Malaysian Paper www.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPY RM1 THURSDAY JUNE 6, 2024 SCAN ME No. 8538 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) Surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore prompts expert to call for immediate manpower reinforcements to prepare for possible outbreak in Malaysia. Report on — page 3 Communications and Multimedia Content Forum backs suggestion by MCMC member for measures governing use of artificial intelligence in content creation and distribution. Report on — page 4 Scammers embedding APK files with bug and sending them out to unsuspecting individuals to gain control of phones to access personal, banking details: Police Report on — page 5 TRADITIONAL TREAT ... A Baba Nyonya dance being performed at a dinner in Malacca on Tuesday night in conjunction with the installation of Tun Mohd Ali Rustam as governor for a second term. – BERNAMAPIC Report on — page 2 M’sia to uphold ’sia to uphold Asean vision sean vision Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says as 2025 chair, country will firmly maintain its national and foreign policy values, apart from working for cohesion of bloc. Urgent need to overcome medical staff shortage ‘Aye’ to call for AI regulation Beware of malware in wedding e-invites
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 2 We will uphold Asean vision: Minister KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, as the incoming Asean Chair for next year, will firmly maintain its national and foreign policy values, in addition to its ongoing support for the regional organisation jointly established fifty-seven years ago, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. “Our community is now maturing, processes within the pillars are being streamlined and long-term goals will soon be in place. “The Asean Community Vision 2045, which Malaysia has been entrusted to coordinate as the upcoming Chair, will mark another seminal moment for Asean. “True, some challenges remain but Asean has never been without challenges. Its very foundation was spurred by a desire to overcome the strife and challenges of the time. Asean has continued to overcome these challenges together. We have grown together,” he said at the 37th Asia-Pacific Roundtable welcoming dinner on Tuesday. Mohamad said a key factor enabling this progress is the emphasis on centrality and perhaps more importantly, cohesion. “Together with our external partners, I believe a central and cohesive Asean can exert a positive influence in mitigating the adverse effects of major power rivalry in the Asia Pacific.” Mohamad said halting conflicts, specifically in Myanmar and Palestine, has never been more important for security and stability. “The civil war in Myanmar remains one of the most critical and pressing issues for Asean to manage. Let me be frank, we can and should do better. “Asean and its member states must get our house in order and strive for a workable consensus. We o‘Key factor enabling progress as a community in facing challenges is emphasis on centrality and more importantly, cohesion’ must enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian aid distribution and engage all stakeholders to prepare for political reconciliation. “We cannot ignore developments in Myanmar, as its internal dynamics have regional consequences. Malaysia, in particular, is facing the effects from displaced peoples who have been forced to flee, or denied a chance to return. To reiterate a constant point made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, non-interference is not an excuse for indifference.” On Palestine, Mohamad said Malaysia has consistently pointed out that the root causes of the crisis must be addressed. He said the events that led to the ongoing destruction of Gaza did not occur suddenly on Oct 7 last year, nor did they happen in a vacuum, Bernama reported. “Palestinians have been subjected to almost eighty years of subjugation. The last few months have shown us that the government in Tel Aviv, left unchecked, has no qualms about committing barbaric and inhumane acts of atrocity. “Israel’s friends and allies must persuade its government to immediately end its aggression in Gaza. “Malaysia stands firm in our position, that the Palestinians deserve their own independent and sovereign state through a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. “This might seem a small possibility amid current circumstances but it remains the only viable solution to decades of injustice,” he said. UN looking forward to Malaysian leadership PUTRAJAYA: The United Nations (UN) is looking forward to Malaysia’s leadership in strengthening Asean’s human rights agenda and injecting renewed vigour into the international response to crises, including the catastrophic situation in Myanmar, as it assumes the Asean chairmanship next year, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. He said this was highlighted during his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Tuesday. He said three years after the military coup in Myanmar, over three million people are still internally displaced, with great need for humanitarian aid, and people desperate for an end to the violence and mayhem. He said Malaysia has made clear its strong opposition to the coup and is hosting refugees from Myanmar, including the Rohingya. “In my discussions with a diverse group of refugees from Myanmar as well as with Malaysian government officials, it is evident that there are high expectations of Asean in relation to resolving the current crisis in Myanmar, with humanitarian aid and protection of civilians at the forefront, while not losing sight of the need for an urgent solution to an untenable situation. “Malaysia’s leadership role as future Asean chair will be key,” he said at a media conference at the end of his mission to Malaysia. Turk also said Malaysia’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights is another welcome development, and expressed hope it would be finalised soon, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. He said there has been a lot of progress in terms of development of human rights in Malaysia compared with 20 years ago, as well as real changes in laws, attitude and the opening up of civil society in the last couple of years. “How a society treats its most vulnerable is a key measure of progress, and indeed a litmus test for social and human rights protection. I welcome the Malaysia Madani national vision, which is about humanity, inclusivity, sustainability as well as just and effective governance,“ Turk said. – Bernama Call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza KUALA LUMPUR: Mercy Malaysia calls for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it said in statement yesterday. It said it acknowledges US President Joe Biden’s recent ceasefire proposal, emphasising the urgent need to halt hostilities. The organisation highlighted the severe impact on civilians and the significant obstacles to humanitarian efforts resulting from the ongoing conflict. “The escalating violence has resulted in significant casualties, widespread displacement and the destruction of critical infrastructure. “Medical facilities are overwhelmed and access to essential services, including healthcare, food and clean water, is severely restricted.” It said the humanitarian crisis is deepening with each passing day, making a ceasefire an essential step to prevent further loss of life and to alleviate the suffering of those caught in the conflict. The organisation added that opening the border crossings fully to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid is imperative in addressing the urgent needs of the population. “Our teams on the ground have witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the conflict. Without a ceasefire, the delivery of essential medical care, supplies and support is severely compromised.” It said a cessation of hostilities would provide a critical window for humanitarian organisations like Mercy Malaysia to operate safely and effectively, delivering life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable. It added that stopping the violence is the first step towards a sustainable resolution and the protection of civilian lives, and the international community must unite in supporting this proposal and ensure that humanitarian principles guide all actions moving forward. Mercy Malaysia said it remains committed to its mission and stands ready to support all efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region. Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. More than 36,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and nearly 83,000 others injured, according to local health authorities. Nearly eight months into the Israeli attack, vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in its latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have sought refuge from the war. – Bernama NATION-DRIVING FORCE ... The prime minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is patron of the National Association of Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants, with association members after its AGM in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Container with Israeli shipping firm logo denied entry KANGAR: The Customs Department in Perlis stopped a trailer transporting a container bearing the logo of an Israel-based shipping company from entering Malaysia at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex in Padang Besar on June 2, said its director Ismail Hashim. He added that the container ferrying frozen chicken drove through a scanning tunnel at the Road Trade Unit at 12.03pm to declare Form K1 for the purpose of importing goods into Malaysia. “During the image scanning process, the operator of the scanning machine found that the container bore the logo of ZIM, a publicly held Israeli company. “The vehicle was detained for confirmation and further inspection.” Checks with other government agencies confirmed that containers bearing the ZIM logo are prohibited from entering Malaysia. He said the trailer driver was instructed to turn back to a neighbouring country the same day. – Bernama
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 3 ‘Take decisive action on medical staff shortage’ PETALING JAYA: As Singapore contends with a surge in Covid-19 cases, with two-thirds involving the FLiRT variant, a medical specialist has called for decisive action on the healthcare staff shortage in Malaysia. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health medicine expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, stressed the need for immediate medical reinforcements to prepare for possible outbreaks in the country. As of June 1, the Health Ministry KKMNow portal reported 234 new Covid-19 cases. It conducted 2,209 tests resulting in an 11% positivity rate and 78 hospital admissions. From December 2023 up to the end of May, 64% of beds in the country were occupied. “Despite Malaysia’s relatively Sharifa said as the number of patients continues to surge at hospitals, healthcare workers are faced with the dilemma of choosing between their well-being and caring for the sick. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN oGovt needs to employ more doctors, retain existing workers by offering incentives to prepare for possible next Covid threat: Expert █ BYSIVANISVARRY MORHAN [email protected] Loke visits HK, China to strengthen ties KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke is leading a delegation to visit Hong Kong and China from today until Sunday in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. The ministry statement said he will attend the official 50th Anniversary Reception organised by the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong today. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu will be present as the guest-of-honour. On the following day, Loke is scheduled to call on the leadership of Hunan Province in China before attending the unveiling ceremony of the new Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Electric Trains at the manufacturing plant of the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd in Zhuzhou, Hunan. “Beginning early 2025, 10 sets of new six-coach trains will be rolled out gradually to boost KTMB’s electric train service capacity from Johor Bahru to Padang Besar,” said the statement. It noted that from Saturday to Sunday, Loke and delegation will pay a visit to Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone in the capital region of Henan Province, Central China to form new partnerships for the future of high-value aviation cargo business in both Malaysia and China. According to the ministry, during the visit, Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the Air Silk Road Malaysia-China Feight Hub project with state-owned Zhongyu Aviation (Henan) Co Ltd. “Guided by the principles of mutually beneficial partnership, Malaysia is committed to further strengthen and deepen our special relationship with China across all transport sectors,” it said. It also noted that the working visit also aims at boosting investments. – Bernama National Day theme to represent holistic unity PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka has been chosen as the theme of the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations this year, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said the theme represents the holistic unity in a developing and progressive nation that encompasses a diverse, united, and strong-spirited population. “Malaysia Madani, with its six main core values, is the backbone of the country’s prosperity and progress. “Jiwa Merdeka expresses the freedom of the people from any negative elements in interpreting the patriotic spirit through the aspects of thinking, social and economic integration and then forming a strong, harmonious and progressive unity of the people,” Fahmi said when announcing the theme and logo of the celebrations yesterday. “The Cabinet also agreed to retain the last year’s logo for this year’s celebrations”, he added. Fahmi, who is also the main committee chairman, said the announcement aims to publicise the logo and theme. He added that it was also to provide an opportunity for the corporate sector, private entities, NGOs and other parties to join the government in enlivening the celebration through their own printed materials and programmes. On the programmes throughout National Month, he said various activities are being lined up for the celebrations. He said the celebrations kicked off with the launch of the Ekspresi Bulan Kebangsaan programme at the Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station on May 19, while the launch of the 2024 National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign is scheduled to be held on July 13. “The significance of this launch ceremony is to count down to the National Day celebration on Aug 31 in Putrajaya. Subsequently, the momentum of excitement and patriotic spirit will continue to be fostered until the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16 in Sabah.” Details on other activities may be obtained at www.merdeka360.my. He also urged Malaysians to decorate their homes with the Jalur Gemilang. “Let’s fly the Jalur Gemilang in its complete form, not torn, not damaged and not faded, because the flag is a reflection of ourselves as responsible citizens.” – Bernama Penang set to launch first climate adaptation programme GEORGE TOWN: Penang is set to launch Malaysia’s first climate adaptation programme this year, aimed at assisting vulnerable communities in developing countries to adapt and bolster urban resilience against climate change. The Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme is a state government initiative with a RM9.2 million fund from the Adaptation Fund, a secretariat established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. State infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the programme has been in development for five years, with UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Environment and Water Ministry, Penang Island City Council, Irrigation and Drainage Department, and a communityfocused urban regeneration organisation Think City. “Programme components include urban greening initiatives, efficient stormwater management, fostering social and community resilience and strengthening institutional capacity through collaborative efforts,” Zairil said yesterday. – Bernama controlled Covid-19 situation, complacency could be dangerous. We need to employ more doctors in the government service and this should be given priority,” she said. Sharifa also cited Senator Dr R.A. Lingeshwaran’s statement on June 2, in which he said Health Ministry data showed that 3,046 contract doctors had resigned over the past three years. She said it is important to seriously analyse the country’s healthcare predicament and how it might struggle with insufficient medical staff. “We are already facing a manpower shortage with an inadequate number of surgeons causing delays in surgeries, and a high volume of outpatients. “The prospect of another serious Covid-19 outbreak raises concerns about the availability of beds, medical supplies, and adequately trained personnel to handle emergencies.” A Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) survey also confirmed that about 95% of public healthcare facilities nationwide are struggling with insufficient manpower. The poll conducted by MMA’s Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers and Specialists revealed that only 5% of public healthcare facilities are adequately staffed. In the survey involving a total of 117 respondents from government healthcare facilities across the country, 32% said they needed to increase manpower by 50%, while 46% said they required a 100% increase. Nearly half of the respondents, or 48.3%, said manpower shortages were due to doctors either quitting or being transferred, while 43.6% said there was some form of facility or equipment failure at their workplace. “As the number of patients continues to surge at hospitals and clinics, healthcare workers are confronted with the unfair dilemma of choosing between their well-being and caring for their patients.” By taking prompt actions, Sharifa said pressure on the healthcare system can be reduced. “The government must create new positions and retain existing staff by offering competitive remuneration for healthcare personnel. “Such an investment, although substantial, is essential to ensure healthcare access, particularly for middle to low-income populations, since high-income individuals often have private healthcare options.” Sharifa also said the government should rehire retired healthcare professionals on a locum or short-term basis, especially in densely populated areas. She also urged the public to remain vigilant, practise recommended health measures, and support efforts to bolster the healthcare infrastructure. Those with comorbidities, especially chronic diseases, with low immunity and pregnant women are urged to wear masks in crowded places with poor ventilation to prevent infection.
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 4 Support for call to implement regulations over AI use KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia fully supports the call for regulatory measures governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation and distribution. Its chairman Rafiq Razali was commenting on the call on Tuesday by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) member Derek John Fernandez on the urgent need for such measures to curb criminal misuse of the technology. Fernandez highlighted AI technologies such as deepfakes can significantly threaten public peace and national security. He also emphasised the need for a regulatory framework that mandates disclosure for AI-generated images or videos to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect individuals from becoming victims of online fraud. oFull disclosure of altered images and videos could prevent spread of misinformation and online fraud, says expert █ BYJOSHUA PURUSHOTMAN [email protected] Habitat study key to solving human-wildlife conflict GUA MUSANG: An ecological study in relation to wild animal habitats must be expedited to resolve conflicts between wild animals and humans in Kelantan. Ecological Association of Malaysia president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said this is because the crop areas such as plantations and farms are often damaged by wild animals including elephants. He said relevant parties should pay special attention to wild animal habitats to allow foraging and breeding activities to take place without causing any conflict. “Incidents involving wild animals and humans have continued to occur, such as road accidents, crop and property damage, loss of life or human injury and other conflicts. “Areas with special needs such as salt licks for wild animals need to be given special attention,” he said, adding that the problem may persists if it is downplayed. He said cooperation between the development agencies and the wildlife protection agencies needs to go hand in hand for more effective solutions. “When the forest areas become smaller, the paths of wild animals are not only blocked but food and suitable habitat also decrease, leading to an increase in conflict. I would like to propose the use of satellite technology to locate elephants to overcome the frequency of conflicts between the animal and humans in this district.” Previously, Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks had installed light-emitting diode lights in locations identified as entry route for wild elephants to human settlement areas. They also constructed an electric fence system for elephant around the affected areas based on complaints received from the local community. A Bangladeshi man was killed after being trampled by a wild elephant in Kampung Om Estate, Pos Blau on May 12, and a Myanmar woman was injured by a wild elephant in Ladang Aring 8 on May 8. – Bernama Water supply in Klang Valley to be restored in stages KUALA LUMPUR: Seven areas in Klang Valley affected by the Air Selangor maintenance work can expect water supply to be restored in stages starting at 3am today. Asset maintenance and replacement work at the Sungai Selangor Phase 1 Water Treatment Plant (SSP1 WTP) was scheduled to be completed at 7pm yesterday. Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd said the restoration of water supply in the affected areas is expected to reach around 20% at 3pm today and up to 90% by 3am tomorrow. “Full restoration of the water supply to the affected areas is expected at 12 noon tomorrow. “Please be informed that the period of water supply disruption and subsequent recovery in the affected areas will depend on the location and water pressure at the distribution system.” Air Selangor said the asset maintenance and replacement work at the plant began at 9am yesterday as scheduled. In a statement last month, it announced seven areas in Klang Valley, namely Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Klang, Kuala Selangor, Petaling and Shah Alam, will experience scheduled water disruption from June 5 to 7 due to the asset maintenance and replacement work at the SSP1 WTP. The scheduled water cuts will be updated periodically through its official communications channel at https://waterupdates.airselangor.com/ or its app, Facebook, Instagram and X, or by contacting Air Selangor at 15300. – Bernama Free entry to tourist spots for Malaccans MALACCA: Individuals born or residing in the state will enjoy free entry to tourist attractions in Malacca from Aug 24 to Dec 31, in conjunction with the birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the free entry offer involves tourist destinations such as the Malacca Zoo, Malacca River Cruise, Menara Taming Sari and Malacca Museum. “The offer applies to ‘04’ identity card holders and (Malacca) residents, in line with the celebration of the re-appointment of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Tun Mohd Ali Rustam for a second term and in conjunction with his birthday. “The coupon for free entry to the tourist locations via the QR code will be given through the state government’s Telegram account after Malacca citizens and residents register using a special application, and they can redeem the coupon,” he said on Tuesday. Ab Rauf said the free offer is limited to one tourist destination per Malacca citizen or resident and they can choose the tourist attraction and the date of visitation. – Bernama RTM launches 24-hour Radio Klasik KUALA LUMPUR: Radio Klasik, a national Malay-language radio station broadcast by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will introduce two new interactive 24-hour programmes to fill the Harmoni Klasik segment, namely Malam Bulan Di Pagar Bintang and Sri Bulan. Broadcasting department directorgeneral Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman said the segment is another step forward to strengthen the outreach of Radio Klasik. “It will provide a fresh branding in the broadcasting segment and if we look at the working population in Malaysia, there is a large number of workers who work on shifts and they will always be entertained. “The station has 1.6 million listeners. The Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was among those who had praised RTM for retaining the Radio Klasik channel. “The programme is aimed at fulfilling the desires of our listeners who have shown their loyalty to the presenters from the era of Radio Irama Melayu Asli until now,” he said after launching the 24-hour Radio Klasik at Wisma Radio RTM on Tuesday. Radio Klasik presents classic hits, easy listening and oldies music from the 50s to 90s. – Bernama KING OF FRUITS ... A trader showing durians at his stall at Jalan Air Tawar in Butterworth. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN Rafiq said Fernandez’s recommendations are in line with the mission of the Content Forum, which advocates self-regulation of content as outlined in the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Code 2022. “The Code highlights the importance of transparency and already requires disclosure when social media influencers are used for marketing purposes. Extending the Code to include AI-generated content will further strengthen consumer trust and protect the community from misleading information.” Rafiq emphasised “collective responsibility” to ensure the safe use of AI, which he said has immense potential to revolutionise the content industry, driving unprecedented levels of creativity and efficiency. “Yet, the potential of AI must be carefully managed. Lawmakers, AI service providers, regulators and content creators must collaborate to allocate sufficient resources and ensure the technologies are used responsibly.” He said prioritising user safety and maintaining the integrity of digital content are crucial to fostering a trustworthy content environment. Pointing to recent incidents of deepfake videos featuring well-known public figures circulated online, Rafiq said they caused widespread confusion within the community. “Cases of AI-generated content have also been used to scam people. These incidents indicate how easily AI can be misused to manipulate information and deceive the public. “By implementing regulations such as mandating the disclosure of AI-generated content, it is possible to mitigate these risks and safeguard the community from digital deception.” Content Forum CEO Mediha Mahmood said when the internet was first introduced, nobody could anticipate the full range of challenges such as cyberbullying and misinformation that would arise. “These issues continue to evolve and Malaysia remains committed to addressing them through effective legislation and regulation. As we stand on the brink of widespread AI adoption, we must learn from past experiences. So, pre-empting potential harm through swift and effective regulation is not just prudent but essential.” She said the Content Forum is confident that by taking proactive measures, the country could fully harness the transformative benefits of AI while maintaining a safe and secure digital landscape. “We encourage all stakeholders within the digital content ecosystem to work together to develop robust regulatory frameworks that protect user interests and promote innovation.” The Content Forum is registered under MCMC. It is designated by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to oversee and promote self-regulation of content over the electronic networked medium. Consisting of key players in the content industry, it includes advertisers, advertising agencies, broadcasters, content creators/distributors, audio text hosting service providers, internet service providers and civic groups.
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 5 KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday allowed Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s application to add two affidavits in his leave application relating to the existence of a royal addendum order that allows him to serve the remaining six years of his prison sentence under house arrest. The order was purportedly issued with the consent of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. One affidavit is by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and the other contains Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech at the 5th Convention of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Shah Alam in April. Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan said Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh allowed Najib’s application and set July 3 to decide on the leave application for a judicial review filed by Najib on April 1. “The AGC objected to the affidavits as they were filed at the last minute. However, the court allowed it.” Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed the affidavits were accepted. In his leave application for judicial review, Najib, 70, named the home minister, commissioner-general of prisons, attorney-general, Pardons Board for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Prime Minister’s Department minister (Law and Institutional Reform), Legal Affairs Division director-general and the government as respondents. The former Pekan MP is seeking a mandamus order to compel all or one of the respondents to respond and confirm the existence of the additional decree dated Jan 29, 2024. He is also seeking a mandamus order that if the decree exists, all or one of the respondents must enforce it immediately by transferring him from the Kajang Prison to his residence in Kuala Lumpur to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Najib has been serving his sentence since Aug 23, 2022 after being convicted of embezzling RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon. The Pardons Board reduced his sentence from 12 years to six years and the fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. – Bernama Digital wedding invitations among latest scam tactics PETALING JAYA: The public has been warned not to blindly download wedding invitations sent to their phones as they could lose their life savings. Commercial Crime Investigation Division director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said wedding invitations are among the latest tactics used by scammers since mid-2023. “They email wedding invitations embedded with Android Package Kit (APK) files and when a recipient downloads them, scammers can obtain access to their financial details and steal their data. “APK is a file format used by Android to distribute its apps. It contains the required components for installation for the phones to work. “But scammers are embedding APK files with malware in the guise of digital wedding invitations. So, before downloading files, check if the link contains an APK extension.” He said apps should not be downloaded from messages or emails but only from secure platforms such as Google Play and the Apple App Store. “If people install APK files from unknown sources or scammers pretending to be family members or friends, criminals could gain access to the phone without the victim’s oPublic warned against downloading APK files that scammers can use to access personal data and financial details knowledge, which is how bank accounts are cleaned out.” He said in 2023, there were 676 scam cases with losses of RM18,561,092.25. As of May, there were 67 similar cases with losses of RM1,105,590.55. Selangor and Penang reported the highest numbers. Ramli said phone hacking is a common criminal tactic to gain unauthorised access to an individual’s data and financial information. “The tactic is not new and initially involved job offers, cleaning services, maid agencies and the sale and purchase of vehicles. Now, scammers are using digital wedding invitations. “If someone is unaware of APKs and scam tactics, they might believe the invitation is from a friend and download the file. This could result in them losing their life savings.” He said when downloaded, APK files activate a process that extracts data from the victim’s contact list and scammers who access personal data could engage in identity theft and other methods to transfer funds and conduct various illicit activities. “Unless encryption technology akin to that employed by banks is used, unsuspecting individuals are likely to provide opportunities for scammers to steal data.” He said while police monitor scam tactics, they require the cooperation of those who have been victimised to step forward and lodge reports for effective monitoring and analyses. He added that this would help police to share information with relevant agencies, such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to prevent such incidents. “Investigations are challenging as the phone numbers used by Three held over RM1.2m bribes to illegally register marriages KANGAR: A government officer and two men were remanded yesterday over alleged bribes of almost RM1.2 million to register the marriages of Malaysian couples who had tied the knot across the border without going through proper procedures. A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source said the five-day remand order was issued by Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor after allowing an MACC application at the Kangar Magistrate’s Court. The source said the first suspect, in his 40s, works as a registrar of marriages and was arrested between 4pm and 7pm on Tuesday at his office, while a company owner, in his 20s, and his father, in his 40s, were arrested at 6pm yesterday. The source added that the first suspect is believed to have received more than RM1.18 million from the company owner to enable a couple, who married in Thailand, to register at a religious department in Perlis, forgoing the proper procedures. “He is believed to have been dealing with the company owner from 2022 to 2023 through the father, who acted as a middleman.” Perlis MACC director Mohd Nor Adha Ab Gani said the case is being investigated in accordance with Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. – Bernama scammers are linked to malware, making it difficult to trace their origins. “It is crucial for victims to report such incidents so that we can analyse and collaborate effectively to combat cybercrime.” Ramli said individuals must check the file extension before downloading or responding to emails, even if they are from supposed contacts within their circle. He also said addressing the challenges presented by scammers requires a concerted effort by all parties, including enforcement agencies and the public. “Scam victims should immediately call 997, which is our National Scam Response Centre. We could try to block fund transfers if we are notified as soon as possible. Victims should also file a police report to facilitate a formal investigation.” Headmaster killed, doctor hurt in collision KOTA BHARU: A primary school headmaster died and a doctor was injured in a collision at Km71 of Jalan Kota Bharu-Gua Musang on Tuesday. Kuala Krai police chief Supt Mazlan Mamat said a car driven by the 26-year-old doctor was heading to Tanah Merah from Gua Musang at 6.50am when he lost control, veered into the opposite lane and collided with a car driven by the 52-year-old headmaster. “Due to the impact and severe injuries, the headmaster died while receiving treatment at the Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital Emergency Department in Kuala Krai. The doctor suffered injuries to his chest and received treatment at the hospital. “The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.” Mazlan urged anyone with information to contact the Kuala Krai Traffic Police department to assist in investigations. – Bernama Retired cop scammed of RM310,000 JOHOR BAHRU: A retired police officer fell victim to a phone scam and lost over RM310,000 last month. Batu Pahat district deputy chief Supt Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the woman, 60, received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a Perak police contingent headquarters officer. He said the individual claimed she was on a list of suspects to be arrested for involvement in money laundering and all her assets and money would be frozen. “The suspect asked her to provide her bank account details, purportedly for investigation purposes by the National Audit Department.” He also said the victim transferred a total of RM66,050 in two stages to two bank accounts last month, Bernama reported. “On June 3, the victim checked her account online and found the remaining RM244,945.78 had been transferred without her knowledge. The total amount of her loss was RM310,995.78,” he said, and advised the public to be more careful when receiving calls from unknown numbers. Court allows Najib to add two affidavits in leave application █ BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI [email protected] Ramli said police require the cooperation of those who have been victimised to step forward and lodge reports for effective monitoring and analyses. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/ THESUN
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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 1 year subscription at normal price RM258* (258 issues) + RM50 administration fee to get 2nd year free *Special ofier for June 2024 only @thesundaily FOLLOW ON Malaysian Paper INSTAGRAM Century-old appeal of sal leaf products DUNGUN: Sal leaf weaving might not be as well-known as other craft industries in the country such as wood carving, copper work or batik, but it has its own charm and identity, requiring a high level of skill. In Malaysia, the sal leaf weaving industry is believed to be over 100 years old and exclusive to Kampung Paka in Dungun, Terengganu. According to Zalila Hussin, 64, a sal leaf entrepreneur from Kampung Cacar, she inherited the skill from her late mother. She said among the products she makes are egg holders, table mats, gift boxes, wall decorations and food covers in various colours and adorned with different motifs. “Sal leaf weaving was once the main handicraft activity for women in Kampung Paka. At the age of 14, I was already skilled in making food covers, which I learned from my mother every day,” she said during a media engagement event on the craft industry in Terengganu at Balai Raya Kampung Gong Gemia in Paka last week. Zalila said the industry is at risk of totally disappearing as not many young people are interested in learning the skill, adding that it could be due to the time required and the high level of patience needed as the process of creating sal leaf products is an intricate and lengthy one. “Unlike other crafts, the entire process of producing sal leaf products, from collecting the leaves from the sal tree to the actual weaving, is done manually without the aid of machines. “The process is also lengthy. For instance, creating a food cover takes between two to three weeks,” said Zalila, who is also an instructor for sal leaf weaving courses organised by the Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation. She said sal leaf craft products, especially food covers, are in high demand not only from within the country but abroad. However, the lack of successors in the trade means not many products can be made to fully meet demand, Bernama reported. Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation director for Terengganu Md Azrul Hussien being briefed on sal leaf woven products during an event in Kampung Gong Gemia, Paka. – BERNAMAPIC oWoven craft items in high demand but industry at risk of disappearing due to absence of succession line of artisans She added that there are currently only three sal leaf craft artisans in Kampung Paka, and all of them are elderly. “In 2010, I participated in an expo in Singapore organised by a government agency. An African entrepreneur, captivated by the uniqueness and fine craftsmanship of the sal leaf products, was interested in buying a container of food covers to market in his country. “Unfortunately, I could not accept the offer because there was not enough manpower to fulfil the order in a short time,” she said, while expressing hope that new artisans would emerge in the future.
