The STAR - 02 April 2026

April 2 – April 8New fuel pricesWith Budi95 RM1.99 RON95Without Budi95RON95 RM3.87(Unchanged)RM4.95(-20 sen)RON97RM6.02(+50 sen)DIESELWorld StarMetro StarLifestyleEight is enoughK-pop boy band Ateezgets candid about earlyclashes within the groupand how growingtogether as a teamshapes its journey. >2Open hospitalityJohor’s Hari RayaAidilfitri celebrationsdraw multiracial crowds,preserve festivetraditions and bring thepublic together. >2&3Possibleend in sightDonald Trump saysconflict with Iranmay wind down in‘two or threeweeks’. >22Rethinkingthe rail planThere is a proposal to move the Penang LRT’ssecondary maintenance depot from Sungai Dua on theisland to near Penang Sentral in Butterworth. This couldfree up land for development and offer an opportunity tocreate a publicly accessible seafront on the mainland.> See report on page 6 by MENG YEW CHOONGNation Electricity bills will remain stable for 85% of domestic consumers for now. >5THurSdaY 2 aPril 2026 • PP19652/12/2020 (035234) RM3.00Govt goes WFHWith the worsening global energy crisis, all ministries, government agencies, statutory bodies andGLCs will begin work-from-home arrangements from April 15. The Prime Minister has urged all to playtheir part, cautioning that the situation will not be a shortlived one. > See report on page 4Smoother flow: A railway specialist not involved in the project says trains from theproposed Penang Sentral depot can be quickly deployed across the network fromeither end, increasing efficiency. (Inset) An artist’s impression of the rejuvenatedButterworth waterfront.Smoother flow: A railway specialist not involved in the project says trains from thePhoto: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Physical Aseanmeetings held this year will onlybe for heads of government.Communications MinisterDatuk Fahmi Fadzil, whoannounced this, said the Cabinetwas informed that the annualAsean meeting this year will beheld virtually for delegates.“The Cabinet was informed bythe Foreign Minister (Datuk SeriMohamad Hasan) that Aseanmeetings this year will be heldvirtually.“There will be no physicalmeetings, whether in Manila or inother countries, except for headsof government,” Fahmi said at hisweekly post-Cabinet press briefing here yesterday.The Philippines is the hostcountry and chair for Asean thisyear, under the theme NavigatingOur Future, Together.Last Friday, the Philippines stated that all 650 preparatory meetings for Asean, including ministerial sessions, will be held virtuallyto cut costs.Preparatory meetings includeworking groups, senior officialsand ministerial meetings.Philippine President FerdinandMarcos Jr had said that the AseanSummit in May will be shortenedto a “bare-bones” programme tofocus on issues like fuel supplies,food prices and migrant workers.According to the latest notionalcalendar, the 48th Asean Leaders’Summit is scheduled on May 8and 9.Fahmi said the first Aseanmeeting for the year will be theAsean Health Ministers meeting,which will be held virtually.The 36th and 37th AseanSummit in 2020, chaired byVietnam, were held virtually dueto the Covid-19 outbreak.The subsequent 38th and 39thAsean Summit and related summits were also hosted virtuallyvia video conference by BruneiDarussalam in 2021.In 2022, under Cambodia’schairmanship, the Asean Summitand related meetings returned tophysical meetings.Fahmi said that Chief Secretaryto the Government Tan SriShamsul Azri Abu Bakar briefedthe Cabinet about the work-fromhome policy implementationinvolving the civil service andwould announce the details later.He said the Cabinet directedShamsul to look into reducing government red tape to assist businesses renewing their licences.“He has to report back to theCabinet on the efforts to reducebureaucracies, especially forindustries and businesses affected by the global energy crisis,” headded.2 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026ALOR SETAR PENANG K. LUMPUR JOHOR BARU KUANTAN KOTA BARUPRAYER TIMES6:081:244:277:298:38SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyak6:091:244:257:298:38SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyak6:051:204:227:238:32SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyak5:571:114:167:148:23SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyak6:001:144:177:178:26SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyak6:011:174:197:228:27SubuhZohorAsarMaghribIsyakGEORGE TOWN K. LUMPUR JOHOR BARU KOTA BARU K. KINABALU KUCHINGAMPMWEATHERThunderstormsNo rainIsolatedthunderstormsIsolatedthunderstormsNo rain No rainNo rainNo rainNo rainNo rainNo rainNo rainDaily updates by Fadillah on response to energy crisisPUTRAJAYA: Daily briefings willbe held by the government fromtoday to update the public onmeasures addressing the ongoingglobal energy crisis and theMiddle East conflict, saysCommunications Minister DatukFahmi Fadzil.The government spokesmansaid the daily press conference,scheduled at around 4pm, will bedelivered by Deputy PrimeMinister II Datuk Seri FadillahYusof, who will also chair theCommunications CommandCentre under the NationalEconomic Action Council (NEAC).“The command centre will haveperiodic meetings, which maytake place daily, and it will coordinate communications on the government’s measures and responseto the global energy crisis and theMiddle East conflict,” he said afterthe Cabinet meeting yesterday.He added that Fadillah isexpected to provide severalupdates later today.Fahmi also said an announcement may be made after PrimeMinister Datuk Seri AnwarIbrahim chairs a meeting with thementris besar and chief ministerstoday.“The meeting will focus on theglobal energy crisis and its impactto the domestic economy. Severalissues will be discussed and suggestions will also be considered,”he added.Brent crude was trading ataround US$103 per barrel as of5.20pm yesterday.Fuel prices have experiencedsharp fluctuations since theMiddle East conflict escalated following attacks by the UnitedStates and Israel on Iran on Feb28, which led to the closure of theStrait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Fahmi said theCabinet has appointed FinanceMinister II Datuk Seri AmirHamzah Azizan and EconomyMinister Akmal Nasrullah MohdNasir in engagements with theParliamentary Select Committeeon Finance and Economy.He added that both ministerswill present the government’sviews and suggestions on addressing the global energy crisis andthe Middle East conflict.Fahmi added that the NEAC,which met on March 31, had discussed the current situation andfound that fuel supplies in thecountry remain stable.“We have also been informedthat several ships are queueing topass through the Strait of Hormuzwithout paying any toll.“The situation is under control,” he added.Fahmi also reminded the publicthat only official announcementsby the Finance Ministry on fuelprices should be relied upon.“The prices of RON95, RON97and diesel will be announcedevery Wednesday and theannouncement by the FinanceMinistry is usually after 6pm,” headded.New duties: (From left) Fadillah, amir hamzah and akmal Nasrullah.Future Aseanmeets to beheld virtuallyBy TARRENCE [email protected]: Fahmi speaking after the Cabinet meeting. — BernamaOnly heads of govts willattend physical meetingsFahmi: Azam Baki shareholding probe findings will be made publicPUTRAJAYA: The findings of theinvestigation into the share ownership of Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC)chief commissioner Tan Sri AzamBaki will be made public once allrelated probes are fully completed, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.The Communications Ministerand government spokesmanreiterated the Cabinet’s commitment, particularly from PrimeMinister Datuk Seri AnwarIbrahim, to ensure transparencyon the matter.“The commitment from theCabinet, specifically from thePrime Minister, is that once theinvestigations are completed, itwill be announced. That is thecommitment from the PrimeMinister.“For now, we leave it to theChief Secretary to theGovernment (Tan Sri ShamsulAzri Abu Bakar). As published ina statement yesterday, there areprocesses that need to be followed, so we leave it to the ChiefSecretary,” he told reporters atthe Communications Ministryyesterday.Fahmi was responding to aquestion whether the reportregarding Azam’s shareholdingwould be made public and whenthat would happen.On Monday, Bukit Aman AmlaInvestigation Unit chief DatukFazlisyam Abd Majid said controversial businessman Victor Chinwas among 10 individualsdetained in December last year.He has since been released onpolice bail, but may be recalled.Fazlisyam said the remainingnine detainees, which comprisedsix men and three women, havebeen released on bail while 40others have been called in to provide statements.He added the operation beginin October last year based onacquired intelligence aboutmoney laundering activities dating back to 2018.On Tuesday, Shamsul Azri saidthe Attorney General’s Chamberswill initiate action againstBloomberg in relation to claimsthat Anwar interfered in the disclosure of findings into Azam’sshareholdings.He dismissed the foreign newsagency’s report, dated March 30,claiming the Prime Ministerinstructed a special committee todelay a report on investigationsinto Azam.The issue surrounding Azam’sshare ownership has drawn public attention in recent years, withcalls for transparency andaccountability in handling the matter.The government has since reiterated that current proceedingsare conducted in line with regulations, while cautioning againstunverified claims that could affectpublic confidence in the process.

PETALING JAYA: In the earlyhours of April 1 last year, A.Puspagaran, his wife and theirtwo children were fast asleep attheir home in Taman PutraHarmoni, Putra Heights.In the stillness of the morning,they were jolted awake to a deafening explosion.Moments later, an orange glowengulfed the neighbourhood.“I took a look around and sawthe tiles in the home starting tocrack. The house then began toshake and the only thing on mymind was to get my family out,”said the 48-year-old.Amid the rush to escape, Puspagaran heard the screams of neighbours attempting to dash out.“My wife and son suffered someburns while escaping, taking themmonths to recover.“Another son suffered bruisesas he tripped while running,” hesaid, adding that they left onlywith the clothes they had on.Puspagaran was among themany residents whose homeswere razed by the Putra Heightsgas pipeline explosion.The trauma of the blast continued to linger among the family forweeks after the incident.For the past year, he has beenliving in a rented home nearbywhile waiting for repairs to becompleted.“I lived several hundred metresfrom the site and my house hasbeen completely destroyed.“Repairs, however, have beengoing well and I hope to moveback in soon.“I am just very thankful that allof us were safe through the incident,” he said.For another resident, the shockcame from afar.Abdul Ghani Abdul Aziz, 58,who was out of town celebratingHari Raya Aidilfitri during theincident, described being at a lossfor wordsuponseeing the destruction of his home.“The house was a completemess. Our first objective was torescue our cats that were at homeduring the time,” he said, addingthat this was greatly aided byauthorities.His cats too are still traumatisedby the incident.“Every time a loud sound isheard, they jolt and run for cover.Even after a year, the scars remainnot only for us, but also our pets,”he said.“I learnt about the blast frommy brother. We had just arrivedat our destination a night priorand the next day, we immediatelyrushed back to Putra Heights,”he said.Abdul Ghani, too, has been living at a rented house for about ayear after having spent severalweeks at the temporary relief centres opened for victims.“The aid has been helpful butwe want firm assurance that thisplace will be safe for us to live inagain. It’s our home,” he said.Recent checks by The Star atground zero revealed major restoration works being carried out atmany houses in the neighbourhood.In some corners, charred vehicles remain untouched, serving asstark reminders of the blast thatchanged the neighbourhood.THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Nation 3Blast trauma still hauntsOne year on, families put the past behind and work towards healingBy TARRENCE TANand GERARD [email protected] hardto care foranimalsPETALING JAYA: Amid the chaosof the Putra Heights fire last year,a quiet rescue mission unfolded.Volunteers and animal welfaregroups worked tirelessly with theauthorities to care for pets abandoned or trapped in the aftermath, showing that compassionextended beyond human lives.Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals (SPCA)Selangor general manager KelvinCheah said about 70 pets comprising cats, dogs and two corn snakeswere among those rescued duringtheir operations there. Among thebiggest challenges was havingaccess to the affected areas.“Many animals were trapped orhidden, and information comingin from the public was high-volume but not always verified.”While the initial emergencyphase lasted about two weeks, theoverall operation extended closeto six months.Among the common cases facedby animals at the time wereburn-related injuries, dehydration and severe stress.He said SPCA Selangor is nowworking with Universiti PutraMalaysia’s Faculty of VeterinaryMedicine, Malaysian VeterinaryMedical Association and relevantauthorities to develop a structured Emergency AnimalResponse framework.Animal Kindness Coalitionpresident Asther Lau, who wasalso part of the rescue missionlast year, said among the firstthings groups did upon enteringthe site was to provide food andwater to affected animals.Lau expressed gratitude to thevolunteers who helped with theanimal rescue operations.“Donations of pet food andwater, even for volunteers, camein bulk. Many volunteers alsoexpressed great readiness to help,with some even taking leave fromwork to do so.“Others offered donations asthey were unable to be there.”NGOs callfor RCIinto PutraHeights blastSUBANG JAYA: A few non-governmental organisations want animmediate establishment of aRoyal Commission of Inquiry(RCI) and stronger public safetyprotections for communities living near fossil fuel infrastructure.At a press conference to markthe first anniversary of the PutraHeights gas fire here, the organisers – Greenpeace Malaysia,RimbaWatch and ArtivistNetwork – also launched a policybrief entitled “Putra Heights OneYear On: Unanswered QuestionsRemain”, alongside a documentary screening and communitysharing session reflecting on theexperiences of affected residents.The policy brief highlights somekey issues that were insufficientlyaddressed by the ParliamentarySpecial Select Committee (PSSC)on Infrastructure, Transport andCommunications, including questions on pipeline zoning, soilmonitoring, buffer zones, publicaccess to safety information, andthe environmental and healthimpacts of the incident.“The independent, appointedcommission must conduct a fullinvestigation into the root causesof the incident, including absolutetransparency on what procedureswere adopted for pipeline monitoring in urban areas, and ensurethe results of these investigationsare made public in full.“This must include an urgent,non-negotiable review of existingcity plans and pipeline maps toensure they comply with currentsafety regulations and bufferzone requirements,” saidRimbaWatch director andco-founder Adam Farhan.Also present were Greenpeaceclimate and energy campaignerHamizah Shamsudeen andArtivist co-founder and Asiandirector Amalen Sathananthar.The event held at the PutraHeights mosque here yesterdayalso saw calls for the EnergyCommission (EC) to be the LeadSafety Agency.“The EC must establish andenforce minimum pipeline safetystandards, including buffer zonesbased on the Potential ImpactRadius (PIR) formula.“ItmustensuretheOccupationalSafety and Health Act 1994 andEIA Guidelines include mandatory buffer zones and technical riskassessments for offsite populations,” he added.The groups also argued thatthere is a lack of unifying regulatory framework in Malaysia whichexplicitly sets a legal requirementfor a minimum buffer zone widthfor high-pressure gas pipelines.Urgent review:representativesfrom NGOs and aputra heightsTopaz homeresident Ooi sui li(second from left)hand over thepolicy brief toKota Kemuningassemblymanpreakassampunathan(second fromright). — arTChEN/The starVidEOThestarTV.comWATCH THE

4 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Swift action urged to help rakyat manage rising fuel costsBy RAHIMY [email protected] JAYA: Immediatesteps must be taken to cushionthe impact of rising global fuelcosts on consumers amid pressure on the global energy marketdue to escalating tensions in theMiddle East, says the Federationof Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).Its chief executive officer DrSaravanan Thambirajah said proactive measures are crucial inprotecting Malaysians from therising cost of living driven byexternal uncertainties.“We support the call by PrimeMinister Datuk Seri AnwarIbrahim for Malaysians to bracefor a more challenging globalenergy landscape.“The situation is shaped by factors beyond Malaysia’s control,including geopolitical tensions,supply disruptions and volatilityin fuel and energy markets,” hesaid in a statement yesterday.On Tuesday, Anwar saidMalaysia’s economy remains resilient despite rising global uncertainties, with the government widening its “Plan B” measures toensure continued stability andgrowth.Saravanan cautioned that aprolonged conflict would inevitably translate into higher fuel prices, electricity tariffs and increasedcosts of goods and services.As such, measures such as theBudi95 initiative, along with targeted subsidies and assistance,remain critical interventions toensure that the rakyat are betterinsulated against global priceincreases, he added.“These efforts reflect the government’s commitment to protecting consumers while managing broader economic realities,”he said.Saravanan also stressed theneed for strong and continuousenforcement, particularly theclose monitoring of supply chainsand price movements, to preventprofiteering and unjustified pricehikes.He urged businesses to actresponsibly, emphasising that anyprice adjustments must be justified and transparent, and notused as an opportunity for excessive profiteering.Malaysian Consumer FriendlyAssociation deputy presidentAzlin Osman welcomed the assurance fromthe Energy Commissionthat about 85% of domestic households will experience little impacton their electricity bills due to theEnergy Efficiency Incentive (EEI)mechanism.“It’s reassuring that about 85%of households won’t see a significant increase in their electricitybills, which helps ease concernsamong consumers,” she said.She added that the EEI was agood start for behavioural changes among consumers, particularlyin the current situation.“It may not drastically shift habits overnight butit does encouragepeople to be more conscious oftheir electricity usage, especiallythose with higher consumption,”she said.For lower-income households,the 600kWh level under the EEIshould be sufficient to cover theirbasic needs, Azlin said.On what consumers should do,she said it ultimately comes downto them adopting simple, practicaldaily habits regarding electricityusage.“This includes using energyefficient appliances, switching offunused devices and being moremindful in the use of air-conditioning,” she said.Senior economist and policyspecialist Dr GeoffreyWilliams described the EEI as theright approach with regard totargeted subsidies and shouldalso be adopted for petrol.“It is essentially tiered pricingwith no change in impactbelow 600kWh, which is verygenerous.“It leaves 85% of people unaffected,” he said when contacted.He said adopting a similarapproach for petrol would have amuch more significant impactcompared to the current model.PM: No longer business as usualpublic sector to begin work-from-home arrangements starting april 15By KHOO GEK [email protected] JAYA: Work-fromhome (WFH) arrangements forthe public sector will begin onApril 15 as part of early measuresto shield Malaysians from thedeepening global energy crisis,the Prime Minister announced.Saying this was a broader effortto rationalise fuel use withoutdisrupting essential services,Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim saidthe move will involve the variousministries, government agencies,statutory bodies and also apply toGLCs.“Details will follow. This is toreduce fuel consumption andensure the sustainability of ourenergy supply,” he said in a special TV address last night.Anwar said the ongoing conflictin the Middle East had disruptedglobal supply chains and droveup energy prices worldwide, cautioning that the impact would notbe shortlived.“The situation will worsenbefore it can be restored, and itwill take a much longer time,” hesaid, adding that it was no longerbusiness as usual for Malaysia orthe rest of the world.Anwar said the governmenthad moved early to cushion theimpact of the energy crunchthrough the Inisiatif SokonganRakyat, including targeted subsidies and assistance to those mostaffected.He said Malaysia had so farbeen able to maintain the ceilingprice of RON95 petrol at RM1.99per litre, even as some neighbouring countries were already seeingqueues and rationing at petrolstations.“It is something we must begrateful for, but it does not meanwe can be complacent,” he pointed out.Anwar said with this is mind,the government had decided toscale down on this year’s HariRaya celebration by tighteningexpenditure and pruning majorevents.He also confirmed that theBudi95 programme would continue, with the monthly quotareduced to 200 litres per person.The Prime Minister said thegovernment was stepping upefforts to diversify the country’senergy sources to ensure a stableand secure supply.“We are actively diversifyingour energy sources to guaranteethe nation’s supply,” he said, adding that national oil companyPETRONAS had assured the government that it could maintainadequate oil and gas supplies atleast until May.He said PETRONAS’ management of the country’s resourceshad put Malaysia in a relativelystronger position to face the crisis.Anwar also gave a stern warning to those who created andspread false information aboutfuel and electricity prices, particularly when many Malaysianswere already under pressure.“People are struggling and thenation is under strain ... yet whatthey continue to do is an act oftreachery against the country andits people by spreading false stories, gambling with livelihoodsmerely to gain cheap politicaladvantage,” he said.He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had detected 96 fakeposts related to fuel and electricity on social media, adding thatfirm action would be takentogether with the police.“Spreading fake news during acrisis is an act of betrayal againstthe nation,” he said, urging thepublic to be cautious, to verifyinformation and to rely on officialand credible sources.Anwar also called on allMalaysians, especially those whowere better off and in positions ofinfluence, to show empathy andrestraint.“Do not be arrogant, do not bewasteful and do not behave as ifthis is a normal situation,” hesaid, warning that ostentatiousdisplays of wealth while farmers,fishermen and workers were stillstruggling would only deepenpublic resentment.Proactive move: anwar says the WFh measure will reduce fuelconsumption and ensure energy supply sustainability.

