN: Tesla is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday shows, as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles (EVs). “About every five years, we need to reorganise and streamline the company for the next phase of growth,” CEO Elon Musk commented in a post on X. Two senior leaders – battery development chief Drew Baglino and vice-president for public policy Rohan Patel – also announced their departures, drawing posts of thanks from Musk although some investors were concerned. Musk last announced a round of job cuts in 2022, after telling executives he had a “super bad feeling” about the economy. Still, Tesla headcount has risen from around 100,000 in late 2021 to over 140,000 in late 2023, according to filings with US regulators. Tesla vehicles sitting on the lot at a dealership in Austin, Texas. – AFPPIC oEV maker looks to cut costs and boost productivity as sales fall Baglino was a Tesla veteran and one of four members, along with Musk, of the leadership team listed on the firm’s investor relations website. Scott Acheychek, CEO of Rex Shares – which manages ETFs with high exposure to Tesla stock – described the headcount reductions as strategic, but Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, deemed the departures of the senior executives as “the larger negative signal today” that Tesla’s growth was in trouble. Less than a year ago, Tesla’s chief financial officer Zach Kirkhorn left the company, fueling concerns about succession planning. Tesla shares closed 5.6% lower at US$161.48 on Monday. Shares of EV makers Rivian Automotive, Lucid Group and VinFast Auto also dropped between 2.4% and 9.4%. “As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity,” Musk said in the memo sent to all staff. “As part of this effort, we have done a thorough review of the organisation and made the difficult decision to reduce our headcount by more than 10% globally.” Reuters saw an e-mail sent to at least three US employees notifying them their dismissal was effective immediately. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The layoffs follow an exclusive Reuters report on April 5 that Tesla had cancelled a long-promised inexpensive car, expected to cost US$25,000 (RM120,000), that investors have been counting on to drive mass-market growth. Musk had said the car, known as the Model 2, would start production in late 2025. Shortly after the story published, Musk posted “Reuters is lying” on his social media site X, without detailing any inaccuracies. He has not commented on the car since, leaving investors and analysts to speculate on its future. Tech publication Electrek, which first reported the latest job cuts, said on Monday that the inexpensive car project had been defunded and that many people working on it had been laid off. Reuters also reported on April 5 that Tesla would shift its focus to self-driving robotaxis built on the same small-car platform. Musk posted on X that evening: “Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8”, with no further details. – Reuters
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 19 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) DLADY 31.56 -2.06 1043 AJI 18.7 -0.62 627 HEIM 22.5 -0.54 3442 THETA 1.53 -0.21 99342 CARLSBG 18.5 -0.2 2,141 MPI 30.8 -0.2 1,294 UNISEM 3.52 -0.18 15,764 HLBANK 19.3 -0.16 3,628 NHFATT 3.82 -0.16 524 ORIENT 6.84 -0.16 9,463 PANAMY 18.74 -0.16 551 CANONE 2.9 -0.15 1,425 VSTECS 2.42 -0.15 21,411 BAT 8.45 -0.14 1,982 CHINHIN 4.33 -0.14 1815 DKSH 4.8 -0.14 1,045 F&N 30.96 -0.14 1,212 GENP 6.05 -0.14 7,707 GREATEC 4.46 -0.14 16,148 HLFG 16.54 -0.14 2,848 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/-(RM) +/-(%) VOLUME TWL 1,666,818 0.03 -0.005 -14.29 SAPNRG 1,222,271 0.05 - - VELESTO 800,050 0.27 -0.005 -1.82 MRCB 641,772 0.655 -0.035 -5.07 BPURI 640,736 0.08 - - DNEX 581,999 0.4 -0.01 -2.44 UEMS 550,180 1.04 -0.06 -5.45 SIMEPROP 549,171 0.885 -0.01 -1.12 SPSETIA 541,479 1.35 -0.09 -6.25 ALPHA 520,201 0.335 - - INGENIEU 515,775 0.145 0.005 3.57 MINETEC 463,116 0.14 -0.005 -3.45 EKOVEST 437,577 0.455 -0.01 -2.15 CIMB 431,554 6.48 -0.1 -1.52 YTL 425,145 2.48 -0.12 -4.62 RGB 404,327 0.345 -0.01 -2.82 ARMADA 395,372 0.59 -0.03 -4.84 HONGSENG 369,201 0.01 - - MYEG 354,647 0.77 -0.01 -1.28 WIDAD 347,079 0.065 - - 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 16 [ 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 11,515.00 -85.19 FBMKLCI 1,535.00 -7.53 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 577.04 -4.39 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 182.08 -1.74 CONSTRUCTION 213.88 -5.92 FINANCIAL SERVICES 17,008.90 -160.20 ENERGY 949.94 -16.55 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 583.90 -1.31 HEALTH CARE 1,937.58 -12.83 TRANSPORTATION 1,005.31 -4.98 PROPERTY 983.32 -24.75 PLANTATION 7,399.24 -33.38 FBMSHA 11,696.40 -60.15 FBMACE 4,881.94 -114.50 TECHNOLOGY 63.07 -0.98 TURNOVER: 4.927 bil VALUE: RM3.718 bil Top 20 Actives Top 20 Losers (By RM) Bursa Indices INDEX CLOSING DAILY DAILY CHANGE CHANGE (%) DJIA (US) 37,735.11 -248.13 -0.65 S&P 500 (US) 5,061.82 -61.59 -1.20 NASDAQ (US) 15,885.02 -290.07 -1.79 NYSE (US) 17,506.93 -132.11 -0.75 EURO STOXX 50 (EUR) 4,915.90 -68.58 -1.38 FTSE 100 (UK) 7,845.20 -120.33 -1.51 DAX (GER) 17,783.56 -243.02 -1.35 NIKKEI 225 (JPN) 38,471.20 -761.60 -1.94 TOPIX (JPN) 2,697.11 -56.09 -2.04 HANG SENG INDEX (HK) 16,248.97 -351.49 -2.12 CSI 300 (CHN) 3,511.11 -37.97 -1.07 SH SE COM (CHN) 3,007.07 -50.31 -1.65 KOSPI INDEX (SK) 2,609.63 -60.80 -2.28 MSCI ASIA PACIFIC 175.31 -1.15 -0.65 ASX 200 (AUS) 7,612.49 -140.03 -1.81 ALL ORDINARIES INDX (AUS) 7,862.33 -147.05 -1.84 SENSEX INDEX (IND) 72,847.56 -552.22 -0.75 FBM KLCI 1,535.00 -7.53 -0.49 STRAITS TIMES INDEX (S’PORE) 3,148.57 -35.04 -1.10 WTI (US$/BBL.) 85.32 -0.09 -0.11 BRENT (US$/BBL.) 90.05 -0.05 -0.06 GOLD (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 2,387.40 +4.40 +0.18 SILVER (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 28.45 -0.27 -0.93 PLATINUM (US$/T OZ) 965.98 -7.84 -0.81 COPPER (COMEX) (US CENTS/LB.) 431.95 -5.95 -1.36 COPPER 3MO (LME) (US$/MT) 9,576.00 118.50 1.25 CORN (US CENTS/BU.) 443.00 -1.25 -0.28 WHEAT (US CENTS/BU.) 567.25 -0.25 -0.04 SOYBEAN OIL (CBOT) (US CENTS/LB.) 45.56 -0.45 -0.98 COCOA (ICE) (US$/MT) 10,594.00 +35.00 +0.33 RUBBER (S’PORE) (US CENTS/KG) 163.30 -2.30 -1.39 World Stocks/Commodities as at 5pm, April 16 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) FINTEC 0.005 -50 20,787 COMPUGT 0.01 -33.33 16,200 TECHNAX 0.01 -33.33 12,400 ALAM 0.02 -20 12,258 NEXGRAM 0.025 -16.67 2,100 SAUDEE 0.025 -16.67 29,192 DFCITY 0.28 -15.15 10 ALRICH 0.03 -14.29 28,680 DESTINI 0.03 -14.29 14,789 TAWIN 0.03 -14.29 17,426 TWL 0.03 -14.29 1,666,818 THETA 1.53 -12.07 99342 CLASSITA 0.04 -11.11 23,100 GPACKET 0.04 -11.11 9,232 MTOUCHE 0.045 - - TWRREIT 0.315 -10 3306 NOVAMSC 0.095 -9.52 40416 FITTERS 0.05 -9.09 169899 CVIEW 1.2 -8.4 55 OCR 0.055 -8.33 5,432 Top 20 Losers (By %) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) NESTLE 122.9 0.8 1,014 AIRPORT 10.06 0.19 65,369 KESM 6.35 0.18 67 UTDPLT 25 0.16 5,232 CDB 4.2 0.12 46016 GOLDETF 3.66 0.11 1,340 IHS046000824 103.5 0.1 0 PMETAL 5.32 0.1 159,872 TIMECOM 5.2 0.09 20,293 IHH 6.1 0.07 36822 EPMB 0.725 0.06 113,583 DIALOG 2.35 0.05 214,877 PARAGON 3.7 0.05 246 SERNKOU 0.9 0.05 6132 KOSSAN 2.1 0.04 41,893 PETGAS 17.98 0.04 11,136 WPRTS 3.87 0.04 2,874 YTLREIT 1.21 0.04 15,198 INNITY 0.445 0.03 2,693 JCBNEXT 1.65 0.03 522 Top 20 Gainers (By RM) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) FOCUS 0.015 50 6,480 TALAMT 0.015 50 95,303 MTRONIC 0.02 33.33 4,836 ARBB 0.045 28.57 48,853 G3 0.03 20 13570 LAMBO 0.03 20 1511 XOXNET 0.03 20 1 BARAKAH 0.04 14.29 6504 MERIDIAN 0.045 12.5 6,772 ONEGLOVE 0.25 11.11 23061 VINVEST 0.05 11.11 3715 EURO 0.055 10 17,222 SALCON 0.285 9.62 54,270 EPMB 0.725 9.02 113583 AGES 0.07 7.69 1,743 DIGISTA 0.07 7.69 4,779 YLI 0.43 7.5 12,956 INNITY 0.445 7.23 2,693 YB 0.24 6.67 4 HANDAL 0.085 6.25 9,870 Top 20 Gainers (By %) Bursa ends lower for second consecutive day BURSA Malaysia ended lower for the second consecutive day yesterday, tracking the weak global sentiment due to the Middle East conflict, said an analyst. At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 7.53 points, or 0.49%, to 1,535.00 from Monday’s close of 1,542.53. Market breadth was negative with decliners overwhelming gainers 1,159 to 133, while 275 counters were unchanged, 785 untraded and 11 others suspended. Mohd Sedek Jantan, head of wealth research and advisory and designated portfolio manager at UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors, said besides rising geopolitical tensions, the weak sentiment was exacerbated by a slowing Chinese economy demonstrated by poor data for China’s retail sales and industrial output. “Investors are currently grappling with two main concerns, which have intensified fear and triggered panic selling. “The present risk-off atmosphere is weighing on equities, and the FBM KLCI may continue to consolidate sideways.” Meanwhile, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the local bourse was lower in tandem with the heavy selling across the region. He said key regional indices closed lower on growing fears of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, coupled with the broad sell-off on Wall Street overnight which also impacted investor sentiment. “Back home, the benchmark index failed to hold its 1,538 support level. Hence, we spot the next crucial support level at around 1,528-1,530. “Despite the cautious sentiment, we see the sell-off as an opportunity for investors to go bargain hunting for stocks at lower levels,” he said. – Bernama 1,535.00pts April 16, 2024 Participation 20.94 43.50 35.56 100.00 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 767.71 1874.34 1076.86 3718.91 Sold RM m 790.00 1361.02 1567.89 3718.91 Net RM m -22.29 513.32 -491.03 0.00 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 16/4/2024 Lorem ipsum
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 20 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON Malaysian Paper INSTAGRAM 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. PALM oil inventories recorded a drop of 10.7% MoM to 1.71 million mt in March compared to the market estimates of 1.76 million mt. It was also the lowest level in 10 months. Consequently, the stock/usage ratio slipped from 11.5% to 8.8% as exports grew at a bigger pace than production. Palm oil exports jumped 28.6% MoM to 1.31 million mt in March, bolstered by stronger demand from China (+1.4%), India (+42.6%), Middle East (+10.6%) and the US (+178.5%), partially offset by EU (-14.5%). For the first quarter, palm oil exports slipped 1.6% YoY to 3.69 million mt, weighed by slower exports to all the major consuming countries. Despite the strong export data in March, we think it may not be sustainable in the coming months due to the uncompetitive pricing compared to other vegetable oils and low buying interest after the festive period. CPO production rebounded 10.6% MoM to 1.39 million mt in March, as production from both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia rose 15% and 5.2%, respectively. It is also the monthly gain since Oct 2023. Meanwhile, FFB yield recovered from February’s 1.08mt/ha to 1.17mt/ha as productivity normalised after the long holiday break. We believe production is likely to see continuous recovery in the subsequent months led by higher productivity and easing worker shortage issue. The Indonesian government is mulling a revision in the Domestic Market Obligation policy for cooking oil by linking it to production instead of exports. It is worth noting that the current ruling allows companies to export some palm oil products after supplying certain volumes of cooking oil domestically. Top picks are pure planters, namely Sarawak Plantation and Ta Ann. TO kick off the cross-border trade, the Ministry has announced a 100MW pilot run via existing interconnection facilities between Malaysia and Singapore. Interested RE bidders (who hold generation licenses and/or retail electricity supply licenses in Singapore) are invited to register their interest (pre-qualify) on Malaysia’s Single Buyer website. Meanwhile, details on auction timeline and source of RE supply for this pilot run have not yet been announced. The establishment of the energy exchange platform represents another milestone achieved for the eventual cross-border trading of RE. We note that RE export is potentially a new revenue source (RE sales and wheeling charges) and capacity growth driver for Malaysia’s RE industry (currently reliant on domestic LSS