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 7 Jokowi confident Nusantara office ready next month JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo has expressed confidence in starting work at his new office in Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital in East Kalimantan province, next month. “InshaAllah, it will be completed. I’m very optimistic about the office,” he said, as quoted by the Public Relations, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat in a statement yesterday. He said while the completion of the premises is imminent, the only remaining requirement is the installation of water supply. During his working visit to the province on Tuesday, he observed that work on several first phase infrastructures was at about 80%. Jokowi also inspected the site for the firstoEx-head of project apologises for shortcomings Taiwan holds Tiananmen vigil TAIPEI: Hundreds gathered in Taiwan on Tuesday night to commemorate the 35th anniversary of China’s crackdown at Tiananmen Square, after the island’s President Lai Ching-te vowed that the memory of those killed would not disappear. Chinese troops and tanks forcibly dispersed peaceful protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, quelling huge, weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political freedoms. Decades on, China still censors any mention of the crackdown. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people converged around Taipei’s Liberty Square for an annual vigil, placing candles on a laid-flat banner with the date of the crackdown, while listening to activists. “We will continue to work hard to keep this historical memory alive and touch everyone who cares about Chinese democracy,” said Lai in a Facebook post. Many young people today in China are unaware of the 1989 events due to widereaching censorship. In Beijing on Tuesday, tourist groups visited Tiananmen Square donning matching neon hats and posing for pictures beside the mausoleum of China’s founding leader Mao Zedong. The Tiananmen Mothers, a group comprising relatives of victims of the 1989 crackdown, called for the tragedy to be resolved “in an open, fair and just manner”. “We shall never allow your lives to be sacrificed in vain. The historical tragedy must not repeat,“ the group said in a statement. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said “the Chinese government has long since reached a clear conclusion”. “We have always opposed anyone using this as a pretext to attack and smear China and to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” said spokesperson Mao Ning. The European Union and United States said separately on Tuesday that they stand “in solidarity” with the Tiananmen Square victims and rights activists. In Hong Kong, once the sole place on Chinese soil where public commemoration was allowed, an annual Tiananmen vigil has been banned since Beijing imposed a national security law to quell dissent in 2020. In the week leading up to the anniversary, Hong Kong police arrested eight people over commemorating the crackdown on social media, with authorities accusing them of publishing “seditious” posts. Journalists on Tuesday reported scores of police patrolling the Causeway Bay area, where tens of thousands previously gathered each year to mourn the dead. Authorities stopped and searched shoppers, including confused Chinese tourists, with journalists reporting some being taken away. Police said in a statement four people had been arrested in the area. One of them was a 68-year-old woman arrested for “offences in connection with seditious intention”, a crime under Hong Kong’s new security law. The statement said five others were detained “for disrupting public peace”, but released soon after. Earlier in the evening, seated on a park bench reading the play May 35 – a coded reference to June 4 – theatre worker Tsang said she “came for those who were unable to speak out”. “I want to show that people still remember,” she said. “People may not come out because they are worried, but there is still a seed in their hearts.” – AFP Taipei residents commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square tragedy on Tuesday. – REUTERSPIC BJP in talks with key allies to form govt NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party was in talks with key allies to form a government, after failing to secure an outright majority for the first time since sweeping to power a decade ago. Party leaders across the political spectrum were attempting to shore up their positions and bolster alliances, a day after the surprise setback to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The release of the results on Tuesday upended conventional wisdom throughout the six-week election that Modi’s nationalist agenda would power him to a landslide win, and he faces the prospect of a far tougherthan-expected third term. “It will force Modi to take the point of view of others – we shall see more democracy and a healthy parliament,” said Nilanajan Mukhopadhyay, who has written a biography on Modi. BJP lost the outright parliamentary majority it had enjoyed during its first two terms but is still expected to be able to form a government, leading an alliance of smaller parties. While a government has yet to be formed, rival China congratulated Modi yesterday and said it was “ready to work” with its neighbour, while Japan also applauded the “ruling coalition” on its win. Modi, 73, insisted on Tuesday night that the election results were a victory that ensured he would be able to continue his agenda. “The country will write a new chapter of development,” said Modi. “This is Modi’s guarantee.” Now dependent on coalition partners, the BJP must seek consensus to push its policies through parliament. – AFP B R I E F SONE KILLED, 23 HURT IN MYANMAR SCHOOL BLAST YANGON: One person was killed and 23 wounded at a Myanmar school on Tuesday after a pupil picked up an unexploded grenade fired during fighting between the military and rebels. A “40mm grenade” exploded after the pupil handled it in the school in the southern city of Dawei, the government’s information agency said in a statement. The grenade had been fired by insurgents during previous clashes, it said, without providing further details. It did not give details on the condition of the 22 other students and a parent who it said were wounded in the blast. It said a mine clearance operation was carried out in the area after the incident. Myanmar remains deeply divided by conflict between the government and rebels. Civilians are caught up in near-daily bomb blasts, targeted killings and clashes as ethnic minority armed groups and newer pro-democracy “People’s Defence Forces” fight the government. – AFP ONE DEAD IN EAST JAVA LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY JAKARTA: A landslide in Lumajang district in East Java province has resulted in at least one fatality and left several individuals missing. The landslide struck Supit village in the Pronojiwo sub-district on Tuesday, trapping three people, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. Its spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement the victim’s body was found in the afternoon, while search efforts continued for the missing individuals. “Search operations are concentrated around the landslide site in the sand mining area,” he said, noting that the landslide also buried two trucks. Weather forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency indicate cloudy conditions in the area today. Abdul Muhari advised residents to remain vigilant and be prepared for potential further landslides. – Bernama ever 79th Independence Day celebration of the republic, which will take place on Aug 17, and said all preparations and venues are nearly completed. “We’ve checked everything from the location to the ceremony order. All is fine” he said.” An official from the Public Works and People’s Housing Ministry, Diana Kusumastuti, said the construction of the Presidential Palace is proceeding as planned for completion next month. “The interior should be ready by late July so that the palace is set to be inaugurated on Aug 17, coinciding with Indonesia’s Independence Day,” she said. On Tuesday, Bambang Susantono, the former head of the megaproject, apologised on Instagram for any mistakes and shortcomings. He said Jokowi had conducted a leadership change. The Indonesian government earlier said the former Asian Development Bank official resigned without explanation and would be replaced by Basuki Hadimuljono, the country’s public works and housing minister. Bambang’s deputy, Dhony Rahajoe, was replaced by the deputy agrarian minister. The sudden change was described as “shocking and strange” by opposition lawmaker Mardani Ali Sera. He said both officials were known for their professionalism and careful approach to the megaproject. Environmentalists have warned that the planned city will speed up deforestation in one of the world’s largest areas of tropical rainforest. The Indonesian government aims to have 1.9 million people living in Nusantara by 2045, importing a wave of human and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo. Thousands of civil servants are expected to move to the city in September to begin work, but Jakarta’s plan has been delayed by slow construction. – Bernama/AFP
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 8 /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Malaysian Paper Fiji premier wins athletics medal at 75 WELLINGTON: Fiji’s prime minister wound back the clock yesterday by winning a bronze medal at an international athletics championships, aged 75. Sitiveni Rabuka, who competed for Fiji at both rugby and athletics in his youth, finished on the podium for his age category in the shot put at the Oceania championships held in Suva. World leaders taking part in sports events is nothing new, but it is rare for one to walk away with a medal from an international competition. Rabuka earned his bronze with a throw of 7.09m to finish behind two Australian rivals in the 75-79 category for the Oceania region. “Even at 75, I hope to inspire the younger generation to develop a habit of keeping fit and staying healthy,” he posted on his Facebook page. “It was indeed a morale booster for me,” Rabuka said, alongside a picture of him holding the medal. The septuagenarian had previously missed another medal on Monday, by finishing fourth for his age in the discus. It’s 50 years since the politician represented Fiji in the hammer throw, shot put, discus and decathlon at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. He also scrummed down as a prop forward for the national rugby team. A coup-maker turned politician, Rabuka is a former soldier who returned to the premiership in 2022 after a 23-year hiatus. The former lieutenant colonel led two coups in 1987, earning the nickname “Rambo” by seizing power after troops took over parliament on his signal. He retired from the military to enter politics, taking his no-nonsense style of command from the parade ground to parliament. He was elected prime minister in 1992 and held power until he was defeated at the 1999 polls. Rabuka returned to office as head of the coalition government following elections in December 2022. – AFP B R I E F SSTARSHIP ROCKET GETS NOD FOR TEST FLIGHT WASHINGTON: The US Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said it issued a licence for SpaceX’s fourth flight of its Starship rocket system, another test mission on the company’s path to building a reusable satellite launcher and Moon lander. SpaceX is aiming to launch its nearly 122m, two-stage Starship today from its rocket facilities in south Texas, from which past flights in the company’s test-to-failure development campaign have launched. Starship is designed to be fully reusable and cheaper – but more powerful – than the company’s workhorse Falcon 9. Nasa plans to use Starship later this decade to land the first crew of astronauts on the Moon since 1972. Each Starship rocket has made it farther in its testing objectives than previous tests before blowing up. – Reuters PNG CALLS OFF RECOVERY OF BODIES FROM LANDSLIDE SITE PORT MORESBY: The bodies of hundreds of villagers feared buried in a landslide on May 24 will not be recovered. The military declared the disaster area a “no-go zone”. It will be cordoned off until further notice. Papua New Guinea’s government estimates 2,000 people may have been buried in a 600m mountain of soil and boulders that engulfed a remote community in Enga province. Military spokesperson Major Joe Aku said the toll could be closer to 650. Makeshift recovery efforts unearthed just nine bodies. An internal report by the Mining and Geohazards Department warned that recovery efforts could provoke another landslide and the relocation of villagers should be “non-negotiable”. – AFP Hunter Biden trial opens with focus on drug use WILMINGTON: Jurors heard unsparing accounts of Hunter Biden’s drug use in his own words on Tuesday as his trial on gun charges, the first ever prosecution of a child of a sitting US president, got under way. Hunter Biden, 54, the only surviving son of President Joe Biden, is charged with lying about his illegal drug use when buying a handgun in 2018, a felony. He is also charged with illegal possession of the firearm, which he had for just 11 days in October 2018. “No one is above the law – it doesn’t matter who you are and what your name is,” said prosecutor Derek Hines in his opening statement at the federal trial being held in the Biden family stronghold of Wilmington. “Robert H. Biden chose to illegally own a firearm” when “he was a user of crack and a drug addict,” Hines said, as the court was oNo one above the law, says prosecutor shown an image of the Colt Cobra revolver at the heart of the case. The prosecutor played extracts from Hunter Biden’s memoir Beautiful Things recorded by Biden himself, in which he recalled his descent into addiction when he would desperately seek out crack cocaine. “I cooked (crack) and smoked. I cooked and smoked,” said the extract played to the court, taken from his audiobook. First Lady Jill Biden was in court again on Tuesday and had a serious expression as the extracts were played. Hunter Biden’s lawyer said that he “was not using drugs when he bought that gun” and that it “was never loaded, never carried, never used” during the 11 days he owned it. Biden, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyistturned-artiste, has stated that he has been sober since 2019. An FBI agent took the stand after both sides gave their opening statements. A 12-member jury with four alternates was seated on Monday. Expected to last up to two weeks, Hunter Biden’s trial comes as his father is seeking reelection, and just days after the conviction on business fraud charges of Donald Trump, the president’s likely opponent in November. The proceedings, along with another trial in which Hunter Biden faces tax evasion charges in California, complicate Democrats’ efforts to keep the focus on Trump, the first former president ever to be convicted of a crime. If found guilty, Hunter Biden could face 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender, jail time is unlikely The president’s son has long been the target of hard-right Republicans, and Trump allies have investigated him at length in Congress on allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. No charges have ever been brought. His business dealings in China and Ukraine have also formed the basis for attempts by Republican lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against his father. Those efforts too have gone nowhere. The White House said last year that there would be no presidential pardon for Hunter Biden in case of a conviction. – AFP Online watchdog drops court fight with X SYDNEY: Australia’s online watchdog yesterday dropped a legal effort to force Elon Musk’s X to remove posts depicting the violent stabbing of a priest. “I have decided to discontinue the proceedings in the Federal Court against X Corp,” said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant in a statement. The watchdog had ordered Musk’s company to globally remove about 65 video and audio clips of the April 15 non-fatal attack in a church. But X challenged the commission’s right to make a global takedown order, arguing that geoblocking users in Australia was enough. The watchdog had argued X’s measures were easily dodged with the use of popular location-masking services like VPN. Inman Grant, a former Twitter employee, defended the decision to take legal action: “I stand by my investigators and the decisions eSafety made. “Our sole goal and focus in issuing our removal notice was to prevent this extremely violent footage from going viral, potentially inciting further violence and inflicting more harm on the Australian community.” The disputed posts showed Assyrian orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being stabbed six times during a livestreamed sermon. Video of the attack, which spread widely on social media and sparked a riot by followers of the church in western Sydney, has been blamed by Australian authorities for feeding tensions in the community. A 16-year-old has been charged with “committing a terrorist act” in relation to the attack. The eSafety Commissioner said most Australians accepted that such graphic material should not be broadcast on television. This “begs an obvious question of why it should be allowed to be distributed freely and accessible online 24/7 to anyone, including children,” she said. Inman Grant said X routinely took down content globally, citing its removal of a compilation video of a knifeman’s rampage in a Sydney shopping mall in April. Other major platforms had complied with the watchdog’s requests and removal notices related to the church attack, she said, including Meta, Microsoft, Google, Snap, TikTok, Reddit and Telegram. “This is because the video violated their terms of service and their standards of decency.” Inman Grant said she now “welcomed the opportunity” for a merits-based review of her decision by the country’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Her decision to drop the case followed a setback last month when the Federal Court refused to extend the order for a global ban while the court case was being fought. – AFP CONSERVING WETLANDS ... Volunteers pose for photos before planting mangrove saplings to mark World Environment Day in Banda Aceh yesterday. – AFPPIC
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 9 White phosphorus plagues Lebanon BEIRUT: Mohammad Hammud, in his late 70s, was at home with his wife in a south Lebanon border village when Israeli bombing hit. This time, the attack was different. “Fire broke out in front of the house ... there was a strange smell ... we had trouble breathing,” he said by telephone from his village of Hula. “We thought it was a regular bombing but when the emergency responders arrived they told us it was phosphorus and took us to hospital.” Lebanon has accused Israel of using controversial white phosphorus rounds, in attacks authorities say have harmed civilians and the environment. White phosphorus, a substance that ignites on contact with oxygen, can be used to create smokescreens and to illuminate battlefields. But the munition can also be used as an incendiary weapon and can cause fires, horrific burns, respiratory damage, organ failure and even death. “Israel’s widespread use of white phosphorus in south Lebanon is putting civilians at grave risk and contributing to civilian displacement,” Human Rights Watch said in a report released yesterday. The rights watchdog said it “verified the use of white phosphorus munitions by Israeli forces in at least 17 municipalities across south Lebanon since October”, including five where it was “unlawfully used over populated residential areas”. AFP photographs taken on at least 10 separate occasions between October and April show eerie, octopus-like smoke plumes consistent with white phosphorus. The images were taken in at least eight different locations along the border, several times in apparent proximity to houses. The Israeli army said in October its procedures require that white phosphorus rounds “are not used in densely populated areas, subject to certain exceptions”. “This complies and goes beyond the requirements of international law,” it said in a statement, adding that the army “does not use such shells for purposes of targeting or setting fire”. Lebanon’s National News Agency has repeatedly reported Israeli phosphorus bombing in south Lebanon. – AFP B R I E F SSWISS FIGHTER PLANES LAND ON MOTORWAY PAYERNE: Switzerland’s armed forces landed fighter jets on a motorway in the west of the country yesterday, testing the ability of combat aircraft to operate from improvised locations amid heightened national security concerns in Europe. The F/A-18 fighter jets were scheduled to both land and take off on a rural section of the A1 motorway between the towns of Avenches and Payerne in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Onlookers and emergency services watched the twin-engine supersonic jets touch down as a heat haze shimmered over the closed-off stretch of the motorway. “It went really well,” said Alain von Bueren, the first pilot to land on the motorway, after exiting the jet designed for use on aircraft carriers. – Reuters SYRIAN GUNMAN FIRES AT U.S. EMBASSY BEIRUT: A gunman fired shots at the US Embassy in Lebanon yesterday and was injured in an exchange of fire with the army. The army said the attacker, a Syrian national, was taken to hospital for treatment and that it was continuing to comb the area. The US Embassy said “small arms fire” was reported in the vicinity of its entrance in the morning, adding that its facility and team were safe. A security source said that a member of the embassy’s security team was wounded in the attack, and that the Lebanese army wounded one of the attackers in the stomach and was combing through the area to find the other attackers. The embassy lies north of Beirut in a highly secured zone with multiple checkpoints along the route to the entrance. – Reuters Israel bombs Gaza as major powers push for truce BUREIJI: Israel’s military pounded central Gaza with heavy air strikes yesterday as US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators planned to resume talks on a truce and hostage release deal. Tensions were high in annexed east Jerusalem where thousands of police were deployed to guard Israel’s annual “flag March” that has sparked clashes in previous years. The Gaza war, sparked by the Oct 7 attack on southern Israel, raged on unabated with jets bombing targets overnight and Palestinian officials reporting more deaths. Urban combat and shelling rocked Gaza’s southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, the last city hit by the Israeli ground invasion launched in late October. But fighting has also flared again in central areas, where the army said “troops have started targeted operational activity in the areas of Bureij and eastern Deir al-Balah, both above and below ground”. oMediators working with both sides on proposals “The activity started with a series of air strikes on terror targets, including military compounds, weapons storage facilities and underground infrastructure,” it said. “During the strikes, several gunmen were eliminated.” Bombardment of central Gaza killed 11 people near the Al-Maghazi camp and two near Deir al-Balah, said witnesses and Palestinian civil defence and hospital officials. Families have rushed the dead and wounded to hospitals in the area, where reporters said civilians were once more packing their belongings on pickup trucks and wheelchairs to flee. Almost eight months into the war, global outrage has spiralled over the soaring death toll and the destruction in Gaza, where UN data suggests more than half of all buildings are destroyed or damaged. US President Joe Biden last Friday outlined what he called a three-phase Israeli plan that would halt the fighting for six weeks while hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and aid is stepped up. G7 powers and Arab states have backed the proposal, although sticking points remain – Hamas insists on a permanent truce and full Meta accused of bias in handling Palestinian content NEW YORK: A former Meta engineer on Tuesday accused the company of bias in its handling of content related to the war in Gaza, claiming in a lawsuit that Meta fired him for trying to help fix bugs causing the suppression of Palestinian Instagram posts. Ferras Hamad, a Palestinian-American engineer who had been on Meta’s machine learning team since 2021, sued the social media giant in a California state court for discrimination, wrongful termination and other wrongdoing over his February dismissal. Hamad accused Meta of a pattern of bias against Palestinians, saying the company deleted internal employee communications that mentioned the deaths of their relatives in Gaza and conducted investigations into their use of the Palestinian flag emoji. The company launched no such investigations for employees posting Israeli or Ukrainian flag emojis in similar contexts. Meta did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations. Hamad’s claims reflect criticisms by human rights groups over Meta’s performance moderating the content posted to its platforms about Israel and the Palestinian territories, including in an external investigation the company commissioned in 2021. Since the outbreak of war last year, the company has faced accusations that it was suppressing expressions of support for Palestinians living amid the war. Nearly 200 Meta employees raised similar concerns in an open letter to chief executive Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year. Hamad said his firing appeared to stem from an incident in December involving an emergency procedure designed to troubleshoot severe problems with the company’s platforms, known within Meta as a SEV or “site event”. He had noted procedural irregularities in the handling of an SEV related to restrictions on content posted by Palestinian Instagram personalities that prevented the posts from appearing in searches and feeds. In one case, he found that a video posted by photojournalist Motaz Azaiza had been misclassified as pornographic even though it showed a destroyed building in Gaza. Hamad said Meta told him he was fired for violating a policy barring employees from working on accounts of people they know personally, referring to Azaiza. Hamad said he had no connection to Azaiza. – Reuters Displaced civilians flee from the east of al-Bureij yesterday. – AFPPIC Israeli withdrawal, demands Israel has flatly rejected. Biden has urged Hamas to accept the deal and deployed CIA chief Bill Burns to Qatar for a renewed push. A source with knowledge of the talks said Burns would “continue working with mediators on reaching an agreement between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages”. Brett McGurk, Biden’s top Middle East adviser, was also headed to Qatar, according to news site Axios which quoted sources as talking of a “full-court press ... to get a breakthrough”. Egypt’s Al-Qahera News said an “Egyptian security delegation will meet its Qatari and US counterparts in Doha to discuss the mechanism of restoring the truce talks”. Qatar said on Tuesday it had yet to see statements from either side “that give us a lot of confidence”, but that Doha was “working with both sides on proposals on the table”. A senior Hamas official in Beirut on Tuesday accused Israel of seeking “endless” truce negotiations, and repeated the group’s position rejecting any deal that excludes a permanent ceasefire. – AFP