PUTRAJAYA: There will be littlechange in the April electricity billfor some 85% of domestic households in the country despite therising fuel cost due to the currentglobal energy crisis, says theEnergy Commission (ST).This is because of the continuedsupport of the Energy EfficiencyIncentive (Insentif Cekap Tenaga)mechanism, which will help energy-efficient households cope amidrising fuel costs.“Households using 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or less willremain neutral while for households consuming up to 1,000 kWh,rebates are given but on a reducing scale.“That means 85% of domesticor household consumers willremain at the stable and neutrallevel in terms of their electricitybill impact,” ST chief executiveofficer Siti Safinah Salleh said atthe ST Annual Regulatory Review2026 press conference yesterday.She added that this incentivealso covers low voltage non-domestic consumers for consumption of up to 200kWh.“These measures, we hope, willhelp to mitigate some of theexpected inflationary impactsfrom the crisis that is currentlyhappening,” she said.On electricity rebates under theAutomatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA),Siti Safinah rebates rose steadilyas fuel costs eased, climbing fromjust over 1sen/kWh in August andSeptember to a peak of nearly9sen/kWh in November, beforeeasing back to 6.42sen/kWh inDecember.On March 31, Tenaga NasionalBhd (TNB) announced the AprilAFA rate reduced to at 0.47sen/kWh.Domestic customers using600kWh and below, roughly aRM216 bill, are excluded from theadjustment.The AFA mechanism, introduced in July 2025 to replace theImbalance Cost Pass-Through(ICPT), directly reflects rebates inconsumers’ bills based on fuelcosts and rewards householdsand industries that practice energy saving.On the country’s energy supply,Siti Safinah said it remains stable,particularly for electricity andgas, despite the current globalfuel crisis.She noted that about 80% of thenatural gas used to generatepower in the country is sourceddomestically.However, she said the countryis not insulated from priceincreases, as 100% of coal forpower generation is importedfrom several sources.“Costs will rise from three factors: the market price of coal,shipping costs, and insurance.Although our increase may not beas significant as in other countries, there is still an increase,”she said.Siti Safinah suggested thathouseholds consider adoptingenergy-efficient measures, including the installation of affordablesolar panels, as a means to reduceelectricity consumption.She also noted that householdelectricity demand is likely to risein the coming months due to theanticipated hotter climate, asmore people will rely on air-conditioning to stay cool.THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Nation 5RON95 prices steady as diesel climbs, RON97 dropsPETALING JAYA: The retail priceof diesel in Peninsular Malaysiawill rise to RM6.02 per litre fromtoday until April 8, up fromRM5.52 previously, in line withthe Automatic Pricing Mechanism(APM), says the Finance Ministry.The ministry said the unsubsidised retail price of RON97 petrolhas been reduced to RM4.95 perlitre from RM5.15, while RON95remains unchanged at RM3.87per litre.“The government continues tomaintain targeted fuel subsidiesfor the rakyat and selected sectors,” the ministry said in a statement.Under the targeted subsidyframework, RON95 petrol underthe Budi95 programme remainsat RM1.99 per litre, while dieselprices in Sabah, Sarawak and theFederal Territory of Labuan aremaintained at RM2.15 per litre.Subsidised fuel prices underthe Sistem Kawalan PetrolBersubsidi (SKPS) and SistemKawalan Diesel Bersubsidi (SKDS)are set at RM2.05 and RM2.15 perlitre, respectively.The ministry said that themonthly eligibility limit forBudi95 has been adjusted to 200litres effective yesterday, describing the move as a temporarymeasure until global supply conditions stabilise.In addition, diesel purchaselimits have been introduced inSabah, Sarawak and Labuan tocurb leakages and smuggling.Light vehicles are limited to 50litres per transaction, vehicles notexceeding three tonnes to 100litres and those above threetonnes to 150 litres per purchase.“As an interim measure following the increase in diesel prices,the government will continueproviding additional Budi dieselcash assistance of RM100 in April,bringing the total aid to RM300for recipients underBudiIndividuand Budi Agri-Komoditi,” the ministry said.It added that medium and longterm measures are being considered to ensure that the subsidymechanism remains sustainable,transparent and beneficial to therakyat, taking into account theglobal energy crisis.“The prolonged global energycrisis has pushed Brent crudeprices up by more than 40%,exceeding US$100 per barrel.“More critically, refined fuelprices for petrol and diesel havesurged to around US$150 andUS$250 per barrel, respectively,placing pressure on retail prices,”it said.The ministry stressed that thegovernment remains committedto shielding the public from thefull impact of rising global oilprices, adding that retail fuel prices have not been fully floateddespite sustained global volatility.“Efforts to maintain subsidisedpetroleum prices for the rakyatand key sectors will continue tobe strengthened to contain therise in goods prices and safeguardpublic welfare,” it added.The Madani government, itsaid, will continue to balance fiscal needs with targeted protectionmeasures to ensure economic stability and the well-being of therakyat.Power bill tostay samefor mostGovt incentive shields 85% ofhouseholds from rising costsBy DIVYA THERESA [email protected] plan: siti safinah and her deputy roslee Esman reviewing a graph at the commission’s annualregulatory review.Revive Covid-19-era support measures, say businessesBy ARFA [email protected] JAYA: Stakeholdersare calling on the government toroll out Covid-19-era supportmeasures, including loan moratoriums and targeted subsidies,amid global energy supply disruptions and rising fuel costs.The call comes in light of concerns among businesses that theoil shock is threatening to squeezeprofit margins, disrupt operationsand push up inflation.Associated Chinese Chambersof Commerce and Industry ofMalaysia (ACCCIM) treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong saidthe measures are necessary as aprolonged conflict in the MiddleEast could mirror the economicstrain seen during the pandemic.“If the conflict continues for thenext few months, it will be likeCovid-19 time,” he said, addingthat businesses would have littlechoice but to pass on higher coststo consumers to safeguardalready thin margins.He cautioned about the dualimpact on supply chains andoperating costs, saying that higher logistics expenses could forcesome shipping routes to halt,delaying raw material deliveriesand resulting in higher production costs.A recent ACCCIM survey foundthat about 48% of respondentswere planning price increases,underscoring the mounting pressure on businesses, he said.Besides loan moratoriums foraffected companies, Koong saidother similar Covid-19 measures,such as flexibility in tax paymentsto reduce CP204 instalments andallowing firms to offset overpaidtaxes, should be implemented.“The government has to actswiftly because we cannot waitfor things to get worse first,” hesaid, stressing that businesses,policymakers and consumersmust each play their role in navigating the situation.Federation of MalaysianManufacturers (FMM) presidentJacob Lee Chor Kok said the proposed 25%-28% increase in worker transportation costs would addto an already “critical” cost environment for businesses.He added that manufacturershere were grappling with higherenergy prices, logistics surchargesand supply chain disruptionslinked to the Middle East conflict.Additional cost burdens, suchas those on workers’ transport,will further strain business operations and erode competitiveness,he added.“Extending diesel subsidies tofactory bus operators would provide immediate cost relief andhelp stabilise one of the mostessential components of industrial operations,” he said.He cautioned that rising dieselcosts would have a multipliereffect across the manufacturingvalue chain, ultimately feedinginto broader inflationary pressures.Using what works: Koong (left) and lee say loan moratoriums anddiesel subsidies could help cushion the mounting financial pressure onbusinesses.See StarBizfORmORe:

PETALING JAYA: Plenty of feedback has come in since the revisedPenang LRT Railway Scheme wenton public display, especially on theproposed cross-channel linkbetween the island and the mainland.Interestingly, one contractor bidding for part of the project is proposing that the light maintenancedepot at Sungai Dua, to be built onpart of the former Pesta site, beshifted to the sea-facing frontage ofPenang Sentral.The swap could give the LRT,now known as the Mutiara Line, acouple of advantages. It would freeup more land in Sungai Dua fortransit-oriented development, andit could reduce the risk of futurenoise complaints from maintenance work.Train maintenance is normallydone during off-service hours andsuch work can be noisy.On top of that, train wheels mayscreech when braking or goingaround rail curves in and out of thedepot, which could annoy someresidents as sound is more noticeable during the quieter eveninghours.“This is a very real possibility,considering that the Sungai Duasite will eventually see more housing developments, among others,”said the contractor’s representative.The contractor declined to beidentified, citing a non-disclosureagreement with the LRT projectowner, Malaysia Rapid TransitCorporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), aspecial purpose vehicle whollyowned by MoF Incorporated.Another railway specialist notinvolved in the project said havingdepots at both ends of the line(at Silicon Island and PenangSentral) would improve operational efficiency, as trains fromthe Penang Sentral depot can bequickly deployed across the network from either end.“This also caters to futuregrowth should the LRT networkgrow to the northern side of theisland beyond George Town aswell as the surrounding areassurrounding Butterworth.“Then, having a major depotat Penang Sentral makes sensewhenit comes to future-proofingthe network,” said the practitioner, who also declined to benamed due to the sensitivity ofhis current posting.He added that not having atrain depot also allows highervalue developments in thevicinity, further optimisinglimited land on the island side.Another construction company that has also signed anon-disclosure agreement withMRT Corp said having a depotat the Pesta site was never optimal.“Having depots at both endsmakes more sense, and this isproven in the Kajang (MRT1)and Putrajaya (MRT2) lines inKlang Valley,” said the company’s spokesperson.Yuslizar Daud, the formerhead of the Land Public Transport Commission’s Rail Division,was more ambivalent about theproposed site for the secondarydepot, stressing that the depot’slayout is just as critical.“Efficient and future-proofdesign must be there, such asthe entry and exit points,operational loop, location of theworkshop, heavy and lightmaintenance halls and warehousing.“The client must also specifyfrom the outset the corerequirements such as reliability, availability, maintainabilityand safety indicators so thatthese are incorporated in thedesignofthe network,”Yuslizarsaid.He added that having the second depot at Penang Sentralwould be a strategic move if allof the above were addressedfrom the onset.Yuslizar and the other railway systems expert also concurred that having maintenance depots at both ends of theMutiara Line would greatlyreduce the risk of severedisruptions, such as the yearlong closure of six stations onthe Ampang Line in KualaLumpur that began in January2023.That incident left severaltrainsets trapped at one end,with some having to be eventually suspended from serviceas they could not return to thedepot for scheduled maintenance.On moving the secondaryLRT depot to the mainland, TheStar understands that at leastone consortium has put forth aproposal that not only shifts theSungai Dua depot to PenangSentral but also combines thePenang Sentral depot with thePenang Sentral LRT station,integrating it with PenangSentral to create a sizeable,publicly accessible seafront forButterworth.Penang Sentral is a facilitythat is owned and operated byMalaysian Resources Corporation Bhd, which is also a bidderfor some of the Mutiara Linework packages, and has transitoriented development plans forits Penang Sentral site.However, the proponent ofthe Butterworth waterfronttrain infrastructure projectplans to utilise land owned bythe Penang Port Commission(PPC), especially the infrastructure serving the current passenger ferry service as well as portions serving the adjacent deepwater port.The Star understands thatrepresentations had been madeby the proponent of this concept to MRT Corp and PPC andthat the proposal is now awaiting a date for presentation tothe Transport Minister.6 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Varying views over mainland move‘proposed secondary lrT depot shiftland-efficient but needs solid design’By MENG YEW [email protected]’sproposedPenang Sentraldepot siteMRT Corp’sproposedPesta depotsiteMain LRTdepot atSilicon IslandFuture LRT(Extension)ProposedsecondaryLRT depotat PenangSentralTerminal FeriButterworthProposed waterfront site

KLANG: Four days after a28-year-old private lab assistantwas involved in an accidentwhich killed a motorcyclist, hewas charged at the Magistrate’sCourt here for murder.No plea was recorded fromSaktygaanapathy Ravichandran(pic), who is from Tepi Sungaihere, as murder charges comeunder the purview of the HighCourt.If found guilty, he faces thedeath penalty or imprisonmentfor a maximum of 30 years, butnot exceeding 40 years, as well asnot less than 12 strokes ofthe cane or death.He was also chargedunder Section 15 (1) (a) ofthe Dangerous Drugs Actfor alleged self-administration of benzodiazepine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).S a k t y g aan a p a t h ypleaded guilty to the secondcharge and faced a fine of notmore than RM5,000 or jail of notmore than two years.Both charges were read beforeMagistrate Khartiyayini Ambualagan.Still dressed in the same T-shirthe had worn on the day of the incident, Saktygaanapathywas unrepresented, andno one appeared to bewaiting for him as he wasbrought to court underheavy police escort.In the 11.40am incidenton Sunday, the accusedhad allegedly drivenagainst the flow of trafficand rammed into a motorbike ridden by Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33.The victim landed on the roofof a passing car.Amirul Hafiz, a father of three,died on the spot.Saktygaanapathy had testedpositive for both alcohol anddrugs when he was arrested afterthe accident.Khartiyayini fixed June 3 forthe case to be mentioned.DPP Raja Zaizul Faridah RajaZaharudin had requested a periodof two to three months to compilethe required documents for thecaseand also to allow theaccused’sfamily to appoint a lawyer for himor a court-appointed counsel.Amirul Hafiz’s widow, NurulNadia Abdul Majid, 32, who waspresent in court, said she wasthankful Saktygaanapathy hadbeen appropriately charged.“I am a little relieved today. Ionly want to say one thing, lifefor life. That’s all,” she told reporters at the Klang court lobby.Meanwhile, lawyer Mohd FaiziChe Abu, who was holding awatching brief for the deceased’sfamily, said the family planned toseek RM1mil in compensation forNurul Nadia and the three children.“We will carry out the calculation in terms of his salary, contribution and dependants, whichwill be multiplied by his age,” saidMohd Faizi.PETALING JAYA: Driving underthe influence (DUI) is a seriousroad safety issue but enforcementshould tackle all fronts, say roadsafety advocates.They said these were mostlyspeeding, reckless driving andpoor riding etiquette, with humanerror, traffic violations and structural risks all playing a rolealongside DUI.Vehicle Theft and AccidentReduction Council coordinatorMas Tina Abdul Hamid said roadsafety strategies driven by databased insights were necessary totarget behaviours and conditionsaccounting for road crash fatalities.Referencing official figures andverified reports, she said Malaysiacontinued to record high numbers of road accident fatalitiesthrough the years.She said a closer examinationof causal factors revealed that themajority of fatal crashes wereattributable to human error, riskybehaviour and systemic roadsafety deficiencies rather thanintoxication alone.“Failure to observe nearby vehicles, unsafe manoeuvres at intersections, overtaking recklesslyand driver distraction or fatigueremain the leading contributor toroad fatalities in Malaysia.“Vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists, accountfor the majority of fatalities, highlighting structural and behavioural risk factors,” she said.Last year, Parliament was toldthat of the 6,080 fatal accidentsrecorded in 2022, 14 or 0.23%were linked to DUI. Of the 6,473fatal accidents in 2023, 13 or 0.2%were linked to DUI.In 2024, 12 deaths were linkedto DUI out of the 6,464 fatal accidents, with two deaths linked toDUI out of 3,087 between Januaryand June 2025.“However, this does not diminish the urgency of eradicatingDUI. It underscores the need foraddressing road safety holistically,” said Mas Tina.She said road safety strategiesmust cover speeding, distracteddriving, unsafe overtaking andtraffic signal violations.“Automated enforcement cameras, high-visibility patrols andconsistent application of penaltiesare essential,” she said.She said education campaignsthat engage drivers emotionallyand intellectually were also essential.“Dangerous road segments,black spots and poorly maintained routes should also beupgraded appropriately.“Vehicle inspections, commercial fleet compliance and theadoption of safety and technological measures such as emergencybraking, dashcams and lanedeparture warnings are equallycritical,” she added.Access to safe alternatives suchas ride-hailing, public transportand community shuttle programmes could reduce exposureto risky driving behaviour, saidMas Tina.Road Safety Council of Malaysiaexecutive council member DatukSuret Singh said the elephant inthe room was how motorcyclistscontinued to form the bulk ofroad accident fatalities.“We can talk about improvinglaws to ensure compliance herebut any law is only as good as itsenforcement.“Are we doing the right thing toaddress this? Is our approachwrong?” he said.He proposed enforcing only leftlane use for motorcyclists andimposing a 70kph speed limit.“Studies show that accidentsinvolving riders mostly involvethose in mixed traffic. The proposed measures can be doneswiftly and will drastically reduceaccident fatality rates,” he said.Another proposed measureincludes creating more exclusivemotorcycle lanes, he added.“They should run parallel withexisting roads as the same amenities such as proper lighting anddrainage systems can beemployed concurrently.“It can start at the state leveland at hotspots identified by theauthorities. Building a network ofmotorcycle lanes does take timebut we must start somewhere,”he added.SEREMBAN: A 22-year-old manclaimed trial in the Sessions Courthere to two charges of sexuallyassaulting his 16-year-old femalefriend.Muhammad Farish HakimyMohd Adham pleaded not guiltyafter the charges were read tohim before Judge Surita Budin.For the first charge, he hadallegedly sexually assaulted thevictim in a house in Taman BukitMargosa.The alleged offence was committed around 12.05am on March24.He was charged under Section14(a) of the Sexual Offencesagainst Children Act 2017, whichcarries a jail term not exceeding20 years and whipping.For the second, he was chargedwith committing carnal intercourse against the order of natureagainst the same victim at thesame place and time.For this, the accused wascharged under Section 377B ofthe same legislation, which alsoprovides a jail term of not morethan 20 years and whipping.Deputy public prosecutorNorazihah Asmuni then asked thecourt for a next mention date asthe relevant reports were notready.She also asked the court toorder the accused to stay awayfrom the alleged victim andpotential witnesses and to reportto the nearest police station untilhis case is disposed of.Norazihah offered the accusedbail of RM20,000 with one surety.Muhammad Farish Hakimy’scounsel, Datuk Hanif Hassan,pleaded for a lower amount asthe accused was unemployed.He said his client would alsobe facing two additional chargesat the Kuala Pilah SessionsCourt, and an excessive amountwould be burdensome to hisfamily.Judge Surita then set bail atRM12,000 with one surety andallowed the prosecution’s otherapplications.THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Nation 7VidEOThestarTV.comWATCH THEOther risks on the road tooadvocates urge targeting risky behaviour beyond intoxicationDUI caseschargedCharged under Section44, 45 and 45A of theRoad Transport Act.Section 44 - Drivingwhile under theinfluence of intoxicatingliquor or drugsSection 45 - Being incharge of motorvehicles when under theinfluence of intoxicatingliquor or drugsSection 45A - Driving orbeing in charge of amotor vehicle withalcohol concentrationabove prescribed limitSource: Parliament written replies2,306cases508cases20222023 1,989cases2024 1,589cases2025(Jan to June)Drunk driver in fatal crash charged with murderBy WANI [email protected] deniessexuallyassaultingteen friendBy SARBAN [email protected] men get jail and rotan for raping a minorBy IvAN [email protected]: Two men were sentencedby Sessions Court here to six yearsin jail and three strokes of thecane for raping an underage girlin Perak Tengah in two separateincidents.Mohd Airul Abu Talib, 28, andMuhammad Asri Mohd Hussin,25, who were charged separately,pleaded guilty to the offenceunder Section 376 (1) of the PenalCode before Judge Jean SharmilaJesudason here.Mohd Airul was accused ofhaving sex with the then 13-yearold victim at his house inKampung Sungai Timah, PerakTengah, in June 2024.Muhammad Asri, meanwhile,was accused of committing theoffence at a house in Sungai Jejawiat about 7pm on March 21.Mohd Airul, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, saying he has to care for his motherand siblings.He added that he works as anexcavator driver earning aboutRM150 per day.“I regret my actions and apologise. I promise not to repeat theoffence and hope for a lenientsentence,” he said.Muhammad Asri also pleadedfor a lenient sentence, saying thathe earns about RM90 daily as alabourer.Judge Jean Sharmila orderedthat the prison terms of bothaccused to run from the date oftheir arrest on March 22.Deputy public prosecutor NorArfahanim Azureen Arfanuddinprosecuted.Separately, an unemployedman, Mohd Yusof Mat Yatim, 42,pleaded not guilty after beingcharged in the Sessions Courthere with attempting to murderhis wife at their home in PerakTengah.He is accused of smotheringNur Syazwana Mohd Talaha, 38,with a pillow at a house in TamanChangkat Lada Raya, SeberangPerak, at about 9am on March 25.Prosecuting officer Insp ZahiraMusa urged the court not to offerbail to the accused.She said that according to theinvestigating officer, the accusedhad acted aggressively during theinvestigation and had attemptedto jump from the fourth floor ofthe place of interrogation.Judge Meor Sulaiman AhmadTarmizi fixed May 4 for mentionand to allow Mohd Yusof time tosecure legal representation.By GERARd [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: The MalaysianAssociation of Tour and TravelAgents (MATTA) announces thereturnof Malaysia Aviation Group(MAG) as its Official AirlinePartner and Premier Sponsor forthe upcoming MATTA Fair April2026, taking place from April 3 to5 at Mitec Kuala Lumpur.As a key partner of the fair,MAG’s continued presencereflects its commitment toenhancing travel accessibility andelevating the overall visitor experience.MAG will unveil its largest-everpresence with the return of theMAG Arena, expanding to animpressive 46,000sq ft – nearlythree times larger than its participation in September last year,creating Asia’s largest airline-ledconsumer and trade pavilionwithin a travel fair.In conjunction with the fair,Malaysia Airlines will be offeringspecial fares across its domesticand international network,including popular regional destinations such as Jakarta, Bangkok,Hanoi, Singapore and Bali, aswell as key international gateways including London,Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo andAuckland.Complementing this, Fireflywill also introduce attractive faresacross its network, operatingfrom Kuala Lumpur InternationalAirport (KLIA) Terminal 1, SultanAbdul Aziz Shah Airport (SubangAirport) and Penang InternationalAirport to destinations includingKota Kinabalu, Kuching, Phuket,Krabi, Singapore, Kota Baru,Johor Baru and Alor Setar, offering greater flexibility for travellers to plan their journeys.Travellers can also enjoy addedvalue through thoughtfullycurated offerings across the MAGecosystem – from savings on seatselection and prepaid baggage tointegrated flight and hotelpackages via MHholidays, as wellas exclusive deals on Journify,MAG’s travel and lifestyle platform.Selected promotions will feature instant savings of up toRM105 on flights and up to RM320off travel packages, enablingtravellers to enjoy a more seamless and rewarding end-to-endjourney.In the lead-up to the fair,MATTA and MAG will also besharing more on upcoming initiatives and promotions designed tomake travel more accessible andrewarding for Malaysians, including enhanced benefits throughMAG’s loyalty programme,Enrich.Members can enjoy an additional 5% off flight purchases, upto 30% off redemptions and 10%points back on One Worldredemptions, alongside lifestylerewards of up to 60% off gift cardsand e-vouchers and 20% offEnrich Xperience bookings.Members can also earn up tothree times the bonus Enrichpoints with co-branded cards and50% bonus points on hotel bookings, further enhancing the valueof flights, stays and curated experiences.“We always look forward tohaving MAG at the MATTA Fair.Their presence brings a dynamicenergy to the fair and it is alwaysa pleasure to work together increating a more engaging experience for visitors,” said MATTApresident Nigel Wong.This 58th MATTA Fair will feature a total exhibition space of40,820sq m across 10 halls, withover 2,000 booths from 330 participating organisations, including210 tour and travel agencies offering a diverse range of curatedtravel packages.Visitors can engage with sixnational tourism organisations,11 local state tourism organisations, 64 hotels and resorts, 11theme parks and 29 other travel-related service providers.MAG Airline Business chiefcommercial officer DersenishAresandiran said: “This year, theMAG Arena will introduce a newgeneration of travel engagement– from immersive destination storytelling to interactive travel technology – allowing visitors to experience the excitement of discovering their nextjourney even beforethey board the aircraft.”Malaysia Airlines will introduce exclusive fan engagementmechanics that allow fans to signup, book and receive fast-trackentry to public meet-and-greetsessions with Manchester UnitedLegends.Customers who purchase aBusiness Class ticket to international destinations betweenMarch 31 and April 5 this yearwill gain access to an exclusiveprivate meet-and-greet session.Visitors can enjoy exclusiveon-ground promotions, includingEnrich member sign-up incentives, merchandise deals andadded rewards.The fair is open from 10am to9pm on Friday, Saturday andSunday, and admission is free.Visitors can take the complimentary shuttle services from KLSentral and Sunway Putra Mall toMitec.Parking facilities are also available at Mitec’s South Entrancebasement and more for thosewho drive.For the latest updates, visit mattafair.org.my or on Facebook, Xand TikTok, @mattafair.officialand Telegram @MATTA_Fair.KUALA LUMPUR: Mid Valley’shospitality ecosystem has seen amajor boost with the official reopening of the St. Giles Mid ValleyKuala Lumpur hotel.Formerly known as the St. GilesGardens Hotel, the iconic hotelunderwent major renovationsand upgrades to its facilities starting in March last year before reopening its doors yesterday.Among the key changes to thehotel are its 448 new fully renovated guest rooms, each showcasing a blend of the high-energyurban lifestyle and comfort ofurban residence that KualaLumpur is known for.The rooms are divided into fourdistinct categories, each cateringto the various needs of guests.The Deluxe and Premier roomsfeature premium bedding, as wellas large bathrooms equippedwith a separate bathtub andshower.Meanwhile, its Wau Deluxe andWau Premier rooms offercustomers intricately designedinteriors with unique breathtaking views of the city.Wau category room guests alsohave access to the Wau Lounge, aprivate quiet retreat for guests towork, have private discussions orenjoy a peaceful break from thecity lights.Hotel guests can enjoy a worldclass shopping experience withoutneeding to stray too far from thehotel, due to its direct connectionto the popular Mid Valley Megamall and Gardens Mall, whichhave over 600 retail outlets.Guests will also be able to easilyexplore KL with the hotel onlybeing a 10-minute walk from thenearby Abdullah Hukum LRTstation or Mid Valley KTM station,providing easy public transitaccess to KL Sentral or the KLInternational Airport.They also have the option of aquick 10-minute drive to iconicKL destinations like Chinatown,KL Bird Park and the BotanicGardens.James Loo, chief executiveofficerofCititelHotelManagementHotels, which manages the property, said the hotel’s reopeningsignified its desire to match theevolving global hospitality landscape.“We are not just rebranding abuilding; we are reinforcing ourcommitment to strategic evolutionand long-term value creation.“The reopening is meant to givethe hotel a new lease of life, givingour guests a seamless, city-centricexperience while also reinforcingMid Valley City’s position as a premier integrated destination.“Ultimately, we want all ourguests to experience the seamlesscity-centric stay from the momentthey step in,” he said in his speechat the hotel’s reopening ceremony.Loo said the hotel has kept mostof its staff members from beforerenovations began, noting howimportant these veteran staff areto the hotel’s operations.“In hospitality, any asset likeour hotel is ultimately defined byits people and the service delivery, which is why we kept ourstaff members during the renovation as they serve as the true corelife of our hotel,” he said.The hotel has also gone fullycashless, which is designed toensure all its guest transactionsare fast and secure to meet thedemands of the modern traveller.As part of its grand reopening,the hotel is offering a limited time30% reopening discount for bookings.More information can befound at www.stgileshotels.com/mid-valley.8 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026From Tokyo to Bali, airlines set to bring special deals and experiencesMAG-nificent return to MATTA FairRevamped St. Gilesreopens its doorsBy BENJAMIN [email protected] with a boost: (From left) st. Giles Mid Valley Kuala lumpur general manager simon yong, iGB rEiTManagement executive chairman datuk sri robert Tan and iGB Berhad group chief executive officer Tan Boonlee officiating the grand opening of st. Giles Mid Valley Kuala lumpur. — yap ChEE hONG/The starSWCorp turns rubbish into record-holding art installationsSEPANG: Malaysia has becomethe first country in Asia to berecognised by Asean Records andAsia Records for a nationwiderecycled sculpture initiative.The project, implemented bythe Solid Waste and PublicCleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), features 45 sculptures made mostly from recycledmaterials and installed acrossseveral states including Johor,Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Melaka,Kedah and Selangor, and in KualaLumpur.Asean Recordsand Asia Recordsmanaging director Gillian Ooisaid the initiative creates publicawareness of sustainable wastemanagement, demonstrating thatsolid waste can yield high returnswhen processed creatively,Bernama reported.“This project shows that recycled materials can be turned intosomething beautiful. It also helpsto educate the public that whatwe throw away can be reused increative ways,” Ooi said after thedual award recognition ceremony here.The record was for the LargestSingle-Programme Multi-StateOutdoor Recycled SculptureInstallation by a GovernmentAgency, involving the installationof 45 sculptures in eight stateswithin six months.Each sculpture containsbetween 60% and 100% recycledmaterials, exceeding the minimum 50% requirementfor recordrecognition.The sculptures vary in size andare placed in public and touristareas to attract visitors andpromote environmental awareness.Ooi added that based on theirresearch, no other country inAsean or across Asia has implemented a similar nationwide,government-led effort combiningpublic art, sustainability andtourism on this scale.