and CGPP schemes). To recap, Singapore has announced a target of up to 4GW of low-carbon electricity import (30% of Singapore’s electricity supply by 2035). Currently, the existing Plentong-Woodlands Interconnector can facilitate bi-directional electricity flow of 1GW between Malaysia and Singapore. Local solar EPCC players like Solarvest (SOLAR MK, BUY, CP: RM1.60, TP: RM1.76), Cypark (CYP MK, HOLD, CP: RM0.99, TP: RM0.86), Sunview (SUNVIEW, CP: RM0.64, N.R.), Pekat (PEKAT MK, CP: RM0.49, N.R.), and Samaiden (SAMAIDEN MK, CP: RM1.37, N.R.) would benefit from increased job flows from RE capacity growth. Meanwhile, utility majors such as Tenaga Nasional (TNB MK, HOLD, CP: RM11.60, TP: RM11) and YTL Power (YTLP MK, HOLD, CP: RM3.91, TP: RM4) could also benefit from RE export via RE sales and wheeling charges. Overall, we remain POSITIVE on the RE sector, for which EPCC order book replenishment is impending from both the 800MW of Corporate Green Power Programme and 2GW of LSS5 projects. SIME Darby Property’s overall ESG score of 63 is above average, which is close to its sector peer, namely Sunway (SWB MK, BUY, CP: RM3.37, TP: RM3.03) at 74 (above average). SDPR’s score was dragged by the rising trend in water and waste intensity under the “E” segment. Additionally, lost time injury frequency (LFIT) rate jumped in FY22. There was a recordable fatality of a contractor worker in FY22. Positively, SDPR has relatively better disclosures as compared to the other developers under our coverage. It has also clearly stated its medium-term ESG targets in FY22. SDPR has begun developing its Net Zero pathway with a strategic partner to chart its carbon footprint reduction, focusing on its operational carbon Scope 1 and Scope 2 before establishing a baseline for Scope 3 in 2023. SDPR is focusing on expanding its investment property portfolio for future income sustainability. In end-2023, SDPR’s unbilled sales stood at RM3.6 billion (0.8x of our FY24E revenue). We like SDPR for its large exposure in the landed and industrial property segments as well as its healthy balance sheet with 0.22x net gearing as at 4Q23. SDPR currently trades at 0.6x FY24E P/B. SDPR is a constituent of the MSCI ACWI Small Cap Index with MSCI ESG Rating of BBB and was rated by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) where SDPR was rated C for Climate Change and B Minus for Supplier Engagement. SDPR scores above-average in our proprietary scoring methodology with an overall score of 63/100. We maintain our earnings forests, RM0.86 TP (on unchanged 0.6x FY24E PBV) and HOLD rating. FOREIGN CURRENCY SELLING TT/OD BUYING TT BUYING OD 1 US Dollar 4.8535 4.7205 4.7105 1 Australian Dollar 3.1430 3.0200 3.0040 1 Brunei Dollar 3.5600 3.4590 3.4510 1 Canadian Dollar 3.5190 3.4260 3.4140 1 Euro 5.1680 5.0020 4.9820 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.8780 2.7730 2.7570 1 Singapore Dollar 3.5600 3.4590 3.4510 1 Sterling Pound 6.0510 5.8640 5.8440 1 Swiss Franc 5.3080 5.1880 5.1730 100 UAE Dirham 133.8300 126.9500 126.7500 100 Bangladesh Taka 4.5100 4.2170 4.0170 100 Chinese Renminbi 67.5700 64.7500 N/A 100 Danish Krone 71.0000 65.3700 65.1700 100 Hongkong Dollar 62.7000 59.6100 59.4100 100 Indian Rupee 5.9100 5.5500 5.3500 100 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0317 0.0287 0.0237 100 Japanese Yen 3.1530 3.0540 3.0440 100 New Taiwan Dollar N/A N/A N/A 100 Norwegian Krone 45.5700 41.9500 41.7500 100 Pakistan Rupee 1.7800 1.6700 1.4700 100 Philippine Peso 8.6700 8.1800 7.9800 100 Qatar Riyal 134.7000 127.8700 127.6700 100 Saudi Riyal 130.9700 124.3400 124.1400 100 South Africa Rand 26.5200 23.9600 23.7600 100 Sri Lanka Rupee 1.6700 1.5400 1.3400 100 Swedish Krona 46.0000 41.9200 41.7200 100 Thai Baht 13.7800 12.2300 11.8300 Exchange Rates Source: Malayan Banking Bhd/Bernama Ringgit lower on bullish sentiment over US dollar KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit continued its downtrend to end lower against the greenback yesterday due to continued positive sentiment for the US dollar, which was bolstered by strong US March retail sales data and amid concerns over the Middle East tension, said an analyst. At 6pm, the ringgit fell to 4.7945/7970 against the US dollar from Monday’s closing of 4.7785/7815. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the strong US retail sales data suggest that the anticipation of a US rate cut has diminished. “This certainly has led to higher demand for the US dollar which saw the US Dollar Index rose 0.16% to 106.373 points,” he told Bernama. He also noted that concerns over Middle East tensions would exert pressure on emerging market currencies as demand for safe haven currencies such as the US dollar is higher. At the close, the ringgit was traded mostly lower against a basket of major currencies. It shed against the euro to 5.0966/0992 from 5.0915/0947 at Monday’s close, weakened versus the British pound to 5.9701/9732 from 5.9660/9697 but was better vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.1020/1038 from 3.1053/1075 yesterday. However, the ringgit was traded mixed against Asean currencies. It was lower versus the Thai baht at 13.0858/13.0983 compared with 13.0148/13.0286 at Monday’s close, depreciated against the Singapore dollar to 3.5135/5156 from 3.5123/5148 yesterday, but was flat versus the Philippine peso at 8.41/8.42 and stronger vis-a-vis the Indonesian rupiah to 296.3/296.6 from 301.4/301.8 previously. Setting up of Enegem seen as positive for export of RE KUALA LUMPUR: Investment banks believe the establishment of Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem) is a positive development, foreseeing renewable energy (RE) export as a promising avenue for new revenue streams and a catalyst for industry capacity expansion. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) said Malaysia currently relies on the domestic large-scale solar scheme and corporate green power programmes. “The energy exchange platform represents another milestone achieved for the eventual cross-border trading of RE. “We note that RE export is potentially a new revenue source (such as RE sales and wheeling charges) and capacity growth driver for Malaysia’s RE industry,“ it said in a note yesterday. The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry has set up the eagerly awaited Enegem platform to facilitate cross-border trading of RE, kicking off with the announcement of a pilot 100mw RE export to Singapore, although details were not disclosed. Similarly, MIDF Research views the announcement as a positive development. It said based on details in the latest Cross Border Electricity Sales guideline, local RE plants are expected to enter into power purchase agreements with a single buyer (a unit under Tenaga Nasional Bhd) for the supply of energy for RE export. “The pilot 100MW export capacity is small, but in the longer term, we note that Singapore is looking to import up to 3.5 gigawatts of green electricity by 2035,“ it said in a separate note. Overall, Maybank IB maintained its “positive” call on the RE sector, while MIDF Research kept its “neutral” call on the utilities sector, backed by their current strong share price performance and stretched valuations. – Bernama Sime Darby Property Bhd Hold. Target price: RM0.86 Renewable Energy Positive Plantation Neutral Source: PublicInvest Research Source: Energy Commission, Maybank Investment Bank Source: Maybank Investment Bank April 16, 2024: RM0.885
Kurt Cobain: Kurt Cobain: grunge icon Slacker style lives on –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 17, 2024 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN ME INSIDE p 25 Ghostbusters return p 26 Jesse McCartney releases new EP – PIC FROM FACEBOOK @NIRVANA_OFFICIAL INSIDE p 23 Richmond debuts in Malaysia p 24 Monkey Man reviewed
LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 22 o30 years on from his death, Kurt Cobain’s style lives on as much as his music I T may have disturbed the anti-corporate icon to see how his thrift-store outfits have been repurposed into ultra-expensive garments. But from the moment Nirvana’s breakout single Smells Like Teen Spirit took over MTV – with Cobain wearing two second-hand T-shirts one over the other, his unkempt hair hanging down his face – a style was born that has never really died. “He grew up in poverty and doubled up his clothes to mask how thin he was, which he was always self-conscious about, despite being a good-looking guy,” said Charlotte Blum, author of a book on grunge culture. The band recruited extras for the Teen Spirit video with a flyer that read: “No clothing with name brands or logos please!” But the brands found him anyway. In 1992, designer Marc Jacobs paid homage to the Seattle grunge scene with a catwalk show in which cheap flannel shirts and lumberjack coats were reimagined in silk and cashmere. He sent samples to Cobain as a tribute. “Do you know what we did with it?” his wife Courtney Love later told a fashion site. “We burned it. We were punkers – we didn’t like that kind of thing.” The accidental anti-look The style was partly accidental – the clothes were the natural cheap workwear of poor youngsters in the chilly Pacific Northwest. But Cobain also understood the importance of image and authenticity. “It was an anti-look, ramshackle, but the guy was a paradox – he paid a lot of attention to it,” said Marc Dufaud, author of a recent book on the singer. Mirroring the rejection of societal norms in Nirvana’s music, the ripped-and-patched look of Cobain’s clothes became the uniform of a generation. Jacobs told The Telegraph in 2011 that the grunge show was his favourite, even though it got him fired from the label Perry Ellis. “It was about... a dismissal of everything that one was told was beautiful, correct, glamorous, sexy,” he said. “I think that moment hasn’t passed. It’s morphed into different things but it really hasn’t passed.” Cobain might be horrified to see the money now involved. Paris label Vetements recently issued a US$1,150 (RM5,494) version of the cardigan he wore at Nirvana’s famous MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. The real thing sold at auction in 2019 for US$334,000. Saint Laurent and Dries Van Noten have run versions of his favourite bug-eyed shades that have shown up on popstars including Jay-Z, Harry Styles, Migos. Fashion statements But Cobain would no doubt welcome the way some of his fashion statements still reverberate. An early critic of misogyny and homophobia, he wore women’s clothes on stage – recently replicated by rappers (and avowed Nirvana fans) Kid Cudi and Post Malone. For the cover of Rolling Stone, Cobain’s Tshirt read “Corporate magazines still suck”. He popularised the wearing of band tees, promoting outsider artistes like Daniel Johnson (today, of course, the most popular is Nirvana’s). Then, when grunge took over the world, he could not resist subverting his own image, sporting a sparkly top by French designer JeanPaul Gaultier in the video for 1993’s HeartShaped Box and opting for suits, white shirts and ties in later performances and photo shoots. It could have all devolved into parody. But by then, the pressure of being the icon of a generation was taking its toll. “Cobain wanted to become a star but he was overtaken by the speed of it – he intended it to be gradual, but that album (Nevermind) wasn’t just successful, it defined a genre,” said Dufaud. Cobain died by suicide on April 5, 1994, aged 27. – ETX Studio Cobain died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound on April 5, 1994. – PIC FROM FACEBOOK @NIRVANA_OFFICIAL The grunge aesthetic FOR a large part of the 1980s, hair metal or glam metal ruled the music zeitgeist. Though its origins are debatable due to influences coming from various roots, it quickly became a largely American export. Bands that partook in this circus saw pop choral hooks dominating their music writing, while sex, drugs and adultery littered the lyricism. Weighing it all down was how the bands and musicians were all covered in mascara, foundation, hair spray, fishnets, skin-hugging leather, hypersexualised clothing and big ozone-unfriendly hairstyles. To know just how flagrantly stupid hair metal was, look up the music video and lyrics to Warrant’s Cherry Pie, or Poison’s disturbing I Want Action with its overt rape lyricism. By the end of the decade, like most trends, hair metal was lying in the pop culture ditch, slowly bleeding out and Nirvana’s Nevermind arrived to put a bullet in its head. Antithetical to the absurdity of music at the time and preceding it, Nevermind and grunge were a rejection of the pomp and silliness of the former, bringing attention back to its subset of punk culture. Kurt Cobain’s writing behind the album shook the status quo with its anti-establishment themes. Beyond just the musical influence the album had, how it marked a shift in fashion has seemingly lasted longer. Due to Nevermind shooting grunge into the stratosphere with disenfranchised youths and communities, the clothing worn by Nirvana popularised the thrift store-style aesthetic. Plaid shirts and worn-out jeans became de rigueur. When Nirvana released Nevermind, grunge fashion essentially boiled down to poverty. Musicians and those who showed up at gigs were dressed in what they wore earlier in the day during their day jobs or regular daily life. Other styles of plaid, such as flannels, were often worn a size or so larger as a means to appear androgynous. The look, the feel and overall grunge vibe has survived until this day, much of it due to the huge influence of three young men from Seattle who released a seminal album that forever changed music and fashion. Nevermind is more than just a groundbreaking record, it is a pop culture phenomenon. █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Standing the test of time
LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 23 Sporting elegance One of the standout features of Richmond’s collection was the incorporation of sporty yet subtle practical elements. These elements have been transformed into basics of sartorial elegance, infused with a touch of anarchy. Richmond’s designs strike a perfect balance between comfort and style, making them suitable for both casual and formal occasions. The use of denim for evening wear was particularly innovative, challenging traditional fashion norms and offering a fresh perspective on evening attire. Dada-inspired artistry Richmond’s penchant for Dada-inspired cut-up montage prints and motifs was evident throughout the collection. Trompel’œil techniques pervaded the designs, featuring “broken holes”, oversized jewellery and necklaces, and bleached denim spots. These artistic elements added depth and texture to the garments, creating a visually stunning and eclectic collection. The signature look The “JR” look has evolved into a blatantly glamorous style, set to the beat of a hip-hop soundtrack. Richmond’s designs exude confidence and attitude, empowering wearers to embrace their individuality and express themselves freely. The collection encapsulates the spirit of rebellion and self-expression, urging fashion enthusiasts to “fight the power” and challenge societal norms through their sartorial choices. Richmond’s debut fashion show in Malaysia was a resounding success, showcasing his unique blend of tribal influences, urban cool, and artistic flair. Richmond’s collection offers a fresh and innovative perspective on contemporary fashion, appealing to those who appreciate creativity, individuality, and a touch of anarchy in their wardrobe choices. With his latest collection, Richmond continues to push boundaries and inspire fashion-forward individuals around the world. MORE than a dozen people can be involved in the making of a single bangle, from sweltering factories to the homes of designers who skilfully decorate them by hand. “Whatever the fashion trends, when we attend any event and wear any outfit it feels incomplete without bangles,” said 42-year-old Talat Zahid, who uses beads, stitching and embroidery to embellish bangles. “Even if you don’t wear jewellery but wear bangles or a bracelet with your outfit, the outfit looks complete.” In the lead-up to the recent Eid-al-Fitr festivities that mark the end of Ramadan, market stalls are adorned with a glittering array of colourful bangles, each turned over and inspected for their beauty and imperfections by women who haggle for a good price. Hyderabad is home to the delicate “churi” glass bangle, where a single furnace can produce up to 100 bangles an hour from molten glass wire shaped around an iron rod. The work is arduous and frustrating – labourers are exposed to oppressive temperatures in unregulated factories prone to frequent power cuts, while the fragile glass threads can snap easily. “The work is done without a fan. If we turn on the fan the fire is extinguished. So the heat intensity is high. As it becomes hotter our work slows down,” said 24-year-old Sameer, who followed his father into the industry and earns less than the minimum wage of 32,000 rupees (RM1,838) a month. After the partition of British-ruled India in 1947, migrating Muslims who had produced bangles in the Indian city of Firozabad took their trade to Hyderabad – where hundreds of thousands of people rely on the industry. But soaring gas prices after the government slashed subsidies have forced many factories to close or to operate at reduced hours. .“The speed at which the government has increased the gas prices and taxes, (means) the work in this area has started to shrink instead of expand,” said 50-yearold factory owner Muhammad Nafees. Most bangles leave the factory as plain loops, sent off to be embellished to different degrees by women who work from home, before they are finally passed on to traders to be sold in markets. The production is often a family affair. Saima Bibi, 25, works from home, carefully adding stones to bangles with the help of her three children when they return from school, while her husband works at the furnaces. “They go through a lot of hands to be prepared,” she said. – ETX Studio Pakistan’s delicate bangles go from furnace to forearms Most bangles leave the factory as plain loops, embellished to different degrees by women who work from home. – 123RFPIC Richmond’s debut in Malaysia oTribal influences meet urban cool in his latest collection █ BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ RENOWNED English fashion designer John Richmond made waves with his recent fashion show debut in Malaysia. In his recent collection, Richmond smoothly merges hiphop attitudes with sartorial elegance. The event, held in Kuala Lumpur, showcased Richmond’s unique vision, capturing the attention of fashion enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. A palette of contrasts The collection’s colour palette was a striking blend of neutral stones, oranges, denim blues and acid greens, punctuated by evening blacks and leathers. This diverse range of colours reflects Richmond’s penchant for seemingly clashing styles and hues, somehow harmoniously brought together in his unique designs. These bold hues add a touch of vibrancy and dynamism to the collection, setting it apart from conventional fashion trends. This debut showcases Richmond’s unique vision, capturing the attention of fashion enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. – PICS COURTESY OF JOHN RICHMOND KUALA LUMPUR The ‘JR’ look is a unique blend of tribal influences, urban cool and artistic flair. Richmond’s designs strike a perfect balance between comfort and style.
LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 24 /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper KIM KI-BUM (Key) and Lee Min-ho have extended their partnership with SM Entertainment. The renewal of their contracts, announced last week, underscores the trust they have in the agency. In their statement, Kim and Lee expressed gratitude for the support of SM throughout their journey as part of Shinee. They look forward to leveraging this continued collaboration to explore new artistic avenues and deliver their best to their fans. SM Entertainment echoed this sentiment, expressing delight in the ongoing relationship with Kim and Lee. It pledged full support for the duo, both as integral members of Shinee and in their solo endeavours. Since their debut with Shinee in 2008, Kim and Lee have been an integral part of the SM family. – by THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Lee (left) and Kim are part of Shinee, a boyband consisting of five members. – PIC FROM X @MINHO_WEV A breath of fresh air for Indian action films, Dev Patel’s Monkey Man is both exhilarating and frustrating. The film is devoid of tropes that plague Indian cinema, but it is also subject to the pitfalls suffered by first-time directors and writers. There are no forced love interests, no gravity-defying action, no love songs every 30 minutes and no happy ending where the Indian hero walks off into a dalcha-coloured sunset. Going by several monikers with his real name lost to the tragedy in his childhood, Kid (Dev) spends his nights fighting in an animalthemed underground fight club. Inspired by the Hindu deity Hanuman, Kid wears a monkey mask in the ring. During the day, he spends his time tracking down corrupt police chief Rana (Sikandar Kher). At the time that Monkey Man’s story begins, he has found a way to get closer to Rana by infiltrating Kings Club, an exclusive establishment that is the convergence point of businessmen, politicians and the police in the city of Yatana. Focused entirely on his mission, Kid is single-minded in the attempt to avenge his dead mother. Potpourri of influences An action film produced under rather gruelling circumstances, Monkey Man takes its inspiration from other Asian films, along with the more popular ones from the West. Dev is a cinephile and he proudly wears it on his sleeves. The story draws parallels to Japan’s Lady Snowblood from 1973, while the action is inspired by Indonesia’s The Raid films and the John Wick franchise. Dev’s injection of humour into the action is reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. The shaky cam technique when filming action sequences was lifted off Paul Greengrass’ Bourne films. Though the film’s influences are broad, Monkey Man is not a facsimile of them. Dev liberally weaves in his own Indian identity, culture and commentary with how the film was written. At its forefront, is the Hindu religion. Side dishes also include the music and the hijra community. There is also the discourse of India’s class warfare between the rich and the impoverished. Not content with how much Indian culture he has weaved into the film, Dev also shows his anger towards India’s current prime minister, Narendra Modi and his ruling rightwing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. Initially planned to film in India, Monkey Man was shot in Indonesia and the location change is very visible. Many of the extras in the film were Indonesians, and the film tries to pass them off as North Indians because the film takes place in a fictional Indian city called Yatana. For Southeast Asians, this can be jarring to see. Flawed but still enjoyable Kid is not the atypical Indian action hero. He is a flawed man, where in one sequence, he tries to use a gun and is immediately disarmed, with the pistol falling into a toilet bowl full of blood and faeces, which he takes out and then loses again. He spends most of the film trying to find his identity and purpose in relation to his pursuit of getting revenge on Rana and Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande), the men responsible for his mother’s violent death. For two-thirds of the film, Kid is either getting beaten up or is walking around covered in wounds. The “from zero to hero” character development causes a massive problem in the storytelling structure and the film’s pacing. After the film’s first action sequence, Monkey Man takes a visible dip in quality as the pacing slows down to a crawl in order to provide backgrounds to Kid, his deceased mother and their community, the main villains and the hijra group. It seemingly takes forever before Dev checks off the grocery list of backstories and regains control of the film’s direction. This ramps up to the final action sequence in the last 40 minutes or so, and it is a tightly shot and choreographed climax that more than makes up for the entirety of Monkey Man’s slow middle section. The film has its flaws, but as Dev’s directorial and writing debut, it is a promising start. Just like his thespian skills, it will only get better with time. Monkey business oDev Patel goes absolutely bananas in his directorial debut Despite using a gun once, Dev’s Kid fights only with his arms and legs. – PICS COURTESY OF UNITED INTERNATIONAL PICTURES India’s hijra community is represented in a spectacular fight sequence. The political undercurrent of the film becomes a tsunami in the third act. █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Shinee duo renews contracts with SM
LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 25 In support of Glazer OVER 150 Jewish creatives have signed an open letter in support of director Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech that denounced the continued actions of Israel on Palestine and equating the former’s war crimes with what Nazi Germany did almost 80 years ago. “We are Jewish artistes, filmmakers, writers and creative professionals who support Jonathan Glazer’s statement from the 2024 Oscars. We were alarmed to see some of our colleagues in the industry mischaracterise and denounce his remarks. “Their attacks on Glazer are a dangerous distraction from Israel’s escalating military campaign, which has already killed over 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza and brought hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation. We grieve for all those who have been killed in Palestine and Israel over too many decades. We honour the Holocaust by saying: ‘Never again for anyone’,” the open letter read. Among those who signed the letter were Joaquin Phoenix, Elliott Gould and Chloe Fineman. After winning the Best International Film award at the Oscars for The Zone of Interest, Glazer used the opportunity during his acceptance speech to talk about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present, not to say look what they did then. But rather, look at what we do now. Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst. It’s shaped all of our past and present,” he said, drawing a parallel between the Nazis in his film to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Following the speech, Glazer was the subject of a smear campaign. A month later, Glazer has yet to publicly address the backlash to the speech. But at the start of this month, he donated seven signed “Zone of Interest” posters to a Cinema for Gaza auction raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians. – by Mark Mathen Victor Zone of Interest revolves around Nazi officers building a white suburb right beside the Auschwitz concentration camp. – A24PIC Blend of old favourites and new faces THE Ghostbusters franchise has held a cherished place in the hearts of fans since its iconic 1984 debut. With each new instalment, audiences eagerly anticipate the return of the beloved characters, thrill of encountering supernatural foes and the trademark humour that defines the movies. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire enters this storied lineage, promising both nostalgia and fresh adventures. However, does it succeed in capturing the essence of its predecessors? Let us delve into the spectral streets of Manhattan and find out. A familiar landscape Undoubtedly, Ghostbusters films are known for their signature elements – bold characters in jumpsuits equipped with proton packs facing off against unique spectres, all while injecting humour into the mix. The 1984 original film set the bar high, and subsequent films have been measured against its success. In the case of Frozen Empire, it seems to at least echo the essence of the debut film, with some added similarities. The sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife presents a sinister supernatural force that threatens humanity. oThe Spengler family returns to New York City for sequel to 2021 movie █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL The film is great family-friendly fun. Murray (right) and Hudson make a legendary return in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. – ALL PICS COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES Directed by Gil Kenan, this sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife echoes its predecessors, in which the plot follows a familiar trajectory involving a formidable evil entity that threatens civilisation. This time, an ancient horned ghost-god wreaks havoc and a dimension-crossing poses a danger to humanity. The chain of events is set in motion when Nadeem, a mischievous individual portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani, tries to sell an ancient orb to Ray. This orb, inherited from his late grandmother, holds significant occult power and serves as humanity’s only defence against the tyrannical reign of the ice-powered phantom. A new generation rises In Frozen Empire, Phoebe Spengler (played by McKenna Grace) and her family have officially joined the Ghostbusters team, operating out of the iconic fire station headquarters and continuing the legacy of paranormal investigation and elimination. This setting is a departure from Afterlife, which was set in a small town in Oklahoma. Phoebe takes on a leading role, representing the scientific curiosity and bravery of her grandfather Egon. She is accompanied by her mother Callie (played by Carrie Coon), brother Trevor (played by Finn Wolfhard) and their quirky ally Gary (played by Paul Rudd), as they face both supernatural threats and bureaucratic obstacles. Aside from that, Kenan offers fans more time with beloved characters. The older generation of Ghostbusters is still present, with Winston (played by Ernie Hudson) now owning the fire station building, Ray (played by Dan Aykroyd) running a supernaturalist YouTube channel, Janine (played by Annie Potts) making an appearance and the legendary Dr Venkman (played by Bill Murray) also featured, albeit with a demeanour that suggests he may be preoccupied with other thoughts. New lead emerges With a mix of seasoned actors and fresh talent, Frozen Empire promise a new generation of Ghostbusters, hinting at the potential that these younger characters could take the lead in future instalments. Grace delivers a standout performance as the teenage outsider, honouring her grandfather’s legacy with subtlety and depth. Her portrayal of Phoebe perfectly blends social awkwardness with scientific confidence, embodying the spirit of the original Ghostbusters while charting a course for the future. On the other hand, the movie’s reliance on a creepy subplot involving Phoebe and an older ghost feels unnecessary and needs to be revised in its overall impact. Meanwhile, Wolfhard’s character Trevor feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving him seemingly adrift. Verdict In conclusion, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire weaves a tapestry of nostalgia, innovation and supernatural thrills, continuing the legacy of the beloved franchise. With a blend of old favourites and new faces, the film captures the essence of its predecessors while charting a course for exciting new adventures. As Phoebe and her allies face down spectral and bureaucratic foes alike, they embody the spirit of camaraderie and courage that defines the Ghostbusters ethos. Whether battling ghosts or grappling with personal demons, the team’s journey resonates with audiences old and new, ensuring that the legacy of Ghostbusters will endure for generations to come. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now screening in cinemas nationwide.
LYFE LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 26 APPEARING on the first season of Amazon Prime Video’s Gen V last year as one of the show’s breakout young stars, actor Chance Perdomo passed away on March 30 after being involved in a motorcycle accident. On Gen V alongside a cast of equally talented actors, Perdomo played a young superhero that could control and manipulate metal through magnetism. The series was a spinoff to Prime Video’s successful The Boys antisuperhero series. Following the news of the accident, most of Perdomo’s fellow Gen V cast members were silent, until actress Lizzie Broadway broke the silence earlier this month with a personally penned post on her Instagram. “Remembering my beloved friend and cast mate Perdomo, whose passing has left a profound void in my heart. “Perdomo possessed so many interpersonal gifts that I treasured deeply,” said Broadway, who plays Emma Meyer on the show, with the superhuman ability to shrink or grow in size. “He was a vital part of my growth as an individual, his gentle spirit lifting me up when I needed it most. To me, he was and always will be my superhero.” On April 2, a handful of the other main cast members shared a joint statement on their Instagram, saying they were grieving the shocking loss. “We will remember the special moments we had together, his infectious smile that could light up any room, his warm hugs and the authenticity he carried with him always,” shared Maddie Phillips, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Broadway, Sean Patrick Thomas and more. The actors also included photos they took of Perdomo behind the scenes of the first season’s production. Perdomo’s death came several days before production and filming was planned to begin on Gen V’s second season, which has now been delayed indefinitely with his passing. Perdomo (left) and Broadway share a light moment off production while shooting Gen V’s first season. – PIC FROM INSTAGRAM @LIZZIEBROADWAY █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Gen V mourns Perdomo All’s well with McCartney J ESSE MCCARTNEY’S follow-up to 2021’s New Stage, All’s Well is a fun, supple and fascinating step on the multi-talented multihyphenate’s journey of expressing a true self beyond the expectations and demands — equal parts vintage Hall and Oates, postmodern swag, and honeymoon sincerity packaged in that undeniable McCartney charm. The five tracks on All’s Well carry through McCartney’s instantly recognisable voice but reach new soulful, swanky depths unlike anything he has released to date. Lead single Faux Fur is a prime example of that evolved perspective, a track equally in tune with the retro R&B majesty of DeBarge and Bruno Mars’ glow. “Some things can’t buy. Your heart your time. Your hand in mine,” McCartney sings over the echoey whistles, choppy acoustic strums, deliciously wah’ed guitar and luscious bass. The song’s evolution to that tender, bewitching groove is emblematic of the entire EP. McCartney teamed with producer Morgan Taylor Reid for three of the tracks, taking the initial sketches and pushing them to their horn, string, and synth-laden glory via live band. “It just felt like how music used to be done and was very refreshing for me. It was a big breakthrough, and it set the tone for the rest of the project,” McCartney says. That lived-in 70s feel provokes little surprising tickles when counterpointed with McCartney’s clever modern wordplay. No track embodies that delectable incongruity better than the EP’s cheeky second single The Elevenproduced Make a Baby. A pitchperfect blend of 2000s Timbaland beat-making and modern pop R&B flow, the song is the most seductive McCartney has ever sounded, with pop rap sensation Yung Gravy opening the track and adding a verse. Gravy, meanwhile, offers the more youthful pop star perspective of needing to be convinced that literal baby-making is a good idea. “Yung Gravy and I talked for several months about doing McCartney’s tracks have over 2.4 billion streams and almost 800 million views on YouTube. oNew EP by American actor and singersongwriter out now something together, but it never seemed to come together for scheduling reasons. Then, one day during a writing session I had in LA, out came this chorus that I thought had Gravy’s name all over it. I sent it to him and he immediately loved it. He recorded his verses for Make a Baby very soon after.” Make a Baby hits home for its honesty, as starting a family is something McCartney and wife Katie are building towards. “Sometimes the actual process is not the sexiest thing. There’s a lot of scheduling involved,” he laughs. Make A Baby, released over a month ago, has surpassed 1 million streams. At the other end of the emotional spectrum, The Well finds McCartney exploring the feeling of being stuck in some dark hole and trying to keep the darkness down there. The song came to McCartney in a jolt of poetry in the middle of the night, and he and Morgan Taylor Reid paired those lines with a Beatles-esque chord progression and lithe strings. The EP’s fourth track Silver Spoon, meanwhile, operates like Hall and Oates’ Rich Girl dissected to its base tracks and turned into a modern popsoul jam. Over rich bass backing vocals, burnished horns, and smackpop percussion, McCartney sings about a woman locked in a bubble of privilege. Throughout, All’s Well finds McCartney relishing the freedom he has found as an independent artiste over his last two records. “I’m at a place where I can choose songs that I want to release together, to release a project quicker and move onto the next idea instead of sitting and piecing together a full-length album that doesn’t feel natural,” he says. McCartney has built a solid fan base in Asia, particularly in his top 10 streaming markets worldwide, including seventh in Malaysia.
SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 27 T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 SCAN ME E: [email protected] WEDNESDAY APR 17, 2024 MENCARI IBUBAPA KANDUNG Ibubapa Kandung kepada KanakKanak perempuan bernama DANEETHRA (No. Sijil Kelahiran CK33529) yang dilahirkan pada 21.08.2010 pada pukul 6.30 am di Kuala Lumpur. 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH SESYEN DI IPOH DALAM NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN GUAMAN NO: AA-B52NCvC-32-07/2023 ANTARA OEL DISTRIBUTION (KL) SDN.BHD. [No. Syarikat: 450210-U] PLAINTIF DAN MAKASSAR FRESH MARKET SDN.BHD. [No.Syarikat: 201601037663 (1208604-T)] DEFENDAN PERINTAH UNTUK PENYAMPAIAN GANTI KEPADA:- MAKASSAR FRESH MARKET SDN.BHD. [No.Syarikat: 201601037663 (1208604-T)] Ground Floor, 4 & 6, Jalan SS15/4B, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Dan beralamat di No.14G, Jalan Prima Setapak 1, Prima Setapak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh dalam Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan melalui Guaman No: AA-52NCvC-32-07/2023 dalam tindakan ini oleh OEL (KL) Sdn. Bhd. (No. Pendaftaran: 450210-U) beralamat di Lot 56423, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 31200 Chemor, Perak dan juga beralamat di Lot P.T. 6619, Jalan Nyatoh, Taman Perindustrian Teknologi Rawang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman Terpinda dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda disampaikan kepada kamu melalui Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ Saman bertarikh 10.7.2023 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 6.7.2023 tersebut pada Papan Kenyataan Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh bersama dengan Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 8.1.2024 yang diperolehi ini dan akhir sekali mengiklankan di suratkhabar “The Sun” dan bahawa penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ke atas kamu selepas tamat tempoh EMPAT BELAS (14) hari dari tarikh akhir penampalan dan pengiklanan. Jika kamu berhasrat membela tindakan tersebut kamu mestilah hadir sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguambela kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh dalam Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan pada 17 haribulan April 2024 pukul 9.00 pagi. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 8hb Januari 2024. ……………T.T…………… PENDAFTAR MAHKAMAH SESYEN IPOH, PERAK. Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti ini telah difailkan oleh TETUAN AL MURALI & Co, Peguambela dan Peguamcara yang beralamat di No.15A, Tingkat Satu, Medan Istana 7, Bandar Ipoh Raya, 30000 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan; Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang dinamakan diatas. [Ruj Kami: AMC/3460/MFM/2023]sha 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI SHAH ALAM DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA SAMAN PEMULA NO.: BA-24NCvC-508-03/2024 Dalam Perkara mengenai Aturan 7 dan 89 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012 Dan Dalam Perkara Seksyen 8 Akta Relif Spesifik 1950 Dan Dalam Perkara berkenaan 3/16 bahagian sebuah tanah yang dipegang di bawah Geran Mukim 6288, No. Lot 1033, Tempat Sungai Kandis, Mukim Klang, Daerah Klang, Negeri Selangor dengan lot 10 to 14, 28 ANTARA YEO ENG HUI (No. Kad Pengenalan: 590927-13-5115) …PLAINTIF DAN 1. TAN CHAI SEW 2. MURUGAN 3. THIYAGU A/L SEUALKUMARAN 4. PENGHUNI-PENGHUNI YANG TIDAK DIKENALI DAN/ATAU ORANG-ORANG YANG TIDAK DIKENALI YANG TELAH MENDUDUKI DAN/ATAU BERADA DI ATAS HARTANAH YANG DIKENALI SEBAGAI GERAN MUKIM 6288, NO. LOT 1033, TEMPAT SUNGAI KANDIS, MUKIM KLANG, DAERAH KLANG, NEGERI SELANGOR BERALAMAT DI LOT 1033 – R8, BATU 3, JALAN KAMPUNG JAWA, KAMPUNG SUNGAI KANDIS SEKSYEN 36, 40470 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR DI LOT 10,11,12, 13,14,28 DAN LOT 1033-R8, LOT 1033-R9, LOT 1033-R10 Jalan Sungai Kandis, Kampung Sungai Kandis, Seksyen 36, 40470 Shah Alam, Selangor. …DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTIAN Kepada : 1. TAN CHAI SEW 2. MURUGAN 3. THIYAGU A/L SEUALKUMARAN 4. PENGHUNI-PENGHUNI YANG TIDAK DIKENALI DAN/ATAU ORANG-ORANG YANG TIDAK DIKENALI YANG TELAH MENDUDUKI DAN/ATAU BERADA DI ATAS HARTANAH YANG DIKENALI SEBAGAI GERAN MUKIM 6288, NO. LOT 1033, TEMPAT SUNGAI KANDIS, MUKIM KLANG, DAERAH KLANG, NEGERI SELANGOR BERALAMAT DI LOT 1033 – R8, BATU 3, JALAN KAMPUNG JAWA, KAMPUNG SUNGAI KANDIS SEKSYEN 36, 40470 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR DI LOT 10,11,12, 13,14,28 DAN LOT 1033-R8, LOT 1033-R9, LOT 1033-R10 Jalan Sungai Kandis, Kampung Sungai Kandis, Seksyen 36, 40470 Shah Alam, Selangor. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Saman Pemula bertarikh 12.03.2024 dan Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Yeo Eng Hui pada 21.02.2024 telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan bahawa Saman Pemula bertarikh 12.03.2024, Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Yeo Eng Hui pada 21.02.2024 dan Perintah ini diserahkan kepada kamu secara penyampaian ganti dengan menampalkan salinan-salinan dokumen yang berkaitan beserta satu salinan termeterai Perintah yang akan dibuat di Papan Notis Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam dan di alamat terakhir kamu yang diketahui dan mengiklankan satu Notis di dalam suratkhabar tempatan bahasa Inglish “The Sun” dan penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian disifatkan penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup ke atas kamu TUJUH (7) hari selepas tarikh perbuatan terakhir penampalan atau pengiklanan sedemikian. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa Saman Pemula tersebut akan didengar pada pukul 9:00 pagi pada 07.05.2024 yang mana kamu dikehendaki hadir, dan jika kamu gagal hadir, maka Mahkamah boleh membuat perintah terhadap kamu dalam ketidakhadiran kamu. Saman Pemula itu boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh pada 17 April 2024 ……………t.t……………… Peguamcara-peguambela Plaintif Notis ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Ng, Zainurul, Seke & Khoo yang beralamat di OT-9F-03A, 2 Rio Office Tower, Persiaran Rio, Bandar Puteri 47100 Puchong, Selangor. [Tel: 03-86046580 Faks: 015-48404950] [No. Ruj: NZSK/2023/CIVIL/1630/YEH/KHOO] 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 [email protected] 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. 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BALQISH 03 7784 8888 018 261 6626 MENCARI IBUBAPA KANDUNG Ibubapa Kandung kepada KanakKanak perempuan bernama DANEETHRA (No. Sijil Kelahiran CK33529) yang dilahirkan pada 21.08.2010 pada pukul 6.30 am di Kuala Lumpur. 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH SESYEN DI IPOH DALAM NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN GUAMAN NO: AA-B52NCvC-32-07/2023 ANTARA OEL DISTRIBUTION (KL) SDN.BHD. [No. Syarikat: 450210-U] PLAINTIF DAN MAKASSAR FRESH MARKET SDN.BHD. [No.Syarikat: 201601037663 (1208604-T)] DEFENDAN PERINTAH UNTUK PENYAMPAIAN GANTI KEPADA:- MAKASSAR FRESH MARKET SDN.BHD. [No.Syarikat: 201601037663 (1208604-T)] Ground Floor, 4 & 6, Jalan SS15/4B, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Dan beralamat di No.14G, Jalan Prima Setapak 1, Prima Setapak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh dalam Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan melalui Guaman No: AA-52NCvC-32-07/2023 dalam tindakan ini oleh OEL (KL) Sdn. Bhd. (No. Pendaftaran: 450210-U) beralamat di Lot 56423, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 31200 Chemor, Perak dan juga beralamat di Lot P.T. 6619, Jalan Nyatoh, Taman Perindustrian Teknologi Rawang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman Terpinda dan Pernyataan Tuntutan Terpinda disampaikan kepada kamu melalui Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ Saman bertarikh 10.7.2023 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 6.7.2023 tersebut pada Papan Kenyataan Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh bersama dengan Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 8.1.2024 yang diperolehi ini dan akhir sekali mengiklankan di suratkhabar “The Sun” dan bahawa penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ke atas kamu selepas tamat tempoh EMPAT BELAS (14) hari dari tarikh akhir penampalan dan pengiklanan. Jika kamu berhasrat membela tindakan tersebut kamu mestilah hadir sama ada secara sendiri atau melalui peguambela kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Sesyen di Ipoh dalam Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan pada 17 haribulan April 2024 pukul 9.00 pagi. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 8hb Januari 2024. ……………T.T…………… PENDAFTAR MAHKAMAH SESYEN IPOH, PERAK. Perintah Untuk Penyampaian Ganti ini telah difailkan oleh TETUAN AL MURALI & Co, Peguambela dan Peguamcara yang beralamat di No.15A, Tingkat Satu, Medan Istana 7, Bandar Ipoh Raya, 30000 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan; Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang dinamakan diatas. [Ruj Kami: AMC/3460/MFM/2023]sha 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI SHAH ALAM DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA SAMAN PEMULA NO.: BA-24NCvC-508-03/2024 Dalam Perkara mengenai Aturan 7 dan 89 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012 Dan Dalam Perkara Seksyen 8 Akta Relif Spesifik 1950 Dan Dalam Perkara berkenaan 3/16 bahagian sebuah tanah yang dipegang di bawah Geran Mukim 6288, No. Lot 1033, Tempat Sungai Kandis, Mukim Klang, Daerah Klang, Negeri Selangor dengan lot 10 to 14, 28 ANTARA YEO ENG HUI (No. Kad Pengenalan: 590927-13-5115) …PLAINTIF DAN 1. TAN CHAI SEW 2. MURUGAN 3. THIYAGU A/L SEUALKUMARAN 4. PENGHUNI-PENGHUNI YANG TIDAK DIKENALI DAN/ATAU ORANG-ORANG YANG TIDAK DIKENALI YANG TELAH MENDUDUKI DAN/ATAU BERADA DI ATAS HARTANAH YANG DIKENALI SEBAGAI GERAN MUKIM 6288, NO. LOT 1033, TEMPAT SUNGAI KANDIS, MUKIM KLANG, DAERAH KLANG, NEGERI SELANGOR BERALAMAT DI LOT 1033 – R8, BATU 3, JALAN KAMPUNG JAWA, KAMPUNG SUNGAI KANDIS SEKSYEN 36, 40470 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR DI LOT 10,11,12, 13,14,28 DAN LOT 1033-R8, LOT 1033-R9, LOT 1033-R10 Jalan Sungai Kandis, Kampung Sungai Kandis, Seksyen 36, 40470 Shah Alam, Selangor. …DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTIAN Kepada : 1. TAN CHAI SEW 2. MURUGAN 3. THIYAGU A/L SEUALKUMARAN 4. PENGHUNI-PENGHUNI YANG TIDAK DIKENALI DAN/ATAU ORANG-ORANG YANG TIDAK DIKENALI YANG TELAH MENDUDUKI DAN/ATAU BERADA DI ATAS HARTANAH YANG DIKENALI SEBAGAI GERAN MUKIM 6288, NO. LOT 1033, TEMPAT SUNGAI KANDIS, MUKIM KLANG, DAERAH KLANG, NEGERI SELANGOR BERALAMAT DI LOT 1033 – R8, BATU 3, JALAN KAMPUNG JAWA, KAMPUNG SUNGAI KANDIS SEKSYEN 36, 40470 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR DI LOT 10,11,12, 13,14,28 DAN LOT 1033-R8, LOT 1033-R9, LOT 1033-R10 Jalan Sungai Kandis, Kampung Sungai Kandis, Seksyen 36, 40470 Shah Alam, Selangor. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Saman Pemula bertarikh 12.03.2024 dan Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Yeo Eng Hui pada 21.02.2024 telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan bahawa Saman Pemula bertarikh 12.03.2024, Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Yeo Eng Hui pada 21.02.2024 dan Perintah ini diserahkan kepada kamu secara penyampaian ganti dengan menampalkan salinan-salinan dokumen yang berkaitan beserta satu salinan termeterai Perintah yang akan dibuat di Papan Notis Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam dan di alamat terakhir kamu yang diketahui dan mengiklankan satu Notis di dalam suratkhabar tempatan bahasa Inglish “The Sun” dan penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian disifatkan penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup ke atas kamu TUJUH (7) hari selepas tarikh perbuatan terakhir penampalan atau pengiklanan sedemikian. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa Saman Pemula tersebut akan didengar pada pukul 9:00 pagi pada 07.05.2024 yang mana kamu dikehendaki hadir, dan jika kamu gagal hadir, maka Mahkamah boleh membuat perintah terhadap kamu dalam ketidakhadiran kamu. Saman Pemula itu boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh pada 17 April 2024 ……………t.t……………… Peguamcara-peguambela Plaintif Notis ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Ng, Zainurul, Seke & Khoo yang beralamat di OT-9F-03A, 2 Rio Office Tower, Persiaran Rio, Bandar Puteri 47100 Puchong, Selangor. [Tel: 03-86046580 Faks: 015-48404950] [No. Ruj: NZSK/2023/CIVIL/1630/YEH/KHOO] 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 [email protected] 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 302 Jobs CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS MS. SHOBA / MS. BALQISH 03 7784 8888 018 261 6626 ‘Djoker in disturbing state’ Henin worried about world No. 1 despite reaching Monte Carlo semis TO see Novak Djokovic struggling physically has been a rare commodity in his iconic career, but now a former world No. 1 has labelled his struggles at the Monte-Carlo Masters “disturbing”. Justine Henin, who once topped the women’s world rankings for 117 straight weeks and won seven major titles, has spoken out after the Serbian was beaten in the semifinals by Casper Ruud. The 36-year-old appeared visibly fatigued during the three-set defeat. And in a previous round, he sparked fears from fans after appearing to be shaking between games in his win over Lorenzo Musetti. And the retired Henin, 41, argued the difficulties arose from a lack of match practice for Djokovic in 2024. “It’s always a little surprising, almost disturbing, to see him in this state, but he needs this volume,” she told Eurosport. “He has had very little pace since the start of the year and on this surface, he will draw a lot more from his reserves, the rallies are longer. “And apparently, with the temperature associated with the surface, that’s a lot for players to manage.” Djokovic’s run to the final four represented the first time he had reached that stage since 2015, when he won the latter of his two tournament titles. And despite failing to get past Ruud, Henin argued there was reason to be positive for the 24-time Grand Slam winner with his French Open preparations now well underway. “He is not at his best level but he is winning matches, gaining confidence,” she continued. “And we saw that this (reaching the semifinals) really gave him a smile again.” The Serbian has played