10 THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesun.my/ READ OUR HERE /thesun Malaysian Paper Prioritise conservation over animal diplomacy FOR centuries, countries have used animals as diplomatic gifts. In the 19th century, Egypt sent three giraffes to European nations as goodwill gestures. Thailand has long engaged in “elephant diplomacy”, going back at least to when its king proposed giving an elephant to US President Abraham Lincoln, who wisely declined the offer. China’s modern panda programme, designed to foster good international relations and trade, has been a complete failure for the pandas, who spend their lives in cages, and the females are compelled to endure repeated invasive artificial inseminations and forced pregnancies only to watch their babies die or be taken away from them. The recent news that Malaysia may also take up this cruel practice and gift orangutans to countries that buy its palm oil raises serious questions once again about using animals as tools in international relations. These animals are native to Malaysia and Indonesia and are critically endangered due to habitat loss. These intelligent sentient beings face a bleak future as their natural habitat continues to shrink. Instead of using animals as diplomatic pawns, Malaysia should prioritise collaborative efforts to combat international wildlife trafficking and devote resources to habitat preservation. There are no benefits for animals treated as political trinkets. Whether they are born in captivity or taken from their natural habitat, they are removed from the surroundings they have grown familiar with and torn away from their friends and family. They are then forced to adjust to new routines and an unfamiliar environment. The climate of the country they are sent to may be entirely inappropriate, and their care and treatment may be difficult to monitor. These gestures never end well for the animals, and two recent cases drew international criticism: in 2013, the government of Mali gave France a camel, which was later slaughtered for a feast, and in 2023, Thailand demanded the return of an elephant which had been given to Sri Lanka due to alleged mistreatment. It is heartbreaking to hear that Malaysia is considering gifting orangutans, who would be condemned to a lifetime of confinement without natural dietary and social enrichment. It is devastating to know that more of these gentle animals may be denied everything that is meaningful and important to them, from foraging for food to roaming free. We now know far more about the complex needs of animals than we did centuries – or even just decades – ago. Orangutans are intelligent, social individuals who form close bonds with their families and friends. They communicate using complex gestures, empathise with others, laugh when they play and exhibit signs of self-awareness. Instead of using animals for diplomatic purposes, Malaysia and the global community should collaborate on wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. Allowing animals to thrive in their natural homes is fundamental to their well-being as opposed to separating them from their families and confining them in foreign countries, where they may endure loneliness and suffer. Orangutans, like all sentient species, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not as bargaining chips in a game of trade. Countries can establish ties and foster international relations without harming animals and putting their lives at risk. Jason Baker is the senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Countries can establish ties and foster international relations without harming animals and putting their lives at risk. Khazanah’s one-day scholarship deadline defeats purpose IT is welcome news that Yayasan Khazanah is offering scholarships to deserving SPM students who have demonstrated potential to eventually take up leadership roles in the country’s top organisations. This is indeed a noble gesture by the Yayasan to help the poor and needy and also to benefit the nation in the long run. However, why did the Yayasan set a one-day deadline for applications? This deadline is not practical and justifiable, and is counter-productive. Normally, it takes more than one day for news of this nature to reach the target group. It will take a few more days for deserving students to respond. This is especially those from remote areas and those in Sabah and Sarawak. Why the rush? Many deserving students will miss the deadline, undermining the purpose of offering the scholarships, as the most deserving may miss the opportunity. Instead, Yayasan Khazanah should aim to get more bang for their buck by achieving better results for the effort and money invested in the scholarship programme. Additionally, it is hoped that Yayasan Khazanah will adopt the practice of other private foundations by selecting recipients based on merit, regardless of race, religion, family background or location. This is an essential consideration. The best students come from diverse backgrounds and are not confined to any artificial criteria. They come from all strata of society but have the same desires, hopes and aspirations. The best graduates across the divide can contribute the most to the nation. Khazanah scholarships should promote talents that are most needed to fill the future manpower needs of the country. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Social Activist Allowing animals to thrive in their natural homes is fundamental to their well-being. – BERNAMAPIC COMMENT by Jason Baker LETTERS [email protected]
11 THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 Post-Rafah conversation E AVESDROPPING on the most recent chat involving US President Joe Biden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden: Damnit Netan! I warned you – don’t drop our American bombs in Rafah. Why, man? On tents with kids and women…. No response. Blinken: To Biden – remember to call him “Bibi” and not “Netan”. Hello, Bibi. Blinken here with Joe. Can you hear us? The latest bombing is making us look bad. My boys say that even our media cannot avoid running the story. Netanyahu: Yes, yes, I’m here. Look. All is fine. Don’t panic. We have always used your bombs. Everybody knows that. I have said that it was a mistake and that we will do a full investigation. Small thing. Blinky, tell your media that we killed several militants hiding in the tents. We have every right to defend ourselves when Hamas uses women and children to fight. Biden: Dammit. For now until later, please stop using our bombs in Rafah. I’m right in the middle of my campaign and I cannot afford to lose any more votes over Gaza. Blinken: I told Gallant (Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant) earlier, you can use the heavy stuff given by the Brits, French, Germans or any other but don’t use our stuff indiscriminately. The Brits and others want to look good standing with you against Hamas and the Muslims. They are shit-scared of the Islamics. It is perfectly okay to use their bombs, rockets and other stuff on Hamas or whoever. Nobody in Europe bothers, most will support. They are all focused on P u t i n ( R u s s i a n President Vladimir Putin). Biden: Listen, we have the college kids giving us a hard time, and we also need to look better with the Saudis, Egypt and others. This kind of mistake is playing into Iran’s hands. So, go easy and tell your IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and air force not to be so trigger-happy, and to avoid any more mistakes. Netanyahu: Come on, surely you can deal with college kids. Just kick them where it hurts. They will run back to their mummies. It’s all collateral damage only. Remember, you guys invented that term. No need to lecture me. How many collateral casualties were there in your wars? Ours are tiny, miniscule compared with yours. Only 40,000 dead. Look. I have bigger issues to deal with. The campaign against me by the hostage trouble-making families and pro-Hamas peace shitheads has gone on too long. I need to show Lapid (Israel Opposition Leader Yair Lapid) and Benny (National Unity Minister Benny Gantz) that there is no way they can bring me down. I, and only I, can lead Israel to victory. Biden: We are not lecturing you. Please don’t get offended. Hey, we are standing by you, Netan. All the way. Our support for you is ironclad. Blinken: Yes. Boss just recently told the ICC (International Criminal Court) off for the arrest warrant on you. If you do a Google search, you will find that all the world media carried Joe’s statement that what has happened in Gaza is not genocide. Every media, everyone headlined the Boss’ defence of you. CNN, BBC, NYT (New York Times), Washington Post, Reuters, Fox, Al Jazeera, ABC, Politico…. You name it. All of them share our view that there is no genocide taking place in Gaza or Rafah. There is no way the ICC can touch you. We guarantee you that we will also take care of Karim (ICC prosecutor Karim Khan) and Bensouda (former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda), and make sure they regret their action against you. Netanyahu: Yes, okay. I know, Joe. You are my good friend, so call me Bibi. You pull the strings on your side and we will make sure ours will help you in November. In fact, our people are already working hard to make sure you win. Don’t forget I was the first person to congratulate you when you won. That pissed Trump. The schmuck cannot be trusted. Can you imagine, he used the F… word on me. I will never forget it. Biden: Thanks again, Bibi. Yeah, he is a really bad guy. I will cut him down to size but you have to help a lot more this time. We need plenty of moolah for the campaign. If I lose, you will have to deal with him. Blinken: I will make sure the money is properly handled, Bibi. It’s touch and go, but the money can make the difference. Americans will vote for Biden if we can get more negative news out on Trump. And let me remind you that everyone knows that Trump wants to cut a deal on Palestine if he wins. This means that you have to keep the war against Hamas going until election day, at the least. Netanyahu: No problem on the money, my friend. I promise you I will keep the battle against Hamas and in Gaza going for much longer than anyone expects. You just have to keep sending us the war stuff. For now, though, you need to help me first in dealing with the Euros. Bloody Norwegians, Spanish and Irish cannot be trusted. How dare they recognise Palestine. I thought you would keep them on our side. I’ve told Katz (Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz) to screw Sanchez (Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez) on this. Unbelievable that Spain is encouraging the genocide against us. Ireland and Norway, I can understand. Their public has always been anti-Jew. I know that the Spanish have always been against us throughout history, but we never expected them to stoop so low to bring the other two against us. I am giving a warning to Sanchez and the other two. We will fight to the end and finish off Hamas. However long it takes and whatever is needed. Total victory is my promise to my people. Blinken: Just received this message that Katz has been on X to say that Sanchez’s government is “complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes”. We will play this up, Bibi. We will make the world realise the Gword is one that we have full control over – not the ICC, not the UN, not the rest of the world. Biden: I have to go now to prep for my debate against Trump. Don’t forget to get the moolah to us quickly, Bibi. Blinken: Good to chat again, Bibi. We will make sure Biden has nice things to say about you and Israel on the 27th. Netanyahu: Okay. My boys will tune in to give full support to you. NOTE: With Norway, Spain and Ireland recognising Palestine, there are now 146 countries in the UN General Assembly that recognise Palestine as an independent state. As said by Sanchez, the decision of the three European countries is “the only way of advancing towards what everyone recognises as the only possible solution to achieve a peaceful future, one of a Palestinian state that lives side-by-side with the Israeli state in peace and security”. Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: [email protected] Healing power of narrative therapy, practical tools EVER felt trapped in a loop of negative thoughts and emotions, reliving the same painful experiences over and over again? Perhaps, a critical voice whispers in your ear, telling you stories of failure, inadequacy or victimhood. In the face of these overwhelming narratives, it can feel impossible to break free and move forward, but what if you can rewrite your story? What if you can change the narrative that is holding you back? This is the heart of narrative therapy, a therapeutic approach that empowers individuals to reclaim their lives by reshaping the stories they tell themselves and others. Narrative therapy invites you to step back from your problems and view them as separate entities. It is like watching a movie of your life, where you are not the character but the director. You gain the power to pause, rewind and even edit the scenes that no longer serve you. One of the most powerful tools in narrative therapy is externalisation. This involves giving your problem a name, turning it into an external character, separate from your identity. Instead of saying “I am anxious”, you may say, “Anxiety is trying to control me”. Narrative therapy invites you to step back from your problems and view them as separate entities. – BERNAMAPIC █ BYDR PRAVEENA RAJENDRA ANOTHER TAKE BY LIM TECK GHEE This subtle shift in language creates distance and helps you regain a sense of agency but does not stop there. Narrative therapy encourages you to explore alternative narratives. By asking questions like, “When has anxiety not controlled you?” or “What are your strengths that help you resist anxiety?”, you begin to discover new possibilities and rewrite the story you tell about yourself. You can harness this power even on your own. Here are some steps to try: 0 Mirror exercise: Stand before a mirror, address the problem by name and challenge its hold over you. Recount times you have overcome it and visualise a future where its influence is diminished. 0 Journalling: Write down your dominant narrative, then counter it with instances where it did not hold. Craft a new story that celebrates your resilience and aspirations. 0 Talk it out: Talk to a trusted friend, family member or even yourself (out loud or recorded). Hearing your story can provide new perspectives. While professional guidance is always beneficial, these do-it-yourself techniques offer a starting point for reclaiming your narrative. Why does this work? 0 Externalisation: Creates distance between you and the problem, reducing its emotional grip. 0 Rewriting: Empowers you to focus on your strengths and resilience, rather than the problem. 0 Narration: Solidifies the new, positive narrative and helps integrate it into your identity. Narrative therapy is particularly effective for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma or low self-esteem. It allows you to explore painful experiences, challenge negative beliefs and create new narratives that promote healing and resilience. Remember, this is a do-it-yourself approach and it is not a substitute for professional help. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope, reach out to a qualified therapist. However, for those who are looking for a way to manage their emotions and regain control of their lives, narrative therapy can be a valuable resource. By taking the time to rewrite your story, you can discover your inner strength and create a narrative that empowers you to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. The writer is a certified mental health and awareness practitioner specialising in narcissistic abuse recovery. Comments: [email protected] MIND THE MIND BY DR PRAVEENA RAJENDRA P8: NEW COLUMN: Green Inspiration LOGO with photo,HEADLINE:
PROPERTY PROPERTY THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 12 Avaland off to strong start in FY24 with RM21m net profit PETALING JAYA: Property developer Avaland Bhd reported revenue of RM214.6 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (Q1’24), increasing 2.8 times from RM76.6 million recorded in Q1’23. Against this backdrop, Avaland posted a net profit of RM21.2 million in Q1’24 as compared to RM0.1 million in the previous corresponding quarter. The improved financial performance was mainly on the back of advanced construction progress from the group’s ongoing projects, namely Aetas Damansara, Alira Subang Jaya, Casa Embun and Sanderling. Avaland CEO Apollo Bello Tanco (Pol) said, “We are excited to kickstart the new financial year on a high note with a strong financial performance as we look to sustain our momentum built from last year. We continued the uptrend by reporting higher property sales of RM211.6 million in Q1’24 which was 83.9% higher than the RM115.1 million sales recorded in the previous corresponding quarter.” He added that the improved sales performance was in line with the encouraging take-up rate of the group’s ongoing projects, namely Phase 1 of Casa Embun (99%), Sanderling (86%), Alira Subang Jaya (88%) and Alora Residences (37%). In addition, they launched Amika Residences in March 2024 and we have since registered a take-up rate of 60%, highlighting our ability to introduce new products that effectively meet market demands. As at March 31, 2024, the group’s unbilled sales stood at RM852 million, providing the group with earnings visibility over the next few years. Speaking on the group’s plans for FY24, Pol said “Thus far, we have launched two projects in 2024, namely Phase 2 of Casa Embun in our Cybersouth township and Amika Residences in Subang Jaya with a gross development value (GDV) of RM201.7 million and RM452.1 million respectively. We are targeting to launch another two new projects this year, namely Aetas Seputeh and Anja Residences & Signature Retail with a total GDV of RM1 billion. He added they would launch new developments in each of their brands, namely AVA Luxe, AVA Prime and AVA Ria, which caters to every market segment with a seamless range. AVA Luxe represents their group’s upscaled luxury brand (Aetas Seputeh), while AVA Prime represents their group’s lifestyle brand and caters to the middle-income market (Amika Residences). Meanwhile, AVA Ria focuses on affordable quality housing (Casa Embun and Anja Residences & Signature Retail). “We are confident that the new projects will be well accepted by the market considering its strategic location, unique concepts and design for post-pandemic lifestyles,” said Pol. Moving forward, he said they remain cautiously optimistic of their group’s prospects with the property industry rebounding from the lows during the pandemic as the number of overhang residential properties continue to reduce. Furthermore, he added the recent decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate at 3% by Bank Negara Malaysia in May 2024 bodes well for the overall property sector as stable interest rates would attract more demand for homes. Gamuda expands in Vietnam, taps promising growth PETALING JAYA: Gamuda Land is making significant milestones in its regional growth strategy through the expansion of its operations in Vietnam. Since venturing into the Vietnamese market in 2007, Gamuda Land has developed the 82ha Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City and 274ha Gamuda City in Hanoi, laying the foundation for its robust presence in the region. In the last two years, Gamuda Land has been focusing on its quick turnaround projects (QTP) strategy, which aims to complement its township development model through the deployment of capital in diversified projects with an exit time frame of 3-5 years. “This strategic move underscores our commitment to tapping into Vietnam’s burgeoning real estate market and capitalising on its immense growth potential. Vietnam remains a key market for Gamuda Land, given the country’s strong average economic growth rate of 6% per year in the last two decades and the prospect of it becoming one of the fastest growing Asian economies,” said CEO Chu Wai Lune. The first two towers of Eaton Park, a mixeduse development located in District 2 of Ho Chi Minh City, has been taken up. The development comprises 1,968 exclusive apartments, 12 penthouses, 51 podium shops, and 21 shophouses spread across six towers, with a gross development value (GDV) of US$1.1 billion (RM5.2 billion). Similarly, Elysian located in Thu Duc, Sime Darby Property to develop hyperscale data centre at Elmina Business Park ARA DAMANSARA: Sime Darby Property Bhd has partnered with Pearl Computing Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of a multinational technology company, to develop a hyperscale data centre. The data centre will be located on an approximately 49-acre site within Sime Darby Property’s 1,500-acre Elmina Business Park, recognised as the largest freehold industrial park in Klang Valley. Elmina Business Park, an integral part of Sime Darby Property’s largest township, the City of Elmina, has been meticulously masterplanned, establishing it as a leading industrial township since its launch in 2019. Sime Darby Property and its flagship Elmina Business Park were selected based on strategic merits, including Sime Darby Property’s 50-year track record in large-scale integrated projects, the park’s robust infrastructure and prime location as well as Sime Darby Property’s financial strength, which assures long-term lease certainty. In developing this mission-critical asset, the group will holistically manage the design and development, infrastructure planning, and construction management, ensuring successful delivery of the facility customised to the multinational technology company’s specifications. The project is set to break ground in the second quarter of 2024, with construction completion targeted for 2026. Following completion of construction, the parties will enter into a 20-year lease valued at up to RM2 billion, with options to renew for two additional five-year terms. Managing director Datuk Azmir Merican said, “We are excited to embark on our maiden entry into the data centre segment, which is rapidly emerging as an important asset class within real estate for which we are well-positioned to expand into. This project allows us to broaden our Investment & Asset Management portfolio, aligning with our SHIFT25 strategy to grow recurring income.” He added that this facility will elevate Elmina Business Park’s status as a premier industrial location for technology corporations, both local and international. “This achievement reflects the effort invested in its realisation. We would also like to acknowledge local municipal authorities, government agencies, and utility providers who have supported us, as their contributions have been instrumental in advancing this project, which is of national significance,” said Azmir. Since venturing into the Vietnamese market in 2007, Gamuda Land has developed Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City and Gamuda City in Hanoi. comprising 1,398 apartment units and 8 shop lots with a total GDV of US$253 million, has achieved a take-up rate of 93% for 2 out of the 4 towers. Artisan Park in the neighbouring province of Binh Duong, comprising 349 townhouses and shop-houses have also recorded sales of 80% and boasts a GDV of US$131 million. “Buoyed by this achievement, we are thrilled to announce our upcoming launch in Ho Chi Minh City, Gamuda Land’s fourth QTP – The Meadows, a low-rise residential development in Binh Chanh District, the Western corridor of Ho Chi Minh City. This upcoming launch is poised to meet the growing demand for premium real estate in this vibrant district,” Chu said. The GDV for The Meadows is US$82 million. Gamuda Land’s upcoming and 5th QTP, Springville is in the pipeline to be launched by end 2024 in Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai province. Spanning 18.2ha, Springville is an integrated mixed-use township with a GDV of US$393 million. Mah Sing completes deal on land for RM508m GDV M Azura KUALA LUMPUR: The sale and purchase agreement for Mah Sing Group Bhd’s third development in Setapak, M Azura has been completed following the final payment for the land. M Azura has an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM508 million and is planned as a 4-acre residential development. The land was acquired on Dec 8, 2023 for a total land cost of RM74.3 million, with the benefit of a converted title for “Bangunan” which will expedite the development process. Located near LRT Sri Rampai and LRT Wangsa Maju, M Azura is the group’s third development in Setapak after M Astra and M Adora, both of which are sold out. M Azura is expected to benefit from the spillover demand from these projects. oImproved Q1 financial performance driven by progress in projects like Aetas Damansara, Alira Subang Jaya, Casa Embun,and Sanderling NCT launches final phase of Ion Belian Garden in Batang Kali BATANG KALI: The final phase of NCT Group of Companies’ (NCT Platinum Sdn Bhd) Ion Belian Garden project – the single-story terrace homes of Precinct B-Phase 2 – was recently launched. Following the launch, almost 40% of the 128 units were quickly taken up in just one day, demonstrating the high demand and faith in NCT’s commitment to quality and excellence. The developer hosted a Raya Open House with the theme “Raya Ria Riang – Raya Bergaya Bersama NCT” to commemorate the Precinct-B Phase 2 launch. Precinct B of Ion Belian Garden consists of 186 units of single-storey terrace houses, targeted for completion by 2026. The positive response at the event demonstrates the robust demand for these units, which seamlessly blend modern design with functional living. The freehold units are affordably priced starting from RM356,000, and offer a generous land size of 20’ x 65’ sq ft. NCT Group is committed to transforming the landscape into a premier township known for excellence and sustainable development. Positioned as the largest green township develo in Basang Kalipment in Batang Kali, the development is set to enhance living standards in surrounding communities and seamlessly integrate green living with commercial activities. NCT founder and group managing director Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy said “Our dedication to crafting homes that are both affordable and enhance the lifestyle of our residents has once again resonated with the market, and we are deeply grateful for the ongoing support and trust placed on us.”
THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN ME Malaysia can be gateway to EU and US, China firms told PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can serve as a gateway for Chinese companies to export to the European Union and the United States, suggested National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai. Soh said China can leverage Malaysia’s strategic location, its established trade networks and its multilingual talent pool. “Why not (China) work together with Malaysian SMEs and take Malaysia as the hub, and Malaysia can export to the European Union and also export to the USA under Malaysia as the production centre, as the centre of excellence,” he said at the Malaysia-China (Guangxi) Business Dialogue yesterday. Soh stated that there are plenty of opportunities between Malaysian entrepreneurs and the business community and China. “As you know, China is very huge. China is close to 10 million square kilometres. China exported about US$3.3 trillion (worth of goods). It’s not billion, it’s trillions. And China also imports huge … US$2.56 trillion (RM12 trillion),” he said. Soh also highlighted the close relationship between the leadership of China and Malaysia with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim having visited China three times so far. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, and in the coming weeks, the Chinese Premier Li Qiang, will also visit Malaysia, Soh said. “So the activities are sure to flourish between both countries,” he added. China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 15 years, and Soh believes this will continue. “China is already a global leader, not only in terms of technology but █ BYHAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] PETALING JAYA: Pharmaniaga Bhd will continue to leverage on improving operational efficiency and stringent cost control measures that has proven to have helped the group to be resilient and re-emerge stronger amid its challenging financial situation. During Pharmaniaga’s 26th annual general meeting (AGM) in Mutiara Damansara and broadcast live yesterday, executive director Zulkifli Jafar said, “I am pleased all the initiatives and the necessities that we undertook in 2023 have started to yield positive results as shown by the group’s strong performance in the first quarter ended March 31,2024 (Q1’24) with profit after zakat and taxation that surged almost tenfold to RM26.2 million, up from RM2.8 million in the same quarter last year.” Zulkifli credited Pharmaniaga’s remarkable operational and business fortitude that played a crucial role in paving the way for the group’s resurgence and recovery. He said that by identifying key areas of focus, it was able to strategically direct its organisational resources, driving transformative change and achieving sustainable growth. In financial year 2023, the group’s achievements included the extension of its concession agreement with the Ministry of Health for seven years, retrospectively from July 1, 2023; establishment of manufacturing facilities for vaccines and insulin to expand the biopharmaceutical business continued to be on track; the implementation of comprehensive cost optimisation exercises across its business divisions; the launch of new products for the private market; and building up business operations in Indonesia by opening two distribution centres, one each at Purwakarta and Mataram. “To drive our way forward, we established Vision 525 – a strategic plan comprising five strategic pillars that translate the group’s broader organisational goals into actionable and measurable objectives,” said Zulkifli. Singapore to share expertise on ePSS with us: Nanta SINGAPORE: Singapore has agreed to share knowledge and expertise in the use of the Electronic Productivity Submission System (ePSS) to assist the construction industry in Malaysia in measuring worker productivity, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. He said this was among the matters discussed during a meeting with Singapore’s Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, in the republic on Monday. “One of the discussions highlighted was the ePSS under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of the Singapore Ministry of National Development. “In this regard, the BCA has agreed to collaborate with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia in terms of knowledge and expertise sharing on the use of ePSS to enable CIDB to measure worker productivity,“ he said in a statement yesterday. In Singapore, builders are required to monitor manpower usage in their projects and submit the data to BCA through the ePSS, and from the data collected, the agency can calculate the industry average project productivity for different building categories. The 40-minute meeting also focused on the expansion plan of the NorthSouth Expressway PLUS between North Senai and Sedenak in Johor. Nanta said the expansion from four to six lanes is expected to make travel from Singapore to Johor more comfortable and convenient and will have a positive impact on the economic and logistics sectors of both countries. In addition, both parties expressed support for initiatives such as International Construction Week 2024 (ICW 2024) by CIDB, marking a promising trajectory in future cooperation. This includes moving towards stronger partnerships, facilitating technology transfer, and improving the quality of construction work. Nanta said the meeting between him and Lee was very fruitful because it had opened up opportunities and stimulated efforts to create potential cooperation especially in the development of infrastructure and construction between Malaysia and Singapore. “I hope that the insights, direction, and valuable progress we have gained from this beneficial engagement will fuel further efforts and pave the way for important dialogue and cooperation in the future,“ he said. Nanta led the Malaysian delegation to Singapore from Sunday to Tuesday for the World Cities Summit and the Asian Infrastructure Forum 2024. – Bernama oChinese companies can leverage on strategic location, established trade networks and multilingual talent pool: NCCIM and FMM president also in AI and business. Malaysia, being a small country, needs to learn from China,” he said. Soh stressed the importance of joint ventures between Malaysian SMEs and Chinese companies, Pharmaniaga re-emerges stronger after a year of challenges Jatronics not a semiconductor manufacturer in M’sia, says Miti Soh, in his speech at the business dialogue, urged Chinese firms to work together with Malaysian SMEs and use Malaysia as the hub. particularly in areas such as IR4.0 technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. He pointed out China’s expertise in sectors such as electronics and electrical, integrated circuit design, solar energy, renewable energy, and electric vehicles (EV). “In our towns, we can see that more than 60% of EV cars are from China. We hope that Malaysian companies can venture into EV batteries in Malaysia through joint ventures with China,” he added. He mentioned that Malaysia’s new industrial master plan NIMP 2030 focuses on sustainability and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “In terms of sustainability, in terms of ESG, China, you will be surprised. China is moving very, very fast. Many of the organisations, they already start to comply with this ESG. Whereas Malaysia side, we are still catching up. We hope under ESG, there are many China companies able to work together with Malaysia SMEs,” he said. Soh concluded by encouraging Malaysian businessmen to look beyond Malaysia and consider global markets, particularly Guangxi in China, as potential areas for investment. “Global market is your market. Don’t stay just in Malaysia,” he urged them. KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has clarified that Jatronics Sdn Bhd is not a semiconductor manufacturer in Malaysia. In a statement yesterday, Miti said Jatronics is a Malaysian trading company primarily engaged in “trading/wholesale trading of semiconductor and fabrication service”. The ministry said Jatronics has been alleged to supply electronic components to Russian firms linked to the military-industrial complex and has recently been added to the United States’ unilateral sanction list. “Miti would like to highlight that the US Department of the Treasury’s action against Jatronics is part of its broader sanctions targeting 300 entities from various countries, including China, Belgium, Türkiye, Slovakia and the United Arab Emirates, in connection with the UkraineRussia conflict,“ it said. Malaysia enforces Strategic Trade Management (STM) through the Strategic Trade Act 2010 (STA 2010), which regulates the exports, transits, transhipments and brokering of strategic items, particularly those that could potentially be used for developing sophisticated military weapons, it said. “STM requires exporting companies and those in the supply chain to undertake all necessary efforts to ascertain key information, for example, the final destination, end-user and the usage of the product. Based on records, Jatronics is not a registered company under STA 2010 and has not applied for export permits,“ it added. Miti would also like to clarify that Malaysia adheres to multilateral sanctions and adopted a “restricted or prohibited end-user list” under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR). “Russia has not been listed by UNSCR and therefore is not included under STA 2010. Given global supply chain challenges and restrictions from unilateral sanctions, Miti advises companies to be aware of sanction lists imposed by other countries, such as the US,“ it said. – Bernama
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 14 Alliance Bank unveils seventh iteration of BizSmart Challenge KUALA LUMPUR: Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd has launched BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition to empower small and medium enterprises to accelerate their business growth. Alliance Bank Group CEO Kellee Kam stated that the seventh iteration of BizSmart Challenge will be expanded to include SMEs that have been operating for one to 10 years, with annual sales revenues ranging from RM500,000 to RM40 million. He said the latest BizSmart Challenge launch reaffirms Alliance Bank’s commitment to the growth journey of businesses through dynamic banking and non-banking solutions. “Partnering with experts in different fields will address the diverse needs for these businesses to face various challenges, especially during start-up phase, securing funding to accessing relevant business coaching,” Kam said at the launch yesterday. “For the first time, BizSmart Challenge is providing an opportunity for 30 finalists to present their business plans and ideas to venture capital investors from 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital,“ he said. Kam emphasised that the opportunity is crucial for entrepreneurs to capture investors’ attention, thereby securing long-term business partners and investment funds. “The finalists must impress the judges, who will select the top 10 businesses to move on to the second round of business presentations,“ he said. In addition, the top 10 businesses will have a chance to win cash prizes, business mentorship, brand exposure and business training worth up to RM2 million, along with priority financing of up to RM20 million from Alliance Bank. “As part of our effort to become ‘The Bank For Life’ for our customers, we aim to help businesses succeed at every stage of their life cycle by providing tailored solutions for their needs,“ said Kam. On Alliance Bank’s loan growth, he expressed optimism about achieving healthy growth this year. “We anticipate a year-on-year loan growth of 8 to 10%,“ he said, adding that this growth would encompass all segments. █ BYAIMIE SHAZRIE [email protected] May net foreign equity inflows exceed RM1b: AmInvestment KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded net foreign equity inflows exceeding RM1 billion in May 2024, making it the only Asean country in the month to achieve this milestone, according to AmInvestment Bank Bhd. The Asean region posted a net foreign equity outflow of RM635 million, compared to RM8.8 billion in April 2024, leading to a year-to-date (YTD) outflow of RM12.6 billion, said the bank in a research note yesterday. It said that last month, Indonesia registered net foreign outflows of RM881 million, followed by Vietnam RM613 million, Thailand RM455 million and the Philippines RM174 million. “As the ringgit appreciated by 1.3% in May, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose likewise as foreigners reversed to purchases of RM1.5 billion, while local institutions were net sellers at RM978 million.” It added that 38% of the May net foreign purchases were in the technology sector, followed by healthcare (25%), property (15%) and construction (13%). The bank said it has raised the base-case end-2024 FBM KLCI target to 1,635 points (from 1,550 earlier), propelled by robust domestic liquidity amid bullish sentiments from the government’s recently unveiled National Semiconductor Strategy. – Bernama ACCA: New ITA encourages SMEs to raise capacity KUALA LUMPUR: The new investment tax allowance (ITA) will encourage existing small and medium enterprises that have exhausted their reinvestment allowance eligibility period to increase capacity and investment in highvalue activities under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030. KPMG partner and head of indirect tax Ng Sue Lynn said while the full guidelines have yet to be issued, the eligible rate will be determined using an outcome-based approach. “SMEs can apply to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2028,” she said in a statement. Also, Ng said that ahead of the anticipated e-invoicing requirement, currently pending gazettement, SMEs can enjoy a special deduction of RM50,000 per assessment year from 2024 to 2027 to support its implementation. Some existing reliefs are still available, albeit with tightened eligibility, the statement said. These include the startup tax rebate, concessionary income tax rates and special capital allowance. Ng, a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), also highlighted that micro-credit loans below RM50,000 are exempted from stamp duties. “Moreover, the digitalisation grant scheme is a recent collaboration between the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, Bank Simpanan Nasional the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. “It offers a 50% matching grant, capped at RM5,000 per entity, to help SMEs with digitalisation,” she said. To stay updated with the latest taxation requirements, Ng suggests attending regular training sessions, workshops and seminars organised by the tax authorities such as the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and other government agencies, as well as organisations like the ACCA that provide regular update alerts. “These are the three most important things that SMEs need to do when it comes to filing taxes. First, revisit the status of your company to ensure it remains compliant with various regulatory requirements. “Second, before claiming any incentives, ensure that your company meets the eligibility criteria, as most incentives have conditions. Third, do not wait until the last minute to get your paperwork in order,” Ng said. As companies prepare for the eventual transition to e-invoicing, Ng suggested that business owners visit the IRB portal for a comprehensive look at e-invoicing, which will become mandatory for all by July 1, 2025. When equipped with the relevant knowledge, business owners can take the next steps such as educating staff and key stakeholders on the new requirements, and regularly assess business operations to ensure compliance with the issuing and receipt of invoices. With the July 1, 2025 deadline for SMEs, she advised looking into the company’s enterprise resource planning systems to ensure compatility with the IRB and that it is capable of issuing e-invoices. – Bernama German companies in Malaysia list main worries PETALING JAYA: Slow demand, lack of skilled workers and weak exchange rates are the top three concerns of German companies in Malaysia, the latest AHK World Business Outlook survey found. The biannual survey captured the views of globally active German firms including those in Malaysia from March 25, 2024, until April 21, 2024. Other concerns for German companies in Malaysia include the volatile geopolitical landscape with respondents naming the China-Taiwan conflict as a concern and the Russia-Ukraine war which contributes to poor sentiments among investors. On the positive side, 49% of German firms in Malaysia said they are well-prepared for these shocks and 61% said they have already implemented or are in the process of implementing a supplier network expansion plan, a trend consistent with contingency strategies that many corporates have embraced when supply chains were disrupted during the pandemic. These include exploring new sales markets, diversifying supplier networks and procurement as well as employing shorter transportation routes. However, German firms said the top three obstacles in diversifying their supply chain are finding suitable suppliers and business partners (62%), high business costs (36%), and identifying a suitable sales market (34%). Asked about the economic outlook, 54% expect the Malaysian economy to remain the same for the next 12 months while 29% expect conditions to be better. For the first time, the survey featured a segment on climate change and sustainability to gauge its importance in Malaysia. Although environmental, social and governance (ESG) is a crucial trend for Noether says German companies’ confidence in conducting business in Malaysia is high. oTop three concerns are slow demand, skilled labour shortage and weak exchange rates businesses, 64% of German companies said the issue was somewhat important but a lack of public debate surrounding climate change and measures to mitigate it remains a concern. Often touted as a key to clean energy, the survey revealed that 49% of companies viewed hydrogen technologies as a slightly important topic with potential opportunities. German firms also pointed out Malaysia’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels, while, 48% said there is awareness of the need to transition to renewable energy sources although the necessary frameworks were lacking and only 14% of respondents said Malaysia has a credible strategy for its renewable energy transition. Half of the companies surveyed said an energy transition strategy would have a direct impact on their company. Additionally, the companies also see business opportunities in Malaysia in the areas of industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and energyefficient buildings. “From declining demand to concerns surrounding geopolitical tensions, these findings are consistent across the region and also mirror global sentiments as businesses are feeling the impact of economic risks. The silver lining is German investors in Malaysia are well-prepared to cushion themselves from these impacts and confidence in conducting business here is high,” said MalaysianGerman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) executive director Jan Noether. “Recent foreign investment announcements point to a positive economic ripple effect and the Malaysian economy also grew faster than expected in the first quarter of 2024. Given the importance of climate protection, our overall findings under the section on sustainability indicate that awareness of the issue is present but further clarity in policy is needed for Malaysia to achieve net zero by 2050,” he said. In Malaysia, the survey was completed by the MGCC network of companies, comprised of mostly German and local small and medium-sized enterprises, mainly from the manufacturing and construction industry, as well as trade and services sectors.
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 15 Education remains an important pillar of Malaysian society; it equips students with the skills needed to become productive and useful members of society. We invite you to showcase the best of education and the difference your institution has brought to the education landscape. Education matters so join us in 2024! Contact us now for special deals on digital, video and print advertising. Malaysian Paper 03-7784 6688 [email protected] PayNet unveils partnership with South Korea’s BC Card KUALA LUMPUR: Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with BC Card, South Korea’s largest payment processing company to enable their clients to make QR payments directly using funds from home without the need for currency exchange or separate top-ups. This partnership is a first for any South Korean financial institution with PayNet. The first phase of the collaboration will allow visitors from South Korea to have access to DuitNow QR’s more than 2 million merchant touchpoints. This activation is timely as Malaysia had in 2023 received a total of 400,853 tourists from South Korea and is expecting more arrivals to coincide with “Visit Malaysia Year 2026”, contributing to the campaign’s target of 35.6 million international tourist arrivals. The second phase, where the Duitnow QR may be used in South Korea, is still being planned. oUsers can make QR payments directly from home funds, eliminating the need for currency exchange or additional top-ups Funding Societies, Foodie offer SMEs digital marketing instalment plans KUALA LUMPUR: Funding Societies, Southeast Asia’s largest unified small and medium enterprise (SME) digital finance platform, has partnered with Good Foodie Media Sdn Bhd (Foodie), a digital media company in Southeast Asia, to provide instalment plans to SMEs in the Foodie ecosystem. Under the partnership, food and beverage (F&B), lifestyle, and entertainment businesses can access media services up to RM50,000 via an instalment plan. Each month, over 100 million people across the region consume content produced by Foodie’s channels; the most notable of which are KL Foodie, Penang Foodie and Singapore Foodie. Made up of a diverse team of local content creators, Foodie seeks to connect F&B businesses with discerning clientele through its brands and platforms on social media. As of 2024, Good Foodie Media is part of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Founders Centre of Excellence (FOX) programme. MDEC CEO Mahadhir Aziz said, “We in MDEC are pleased to support the collaboration between Funding Societies and Good Food Media that provides funding aids to SMEs as they enhance their digital capabilities in alignment with the national strategic initiative, Malaysia Digital (MD). As a participant in MDEC’s FOX Programme, which supports highgrowth tech companies, Good Foodie Media has benefited from MDEC’s assistance in obtaining MD status and joining the DE Rantau ecosystem. This collaboration enabled Good Foodie Media to help 250 food and beverage micro and small entrepreneurs market their products on their platform”. Funding Societies Malaysia country head Chai Kien Poon remarked that Malaysia’s services sector saw its total revenue increase to RM2.3 trillion in 2023, an 8.4% rise compared to 2022’s RM2.1 trillion, the Department of Statistics Malaysia reported. However, he added there are subsectors that have not yet surpassed the pre-pandemic (2019) revenue value, namely food and beverage (- 1.4%); and arts, entertainment and recreation (-24.4%). “Access to both cash flow and digital marketing and advertising solutions are essential to help these businesses, particularly SMEs, to continue recovering post-pandemic,” said Chai, adding that their partnership combines the two key ingredients to better serve and scale creditworthy, underserved SMEs in this industry. Good Foodie Media founder and CEO, Lim Pinn Yang said, “At Foodie, our core value is to help SMEs in Malaysia digitalise their marketing and commerce. Since 2017, we’ve helped many businesses in the country share their story online.” “Many of our merchants see their revenue double or triple after our coverage. Through this new partnership, we want to further improve the accessibility of our packages for new businesses. Now, when they engage Foodie for advertisement, they can “buy-nowand-pay later”, utilising their generated revenue to pay off our packages on a monthly instalment basis. We look forward to partnering up with Funding Societies and bringing more SMEs in Malaysia to light,” he added. ICT Zone Asia order book thickens to RM251m in FY24 KUALA LUMPUR: Technology financing solutions provider ICT Zone Asia Bhd achieved RM251.2 million in total unbilled order book for FY24, with a compound annual growth rate of 63.8% over a three-year period. The LEAP Market-listed group, which will seek shareholders’ approval to transfer to the ACE market at the EGM on June 21, said the surge in order book is mainly contributed by the technology financing, cloud solutions, and services segments. “We are pleased to announce that as a group, we have achieved revenue of RM114.43 million and profit-after-tax of RM7.34 million for the financial year 2024. This achievement reflects the growing demand for our ICT offerings and the unwavering trust our customers have in our ability to deliver tailored, sustainable technology financing solutions,” said ICT Zone CEO Tommy Lim. ICT Zone’s main business segments include technology financing, trading of ICT solutions, provision of ICT services, and cloud solutions and services. At the recent Hewlett Packard (HP) Amplify Partner Conference in Las Vegas, USA, the group attained two awards: the HP Impact Global Emerging Sustainability Leader Award and the HP Greater Asia Partner of the Year FY23. South Korea is a key market in digital payments growth. According to data released by the Bank of Korea, the total amount of payments made through mobile devices in 2023 reached KRW1.47 trillion (RM5 billion), representing a 10.8% increase compared to the previous year. This accounted for 50.5% of the total payment volume, exceeding payments made through physical cards, which amounted to KRW1.44 trillion. Malaysia will be the third Southeast Asian country after Indonesia and Vietnam, where BC Card users have this facility, thus enhancing the potential to build an Asean payment network for South Koreans. PayNet Group CEO Farhan Ahmad said, “As flights between Malaysia and South Korea increase, so will the need for simpler digital payment procedures to encourage spending among visitors from our two countries. We are pleased to have BC Card as a partner in our journey to develop a seamless and integrated digital payment experience for South Korean visitors to Malaysia. “By advancing payment technology together, we are empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in a digitalfirst world.” He added, “Through our joint effort, I look forward to seeing the rollout of the DuitNow QR in South Korea. This will contribute to PayNet’s ambition to become a globally admired digital payments company that pursues financial inclusion across the world.” BC Card president Choi Wonseok said their aim is to eliminate borders so that the convenient payment solutions used domestically can be used anywhere in the world. “We will lead the way in enhancing convenience for both domestic users and foreign visitors through the advancement of digital payment services and infrastructure expansion,” he added. Yeo Seung-bae, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Malaysia, said, “Malaysia and Korea are close friends and important trading partners. With the launch of the QR service, I hope that not only the trade of goods but also people-to-people exchanges between our two countries will grow further ultimately, making our countries true partners in the financial sector.”
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 16 ‘Modi premium’ in India’s financial markets set to erode “Over the past decade, India has been rewarded with a valuation premium for government stability... some of that valuation premium came out today,” said Vikas Pershad, who manages India and Asia equities portfolios for M&G Investments. “I think priorities might shift a little in the short-term ... so more benefits for the rural consumer, the rural working poor.” Investors have prospered under Modi, 73, as India’s equity benchmarks have more than tripled since he started as leader in May 2014. Earnings growth drove annualised total return for the MSCI India index to 7.1% over the period, against 1.3% for MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan index. To be sure, investors say the election outcome – with Modi’s alliance winning 293 of 543 lower-house seats – is unlikely to derail this trajectory, nor is India’s broadly stable currency and attractive debt market likely to be unduly ruffled. “We’re still seeing strong growth coming from India ... I think it’s a buying opportunity,” said Kristina Hooper, chief global market strategist at Invesco in New York. But few are talking about adding overall exposure and many are adjusting their portfolio following the result. M&G’s Pershad, for instance, who is positive on the market, was on Tuesday a modest seller of defence stocks and a buyer in healthcare. Analysts at CLSA turned defensive, dumping infrastructure conglomerate Larsen & Toubro from their focus portfolio in favour of IT outsourcing firm HCL Tech. Next year’s Budget due in July is shaping as the next test of policy commitments, with expectations that India will use a recent windfall surplus from the central bank to reduce the deficit quicker below the targeted 5.1% for the year. “Typically the budget is used to announce the five-year policies, so we should get a clearer idea of what the game plan is,” said Sonal Varma, chief economist for India at Nomura in Singapore. Foreign money is also sensitive to relative market moves and gushed into India last year as managers with mandates to invest in Asia took down positions in China’s tumbling markets and bought up in India – something that is beginning to reverse. And uncertainty never helps. “I’m telling clients don’t be in a hurry to invest in India,” said Paul Christopher, head of global market strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute in Missouri. “It’s still a pretty chaotic place.” – Reuters Supporters throwing petals on Modi as he arrives at BJP’s headquarters in New Delhi. – REUTERSPIC oForeign money managers rethink further investments after weak victory Australian economy shows weak growth SYDNEY: Australia’s resource-rich economy posted anaemic growth in the first quarter, official data showed yesterday, extending concerns about a double-whammy of low growth and high prices. Growth slowed to 0.1% in the quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported, using seasonally adjusted data. “Today’s national accounts confirm growth in the Australian economy was flat in the first three months of the year,” said Treasurer Jim Chalmers. It was “another reminder of the pressures people are under”, he said. The statistics bureau said gross domestic product (GDP) per capita continued to fall in the first quarter of the year – meaning Australians are worse off, even if the economy is growing slightly. “GDP per capita fell for the fifth quarter in a row due to weak economic growth and strong population growth,” the government agency said. The economy grew 0.3% in the last quarter of 2023. Economists predict tepid growth – coupled with still-high inflation – will tie the Reserve Bank of Australia’s hands on any rate cuts or raises. “Confirmation of ongoing weakness in growth is likely to see the central bank remain on hold,” said National Australia Bank economists, who predicted first-quarter growth would come in flat. Facing mounting political pressure and a looming election, Chalmers trained his rhetoric on the central bank – blaming monetary policymakers for the economy’s lacklustre performance. “The primary cause of this very weak growth was higher interest rates, combined with moderating but persistent inflation and ongoing global uncertainty,” he claimed. – AFP NXP, Vanguard to invest US$7.8b in Singapore wafer plant SINGAPORE: NXP Semiconductors and TSMC-backed Vanguard International will enter into a joint venture to build a US$7.8 billion (RM36.6 billion) semiconductor wafer manufacturing plant in Singapore to cater to the automotive, industrial, consumer and mobile end markets, the firms said in a statement yesterday. Vanguard will invest US$2.4 billion with a 60% stake in the venture, while NXP will invest US$1.6 billion and hold 40% of the venture, the statement said. The firms will also provide US$1.9 billion to support the long-term capacity of the plant. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in the second half of this year, with initial production available to customers in 2027. Construction of the initial phase will take place after regulatory approvals. TSMC has held talks with its customers about whether to move its fabrication plants off Taiwan amid increased tensions with China, although such a move would be impossible, a senior company executive said on Tuesday. The joint venture, which will be operated by Vanguard, expects to create about 1,500 jobs in Singapore, the statement said. Earlier this year, United Microelectronics Corp said it would invest US$5 billion in a new microchip factory in Singapore. – Reuters Japan aims to quadruple overseas market for anime, games TOKYO: Pop-culture powerhouse Japan wants to expand its overseas market for video games, manga and anime fourfold to ¥20 trillion (RM610 billion) in about a decade, the government has said. Japan, the birthplace of comic and cartoon epics such as Dragon Ball and game franchises from Super Mario to Final Fantasy, sees the creative industries as a driver for growth on par with steel and semiconductors. In its revised “Cool Japan” strategy released on Tuesday, the government said it aims to boost exports of these cultural assets to ¥20 trillion by 2033. In 2022, Japan’s gaming, anime and manga sectors raked in ¥4.7 trillion from abroad – close to microchips exports at ¥5.7 trillion, government data shows. “In recent years, content like anime and manga has played an extremely important role in attracting bigger and bigger young audiences abroad, serving as their ‘gateway’ to Japan,” the strategy document said. A pandemic-fuelled streaming boom helped boost the global profile of anime, including franchises like Demon Slayer which has had global box office hits. The burgeoning phenomenon of “Vtubers” – virtual animated YouTubers – playing video games is also helping to boost Japan’s international soft power, the strategy said. Combining these sectors’ growth with related industries including fashion, cosmetics and inbound tourism, Japan is targeting an economic benefit of ¥50 trillion by 2033. The government strategy also includes plans to stiffen a crackdown on piracy websites that illegally distribute anime and manga for free in various languages including English and Vietnamese. “Strengthening measures against piracy websites is essential to expanding the global market,” the document said, warning that some of their advertising revenue can go to criminal syndicates. “Swift intergovernmental action is needed” to tackle this piracy “crisis”, it said. – AFP NEW DELHI: Indian voters’ tepid endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves a weakened mandate for business-friendly reforms and has foreign money managers thinking twice about unleashing another wave of investment in the world’s fastest-growing economy. Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third term in government but without a majority of its own for the first time since sweeping to power a decade ago. India’s stock market weathered its heaviest selling since the onset of the pandemic as the votes were tallied and net foreign selling was a record US$1.5 billion (RM7 billion) on Tuesday. Stocks recovered some ground yesterday. With the party losing most ground in rural areas, investors say land and labour reforms, which had been expected to unlock value and growth, will probably fall by the wayside while leaders focus on shoring up rural support which had faltered. For global fund managers, who despite strong buying last year are generally underweight on India according to HSBC research, the uncertainty is reason enough for caution. “You have the feeling that while the government was really geared towards business, there are other parts of the country that felt left behind,” said Alessia Berardi, head of emerging macro strategy at Amundi Investment Institute – the research arm of Europe’s biggest asset manager. “So a more inclusive economy, a more efficient economy is important,” she said. In the market, stocks trading richly in anticipation of growth driven by infrastructure and manufacturing spending fell heaviest while those exposed to rural demand, such as Nestle India and motorcycle maker Hero MotoCorp, rose. Bonds weakened as traders priced risks that welfare spending would go up and Budget consolidation is would be delayed. The tightlymanaged rupee skidded to a seven-week low.