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Nation 9Text by Ong Han Seanaboutjoss papercraft?▪ Joss papercraft are paper offerings thatare burned as part of ancestral worship,especially during festivals such as QingMing, the Tomb Sweeping Day.▪ The practice is rooted inthe belief that offeringssent through fire canreach ancestors andloved ones in the afterlife. onalj p peroften takes theform of gold andsilver sheets,symbolisingmoney andwealth.▪ From paper money to papermansions, the offerings havegrown with the times. Today, josspapercraft can include houses,cars, clothing and householdgoods, all crafted in intricate detail.▪ Some modern creations evenreplicate luxury items such asdesigner handbags,smartphones and aeroplanes.▪ These itemsare burned assymbolic gifts,reflectingwishes forcomfort,prosperity andstatus in theafterlife.▪ The craft requires skilledhandiwork, with artisansassembling detailedstructures from paper,bamboo frames and foil.▪ While widelypractised, theburning of josspaper has alsoraisedenvironmentalconcerns due tosmoke and waste.▪ Despite this, the traditionremains an importantexpression of filial piety andremembrance in Chineseculture.▪ Traditiojoss papeGoods with unpaid duties worth RM2.4mil seizedIPOH: Goods with unpaid dutiesworth RM2.4mil have been seizedduring several enforcement operations since the beginning of thisyear, says Perak CustomsDepartment director MohdNadzri Ariffin.He said coordinated operationsby its units from Teluk Intan, Ipohand Pengkalan Hulu thwartedattempts to smuggle rice, frozenmeat, tiles and electric bicycles.The five separate cases weredetected between January andFebruary, with multiple seizuresmade in Port Klang and Gerik.In the first case on Jan 14, MohdNadzri said enforcement officersdiscovered 801 boxes of porcelaintiles falsely declared as cementtiles after inspecting a containerin Port Klang.The goods were estimated to beworth RM406,500, with unpaidduties amounting to RM557, 790,he added.“In a separate case on Jan 21, alorry was intercepted along JalanLenggong-Gerik where officersfound rice believed to have beensmuggled from a neighbouringcountry via Kelantan.“The driver and his attendantwere arrested and initial investigations revealed that the rice,intended for distribution in Perak,was transported without a validpermit,” he told reporters at apress conference yesterday.He added that on Jan 27, 22.9tonnes of lentils, falsely labelledas rice, were seized in Port Klangand had been transported without a valid permit.He said that a total of 418 electric bicycles were also seized atWestport, Port Klang, during aseparate operation on Feb 6.“The bicycles, worthRM358,244.27, were found tohave been falsely declared asMalaysian-made products despitebeing imported from China,” headded.He said the cases are beinginvestigated under the CustomsAct for false declaration and smuggling.Mohd Nadzri said enforcementofficers also uncovered anattempt to pass off 49,343kg offrozen meat as frozen dumplingsin Port Klang during an operationon Feb 12.The frozen meat, which wasfalsely declared, was valued atRM614,832.26, with unpaid dutiesestimated at RM30,741.61, hesaid.By MANJIT [email protected] issue: Mohd Nadzri (second from left) looking over goods thatwere confiscated by perak Customs officers. — rONNiE ChiN/The starDiscovery application dismissedJudge denies semantan Estate’s request for documents on land disputeBy NURBAITI [email protected] LUMPUR: The HighCourt has dismissed a discoveryapplication by the SemantanEstate Sdn Bhd in its bid to obtaindocuments relating to an assessment for compensation over theDuta Enclave land dispute withthe government.Justice Roslan Mat Nor delivered the decision after hearinglengthy submissions from partieshere yesterday.Semantan Estate had appliedfor the discovery application onseveral documents, including survey plans, acquisition records,memorandum of transfers andzoning documents dating back tothe 1950s.It identified four government-related agencies that wouldlikely have in their possession thedocuments needed to assist thecourt in making an assessmentfor compensation to be paid bythe government to the companyover the disputed land known asthe Duta Enclave.The four agencies arethe Department of Survey andMapping (Jupem), the SelangorLand and Mines Office (PTG), theNational Archives and the KualaLumpur City Hall (DBKL).Senior Federal Counsel AzzaAzmi, who appeared for the government, however, opposed theapplication, saying that the documents were not in their possession.She said the defendant hadtaken the initiative to reach out tothe federal agencies identified forthe documents, and only one document was available.However, she said the SelangorPTG falls under the purview ofthe state government, and thedefendant could not request documents from a state governmentas it has no power over it.“In this case, the documents arenot in our possession. And wecannot simply request documentsfrom a state government. Theyare a separate legal entity,” shesaid.Lawyer Janet Chai Pei Wing,who represented SemantanEstate as the plaintiff, said thedocuments could assist the courtin deciding the amount for compensation.She said that, as the FederalGovernment, the defendantshould have access to the documents.“And yet we are faced here with‘technical differences’ by the government,” Chai added.In his decision, Justice Roslansaid he had scrutinised the affidavits-in-reply by the agencies, inwhich they clarified that they didnot have the relevant documentsin question.With the dismissal, the judgedid not make an order as to costs.The court then fixed April 10for mention in the assessment.On Nov 13 last year, the FederalCourt dismissed SemantanEstate’s leave application toappeal a Court of Appeal decision,the company’s final attempt tooverturn the appellate court’s ruling that the 106.54ha Duta Enclavebelongs to the government.It said the application did notmeetthe threshold under Sections96A and 96B of the Courts ofJudicature Act 1964.The Federal Court then orderedthe case remitted to the HighCourt for assessment of compensation to Semantan Estate.On June 24, 2025, the FederalTerritory of Kuala Lumpur LandRegistrar succeeded in its appealto set aside the High Court rulingthat ordered a transfer of the106.54ha Duta Enclave title inKuala Lumpur back to SemantanEstate.In the decision, the Court ofAppeal held that the 2009 HighCourt decision did not order atransfer to Semantan Estate andtherefore there was no order toexecute.The appellate court also ruledthat Duta Enclave belongs to thegovernment and directed compensation to Semantan Estate.The land in the Jalan Duta areanow houses several facilities.These include the InlandRevenue Board Complex, government buildings, National HockeyStadium, Institute of IslamicUnderstanding Malaysia andFederal Territory Mosque.

KUALA LUMPUR: A 67-year-old contractor who lost nearly RM20,000 to credit cardfraud involving overseas transactions hasbeen required to settle the full outstandingamount, despite disputing the charges.The victim, who only wanted to beknown as Hong, said four transactionswere detected on his credit card in Marchlast year, including two successful payments made to a hospital in India and twodeclined European transactions.He added that the successful transactions amounted to RM19,755.32.“I immediately contacted the bank toblock my card after being alerted,” he said,adding that he also filed a dispute andlodged a police report.Despite this, he said he was later chargedfor the disputed transactions, promptinghim to escalate the matter through formalcomplaints and issue a legal letter to thebank.He added that the bank also proposedthat he bear 50% of the disputed amount,but he rejected the offer as he did notauthorise the transactions.“I also submitted a report via email to theFinancial Markets Ombudsman Service(FMOS) in Dec 2025 but was then informedthat I am required to settle the full outstanding amount,” he said at a press conference yesterday at the MCA headquartershere.Hong then brought the case to the MCAPublicServicesand Complaints Department.The department’s head, Datuk SeriMichael Chong, cautioned the public to bevigilant when using credit cards, especiallyfor online transactions.“Avoid trusting unsolicited messages andonly deal with licensed banks or authorised platforms,” he said.Chong added that the department wouldalso write to Bank Negara and engage themfor further advice and solutions.Also present at the press conferencewere three other victims who experiencedsimilar incidents.A 65-year-old housewife, known as Tan,was charged RM17,997 after a transactionwas made on her credit card at a retailoutlet while she was at home in January.She said she received a notification abouta purchase at a phone shop in a mall inKuala Lumpur, which she immediatelydisputed with the bank.“Upon checking the store’s CCTV, anunknown individual had collected the threephones on behalf of a company,” she said.“I reported the fraud to the bank withina minute as the transaction was still pending at the time of my call.“But the bank is still insisting that I bearthe charge, and I find this unreasonable asI reported it immediately upon realisingthe unauthorised transaction,” she said.Meanwhile, a 30-year-old salesman, Tan,lost about RM15,800 after scammers posing as bank officials tricked him intorevealing his credit card details.He received a text claiming a purchasehad been made on his credit card and wastold to call a number provided.Believing it was genuine, he shared hisdetails, but only realised he had beenscammed after RM1,000 was withdrawnfrom his savings account and multiplecharges appeared on his other cards.In another case, a self-employed woman,30, lost RM7,455 after falling victim to anonline scam involving a fake verificationlink.Wanting to be identified only as Woon,she said the incident began after she postedan advertisement to sell sneakers on asocial media platform and was contactedby a buyer.She later received an email asking her toverify the transaction through a link, whichshe clicked.She subsequently discovered thatRM7,455 had been charged to her husband’s credit card via an online platform.“I reported the matter to the bank withintwo hours but was advised to lodge a policereport as the transaction had already gonethrough,” she said.10 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Scammed, butstill told to settlecredit card billpublic cautioned to be vigilantBy QISTINA [email protected] action: scam victims at the press conference with Chong. Most of the victimsmade prompt reports but were held liable by the banks. — ChaN TaK KONG/The star

KOTA KINABALU: Five rain trees thathaveshadedthe KasiguiareainPenampangsince the British colonial era have beenspared from being cut down – at least fornow.The felling of the trees, which was scheduled for today, has been halted followingprotests from environmentalists and locals.The Penampang municipal council, in anupdated notice on March 31, said the cutting down of the trees has been put on holdpending a re-evaluation.Issues that will be looked at include safety and technical aspects, the council said,adding that it appreciates all feedback,cooperation and public concern.Landscape architect and arborist EricYee is thankful that the council is willing tolisten to the voices from the public andreview the matter.“They were just trying to do their job forpublic safety. However, they should get asecond opinion, engage the public beforedeciding to chop down those trees that holdsuch heritage and sentimental values,” hesaid, adding that stakeholders should worktogether to find a solution.Yee, who has occasionally checked on thecondition of the trees, said they could beretained with proper mitigation and monitoring.“Also, there is a need to improve thegrowing conditions of these trees; forexample, in terms of root space, improvingsoil structure and restricting compaction,”he said.There have been several attempts by localauthorities to get rid of the trees due to safety concerns but public protests, as well asextra care given to these trees, have allowedthem to survive for a few more years.Last week, the Penampang municipalcouncil issued an announcement that thetrees were to be cut down on April 2.Some trimming work had started overthe weekend but the plans were scrappedfollowing public outcry, with many sharinghow the trees served as shade for tradersand fishermen in the area for decades.THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Nation 11By YASMIN ABDUL [email protected] JAYA: Chai Jin Shern, alsoknown as James Chai (pic), has been giventwoweeks by theMalaysian Anti-CorruptionCommission (MACC)to return to Malaysia toassist in the Arm Holdings probe.To ensure he does so, the agency is evenoffering to cover his travel costs.If he does not take up the offer, the MACCmay then seek assistance from international enforcement agencies, includingInterpol, to locate and ensure his return.The commission said investigations intothe case are ongoing, with statementsrecorded from 17 witnesses so far.“These include officers from theEconomy Ministry as well as agencies suchas the Malaysian Investment DevelopmentAuthority,” it said in a statement.Statements from eight more witnessesare expected to be recorded, includingthose currently abroad.The MACC added that it has obtained keydocuments, including agreements andother materials relevant to the probe.Chai, a former aide to Datuk Seri RafiziRamli, has been identified as an individualrequired to assist in theinvestigation.On March 4, the MACCissued a notice to locatehim.The commission laterreceived a letter datedMarch 9 from his legal representatives saying he was unable to attendto have his statement recorded, citing flightcosts and work commitments.He was then granted an extension toappear on March 31, but he did not confirm his attendance.Following this, the MACC issued anotherletter requiring him to be present withintwo weeks.The commission stressed that thosecalled to assist in investigations are obligated to do so.“If James Chai maintains that he has notcommitted any wrongdoing, he has to present himself to the MACC to give his statement, rather than issue explanations in thepublic domain,” it said.The MACC reiterated that no one is abovethe law and that investigations will be conducted in a professional, independent andevidence-based manner.Kasigui trees get reprieveBy STEPHANIE [email protected] save: yee (left) and a local resident posing in front of one of the trees.MACC offersChai ‘travel deal’Given two weeks to return for probe

12 Nation THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Compiled by QISTINA SALLEHUDDIN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHANGovt withdraws appeal over Pastor Koh classified reportPUTRAJAYA: The governmenthas withdrawn its appeal againstthe Kuala Lumpur High Court’sdecision to grant access to a classified report to Pastor RaymondKoh’s family.Senior Federal Counsel NurulFarhana Khalid informed a threemember bench, led by JusticeSupang Lian, along with JusticesIsmail Brahim and K. Muniandy,of the decision yesterday.In a Bernama report, she saidthe withdrawal followed therecent filing of a notice of discontinuance.The court subsequently struckout the appeal and awardedRM15,000 in costs to Koh’s family.Earlier, Nurul Farhana hadappealed to the court to waivecosts.Lawyer Michelle Wong, actingfor Koh’s family, opposed therequest, arguing that considerable effort had been expended inresponding to the appeal.Hence, she requested RM15,000in costs, highlighting that anapplication to adduce fresh evidence had been filed last month.On Nov 5 last year, High CourtJudge Su Tiang Joo ruled that thepolice and the government wereliable for Koh’s disappearanceand ordered the payment of morethan RM37mil in damages.This judgment was immediately contested when the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers filed a noticeof appeal the following day.The suit was filed by Koh’s wife,Susanna Liew Sow Yoke, againstthe police and the governmentover her husband’s disappearance and the authorities’ handling of the investigation.Koh was reportedly abductedby masked men while driving inKelana Jaya on Feb 13, 2017.Soaring pride onthe regional stageMimi Fly to represent M’sia at asean-Korea festKUALA LUMPUR: Popularsinger Mimi Fly is set to representMalaysia at the Asean-KoreaMusic Festival (Round 2026),which will take place on April 18and 19 at the Araneta Coliseum inthe Philippines.The festival aims to promotecultural exchange between SouthKorea and Asean countriesthrough music performances,choreography and creative collaborations among regionalartistes.Mimi, whose real name isShamimi Amalina Norhisham, 39,described the opportunity torepresent Malaysia as a greathonour and is determined todeliver her best performance onthe international stage.“I’m very proud to representMalaysia at this festival. It’s anopportunity to showcasemy talent on a regional platformand bring the country’s name tothe global stage.“I’m currently busy fine-tuningand preparing for the performance.“I just want to give it my verybest,” she told reporters after apress conference to announce the‘For You: Nourul’ concert hereyesterday, Bernama reported.Besides Mimi, the festival willfeature selected Asean artistesincluding Pamungkas (Indonesia),Syafiq Abdillah (Brunei), TJMonterde (Philippines) and 10CM(South Korea).Known for her hit songs Angkatand Serumpun, Mimi will performseveral tracks in a 25-minute set,supported by 16 dancers fromMalaysia and the Philippines.Amid her busy schedule, Mimiwill also appear as a guest artisteat the ‘For You: Nourul’ concert,scheduled to take place at ZeppKuala Lumpur on May 30.The former One Nation Emceesmember described her involvement in the concert as an honour,further strengthening both herprofessional ties and friendshipwith singer Nourul Depp.“Nourul reached out to me viadirect message on Instagramsaying she was planning a concert, and she asked for my fullsupport,” she said, adding thatNourul is among the seniorartistes who have consistentlysupported and encouraged her.Mimi also shared that she conducts dance classes and works asa yoga instructor to maintain herphysical and mental well-beingwhile giving back to the community.“I enjoy teaching dance andyoga because not only do theykeep me fit; they also inspire others to take care of themselves.These activities complement mysinging career,” she said.Solidrepertoire:Known forher hit songs‘angkat’ and‘serumpun’,Mimi willperformseveraltracks in a25-minuteset. — photocourtesy ofNova MusicCall madeto restoreschool’s nameTHE Indian community in Gopeng,Perak, has called for the name ofthe Tamil school there to be reverted to its original name from 1965,Malaysia Nanban reported.SJK (T) Gopeng was initiallyknown as Thiruvalluvar TamilPadasalai Gopeng or Thiruvalluvar Tamil School.State exco member Datuk A.Sivanesan, who accompaniedDeputy Education Minister WongKah Woh during a recent visit,said he is ready to support theeffort to bring back the originalname honouring the ancientIndian sage, the daily reported.> A man in India reportedlykilled his brother-in-law and tookhis remains to the police station,where he was arrested, MakkalOsai reported.The 30-year-old man fromKarnataka was said to have discovered that his married youngersister had been having an affairwith his wife’s 24-year-old brother.The suspect then asked the victim to come to his house to discuss the matter.When the victim arrived, hewas beaten to death with a steelrod.The suspect then put the victim’s body into the car and droveto the police station to confess tothe murder.Man sets car on fire after being bullied by peerUNABLE to endure being bulliedany more, a man in Sitiawan,Perak, allegedly set his bully’s caron fire and was later arrested, SinChew Daily reported.Police arrested the 23-year-oldsuspect, who works as a wireman,and obtained a three-day remandorder at the Magistrate’s Court inSeri Manjung.According to Manjung OCPDAsst Comm Hasbullah AbdRahman, the suspect was upset atbeing bullied by one of his friends.The man resorted to setting fireto a car that belonged to one of hisbully’s family members, ACPHasbullah said.CCTV footage of the incidentshows a masked man arrivingalone at a house in Kampung Kohjust past midnight on March 30.The masked man smashes a carparked outside before setting thevehicle on fire.As the incident was discoveredin time, no one was injured.Police are investigating the caseunder Section 435 of the PenalCode for mischief by fire.> A peculiar scene unfoldedinvolving a fleet of nine sewagetrucks decorated with flowers ledby a Mercedes-Benz sedan inAnhui, China, Sin Chew Dailyreported.At the helm of the entouragewas Pan Haonan, a man workingin the sewage industry who wentto pick up his bride for their wedding.After getting engaged, Pan proposed using a fleet of sewagetrucks as their wedding convoy,and his bride-to-be happilyagreed.Pan, who studied film and television, joined his father’s sewagebusiness after graduation.Driving a sewage truck as partof his job, he said has never beenashamed of his profession.“Even though our job is thedirtiest and the smelliest, themoney we earn is clean,” Pansaid.Marissa Dania breaks silence on marital woesSOCIAL media users haveexpressed sympathy for MarissaDania Hakim after the daughterof celebrities Norman Hakim andAbby Abadi shared an emotionalpost on why certain parties continue to raise issues about hermarriage, Berita Harian reported.The 20-year-old said she hadalready admitted her past mistakes but had not made any moresince becoming a wife.“Is it fair to keep raising mattersbefore my marriage when I havenot done anything since then? Ihave already admitted my faultsand shortcomings,” she said inher post.Marissa Dania also revealedthat she did not receive what shedescribed as her rightful entitlements as a wife but chose toremain silent and avoided making demands publicly.“In fact, I did not receive myrights as a wife as I should have,fairly so, and I did not demandanything or say anything aboutit,” she added.Marissa Dania questioned theactions of certain individuals whoshe claimed were willing toexpose the faults of others simplyto gain public support.Her post sparked mixed reactions online, with some expressing sympathy while others continued to criticise her past.Marissa Dania’s marriage hadpreviously come under publicscrutiny after reports surfacedthat she tied the knot in Songkhla,Thailand, on Dec 27, 2023.She became the second wife ofsocial media influencer AhmadAslam, who remains married toinfluencer Umisya Mazlan.It was also reported that AhmadAslam had allegedly pronounceddivorce twice and reconciled withMarissa in 2024 and the previousyear.> Singer and actor Naim Danielhas chosen to limit his appearances to closed-door performancesamid ongoing legal proceedingsrelated to an alleged sexualassault, Harian Metro reported.The 28-year-old, whose fullname is Muhammad Naim DanielBaharin, said he misses performing on the big stage but is takinga cautious approach for now.“I have received a lot of directmessages from fans saying theymiss seeing me perform.“The truth is I miss it too and Istill perform but these are mostlyprivate shows,” he added.The Sumpah singer said hisdecision to scale back public performances was made out of sensitivity to public perception surrounding the case.“I know that if I am involved inlarge shows, it will attract widespread attention and become atalking point. So for my own good,I feel it is better to filter the showsI accept,” he said.Naim added that he is nowmore mindful in how he goesabout his personal and professional life.