just three ATP events this season, a notion that has undoubtedly impacted his fitness levels. And at the Australian Open in January, he lost his first match at Albert Park of six years at the semifinal stage, beaten by eventual winner Jannik Sinner. And yet the all-time great has consistently refuted any talk of a potential retirement, and had cited Monte-Carlo as the tournament to potentially kick-start his year ahead of Roland Garros next month. Djokovic is next scheduled to play on clay at the Madrid Open later this month. “Hopefully I can pick up, in terms of results,” he said, after the tournament. I can build from here, because, I played some good tennis. Hopefully in the next tournaments I’ll be able to play even better.” – Express Newspapers Alcaraz uncertain about Madrid title defence WORLD NO. 3 Carlos Alcaraz has cast doubt on his Madrid Open title defence later this month as the Spaniard nurses a right arm injury that has forced him to miss key tune-up events for the French Open. The 20-year-old successfully defended his Indian Wells title last month and then reached the Miami Open quarterfinals before sustaining the injury in his first practise session for the Monte Carlo Masters. The twotimes Grand Slam champion was unable to play in Monaco and then had to pull out of the Barcelona Open. “My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz told reporters in Barcelona. “My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention.” Murray will not have ankle surgery ANDY MURRAY will not undergo surgery on the ankle he injured at the Miami Open last month but no timeline has been given for his return, the BBC reported yesterday. The 36-yearold Scot rolled his ankle in the deciding set of his loss to Czech Tomas Machac in southern Florida and withdrew from this month’s Monte Carlo Masters and Munich Open. “Latest update from Andy is that he is now out of the walking boot and will not be having surgery on his ankle,” a spokesperson for Murray was quoted as saying. “His rehab is going well and he is hoping to start hitting again on court soon. As yet he doesn’t have a date yet for returning to competition.” Former world No. 3 previously said he did not plan to “play much past this summer” but hoped to compete at another Olympics. Murray had also said he hoped to play at the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on May 26. RAFAEL NADAL will make his eagerlyanticipated return to clay today after he confirmed his participation in the Barcelona Open and provided a further hint that 2024 will be his last on tour. Nadal has been ravaged by injuries in recent years and announced last May his intention to retire at the conclusion of this season. The farewell tour for the 22-time grand-slam champion has failed to go to plan though, after he had to pull out of the Australian Open in January due to a hip injury and subsequently missed ATP 1000 events in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo. However, the 37-year-old will play at the Barcelona Open, where there is a court named after him, on Tuesday against Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli, which will represent his first professional tie on clay since his 2022 Roland Garros triumph. “No, I can’t give you an injury update because the list is long and I just want to think about what can happen,” Nadal said. “I can only tell you that today I feel myself, enough good to be on court tomorrow and that for me is so important. “It means a lot to me to be able to play one more time here in Barcelona, a place that I have amazing success and a lot of unforgettable memories. “So, I am just trying to enjoy every moment and I am excited about being on court in a professional tournament again, especially here at home.” Asked if he could envisage such a painful journey, Nadal conceded: “Well, no but the day after Roland Garros I have been on crutches so that’s the truth. “In 2022 I cannot and I was not able to think about how long it would take me to be back playing in a clay-court tournament because at the time I was enjoying the title of Roland Garros and trying to be ready for the next event. “That is what I have been doing my whole life. To think about what is going on day-by-day and just try to adapt to the situation, try to be able to improve under any circumstances to be a better player. That is what I did all my life and it worked well.” – The Independent Nadal set to make return to clay adal set to make return to clay TRAMLINES Nadal
SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 28 LIVERPOOL cannot afford any more slipups if they are to keep their title hopes alive, defender Andy Robertson said yesterday after Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League home defeat by Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute to leave Jurgen Klopp’s side third on 71 points, level with second-placed Arsenal, who were stunned 2-0 at home by Aston Villa. Manchester City lead on 73 points with six games left. Liverpool, who were held 2-2 by Manchester United in their previous League game, also face an uphill task in the Europa League after losing the first leg of their quarterfinal against Atalanta 3-0 at home. “It’s hugely frustrating to be in the position we’re in now, being third and relying on two teams dropping points,” Robertson told reporters. “This time last week, we shouldn’t have been in that position. That’s where the frustration comes from. But that’s where we are, it is what it is. We need to be perfect from here on in, for sure. “We can’t drop any more points and let’s see what the other two teams (Manchester City and Arsenal) do. We have to stay positive. We don’t stop fighting. “We have to pick everyone up in the changing room because there’s a lot of people who are down, whether they missed a chance, gave the ball away or whatever it is. We pick up, we go again on Thursday and we give everything we’ve got.” Liverpool next travel to face Atalanta on Thursday (Friday 3am Malaysian time) before returning to League action with successive away games at Fulham, Everton and West Ham. “We have to stay positive,” added left-back Robertson, who produced a superb goal-line clearance to prevent Liverpool falling 2-0 behind soon after Eze’s opener. Palace’s victory – only their second under new manager Oliver Glasner – eased their fears of getting dragged into the relegation battle. The Eagles, in 14th, now have an eight-point cushion over 18th-placed Luton and have a game in hand over most of the teams below them. Glasner said: “I don’t look at the table every day because I know we will get our points when we perform well. “I am really concentrating on our performance, what we have to improve, what are the strengths of our players and how can we combine them to be compact in defence and create chances in offence. “I know if we perform well we will get enough points to stay in the league. Our full focus is on that.” – The Independent Liverpool must be ‘perfect’ Robertson believes Reds have to be flawless to stay in the title race England spin great Underwood dies at 78 DEREK UNDERWOOD, the most successful spin bowler in England Test cricket history, has died at the age of 78, his former county Kent announced yesterday. Underwood took 297 wickets in 86 Tests with his distinctive brand of brisk left-arm spin. He was noted for being particularly effective on uncovered pitches, which were in use for much of a 24- year first-class career that ran from 1963 until 1987. He famously bowled England to a Test victory over arch-rivals Australia at The Oval in 1968 on such a surface, taking 7-50 when a draw had seemed inevitable. Underwood made his England debut as a 21-yearold in 1966 and played his last Test in 1982. Together with outstanding wicketkeeper Alan Knott, he formed a celebrated combination for Kent and England. Both Underwood, affectionately nicknamed “Deadly”, and Knott might have achieved even more success for England had they not been involved in Kerry Packer’s breakaway World Series Cricket of the late 1970s and a rebel tour of South Africa in 1982. Even so, Underwood’s tally of Test wickets is 42 more than the next highest by another England spinner, Graeme Swann. Former England captain Mike Atherton said Underwood would be “held to be England’s best spinner” even though he faced different conditions from modern bowlers, who play on covered pitches and have the benefit of the decision review system in international games. “On pitches that were drying, from wet to dry, he was said to be near unplayable,” Atherton told Sky Sports. “You think of spinners being quite slow and flighty, but because of the conditions that pertained at the time, particularly the uncovered pitches, he was somebody who had quite a long run-up and bowled in a kind of a cutter fashion. “You speak to someone like Ian Chappell, who would have played against him in the Ashes as an Australian batter, and he would say Derek Underwood was amongst the most difficult bowlers that he played against.” Derek Pringle, a former England all-rounder who played against Underwood for Essex, said on X: “Very saddened to hear of Derek Underwood’s passing – a superb spin and cut bowler and an unassuming England and Kent legend. I once faced him on a ‘turner’ at Folkestone and there was only one Deadly Derek and it wasn’t me.” – AFP SUNRISERS HYDERABAD amassed 287-3 for the highest-ever Indian Premier League total and beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 25 runs on yesterday’s full of records and featuring a century by Travis Head. Hyderabad, who were invited to bat first by hosts Bengaluru, went past the previous mark of 277 they made last month after a 41-ball 102 by Head and Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 67. The new high was the second best in a T20 match after Nepal bludgeoned 314-3 against Mongolia in last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou. The match produced the highest aggregate for a T20 game with a tally of 549 runs. Virat Kohli (42) and skipper Faf du Plessis (62) gave RCB a blazing start before Dinesh Karthik smashed 83 off 35 balls as Bengaluru ended on 262-7. Skipper Pat Cummins and spinner Mayank Markande broke the back of the Bengaluru chase with five wickets between them. “Against Mumbai (Indians) a few weeks ago I thought it won’t happen again, but it has happened again,” Cummins said after his team’s third straight victory and fourth of the season. Batters ruled at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium as Hyderabad smashed the most sixes in an IPL innings, with 22 hits flying over the fence. Head reached his ton in 39 balls for the fourth-fastest hundred in the competition as he set the tone for the assault and named man of the match. He put on a 108-run opening stand with Abhishek Sharma, who hit 34. Head, who was Australia’s match winner in the final of the ODI World Cup in India last year, struck nine fours and eight sixes. After his departure Klaasen took charge with his 31-ball blitz. The South African was nearly as punishing as Head as he smashed the ball to all parts of the ground before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson. Fellow South African Aiden Markram (32) and Indian hitter Abdul Samad (37) put together 59 off 19 balls for the final storm. “One thing really important is to freshen your mind, it’s such a mental game,“ said Du Plessis. “Sometimes it feels like your mind is going to explode. A little bit of (an) uphill task for us at the moment.” – AFP Records galore as Hyderabad beat Bengaluru █ BY SHIFA JAHAN & ANDY HAMPSON Everton appeal against two-point deduction EVERTON have lodged an appeal against a twopoint deduction in relation to their breach of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), the club said yesterday. The Premier League said the appeal will be heard urgently with a decision before the end of the season. Everton were charged in January for violations of the Premier League’s PSR in their financial records for a period beginning in 2019-20 and ending in 2022-23. They were then docked two points by the Premier League on April 8 – their second points deduction this season – which meant they dropped to 16th place in the standings. “Everton can confirm that it has formally lodged its appeal of the two-point deduction imposed last week by a Premier League commission following a breach of the Profit and Sustainability rules in FY23,” the club said in a statement. The Premier League added: “For clarity and certainty for all clubs and fans, the Premier League will be seeking to have the appeal resolved urgently with the outcome confirmed in advance of Sunday 19 May, the last day of this season.” Everton were also deducted 10 points in November after admitting a breach of PSR for the assessment period ending with the 2021-22 season, although that was reduced to six on appeal. Roma’s Ndicka discharged from hospital AS ROMA defender Evan Ndicka has been discharged from hospital and will undergo additional tests in Rome after he collapsed on the pitch during their match at Udinese on Sunday, the Serie A club said yesterday. The 24-year-old Parisborn player, who represents the Ivory Coast, was carried off on a stretcher after falling backwards onto the pitch in the 18th minute with the game later abandoned at 1-1. “First and second-level cardiological tests were administered that were negative for cardiac pathologies,” Roma said in their latest statement. “In light of the last tests undergone this morning, the medical situation is compatible with a thoracic trauma with minimal left pneumothorax.” Roma thanked the referee, fans at the Udine stadium and the hospital staff. SIDENETTING Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli is clean bowled as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Heinrich Klaasen (left) celebrates his dismissal during their IPL Twenty20 match. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 29 COLE PALMER’S four-goal haul in Chelsea’s thumping 6-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge was overshadowed by what Mauricio Pochettino called “unacceptable” behaviour as two of his players were involved in a physical altercation over who should take a penalty. The home side were four goals up in the second half when Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke caused the unsavoury scene that left their manager feeling the need to apologise to fans watching the game around the world. Palmer, the club’s appointed penalty taker, finally took charge following intervention from the captain Conor Gallagher, recovering his composure to score his fourth of the game and move on to 20 Premier League goals for the season. “The players know, the club knows that Palmer is the penalty-taker,” said Pochettino, who was visibly agitated during his post-match duties. “I’m so, so upset about the situation. In every country people are watching the game and we cannot send this type of image. “I want to apologise to our fans. Discipline is the most important thing for the team. It’s a collective sport. “I’m not going to accept this type of behaviour. I’m going to be very strong. I promise it’s not going to happen again. “We need to move on and talk about the game – 6- 0 against a very good team like Everton, clean sheet, I think we should be happy, no?” In a debut season defined by individual excellence, the first half was superb, even by Palmer’s own exceptional standards. His first goal alone was worthy of winning a Premier League match, nutmegging Jarrad Branthwaite before playing a neat one-two with Jackson, then curling the ball left-footed beyond the dive of Jordan Pickford. His second was a poacher’s finish, reacting quickest to knock in the rebound after Jackson’s effort had been pushed out by the goalkeeper. Everton were falling apart, a collapse encapsulated by Pickford’s error, playing the ball straight to Palmer to punt the ball into an empty net from 45 yards. Jackson scored Chelsea’s fourth, hooking Marc Cucurella’s cross under control and guiding it home with a swing of the right boot. Then came the sight of Jackson and Madueke pushing and shoving over a penalty awarded in the 63rd minute. “We don’t talk about punishment,” said Pochettino. “It’s about learning. They are young guys. It was very good the reaction of Gallagher like a captain. But you cannot show that type of behaviour. “The discipline is going to be stronger. If they behave like kids, it’s impossible. You cannot behave like kids. It’s a shame, it’s an unacceptable thing. We don’t deserve to be talking about this.” At the end of an excellent display, academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist capped things off by firing home his first goal for the club in stoppage time. Everton boss Sean Dyche, whose side sit just two points clear of the relegation zone, reflected on a “horrid” night for his team. “It’s miles off where we want to be,” he said. “There’s no excuses for that. Miles off the mark, miles from where we’ve been. “The goals were alarmingly poor. It’s just simple tackling, reading and anticipating the game. The basics were out the window. A horrid night without a shadow of a doubt.” – The Independent Enclosed is my payment of RM payable to SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD. 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Box 179, Jalan Sultan, 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Attn: Subscription Email: [email protected] *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 Pochettino ‘so upset’ over Chelsea penalty bust-up MANCHESTER UNITED’S Alejandro Garnacho has despite huge win been spoken to by Erik ten Hag after the winger liked social media posts criticising the manager’s handling of the player. The Argentinian, taken off at half-time of their 2- 2 draw at Bournemouth, liked two messages on X, formerly Twitter, by YouTuber Mark Goldbridge. One read: “Ten Hag subtly blaming Garnacho in the post match press conference… not a good look throwing a 19 year old under the bus who has actually delivered for you this season. But then again he’s clearly scared of upsetting the bigger earners.” The other said Garnacho “had a poor first half but taking him off at half time and holding him up as the problem is a joke”. Garnacho swiftly “unliked” both messages – an action the club believes shows contrition – and a United source told the PA news agency the matter had been dealt with internally. Garnacho was unwell last week and had been unable to take part in every training session but did train the day before the match. Asked why Garnacho was taken off, Ten Hag said: “I think we had to repair the right side. We didn’t play well, the spaces were there. “We thought bring some energy and bring some more quality; quality in the sense of cooperation and togetherness on that right-hand side.” In September Jadon Sancho’s post on X, saying he had been made a “scapegoat” and “I will not allow people saying things that (are) completely untrue” – interpreted as accusing Ten Hag of misrepresenting reasons why the winger was not in the side – led to the 24-year-old being banished from the first team before being loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January. – The Independent/Agencies ‘Likes’ get Garnacho into trouble █ BY ROBERT O’CONNOR Unsavoury nsavoury Blues Cole Palmer
SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 30 REAL MADRID visit Manchester City tomorrow bidding to reach the Champions League semifinals and forward Rodrygo Goes may hold their key to success. Rodrygo struck twice in a late blitz against Manchester City in 2022 to help Madrid knock the English side out and was on target again in the 3-3 quarterfinal first leg draw last week. While his Brazilian compatriot and strike partner Vinicius Junior and England international Jude Bellingham draw most of the attention, Rodrygo flies by under the radar. Rodrygo’s goals tend to come in fits and starts and with three in his last two games, the forward may have hit a new purple patch at a crucial moment. In the first leg Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti deployed Rodrygo on the left of the attack, a position where he has been used sparingly, more often on the opposite flank. The forward netted after 14 minutes to put his team 2-1 up, escaping into space down his wing, his shot deflecting off Manuel Akanji and past Stefan Ortega. Content to play wherever and whenever the coach deems necessary, Rodrygo is a versatile weapon for Ancelotti. “They didn’t expect me to be on the left, we did it differently today and it went well,” Rodrygo said after the thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu. “We have to win there, it’s all open – whoever makes the fewest errors will go through.” Rodrygo has superb poise on the ball and dances slickly and effortlessly around defenders, with his movement making him hard to track. Madrid will be looking to hurt Manchester City on the counter-attack at the Etihad Stadium and he is one of their best tools in transition situations. Ancelotti has kept faith in Rodrygo through dry spells at times this season. After he failed to find the net in 11 appearances between August and October, he went on to score eight goals in the next eight games. “If they say to you ‘Think about any animal apart from the cat’, you only think of the cat,” Ancelotti said in February. “To Rodrygo, I will not speak to him about goals, I’ll never speak to him about goals.” – AFP Haaland out to hush critics City hitman has not scored in three meetings with Madrid MANCHESTER CITY are closing in on a second consecutive treble, yet Erling Haaland is still facing criticism as Real Madrid visit the Etihad tomorrow (3am malaysian time) aiming to exact revenge for their Champions League exit last season. The 14-time European champions were humbled 4- 0 on their visit to Manchester 11 months ago at the semifinal stage as City went on to win the Champions League for the first time, along with the Premier League and FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s men are 12 games away from repeating that remarkable feat even without their prolific Norwegian hitting the form he did last season. Haaland’s return of 31 goals in 38 games this season is still impressive, but he has not scored in City’s three meetings with Madrid in the past year and failed to find the net in 13 of his last 20 matches for club and country. The 23-year-old has also been in the firing line for not offering anything other than goals. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled Haaland the “ultimate luxury player” who is yet to become “worldclass”. E x- M a n c h e s t e r United captain Roy Keane, infamously sent-off in a Manchester derby for a pre-meditated lunge on Haaland’s father Alf-Inge due to a longrunning feud, went even further by claiming the City striker’s hold-up play resembles that of a player in England’s fourth-tier League Two. The Spanish press have been just as harsh after Haaland failed to fire for a second consecutive year at the Santiago Bernabeu in a thrilling first leg that ended 3-3 last week. His performance was described by M a d r i d sports daily Marca as “impotent”, while AS called him “clumsy and desperate” in his attempts to get the better of Antonio Rudiger. Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will not repeat the same mistake of dropping Rudiger for the second leg as he did last season after the German had kept Haaland quiet in the Bernabeu. City manager Guardiola has been protective of his star striker, pointing to both his record and the collective success of his side in Haaland’s two seasons at the club. The English champions have lifted the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup already this season with more silverware likely to follow. City hold a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League with six games to play and face Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday (Sun 12.15am). However, it is by helping to retain the Champions League that Haaland can make a global statement and further his bid to win the Ballon d’Or – the annual award for the world’s best player. “The target is not the Ballon d’Or, the target is to win trophies and he did. Would we have won five trophies last year without him? Not a chance,” said Guardiola when quizzed about Haaland’s critics. Guardiola also believes the forward’s presence did have a telling impact in Madrid as Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol were allowed space on the edge of the box to smash in stunning strikes as the Real defence tracked Haaland. City’s result in the Spanish capital is not as spectacular as it would have been in the era of away goals, but they are now favourites to make a fourth consecutive semifinal thanks to a fearsome record on home soil. – AFP Rodrygo Madrid’s low-key weapon at the Etihad ARSENAL are preparing for a potentially seasondefining Champions League clash against Bayern Munich tomorrow (3am) as familiar doubts simmer over whether they can handle the pressure after their damaging Premier League defeat by Aston Villa. Sunday’s 2-0 loss brought back uncomfortable memories for Mikel Arteta’s side, who led the way for most of last season before buckling in the home straight, allowing Manchester City to overtake them. Long-suffering fans fear the worst again, with City now top of the pile once more and favourites to seal an unprecedented fourth straight top-flight title. Defeat at the Emirates – Arsenal’s first league loss of 2024 – felt all the more galling after Liverpool’s shock defeat by Crystal Palace earlier in the day put a huge dent in the Anfield club’s title hopes. Until Sunday’s reverse, the Gunners had convinced many that they were the real deal, adding grit to style as they went on a rampaging run of 10 wins in 11 Premier League matches. The only blip in that sequence was a hard-fought draw at City’s Etihad Stadium, which in itself was seen as a sign of progress. Now Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, travel to the home of Bayern with little time to lick their wounds, targeting their first semifinal in the competition since 2009. Last week’s first leg at the Emirates ended 2-2. Normally, Arteta’s team would be clear underdogs against the six-time European champions but Bayern are in an unusual situation – coming to terms with the end of their 11-year stranglehold on the German top flight, dethroned by Bayer Leverkusen. Declan Rice, hailed as a key cog in Arsenal’s strengthened midfield this season, believes the high-profile game is the ideal stage for his side to show their mettle. “It’s the perfect game for a reaction,” Rice said. “It’s a great chance to show our character and leadership.” Arsenal were on top against Villa in the early stages but a sloppy second-half performance cost them dear, with substitute Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scoring late on. Arteta urged his side not to lose heart, shifting the focus to tomorrow’s match in Germany. “We have a beautiful opportunity, an opportunity that hasn’t happened at this club for 14 years to get to the semifinals of the Champions League, so it cannot come in a better moment.” – AFP Arsenal seek to silence doubters Tuchel hoping to echo Chelsea run BAYERN MUNICH manager Thomas Tuchel will seek to echo the spirit of 2021’s Champions League-winning run with Chelsea in tomorrow’s home quarterfinal second leg against Arsenal. Bayern put aside their domestic struggles in the first leg, returning from London with a 2-2 draw, another Harry Kane goal against his old foes and the knowledge victory in Germany will see them through to the final four. With Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen already in possession of the Bundesliga trophy, the Champions League is now the only focus for Tuchel’s Bayern. Being able to concentrate only on Europe is a luxury few of the teams remaining in the Champions League have, particularly Arsenal who are in the midst of a tense Premier League title race. Tuchel was free to make his focus on Europe obvious, making seven changes in Saturday’s hard-fought 2- 0 home win over struggling Cologne. Left out of the squad completely for the Cologne clash, captain Manuel Neuer and winger Leroy Sane were allowed to watch Saturday’s win from the comfort of the grandstand. Bayern will however face Arsenal missing several first teamers. Canada defender Alphonso Davies is suspended, while forwards Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are injured. Tuchel would not be drawn on who would replace Davies tomorrow, telling reporters after Saturday’s win over Cologne he may “do something crazy”. Asked if one of Bayern’s centrebacks could make the shift out to left-back, Tuchel said with a smile “no, we want to win.” Bayern veteran Thomas Muller, who has two Champions League titles, wrote on social media the focus was all on Europe. “Now, it’s all about Europe. These nights, this pressure, this special atmosphere in the Allianz Arena: I’m looking forward to it.” Tuchel took over a Chelsea side in disarray after the firing of club legend Frank Lampard in January 2021. He steadied the ship and took the Blues to the Champions League final, where they beat Pep Guardiola’s heavily favoured Manchester City to win the title for the second time. While plenty stands in the way of another Champions League triumph, including one more potential meeting with Guardiola’s City on the way, Tuchel could be just four games away from Wembley glory. – AFP Haaland