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 17 Top UK varsities face funding, foreign student shortage OpenAI insiders blast lack of AI transparency SAN FRANCISCO: A group of current and former employees from OpenAI on Tuesday issued an open letter warning that the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies were falling short of necessary transparency and accountability to meet the potential risks posed by the technology. The letter raised serious concerns about AI safety risks “ranging from the further entrenchment of existing inequalities, to manipulation and misinformation, to the loss of control of autonomous AI systems potentially resulting in human extinction”. The 16 signatories, which also included a staff member from Google DeepMind, warned that AI companies “have strong financial incentives to avoid effective oversight” and that self-regulation by the companies would not effectively change this. “AI companies possess substantial oThey warn risks posed by emerging technology include ‘human extinction’ non-public information about the capabilities and limitations of their systems, the adequacy of their protective measures and the risk levels of different kinds of harm,” the letter said. “However, they currently have only weak obligations to share some of this information with governments, and none with civil society. “We do not think they can all be relied upon to share it voluntarily.” That reality, the letter added, meant that employees inside the companies were the only ones who could notify the public, and the signatories called for broader whistleblower laws to protect them. “Broad confidentiality agreements block us from voicing our concerns, except to the very companies that may be failing to address these issues,” the letter said. The four current employees of OpenAI signed the letter anonymously because they feared retaliation from the company, The New York Times reported. It was also signed by Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton and Stuart Russell, who are often described as AI “godfathers” and have criticised the lack of preparation for AI’s dangers. OpenAI pushed back at the criticism. New models boost Ford market share in America NEW YORK: Ford Motor Company announced on Tuesday its US sales last month surged 11.2%, boosting its market share thanks to new models including the latest version of its flagship pickup, the F-150. The Michigan-based automaker sold 190,014 vehicles last month, and 877,685 since the start of the year, a 5.6% year-on-year rise. It claims to have “outpaced” the industry and increased its market share by 0.7% last month, to 12.8%. That month alone Ford marked an increase of more than 64% in both sales of electric vehicles (8,866) and hybrids (17,631), which the company said in a statement “grew at a faster rate than both their respective industry segments”. Sales of standard combustion vehicles meanwhile increased by 5.6% to 163,417. Ford and Lincoln brand results in the first quarter beat analysts’ expectations despite a loss in the Ford Model e division of electric vehicles due to falling prices, chief financial officer John Lawler said in April. Ford had high expectations from the ramp-up in production of the 2024 model F-150, which has been the best-selling pickup in the United States for almost five decades. It sold 238,114 from January through May, with the electric version of the pickup recording a 91% sales jump. Its Maverick truck is America’s best-selling pick-up in the hybrid segment, with 33,748 sold to date in 2024 – up 80.5% year on year. Ford is the only one of the three American legacy carmakers to release monthly sales. General Motors and Stellantis are due to announce their second-quarter US sales early next month, as are Tesla and Toyota. Japanese manufacturer Honda said its US sales rose by 6.4% in May, to 127,129 vehicles, and by 11.1% (577,539 vehicles) since the start of the year, placing it a bit above its 10% growth forecast for 2024. Vehicle sales in the United States are “creeping forward slowly”, Oxford Economics said in a report, pointing to a month-on-month rise of 0.9% last month. Cox Automotive said on its website that early May inventory levels were relatively “robust” and that price pressures prompted bargain-hunting by consumers. Both Cox and Oxford put initial estimates of the annual US sales pace in May at close to 15.9 million vehicles. – AFP Employees working on the production line of the 100% electric Ford Explorer at a factory in the German city of Cologne. – AFPPIC “We’re proud of our track record of providing the most capable and safest AI systems and believe in our scientific approach to addressing risk,” it said in a statement. “We agree that rigorous debate is crucial given the significance of this technology and we’ll continue to engage with governments, civil society and other communities around the world.” OpenAI also said it had “avenues for employees to express their concerns including an anonymous integrity hotline” and a newly formed Safety and Security Committee led by members of the board and executives, including CEO Sam Altman. The criticism of OpenAI, which was first released to the Times, comes as questions are growing around Altman’s leadership of the company. OpenAI has unveiled a wave of new products, though the company insists they will only get released to the public after thorough testing. The unveiling of a human-like chatbot caused a controversy when Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson complained that it closely resembled her voice. She had previously turned down an offer from Altman to work with the company. – AFP LONDON: Some of UK’s top universities could see their attractiveness decline due to hits to funding and tighter regulations on overseas students, the annual QS 2025 university rankings warned on Tuesday. Four British universities retained their spots in the top 10 of more than 1,000 universities ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a benchmark ranking alongside The Times and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Imperial College London, renowned for its science teaching, shot up from sixth to second place, dethroning for the first time the historically dominant “Oxbridge” duo, with Oxford and Cambridge ranking third and fifth respectively. More than half (52) of the UK’s universities were bumped down on the list, out of the 90 that were part of the ranking. “This year’s results suggest that British higher education has limited capacity remaining to continue excelling in the face of funding shortages, drops in student applications,” and restrictions affecting the intake of international students, said head of QS Jessica Turner. In the last few months, the Conservative government has introduced several measures to reduce regular migration which it judges to be too high. These include barring overseas students from bringing dependents and hiking the minimum salary needed for skilled workers visas. The policies have been criticised by universities, whose budgets are heavily dependent on the higher fees paid by international students. In the first four months of the year, 30,000 fewer student visa applications were made than in the same period in 2023, according to government statistics. – AFP Zara owner Inditex posts big profit despite Shein’s rise MADRID: Zara owner Inditex, the world’s biggest fashion retailer, yesterday reported a record net profit for the first quarter, even as the Spanish group faces growing competition from online rival Shein. Inditex, whose other brands include Bershka, Massimo Dutti and Pull&Bear, has posted solid earnings and seen its share price soar in recent months despite inflation and geopolitical headwinds. Its net profit reached €1.3 billion (RM6.6 billion) in the quarter ending April 30 – an 11% increase from the same period last year and an all-time high for a three-month span usually marked by weaker earnings. Sales rose 7% to €8.2 billion. The profit and sales figures were close to those forecast by analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet. “Inditex continued with a very robust operating performance due to the creativity of the teams and the strong execution of the fully integrated business model,” the company said in its results statement. The group announced it would invest €900 million per year in 2024 and 2025 to expand its logistics capacities, “in view of the strong future growth opportunities”. Inditex, H&M and other retailers are facing increasingly tough competition from online fast-fashion platform Shein, a company founded in China which is expected to pursue a multi-billion-pound listing in the London stock market. – AFP
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 18 HNWIs grow in wealth and numbers PARIS: The world has never had so many rich people and their investments in soaring stock markets have made them wealthier oHigh net worth individuals’ fortunes rise as stock markets surge: Study More than half of Argentines in poverty BUENOS AIRES: More than half of Argentines now live in poverty, according to data released on Tuesday, with levels rising non-stop since a year ago and quickening since budget-slashing President Javier Milei took office. The Pontifical Catholic University’s Social Debt Monitor put the figure at 55.5% for the first quarter of this year – up from 44.7% in the third quarter of 2023 and 49.5% in December, when Milei was sworn in. Some 17.5% of the country’s 46 million people were indigent, according to the figures – nearly double the rate in the third quarter of last year. The poverty level in Argentina is defined as a monthly income of less than the US$292 (RM1,371) required to buy a basic basket of consumer goods for an adult, or US$904 for a family with two children. An adult making less than US$132 is considered to live in extreme poverty or indigence. The new figures are worse than recent ones from the Indec national statistics agency, which put the poverty rate at 41.7% at the end of 2023. That was up from 39.2% a year earlier. Indec releases poverty data only twice a year, and its latest report is from before Milei’s sharp devaluation of the peso in mid-December and the rapid inflation that followed. All economic indicators are pointing to a crushing impact on the population from Milei’s austerity measures, with falling employment and consumer rates on top of annual inflation exceeding 200%. In March, United Nations agency Unicef said the extreme poverty rate among children in Argentina likely reached one in five by the end of last year. Milei’s government, meanwhile, had frozen the distribution of thousands of tons of food aid for months pending an audit of soup kitchens. Last month, a court ordered the food to be released “immediately” and an emergency distribution drive was organised this week with the help of the military. – AFP A cardboard collector pulling his cart in Buenos Aires. – AFPPIC Brazil economy picks up as shoppers spend more RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s economy grew 0.8% in the first quarter, the government said on Tuesday, a rebound boosted by consumer spending which analysts say could put the central bank on guard over inflation. The result was slightly better than analysts’ forecasts of 0.7% in Latin America’s biggest economy, whose President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vowed to deliver “solid” growth. Lula said the result was “more proof we are on the right track”, in a post on X. Brazil’s GDP was up 2.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023, said the Brazilian Institute of Statistics (IBGE). Independent analyst Andre Perfeito noted a 1.5% increase in household consumption was a key factor in the first quarter growth, with more Brazilians working after a fall in unemployment. William Jackson, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said the pace of growth and consumer spending “will raise (even more) concerns about inflation at the central bank”. The central bank has slowly made tiny adjustments downwards of the interest rate, now at 10.5%, under pressure from Lula who has said high lending costs are hurting economic growth. Brazil’s benchmark interest rate is among the world’s highest in real terms after aggressive increases following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent global prices on an upward spiral in early 2021. The first-quarter growth was also driven by a rebound in agriculture which expanded by 11.3%, according to the IBGE. However, the sector is not performing as well as in previous years and was down 3% from the first quarter of 2023. Agricultural products with significant harvests at the start of the year – such as soybeans, corn, tobacco and cassava – showed a drop in estimated annual production compared to the same period last year. IBGE analyst Rebeca Palis highlighted that the economic growth in the first quarter had been “entirely based on domestic demand”. Brazil’s economy contracted 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023, after eking out growth of 0.1% the previous quarter. – AFP Canada orders streamers to pay to support local content OTTAWA: Canada’s broadcasting regulator said on Tuesday streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney would be required starting in September to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to fund local content. The Online Streaming Act, passed in 2023 created a legal framework to regulate digital platforms and oblige them to contribute financially to the creation, production and distribution of Canadian content, such as TV shows, as well as its promotion. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) estimated that the measure – which effectively brings streamers under the same rules as traditional Canadian broadcasters – will provide C$200 million (RM685 million) per year in new funding for the country’s broadcasting system. “The funding will be directed to areas of immediate need in the Canadian broadcasting system, such as local news on radio and television, French-language content (and) Indigenous content,” the CRTC said in a statement. Online streaming services will be permitted some flexibility to direct parts of their contributions to support Canadian television content directly, it added. The Canadian law is part of a series of recent measures introduced by the government to better regulate web giants. For its part, the Digital Media Association (DiMA), representing Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify, pushed back against the measure. “We are deeply concerned with today’s decision to impose a discriminatory tax on music streaming services that are already making significant contributions to Canadian artists and culture,” DiMA president Graham Davies said in a statement. The Motion Picture Association-Canada said global studios and streaming services already invest in content made by Canadian production companies. “We are disappointed in today’s decision that reinforces a decades-old regulatory approach designed for cable companies,” president Wendy Noss said in a statement. Canada’s Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge maintained that the measure would ultimately benefit streamers. “This is money that will go back into Canadian creation, whether it’s music, whether it’s a television series or movies, that will most likely go back on their platform,” she said. – AFP than ever recorded, according to a study published yesterday. The number of “high net worth individuals” (HNWIs) – defined as people with liquid assets of at least US$1 million (RM4.7 million) – rose by 5.1% last year to 22.8 million, according to consulting firm Capgemini. Their total wealth reached US$86.8 trillion in 2023, a 4.7% increase from the previous year, according to the annual World Wealth Report. The number of HNWIs and their total wealth are the highest since Capgemini began the annual study in 1997. Their fortunes have risen as stock markets have surged. New York’s tech-heavy Nasdaq soared 43% last year while the broad-based S&P 500 gained 24%. The Paris CAC 40 grew 16% while the Frankfurt DAX advanced by 20%. The number of HNWIs and their wealth had each fallen by more than 3% in 2022, a year of macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the report said. The decline in their wealth was the steepest in a decade as equities fell. “However, 2023 brought economic growth and improved fortunes for major investment sectors to reverse the falloff,” the report said. “Despite ongoing interest rate uncertainty and rising bond yields, equities surged along with the tech market, fuelled by enthusiasm for generative AI and its potential impact on the economy.” Rising wealth and inequality in the world have fuelled debates on making the rich pay their fair share of taxes. Brazil and France have pressed fellow G20 countries to set a global minimum tax on the world’s wealthiest people. – AFP
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 19 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) NESTLE 124 -3.7 872 UTDPLT 24.1 -1.04 3433 ALLIANZ-PA 23.3 -0.84 5 PETDAG 18.88 -0.48 10144 PPB 14.5 -0.3 8,300 F&N 32.28 -0.28 942 ALLIANZ 21.88 -0.2 317 AJI 15.78 -0.16 1,814 HLFG 17.16 -0.16 1,084 CHGP 2.64 -0.14 9,333 D&O 3.6 -0.14 13319 HLBANK 19.34 -0.14 4,451 MCEMENT 4.87 -0.14 12,589 KESM 6.12 -0.13 348 GEELY-C26 0.025 -0.125 200 SCIENTX 4.28 -0.12 12,484 DAYANG 2.53 -0.11 41,913 PINGAN-H9 0.095 -0.105 20,000 CIMB 6.89 -0.1 232,180 HEIM 23.88 -0.1 260 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/-(RM) +/-(%) VOLUME DNEX 0.48 0.02 4.35 2,035,404 HSI-CV7 0.155 - - 1,502,860 HSI-HU8 0.125 - - 1,205,246 AHB-WC 0.05 - - 1,112,550 DSONIC 0.52 0.015 2.97 730,652 JCY 0.615 0.02 3.36 669,982 MYEG 1.09 -0.01 -0.91 560,849 SNS 0.65 -0.005 -0.76 505,929 WCT 0.625 0.02 3.31 498,962 INTA 0.465 0.04 9.41 369,047 TOPGLOV 1.04 - - 367,346 FPHB 0.49 0.035 7.69 365,278 VELESTO 0.26 -0.005 -1.89 346,252 HSI-CT4 0.08 -0.01 -11.11 320,527 HSI-CXG 0.085 - - 292,000 ASTRO 0.385 0.02 5.48 286,156 HSI-HUT 0.09 - - 278,314 RAMSSOL-WA 0.265 0.005 1.92 274,564 HSI-HWB 0.175 - - 268,486 BORNOIL +0.005 -0.005 -50.00 263813 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: JUNE 5 [ 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 12,239.98 -38.51 FBMKLCI 1,608.53 -6.87 CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVIC 593.30 -4.80 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS & SERV 196.57 -0.32 CONSTRUCTION 246.54 +0.90 FINANCIAL SERVICES 17,591.17 -132.71 ENERGY 952.32 -14.53 TELECOMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA 612.99 +7.63 HEALTH CARE 2,095.56 +3.91 TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS 1,113.36 +3.58 PROPERTY 1,084.93 +0.32 PLANTATION 7,137.12 -41.88 FBMSHA 12,487.42 -16.23 FBMACE 5,467.61 +43.57 TECHNOLOGY 74.47 +0.39 TURNOVER: 4.282 bil VALUE: RM3.400 bil Top 20 Actives Top 20 Losers (By RM) Bursa Indices INDEX CLOSING DAILY DAILY CHANGE CHANGE (%) DJIA (US) 38,711.29 +140.26 +0.36 S&P 500 (US) 5,291.34 +7.94 +0.15 NASDAQ (US) 16,857.05 +28.38 +0.17 NYSE (US) 17,934.49 -72.47 -0.40 EURO STOXX 50 (EUR) 4,991.73 +38.36 +0.77 FTSE 100 (UK) 8,243.77 +11.73 +0.14 DAX (GER) 18,510.34 +104.70 +0.57 NIKKEI 225 (JPN) 38,490.17 -347.29 -0.89 TOPIX (JPN) 2,748.22 -39.26 -1.41 HANG SENG INDEX (HK) 18,424.96 -19.15 -0.10 CSI 300 (CHN) 3,594.79 -20.88 -0.58 SH SE COM (CHN) 3,065.40 -25.80 -0.83 KOSPI INDEX (SK) 2,689.50 +27.40 +1.03 MSCI ASIA PACIFIC 180.24 +3.42 +1.93 ASX 200 (AUS) 7,769.00 +31.95 +0.41 ALL ORDINARIES INDX (AUS) 8,022.23 +28.09 +0.35 SENSEX INDEX (IND) 74,208.75 +2129.70 +2.95 FBM KLCI 1,608.53 -6.87 -0.43 STRAITS TIMES INDEX (S’PORE) 3,337.31 -1.63 -0.05 WTI (US$/BBL.) 72.94 -0.31 -0.42 BRENT (US$/BBL.) 77.27 -0.25 -0.32 GOLD (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 2,352.00 +4.60 +0.20 SILVER (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 29.65 +0.03 +0.11 PLATINUM (US$/T OZ) 994.76 +1.91 +0.19 COPPER (COMEX) (US CENTS/LB.) 453.05 -0.65 -0.14 COPPER 3MO (LME) (US$/MT) 9,945.00 -198.00 -1.95 CORN (US CENTS/BU.) 441.50 -1.00 -0.23 WHEAT (US CENTS/BU.) 661.50 +3.25 +0.49 SOYBEAN OIL (CBOT) (US CENTS/LB.) 43.63 +0.01 +0.02 COCOA (ICE) (US$/MT) 9,402.00 -155.00 -1.62 RUBBER (S’PORE) (US CENTS/KG) 174.70 +0.20 +0.11 World Stocks/Commodities as at 5pm, June 5 STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (%) VOLUME (’00) GEELY-C26 0.025 -83.33 200 JDCOM-C19 0.005 -80 2,000 HSI-HSS 0.005 -75 3,502 DRBHCOMC2W 0.01 -66.67 200 HSI-CT2 0.005 -66.67 68,481 CMSB-C45 0.025 -54.55 4,367 PINGAN-H9 0.095 -52.5 20,000 BORNOIL 0.005 -50 263,813 HSI-HUQ 0.005 -50 5,464 KGROUP 0.005 -50 4,700 PUC-WA 0.01 -50 2,935 TFP-WB 0.02 -50 1200 PPB-CS 0.045 -40 350 HIBISCS-C60 0.025 -37.5 50 TCS-OR 0.025 -37.5 139,647 EKOVEST-C43 0.02 -33.33 14100 EKOVEST-C46 0.01 -33.33 10000 HIBISCS-C58 0.02 -33.33 12550 HONGSENG 0.01 -33.33 29,484 HSI-HUS 0.01 -33.33 5,200 Top 20 Losers (By %) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) DLADY 37.36 0.36 329 MPI 38 0.3 1,301 APOLLO 7.45 0.29 1,057 TENAGA 13.26 0.28 117364 HARISON 9.64 0.17 27 SMI 0.61 0.17 55,045 NSOP 3.9 0.14 31 WPRTS 4.19 0.13 16,999 IJM 2.89 0.12 187420 CHMOBIL-CJ 0.37 0.11 27 INARI 3.41 0.11 189,066 CCK 1.55 0.1 60,889 KOTRA 4.48 0.1 268 AIRPORT 10 0.1 33,684 SAM 6.36 0.1 7,436 GTRONIC 1.33 0.09 132,984 BMGREEN 1.47 0.08 44,031 DKSH 5.28 0.08 1,137 GENETEC 2.35 0.08 55,711 MYEG-C6U 0.26 0.08 302 Top 20 Gainers (By RM) STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (%) VOLUME (’00) EAH 0.01 100 8,527 HSI-HUA 0.01 100 150 MEITUAN-C24 0 100 5215 MPIRE-WB 0 100 46 PERMAJU-WA 0.01 100 1,513 PMETAL-C92 0 68.75 300 GTRONIC-C30 0 50 5100 TALAMT 0 50 19790 XOX 0 50 37,695 HSI-HUK 0 45.45 30,456 DSONIC-C61 0 44.44 14,629 MYEG-C6U 0 44.44 302 CHMOBIL-CJ 0 42.31 27 DSONIC-C58 0 40 9,250 SMI 1 38.64 55,045 DNEX-C26 0 33.33 72,177 ITMAX-CG 0 33.33 4270 TENCENT-C41 0.24 33.33 615 ZENTECH 0 33.33 2449 GTRONIC-C32 0 30 34700 Top 20 Gainers (By %) Bursa closes lower on profit-taking BURSA Malaysia closed lower yesterday, but the key index remained above the 1,600 psychological level. The decline was primarily due to profit-taking activities, said an analyst. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI was lower by 6.87 points, or 0.43%, to 1,608.53 from yesterday’s close of 1,615.40 . The benchmark index, which opened 0.59 of-a-point lower at 1,614.81, fluctuated between 1,608.53 and 1,622.65 throughout the trading session. Decliners surpass gainers 599 to 547, with 487 counters unchanged, 712 untraded and nine others suspended. Turnover declined to 4.28 billion units worth RM3.4 billion from yesterday’s 4.46 billion units worth RM3.94 billion. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said the FBM KLCI closed lower following a market surge yesterday. “The decline was primarily due to profit-taking activities as investors’ concern about potential stagflation in the United States increased after the Job Openings and Labour Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported weaker-than-expected results. “However, we believe concerns about US stagflation are merely market noise as they are not supported by other robust economic data. Warnings about the possibility of stagflation in the US have periodically surfaced in 2021, 2022, and 2023,“ he told Bernama. Among the heavyweights, Maybank dropped 8 sen to RM9.98, CIMB Group slipped 10 sen to RM6.89, Public Bank fell 2 sen to RM4.13, and IHH Healthcare edged down 1 sen to RM6.18. Among the actives, MY E.G. Services fell 1 sen to RM1.09 and SNS Network Technology slip half-a-sen to 65 sen, but Dagang Nexchange increased 2 sen to 48 sen, Datasonic Group climbed 1.5 sen to 52 sen, and JCY International rose 2 sen to 61.5 sen. 1,608.53pts June 5, 2024 Participation 22.16 42.40 35.44 100.00 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 752.77 1477.55 1170.81 3401.12 Sold RM m 754.33 1406.89 1239.90 3401.12 Net RM m -1.57 70.66 -69.09 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) 5/6/2024
BIZ & FINANCE BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 20 MARKETS/FROM THE BROKERS SUNBIZ presents extracts of a selection of commentaries and research reports received from stockbrokers on counters that could be of interest to investors. [Compiled by SunBiz Team DISCLAIMER: The information is extracted from stockbrokers’ commentaries and research reports and do not represent the views or opinions of Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd. It is not a solicitation, recommendation or an offer to buy or sell the equities featured. Sun Media Corporation shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences resulting from usage of the information. CONTRACT extension for supply of e-Passport solutions. DSON received the contract extension on June 4 from KDN for the following supply contracts: i) Malaysian passport chips, ii) Malaysian passport documents, and iii) polycarbonate biodata pages. The RM142m worth of additional ceiling contract values were on an extended period of six months from June 1 to Nov 30, 2024. It is worth noting the government is currently evaluating an improved version of the passport solutions and new printing systems before deciding on a new longer term contract. Concurrently, the supply of MyKad, MyTentera, MyPOCA raw cards, consumables, and comprehensive maintenance services of card personalisation centres at the National Registration Department have been extended for another six months ending Nov 30, 2024. The new contract extensions are worth RM39.4 million. We understand the authority is evaluating the proposed new generation of MyKad along with a new printing system before deciding on a fresh longer-term contract. Recall: DSON has been the vendor of these solutions since 2012. Following the contract extensions, the group’s orderbook stands at RM280 million. Moving forward, management remains committed to securing the long-term contracts for both ID card and passport solutions, along with the new hardware and printing systems, auto-gate solutions, and identity management system. DSON is also looking forward to penetrate into more overseas passport solutions following the RM20 million 5-year epassport contract win to supply a West African country. Besides, the group is also working on a new solution with artificial intelligence or AI features to improve clearance time for the MBike system at Johor Bahru’s border control. Keep BUY and RM0.68 TP. ITMAX announced that its 65%-subsidiary, Southmax S/B (SSB), has been awarded a LOA by MBIP, appointing it as the smart parking operator for 32,025 street parking bays in Bandar Iskandar Puteri. The LOA is for a period of 15 years and will commence June 1, 2024 through to May 31, 2039. This is ITMAX’s first smart parking contract following its acquisition of 70% equity interest in Aim-Force Software for RM7.2 million in Aug 2023. Per the terms of the LOA, SSB will be fully responsible for the management and maintenance of the smart parking system in the district. However, revenue generated from operations will be split between SSB and MBIP in a 70:30 ratio, with the revenueshare model applied to all cash proceeds collected via SSB’s parking app, Parkmax@Johor. To note, MBIP successfully trialled SSB’s app in Bandar Iskandar Puteri from April 1-30, 2024 and intends to fully digitise parking in the district by Jan 1, 2025. We estimate that every incremental 10k parking bays assigned to SSB has the potential to accrete RM4.1 million/1.4 million p.a. to ITMAX’s turnover and PATMI respectively. In addition to MBIP’s 32k street parking bays, there are roughly 90k parking bays under the purview of MBJB and a further 30k each under MBPG and MPKu – ITMAX has subsisting CCTV contracts with all four district councils. We believe that the usage of SSB’s Parkmax app is highly scalable across other districts in Johor (subject to SSB being granted LOAs first by the respective district councils) due to its user-friendly UI/UX. We maintain our earnings forecasts and TP of RM2.65 (pegged to 1.5x PEG). Maintain BUY on compelling long-term outlook as ITMAX rides on the tailwinds of Johor’s economic growth. WHOLLY owned subsidiary Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering S/B secured its second subcontract from Petrofac International (UAE) for the EPC of an OSS high voltage direct current or HVDC platform in the Netherlands, with a value of RM1.5 billion. This OSS platform comprises a topside weighing 30,000 tonnes (includes equipment) and 10,000 tonne jacket. The duration of the subcontract is about 36 months, with fabrication expected to commence in 2025, similar to the first contract awarded. Management previously guided that windfarm OSS construction will be done at MMHE’s East Yard along with the Carigali-PTTEPI Operating Co (CPOC) job that was awarded in Feb 2023. In addition, the parties will also collaborate towards the possibility of fabrication works for another OSS unit of similar size. We view this positively given the growing windfarm sector will provide earnings opportunities for MMHE. However, successful project execution is crucial to fully capitalise on this potential. With the new award, the group’s OSS windfarm contracts now total RM2.7 billion and we estimate this will increase its orderbook by 28% to RM6.9 billion (Q1’24: RM5.4 billion). Ongoing projects include the Jerun, Rosmari-Marjoram, Kasawari carbon capture & storage (CCS), and the aforementioned CPOC job. MMHE’s tenderbook, which we estimate to be RM4.5-5.5 billion (Q1’24: RM6-7 billion) following this contract win, mainly comprises wind farm and fixed facilities jobs. We see potential upside coming from the securement of an additional OSS unit of similar size. MMHE has implemented various efforts to manage the environmental impact of its business including the installation of rooftop solar panel which reduces 6,286 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Keep BUY and RM0.60 TP. FOREIGN CURRENCY SELLING TT/OD BUYING TT BUYING OD 1 US Dollar 4.7660 4.6320 4.6220 1 Australian Dollar 3.1890 3.0620 3.0460 1 Brunei Dollar 3.5400 3.4380 3.4300 1 Canadian Dollar 3.4830 3.3910 3.3790 1 Euro 5.1960 5.0300 5.0100 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.9580 2.8500 2.8340 1 Singapore Dollar 3.5400 3.4380 3.4300 1 Sterling Pound 6.1000 5.9080 5.8880 1 Swiss Franc 5.3410 5.2170 5.2020 100 UAE Dirham 131.3700 124.5900 124.3900 100 Bangladesh Taka 4.1460 3.8600 3.6600 100 Chinese Renminbi 66.3200 63.5400 N/A 100 Danish Krone 71.4100 65.7200 65.5200 100 Hongkong Dollar 61.7000 58.6400 58.4400 100 Indian Rupee 5.8000 5.4500 5.2500 100 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0304 0.0275 0.0225 100 Japanese Yen 3.0760 2.9790 2.9690 100 New Taiwan Dollar 15.8000 N/A N/A 100 Norwegian Krone 46.3700 42.6600 42.4600 100 Pakistan Rupee 1.7400 1.6300 1.4300 100 Philippine Peso 8.2300 7.7600 7.5600 100 Qatar Riyal 132.2700 125.5700 125.3700 100 Saudi Riyal 128.5900 122.0700 121.8700 100 South Africa Rand 26.4300 23.8600 23.6600 100 Sri Lanka Rupee 1.6200 1.4900 1.2900 100 Swedish Krona 47.1900 42.9900 42.7900 100 Thai Baht 13.6000 12.0700 11.6700 Exchange Rates Source: Malayan Banking Bhd/Bernama Ringgit strengthens further against dollar THE ringgit was well supported yesterday, again breaching the RM4.70 level versus the US dollar at the close as further economic data from the US pointed to an interest rate cut. At 6pm, the ringgit improved to 4.6970/6985 against the greenback from 4.7005/7030 at Tuesday’s close. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the drop in US job openings in April suggests that the demand for labour is cooling, which could imply wage growth may not be too strong going forward and pave the way for a rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). “The US Dollar Index remains below 105 points although it is trending up. While the rate cut camp is gaining traction, it remains highly uncertain as to what the Fed might say on its stance in the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting next week. “But for now, incoming data has been supportive of the rate cut thesis,” he told Bernama. At the close, the ringgit traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies. The local unit edged up against the euro to 5.1070/1087 from 5.1099/1126 at Tuesday’s close and strengthened versus the Japanese yen to 3.0099/0111 from 3.0293/0311 on Tuesday. However, the local note slipped vis-a-vis the British pound to 6.004/0023 from 5.9988/6.0020 previously. Meanwhile, the ringgit was higher against its Asean peers. It improved against the Thai baht to 12.7994/8091 from 12.8443/8568 on Tuesday’s close, increased versus the Singapore dollar to 3.4857/4871 from 3.4868/4889 previously, and rose vis-avis the Indonesian rupiah to 288.3/288.6 from 289.7/290.0. – Bernama Wasco expects higher profits soon with a strong order book KUALA LUMPUR: Wasco Bhd is optimistic in delivering better profits and revenue from its pipe coating, engineering and bioenergy segments in the next few quarters, supported by its robust order book at RM3.20 billion as well as a tender book of RM7.25 billion. Managing director and group CEO Giancario Maccagno said orders that the group bagged in hand and the ballooning tender book have been the highest recorded so far. Currently, he said the revenue contribution for the group’s pipe coating, engineering and bioenergy segments each stands at 40%, 40% and 20% respectively. He said Wasco’s strategic market position delivers unrivalled competitive advantage to capitalise on all market sectors and the long-term development of global hydrogen infrastructure also positions the group for a sustainable future within new energy markets. Commenting further on the positive outlook, Maccagno noted that the pipe coating market is projected to grow from US$8.3 billion (RM39 billion) in 2021 to US$10.6 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. Meanwhile, he said the global oil and gas trunk line network, currently spanning 2.15 million kilometres, is expected to expand by over 5% by 2027. Wasco’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 rose to RM57 million from RM21.76 million in the same quarter a year ago, driven by higher revenue recognition as a result of a higher number of projects executed while its revenue improved to RM643.94 million, marking a 21.1% year-on-year increase. – Bernama Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd Buy. Target price: RM0.60 ITMAX System Bhd Buy. Target price: RM2.65 Datasonic Group Bhd Buy. Target price: RM0.68 Source: RHB Research Source: Maybank Investment Bank Source: RHB Research June 5, 2024: RM0.48 June 5, 2024: RM2.42 June 5, 2024: RM0.525