I REFER to the report “Drunkdriver in fatal Klang crashremanded for four days” (TheStar, March 30). The tragic newsof the fatal crash in Klang hasignited a familiar firestorm ofpublic outcry. Predictably, thedigital space is flooded withdemands for harsher penaltiesand the inevitable calls formore frequent police roadblocks.Some have even devolvedinto the destructive habit ofviewing this tragedy throughracial lens, a move that doesnothing to heal the victim’s family or prevent the next collision.While enforcement is vitaland the driver must face the fullweight of the law, we are missing the most critical lesson. Ifwe only look to the police or thecourtroom for solutions, we arebeing reactive. To truly stop thecarnage on our roads, we mustmove towards a culture of careand intervention.The hard truth is that irresponsible drivers are rarelyalone before they get behindthe wheel. They are often surrounded by friends, peers orcolleagues. These are people inthe best position to save a life.Yet, too often we remainsilent bystanders. We watch afriend stumble to their car andsay nothing because we don’twant to spoil the mood or seemoverbearing.I recently attended a weddingwhere the master of ceremoniesdid something remarkable.Before the festivities ended, hemade a formal announcementabout the risks of driving underthe influence. He explicitlyasked guests to look out for anyone in an “over-happy” moodand insisted that they intervene,either by volunteering to drivethem home or calling a rideshare service. It was a powerfulreminder that road safety is ajoint responsibility.This culture must also permeate our professional spaces.Corporations, particularly fleetlogistics companies and busoperators, have a unique opportunity to lead. It should be astandard company habit toempower employees to monitorand “step in” when they suspecta colleague is not fit to drive.When intervention becomes acelebrated part of a company’sculture rather than a formality,we create a human safety netthat no roadblock can match.Roadblocks are necessary, butthey are a last line of defence. Bythe time a driver reaches one,the risk is already on the road.The first line of defence is thefriend at the table, the host at theparty or the supervisor at thedepot.Let us stop waiting for theauthorities to solve a problemthat begins in our own social circles. If we all embrace the dutyof care – the courage to take akey and kindness to book a ride –we can finally begin to reducethese senseless tragedies.It is time we stop blaming andstart intervening.CHIN YEW SINShah AlamE-MAIL [email protected] orMAIL The Editor, Menara Star, 15, Jalan16/11, Section 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya.Letters must carry the sender’s full name,address and telephone number. youroPInIon A pseudonym may be included.THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Views 13When ‘candy’has hiddendangersfor childrenTHEY look like candy or bubblegum and smell like strawberries,mango or other fruits. But thesesweet little treats are actuallyvapes that are laced with nicotineand, in some cases, even drugs.And they are finding their wayinto the hands of children whoare curious, pressured to takethem or are simply unaware ofthe harm associated with them.Experts warn that these substances when vaped or eaten cancause dizziness, confusion andlong-term damage to brains thatare still developing. Even one trycan do real harm.Despite the restrictions provided under the Control of SmokingProducts for Public Health Act2024, which include prohibitingthe sale, advertising and promotion of vape products, children inschools are still getting theirhands on these items.Most of these products containlevels of nicotine that are strongenough to rewire a young brain,increase the risk of addiction andcloud judgment.In neighbouring countries,authorities have even foundvapes mixed with drugs or anaesthetics.Sometimes, it is easy to miss thesigns that children are using thesesubstances, but parents can lookout for:> Unusual tiredness or dizziness;> Sudden mood changes orsecretive behaviour; or> A drop in school performance.Catching children in the earlystage of vaping makes a huge difference. And just as important isteaching them to say no whenthey sense that something doesn’tfeel right.Schools, parents or the government cannot solve this issue insilo. It takes all of society to do so.In schools, teachers and staffcan talk openly about the risksnot just during assemblies butalso in real conversations. Theycan also be trained to spot earlywarning signs.Parents can create safe spacesfor honest conversations withoutfear or judgment. Sometimes, justasking “Have you ever beenoffered something like this?” canopen the door for conversations.The government can furthertighten regulations on vape products and make sure that accurateinformation reaches familiesbefore problems arise.We need to get the message outthere: “Strawberries are notalways sweet. Sometimes, theyare dangerous.”The innocence of youth is beingtargeted in ways that feel playfulbut carry lifelong consequences.But with awareness, a watchfuleye and honest conversations, wecan help protect our childrenfrom dangers hiding in plainsight.KT MARANSerembanPunishment must be tied tointent and circumstancesTHE gruesome death of a motorcyclist, who was hit and killed bya driver believed to be under theinfluence of alcohol and drugs, inKlang on Sunday (March 29) hasgot politicians calling for thedeath penalty for such cases.This is a knee-jerk reaction.Cases involving driving under theinfluence of alcohol and/or drugs(DUI) that lead to death oftenspark public outrage, and it’s notunusual to hear calls for theharshest possible punishment tobe imposed on the guilty person.When politicians begin suggesting the death penalty for DUI, itreflects just how strongly peoplefeel about the injustice of it all.At a human level, that reactionis easy to understand. Someonemade a reckless choice to drivewhile under the influence – andanother paid the ultimate price.To many, this is no differentfrom taking a life outright. Theidea of imposing the death penalty comes from a sense that thepunishment should match theseverity of the crime.There is also a belief that if theconsequences are extremeenough, others might think twicebefore making the same mistake.In that sense, the call for harsher laws is not just about punishment but also to prevent futuretragedies.But when you step back fromthe emotions, the issue becomesmore complicated. DUI, even inthe worst cases, is usually nottreated as intentional killing. It isseen as a reckless or negligent actrather than a deliberate decisionto end someone’s life.This distinction matters in mostlegal systems, where the mostsevere punishments are reservedfor crimes with clear intent.Applying the death penalty toDUI would blur that line andraise difficult questions abouthow the law defines responsibility and intent.We can see this contrast moreclearly when looking beyondMalaysia. Last Friday, golf phenom Tiger Woods was arrested following a crash and charged withDUI in Florida.Although no one was killed orseriously injured in the incident,he was still detained, charged andnow faces legal consequences.What’s notable is not just theincident itself but how the system responded: the focus is oninvestigation, due process andproportionate punishment evenin a high-profile case.This comparison highlights animportant point. In many countries, including the United States,DUI is treated very seriously,especially when it causes harm.But the punishment is still tied tointent and circumstances.That doesn’t mean the systemis perfect, but it shows a different balance between accountability and proportionality.There is also the question ofwhether harsher punishmentreally works as a deterrent.While it might seem logicalthat fear of severe consequenceswould stop people from DUI,research in many places suggeststhat what really changes behaviour is the likelihood of beingcaught.People are more influenced bythe certainty of enforcement –roadblocks, breath testing andvisible policing – than by theseverity of a punishment thatfeels distant or unlikely.Because of this, countries thattend to focus on prevention asmuch as punishment havereduced DUI deaths.Strong enforcement, strict penalties like licence suspension,and public awareness campaignsall work together to reduce risksbefore tragedy strikes.These measures may not feelas emotionally satisfying asharsh punishment, but they areoften more effective in savinglives.While harsher penalties mayfeel justified in the moment,many would argue that a systemfocused on consistent enforcement and prevention offers abetter chance at protecting livesin the long run, both in Malaysiaand elsewhere.KR. PUNITHANSecretaryKlang Consumers AssociationLet’s all embrace duty of care to keep our roads safeFilepic courtesy of ibu pejabat polis daerah Barat daya, penang.

THE STAR, THuRSdAy 2 ApRil 2026The art of natureStudents taking part in an outdoor drawing activity in a rapeseed field during the spring break in Jiangyan District, Taizhou, in China’s easternJiangsu province. Every March to April, large swathes of Jiangsu turn yellow as its bountiful rapeseed flowers bloom. — AFP14No joke: Govt warns of jail time for April Fool’s hoaxesTHE Thai government issueda stern warning to social mediausers, stating that those who“prank” others online for AprilFool’s Day could face severe legalconsequences, including heavyfines and imprisonment.Airin Panrit, a deputy government spokesperson, addressedthe public yesterday morning,noting that while April 1 is traditionally reserved for light-heartedfun and strengthening friendships through humour, the current global climate makes socialpanic a serious risk.The authorities were particularly concerned about posts thatmight be shared widely, causingconfusion or damaging reputations.The Royal Thai Police highlighted two primary legal avenuesthrough which pranksters couldbe penalised:> The Computer Crimes Act:Anyone found importing orspreading false information thatimpacts national security, publicsafety or economic stability – orcauses widespread public alarm– could be jailed for up to fiveyears, fined 100,000 baht(RM12,320) or both.> Criminal defamation: Poststhat damage an individual’s reputation, incite hatred or involve“trolling” and abusive commentscan be prosecuted under Section328 of the Criminal Code. Thiscarries a penalty of up to twoyears in prison and a fine of up to200,000 baht (RM24,640).The warning comes at a sensitive time.“Amidst the ongoing MiddleEast conflict and its resultingimpact on energy supplies, thegovernment requests cooperationin sharing only accurate and beneficial information,” Airin said.She urged citizens to verify allfacts before hitting the “share”button to ensure public confidence is maintained during thesevolatile times.The Royal Thai Police alsolaunched a 24-hour monitoringprogramme to identify and actagainst those creating or disseminating “fake news” that causessocial distress.“April Fool’s Day should not beused as an excuse to cause troubleor spread falsehoods,” a policespokesperson added.Victims of damaging hoaxes, orthose who witness the spread ofdangerous rumours,were encouraged to report incidents to theirlocal police station or contact thenational emergency hotlines at191 or 1599.While the tradition of April Foolis recognised globally, the Thaiauthorities are making it clearthat in 2026, the line between ajoke and a crime has never beenthinner. — The Nation/ANNThailandRape accusercondemnsprosecution’sfailure toprotect victimsA JAPANESE prosecutor, who publiclyaccused her boss of rape, has condemned her office for failing toprotect victims after it rejectedher request for an independentprobe into harassment within theorganisation.Very few women in Japan speakout about sexual assault, butHikari (not her real name) cameforward in 2024 to accuse Osaka’sthen top prosecutor of raping hersix years earlier.Kentaro Kitagawa, head of theOsaka District Public Prosecutor’sOffice, was arrested and admittedthe assault but later withdrew hisstatement, saying the sex was consensual.Hikari has made a request tothe justice ministry and the prosecutors’ office that a third-partypanel be set up to investigatecases involving others in the legalprofession, and to implementmeasures to prevent harassment.She has previously said she was“certain that there are otherinstances of harassment and additional offences” besides thoseinvolving her.But they said they would“refrain from responding” asHikari also filed a suit against thestate last month, seeking compensation.“Whenever a public body or acompany is involved in a scandal,they set up an independent committee to rectify the situationimmediately and ensure (harassment) never happens again,”Hikari told reporters in Tokyo onTuesday.The prosecutors’ office “conceals crimes committed by itsown members and abandons victims, all in the name of protectingthe organisation”, she added.“This should never happen.After all, the work of the prosecution service is directly linked tothe lives and safety of the public.”— AFPJapanCyberscam boss extraditedAccused linked to alleged kingpin of cross-border syndicateA CHINA-BORNaccused cyberscam boss was extradited fromCambodia, Chinese state mediasaid, linking him to an allegedkingpin indicted by the UnitedStates for running a multibillion-dollar network from theSouth-East Asian nation.Cambodia has emerged as ahotspot for cyberscam operationsin recent years, with transnational crime groups initially largelytargeting Chinese speakers beforewidening their targets and stealing tens of billions of dollars annually from victims worldwide.China’s state-run broadcasterCCTV showed Li Xiong in handcuffs being escorted by Chinesepolice off a plane yesterday.State news agency Xinhua saidLi was central to a “majorcross-border gambling and fraudsyndicate”, citing China’s Ministryof Public Security.“Investigations found that LiXiong, the former chairman ofHuione Group under the PrinceGroup, is suspected of multiplecrimes,” state-run CCTV said.Chen Zhi, the founder of theUS-indicted Prince Group, wasextradited to China fromCambodia in January. The CCTVreport called Li “a core memberof Chen’s criminal gang”.Also born in China, Chen servedas an adviser to both CambodianPrime Minister Hun Manet andhis father, former leader Hun Sen.Hun Manet said in Februarythat the government “did notknow that he was the kingpin”and pushed back on allegations ofgovernment connivance.He said scam centres weredestroying Cambodia’s economyand giving the nation a bad name.Chen and Li had both beengranted Cambodian citizenship,which was later revoked byPhnom Penh.“At present, Li Xiong has beenplaced under coercive measuresaccording to the law,” CCTV said.Li was arrested in Cambodiaand deported at the request ofChinese authorities following amonths-long joint investigation,Cambodia’s interior ministry said.A spokesperson for the foreignministry in Beijing said “combating online gambling and telecomsfraud is the shared responsibilityof the global community”.Organised criminal gangs haveused casinos, hotels and fortifiedcompounds across South-East Asiaas bases to carry out sophisticatedonline scams, defrauding peoplearound the world through fakeromantic relationships and cryptocurrency investment schemes,according to the UN Office onDrugs and Crime. — AFPCambodiaChina

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 StarAsean+ 15Long-delayed population census beginsTHE nation has kickedoff the world’s largestnational population count, whichcould reshape welfare programmes and political representation across the country.The previous census in 2011recorded a population of 1.21 billion. It’s now estimated to be morethan 1.4 billion, making India themost populous nation.The new census had beenplanned for 2021 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges.Here’s how India’s censusworks and why it is significant:The first phase of the countstarted yesterday and will roll outaround the country through tothis September.The workers will spend about amonth in each area collectinginformation on homes and available facilities and will documenthousing stock and living conditions.The exercise will blend in-person surveys with a digital optionwhere residents can submit information through a multilingualsmartphone application that integrates satellite-based mapping.The second phase, to be conducted from September to nextApril 1, will record more detailedinformation like people’s socialand economic characteristics,including religion and caste.More than three million government workers are expected tobe deployed over the course ofthe year.In 2011, nearly 2.7 million enumerators surveyed over 240 million households nationwide.The second phase of the censuswill attempt a broader accountingof caste beyond historically marginalised groups.Caste is an ancient system ofsocial hierarchy in India and isinfluential in defining socialstanding and deciding who getsaccess to resources, educationand economic opportunity.There are hundreds of castegroups based on occupation andeconomic status across India, particularly among Hindus, but thecountry has limited or outdateddata on how many people belongto them.The last attempt to gatherdetailed caste informationthrough a census dates back to1931, during British colonial rule.Since independent India’s firstcensus in 1951, it counted onlyDalits and Adivasis, members ofmarginalised groups known asscheduled castes and tribes.Successive governments haveresisted conducting a full castecount, arguing it could heightensocial tensions and trigger unrest.Population data collectedthrough the census underpins thedistribution of government welfare programmes and a widerange of public policies.It could also prompt a redrawing of India’s political map, asseats in the lower house ofParliament and state legislaturesmay be increased to reflect population growth.A 2023 law reserves one-thirdof legislative seats for women, soany expansion would raise thenumber of seats set aside forfemale representatives. — APBlossom season brings calmspringtime offers welcome respite from geopolitical tensionsTHE harsh daysof winter areover in Pakistan’s high north andwhile snow still tops the toweringpeaks that dominate the landscape, spring has arrived in thefoothills.But this year, visitors who havecome to witness the region’s cherry and apricot blossoms see it asthe perfect tonic to the conflict inthe Middle East and its knock-oneffects.“There’s war going on all overthe world right now. It’s petrolcrisis, this and that, everythinghas become more expensive,everyone is in a depression,” saidHatib, 27, from Pakistan’s biggestcity, Karachi.“But to get out of depression,you need to step outside, go outsomewhere for a bit, see places,explore, and relax the mind.”The blossoms that turn baretrees into a vibrant shade of pinkcarpet the thawing farmland ofGilgit-Baltistan from late Marchevery year, marking renewal andthe promise of fruit harvests tocome for local people.“The best part is when theseflowers are falling. It literally feelslike a dream,” Hatib said.The region, home to 1.7 millionpeople, has some of the world’shighest mountains, including K2,which soars to 8,611m.The jagged mountain ranges,high-altitude lakes and glaciers ofGilgit-Baltistan are a magnet forthe daring and adventurous.However, more sedate visitorscan instead take selfies in theorchards of the flowering deepvalleys, under a clear blue skywith only the chirrup of birdsongand the bleat of foraging goatsto break the surrounding silence.“No matter how much inflationthere is in Pakistan today, nomatter how much petrol pricesare going up, tourists still don’twant to miss the cherry blossomand apricot blossom season.“Even if we have to spend extramoney, it’s not a problem, butwe’ll enjoy this view,” said localvisitor Maria Akbar, 29.“Things like cherry blossomand apricot blossom are whatmake Gilgit-Baltistan unique compared to all other regions,” addedJunaid Ahmed, 31.“Tourists from all over theworld come here to enjoy thisseason.“As you can see around me howbeautiful it is, the beautiful viewof these cherry and apricotblossoms is right before youreyes.” — AFPPetal power: Commuters riding past apricot blossom trees at in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. — aFpPakistanIndiaGovt eyes ‘deepening cooperation’ with Iran on energyTHE government is committed to “deepening cooperation” with Iran, particularly onenergy.The price of fuel has hit historichighs since treaty ally the UnitedStates and Israel launched strikeson Iran on Feb 28, with the warforcing the partial closure of thevital Strait of Hormuz.President Ferdinand Marcosdeclared a state of national energy emergency last week, later saying that “nothing was off thetable” as the country of 116 million tried to meet its need for fuel.Foreign Secretary TheresaLazaro said in a post on socialmedia platform X that she hadexplored “key avenues of operation” in a meeting with IranianAmbassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh that also included Philippineenergy secretary Sharon Garin.“Building on the momentum ofour political consultations lastNovember 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperationacross all fronts, particularlyenergy cooperation,” she said.The foreign affairs departmentoffered no further details of themeeting, but it comes just daysafter Malaysia announced itstankers would be permitted topass through the Strait of Hormuzwithout paying any toll to Iran.The Iranian embassy in Maniladeclined to comment.A stock exchange filing onMonday revealed that thePhilippines’ sole oil refinery hadsecured nearly 2.5 million barrelsof Russian crude out of “extremenecessity”. — AFPPhilippinesNepalAviation fuelprices raisedNEpal has increasedaviation fuel prices by upto 117.4% for internationalflights, effective aftermidnight on Tuesday.state-run Nepal OilCorporation said theincreases for internationalflights from Kathmandu,pokhara and Bhairahawawere needed to makepayments to indian OilCorporation on time andavoid further supplydisruptions. — reutersIndiaGovt hikes jetfuel, LPG costsThE oil ministry said yesterday that domestic jetfuel prices would rise asthe Middle East conflictpushed up energy costs,but that it had cushionedairlines from an expected100% jump. state-runrefiner indian Oil Corporation said aviation turbinefuel prices rose by 8.5% indelhi, with similar rises inother major cities. — aFpChinaFloods, droughtlikely this yearChiNa is likely to facesevere flooding anddrought in parts of thecountry this year, statebroadcaster CCTV saidyesterday. Citing theMinistry of Waterresources, it said thenorthern areas may seemore severe flooding,while areas in thesouthwest may experienceperiods of drought.— reutersPakistanNine killed inmine collapseNiNE workers were killedafter a marble minecollapsed in Khyberpakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.The incident occurred inthe rustam area ofMardan district, whereworkers were trappedunder debris when themine caved in. — Xinhua

16 THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 StarAsean+ 17Diesel pricereached doubleits level at the start of the Middleeast conflict after the latest government increase, official figuresshowed, raising concerns amongfarmers ahead of ploughing season.The price rose to 7,500 riel(RM7.48) per litre as of midnightyesterday, up from 7,200 riel(RM7.18) the previous day and3,750 riel (RM3.74) in lateFebruary, the commerce ministrysaid in a statement.The United states and israellaunched strikes against iran onFeb 28, triggering a regional conflict that has caused global oil andgas prices to surge and sparkedfears of fuel shortages, especiallyin import-reliant Asia.A litre of regular petrol inCambodia now costs 5,450 riel(RM5.44), up from around 3,750riel (RM3.74) in late February, thecommerce ministry said.The south-east Asian nationrelies totally on imports for itsconsumer fuel, and the government caps oil and petrol prices.Bun Thoeun, 71, in Battambang– a major rice-producing provincebordering Thailand – said thesurging fuel price is worryingfarmers like him.“The high price of diesel has putfarmers in a difficult situation,”said Bun Thoeun, who owns ahomemade tractor that runs ondiesel.The local price to rent a tractorto plough rice fields has nearlydoubled, from 80,000 riel(RM79.82) to 150,000 riel(RM149.68), he said.Farmers would begin ploughing from May, he said, adding thatdiesel is also needed to fuel waterpumps to irrigate paddy fields.“We hope there will be a lot ofrain, that would help.” — AFPDiesel pricedoubleson MideastconflictfalloutCambodiaRobotaxi outage caused by ‘system failure’A “sysTeM failure”caused a robotaxioutage involving multiple vehicles operated by Baidu’s Apollo Goin Wuhan, local police said, reigniting safety concerns over thefast-growing service.Police received reports late onTuesday that numerous Apollo Gocars had stopped in the middle ofroads and were unable to move,according to an official statement.Passengers were able to exit thevehicles safely and there were noinjuries, police said.The cause of the incident is stillunder investigation.At least 100 Apollo Go vehicleswere affected, a traffic policeofficer said.He added that while the cardoors could be opened, some passengers were hesitant to get outbecause of heavy traffic andcalled police for assistance.A video verified by Reuters andposted on TikTok’s Chinese version, Douyin, showed vehiclesstalled on busy roads andobstructing traffic.local media reported that somepassengers were trapped insidethe vehicles for nearly two hours.The accident sparked reneweddiscussions on Chinese socialmedia about robotaxi safety andreadiness.An Apollo Go robotaxi carryinga passenger fell into a construction pit in August, and in May acar operated by Pony.ai caughtfire. No injuries were reported ineither incident.A widespread power outage insan Francisco at the end of lastyear also caused Waymo robotaxis to stall and snarl traffic.Baidu is one of China’s largestoperators of autonomous drivingfleets, alongside Pony.ai andWeRide.The companies have rolled outcommercial robotaxi servicesacross major Chinese cities andhave expanded operations intooverseas markets, including theMiddle east. — ReutersWheels of the future: a file photo showing a driverless robotaxideveloped as part of Baidu’s apollo Go self-driving project. — aFpChinaDivoRCiNG parentscan opt to share custody, ending a system both criticised for encouraging parentalchild “abductions” and defendedas a safeguard for domestic abusesurvivors.For decades in Japan, only oneside – almost always the mother– was granted parental authoritypost-divorce, making it an outlieramong developed economies.Takeshi Hirano, 49, who camehome from work one day in 2018to find his wife had disappearedwith his two daughters, said thenew legal framework was a “hugestep forward”.Under the previous system,“once you separated or gotdivorced, the parent-child relationship could easily be severed”.But opponents to the changeargue that joint custody mayre-traumatise domestic violencesurvivors by making it harder toput their marriages behind them.on sunday, around 100 people– mostly women – rallied in Tokyoshowcasing a purple banner andballoons that symbolise domesticviolence awareness.The revised laws that took effectyesterday come as societal changes, such as fathers becoming moreinvolved in child-rearing,increased pressure for reform.The changes mean parents cannow discuss the terms of custodywhen divorcing.Couples can choose sole custody if they agree it is the bestoption. should they disagree,family courts will intervene to decidefor them, designating sole custodyin the case of domestic violence.Critics said the old systemincentivised one party to takeaway their child and establishthemselves as the resident parentfirst in order to win courtroomfavour in custody battles.“your kid could be abductedwith impunity,” said Hirano, alawyer by profession.But he cautioned that joint custody does not automatically meanmore meetings with children ormore time spent together.And the new law still allows oneparent to unilaterally make decisions on everyday matters such aswhat their children should eat,wear and do after school.What does change is that parental authority can now be split onmajor issues, including new homeaddresses, school choices andmedical surgery.But domestic violence survivors worry that joint custody canforce them to remain in closecontact with former partners,especially in cases of intangibleforms of abuse that courts mayfail to recognise.shiho Tanaka fled financial andpsychological abuse by her former husband who she says talkedher into quitting her full-time job,then “used his financial power totreat me like a slave”.While sole custody can bemaintained in court-recognisedcases of spousal violence, Tanaka,a local assemblywoman whoheads a support group for singleparents, said that “psychologicalabuse tends to be disregarded byJapanese courts”.The lopsided power dynamicsmean victims may be pressuredinto accepting joint custody afterall, and end up working togetherwith abusers to co-parent, familylawyer Harumi okamura said.The mediation system fordivorcing couples “prioritises listening to both sides equally, and,under the banner of neutrality,courts neither point out abusivebehaviour to perpetrators norurge them to change their conduct,” okamura said. — AFPJapanJoint custody now allowedBut divorce reform raises concerns over abuse survivors’ well-beingPResiDeNTlee Jaemyung held talks with indonesianleader Prabowo subianto, discussing energy security andagreeing to expand cooperationin areas such as critical mineralsand technology, lee’s office said.The summit talks yesterday followed a welcome ceremony at thepresidential Blue House in seoul.lee said energy security hadbecome a growing concern amidthe global uncertainty triggeredby the conflict in the Middle east.“We view indonesia’s stablerole in supplying key energyresources such as lNG and coal asvery reassuring,” lee said in astatement, calling for closer cooperation on energy supply andresource security.indonesia is the world’s largestexporter of thermal coal, whilesouth Korea has been among thefive biggest importers of the fuelin recent years, according toKorean government data.south Korea also importedabout 2.1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas from indonesia in2025, data showed.Prabowo arrived in seoul fromJapan where Jakarta agreed tostep up coordination with Tokyoon energy security.He described south Korea andindonesia as natural partnerswith “complementary roles”,pointing to south Korea’s industrial and technological strengthsand indonesia’s abundantresources and large market.south Korea’s exports toindonesia stood at Us$7bil(RM28bil) in 2025, while importswere Us$11.3bil (RM45.7bil),trade data showed.lee and Prabowo also oversawthe signing of multiple preliminary agreements, including support for projects in renewableenergy and data centres asthe countries elevate their tiesinto a strategic partnership.lee is also setto award Prabowosouth Korea’s highest civilianhonour, the Grand order ofMugunghwa, during the statevisit, the presidential office said.— ReutersSouth KoreaSummit talks touch on energy securityWarmwelcome:prabowo(left) and leeattendinga welcomeceremony atthe presidentialoffice inseoul. — aFp