SPORTS SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 2024 31 PROFESSIONAL shuttler Lee Zii Jia will continue with the training programme planned by TeamLZJ’s coaching director Wong Tat Meng to prepare for the Thomas Cup 2024 in Chengdu, China from April 27 to May 5. TeamLZJ, in a statement on X yesterday, said Zii Jia’s training programme, which is independent of the Thomas Cup team, has been discussed with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is supported by Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky and administration head Michelle Chai. The training programme and arrangements planned by Tat Meng will prepare Zii Jia to perform his best during the Thomas Cup and the five tournaments he plans to participate in after that. TeamLZJ thanked BAM, Rexy and Michelle for their understanding and trust in managing Zii Jia’s training plan in this hectic tournament schedule leading up to the Paris Olympics. “Zii Jia is very much looking forward to link up with the squad on April 24,” it said. The statement said Zii Jia started his Thomas Cup preparations on Monday, one day after returning from the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 in Ningbo, China. BAM have also named Ng Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao, Cheam June Wei and Justin Hoh for singles duty while the doubles will be spearheaded by 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, followed by Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Muhammad Haikal Nazri. Meanwhile, Rexy said he learnt of their training plan at a recent meeting with Team LZJ which was attended by Tat Meng and Zi Jia’s manager Lee Zii Yii. “They (Tat Meng and Zii Yii) told me they have only one week to make preparations after returning from BAC, so we try to think positively about this situation. This is not a time for pointing fingers because we have only seven days left. “We have to appreciate their commitment to play. Those (accredited coaches) going are Datuk Tey Seu Bock and Tat Meng,” he told reporters after a training session at ABM in Bukit Kiara yesterday. Asked if any team-building sessions would be held outside of the federal capital, Rexy said it would be more effective to have training involving the whole team. Malaysia are seeded fifth and placed in Group D with 2016 champions Denmark, Hong Kong and Algeria for the Thomas Cup 2024. Rexy said professional player Goh Jin Wei would be joining national team training to prepare for the Uber Cup 2024. Apart from Jin Wei, BAM has also selected K. Letshanaa, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Wong Ling Ching, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, Teoh Mei Xing, Go Pei Kee, Tan Zhing Yi, Ho Le Ee and Chan Wen Tse for the Uber Cup. Malaysia will face an uphill task in the world women’s team championship as they have been drawn in Group B together with Thailand, Taiwan and Australia. – Bernama MANCHESTER CITY have opened talks with Wolves over the possible signing of Algeria wingback Rayan Ait-Nouri, 22. TOTTENHAM have made an offer to Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo as they try to beat Manchester United in the race for the English defender, 26. NEWCASTLE UNITED are looking into the possibility of signing Adarabioyo along with Bournemouth centreback Lloyd Kelly, 25, as the English pair are both out of contract in the summer. MANCHESTER UNITED are showing an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres but fear Liverpool could scupper their chances of signing the Sweden striker, 25. BARCELONA have rejected an offer from an unnamed Premier League club for Brazil winger Raphinha, 27. LIVERPOOL can sign Sporting Lisbon’s Portugal centreback Goncalo Inacio, 22, for £40m (RM238m). CHELSEA have triggered contract extensions for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk, with both 23- year-olds having another year added to what were already long-term deals. NEWCASTLE are intensifying their scouting of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as they look to beat Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of the 20-year-old Slovenia striker. Training to go as planned Zii Jia to continue with Tat Meng’s programme Two-prong mission for rugby squad at SEA 7s THE country’s seven-a-side (7s) rugby squad have big dreams of accomplishing two important missions at the Southeast Asian 7s (SEA 7s) Championship that will take place in Singapore this May 2-3. The head coach of the national 7s men’s rugby squad Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man said his men must show encouraging performances to book a final slot as stipulated by the National Sports Council and Malaysia Rugby (MR). In addition, they also need to run up as many game minutes as possible to improve their stamina before going to the Asia Rugby Seven Series Championship this September and November. “We want to reach the final and at the same time need to pack in playing minutes for the main tournament which is the Asia Rugby Seven Series in South Korea and China in September while in Bangkok in November. “(After all, this is) a combination between (six) new players and old players. If all goes according to script, there is no problem because the majority of them have at least played once in the local league,” he told Bernama recently. He said at this time, it is important that the national players are free from injuries to ensure they are in fighting mood, starting with the friendly match with the Singapore team this Saturday (April 20) at the Mount Austin Rugby Stadium in Johor Bahru. – Bernama OLYMPIC Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria expressed the hope that national diver Wendy Ng’s impressive array of achievements would inspire the younger generation to uphold Malaysia’s dominance in the women’s diving event. Mohamad Norza hailed Wendy as an extraordinary diver upon her retirement announcement yesterday. He said the void left by the 30-year-old diver who made three appearances at the Olympic Games opens up space for young athletes to come forward. “We bid farewell to yet another remarkable woman diver. We deeply appreciate her contributions and dedication throughout her career that had brought glory to Malaysia. “I hope Wendy’s achievements will inspire the younger generation to continue Malaysia’s dominance in the women’s diving event. The challenge is for the back-up divers to step up and quickly fill in the void left by Wendy,” he said in OCM’s official Facebook post yesterday. Wendy made her Olympic debut at the London 2012 edition followed by Rio 2016 and her final appearance at Tokyo 2020. Apart from that, she also competed in a list of major sporting events by representing Malaysia at the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the SEA Games during her 20-year diving career. While representing Malaysia, Wendy won a total of seven golds and three silvers in the SEA Games; Asian Games (four silvers); Commonwealth Games (one silver), World Series Championships (four bronze) and Grand Prix Championships (seven gold, one silver and two bronze). Yesterday, the 30-year-old diver announced her retirement on her Instagram. “Today with a grateful and thankful heart, I bid farewell to the pool that’s been my sanctuary and stage for countless unforgettable moments. From Olympic triumphs to cherishing each victory, was fueled by dedication and unwavering support. “This retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter Thank you all for being part of this extraordinary journey. Here’s to new a beginning guided by courage and fueled with passion,” she wrote. – Bernama Norza hopes Wendy’s achievements will inspire next-gen divers ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 6 (Palmer 13, 18, 29, 64-pen, Jackson 44, Gilchrist 90) Everton 0. P W D L F A Pts Man City 32 22 7 3 76 32 73 Arsenal 32 22 5 5 75 26 71 Liverpool 32 21 8 3 72 31 71 Aston Villa 33 19 6 8 68 49 63 Tottenham 32 18 6 8 65 49 60 Newcastle 32 15 5 12 69 52 50 Man Utd 32 15 5 12 47 48 50 West Ham 33 13 9 11 52 58 48 Chelsea 31 13 8 10 61 52 47 Brighton 32 11 11 10 52 50 44 Wolves 32 12 7 13 46 51 43 Fulham 33 12 6 15 49 51 42 Bournemouth 32 11 9 12 47 57 42 Crystal Palace 32 8 9 15 37 54 33 Brentford 33 8 8 17 47 58 32 Everton 32 9 8 15 32 48 27 Nottm Forest 33 7 9 17 42 58 26 Luton 33 6 7 20 46 70 25 Burnley 33 4 8 21 33 68 20 Sheff Utd 32 3 7 22 30 84 16 LA LIGA: Osasuna 0 Valencia 1 (Almeida 18). P W D L F A Pts Real Madrid 31 24 6 1 67 20 78 Barcelona 31 21 7 3 62 34 70 Girona 31 20 5 6 63 39 65 Atlético 31 19 4 8 59 36 61 Bilbao 31 16 9 6 51 29 57 Sociedad 31 13 11 7 45 33 50 Valencia 31 13 8 10 34 32 47 Betis 31 11 12 8 38 37 45 Villarreal 31 10 9 12 49 54 39 Getafe 31 9 12 10 37 43 39 Osasuna 31 11 6 14 36 44 39 Las Palmas 31 10 7 14 29 35 37 Sevilla 31 8 10 13 39 44 34 Alavés 31 8 8 15 26 38 32 Mallorca 31 6 13 12 25 36 31 Vallecano 31 6 13 12 25 38 31 Celta Vigo 31 6 10 15 33 46 28 Cádiz 31 4 13 14 21 41 25 Granada 31 3 8 20 32 60 17 Almería 31 1 11 19 30 62 14 SERIE A: Atalanta 2 (Scamacca 13, Ederson 18) Verona 2 (Lazovic 56, Noslin 60), Fiorentina 1 (Ikone 54) Genoa 1 (Gudmundsson 42-pen). P W D L F A Pts Inter Milan 32 26 5 1 77 17 83 AC Milan 32 21 6 5 63 37 69 Juventus 32 18 9 5 45 24 63 Bologna 32 16 11 5 45 25 59 Roma 31 16 7 8 56 35 55 Atalanta 31 15 6 10 57 36 51 Lazio 32 15 4 13 41 35 49 Napoli 32 13 10 9 50 40 49 Torino 32 11 12 9 31 29 45 Fiorentina 31 12 8 11 43 36 44 Monza 32 11 10 11 34 41 43 Genoa 32 9 12 11 35 39 39 Lecce 32 7 11 14 27 48 32 Cagliari 32 7 10 15 34 54 31 Udinese 31 4 16 11 30 47 28 Empoli 32 7 7 18 25 48 28 Verona 32 6 10 16 30 44 28 Frosinone 32 6 9 17 40 63 27 Sassuolo 32 6 8 18 39 62 26 Salernitana 32 2 9 21 26 68 15 RESULTS & STANDINGS TOUCHLINES Lee Zii Jia. – 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: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: [email protected] SCAN ME WEDNESDAY | APR 17, 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 Nadal set to make return to clay -Story - on page 29 Story on page 27 Unsavoury Blues Psychological blow Arsenal, Liverpool hit by painful reality of title race in City era I T’S A feeling that both Arsenal and Liverpool have felt a lot, at key moments of the last few seasons. Even Mikel Arteta admitted his dressing room was “frustrated and sad” after the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, which was rather different to how he usually responds to such setbacks. Part of the Spaniard’s approach is to always look forward, in order to prevent any doubt seeping into his team. It did lead to an obvious question in a fairly terse press conference, as to whether there is now a danger of Arsenal’s season fizzling out. “If one result is going to do that, then we are not strong enough,” Arteta responded. “That’s very simple.” It is on one level, but the actual situation is a lot more complicated than that. On the face of it, it might even seem absurd to be talking in such terms given what the table looks like. Liverpool and Arsenal are still just a point behind Manchester City. The actual gap is the same as it was before this weekend, when almost everyone was breathlessly talking about a potential three-way title race. Precisely the problem, however, is that this “one result” – in Liverpool’s case, a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace – is actually about much more than one result. It’s about the last six years and what everyone knows can now happen. Much of the excitement around this title race was invigorated by the way both Arsenal and Liverpool seemed to be these emotional waves, and City were suddenly vulnerable. Arteta’s side looked fortified by the experience of last season, and hadn’t lost a League game in this calendar year. Liverpool were emotionally propelled by Jurgen Klopp’s farewell, and it inspired this relentless ability for comebacks; as if they could constantly overcome anything. At least one always stayed ahead of City, who were conceding so many more goals than they usually do. It was as if the champions were giving everyone a chance, which was illustrated in how one of Liverpool or Arsenal persistently s t a y e d a h e a d . N o more. City have now scored 13 goals in three games, and it already looked ominous before last weekend’s games. It was at exactly this point last season that they went up a level, from just beating opposition to destroying them. That’s why it’s as if these doubledefeats came at exactly the wrong time. They have a double effect, especially psychologically. That’s why it’s about more than any one result. It’s hard not to feel that both challengers need the belief that they can actually beat City to stay stronger for longer; to foster a different momentum. That’s after all what it takes against this kind of machine. That’s what pushed Liverpool to 99 points in 2019- 20. Now, both Liverpool and Arsenal are feeling that similar sense of deflation. It’s not just that they lost, it’s that those defeats have allowed City to go ahead of them. That is a huge psychological shift. “We knew this moment could come,” Arteta said, rather conspicuously. Both Liverpool and Arsenal will see the new order of the table and inevitably think of what has happened in the last few seasons. City don’t tend to drop points from here on in. In the three close races they have actually been in, Pep Guardiola’s side have only dropped two points when the title has been up for grabs after the 32nd match. Neither Arsenal nor Liverpool have that record to fall back on. They don’t know they can do that. They hope they can, of course, but that’s why the psychology of all this is so important. There’s a reason mind games have been part of the language of title races. It is that inherent knowledge City have the capacity to always go one further. That has after all been the story of the modern era. – The Independent █ BY MIGUEL DELANEY -Story on page 31 Training to go as planned Mikel Arteta (left) and Jurgen Klopp. – AFPPIX/REUTERSPIX