Shineon Designs that light up spaces Designs that light up spaces –P22 THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 INSIDE p 23 Tivoli Audio’s Malaysian debut WEEKLY FOCUS MONDAY Technology and social media TUESDAY Travel and leisure WEDNESDAY Fashion and beauty THURSDAY Home and living FRIDAY Food and beverage Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN ME – 123RFPIC INSIDE p 24 Malaysian cartoons adorn hotel decor INSIDE p 25 Kultus Iblis reviewed p 26 Adding value to the arts
LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 22 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Malaysian Paper Under the spotlight A LIGHTING designer’s job is not just attaching bulbs or lights to brighten up a space, but creating the right ambience by selecting the fixtures that would positively impact the feel and flow of a space. They create a mood not just for the eyes but for the mind and heart to feel. Light has an effect on people’s emotional and mental states. “We take light for granted,” said electrical and lighting designer Ng Suan Lin during an interview with theSun. For Ng, lighting is a passion that has fascinated her since she was a young girl. “For the common man, light is just light, whether a light fixture comes from a shop outside (of the house) or very expensive lights, everything is the same. We take it for granted, but it’s not the same. “Actually, there is a lot of technicalities behind it, it is not as simple as ‘light is just light’,” explained Ng, who began her career as an electrical engineer, before specialising in integration of lighting into architecture, interior design and building facades. Ng, who worked for a locally based Australian company, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 2011, and gained 10 years of experience in designing and consulting for building industries, specifically in electrical and lighting services, before quitting in 2018. She left her job to explore other options. It was then that she realised whenever there is a meeting on design or architecture projects, “someone” is missing at the meeting table – a lighting expert. Let there be light Fascinated by the inner workings of lighting systems, Ng decided to further explore the subject of light designing and she realised this was her true calling. She joined a local lighting company to further her “education” in this field and had the chance to come up with her own design, an opportunity which she could not turn down. In 2020, she set up her own company Swang Space Sdn Bhd with her husband. The company specialises in lighting consultancy, which is designing spaces using Ng with her unique wall lights creation that looks like an artpiece from her Prism Decorative Lighting series. – PICS BY AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN oLighting consultant Ng Suan Lin says light fittings have an effect on our mental and emotional states █ BYS.TAMARAI CHELVI A closer look at Prism’s Tree Bois collection. lighting as the primary guide. The couple work closely with architects, interior designer and landscape artists to come up with concepts in lighting design. These include light fittings for interior, exterior, facade and landscape. Ng is a firm believer that lighting sets the mood and it is a hugely important factor for any space. Thus it is imperative that lighting consultants be involved in designing a space, be it for living or work. The input from lighting consultants can greatly impact how the finished product will look and feel. Mood enhancer “Architects and interior designers come up with concept designs and tell us what kind of mood and ambience they want from a space, and we select the right lighting to achieve their design intentions. It’s very niche in Malaysia. “When we design a project, we tell a story, and different projects have different stories and emotional touches to it. For example, for a private residence, we work closely with the client. We try to understand the client as a person and what kind of things he or she likes, and that is how we start to design lights that would fit them,” she explained. After the lighting fixtures are installed, Ng believes the owner will automatically feel at home and comfortable. “It’s the way we choose the lights, achieve the kind of ambience for them and for different kinds of space, we want to have a different kind of ambience. We play with colours of lights, which affects us emotionally and our well-being.” Ng highlights this by using plush hotels as an example: “When we walk into a hotel, we feel relaxed, but we don’t get the same feeling at home. Its curated elements, from the fragrance, lights, design and culture, affecting the space.” Solar connections As for homes, they use different kinds of lights for different spaces, depending on the purpose of each space. “For the living room, we use yellow light, warm white, which is a bit yellowish. When you come from work and walk into your home, the warm light automatically tunes you down. This is why we feel more comfortable and relaxed,” Ng explained. Contrastingly, in the office, white light is used, as it is said to help productivity and connectivity and has a positive impact on our brain waves. She revealed that these light colours have a connection with the colours emitted by the sun. “The colours of the light are also a part of the dynamic of the sun from sunrise to sunset. The light colours from sunrise, around 8am to 9am, start a bit yellowish but towards noon, the colours slowly brighten to white. “Around 4pm to 5pm, the sky goes down, and during the sunset, the sky turns yellowish and warmer. This is when our body also starts to relax, we tune (wind) down,” said Ng. With thousands of choices available, Ng says she helps clients narrow down their lighting choices based on several criteria, including colour, warmth and angle of the light source. The quality, costs and colours of the light matters when it comes to picking the right one. Even cheap quality lights emit different kind of light compared to high quality products. “The colours shine on the object. A fairly good light brings up the statement piece in your place. If you have an art piece with the right lighting, the art piece will look outstanding,” she said. See One of Ng’s designs that uses page 23 timber – Mokuzai.
LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 23 New adventures in hi-fi HAVING good speakers or audio systems in your home is essential, whether it is for the living room, bedroom, or even a personalised audio room. A plethora of speaker types and shapes are available, each with different price points and performance dynamics. The primary reason for integrating a sound system speaker into a home setup lies in its ability to deliver superior audio quality. Unlike built-in TV or computer speakers, a dedicated sound system uses advanced technology and superior components to reproduce audio with unmatched clarity, fidelity and depth. Beyond its practicality, a sound system speaker can also improve home decor. These sleek, modern audio marvels blend into your living space, adding sophistication and elevating the room’s ambience with customisable options to suit any interior aesthetic. Whether discreetly integrated into the entertainment centre or displayed as a statement piece, a well-chosen sound system speaker improves a home’s visual appeal while providing exceptional audio performance. With numerous sound system speakers available in the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one. However, for those willing to do the legwork, there are plenty of audio gems offering unique features to entice consumers. US-based audio and speaker brand Tivoli Audio recently ventured into the Malaysian market with an extensive product lineup. While Tivoli Audio is not new, the Bostonbased company founded in 2000 is making its Malaysian debut with a diverse range of 13 products from the Classic, SongBooks, and ART collections, ensuring that there is something for every audiophile. Many of Tivoli Audio’s products have been around for some time, with some recent releases catching the spotlight. The Tivoli SongBook oTivoli Audio debuts its range of audio gear in Malaysia █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL Tivoli Audio makes its debut in Malaysia. – PICS BY ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN Tivoli Audio CEO Paul DePasquale unveiled the Classic, SongBooks and ART Series. Max, the highlight of the recent launch event in Kuala Lumpur, stands out as the largest among its peers. This portable wireless speaker features a semi-retro design with a 10-hour battery life per charge, builtin preamp, FM radio and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. With a power range of 50W, it packs a punch that belies its size. Adding to its appeal is the SongBook Max’s ability to double as a guitar amplifier, producing impressive sound with just a slight turn of the knob. What is really enticing though is the affordable price tags. Tivoli Audio portable speakers start at RM1,099, with the top-of-the-range SongBook Max priced at RM3,599. The brand’s local distributor Nove already has a strong presence on online shopping platforms, making these speakers highly accessible to the public. Eco-friendly elegance Ng stressed that she does not simply overload spaces with lights. It is about getting the right balance. She has on a number of occasions halved the number of lights initially thought required, thereby reducing the costs. Choosing sustainable lighting is also a consideration for some house owners. However, in the lighting field, Ng revealed there are two different perspectives on the issue of sustainability. LED lights are energy-efficient, but light designers are now looking into increasing their efficiency while using less electricity. On the other hand, manufacturers are looking into reducing the waste of fixtures. Architectural decorative lights are made out of aluminium, and eventually it will get spoiled, and they are looking into re-using the casing again without throwing the full-fitting. She has also created the Prism Decorative Lighting series after wanting a bedside lamp that emitted less glare. This simple need led to the creation of this series comprising wall lights and table lamps, which integrate local timber into the design. Crafted from recycled timber, it offers an environmentally conscious lighting option, reducing waste while adding a natural rustic charm. The Prism’s Tree Bois fitting was inspired by the plant, hence, it has a green colour that symbolises values of abundance, growth and environment. The single piece wall light has an angular geometric design and its double layered timber frame allows light to filter through, creating a threedimensional prism-like pattern. The versatile wall lights function like an art deco piece, making it the unique highlight on any given wall space. Another one of her creations is the linear fitting Mokuzai – a wooden slightly curved, hanging light design. “This was inspired when I was in Japan,” said Ng, adding that timber is suitable for people who like a natural feel and earthy tones. She Creating the right ambience with ideal lighting From page 22 Ng at KL Eco City, where her collection was exhibited at the TIMB3R Design Incubator Programme 3.0. also highlighted that the material is sustainable, long-lasting and have great aesthetics. Ng created Prism collection for the TIMB3R Design Incubator Programme 3.0, a design incubation programme aimed at stimulating growth in the local timber and furniture manufacturing industries. Ng rightly points out that the country has an abundance of high quality timber and talented furniture designers but there are no timber lighting fixtures. This is where she believes her expertise and know-how can be invaluable in taking things up a notch and capture global attention. For Ng, her future looks bright indeed.
LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 24 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM Malaysian Paper Illustrating Malaysian life COMIC strips possess a unique ability to capture the essence of life, blending humour with commentary, and Malaysian cartoonist Reggie Lee stands as a great example of the power of this art form. Recently, theSun took a peek into the artistic collaboration between Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie and Lee, where his vibrant illustrations adorn the hotel’s walls, giving the ambience a distinctly Malaysian-feel. Inspired by Malaysian life Lee’s journey into the world of cartooning began in his youth, where his knack for caricatures found a platform in publications like GilaGila. Despite initially pursuing a career in advertising, Lee remained steadfast in his passion for cartoons, contributing to various news publications and solidifying his place as a prominent cartoonist. “When I was growing up in Penang, my school – St. Xavier’s Institution – was encouraging of my artistic pursuits. I found myself drawn to cartooning from a young age, and I began submitting my cartoons to Gila-Gila magazine while still in my teens. “Although I initially pursued a career in advertising, my love for cartooning never waned, and I continued to contribute cartoons to newspapers like theSun and Microsoft. Today, I’m proud to still be a cartoonist,” reminisced Lee. For Lee, inspiration is drawn from the culture of Malaysian life, with its diverse communities and daily occurrences serving as fodder for his creative process. Whether it is the pulse of current affairs or the nuances of corporate commissions, Lee’s goal remains simple – to make people laugh and connect through his art. “There’s so much that goes on every day in Malaysia, in the different neighbourhoods and communities, that spark an idea for me. I keep up with current affairs to give my take on events, but I also draw inspiration from everyday Malaysian life. What Lee is still actively producing cartoons. – ALL PICS BY MERCURE KL GLENMARIE oCartoonist Reggie Lee’s works add local character to hotel decor █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Each artwork presents a unique concept that highlights various aspects of Malaysian lifestyle. Lee’s artwork is also displayed in the Warna private dining room. Lee’s art in Mercure KL Glenmarie room. makes Malaysians laugh and tickle their funny bone is fuel for my work,” explained Lee. Challenges in cartooning However, to be able to survive in this field of cartooning comes with its challenges, particularly in balancing humour with sensitivity, especially in today’s climate of heightened awareness. Lee’s approach involves a delicate dance of self-censorship and collaboration with editors, ensuring his cartoons strike the right chord without sacrificing their essence. “With newspapers, the main challenge has been racial sensitivities. I do a lot of selfcensorship to make sure my cartoons are not overly offensive, and I work closely with editors to ensure they are suitable for publication. It is a fine line to walk, but there are always ways to express oneself creatively,” revealed Lee. Collaboration with Mercure KL Glenmarie In this creative industry, Lee’s process spans from traditional ink and paper to the digital canvas of his iPad, allowing for greater flexibility and refinement in his work. This adaptability extends to his recent collaboration with Mercure KL Glenmarie, where Lee’s illustrations effortlessly blend nostalgia with modernity, capturing quintessential Malaysian scenes with a timeless charm. “When I was commissioned by Mercure KL Glenmarie, the brief was clear – to depict scenes of Malaysian life with a touch of nostalgia. “I used to work with ink and paper, but now I draw on my iPad, which allows for easier editing and refinement. For this project, I aimed to create illustrations that evoke a sense of familiarity and charm, blending elements of old and new Malaysia,” he said. Enhancing guest experience Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie general manager Fariz Victor said the hotel’s idea to showcase the vibrancy of Malaysian culture led them to Lee, whose art encapsulates the spirit of unity and diversity that defines the nation. “Lee’s unique style and illustrations beautifully capture the essence of Malaysian life. His artwork adds depth and character to our hotel’s ambience, creating a sense of nostalgia and cultural immersion for our guests,” said Fariz. Lee’s illustrations not only enhance the hotel’s atmosphere but also enrich the guest experience, evoking a sense of familiarity and cultural immersion. From the lobby to the dining areas, Lee’s art serves as a visual tour of Malaysian life, inviting guests to “feel local everywhere” and fostering a deeper connection to the destination. “His caricature representation of everyday Malaysian life provides guests with a glimpse into the locally inspired artwork, making them feel local everywhere. Lee’s illustrations resonate with both Malaysian and foreign guests, bridging the gap between cultures and offering a unique perspective on Malaysian life,” added Fariz.
LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 25 oA horror film that drags its feet and leaves viewers longing for something else to do KULTUS Iblis (Devil Cult) is a remarkably unremarkable contribution. Directed by Bobby Prasetyo and featuring performances from Yasamin Jasem and Fadi Alaydrus, this Indonesian horror film struggles to raise pulses or even maintain interest. This film is the perfect motivation for procrastinators to get off their bottoms and finally do a chore they have been putting off for the longest time. Yes, this film is that bad. Recipe for tedium The story centres around twins Naya and Raka, played by Yasamin and Fadi respectively, who travel to their father’s remote home village to investigate his mysterious death and the subsequent disappearance of his body. Instead of uncovering a thrilling mystery, the audience is treated to a plodding journey through the picturesque yet eerily quiet Rangu Village. The plot attempts to build suspense through a series of clichés and predictable twists, ultimately unravelling in a manner that is more likely to induce yawns than screams. Naya and Raka are the protagonists, yet their personalities are as thin as the film’s plot. They react to the bizarre events around them with a perplexing combination of stoicism and mild surprise, as if they are half-aware that they are in a movie that does not quite warrant their full emotional investment. The villagers, from the suspicious Ayu to the enigmatic Mbah Jimah, populate the screen without leaving a lasting impression. Even the devilworshipping cultists, who should be the source of spine-chilling terror, come off as oddly lacklustre and lacking in evil intent. Terror lost in translation For a horror film, Kultus Iblis is curiously devoid of genuine scares. The eerie atmosphere and occasional appearance of spooky creatures do little to elevate the sense of dread. Instead, the film relies heavily on tired tropes, creepy villagers, mysterious disappearances and dark rituals that fail to create a truly unsettling experience. The moments meant to shock are telegraphed well █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ THE sofa is a central element in any living room, influencing both the room’s look and the way people feel and behave in it. Modern sofas not only add visual appeal but also offer a space for relaxation and comfort, embodying both “me” time and downtime. With its significant presence, the sofa sets the tone for the room’s overall style, whether it exudes modern energy with contemporary designs or timeless elegance with classic forms. Homegrown designer furniture brand Fuku Studio has created the Bun Bun Sofa, a customisable and multifunctional piece by its designers Quito and Chelsey. This innovative sofa transforms living spaces by blending form, function and aesthetics. The Bun Bun Sofa emphasises versatility. Its modular design allows it to be rearranged to fit any space or function, from expansive seating areas to compact loveseats and singleperson chairs. Interchangeable modules, like footstools, cater to changing needs. The sofa also features customisable colour and fabric options, ensuring it meets the standards of quality and durability. “The modern sofa has become an expression of individuality. When guests stop by, there is only one place you want to gather – somewhere soft, comfortable, welcoming, and practical as well as chic. The most enticing place in the house, the sofa’s main function is to provide relaxing seating for multiple people in a pleasant and inviting environment,” said Quito. “The Bun Bun Sofa is designed to physically bring people together and encourage face-to-face interactions. Classically shaped pieces nudge people physically closer, while the current trend of asymmetricallyshaped designs can position sitters opposite each other, prompting both intimate discussion and shared moments, evoking a sense of togetherness and connection,” said Chelsey. “Each piece of furniture designed by Fuku Studio is created according to our client’s specification – and the Bun Bun Sofa is no exception. As our sofas are made-to-order, the entire process takes between six to eight weeks, as that will allow us to ensure that our products are built to last. Each step of production is closely monitored,” said Fuku Studio director Vilit Lau. The Bun Bun Sofa reflects Fuku Studio’s craftsmanship, premium finishes and modern innovations. Available at Fuku Studio’s showroom in Shah Alam, the price of Bun Bun Sofa starts at RM8,000. Prices vary based on fabric and dimensions. The Bun Bun Sofa is versatile and can fit any space or function. Innovation in the present. The wafer thin plot does little to excite audiences. Fans of horror genre should just avoid this film as it is neither scary nor thrilling. Cult of boredom 0Cast: Yasamin Jasem, Fadi Alaydrus, Rukman Rosadi, Alit Aryani Willems, Mian Tiara 0Director: Bobby Prasetyo E-VALUE 3 ACTING 3 PLOT 3 in advance, rendering them ineffective and more likely to provoke an eye-roll than a gasp. One of the film’s more amusingly transparent messages is the cautionary note against joining cults. The village’s demonic cult, with its poorly explained rituals and unconvincing fervour, serves as a ham-fisted reminder that dabbling in dark forces is, unsurprisingly, a bad idea. It is a moral lesson delivered with all the subtlety of a sledge hammer, ensuring that even the most inattentive viewer would not miss it. Art of mundane Watching Kultus Iblis resembles experiencing a horror film through a thick fog of indifference. The cinematography is competent but needs to be more inspired, with scenic shots of the village failing to compensate for the lack of narrative drive. The soundtrack, while atmospheric, cannot mask the film’s overall lack of momentum. For those multitasking during the movie, such as folding laundry or washing dishes, the film provides a pleasantly undemanding accompaniment that can be dipped in and out without losing track of the story. Kultus Iblis is a film that fails to deliver on its horror premise. Its predictable plot, underdeveloped characters and uninspired scares make it an ideal candidate for background viewing during household chores. Viewers looking for a genuinely frightening experience should just look elsewhere, but this film fits the bill perfectly for those needing cinematic white noise. Kultus Iblis is currently streaming on Netflix. This film struggles to raise pulses or even maintain interest. – PICS COURTESY OF NETFLIX Bun Bun Sofa combines designer look with modern functionality
LYFE LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 26 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper Value proposition CAN Malaysia’s art and culture scene be turned into a bigger economic contributor on the global stage? Some of the key voices in the art scene seem to believe so, as indicated at a forum held after artist Ali Nurazmal Yusoff kicked off his latest art show Artconomics last weekend in Kuala Lumpur. That said, they also believe there is a long way to get to that point. For Artconomics project director Amin Sufian, there needs to be a solid economy in place first. “We first need to have a good economic plan, as everything comes through the economy and how well it is developed. From there, it has to be merged with cultural appreciation, as it correlates to it,” said Amin, who was also the forum’s moderator. To appreciate the culture behind Malaysia’s art, its history has to be looked at. For those in attendance, The AFK Collection curator Zena Khan briefly ran down the rich history of the local art scene, particularly contemporary art. “In Malaysia, the contemporary art movement emerged as artists were making art that was reflective of a dynamic and specific environment as Malaysia developed about 20 years or so after independence,” she said as one of the forum’s three panellists. “You can think of the 1980s as the emergence of a contemporary movement. I often refer to it as a slow-burn, where you have the movement emerge, pick up its pace and in the 1990s, it really exploded.” Art reflective of society For contemporary art, it was representative of what life had been like under colonial ideology. “When we think of Nurazmal, whose solo show we’re currently sitting in, these were all artists who were taught by the early pioneer contemporary artists who gained from their technical skills and were part of the critical discourse. “A lot of the work that was being made was reflecting the socioeconomic, sociocultural and sociopolitical shifts seen in Malaysian society that were a result of economic, political, educational and social policies implemented after independence,” Zena explained. (From left) Azhar, Zena, Ali Nurazmal and Amin chatted at length over the history and trajectory of Malaysian art. – PIC BY ADIB RAWI YAHYA/ THESUN oAdding economic worth to local arts scene █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Ali Nurazmal is known for his postmodernist and expressionist technical Fellow panellist and paintings. contemporary art specialist Azhar Ahmad added that despite the transition from one movement to another, the art market is still dictated by the “issue of modernism versus contemporary”. Although the panel agreed that there was great value in Malaysian art, they seemed gridlocked in how to further propel the scene and its value further, until the most unique perspective came from the crowd. Monetising culture A key figure behind several iterations of key arts event CIMB Artober – Ismail Ani Arope – added his voice to the conversation, saying that Malaysia should look towards South Korea. “I crudely put it as ‘monetising culture’ and the Koreans have kind of figured it out, as they went through a sort of similar development phase as Malaysia,” he said. He explained that the country was struggling and poorer than Malaysia, and then they started to emulate Japan, believing that the money was in electrical and electronic products. “They were doing this until it dawned on them, somewhere in the 1990s, that the profit from Jurassic Park was equivalent to selling something like 25 million electronic goods. Something in them clicked: ‘What is cinema and film? It is imagination, culture, art, The artist’s eighth art show will run until July 2. special effects, creativity and so on.’ “They then figured it out. Now, imagine how we perceive Samsung. We look at it with almost a certain degree of respect because it is cool and behind the company, there is Korean pop culture from its history to music.” He goes on to say that discussions like the forum are critical in tackling the question of how Malaysia’s art and culture can be elevated. “We have a knee-jerk reaction when someone like Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh wins an Oscar, and it motivates us to want to do the same. Then we look at places like South Korea and K-pop, and feel like Malaysia can do the same. “But how do we get there? We get there by starting with these conversations. Then we figure out, slowly, how to monetise our culture.”