18AS the conflict in the Middle East continues, intelligence gathered by thePentagon is being analysed by technologyfrom an artificial intelligence company ona system run by the data analytics firm.Drones created by a defence tech startup in Arizona have emerged as a keypiece of the US arsenal.And anti-drone systems made by aCalifornia startup have been deployed toprotect US forces in the region.Silicon Valley made risky bets in recentyears on developing defence-related technology and providing services to the USmilitary establishment.Now those bets are paying off.From behemoths providing data systems to smaller companies offering novelweapons, tech firms such as Google,Palantir and OpenAI have found themselves at the heart of the conflict.Their central role amounts to an “I toldyou so” moment.For years, the tech industry’s efforts ondefence-related offerings faced scepticismand opposition, with no clear or immediate business rewards.Many Silicon Valley engineers opposedthe use of powerful technologies for killing, battles and other military purposes –concerns that persist.Despite those fears, venture capitalfirms have poured billions of dollars sincethe 2010s into startups building drones,lasers and other military systems.In January, Andreessen Horowitz, whichwas founded by entrepreneurs MarcAndreessen and Ben Horowitz, closed anew, almost US$1.2bil fund to invest indefence technologies.In recent years, defence tech startupsoften ploughed ahead with weapons prototypes before they had official government contracts. At the same time, executives including Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir,and others started cultivating more tieswith the government.Former president Joe Biden welcomedmilitary technology, and President DonaldTrump has further embraced it.Last year, Trump issued an executiveorder calling for the military to update itssystem for acquiring technology so itcould incorporate new tools faster.His domestic policy bill last year allocated US$1 trillion to defence in 2026, including for technology offered by defence techfirms.Now the war has cemented that work,most likely leading to more businessbetween the tech industry and the military.In February, OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanagreed to bring his company’s AI systemsonto the Pentagon’s classified networks.Google signed a deal to bring AI botsknown as “agents” into the DefenceDepartment.More recently, the US Army said it hadawarded Anduril, a defence tech company,a US$20bil deal for AI-backed software torun on military systems.“People are pointing to this moment asa proof point,” said Garrett Smith, a former lieutenant-colonel and the CEO ofReveal Technologies, which makes mapping technology for the army.“It has shown us that in creating andselling these technologies to the US military, we are on the right track,” he added.“We have made the right investments.”Pentagon officials said they were excited about how well new technology likeAI-related systems had performed in theUS-Israeli conflict against Iran.Two officers who were not authorisedto speak publicly said the conflict was aninflection point in showing how moderntechnology could work with existing military systems.But Amos Toh, a senior counsellor at theBrennan Centre for Justice, a New Yorknon-profit focused on law and public policy, cautioned that this gung-ho attitudemight lead to little oversight of new systems and an overreliance on just a fewtech companies.The military and the government need“to take a look at the dependencies it iscreating”, Toh said.OpenAI, Google and the Pentagon didnot respond to requests for comment.(The New York Times has sued OpenAIand Microsoft, accusing them of copyrightinfringement of news content related to AIsystems. The two companies have deniedthose claims.)Technologies from defence startups arealso being deployed.A system that uses drones to counterother drones, called Merops, developed asa venture project by former Google CEOEric Schmidt, has become instrumental toprotecting US assets in the conflict.The system, which is small enough to belaunched from the back of a pickup truck,uses AI to seek out and intercept dronesbefore they can reach their targets.Schmidt’s office declined to comment.Small and lightweight drones calledLucas from SpektreWorks, a startup inPhoenix, have also been deployed in thebattlefield.The Lucas drones, which mimic Iran’sShahed drones, are designed for one-wayflights. They have been effective in overwhelming missile defence shields andengaging in the type of drone warfare firstmade popular in Ukraine, a US officialsaid.SpektreWorks declined to comment onits work with the Pentagon.US Central Command posted footage ofrows of the drones as they were readied tobe sent to US forces.“I’d like to point out these drones wereoriginally an Iranian design,” said AdmiralBrad Cooper, the head of the CentralCommand.“We took them right back to America,made them better and fired them rightback.” — ©2026 The New York TimesCompanyThis article originally appeared in The NewYork TimesTHE STAR, THuRSdAY 2 ApRil 2026Big Tech’s military bet is paying offBy SHEERA FRENkElA photo providedby the US CentralCommand showingLucas drones madeby SpektreWorks.After years ofcriticism andfinancial risk,start-ups aregenerating rewardsfrom theirinvestments indefence tech.— US CentralCommand via TheNew York Times“I’d like to point out these drones wereoriginally an Iranian design. We tookthem right back to America, made thembetter and fired them right back.”Admiral Brad Cooper

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 19

20 StarDots THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026some of the destroyed oyster crop at peeko Oysters in the North Fork of long island, Newyork. — Janice Chung/The New york TimesCages owned by peconic Gold Oysters (right) were damaged during a cold snap in lateFebruary which hit peconic Bay in the North Fork of long island in New york. (inset) GradyKoepele, whose family owned the North Fork Big Oyster company, searching for cagescaught in the ice in North Fork. — Janice Chung/The New york TimesThe winter thatPETER Stein stood on a dock on PeconicBay, New York, and stared at the wreckage.After weeks of being seized in ice off theEast End of Long Island, hundreds of hisoyster cages were now broken and scattered all over the bay.A month earlier, the cages were full ofoysters that can cost more than US$4apiece at Manhattan restaurants.But Stein said that most of his floatingfarm system – more than 2,000 cages, eachholding up to 250 oysters – had beenripped apart by ice that was “by far theworst” he’d seen since he founded PeekoOysters a decade ago.The thaw from one of the harshest coldsnaps in memory strewed Stein’s cultivation gear far and wide.Parts of cages, lines and floats were leftdrifting around the bay, stranded onshorelines and even tangled around thepropeller shaft of a ferry.Since then, he and his crew have beenlooking for them using sonar, drones andword of mouth, enlisting other oysterfarmers and locals.“It’s a search-and-retrieval effort at thispoint,” he said.Nearly 65km west, in the Great SouthBay off Fire Island, another oyster grower,Ray Smith, said the ice decimated his farmand those of a dozen others nearby.“Everyone got hammered,” said Smith,who co-owns Toasted Oysters, known forits prized Blue Point oysters.“Two-thirds of our farm was gone. Wedon’t know where it is.”The cages that he could locate weredamaged and contained oysters that hadmost likely frozen to death after so long inthe ice.Long Island growers were not the onlyones battered by the freeze. The harshwinter affected nearly all of the oysterproduction up and down the EasternSeaboard, from the Chesapeake Bay ofBy CoREy KilgAnnon

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 StarDots 21peeko Oysters’ floating farm equipment was damaged during the big freeze in the NorthFork of long island in New york late February. The deep freeze on the East Coast will stillbe felt during the summer when long island oysters will be in short supply. — JaniceChung/The New york TimesVirginia to the rocky Midcoast of Maineand farther north.Dale Parsons, a grower in South Jersey,the southern portion of New Jersey, calledit “the worst ice we have had in close to 30years”.In Maine, Abby Barrows, who ownsDeer Isle Oyster Co in Stonington,Connecticut, used a chain saw to cutthrough the ice to access her farm.And the Nauti Sisters Sea Farm inYarmouth, Maine, chronicled a “recoverymission” in which fellow farmers, lobsterfishers and drone videographers helpedlocate and retrieve displaced gear.Although Long Island produces only afraction of the oysters of these regions, itsvarieties have a certain prestige amongoyster aficionados.Now, after a decade-long resurgence,the Long Island oyster faces a serious challenge to keep its place on the menu at seafood restaurants in Manhattan and theHamptons.According to Eric Koepele, president ofthe Long Island Oyster GrowersAssociation, most of the group’s roughly50 commercial farmers suffered damageto their gear and crop losses. Many farmers said it would take months to re-establish their farms and years to regrow theoysters that had died.“This is a monstrous event caused by anunprecedented freeze,” said Koepele,whose family-owned company, North ForkBig Oyster, lost more than 300 cages, eachcosting around US$300 and holding up to2,000 oysters.Since the ice began melting, his son,Grady Koepele, has been hunting for thecages.Long Island was once a leading oysterproducer nationally, but stocks declined inthe early 20th century because of pollution, overharvesting and disease outbreaks.The industry has seen a kind of rebirthin the past decade, fuelled by an unlikelypairing of salty baymen and entrepreneurs who have left city careers for liveson the water.For the newcomers, the ice damage hasbeen a bracing shock.Smith, of Toasted Oysters, is a formerparamedic who started his farm threeyears ago with Mike Miezianka, a retiredNew York City police detective.Before the cold snap, they were workinghard to establish their brand and cultivaterelationships with restaurants, and wereapproaching a return of almost US$1 peroyster to retail customers. They had beenhoping to sell 500,000 oysters this year.“After our first two years, this was goingto be our big year,” Smith said, “and nowit’s not.”Including the oyster seed, most of their2.6 million oysters had been lost, he said.“I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re onlyleft with 20% of our oysters,” he said.Typically, Long Island farmers growtheir product in cages or bags that eitherfloat on the surface of the water or rest onbay bottoms.Many surface farmers avoid the risk ofwinter ice by sinking their farms to thebottom during the coldest months, a process that is arduous and time-consuming.Others, emboldened by the rarity ofbays freezing solid, leave their cages bobbing all winter.But the massive ice floes that formed inFebruary spared neither method.Driven by currents and wind, the iceploughed through floating gear on numerous farms, wrenching them and theirmooring lines free and scattering themkilometres away, dragging 220kg mushroom anchors with them.Even some oyster farmers who sanktheir cages found they were not safe fromthe deep-reaching ice.Matt Ketcham, 37, who started PeconicGold Oysters in 2013, said he had spentweeks submerging his cages at least 4mbeneath the surface. They were stillcrushed and dragged by the ice.“There’s nothing stopping these thingswhen they come through,” he said on arecent afternoon.Most of the ice had thawed, and he wason the bay using sonar and a grapplinghook to recover lost lines and stray cagesthat had been tossed around his 4ha leaseand beyond.For Stein of Peeko Oysters, the loss wasparticularly keen because he had installeda new type of floating system last yearcalled FlipFarm.The floating cages were tethered bystrong lines anchored by long helixanchors drilled into the bay bottom. Thesystem was not designed to be sunk butseemed secure, he said.“There’s a certain point,” he said, “whereyou say, ‘I’ve done everything I can do, andit’s up to Mother Nature now’.” — ©2026The New York Times CompanyThis article originally appeared in The NewYork Timeskilled the oyster renaissanceKevin Mosswatching MattKetcham hauloyster cagesfrom peconic Bayin North Fork,long island.— Janice Chung/The New yorkTimes“After our first two years, this wasgoing to be our big year ... and now it’s not.I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re onlyleft with 20% of our oysters.”Ray Smith

THE STAR, THuRSdAy 2 ApRil 202622Trump mocked withgolden toilet statueWashington: Here’s one monument President Donald Trumpprobably isn’t too happy to seeemblazoned with his name: agolden toilet near the WhiteHouse.Ensconced in the kind of overthe-top faux marble that Trumploves, the gold-painted toilet bearsa plaque reading: “A throne fit fora king.”The pop-up installation createdby a clandestine artistic groupcalling itselfthe Secret Handshakedrew long lines of tourists andTrump opponents near theLincoln Memorial on Tuesday,blocks from the White House.“I came to Washington totake this photo because I hateTrump,” Nancy Chase, 78, toldreporters.Trump has spent much of hisfirst year back in power puttinghis distinctive style on Washington.The famed Oval Office nowdrips with gold ornaments, theonce low-key elegant Rose Gardenhas been paved over, and theentire East Wing of the WhiteHouse has been torn down tomake way for a giant ballroom.Trump is fond of pushing himself front and centre with hislikeness due to appear on a newcoin and his name already featuring in huge letters on the KennedyArts Center in the capital.William Hoker, who biked tothe satirical golden toilet, said itwas a fitting memorial.“I wanted to see this statuebefore it disappeared, and I thinkit epitomises perfectly the guy inthe White House. He’s just a vulgar display,” the 69-year-old retiree said. — AFPSatiricalsculpture:A statuefeaturing alarge goldentoilet, titled‘A Throne Fitfor a King’, isdisplayed nearthe LincolnMemorial onthe NationalMall inWashington,DC. — Reutersteheran: Teheran was rockedby a fresh wave of explosions, asUS President Donald Trump saidthe conflict with Iran could beover in two or three weeks.It began when the United Statesand Israel launched airstrikesacross Iran that killed supremeleader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,quickly mushrooming into aregional conflict that has sent oiland gas prices soaring and threatened to torpedo the global economy.But Trump, whose statementson the conflict have swung fromcombative to conciliatory, saidlate Tuesday that the fightingcould be over in “two weeks,maybe three”.The White House said he wouldgive “an important update onIran” to the nation yesterdaynight.Teheran has insisted there areno ongoing negotiations, andthat it has not responded to areported 15-point proposal fromWashington to end the conflict.But Iranian President MasoudPezeshkian said the Islamicrepublic had the “necessary will”to end the conflict, provided itsenemies guaranteed it would notflare up again.With the status of diplomaticefforts uncertain, Iranian statetelevision reported that Teheranwas under attack yesterday, andexplosions were heard in the capital.An AFP journalist said strikeshit an area near the former USembassy, which was transformedinto a museum known as the“Den of Spies” and has become asymbol of the decades-long animosity between Teheran andWashington.Strikes also hit steel complexesin central and southwest Iran,according to Iranian media, causing “significant damage anddestruction”.The Israeli military confirmedit had carried out the strikes,while it also intercepted anIranian missile attack which medics said wounded 14 peopleincluding an 11-year-old girl.Israel also said yesterday thatits air defences had responded toa missile fired from Yemen – thethird attack by the Iran-backedHouthi rebels since they enteredthe conflict over the weekend.Thousands of people have beenkilled throughout the region during the conflict, which has displaced millions more from theirhomes.In Lebanon, seven people werekilled in strikes around southBeirut, the health ministry saidyesterday, while the Israeli military said it had struck a seniorHezbollah commander.A Lebanese security source anda Hezbollah source both said thestrike had killed Hezbollah’s topcommander for Iraq militaryaffairs, Yousef Hashem.“Nobody knows what’s happening,” resident Hassan Jalwan said,adding that “displaced peoplehave been sleeping in the open”in the area. — AFP‘Conflict could end soon’Trump says end in sight as Iran, Lebanon rocked by new strikesAmong the ruins: Mayor Ahmad Najem inspecting the site of a house destroyed by an Israeli strike inHoumine El Tahta, Lebanon. — ReutersNasa countsdown forfirst crewedlunar missionin halfa centuryCaPe CanaVeraL (Florida):Nasa is set to launch four astronauts on a 10-day flight aroundthe moon, marking the mostambitious US space mission indecades and a major step towardreturning humans to the lunarsurface before China’s firstcrewed landing.Nasa mission managers onMonday polled “go” to launch theArtemis II mission’s towering, 98mSpace Launch System (SLS) rockettopped with the astronauts’ Orioncrew capsule as early as today.It will launch from Nasa’sKennedy Space Center in Floridajust one pad away from where thelast moon-bound astronauts ofthe US Apollo programme liftedoff more than half a century ago.The Artemis II crew includesNasa astronauts Christina Koch,Victor Glover and Reid Wisemanand Canadian astronaut JeremyHansen, who landed in Floridafrom Houston on Friday.They had been in a two-weekquarantine leading up to liftoffand spent time with their familiesover the weekend at the KennedySpace Center’s beach house, aspot where astronauts rest beforeblasting off into space.“Certainly all indications areright now, we are in excellent,excellent shape as we get intocount,” launch director CharlieBlackwell-Thompson told reporters on Monday.The launch had originally beenplanned for as early as Feb 6, andthen March 6, until a pesky hydrogen leak prompted Nasa to rollthe rocket back to its vehicleassembly building for scrutiny.The Artemis II mission sendsthe crew on a winding, nearly10-day journey around the moonand back, sending them some406,000km into space – the farthest humans have ever travelled.The record for the farthestspaceflight at roughly 248,000miles is held by the three-mancrew of the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, which was beset bytechnical problems after an oxygen tank exploded and was unableto land on the moon as planned.Humans have not left Earth’sorbit since the final Apollo mission in 1972.The Artemis II mission is a keyearly step in the agency’smultibillion-dollar Artemis programme that envisions a longterm settlement on the lunarsouth pole.Nasa is pressing hard to land itsfirst crew of astronauts there onthe Artemis IV mission by 2028,before China does around 2030.— Reuters

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 23

24 StarWorld THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Kiwi hiker’s dogbeats the oddsCrowdfunding helps save lost canineWELLINGTON: When a hikerfell from a 55m waterfall in wildNew Zealand bush, rescuers wereforced to evacuate the badly hurtwoman without her dog, whichcouldn’t be found.After strangers raised thousandsof dollars for a search, border collie Molly was flown to safety by ahelicopter pilot who was determined to reunite pet and owner.A week earlier, an emergencyrescue helicopter found thewoman with bruises and lacerations after a fall at a rocky spot atthe waterfall on the South Island’sWest Coast.She was airlifted on March 24but they were forced to leavewithout her pet.Molly was bedraggled whenshe was found on Tuesday, just afew metres from the spot wherethe hiker had been lucky to survive.“I contacted her in hospital andsaid I’d go for a look for it,” saidMatt Newton, the owner-operatorof Precision Helicopters NewZealand, which is based atHokitika Gorge near the ArahuraRiver where Molly went missing.Unwilling to give up, Newtonand his family launched a fundraiser to pay for more flying hoursand advanced search gear.Offers of help and donationspoured in, with strangers pledging more than NZ$11,000(RM25,443) for a search.It was enough to fund threemore hours in a helicopter usingthermal imaging equipment.On Tuesday, Newton took to theskies with a veterinary nurse,volunteer searchers and a dognamed Bingo in a renewed searchfor Molly.“We struck jackpot withinabout an hour,” he said.“As we made our way up theriver, we could see the dog in thethermal and then we could visually see it.”The helicopter dropped lowenough for a volunteer to disembark with the rescue dog Bingo tohelp coax Molly to safety andkeep her calm.The dog was in “surprisinglygood condition,” the pilot said.Hours after the dog’s rescue,her owner, still battered from herfall, arrived for a tearful reunion.“I think that’ll speed up herhealing process somewhat,”Newton said.“Having your dog back, that’sfor sure.” — APGood job: holmes holding Bingo (left) and Molly at the waterfall on thearahura river. — precision helicopters ltd via ap• Obitua ry • Con do lence• A ck nowledgement• Requiem • Memoria mScan now to advertiseHQ (Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan) 010-823 2377 | Bureaus (other states) 016-728 2377 | [email protected] bit.ly/StarCherish“The saddest moment iswhen the person whogave you the best memories,becomesamemory.”.comHonouring the memories ofyour loved ones on StarCherish.com.FREE online posting worth RM200on StarCherish.com when youplace a print ad with us.Remembering the memories ofyour departed loved ones with StarCherish.com,an extension of Star Cherish.Visit www.StarCherish.com to give the gift ofa lasting tribute to departed loved ones today.I shall treasurethe momentswe hadtogether.No matter howfleeting theyare...

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Sport 25MIAMI: Golf superstar TigerWoods said he was ‘steppingaway’ to seek treatment and focuson his health after his arrest lastweek in Florida for driving underthe influence.Woods crashed his SUV into atrailer being pulled by a pickuptruck near his Jupiter Island homelast Friday.The 15-time Major championwas assessed to be impaired byofficers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him, but haspleaded not guilty to drivingunder influence (DUI) charges,telling authorities he was lookingat his phone and changing radiochannels.“I know and understand theseriousness of the situation I findmyself in today,” said Woods in astatement Tuesday.“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment andfocus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritisemy well-being and work towardlasting recovery.”Woods, 50, had previously suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021single-car crash in California.During the latest accident,Woods rolled his vehicle onto itsside and was forced to exit fromthe passenger’s side door. Neitherhe nor the truck driver wereinjured.Woods was charged with suspicion of misdemeanour DUI withproperty damage and refusing tosubmit to a lawful test, when hewould not submit to urine testsafter a breathalyser test showedno alcohol in his system.Woods posted bond and wasreleased from the Martin Countyjail on Friday night.He entered a not guilty plea inMartin Circuit Court. Woodswaived a planned arraignmentand has demanded a jury trial inthe matter.In the accident report from theMartin County Sheriff’s Office,authorities said Woods ‘stated hewas looking down at his cellphone and changing the radiostation and did not notice thevehicle in front of him had sloweddown’.Sheriff’s deputies said in thereport that Woods was observedsweating profusely and describedhis movements as lethargic andslow, noting his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and he was limping and stumbling to the rightwhile walking.Police said in the report thatWoods was found with twohydrocodone pills, an opioid painkiller, and appeared unable tosafely drive a vehicle when hewas apprehended.Asked about his medical condition, the report said, “Woodsadvised he’s had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations onhis leg... Woods advised he has alimp and his ankle seizes whilewalking”.Woods underwent emergencysurgery for multiple compoundfractures in his right leg and ashattered ankle following hisCalifornia crash in 2021.He returned to competition atthe 2022 Masters and finished47th despite struggling simply towalk 72 holes at Augusta National.Next week, Woods is scheduledto attend the Champions Dinnerat Augusta National ahead of the90th Masters.Woods has not competed in atop-level golf event since the 2024British Open.He suffered a ruptured leftAchilles tendon in March 2025and underwent back surgery lastOctober.Last week he took part in a TGLsimulator indoor golf event andhad talked about a possible returnat the Masters.“I’m committed to taking thetime needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focusedplace, both personally and professionally,” wrote Woods onTuesday.“I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved onesand myself at this time.” — AFPRecovery first: Tiger Woods to miss the Masters for a much-needed break to recover. – aFpWoundedTigerseeks helpTommy proudto carrylast year’sconsistencyinto 2026UNITED STATES: TommyFleetwood had, without a doubt,the best year of his golf career in2025.He made 18 cuts in 19 starts onthe PGA Tour, finishing in the top25 almost every time.He came tantalisingly close tovictory at the TravelersChampionship (T2) and the FedExSt. Jude Championship (T3) beforefinally breaking through on thebiggest non-major stage there is.WinningtheTourChampionshipin August marked not only his firstFedEx Cup, but also his first win onUS soil at all.He backed ittwo months later bycapturing the DP World IndiaChampionship, and he rose as highas No. 3 in the world rankings.Speaking to reporters before theValeroTexas Open,the Englishmanwas rightfully pleased that he’skept up his stellar form threemonths into 2026.“I think I pride myself on tryingto be as consistent as possible andplay at a level that is competitivewith the best players in the worldreally,” Fleetwood said.“It’s been a nice run. I think I’vebeen happy with the start of thisyear. I finished last season on bothPGA Tour and DP World Tour sostrongly, and found myself playingsome of the best golf of my life andthat was really enjoyable.”Fleetwood has made the cut ineach of his first four PGA Tourstarts this year, including a T4 atthe AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Amand a T8 at The PlayersChampionship. Add it all up, andhe’s finished inside the top 10 atseven of his past 10 PGA starts.“We are coming into such a bigstretch now, so it’s nice to have thatto build on,” Fleetwood said.That stretch begins with theMasters next week, soon followedby one major a month and ahandful of signature events inbetween.The Texas Open, traditionallythe week before players head toAugusta National, is the last chancefor a Masters tune-up.Fleetwood never played it till2024, where he tied for seventh topropel him into Major season. Hemade the cut again last year,though he posted a final-round 81.“The last couple years I feel likeI’ve felt better when I’ve played theweek before a major,” Fleetwoodsaid. “There is that aspect.“The four majors, they do go inthe calendar first. At any timewhenyou’replanningtheschedule,of course you want to look at howcan I best – when I tee up onThursday of a major, how am Igoing to feel the most preparedand feel the best going into thoseevents? Those come first.“Then you look at how you workthings around that. Then of coursethere’s courses that you enjoy,there’s places that you enjoy,venues that you enjoy.“It’s always a mix of them. I’veplayed well at this event and I doenjoy it and it happens to come theweek before the Masters, so it’s allin all a big win for me.” — ReutersDoncic returns with 42 as Lakers down CavsLOS ANGELES: LukaDoncic returned from suspension to score 42 points asthe Los Angeles Lakersdefeated the ClevelandCavaliers 127-113 to extendtheir impressive form witha fourth straight victory onTuesday.The Lakers, who haveemerged as genuine titlecontenders after winning 15of 17 games in March toclimb up the WesternConference standings, tookcontrol with big quarterseither side of half-time tocruise to victory.The Lakers outscoredCleveland 33-19 in the second quarter and then erupted for 45 points in the thirdto put the game away.Doncic finished with 42points, 12 assists and fiverebounds, shooting 6-of-13from three-point range.Doncic’s latest virtuosoperformance also saw himbreak Kobe Bryant’s recordfor the most points scoredby a Lakers player in a calendar month, which hadstood at 578 set in 2006.Doncic said extending theLakers’ winning run meantmore than setting personalrecords.“If you don’t win, itdoesn’t really mean anything,” Doncic told reporters.“So the run that we’vebeen on it really means alot. We’ve got to keep playing like that.”Austin Reaves added 19points while Deandre Aytonscored 18 as six Lakers players finished in double figures.LeBron James finishedwith 14 points as the winsaw him pass yet anotherstatistical milestone.The 41-year-old’s 1,229thcareer win in regular season and playoff gamesbreaks the record previously held by Kareem AbdulJabbar.Lakers coach JJ Redicksingled out James for praisein helping knit the teamtogether during their recentresurgence.“He’s great on both sidesof the ball,” Redick said.“He’s just doing a little bit ofeverything at a super highlevel for us.“Luka may get the headlines here and there, AR(Austin Reaves) may get aheadline. But really it’s beenevery single guy, andLeBron has led on that.”The Lakers are now looking ahead to a blockbustershowdown with theWestern Conferenceleading Oklahoma CityThunder on the road onThursday. — AFPStrong comeback: lakers’ luka doncic celebratesafter the win over Cleveland Cavaliers. – apWoods ‘stepping away’to focus on healthafter dui arrest

Back from thewi26 Sport THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026l iraq’s‘shock’ winsealsreturn toWorldCup after40 yearsMEXICO: Coach Graham Arnoldchallenged his team to “shock theworld” after Iraq became the 48thand final team to qualify for theWorld Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in anintercontinental playoff in Mexicoon Tuesday.Iraq, whose preparations weredisrupted by the war in theMiddleEast, sealed their first appearanceat the finals in 40 years and willplay in Group I against France,Senegal and Norway.Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi andAymen Hussein secured a famouswin for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at the1986 finals in Mexico.“With everything going on inthe Middle East at the moment itmade it harder for the players,”said the Australian Arnold, whohad initially sought to have thefixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the conflict.“Delighted for the players, verygood boys, very happy for the 46million Iraqis,” he added.“Hopefully it will help changethe perception of Iraq and thefootball in Iraq. Doing somethingin the World Cup nobody expectsus to do.We have nothing to lose, let’stry to shock the world with acrazy result and performance. Itis great that we qualified. It is aprivilege for us.”Because of travel disruptioncaused by the US-Israel war onIran, most of the Iraqi squad onlyreached Mexico after a gruellingthree-day journey from Baghdadthat began with an overlandcrossing into Jordan.But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start byIraq, who took the lead after nineminutes through Luton Townstriker Al-Hamadi, the 24-year-oldwho moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the2003 Iraq war.Iraq midfielder AmirAl-Ammari won a corner after asuperb free-kick that was saved atfull stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.From the subsequent set pieceAl-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of Al-Hamadiwho nodded home for 1-0.Iraq were well worth the earlygoal and looked in control untilBolivia, who had gradually growninto the game, equalised after 38minutes.Ramiro Vaca’s shot from theedge of the area was controlledwith one touch by MoisesPaniagua and the Morocco-basedcentral midfielder swept into theroof of the net. The goal stunnedIraq and Bolivia looked likely tograb a second after dominatingthe remainder of the half.Iraq regained the lead eightminutes after the break, when along ball forward was noddedinto the path of substitute MarkoLawk-Farji.His cross found captain Husseinand the veteran striker clipped afirst-time finish into the bottomcorner.Bolivia pressed frantically for agoal to force extra-time, but Iraq’swell-marshalled defence heldfirm during nine minutes of stoppage time.The 62-year-old Arnold, whotook Australia to the last 16 of theQatar World Cup in 2022, said:“We have two months to get fit.“For us to do something at thisWorld Cup would be a miracle.”— AgenciesildernessFlagging off a revival: iraq players rejoicing after beating Bolivia 2-1. Below: Coach Graham arnoldcelebrating after his team’s qualification. – apl dr Congo savour comeback after more than five decadesKINSHASA: Delirious footballfans took to the soaked streets ofthe capital Kinshasa and dancedinto the night in the rain after theDemocratic Republic of Congoreached the World Cup for thefirst time in 52 years.Defender Axel Tuanzebe, whoplays in the Premier League forBurnley, was the hero with theonly goalina 1-0 win over Jamaicaafter extra time in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico onTuesday.The central African nation willface Portugal, Colombia andUzbekistan in Group K at thefinals in North America this summer.“We’re going to enjoy the qualification, but we’ll keep working.We know we’ll be facing topnations who play in the WorldCup every four years,” Congo captain Chancel Mbemba said. “We’llstay humble, keep our feet on theground, and continue to work.We’ll give everything to make oursupporters and our peopleproud.”At the 1974 finals in WestGermany, the team competed asZaire and were beaten byScotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil.“We gave it our all, right here inthe rain!” shouted Beni Ile, a fanin Kinshasa whose shoulderswere draped in a soaked Congoflag.“We won’t be working onWednesday! It’s going to be anational holiday. We’re going tocelebrate and party all night long.“We’ve been waiting 50 yearsfor this. We’re staying out untildawn.”It was a scene replicated acrossthe city of 17 million people,where the final whistle inGuadalajara was greeted by acacophony of banging pots, carhorns and whistles.The win completed a dramaticqualification campaign for theteam nicknamed the Leopards,who eliminated African footballgiants Nigeria and Cameroon ontheir way to Tuesday’s playoff.As early as the morning of thebig match, many residents of theCongo capital were already sporting the sky-blue jersey of theirbeloved national side.By evening several hundredfans had gathered in a square inthe city centre in anticipation towatch the game.Even as the rain bucketeddown, the conclusion ofthe matchafter 120 nervy minutes was metwith an outpouring of nationalpride and relief. — AgenciesPlayoff hero: Turkiye’s Keremakturkoglu celebrates afterscoring his team’s only goal.— aFpTouching moment:dr Congo’s NathanaelMbuku bursts into tearsafter winning theplayoff. – reutersl Turkiyebook firstticket tobiggest stagesince 2002PRISTINA: Turkiye qualified forthe 2026 World Cup on Tuesdayafter Kerem Akturkoglu’s goalsecured a 1-0 win away to Kosovoin their European playoff final,shattering their hosts’ dream ofappearing at the tournament forthe first time.Akturkoglu diverted OrkunKokcu’s shot into the net in the53rd minute in Pristina for theonly goal of the game, ensuringTurkiye will go to their first WorldCup since reaching the semi-finalsin 2002.Their players, including captainHakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan,Real Madrid’s Arda Guler andKenan Yildiz of Juventus, wavedgiant Turkish flags as they wentacross to celebrate at full-time infront of the travelling support.Vincenzo Montella’s team willgo into Group D at the World Cup,along with co-hosts the UnitedStates, Paraguay and Australia.They will begin their campaignagainst Australia in Vancouver onJune 13.Turkey shaded a close-foughtgame low on goalmouth actionand secured victory early in thesecond half as a Yildiz cutbackfrom the left was met by Kokcubefore Fenerbahce strikerAkturkoglu made sure.Montella’s side are ranked 22ndin the world and reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, but this willonly be Turkiye’s third everappearance at the World Cup –they went to the 1954 tournamentbefore coming third 24 years agoin South Korea and Japan.They finished second inEuropean qualifying Group Ebehind Spain, holding the Spanishto a draw away from home, beforebeating Romania 1-0 at home intheir semi-finals playoff last week.Kosovo, ranked 78th, were targeting a first ever World Cupappearance, having only beenaccepted as FIFA members a decade ago. They had finished secondbehind Switzerland in qualifyingGroup B, notably beating Swedenhome and away, before comingfrom behind twice to defeatSlovakia 4-3 away in the semi-finals. — AFP

Tuchel faces selection dilemmas after England falterTHE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Sport 27LONDON: Thomas Tuchel sayshe now has more “clarity” afterEngland’s final home matchbefore the World Cup, but thereappear to be more questions thananswers after a limp 1-0 defeatagainst Japan.The England boss named a35-man group for Wembley fixtures against Uruguay and Japanand took the unusual step of splitting his players into two trainingcamps.Friday’s 1-1 draw againstUruguay featured a largely second-string side, who failed tomount a strong case for inclusionin the World Cup squad.Tuchel had hoped to bring in aclutch of first-choice players onTuesday but had to tear up hisplans due to a spate of withdrawals.Arsenal pair Declan Rice andBukayo Saka dropped out alongwith Manchester City defenderJohn Stones while Harry Kanewas watching the stands, nursinga minor injury, and JudeBellingham was left on the bench.The Euro 2024 runners-updominated possession againstJapan but lacked incision, sparkand fluidity in their final gamebefore Tuchel names his WorldCup squad.The match was decided byKaoru Mitoma’s fine first-halfgoal which gave Japan a first winagainst England.A disappointed Tuchel pleadedmitigating factors, underliningthe demands of club football ashe season nears its climax.“We knew that we had a toughexam to play for in this windowbecause our players are heavilynvested in club football, they’reeavily invested in Europeanootball and in the physicallyoughest league that there is,” heaid.“We played against two top-20eams, well-drilled, very goodpponents, who arrived in theest line-up.“We had seven, eight injurieswho had to leave camp.“It’s not an excuse, it’s just anexplanation why things are notperfectly smooth and maybeperfectly on the highest level thatwe expect.”England are one of the favourites as they attempt to win a firstWorld Cup since 1966 and onpaper Tuchel has a side equippedto go all the way.But there remain major questions over key positions eightweeks before the German nameshis World Cup squad. — AFPGyokeres sends sweden to WC in dramatic win over polandSTOCKHOLM: Viktor Gyokeressent Sweden to the 2026 WorldCup as he netted a dramatic latewinner to hand his country a 3-2win over Poland in their playofffinal on Tuesday.With the match locked at twoapiece the Arsenal striker forcedthe ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble with justtwo minutes remaining to qualifySweden for the finals in theUnited States, Mexico andCanada.They join Holland, Japan andTunisia in Group F.“To do it on home soil is indescribable. We believed in it untilthe end and that’s why we’re inthe World Cup,” Gyokeres, whoscored a hattrick in Sweden’s 3-1semi-final victory againstUkraine, told Viaplay.Anthony Elanga and GustafLagerbielke had twice givenSweden the lead in Tuesday’sfinal, before Nicola Zalewski andKarol Swiderski hit back forPoland.After missing out on the lastedition in 2022, it is a return tofootball’s global showpiece tournament for Graham Potter’s sideafter eight years away.After a disastrous qualifyingcampaign, Sweden qualified forthe playoffs thanks to toppingGroup C1 in the Nations League.“Unbelievable night. Wow, justto be part of that is an incrediblehonour,” Potter, who took overSwedenlast October, told SverigesRadio. “It was a dramatic game,so difficult to control, the emotionand what’s at stake.”For Poland, it was the first timethey have failed to reach a WorldCup finals since 2014.Poland coach Jan Urbansummed up the feeling afterwards by saying: “It hurts, it hurtsa lot.”The Swedes began in slightlynervous fashion in front of thefans in Stockholm as the Polescontrolled the early tempo.The breakthrough then camein spectacular fashion in the 20thminute as Yasi Ayari backheeledinto the path of the onrushingElanga who thrashed the ballhome left-footed via the crossbar.The visitors nearly levelled fiveminutes later as Swiderski’s swivelling volley forced a fineone-handed save from KristofferNordfeldt.Polish pressure eventually toldon 33 minutes as Nordfeldt failedto deal with Zalewski’s curlingeffort after the 24-year-old hadpicked the ball up in space andcut in from the left.Sweden were on the ropessince taking the lead with Polandtargeting, in particular, their rightflank.The next goal was to come fromthat side of the pitch, however, itwas in favour of the embattledhosts as Zalewski chopped downElanga to concede a free-kick in adangerous wide position.Benjamin Nygren whipped in ateasing inswinger with his leftfoot and centre-half Lagerbielkeghosted in at the near post to nodpast a stranded Kamil Grabaraone minute before the interval. Itwas just Sweden’s second shot ofthe half.Just as a further 30 minutesseemed inevitable, the otherwise-quiet Gyokeres popped up tobundle across the line from closerange at the end of a sequence ofplay which included a Grabarasave from Lucas Bergvall and aBesfort Zeneli shot which cameback off a post. — AFPBrazil downCroatia inwarm-up,ArgentinadefeatZambiaORLANDO (United States):Brazil bounced back from lastweek’s friendly defeat to France toscorea3-1 victory over Croatia intheir World Cup warm-up game inOrlando on Tuesday.Goals from Danilo, Igor Thiagoand Gabriel Martinelli secured victory in what was Brazil’s finalgame before coach Carlo Ancelottinames his World Cup squad.The Brazilians took the leadwith a superb goal on the counter-attack in first-half stoppagetime, Botafogo attacker Danilo finishing emphatically after a blistering run from Real Madrid’s ViniciusJr.Croatia equalised throughLovro Majer in the 83rd minute,but second-half substitute Endrickturned the match back in Brazil’sfavour.The Lyon forward earned thepenalty converted by Igor Thiagoto equalise in the 88th minute,then set up Martinelli for Brazil’sthird in added time to seal thewin.The result offeredameasure ofrevenge for Brazil, who wereknocked out by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals of the2022 World Cup in Qatar.Brazil, seeking a sixth worldtitle after last lifting the trophy in2002, will open their Group C campaign against Morocco on June 13,before facing Haiti on June 19 andScotland on June 24.Croatia begin their World Cup inGroupLwith a high-profile clashagainst England on June 17, followed by matches against Panamaon June 23 and Ghana on June 27.Meanwhile, Lionel Messi scoredone goal and set up another asArgentina thrashed Zambia 5-0 onTuesday in the South Americans’final game on home soil beforelaunching the defence of theirWorld Cup crown.Messi, restored to the startingline-up by coach Lionel Scaloniafter Argentina’s lackluster winover Mauritania last Friday, madean instant impact in the friendly atLa Bombonera in Buenos Aires.The 38-year-old superstar setup the opening goal for JulianAlvarez before bagging his 116thgoal for Argentina with an individual strike just before half-time.The game marked a World Cupsend-off for the reigning worldchampions, who will face Algeria,Austria and Jordan in Group J ofthe finals in June.Argentina will also playafriendly against Serbia in June, and areseeking to arrange another warmup fixture before the tournament.Messi is firmly expected to captain Argentina into what will be arecord sixth World Cup finals asthe South American giants targetback-to-back titles.The Inter Miami playmakeronce again demonstrated hisenduring influence on theAlbiceleste with a typically decisive contribution in a comfortablewin.—AFPselection dilemmas after EngthebinhfotosateopbeppeViktor the victorThe clincher: sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring his team’s third goal during the match against poland.Inset: Gyokeres celebrates. — aFpGetting intense: England’s Cole palmer (right) vying for the ball withJapan’s Kaoru Mitoma. — aFp

28 Sport THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Cursedagainitaly’s World Cupnightmare continuesafter shootoutdefeat to BosniaZENICA: Italy will miss out on athird straight World Cup afterfalling to Bosnia in Tuesday’sbreathless qualification playofffinal, the Azzurri blowing theirchance to reach this summer’stournament in North Americawith a 4-1 penalty shootoutdefeat.Esmir Bajraktarevic shot thewinning spot-kick in Zenicawhere the Bosnians booked aplace in Group B and matchesagainst co-hosts Canada,Switzerland and Qatar, andplunged Italy into a new nightmare.Four-time world champions,Italy took the lead through MoiseKean in the 15th minute but thenfolded under the weight of expectation at the Bilino Polje Stadiumafter having to play most of thematch with 10 men.Italy were already firmly on theback foot when AlessandroBastoni was sent off for choppingdown Amar Memic four minutesbefore half-time, and HarisTabakovic poked home Bosnia’sdeserved leveller in the 79th minute to take the match to extratime.And the horror show continuedin the subsequent shoot-out, withPio Esposito smashing Italy’s firstpenalty over the goal, and whenBryan Cristante hit the bar andBajraktarevic squeezed his effortunder Gianluigi Donnarumma,the game was up.“I don’t think the boys deservedto suffer such a blow, for the performance, the effort and the heartthat they showed tonight... I’mproud of the boys,” said a visiblyshaken Italy coach GennaroGattuso.Gattuso added that talkingabout his future “wasn’t important” but Gabriele Gravina, thehead of the Italian FootballFederation, later told reporters hehad asked Gattuso to stay on ascoach and he would not beingresigning from his position.Italy are the first World Cupwinners to miss three consecutiveeditions of the tournament, and itwas also a third straight elimination in the playoffs after Swedenin 2018 and North Macedoniafour years ago.Bosnia meanwhile reachedtheir second World Cup finals,and first since 2014, in front of apassionate crowd which invaded the pitch after a historic victory.“They’re guys with character.We have guys we’re proud of,”said Bosnia coach SergejBarbarez.“I’ve told them that we have togo to a tournament every twoyears.”Some Italy players were filmedcelebrating when Bosnia wontheir semi-final - again on penalties - against Wales, behaviourwhich looked even more foolishafter the way Bosnia tore intotheir opponents. — AFPCzech Republic beat Denmark on penalties to book spotPRAGUE: Michal Sadilek’s penalty sentthe Czech Republic to the World Cup asthey beat Denmark in a shootout inPrague on Tuesday followinga2-2 drawafter extra time.The Czechs will play their first WorldCup since 2006, facing Mexico, SouthAfrica and South Korea in Group A ofthe tournament hosted by the UnitedStates, Canada and Mexico in June andJuly.Tomas Chory and Tomas Soucek alsoscored for the Czechs in their secondshootout in six days, while skipperLadislav Krejci was denied by Danishgoalkeeper Mads Hermansen.For the visitors, Christian Eriksen wasthe only shootout scorer while RasmusHojlund hit the crossbar, Anders Dreyerfailed to beat goalkeeper Matej Kovarand Mathias Jensen fired over thecrossbar.“I’m speechless. Hats off to everyone, I’m incredibly happy,” Krejci toldCzech state television.“Let’s be honest, we were not thebetter team but we showed more heartand we fought harder,” added theWolverhampton defender.“I had teary eyes, just a bit. I’m terribly happy and I want to thank the players,” Czech coach Miroslav Koubek toldreporters.“We suffered today. We played thebest we could,” added the 74-year-oldformer goalkeeper.On the chilly night in Prague, PavelSulc opened the score for the Czechswith a fine volley into the top cornerthree minutes into the game after theDanish defence had cleared a corner inhis direction.Denmark levelled in the 72nd minutewhen Mikkel Damsgaard’s free kickfound Joachim Andersen in the boxready with a glancing header.Krejci put the hosts ahead again inthe 100th minute as he picked up a ballknocked down by Soucek in a goalmouth scramble following VladimirCoufal’s cross.His shot was deflected into the netby Danish defender Alexander Bah. ButDenmark levelled again in the 111thminute when substitute Kasper Hoghheaded home Eriksen’s corner six minutes after coming onto the pitch.In the playoff semi-finals on March26, the Czechs beat Ireland on penaltieswhile Denmark breezed past NorthMacedonia 4-0.But they had a hard time beating theCzech defence as the hosts parked thebus after the quick opening goal,defending with 10 men.Rasmus Hojlund had his low shotcleared by Kovar who also forcedGustav Isaksen’s curling free kick overthe crossbar.The hosts were a threat on the breakbut Lukas Provod tipped the ball pastHermansen and his right post.Denmark kept pushing and missingor finding Kovar’s arms throughout thegame, while the hosts often resorted toblindly clearing the ball.Denmark will sit out their first WorldCup since 2014, while the CzechRepublic will record only the secondappearance since it split with Slovakiato emerge as an independent countryin 1993.At the 2006 World Cup in Germany,the Czech Republic relied on the likesof Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved, TomasRosicky, Karel Poborsky and JanKoller and bowed out after the groupstage.The 2026 World Cup berth is a ratherunexpected triumph for the Czechs whostruggled through the qualification,swapping coaches just before the playoffs amid mounting criticism from fansand pundits. — AFPSharp shooter: Czech republic’s ladislav Krejci (left) scores his side’ssecond goal against denmark. — apSpurs hireDe Zerbi inEPL battlesurvivalLONDON: Tottenham appointedRoberto De Zerbi (pic) as the club’sthird manager of the season onTuesday as they battle to avoid relegation from English football’s top flight forthe first time in nearly 50 years.Former Brighton and Marseille bossDe Zerbi has reportedly been handed alucrative five-year deal to convince himto take the job immediately rather thanwaiting to see which division Spurs arein next season.Tottenham sit just one point outsidethe relegation zone with seven gamesof the Premier League season remaining.De Zerbi replaces Igor Tudor, whoseinterim reign at the north London clublasted just seven games after Spurscrashed out of the Champions Leagueand fell ever closer to dropping into thesecond tier.“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of thebiggest and most prestigious in theworld,” said De Zerbi in a Tottenhamstatement.“Our short-term priority is to climbthe Premier League table, which will bethe complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.”Spurs’ sporting director Johan Langeinsisted De Zerbi - “one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches inworld football” - had always been theclub’s first choice to take over onafulltime basis.“Roberto was our number one targetfor the summer and we are verypleased to be able to bring him in now,”said Lange.De Zerbi established a positive reputation for himself in England during atwo-year spell as Brighton bossbetween 2022 and 2024. — AFPOn target:Bosnia’s NikolaKatic (top)vying for theball with italy’sMateo retegui.— aFpEcstasy: Bosnia’s players and staff celebrate. — reuters