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 27 T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 SCAN ME E: [email protected] THURSDAY JUNE 6, 2024 WE ARE HIRING ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVE / SENIOR EXECUTIVE Job Description: • Building and sustaining strong working relationship with advertising clients. • Plan and executive new, creative, exciting and innovative marketing campaigns for the company. • Develop and continuously improve marketing material, product/services presentations and proposals. • Passionate in serving client accounts to improve sales revenue. Requirement: • Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or other related fields. • At least 3 years of sales and marketing experience for senior position. • Fresh graduates are encourage to apply. • Training will be provided. • Good communication, presentation, problem-solving and organisational skills. • Possess own transport and willing to travel. • Able to start work immediately. Send in your CV with your photo via email to : [email protected] Office based in Petaling Jaya (5 days a week) 302 Jobs IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT GEORGETOWN IN THE STATE OF PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) WINDING UP PETITION NO.: PA-28NCC-66-05/2024 In the matter of Companies (Winding Up) Rules 1972 AND In the matter of Section 465(1)(e) & 466 of the Companies Act, 2016 AND In the matter of CYC MACHINERY (M) SDN BHD (Company No. 201001005653 / 890271-A) BETWEEN DD CREATIONS SDN BHD (Company No. 201501019141/ 1144477-P) …PETITIONER AND CYC MACHINERY (M) SDN BHD (Company No. 201001005653 / 890271- A) …RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court was on 10th May 2024 presented by DD CREATIONS SDN BHD (Company No.: 201501019141/ 1144477-P) of A605, Blok A, Mentari Business Park, No.2, Jalan PJS Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, the above said Petitioning Company. And that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court sitting at Georgetown at 9.00 a.m. in the morning on 12th July 2024; and any creditor or contributory of the said Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an Order on the said Petition may appear at the time of Hearing by himself or his Counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at A605, Blok A, Mentari Business Park, No.2, Jalan PJS Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The Petitioner’s Solicitors is Messrs. Yeoh Shim Siow & Lay Kuan of 13A-3 & 4, Floor 13A, Tower 1, Faber Tower, Jalan Desa Bahagia, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur. Dated 6th June 2024. Signed …………………………………… Messrs. Yeoh Shim Siow & Lay Kuan Solicitors for the Petitioner NOTE – Any person who intends to appear on the Hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to Messrs. Yeoh Shim Siow & Lay Kuan, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be signed by the person of firm, or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed solicitors not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 11th July 2024 the working day before the day appointed for the hearing of the Petition. THIS ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION is filed by Messrs. Yeoh Shim Siow & Lay Kuan, solicitors for the Petitioner herein and whose address for service is at 13A-3 & 4, Floor 13A, Tower 1, Faber Tower, Jalan Desa Bahagia, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur. [Tel: 03-7971 9994 Ref: 230554/LIT/AY/DDC] 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KUATAN DALAM NEGERI PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR, MALAYSIA PETISYEN PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT NO: CA-28NCC-5-01/2024 Di Dalam Perkara TPH NIAGA SDN BHD (No. Syarikat: 200501014730 [691777-W]) DAN Di Dalam Perkara Seksyen 464(1)(b) dan Seksyen 465(1)(e) Akta Syarikat 2016 DAN Di Dalam Perkara Kaedah-Kaedah (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972 ANTARA RJZ ALLIANCE SDN BHD (NO. SYARIKAT.: 201401003685 [1079758-P]) … PEMPETISYEN DAN TPH NIAGA SDN BHD (NO. SYARIKAT.: 200501014730 [691777-W]) … RESPONDEN PENGIKLANAN PETISYEN NOTIS ADALAH DENGAN INI DIBERI bahawa suatu Petisyen untuk Penggulungan Syarikat yang dinamakan di atas pada 19 Januari 2024 dikemukakan oleh RJZ Alliance Sdn Bhd yang beralamat di Suite A-07-11, Block A, RADIA Offices, No.3, Persiaran Arked, Bukit Jelutong, Seksyen U8, 40150 Shah Alam. DAN bahawa Petisyen tersebut telah diarahkan supaya dibicarakan di hadapan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan yang bersidang di negeri Pahang pada 04 Julai 2024 jam 9.00 pagi hari Khamis. DAN mana-mana pihak pemiutang dan penyumbang syarikat tersebut yang ingin menyokong atau menentang satu Perintah mengikut Petisyen tersebut boleh hadir dengan tujuan itu secara peribadi atau melalui peguamcaranya pada masa perbicaraan. Salinan Petisyen tersebut akan dibekalkan oleh pihak yang bertandatangan di bawah ini kepada mana-mana pemiutang atau penyumbang syarikat tersebut yang memintanya dengan membuat bayaran yang ditetapkan. Alamat Pempetisyen adalah di alamat Suite A-07-11, Block A, RADIA Offices, No.3, Persiaran Arked, Bukit Jelutong, Seksyen U8, 40150 Shah Alam. Peguamcara Pempetisyen ialah Tetuan Low & Partners yang beralamat di 5, Jalan SS31/23, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Bertarikh pada 4hb Jun 2024 Tetuan Low & Partners Peguamcara Pempetisyen Peringatan — Sesiapa yang ingin hadir pada perbicaraan Petisyen tersebut hendaklah menyampaikan atau menghantar dengan pos kepada Peguamcara Pempetisyen yang dinamakan diatas suatu notis bertulis tentang niatnya sebegitu. Notis tersebut mestilah menyatakan nama dan alamat pihak atau firma berkenaan atau alamat firma, dan mestilah ditandatangani oleh pihak atau firma berkenaan atau Peguamcaranya sekiranya ada. Notis hendaklah disampaikan atau jika dihantar dengan pos, hendaklah dihantar dalam jangka masa mencukupi supaya sampai kepada pihak yang dinamakan di atas sebelum jam dua belas (12) tengah hari pada 03 Julai 2024. FOCAL PARK SDN BHD (358698-H) NOTIS LELONG AWAM KENDERAAN UNTUK DILELONG SEPERTI SEDIA ADA TEMPAT & TARIKH LELONG: Northern Region (Alor Setar, Butterworth & Ipoh) 06-06-2024 (Khamis) Pukul 11:00pagi TARIKH MELIHAT : SEBELUM TIGA HARI LELONG (Pukul 9:00pagi - 4:00petang) PERTANYAAN (Tel) : Butterworth 04-3567972, Alor Seter 04-787 7972, Ipoh 05-5293971 FPAC - PELELONG BERLESEN : a) Mr. Chew Wooi Kok , b) Mr. Steven Lim Peng Seng (01795), c) Pn Hasniza Binti Abu Samah (00919) Alamat : 352, Permatang Tok Jaya Maklom Sg Dua 13800 Butterworth. : Lot 138-A, Batu 5 Jalan Langgar 05460 Alor Setar : PT51683, Jalan Jelapang, Kws Perindustrian Tmn Meru 30020 Ipoh SILA LAYARI LAMAN WEB KAMI : http://www.focalpark.com.my Lot Reg No. Jenis & Model Tahun AM1 AKP9997 HAVAL M4 1.5 2016 AM2 AKH5712 PERODUA AXIA 1.0 2016 AM3 NDG8220 PERODUA BEZZA 1.0 2017 AM4 CCC4938 TOYOTA AVANZA 1.3 (M) 2007 AM5 AJS2415 PERODUA MYVI 1.5 2014 AM6 WWD943 PROTON SAGA 1.3 (A) FLX 2011 (Perhatian: Kenderaan-kenderaan diatas yang tidak dibida dalam perlelongan akan dilelong semula pada 13-06-2024) 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF CTT DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD. [COMPANY NO. 200301031382 (633803-U)] (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held at 1B, Level 1, Wisma Tan Cheng Tiong, No. 1A, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100, Melaka on the Saturday, 01st day of June, 2024, the following special resolutions were duly passed:- 1. THAT the Company will be liquidated by way of Members’ Voluntary Winding Up. 2. THAT Mr. Tan Hin Seng, BKT, PJK and Ms. Low Bee Kheng of 1B, Level 1, Wisma Tan Cheng Tiong, No. 1A, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100, Melaka be appointed as Liquidators to act for the purpose of winding-up of the Company’s affairs and distributing its assets. 3. AND THAT the said Liquidators be authorised to divide amongst the members in specie or kind, the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and may, for such purpose, set such value as she deem fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the members. Tan Hin Seng, BKT, PJK Director Date this 06th day of June 2024. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF CTT DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD. [COMPANY NO. 200301031382 (633803-U)] (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the creditors of the above Company are required to send in their names and addresses and the particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any),to the undersigned (the Liquidators of the said Company) at the below mentioned address by 5.00 p.m. on 06th day of July 2024:- TSC Corporate Services Sdn. Bhd. [Company No. 199901012656 (487556-H)] 1B, Level 1, Wisma Tan Cheng Tiong, No.1A, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100 Melaka The creditors (either through their solicitors or personally) who do not file their debts and claims on or before the specified date and time above will be excluded from the benefits of any distribution made. Tan Hin Seng, BKT, PJK Low Bee Kheng Liquidators Date this 06th day of June 2024. 322 Notices England opener washed out Rain spares defending T20 champions after Scotland scare S COTLAND openers George Munsey and Michael Jones gave England a fright in their T20 World Cup opener in Barbados on Tuesday before rain spared the defending champions a potentially tough chase. Scotland, in their first T20 against their border rivals, were bidding to match their shock success when they last met England – a six-run one-day international win in Edinburgh back in 2018. England, meanwhile, were desperate to improve on a woeful defence of their 50-over global title in India last year, where Jos Buttler’s men lost six of their nine matches. But after Scotland captain Richie Berrington won the toss on Tuesday, they failed to create one clear and legitimate wicket-taking chance. Munsey (41 not out off 31 balls) and Jones (45 not out off 30) batted superbly to take Scotland to 90-0 in a rain-interrupted innings of 10 overs at the Kensington Oval. Because Scotland’s innings suffered a lengthy delay on 51-0 off 6.2 overs, it meant England were left with a revised target of 109 in 10 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. But a fresh downpour led the umpires to abandon the Group B match before England, on a ground where they won the 2010 T20 World Cup final, could begin their reply. Both England and Scotland received a point each. “We expected a tough challenge, there are no easy games, but we were confident coming into the game,” said England captain Buttler. “It’s disappointment for everyone… We scrapped hard and we were confident of chasing that score down.” Earlier, l e f thander Munsey, on 16, top top-edged a hook off Mark Wood high to wicketkeeper Buttler, only to be reprieved by the fast bowler’s noball. “No-ball wickets are always disappointing, but these things happen,” said Buttler, who led England to 2022 T20 World Cup glory in Australia. “Hopefully we get a dry day and we can get into the tournament,” he added, with England due back at the Kensington Oval on Saturday to face arch-rivals Australia. B e r r i n g t o n , meanwhile, was left with thoughts of what might have been. “Everyone’s frustrated, but some positives to take at least,” he said, with Scotland next playing Namibia on Friday (3am). “The guys in the middle did a really good job and we can take things from that. We gave ourselves a chance there.” – AFP O’Dowd steers Netherlands past Nepal MAX O’DOWD hit an unbeaten half-century to steer the Netherlands to a six-wicket victory over Nepal in their T20 World Cup Group D clash on Tuesday. Set a target of 107 to win, O’Dowd anchored the Netherlands’ run chase with 54 off 48 balls to see the Dutch over the line at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The Netherlands finished on 109-4 off 18.4 overs, with Bas de Leede hitting the winning runs with a boundary to seal victory. Vikram Singh supported O’Dowd with 22 runs while Sybrand Engelbrecht was the only other Netherlands batsman to make it into double figures with 14. The Netherlands’ modest victory target had been set up by a disciplined bowling display which restricted Nepal to 106 all out. “Our bowlers were awesome up top,” Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said afterwards. “All five of our bowlers were brilliant. Ideally we would have got the runs a little quicker, but it was great the way Max batted, and Bassie finished it off well. “We’ve got to play consistent cricket right way through this tournament.” Logan van Beek took three wickets for just 18 runs while Tim Pringle also claimed a trio of wickets, finishing with figures of 3-20 off four overs. Paul van Meekeren bagged a brace of wickets for 19 runs while de Leede finished on 2-22. After losing the toss, Nepal’s batsmen struggled to get to grips with moist, overcast conditions after being put into bat following a slight delay of play caused by a wet outfield. “The conditions while batting were really challenging,” Nepal captain Paudel said. “Netherlands bowled really well.” – AFP INDIA captain Rohit Sharma said he tried to persuade Rahul Dravid to stay on as coach after the Twenty20 World Cup. Dravid’s contract expires at the end of June and the former captain said on Monday he had no plans to re-apply for the position, with the Indian cricket board (BCCI) having advertised the vacancy since early May. The 51-year-old took over the national team following the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup, replacing Ravi Shastri, and Rohit told reporters on Tuesday that Dravid was a big role model for the team. “He was my first captain, and then I’ve seen him play while I was just coming into the team,” he said at the T20 World Cup. “We know what he’s achieved personally as a player and also what he’s done for the team over the years… He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career, and that is something that, when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him. “I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously, there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well. I’ve personally enjoyed my time with him. I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same.” Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who was mentor to Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 season, is the leading candidate to replace Dravid, according to reports in Indian media. Gambhir this week told Indian news agency PTI that he would love to take on the role, adding: “There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team.” – Reuters India’s Rohit tried to persuade Dravid to stay Michael Jones of Scotland in action during the ICC Men’s T20 CWC Group B match against England. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 28 ‘I am really sad’ Djokovic out of French Open with knee injury NOVAK DJOKOVIC pulled out of the French Open on Tuesday ahead of his quarterfinal against Casper Ruud because of a knee injury suffered in the previous round. “I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from Roland Garros,” Djokovic wrote on social media. “I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match and unfortunately, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.” Tournament organisers had initially announced his withdrawal, saying an MRI scan earlier on Tuesday had revealed the full extent of the injury. World No. 1 and 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic was due to play Ruud on yesterday for a place in the last four. Djokovic defeated Ruud in straight sets in last year’s final at Roland Garros. As a result Ruud will go on to face fourth seed Alexander Zverev or 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the semifinals on Friday. The 37-year-old Djokovic had cast doubt over his fitness following Monday’s five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo, admitting he needed anti-inflammatory drugs to get through the match. Djokovic blamed the “slippery” Philippe Chatrier court for the injury he sustained early in the second set of his 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Cerundolo. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or after tomorrow if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play. You know, I hope so. Let’s see what happens,” Djokovic said after his record 370th win at a Grand Slam. “For the last couple weeks I have had, I would say, slight discomfort, I would call it that way, in the right knee, but I haven’t had an injury that would be concerning me at all. “I was playing a few tournaments with it, and no issues until today.” Djokovic had already been tested to the limit physically by a gruelling four-hour, 29-minute slog against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. He had complained about the state of the clay in the match with Musetti, and did so again in the last 16, calling for the court to be swept more regularly. “Could have this injury be prevented? Possibly, if there was just a little bit more of a frequent care of the court,” Djokovic said. His withdrawal from the French Open means that Jannik Sinner will become Italy’s first world No. 1 next week. Djokovic has spent a record 428 weeks at the top of the rankings. His injury extends his worst start to a season since 2018, when he didn’t win an event until claiming the Wimbledon title. It is only the second time this deep into the year he hasn’t lifted a trophy since he won his first ATP title as a teenager in 2006. Adding to his problems, he was accidentally hit on the head by a metal water bottle in Rome last month before suffering stomach problems in Geneva. Djokovic last retired at a Grand Slam during the 2019 US Open, when a shoulder problem forced him to quit against Stan Wawrinka in the last 16. He now faces a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon, which begins July 1. Djokovic is a seven-time winner at the All England Club, one shy of Roger Federer’s record. – AFP Jannik proud to spearhead Italian movement after taking top ranking JANNIK SINNER took an unexpected path to the world No. 1 ranking on Tuesday after Novak Djokovic’s French Open withdrawal but the youngster said it was the culmination of years of hard work and represented a proud moment for Italy. Sinner arrived at Roland Garros needing to reach the final to assure himself of the top spot next week but got confirmation when organisers announced that Djokovic had pulled out with a knee injury sustained in his fourth-round win on Monday. It meant the 22-year-old, who was informed of the news shortly after his 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(3) quarterfinal win over Grigor Dimitrov, becomes the first Italian man to achieve the feat. “It means a lot to me for sure. It’s not the way we all were expecting. He (Djokovic) had two long, tough matches, five sets, so it’s tough. The first one he finished really late also,” Sinner told reporters. “It’s tough also for the tournament. Novak retiring, it’s always tough. Talking about myself, I’m very happy about this achievement. It’s a lot of work we put in daily. It’s a daily routine. Obviously happy to have this number. “In two days there’s a very important match for me, the semifinals (against Carlos Alcaraz), so I’m focused about that at the moment. But yes, happy to have this number now.” Sinner, who guided Italy to the Davis Cup title last year, said the country deserved its recent successes. “It means a lot, but I think it’s great for Italy. We’re a great country with great coaches and players and we can see this now how this moment is,” Sinner said. “I’m happy to be part of this Italian movement. People, they start to play tennis now more and more, which is great to see. I think that’s the most important.” Sinner’s game has moved to another level since he started to work with Darren Cahill, who with Simone Vagnozzi helped him win his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. – Reuters CARLOS ALCARAZ saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Tuesday to set up a mouthwatering French Open semifinal clash with incoming world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The reigning Wimbledon champion proved too strong for former Roland Garros runner-up Tsitsipas, powering to a 6-3, 7-6 (7- 3), 6-4 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. “I was really calm in the moments I had to (be),” he said. “I’m really happy to play a semifinal here again at Roland Garros.” Alcaraz will be desperate to right the wrongs of last year – when he suffered cramps in a defeat by Novak Djokovic – in his second successive French Open semifinal. The 21-year-old Spaniard has now won all six of his career matches against ninth-ranked Tsitsipas, including back-to-back quarterfinals in Paris after his three-set victory at the same stage last year. “I was pretty sure I could face Carlos today and maybe do something different than any other time that I have played (him),” said Tsitsipas. “The kid is just too good. I can only congratulate him because he’s really playing amazing.” Alcaraz is bidding to become the youngest man in history to win Grand Slam tournaments on hard, grass and clay courts after his Wimbledon triumph and 2022 US Open title. He will face Sinner Friday for the ninth time, with the pair’s head-tohead record level at 4-4. “It’s a really difficult challenge, I’m not going to lie,” said Alcaraz of Sinner, who will usurp Djokovic at the top of the rankings next week. “I think right now he’s the best player in the world, the player who’s playing the best tennis right now.” There will be a new name on the men’s trophy this year after Djokovic pulled out ahead of his quarterfinal with a knee injury, while it will also be the first final without one of the ‘big three’ since 2004. “Surprise for me that he withdrew from the tournament,” said Alcaraz of Djokovic. Alcaraz won his only previous match against Sinner this year in the Indian Wells semis, while they have shared a win each in Grand Slam clashes. “We’ve played great matches, high level,” said Alcaraz. “It’s going to be a really good challenge, I’m ready for that challenge. It’s the match that everybody wants to watch. “I’m sure he’ll show his best tennis, I will as well, so let’s see who’s going to win.” – AFP Alcaraz sets up ‘must watch’ clash against Sinner Swiatek proud by Graf comparision IGA SWIATEK said she was honoured to be compared to 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf as the Polish world No. 1 extended her winning run at the French Open to 19 matches on Tuesday. Swiatek blew past Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals and move within two victories of a third consecutive Roland Garros title. Swiatek is undoubtedly the player to beat as the Pole aims to become only the fourth woman to win four Roland Garros singles titles in the Open era. One of those to accomplish the feat alongside Chris Evert and Justine Henin was Graf, a six-time champion in Paris who reigned supreme in the women’s game in the late 1980s and for much of the 1990s. The German, now 54, was the last player to achieve a calendar Grand Slam, sweeping all four major titles as well as capturing Olympic singles gold in 1988. Swiatek has inflicted crushing defeats on her past two opponents, hammering Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0 in a performance reminiscent of Graf’s 32-minute walloping of Natasha Zvereva in the 1988 Roland Garros final. “She’s a great champion, and, well, it’s just nice that anybody would compare me to her,” said Swiatek. “I don’t know her, but I feel like maybe she was kind of a similar person to me because she also likes to keep her privacy,” added the Pole. “I also heard from some people on tour that she was also kind of like an introvert, really in the zone and just focusing on tennis and what she wants to do.” Ominously for her rivals, Swiatek said her game was “getting better and better” after Vondrousova fell victim to another of her claycourt masterclasses. – AFP Zverev eyes French Open semis after shake up in draw NOVAK DJOKOVIC had been due to face Casper Ruud in a repeat of last year’s final, but the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s title defence was abruptly ended by a knee injury he suffered during his dramatic last-16 victory over Francisco Cerundolo. Jannik Sinner will now usurp Djokovic as world No. 1 next week and the Italian goes up against Carlos Alcaraz in tomorrow’s (8.30pm Malaysian time) men’s semifinals. Alexander Zverev and Alex De Minaur, playing in only his second Slam quarterfinal, will face off for the remaining last-four spot against Ruud. German fourth seed Zverev will be targeting a fourth straight Roland Garros semifinal after making the last eight for the sixth time in seven years. He needed five sets to beat Tallon Griekspoor in the third round, before fighting back to defeat Holger Rune in another decider in a last-16 tie which finished after midnight. “I’ve played a total of eight-and-a-half hours over the last three days so I need to recover,” said Zverev. “I need to do everything possible to be ready for the quarterfinal match.” Zverev is playing under the shadow of an ongoing trial in Berlin over allegations of assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Australian De Minaur, seeded 11th, had never even got past the second round in Paris before this year, winning just three of 10 matches. “It’s one of my best Slam results. Looks like I’ve converted myself into a clay specialist,” De Minaur said. There will be a first-time French Open men’s champion on Sunday, with Ruud the only man left in the draw who has previously reached the final. – AFP Carlos Alcaraz plays a backhand return to Stefanos Tsitsipas (not pictured) during their men’s singles quarterfinal match. – AFPPIX