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Sport 29Tigers’ pride intactCklamovskihailscommitmentand resilienceof playersdespite lossPETALING JAYA: Malaysia’snational football team coachPeter Cklamovski hailed his players’ grit, resilience and pridedespite losing 3-1 to Vietnam intheir final Group F Asian Cupqualifier on Tuesday.“I hope the Malaysian supporters are proud of the players’effort, commitment and desire asthey gave a strong display in atough away fixture.‘’From the bottom of theirhearts, they gave everything theycould,” said Cklamovski.“Although they didn’t get theresult, the way they fought on isan inspiration to the nation.”Malaysia showed determination throughout, battling fromstart to finish in front of a sell-outcrowd at Nam Dinh Stadium.Vietnam, however, proved tobe more clinical. Do Duy Manhdrew first blood in the seventhminute before striker RafaelsonBezerra - also known as NguyenXuan Son - struck twice in thesecond half (51st and 59th minutes).Malaysia replied throughEndrick dos Santos in the 76thminute.Cklamovski pointed to missedopportunities as the turningpoint.“They scored early from a corner with a great delivery, but Ithought we responded well,” hesaid.“We created really goodmoments in the first half. If wehad taken one of those chances tomake it 1-1, it could have changedthe game.“We had four or five very goodchances. These are the momentsthat decide matches. Credit toVietnam - they took their chances,especially their Brazilian playerswho were excellent.”Malaysia’s campaign was overshadowed by controversy afterthe Asian Football Confederationruled that they had fielded ineligible players in two earlier matches- a 2-0 win over Nepal and a 4-0victory over Vietnam - both ofwhich were later recorded as 3-0defeats.Cklamovski acknowledged theemotional toll on his squad.“There’s a healing processneeded. The players are humanbeings - they’ve gone throughdevastation and disappointment,”he said.“Now it’s about recovery, travelling back, and for the players torefocus with their clubs beforewe come together again as anational team,” he said.Malaysia ended their qualifyingcampaign with nine points fromsix matches, and will now lookforward to two important assignments - Hyundai AFF Cup (July24-Aug 26) and FIFA Asean Cup (September).By T. AVINESHWARANMaking his move: Faisal halim (front) dribbling the ball past a Vietnam player during the final Group F asianCup qualifier on Tuesday.Izzatul: ‘it isrewarding toshow thatacademics andsports can gohand in hand,and thatsuccess in bothis possible.’Ace on the track, and allAs in the SPM for IzzatulPETALING JAYA: National junior sprinterIzzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal Azira hassprinted to success beyond the track,achieving straight As in the Sijil PelajaranMalaysia (SPM) examination.The student from SMK Haji AbdulRahman Limbong in Kuala Terengganuscored nine As –aproud achievement forherself, her family, and also the nation.Her success is also an inspiration to theyounger generation, proving that being anathlete is no barrier to academicexcellence.“Alhamdulillah, I’m so grateful because Iknow how tough it was to balance mystudies and athletics commitments,” shesaid.Despite her academic excellence, Izzatulis carefully considering her next step.“I’m still discussing with my family whatI should do next.Iwant to make sure Ievaluate everything in detail and choosewhat is best for me.“At the same time,Ican’t ignore mycommitment to athletics, especiallyrepresenting my state and the country.‘’It is rewarding to show that academicsand sports can go hand in hand, and thatsuccess in both is possible,” she added.Last year, Izzatul made headlines bywinning four gold medals – all in recordbreaking fashion – at the Malaysian SchoolsSports Council (MSSM) Under-18championships in 2025.She was crowned MSSM Under-18Sportswoman of the Year, adding to herearlier accolade as Under-15 Sportswomanin 2023.She is now among the leadingcontenders to be crowned the sprint queenat the upcoming Sukma Selangor.Izzatul’s achievement mirrors otherMalaysian student-athletes who haveexcelled academically.Mohd Azeem Fahmi scored 6As, 1B and1C in the 2021 SPM while training at an elitelevel.National sailor Nur Adlina Nasreen MohdNasri earned 8As and 1B in the sameexamination.Yesterday, Azeem took to social media topraise Izzatul, posting a simple but tellingcomment: “Brain = Speed,” to which shereplied with thanks.Congratulations were also extended toall Form Five student-athletes of Bukit JalilSports School, who recorded a 100% passrate in the 2025 SPM.Their success underscoresastrongmessage – that excellence in academicsand sports can be achieved throughdedication, discipline and determination.Okwuosa hopesKuching’s risewill lead tomore nationalcall-upsfor playersPETALING JAYA: Kuching Citycaptain James Okwuosa (pic)intends to do more than just leadKuching City to a second-placefinish in the Super League and astrong run in the Malaysia Cup.The Nigerian is equally determined to help develop the club’slocal talents and push them toearn national call-ups.Currently, goalkeeper HaziqNadzli and winger RamadhanSaifullah are part of the nationalsquad, while naturalised Ghanaian striker Jordan Mintah is on thestandby list.“My greatest achievement thisseason, if we finish second in theleague and reach the final, wouldbe seeing more Kuching City players join the national team,” saidthe 35-year-old Okwuosa.“That would be my proudestmoment – seeing our players represent Malaysia. I know how itfeels. It helps you grow as a person and develop your future. Italso gives young footballers inSarawak role models to look upto.”As for his leadership role, hebelieves it should be a collectiveresponsibility rather than individual recognition.“Leadership is about sharingresponsibility. It’s not about oneperson taking the glory or alwaysbeing in front,” he said.“You have to let everyone knowthey are the best in their roles.“I cannot lead in everything -whether it’s speed, defending orscoring goals. Others are better inthose areas, and you must empower them. I just help where I can sothe team can move forward.”Okwuosa described the currentcampaign as one of his best defensive seasons, crediting the team’scollective effort.“I’ve had good ones before, butI’m especially proud now becauseof the entire back line,” he said.“It’s not just me, or Yuki(Tanigawa), or Rodney (Akwensivie), or (Scott) Woods. The wholeteam defend together. Our firstobjective is always to defend.“The fewer goals you concede,the better your results. That is thesimple truth in football.”Kuching City’s push for secondplace was not part of the originalplan, but the opportunity hasfuelled the squad’s ambition.They are also part of the Malaysia Cup semi-final against Selangor. The first leg will be playedin Petaling Jaya on Saturday followed by Kuching on April 18.

30 Sport THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026Lee leaves’em concernedZii Jia’scontinuing injurycould poseproblem fornational campPETALING JAYA: Concern is growing overthe injury situation of professional men’ssingles shuttler Lee Zii Jia as the nationalsquad step up preparations for the ThomasCup in Horsens, Denmark from April24-May 3.Zii Jia was supposed to begin trainingwith the national team at the AcademyBadminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiarayesterday, but there was no sign of him.Badminton Association of Malaysia(BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri ZafrulAbdul Aziz, who was present to observethe team’s preparations for the world teammeet, was informed by national singlescoaching director Kenneth Jonassen thatZii Jia had to delay joining training due toan ankle injury.“I was informed by Jonassen that he wassupposed to start today, but because he hasa slight injury, we are waiting for feedbackfrom Zii Jia on when he can begin. He couldnot confirm when, but he said he hopes hewill be able to,” said Zafrul.Zafrul added that Zii Jia’s presence iscrucial as his services will not only be needed for the Thomas Cup, but BAM are alsoplanning to work closely with him for theAsian Games inAichi-NagoyainSeptember.As such, if the injury continues to troublehim, it could pose a problem for the national camp.“Our plans for Zii Jia go beyond just theThomas Cup, as we also have the AsianGames. The focus this year is not only onthe Thomas Cup, but also on the AsianGames, where we aim to deliver a medal.“Again, in my discussions with Jonassenand Rexy (Mainaky), as the Thomas Cupinvolves both doubles and singles players,if Zii Jia is fit and psychologically confident,he can certainly help the country. But if heis injured, it will be difficult,” he added.BAM now have less than eight days tofinalise the squad for the Thomas Cupahead of the April 10 registration deadline.Zafrul had previously set a target forMalaysia to win the Thomas Cup in Horsensto end the country’s 34-year title drought.It is part of the “Tangkis Juara 2030” planintroduced by Zafrul in August last yearafter taking over as BAM president.By ADAM ZAMRIng it up: National coaching director rexy Mainaky (left) speaking to BaM presidentdatuk seri Zafrul abdul aziz during training for the Thomas Cup Finals. Left: lee Ziimissing from training yesterday.Hard at work: aidil sholeh ali sadikin has been training with the national teamfor the past two weeks ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals.Jonassen will give Zii Jia time as singlescast press on with Thomas Cup prepPETALING JAYA: The men’s singles camp arepressing on with their preparations for theThomas Cup as usual despite the absence of ParisOlympic bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia.National singles coaching director KennethJonassen revealed that Zii Jia is nursing an ankleinjury, which prevented him from reporting fortraining yesterday.Jonassen, however, is not overly concernedand prefers to give the player time, allowing himto rejoin the national squad only when he is fullyfit.“It’s a minor thing that he’ll be able to overcome, so I don’t put any specific focus on this. Ijust want him to have a speedy recovery andcome back to the courts as soon as possible,” saidJonassen.“There is some time, so let’s not rush things. It’simportant when players join that they are fullyfit and can give a hundred per cent,” he added.Zii Jia had previously struggled with injuries,particularly last year when he was sidelinedfor an extended period due to back and ankleissues.The 28-year-old made his return this yearand initially showed promising signs, but theold injury resurfaced during his trip to Europelast month, forcing him to withdraw from theGerman Open.With Zii Jia temporarily unavailable,Jonassen is now focusing on preparing theother players, including fellow professionalAidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, who has been invitedto assist the Thomas Cup squad.Aidil has been training with the nationalteam for the past two weeks, and Jonassen iscurrently working on building chemistryamong the players to ensure a strong teamspirit.Besides Aidil and Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao andJustin Hoh are also expected to strengthen themen’s singles squad for the Thomas Cup inHorsens later this month.“Aidil has come as we are testing him beforefinal selection and he’s been undergoing training for almost two weeks now and his condition is good.“And at the same time, he brings a high levelwhich we really appreciate. So, yeah, it’s a positive process with Aidil,” added Jonassen.SteppinTengku dJia was m

THE STAR, Thursday 2 april 2026 Sport 31You bend it, you mend itPETALING JAYA: BadmintonBaM stand firm on player exit clauseAssociation of Malaysia (BAM)president Tengku Datuk SeriZafrul Abdul Aziz believes thecompensation required fromplayers who intend to leave thenational squad before the end oftheir contracts is fair.Zafrul explained that the proposal was put forward by committee chairman Datuk Seri LeeChong Wei, who has called forBAM to take a firmer stance toprevent a waste of talent aftersignificant investment has beenmade in developing players.Zafrul likened the policy toscholarship agreements, whererecipients must either serve theirsponsors for a set period or repaythe funds if they opt to leave early.“He (Chong Wei) did mentionthat we need to be more firm. Asa former player and a legend, henever left BAM and has his ownviews on ensuring that playerswho leave BAM should compensate the association, as the investment made on each player is substantial, running into millionsfrom the early stages of theirdevelopment until they turn professional.“And I think from a governanceperspective, it is fair. Everywherewe see, whether it is scholarshipsfrom companies, if the recipientdoes not fulfil the required service period of five to seven years,they have to repay it. It is thesame principle, so I have no issuewith it,” said Zafrul.The compensation clause isalready included in the contractsof current players, but BAM arenow reviewing it to ensure it isfair not only to the players, butalso to the association.Players who intend to leave thenational set-up face a two-yearsuspension from internationaltournaments or are required topay compensation of betweenRM300,000 and RM500,000.However, Zafrul said therehave been instances in the pastwhere BAM waived the compensation, although that stance couldchange after the proposal istabled at the BAM council meeting in May.“But previously, there werecases where players did not comply with their contracts. We dohave contracts with our top players, and if they break them in anyform, they are required to pay.That has always been there.“It is just that we have waivedsome of it before. And I thinkChong Wei’s point is that weshould not waive it. We need to bestricter. There were instanceswhere players did not fulfil theircontracts but we did not enforcethe clause.”By ADAM ZAMRIMalaysia assured of one more men’ssingles qualifier for world meetPETALING JAYA: Malaysia are alreadyassured of a place in the men’s final of theWorld Championships qualifying event,despite the competition only reaching thequarter-final stage.Top seed Sanjay Jeeva will take on compatriot Duncan Lee today, while JoachimChuah is set to face Syafiq Kamal at theHong Kong Football Club.The winners of both ties will meet in thesemi-finals, which effectively guaranteesMalaysiaaspot in the final.Earlier, Sanjay had little trouble dispatching South Korea’s Ryu Jeong-min 11-6,11-3, 11-7 in the first round yesterday.Duncan, meanwhile, defeated fellowMalaysian Nathan Kueh 2-11, 11-9, 11-7,11-4. Despite being teammates, it will bethe first time Sanjay faces Duncan in aninternational tournament.The same goes for the clash betweenSyafiq and Joachim. Syafiq had earlierpulled off an upset by eliminating thirdseed and home player Matthew Lai 11-7,11-7, 11-8.Joachim also had little difficulty overcoming another home player, Leo Chung,in the second round yesterday, winning11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8.It was, however, a disappointing outingfor fourth seed C. Ameenshenraj, who lostto Shing Fung Lam 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 3-11.In the women’s event, top seed AinaaAmani Ampandi will take on India’s TanviKhanna for a place in the semi-finals.Ainaa advanced past the first round afterbeating Hong Kong’s Ena Kwong 11-8,12-10, 6-11, 11-9.The match will be a repeat of their IndianOpen quarter-final clash two weeks ago,where Ainaa lost.Joining her in the last eight is K.Sehveetrra, who also overcame anotherHong Kong player, Ngan Ching Cheng,13-11, 12-10, 11-5.Awaiting Sehveetrra in today’s quarter-finals is yet another Hong Kong player,Heylie Fung, who defeated J. Yasshmita2-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.Only the winner of the qualifying tournament will earn a place in the WorldChampionships in Giza, Egypt from May8-16. S. Sivasangari, Rachel Arnold, AifaAzman, Aira Azman and Ng Eain Yow havealready qualified for the tournament.Familiar faces: sanjay Jeeva (right) willface off against duncan lee.All-Malaysian affair: syafiq Kamal will play Joachim Chuah (right) in the quarter-finals ofthe World Championships qualifying event in hong Kong.Malaysians onlyMen: Sanjay Jeeva bt Ryu Jeong-min (Kor) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7; DuncanLee bt Nathan Kueh 2-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4; Syafiq Kamal bt Matthew Lai (Hkg) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8; Joachim Chuah bt Leo Chung (Hkg)11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8; Shing Fung Lam (Hkg) bt C. Ameensheraj11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3.Women: Ainaa Amani Ampandi bt Ena Kwong (Hkg) 11-8, 12-10,6-11, 11-9; K. Sehveetrra bt Nga Ching Cheng (Hkg) 13-11, 12-10,11-5; Heylie Fung (Hkg) bt J. Yasshmita 2-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Published by Star Publications Sdn Bhd (202001037064) (1393385-K), Menara Star, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Printed by Star Media Group Berhad (197101000523) (10894-D), 2 Jalan Astaka U8/88, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Copyright ©ITALIAN football sunk to an all-time low after the Azzurri, four-time champions, failed to reach theWorld Cup for the third straight time after a heartbreaking shootout loss to Bosnia in their playoff final.Meanwhile, Turkiye, Iraq and DR Congo rejoice after ending more than two decades of absence fromthe biggest stage. >26-28THE STAR, THuRSdAy 2 ApRil 20262026 WorldCup qualifyingplayoff rESulTSEuropEBOSNiA 1 iTAly 1(aet, Bosnia win 4-1 on penalties)SWEdEN 3 pOlANd 2KOSOVO 0 TuRKiyE 1CZECH REp 2 dENMARK 2(Czech Rep win 3-1 on penalties)■ inTErConTinEnTaldR CONGO 1 JAMAiCA 0iRAQ 2 BOliViA 1■ CoMplETE groupingSGROup A: Mexico, South Africa,South Korea, Czech RepublicGROup B: Canada, Bosnia, Qatar,SwitzerlandGROup C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti,ScotlandGROup d: USA, Paraguay,Australia, TurkiyeGROup E: Germany, Curacao, IvoryCoast, EcuadorGROup F: Holland, Japan, Sweden,TunisiaGROup G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran,New ZealandGROup H: Spain, Cape Verde,Saudi Arabia, UruguayGROup i: France, Senegal, Iraq,NorwayGROup J: Argentina, Algeria,Austria, JordanGROup K: Portugal, DR Congo,Uzbekistan, ColombiaGROup l: England, Croatia, Ghana,PanamaGrowing concern innational camp overZii Jia’s injury situation. >30Cklamovski proud ofhis players for showingheart of Harimau. >29Fallen Tiger seekshelp to getout of the woods. >25Gunner Gyokeresfires Sweden into WCwith late winner. >27Hats off to them: Iraq’s Marko Farji (right) and a teammate pose insombreros after their win over Bolivia in Mexico City. — ReutersShining Crescent Star: Turkiye’s Hakan Calhanoglu waving the flagafter they beat Kosovo. — AFPBlack and blue: (clockwise fromtop) italy’s Gianluca Mancini fallsduring the playoff final againstBosnia; Riccardo Calafiori and ateammate react after the shootout;Marco palestrais is consoled byleonardo Spinazzola. — Apromantragedy iii

Mild impactfromrebate cutTHE STAR, THuRSdAy 2 ApRil 2026 Content: [email protected] “If inflation expectations rise on the view thathigher costs are here to stay, this often leads toincreased precautionary savings for riskmanagement, especially when food andtransport uncertainties rise.”Bernard AwHouseholds and businesses likely toabsorb electricity bill hike as TNBcuts Automatic Fuel Adjustmentrebate to 0.0047 sen per kWh from0.0215 sen per kWhBy KEiTH [email protected] JAYA: The impact of TenagaNasional Bhd (TNB) lowering the rebate to0.47 sen per kWh from 2.15 sen per kWh(or from RM0.0215 to RM0.0047 per kWh)will be slight for affected users inPeninsular Malaysia, unless the rebate isreduced further.TNB announced on Tuesday the latestchange to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment(AFA) rebate for April 2026, setting it at 0.47sen per kWh, down from 2.15 sen per kWhin March 2026.This results in a lower rebate, effectivelyleading to higher bills for affected users.Analysts believed the increase can beabsorbed by households and businesses fornow, but noted that second-round effectsmay become a problem.To allay concerns, TNB posted an example of the impact on consumers alongsidethe announcement.Stressing that the new rebate affects onlyusers consuming above 600kWh, TNB usedthe example of a household using 800kWH,noting that it would be paying RM329.68for its April bill after factoring in a RM3.76rebate.For comparison, the same householdwould have received a rebate of RM17.20in March, with the bill totalling RM316.24.Rakuten Trade head of equity salesVincent Lau said it is too early to tell whether the rebate adjustment will affect publicconsumption or electricity-intensive industries such as data centres, as well as themanufacturing and plantation sectors.“The impact of this latest AFA will not beas significant as fuel price increases, unlessthe rebate is sustained or reduced further.We believe industry players, at this point intime, should be able to absorb this relatively minor change,” he told StarBiz.Coface chief economist for Asia Pacific,Bernard Aw, pointed out that Malaysia’selectricity-related component in the country’s consumer price index (CPI) has historically remained stable.He explained that targeted subsidies andregulatory smoothing limit cost passthrough, meaning energy-related adjustments, including electricity, typically have alimited impact on overall headline inflation.“Even with AFA rebates shrinking, thedirect CPI impact is likely to be smallbecause electricity’s CPI weight is only2.7%, and analyst estimates place the shareof residential users consuming less than600kWh at 85%,” he observed.Nevertheless, Aw told StarBiz that whileelectricity’s direct CPI impact is small, second-round effects may emerge in somesegments.He noted that energy cost shocks mainlyaffect transport-intensive sectors, as fueland electricity costs influence logistics,adding that higher logistics and energycosts could also fuel food inflation.In addition, he said smaller rebates primarily affect middle-income and high-electricity usage households.Given Malaysia’s average householdelectricity consumption is estimated at440kWh, the real income impact is modest,particularly for lower-income households.“However, households facing higherenergy costs tend to cut discretionaryspending while maintaining essentials.“If inflation expectations rise on the viewthat higher costs are here to stay, this oftenleads to increased precautionary savingsfor risk management, especially when foodand transport uncertainties rise,” said Aw.IPP Global Wealth investment strategistand economist Mohd Sedek Jantan concurred with Aw that the direct impact oftheAFA rebate reduction could be small,although he stressed that it is not negligible.“The more relevant channel is second-round effects via business costs.Electricity typically accounts for 3% to 8%of operating costs, implying a 0.1% to 0.4%increase in total business costs.“Businesses are unlikely to absorb thisfully, especially in a margin-compressedenvironment, which leads to gradual passthrough into prices,” he cautioned.Mohd Sedek noted that the food and beverage industry could be the most exposed tothe AFA move, as electricity is a key input inprocessing, storage, and distribution.He said given the sector’s large weigh inthe CPI at 29.8%, even partial pass-throughcan meaningfully contribute to persistentcore inflation.On private consumption, Mohd Sedeksaid the increase of around 1% to 3% inelectricity bills is modest relative to overallincome.TuRN TO pAGE 2