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 29 Mbappe relieved after move France captain now ready to focus on Euro 2024 after signing for Madrid KYLIAN MBAPPE is thrilled his long-awaited move to Real Madrid has been confirmed, but the France captain is now concentrating on the national team as they prepare for Euro 2024. Mbappe joined the Spanish club on Monday after his Paris St Germain contract ended, and with the transfer saga finally over, the forward is delighted and relieved, but at a press conference yesterday he wanted to keep the focus on France. “I wanted to express myself before starting this press conference. Everyone knows the news, it’s official, I’m going to be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” Mbappe told reporters ahead of France’s friendly with Luxembourg. “It’s an immense pleasure, a dream come true. It’s very exciting. I am very happy, liberated, relieved and extremely proud. This is the club I’ve always dreamed of being at, so I want to thank them.” After giving his reaction to the news, Mbappe made it clear that he would not be saying any more regarding his club situation, as France aim to win the Euros for the first time since 2000. “It’s a great day for me but I have responsibilities as captain of France and this situation has overshadowed the national team,” Mbappe said. “I know it’s not fair to journalists, but I’ll only answer questions about the national team. I want to protect my team, it’s been a long time since we won the European Championship, 24 years is too long.” Mbappe’s season began in turmoil, as he was left out of the PSG squad after his refusal to sign a new contract. Yet he ended the campaign with 44 goals, his highest tally in a s e a s o n , a n d l e d his side to the league and cup double. “I approached the season with a different ambition because I always thought I wasn’t going to play. I was told to my face, I was spoken to violently, so I was convinced that I wasn’t going to play,” Mbappe said. “Luis Enrique and Luis Campos saved me. Without them, I would never have set foot on the pitch again.” Despite his achievements with PSG last season, Mbappe was not overly satisfied with his own p e r f o r m a n c e , saying he wouldn’t be happy with a similar season next year. “That’s why my ambitions last season were different. It wasn’t as high in my standards, but just playing and winning trophies was my greatest pride,” he said. “This has been the most difficult season and the one I’m most proud of. I haven’t been unhappy at PSG, to say that would be unfair.” The 25-year-old goes into his fourth tournament with France, having won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final in 2022, but at Euro 2020 they went out at the last-16 stage, with Mbappe missing a penalty in the shootout against Switzerland. “You don’t learn when you win like we did in 2018. I took a slap in the face at the Euros with a failed competition. It’s the big black spot on my CV with the national team,” Mbappe said. “The player I am in the World Cup has shown all his qualities, the player at the Euros has everything to prove and after 24 years, people are eager to win this competition.” – Reuters Switzerland warm up with win over Estonia SWITZERLAND warmed up with a 4-0 victory over visitors Estonia yesterday in their penultimate match before heading to Euro 2024 in Germany. The hosts cruised to victory in front of 14,473 spectators at the Swissporarena in Lucerne in their first home match since November, after three games on the road for the team ranked 19th in the world. Switzerland coach Murat Yakin, who names his squad for the competition on Friday, was joined by Swiss Olympic giant slalom ski champion Marco Odermatt as they stood for the national anthems. Steven Zuber opened the scoring in the 20th minute, lashing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the penalty box. It was the AEK Athens winger’s first goal for the national side since 2021. Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni struck in the 47th minute with a shot across Estonia goalkeeper Matvei Igonen, set up in the penalty box by fellow half-time substitute Ruben Vargas. Defender Nico Elvedi scored the third in the 63rd minute as Estonia failed to clear their lines from a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick. Six minutes later, Chicago Fire midfielder Shaqiri, winning his 122nd cap, scored a penalty on the second attempt after the first effort was saved by Igonen – although the goalkeeper was off his line, meaning the kick was retaken. Switzerland host Austria at the Kybunpark in St Gallen, near the Austrian border, in a final warmup on Saturday. Austria are in Euro 2024 Group D, along with Poland, France and the Netherlands. In the European Championship, Switzerland play Hungary on June 15, Scotland on June 19 and then hosts Germany on June 23 in Group A. Switzerland reached the quarter-finals in the 2020 European Championship, their best-ever performance in the tournament. – AFP ITALY were held to a goalless draw by Turkiye yesterday as the Azzurri gear up for their European Championship title defence later this month. Luciano Spalletti’s side were frustrated by Turkiye in a low-key friendly in Bologna which featured little in the way of goalmouth action. Italy play one more friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Empoli on Monday (2.45am Malaysian time) before travelling to Germany for Euro 2024. They begin their campaign on June 15 against Albania in Group B, where they have also been drawn with Spain and Croatia. “We weren’t amazing but the team pushed forward and tried to attack. However it was the classic match you need to play in order to put things right,” Spalletti told broadcaster RAI. “We’ll take all the time we need to make the necessary decisions (for the Euros).” There was little on display yesterday to suggest a repeat of Italy’s thrilling triumph at the last Euros three years ago could be in the offing. The most noteworthy moment of a drab opening period was Ozan Kabak having to be stretchered off shortly before halftime with a knee injury which may be serious enough to have ended his hopes of playing at the finals with Turkiye. Hoffenheim midfielder Kabak fell awkwardly in an innocuous looking challenge with Mateo Retegui and writhed in agony on the sidelines until he was carried away to warm applause from the home crowd. “It’s sad when something like this happens at this stage of the season when there are dreams at stake,” Turkiye boss Vincenzo Montella told reporters. “We hope it’s nothing serious even if it doesn’t look very good.” In stoppage time Baris Yilmaz sent a free header over the bar before Bryan Cristante thumped the post from Roma teammate Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner with the last action of the half. Italy livened up after the break following the introduction of Andrea Cambiaso and Mattia Zaccagni, and just before the hour Retegui miscued a bicycle kick from Pellegrini’s inviting cross. Although Italy were the better team a lack of inspiration in the final third made yesterday’s tournament warm-up an unsatisfying one for the 25,000 fans at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Turkiye, managed by former Italy striker Montella, play Poland in Warsaw on June 11 (2.45am) in their final pre-Euro friendly. – AFP Azzurri held to goalless draw by Turkiye held to goalless draw by Turkiye SHORTS Portugal survive late scare against Finland MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Bruno Fernandes came off the bench to score twice and help Portugal kick off their Euro 2024 preparation with a 4-2 win over non-qualifiers Finland yesterday in Lisbon. Portugal were without captain Cristiano Ronaldo who is resting before reporting for duty on Friday ahead of his sixth European Championship, so manager Roberto Martinez fielded a highly changed squad who dominated from the start. Defender Ruben Dias gave the hosts the lead with a stooping header from a corner in the 17th minute and Diogo Jota extended their lead from the spot after Francisco Conceicao was fouled inside the area in stoppage time before the break. Fernandes, who was one of five substitutions at halftime, netted Portugal’s third with a fine curling shot into the upper corner from the edge of the box in the 55th minute. Finland substitute Teemu Pukki took advantage of a complacent Portugal defence to score twice within five minutes to bring his side back into the game. However, Fernandes took charge and secured the win with a close-range strike in the 84th minute. Portugal face Croatia on Sunday (12.45am Malaysian time) and Ireland on June 12 in which will be their final warm-up games before they start their Euros campaign on June 18 against Czech Republic in Group F. ‘England must get Kane ‘right’ before Euros’ ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate said Brentford striker Ivan Toney will get some minutes in their friendly against Iceland on Friday but getting captain Harry Kane back up to speed ahead of the European Championship takes precedence. Bayern Munich forward Kane struggled with a back injury towards the end of the season and only played the final 30 minutes of England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, netting the third from close range. “Toney will be involved in the game on Friday but I have got to get Harry Kane right,” said Southgate, who has to whittle down his squad to 26 players by Friday. “So sometimes the priorities of what’s required and what you would like to see as well, you can’t achieve all of those objectives. Simple as that.” Southgate said Friday’s game at Wembley takes on added significance as it is their final warm-up for Euro 2024 in Germany. “We want to build on (Monday’s) performance, physically it’s an important game for players,” he added. “Even for players who have played a lot of football they still need rhythm of playing matches.. Friday becomes an important exercise for us.” E n g l a n d open their c a m p a i g n on June 16 a g a i n s t Serbia in Group C. Italy’s Bryan Christante (left) fights for the ball with Turkey’s Kaan Ayhan during their international friendly. – AFPPIX Harry Kane
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Ratcliffe scraps Fergie’s golden rule Man Utd crackdown continues as INEOS chief leaving no stone unturned S IR JIM RATCLIFFE is reportedly set to break a golden rule introduced by Sir Alex Ferguson as part of his overhaul behind the scenes at Manchester United. The INEOS chief is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to restore former glories after purchasing a minority stake in the club earlier this year. Ratcliffe has taken a hands-on approach to changing the culture at United, having withdrawn access to private cars for the majority of staff members. He is also said to have ordered those with hybrid working arrangements to return to the office and cancelled the corporate credit cards of heads of department. The 71-year-old’s newest rule will ban members of staff who do not directly work with the first team from dining in the main training ground canteen, according to the Daily Mail. It is said they will instead be forced to head to a separate area for lunch and will not be able to feast on the “high performance food” enjoyed by players. Critics of the move are thought to believe that banning members of staff from the canteen will further isolate United’s playing squad from the club’s rank and file. However, others within Old Trafford are said to have backed the switch, feeling that some pose an “unwanted distraction” by latching onto the players. Ratcliffe’s decision to boot staff from the canteen is directly at odds with the philosophy of Ferguson, who instilled a culture of togetherness during his time at United. He famously ensured that all those who worked for the club, from the millionaire players to the secretaries and tea ladies, ate together in the same space. In one of his books, Leading, Ferguson explained the importance of making sure that everybody was allowed to use the canteen, a move he made shortly after taking charge of the club in 1986. He wrote: “I wanted the younger players to be able to mingle and eat lunch with the staff too, including people like the laundry team and groundsmen. I’d been influenced by what I had learned from Marks & Spencer which, decades ago in harder times, had given their staff free lunches because so many of them were skipping lunch so they could save every penny to help their families. “It probably seems a strange thing for a manager to be getting involved in, the layout of a canteen at a new training ground, but when I think about the tone it set within the club and the way it encouraged the staff and players to interact I can’t overstate the importance of this tiny change.” It remains to be seen if Ratcliffe’s latest move will have the desired impact. His next task will be to decide the future of manager Erik ten Hag, who is waiting to discover if he will keep his job next season with the club yet to conclude their internal review. – Express Newspapers City launch legal action MANCHESTER CITY have launched legal action against the Premier League alleging “discrimination” in a move that could have far-reaching consequences for the English top flight, The Times reported on yesterday. The Times said the recently crowned champions would try to end the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules, which they are understood to claim are unlawful, and seek damages. The Premier League tightened rules regarding APTs, relating to clubs signing sponsorship deals with companies linked to their owners, in February. The Times added the dispute between City and the Premier League would be settled after a two-week arbitration hearing starting next Monday. Abu Dhabi-owned City sealed a fourth straight Premier League title last month, underlining their domination of the English game over the past decade. Their rapid rise has been aided by sponsorship deals with a series of related parties in the Gulf. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is both City’s stadium and shirt sponsor. In a separate case City, managed by Pep Guardiola, are facing 115 Premier League charges for alleged breaches of regulations and financial rules between 2009 and 2023 – charges they strongly deny. That hearing is reportedly set for November. APT rules are designed to keep the Premier League competitive, requiring clubs to prove that commercial deals represent fair market value. The Times report said City, in a 165-page legal document, argue they are victims of “discrimination” and refer to a “tyranny of the majority” aimed at stifling their success on the pitch. All Premier League rule changes and major broadcast and commercial proposals require the approval of at least two-thirds of those who vote, or 14 of the 20 clubs. If City are successful in their legal fight, it could enable the richest clubs to value their sponsorship deals without independent assessment, further widening the financial gulf within the English top flight. The Times said between 10 and 12 clubs had come forward, providing either witness statements or letters detailing evidence, in support of the Premier League’s defence against City’s claim. The Times said City are suing the Premier League for damages, referring to losses incurred as a result of the existing rules. City say the rules were imposed at the instigation of rival clubs reacting to the Saudi takeover of Newcastle, which took place in 2021, with the aim to “safeguard their own commercial advantages”, according to the report. City have accused rival teams of “discrimination against Gulf ownership”, citing the comments of one senior club executive, The Times said. – AFP Sir Jim Ratcliffe. – REUTERSPIX
SPORTS SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024 31 All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY 048/24 05/06/2024 5744 2761 9903 7102 1760 5960 2679 8931 5790 3843 8472 0180 3564 9475 6446 3842 2791 0510 2575 5719 3136 0680 7041 RM21,136,987.01 RM649,483.18 5744 + 2761 2761 + 5744 9903 + 5744 5744 + 9903 2761 + 9903 9903 + 2761 4 15 16 17 21 25 27 28 9 26 RM6,474,296.48 RM204,183.55 4 4 6 1 0 3 4 4 6 1 0 4 6 1 0 3 4 4 6 1 6 1 0 3 4 4 6 1 0 3 4 4 0 3 6 1 1 7 Pan Gon needs a miracle Harimau Malaya lose six key players to injury ahead of Cup matches KIM PAN GON is facing one of his toughest moments with Harimau Malaya as he deals with a crisis of injuries to key players ahead of the remaining two crucial matches in Group D of the second round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers this month. The injury crisis that sees the 55-year-old South Korean coach losing six players comes as the national team face a must-win mission against the world’s 100th-ranked team, Kyrgyzstan, at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek tonight (11pm Malaysian time). The injury crisis involves five attacking players – wingers Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim and Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi; forwards Darren Lok, Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad, and Romel Morales; as well as the country’s No. 1 goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed. Notably, Faisal Halim scored the winning goal when Malaysia defeated Kyrgyzstan 4-3 in the first group match at Bukit Jalil National Stadium last November, while Arif Aiman made a sensation with four assists that night. With limited options in attack, Pan Gon must wisely determine the best combination of old and new players, including Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Safawi Rasid, Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin, Zhafri Yahya and Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli, who have been brought to Bishkek. Although there are doubts about the capability of the national team’s frontline, this perception can change with effective play by the midfield and defence in helping create dangerous moves and subsequently breaking through Kyrgyzstan’s goal. The national team’s strength this time lies in the midfield, as Pan Gon has managed to gather his preferred experienced players such as Paulo Josue, Endrick Dos Santos, Mohamed Syamer Kutty Abba, Stuart Wilkin and Brendan Gan to support the frontline. In defence, Pan Gon also faces no problem in assembling the best players, including Dion Cools, Matthew Davies, La’vere CorbinOng, Muhamad Feroz Baharudin, Dominic Tan, Shahrul Mohd Saad and Daniel Ting. The three goalkeepers, Muhammad Azri Ab Ghani, Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi and Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, will have to fill Ahmad Syihan’s boots in Bishkek. Meanwhile, Malaysia have yet to achieve any victory this year since the 2023 Asian Cup campaign in Qatar in January, before suffering two consecutive losses to Oman in the group matches also in March. According to local football analyst Datuk Dr. Pekan Ramli, Harimau Malaya’s presence in Bishkek should be intimidating, but due to the injury crisis that has left the team crippled, the national team’s status has now changed to underdogs. “With Harimau Malaya’s status changed to underdogs, our stake to win is considered very low. However, we hope that with the ‘ingredients’ and ‘flavours’ that Pan Gon currently has, this phenomenal South Korean coach can maintain the ‘secret recipe’ and mix it to bring success for Malaysia. “The hope for us to win is not very high, but we hope for something unexpected to happen, ‘the ball is round,‘ and with the prayers of all our football supporters, we can surprise Kyrgyzstan,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday. After the match against Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia will conclude theie group stage by hosting Taiwan at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on June 11. Pan Gon needs six points in both matches while hoping that Oman will defeat Kyrgyzstan for Harimau Malaya to qualify for the third round of World Cup qualifiers. Qualifying for the third round of World Cup qualifiers will secure Malaysia’s spot in the 2027 Asian Cup early. – Bernama Sepak takraw meets criteria for core sports status SEPAK TAKRAW has met the criteria to be reinstated as a core sport in Malaysia, according to Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president, Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan. He said that this follows the excellent performance displayed by the national team at the 2024 Sepak Takraw World Cup held here recently, as well as the significant attention from local sports fans who attended the prestigious event at Titiwangsa Stadium. Mohd Sumali hopes that the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and the National Sports Council (MSN) will consider reinstating the sport as a core sport as soon as possible to ensure the development of national sepak takraw athletes. “I appeal to MSN and KBS, it’s time for sepak takraw to be reinstated as a core sport like before, especially given the impressive performance which adds value to its reinstatement, along with the excellent performance at the World Cup. “It also has a large fan base, is our traditional and heritage sport, so, many development programmes and structured plans can be organised with government support,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama Radio’s ‘Jendela Fikir’ programme yesterday. On May 22, the national sepak takraw squad made history by ending Thailand’s dominance, defeating them in the finals of both the regu and doubles events with scores of 2-0. However, the 33-year wait for the national sepak takraw team to become the team regu champions continued as they lost to Thailand 1- 2 in the final on May 26. Meanwhile, Mohd Sumali said it is time for sepak takraw to have its own dedicated stadium, particularly to host major tournaments in the future. “It is time for the government to consider having a national sepak takraw stadium as a symbol of our sport. It is a traditional sport with many fans, so there needs to be a stadium, even if it’s not very large, with a capacity of 4,000-5,000 spectators,” he said. At the same time, he also noted that the special incentive of RM170,000 from MSN is a positive start for the national squad following their success last month. – Bernama National squash stars head list of nominees for Malaysia sports awards TEN ATHLETES, comprising five men and five women, have been nominated for the National Sportsman and Sportwoman awards during the 2023 National Sports Awards to be held on June 13. The selection of the candidates will be done by a Selection Committee chaired by the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Chief Secretary Dr K. Nagulendran, said the National Sports Council’s public relations unit in a statement today. National men’s squash ace Ng Eain Yow heads the list for the National Sportsman award which includes Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil (equestrian), Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah (body building), Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik (karate) and Muhamad Rafiq Ismail (tenpin bowling). The country’s top women squash player S. Sivasangari is the front runner for the National Sportswoman while others in the list include Natasha Mohamed Roslan (tenpin bowling), Nur Amisha Azrilrizal (muay thai), Nur Syazrin Mohamad Latif (sailing) and Nurul Alyani Jamil (lawn bowls). The Para sports category will also see 10 athletes nominated, five each for the National Paralympic Sportsman and another five for the Sportswoman awards. National Paralympic shot putter Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli heads the list for the National Paralympic Sportsman award which includes Datuk Abdul Latif Romly (athletics), Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi (athletics), Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (powerlifting) and Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli (swimming). Leading the National Paralympic Sportswoman award list is Nur Azlia Syafina Mohd Zais from Para Cycling, Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri (para cycling), Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim and Angeline Melissa Anak Lawas from boccia and Jariah Zakaria (para lawn bowls). Other awards to be presented during the National Sports Awards ceremony include National Men’s and Women’s Team awards, National Men’s and Women’s Coach awards, Sports Icon, Sports Leadership and Special Award. The National Sportsman and Sportswoman as well as the N a t i o n a l P a r a l y m p i c Sportsman and Spor tswoman award winners will walk away with RM20,000 cash, trophy and certificate. – Bernama South Korea look to advance in 2026 qualifiers SOUTH KOREA face Singapore tomorrow (8pm Malaysian time) needing just a point to ensure progress to the third round of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers despite Kim Dohoon becoming the third coach at the helm of the regional heavyweights since the turn of the year. Kim was appointed last month as the team’s second interim coach in the aftermath of Jurgen Klinsmann’s sacking after a failed Asian Cup campaign. Kim replaced Hwang Sun-hong, who led the team through March’s qualifying doubleheader. Anything other than a defeat in Singapore by a side who have picked up one point in four matches, and were trounced 5-0 in Seoul in November, would see South Korea advance. Qatar, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Australia and the United Arab Emirates have already advanced to the third round, where 18 nations will battle for six of the continent’s eight guaranteed berths at the 2026 finals in the US, Canada and Mexico. Kim, who won the Asian Champions League title with Ulsan Hyundai in 2020 before coaching Singaporean side Lion City Sailors, said South Korea would take nothing for granted in the city-state. “Southeast Asian football has improved so much lately, and we shouldn’t take Singapore lightly,” he added. “Their national team now has several players that I coached in Singapore. So I will share my scouting reports on them with my players now.” The South Koreans lead Group C by three points from China, who face Thailand (8pm) in Shenyang knowing a win would also take them into the third round. – Reuters Sivasangari. – 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 THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 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 England opener washed out -Story - on page 28 Story on page 27 ‘I am really sad’ How the mighty have How the mighty have fallen Mourinho, Conte and the slow decline of football’s star managers A NICKNAME is two decades old. The man who coined the phrase often used to describe him is more than three times as old. Jose Mourinho was unveiled at Fenerbahce on the 20th anniversary of his arrival at Chelsea; the day he pronounced himself special. The euphoric reception in Istanbul was a reminder of his enduring star quality; the indication instead of how far the mighty has fallen lies simply in the fact that Mourinho is now working in the Turkish league. The “Special One” has often been greeted with taunts that he isn’t special any more. In a summer when two of the major managerial jobs have gone to Enzo Maresca and Vincent Kompany, when clubs from AC Milan to Barcelona, Bayern Munich to Chelsea, Juventus to Liverpool have looked for managers with no hint of interest in Mourinho, the more telling verdict may have come from the kinds of people who used to queue up to employ him. On TNT Sports on Saturday, when Mourinho again demonstrated that he could have an afterlife as a great pundit, they unhelpfully reminded him that Edin Terzic is 41, the age he was when he first managed in a Champions League final. You were the future once, Jose. Now the age-old test – put your medals on the table – has become redundant as clubs look for managers who could capture the zeitgeist or who have links to Pep Guardiola (though in fairness to Mourinho, Thiago Motta and Xabi Alonso also played for him). If nothing else, Mourinho is testament to football’s addictive properties. He will not leave the game at his peak or its. The competitive juices still flow, though: being Jose Mourinho has brought him offers from Saudi Arabia, he has said, almost certainly more lucrative than his Fenerbahce contract. So the quest for meaningful success remains more seductive, even if the trophies are less glamorous. A double Champions League winner became the first Conference League winner; Mourinho continues to trumpet the feat. He carries on managing. A couple of months ago, Jurgen Klopp reflected: “The dinosaurs if you want, (Carlo) Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, maybe me, we will not do it (manage) for the next 20 years; okay, maybe Mourinho.” Which, if insightful, was both damning and deceptive. Klopp and Guardiola remain in vogue, their ideas very current. Ancelotti seems timeless, winning the Champions League even before Mourinho and long after his 2004 and 2010 triumphs. Then there is Mourinho, the tactical dinosaur. Klopp did not mention a younger dinosaur. Mourinho and Antonio Conte will both return to management this week, the latter with Napoli, each after being overlooked elsewhere by clubs who plumped for less decorated managers. Not that Conte and Mourinho are exactly soulmates. In 2018, the Italian famously branded the Portuguese “a little man”. Clubs of the size of Fenerbahce and Napoli, with the fanaticism of their supporters, would deny their jobs have got smaller; but maybe the horizons have. Fenerbahce will enter the Champions League, but at the second qualifying stage; Mourinho, who has still not won a knockout tie in it since 2014, is unlikely to have another. Napoli are not even in Europe after coming 10th in Serie A. That could be a platform for success. Chelsea finished 10th in 2016 before appointing Conte and became champions a year later. Yet that was his arguably last exceptional feat, just as perhaps Mourinho’s was deposing Guardiola’s Barcelona to win La Liga in 2012, completing a personal golden decade. Mourinho won a weakened Premier League in 2015, Conte Serie A in 2021 in what was an unaffordable Scudetto, financed by overspending. Inzaghi’s rather cheaper triumph was an indictment of his predecessor. But Conte seems to think that giving him unlimited resources is a prerequisite. He has forged a persona as the most unreasonable man in management. He seems to feel that is essential to being a winner. But Turkish clubs are infamously willing to sign anyone who has played for the Premier League’s big six; Mourinho has managed three of them. He made a typically impressive start. “I belong to your family,” he said at his unveiling. “This shirt is my skin. Your dreams are now my dreams.” So begins the cycle of crowdpleasing soundbites, early optimism, declining results, negative rhetoric and the probable sacking. Conte shares his tendency to blame anyone else when a certain sourness sets in. Which, in turn, is a reason why neither stays anywhere very long. And when each takes the kind of job he would not have considered in his prime, Mourinho and Conte may face an unpleasant truth. Each might disagree, but the wider world thinks they are in decline. – The Independent █ BY RICHARD JOLLY -Story on page 29 Mbappe relieved after move New Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho is seen with fans during the presentation. – REUTERSPIX