2 News STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026MGB bagsRM201milPenang projectSalcon winsRM80milwater contractExsim unitsecuresRM42mil jobPETALING JAYA: MGB Bhd has accepted a letter of award from Lien DakBuilders Sdn Bhd for the proposeddevelopment of centralised labour quarters in Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang,for RM200.74mil.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, thecivil engineering and construction firmsaid the contract duration is for 24months, with the commencement andcompletion dates still “to be advised”.MGB said the development will bedone over two phases.“The contract will increase andenhance the existing order book of thecompany and its group of companies.“With the contract in hand, the group’scurrent outstanding order book is ofapproximately RM1.29bil.”MGB said the contract will have noeffect on the issued share capital of thecompany, but it is expected to contributepositively to its earnings and net assetsper share over the duration of the contract.PETALING JAYA: Salcon Bhd hassecured a new water infrastructure contract worth RM80.399mil, following theissuance of a letter of acceptance byPerbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau PinangSdn Bhd.In a statement, the water and wastewater engineering and construction firmsaid the project involves the design, supply, installation and testing of a maintreated water pipeline from the proposedsite of new 114 megalitres per day SungaiKerian Water Treatment Plant to the proposed site of Batu Kawan Reservoir.The project includes provision forfuture connection to Jawi Reservoir inSeberang Perai Selatan, Penang.Salcon said the project is scheduled tobe carried out within a period of 36months with site possession commencing on April 6, 2026 and scheduled completion by April 5, 2029.PETALING JAYA: Exsim HospitalityBhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ExsimConcepto Sdn Bhd, has bagged a letter ofaward (LoA) from Cosmopolitan AvenueSdn Bhd worth RM41.5mil.In a filing with the local bourse, thecompany said the contract will involvearchitecture, mechanical and electricalworks.The six month contract is expected tobegin on April 1, 2026, and to be completed on Sept 30, 2026.According to the LoA, the defects liability period shall be 12 months commencing from the date of Certificate ofPractical Completion of completed worksor until all defects are made good, whichever is the later.The company noted that the LoA iswithin the ordinary course of businessand is expected to contribute positivelyto the net assets per share, earnings pershare and gearing of the company.It does not foresee any risks other thanthe normal operational ones.Gas and coal supplies stable despite rising costsKUALALUMPUR:TheEnergyCommissionsays that the country’s supplies of naturalgas and coal for power generation are sufficient for now, despite cost increases stemming from the Middle East conflict.Malaysia has been able to secure coalbased on existing contracts and obtains itsnatural gas supplies primarily from domestic sources, rather than the Middle East, thecommission’s chief executive Siti SafinahSalleh told a press conference yesterday.She warned, however, that energy usersare likely to see adjustments in tariff ratesin the coming year, reflecting the rise infuel prices due to the conflict.“Coal prices have crept up as more countries switch to the fuel because of a globalgas shortage, as well as increased shippingand insurance costs.“We do have within our contracts somesafeguards. However, we do have to braceourselves for increasing costs on the fuelfront,” she added.Malaysia imports 100% of the coal it usesfor power generation. A similar rise in natural gas prices has had a more limitedimpact, as just 20% of Malaysia’s supply isimported, mostly from Australia, accordingto Siti Safinah.She said the conflict has also affectedenergy trading arrangements in the region.“Malaysia expects little to no supplycoming from neighbouring Thailand thisyear, after the country announced measures to protect its domestic reserves”. —ReutersFBM KLCI steady amidMiddle East tensionsdividend stocks and tactical trades gain attentionPETALING JAYA: Kenanga Researchbelieves the benchmark FBM KLCI is trading fairly at around the 1,690-point levelnow, given tactical positioning will sustaininto the second quarter of financial year2026 (2Q26) due to the conflict in theMiddle East.The conflict has increased the appeal ofdividend stocks such as banks and realestate investment trusts (REITs), leadingthe research house to maintain its year-endexpectation of 1,760 points for the FBMKLCI (16 times multiple on blended2026/2027 earnings per share).The banking sector generates a dividendyield of 5.3%, which is marginally belowthe 5.5% from the REIT sector.However, if the conflict prolongs beyondsix months, Kenanga Research warned thatthe economic impact could see the indextest 1,610 points in a bear case scenario.“While we acknowledge Malaysia’s relative appeal versus peers as a net energyexporter, we are being more vigilant, especially as year-to-date (y-t-d) earnings expectations haven’t been adjusted much despitepotential cost/inflation pressures,” it statedin its latest 2Q26 strategy report titled“Choosing Our Battles”.However, Kenanga Research is cautiousabout timing positions in banks in 2Q26 asit foresees the case for building up someprovision buffers, before unwinding themlater in the year as war tensions subside.It noted that the equity market is anattractive dividend destination given manycompanies have started to adopt a moreaggressive payout and capital management posture supported by free cash flows,more so as capital management intensify.The research house expects the 2Q26 tooffer a longer window for trading and tactical positioning in oil and gas and plantation stocks, helped by selling product pricesremaining stubbornly high.Another investment option it identifiedwas in companies that have a cost-passthrough business model such as thoseoperating in steel, plastic packaging andgloves sectors.On the other hand, construction playerswill have to absorb some cost in the nearterm, notwithstanding data centre engineering procurement, construction andcommissioning contracts which help support the sector’s pipeline.Utilities fit somewhere in between, withthe impact to rising cost not impactfulthanks to cost-pass through mechanisms.In the consumer space, where valuationreversals y-t-d are relatively aggressive,Kenanga Research expects some downtrading and prefers more defensive names atpresent.“The war is said to offer opportunities instructural growth, which may be oversold.“These include renewable energy andselective technology names.”On the macro front, Kenanga Researchadvised keeping an eye out for the US inflation and treasury yields as key barometers.It believes higher borrowing cost in theUnited States is curtailing the escalation ofthe war as well as the mid-term elections inthe 4Q26.Kenanga Research has forecast an average crude oil price of US$80 a barrel, and ataround US$100 in 2Q26 before normalisingin the second half of financial year 2026.Its top stock picks include names likeCIMBGroupHoldingsBhd, Tenaga NasionalBhd, Sime Darby Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.stock market “The war is said to offer opportunities instructural growth, which may be oversold.These include renewable energy and selectivetechnology names.”Kenanga ResearchAs such, the drag on real disposableincome is minimal and unlikely to materially affect aggregate purchasing power.“Therefore, private consumption shouldremain resilient, with little evidence of abroad-based pullback. Higher-incomehouseholds typically have stronger financial buffers and a lower marginal propensity to consume, which limits spillover intooverall demand.“Any adjustment is likely to be containedwithin discretionary spending, rather thana shift towards higher savings or increasedreliance on government support. Overall,there is no meaningful hit to mass-marketconsumption, and demand conditionsshould remain stable,” said Mohd Sedek.On the other hand, Aw believes thatenergy-intensive business sectors couldface disproportionate cost pressure, citinga 2023 estimate from the National TechAssociation of Malaysia or Pikom, whichfound that heavy power users could seeelectricity charges rise by up to 40% whenImbalance Cost Pass-Through surchargesincreased from 3.7 sen to 20 sen per kWh.“This would have a significant impact onoperating expenses. While AFA adjustments are smaller, persistently high energy prices would reduce rebates andincrease effective tariffs, affecting theoperating expenses of energy-intensiveindustries,” he warned.Aw added that prolonged high energyprices would lead to companies facinghigher operating expenses, lower expectedreturns and cash-flow constraints, potentially threatening corporate investmentplans and reducing the competitiveness ofenergy-intensive sectors.From a broader perspective, Mohd Sedeksaid energy-intensive segments such ascertain manufacturing clusters and datacentres may be more exposed to rebatechanges, but opined that these industriesoften have pricing power, long-term contracts or efficiency buffers to help absorbpart of the increase.In contrast, he said small and mediumenterprises (SMEs) are more vulnerable,given their thinner margins and weakercost absorption capacity, while plantationsare relatively less sensitive as energy is nota dominant cost driver.“Importantly, this also creates a clearincentive for energy transition, as persistently higher grid costs strengthen the casefor firms, particularly energy-intensiveones, to accelerate adoption of renewableenergy, on-site generation and efficiencyupgrades to reduce long-term cost volatility.”While there could be some near-termcaution, particularly among SMEs, MohdSedek believes there will not be a broadpullback in capital expenditure (capex).In fact, he said part of the adjustmentmay be reallocated towards green capex,especially in solar and energy efficiencysolutions.Export competitiveness may face marginal pressure, especially in price-sensitivesegments, but this is unlikely to be decisiverelative to larger drivers such as globaldemand and exchange rate dynamics.“As a result, the overall impact on grossdomestic growth in 2026 is likely minimal,with the tariff adjustment acting more as aheadwind to margins rather than a constraint on growth, while also nudging firmstowards a more sustainable and cost-resilient operating model over the mediumterm,” said Mohd Sedek.> FROM PAGE 1Private consumption expected to remain resilient

STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026 News 3BNM turns wary butkeeps the faith in growthPETALING JAYA: Bank Negara Malaysia(BNM) has struck a cautiously optimistictone on the economy by keeping the country’s growth forecast unchanged for now.Analysts broadly echo the central bank’sview that resilient domestic demand andcontinued export activity will anchorgrowth.BNM expects the economy to expand by4% to 5% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2026, atouch more upbeat than the FinanceMinistry’s narrower 4% to 4.5% projection.The forecast is seen as within reach, aslong as the Middle East conflict does notdeteriorate further and unleash widerknock-on effects.On March 31, US president DonaldTrump said that American forces wouldleave Iran within “two to three weeks”.Post-briefing with BNM, CGSInternational (CGSI) Research said the central bank presented various oil price scenarios. It also repeatedly admitted that thefluidity of the present situation could alterits forecasts.“However, we see the core message for2026 remains consistent – that domesticdemand is anchoring growth – with a moreconstructive view on the ringgit andMalaysia’s export strength.“We keep our 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast of 4.8% y-o-y, which is atthe higher end of BNM’s forecast range.“We think there is still a possibility thatMalaysia could weather the crisis betterthan the market expected, even as theUS-Iran war prolongs, amid its favourablefiscal space and robust export momentum,” said CGSI Research.Meanwhile, Hong Leong InvestmentBank (HLIB) Research said BNM anticipates the economy to remain close to itspotential, with a marginally positive outputgap.In the near term, potential output willremain supported by capital accumulationand productivity gains amid higher investments in information, communication andtechnology, as well as the electrical andelectronic (E&E) sectors.It added that the central bank highlighted downside risks from geopolitical uncertainties and US tariffs, as well as potentialdeceleration in the global artificial intelligence momentum.On the flip side, upside risks to growthinclude stronger-than-expected globalgrowth and robust demand for E&E products, coupled with improved tourismactivity.“Following the impact of the Iran war,we are revising our 2026 GDP forecast to4.5% from 4.7%, while raising our inflationforecast to 2% (previously: 1.7%) and maintaining our expectation for BNM to holdthe overnight policy rate at 2.75%.“We expect some upward pressure onRON97 and unsubsidised diesel prices aswell as food prices from higher commodity costs amid unfavourable weather conditions,” HLIB Research said.Despite the cautiousness amid uncertainties, BIMB Securities Research thinks thereis “scope for upside” to the economic outlook. This would materialise particularly ifprimary sectors such as agriculture andmining outperform expectations andreturn to a firmer growth trajectory, underpinned by sustained strength in globalcommodity prices.Elevated crude oil and crude palm oilprices would enhance income generation,strengthen production incentives andboost export earnings, thereby reinforcingthe contribution from these sectors.“At the same time, a less severe-than-anticipated implementation of US tariff measures could provide an additional lift toexternal demand and trade activity.“Taken together, these factors point to apotential skew of growth outcomes towardthe upper bound of BNM’s forecast range,”stated BIMB Securities Research.Expansion forecast unchanged on domestic demandeconomy “We think there is still a possibility thatMalaysia could weather the crisis better thanthe market expected, even as the US-Iran warprolongs, amid its favourable fiscal space androbust export momentum.”CGS International ResearchIJM wins RM658mil hyperscale data centre contractPETALING JAYA: IJM Corp Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, IJM Construction SdnBhd, has bagged an additional contractvalued at RM658mil from Sime DarbyProperty Bhd’s (SimeProp) subsidiary, SimeDarby Property (EBP Asset II) Sdn Bhd.The contract is for the development of ahyperscale data centre (DC) in ElminaBusiness Park.This marks the second win for the sameproject – IJM’s construction arm hadsecured a RM1.26bil job for the main buildings works of the project, dubbed Package1, back in October last year.In a statement, IJM Corp said the contractwill involve construction, completion, testing and commissioning of the DC, includingassociated ancillary facilities which is within an area of approximately 77 acres.According to the group, work is set tocommence in the second quarter of thisyear and be completed by the third quarterof 2027.The group said the project is expected tocontribute positively to its earnings commencing from the financial year ending2027.Meanwhile, SimeProp noted that thecontract had involved a tender process,which started out with nine contractorsparticipating.Post a pre-qualifying process, four contractors including IJM Construction submitted technical and commercial proposalsfor a final evaluation.“The value of the submitted bids forPackage 2 ranged from RM658.01mil toRM839.89mil.“IJM Construction was selected based onthe overall evaluation in terms of commercial, capacity and technical expertise, aswell as the assessment of Package 1 performance,” it said.It added that Package 2 will be financedvia borrowings, which in turn will result ina higher gearing level for the group.“Package 2 will not have a material effecton the earnings or net assets per share,share capital and substantial shareholders’shareholding of SimeProp for the financialyear ending Dec 31, 2026,” it said.YTL Cement offers to take over Concrete EngineeringPETALING JAYA: Concrete EngineeringProducts Bhd has received an unconditional mandatory take-over offer from YTLCement Bhd worth RM2.60 per share.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said this offer entailed the acquisitionof a 53.49% stake or 39.92 million shares inConcrete Engineering for RM103.79mil.YTL Cement, the building materials unitof YTL Corp Bhd, previously did not holdany shares in Concrete Engineering, andhas entered into unconditional share purchase agreements with several vendors.The acquisition will give YTL Cement acontrolling stake, thereby triggering a mandatory take-over offer for all remainingshares in Concrete Engineering not alreadyheld by YTL Cement, in line with theCapital Markets and Services Act.The offer price of RM2.60 per share represents a premium of 39% to ConcreteEngineering’s closing price of RM1.87 as atMarch 31, 2026. It also reflects a 40.7% premium to the five-day volume weightedaverage market price (VWAMP) of RM1.85.The offer price represents the highestpremium of 96.2% to the one-year VWAP ofRM1.32.The acquisition will be satisfied entirelyin cash. YTL Cement said it had sufficientfinancial resources to satisfy the full acceptance of the offer.YTL Cement intends to maintain the listing status of Concrete Engineering on theMain Market of Bursa Malaysia.Concrete Engineering is engaged in themanufacturing and sale of pre-stressedspun concrete piles and poles, which arewidely used in infrastructure, building andutility projects across Asia, Africa, Oceaniaand the Gulf region.Among the sellers were Inch KennethKajang Rubber PCL, which holds a 19.32%stake in Concrete Engineering, as well asDatuk Che Muhamad Fasir Samsudin andhis son, Muhammad Firdaus MuhamadFasir.Muhamad Fasir disposed of a 4.09%stake, while his son sold a 4.67% interest.In a separate filing, Inch Kenneth KajangRubber said it was disposing of its stake inConcrete Engineering for RM37.48mil toYTL Cement. The company made a gain ofRM19.97mil from the disposal.Airwallex getsapproval toexpand opsKUALA LUMPUR: Airwallex says ithas received approval from Malaysia’scentral bank for licences to carry oute-money issuance, currency exchangeand remittance services, allowing it tooffer a full suite of payment services inthe country.The Australian-founded paymentsfirm said the licences would strengthenits position in providing a comprehensive financial infrastructure that cansupport multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange and complex businessuse cases on a single platform.“We’re excited to support local businesses in scaling internationally, and toplay a role in strengthening Malaysia’sposition as a hub for regional and global growth,” Airwallex Asia-Pacific general manager Arnold Chan said in astatement.It plans to double its headcount inMalaysia this year, after expanding intoa new office space with capacity forover 160 employees. — ReutersOng Chou Wenbecomes NCTAlliance CEOPETALING JAYA: NCT Alliance Bhdhas appointed Ong Chou Wen as itschief executive officer (CEO).In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, theproperty development and construction firm said Ong, 56, had extensiveexperience in the property development industry, with strong expertise infinance, business development, salesand marketing.“Prior to this, he was the CEO ofTropicana Corp Bhd from December2023 to March 2026, where he led keyinitiatives including de-gearing strategies, land monetisation, joint ventures,and foreign investment efforts.“He previously served as CEO of WCTLand Sdn Bhd, where he restructuredthe sales and marketing functions andimplementedstrategic plans toimproveperformance.”NCT Alliance closed unchanged at 57sen yesterday.Central Globalredesignatesits directorPETALING JAYA: Central Global Bhdhas redesignated its director, DatukShahrul Nazri Abdul Rahim, to theposition of chairman.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, theconstruction firm said Shahrul Nazri,52, carries with him over 25 years ofdiverse experience covering both theprivate and public sectors.“He is well-versed in the fields ofstrategic leadership, corporate development, and financial managementacross the public service, banking andinvestment sectors,” it said.Central Global said Shahrul Nazristarted his career in 1994 and hasgained vast working experience in various industries – as co-project director,special projects, corporate planningand development division of PetroliamNasional Bhd; and group chief strategyofficer of Maybank Kim Eng, amongothers.

4 Insight STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026Navigating throughpricey uncertaintiesBy WONG CHUN WAITHE war in Iran may be thousands ofmiles away from most countries but itseconomic impact is being felt globally.The situation remains fluid even ifPresident Donald Trump has announcedthat the war will end in the next fewweeks.From the ordinary taxi drivers inThailand, who now found petrol stationsshutting down, to street food hawkers inIndia having to close up because there areno gas cylinders available, to world leaders having to grapple with the price ofpetrol.The chief executive officers (CEOs) ofcompanies may not be field marshals atthe battle front but the war has hit themhard.As heads of companies, they arerequired to navigate this dangerous territory of soaring energy costs, supply disruptions, inflationary pressure andrenewed remote working.For directors and senior executives, thisis not merely a geopolitical story. It is abalance-sheet event, a workforce eventand, ultimately, a leadership test.They can ask the staff to work fromhome (WFH) to reduce the use of petrolbut workers are asking who is going topay for the home use of electricity forcompany work.In every crisis, weak managementreacts. Strong management recalibrates.This is when the leadership of CEOs aretested.“Oil is not just another commodity; it isthe economy’s bloodstream. When itspikes, everything else follows – transport, logistics, food, manufacturing andservices.“Supply fears tied to Middle Easterninstability have already pushed pricessharply higher, particularly because ofrisks to the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepointfor global oil flows.“Higher energy costs quickly translateinto higher production costs and consumer prices worldwide,’’ as one analyst rightly put it.It’s very simple and we don’t need economists to tell us – sustained high oil priceswill slow growth while pushing inflationup.For most CEOs, this means margins aresqueezed from both ends: costs rise whilecustomers grow more price-sensitive.Good boards recognise that energyshocks are not temporary inconveniences.They are structural shocks that demandstructural responses.Let’s get back to the issue of WFH. It’sdeja vu really as this move is the same onenormalised during the pandemic.The International Energy Agency hasexplicitly recommended remote work asa demand-reduction measure to easepressure on fuel consumption during thecrisis.Forward-looking management teamsare reframing hybrid work not as anemployee perk but as a cost-managementstrategy.Reduced commuting lowers wage pressure for transport allowances, trims corporate travel budgets and can even reduceoffice energy consumption.But effective remote work requiresmore than laptops and video calls.It demands clear performance metrics,strong middle management, cybersecurity investment and a culture of trust.Research from the CharteredManagement Institute (CMI) found thatemployers that take the time to invest inthat culture and lead with trust reap therewards of retaining the best and brightest staff.In times of uncertainty such as an energy shock, staff turnover is the last thingyou want to add into the mix.Anyone who has been charged withrecruiting new hires knows that it takesboth time and money to bring in someonenew and train them up.The smarter leader doesn’t risk losinggood people in the first place.Over a third of managers told CMI thatflexible working (including fully WFHand hybrid models) was the top reasonthey remain at their current organisation.Three in five managers (60%) believeflexible working that includes WFH is oneof the top three most important factors fororganisations to offer, followed by positive and inclusive workplace culture(38%) and competitive salaries and benefits (36%).But I have to confess that I am an oldschool taskmaster.I like to see faces and to feel the energyin the office. This is the result of spendingover 40 years in the newsroom.Nevertheless, I have also embracedmodern working tools and adopted newways of working.WFH without interference from colleagues and unproductive meetings, let’sface it, has enabled me to finish my workfaster.Weak CEOs fear loss of control becauseof their shortcomings including a lack ofconfidence.Strong leaders redesign systems so productivity does not depend on physicalpresence.Inflation management is not a financefunction alone. It is a whole-companystrategy.Periods of geopolitical stress tend totighten financial conditions.Investors turn cautious, borrowingcosts rise and capital flows retreat to saferassets.The hallmarks of prudent managementin such times include strengthening cashreserves, securing credit lines before theyare needed, stretching payables withoutdamaging supplier relationships, accelerating receivables collection and reviewingdividend policiesThe fear of most CEOs is companies mayfail not because they are unprofitable, butbecause they run out of cash.But leaders need to keep their troopsand morale high. Inflation hits employeesas hard as companies.Rising food, fuel and housing costserode real wages, increasing stress, turnover risk and labour disputes.Good leaders communicate early andhonestly about the firm’s position andconstraints, while exploring targeted support such as flexible work, transport subsidies for essential staff or performance-linked bonuses instead of permanent wage hikes.In turbulent times, competence is notmerely desirable. It is the most valuableasset on the balance sheet.This is the time to reframe challenges,act with speed, ensure visibility to stakeholders, clients and staff.As the late Colin Powell, an Americangeneral and diplomat, said: “Leadership issolving problems. The day soldiers stopbringing you their problems is the day youhave stopped leading them.’’Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is the chairmanof Bernama, the national news agency, anda UK-based Chartered ManagementInstitute companion, the highest level ofmembership. He is also a NationalJournalism Laureate. The views expressedhere are the writer’s own.Forward-looking management teams arereframing hybrid work not as an employeeperk but as a cost-management strategy.Trump’s delayed Xi summit gives US-China irritants room to growBy NECTAR GANEVERY week that passes without a face-toface meeting between Donald Trump andXi Jinping gives fresh grievances time toaccumulate.That growing list is testing both sides’ability to keep ties steady between theworld’s top economies.In the past few days, China has launchedretaliatory probes into US trade practices,while a bipartisan group of American senators visited Taiwan to press for morespending to deter a Chinese invasion ofthe chip hub.As Trump’s war in Iran continues todisrupt global commerce crucialto China’sgrowth, Beijing on Tuesday issued a jointcall with Pakistan for an immediate ceasefire.As those tensions build ahead of amuch-anticipatedleaders’ summit delayedto mid-May, the White House has signalledits intent to keep ties steady.Press secretary Karoline Leavitt onMonday said Cabinet officials will travel toChina in the coming weeks, a move thatcould reassure Beijing after officials previously signalled dissatisfaction withWashington’s last-minute preparations.Such visits would build on trade talksTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent andTrade Representative Jamieson Greer heldrecently with Chinese vice-premier HeLifeng in Paris. Any visit to Beijing bySecretary of State Marco Rubio, who hasbeen twice sanctioned by China, couldbe considered another olive branchfrom both sides.“The relationship between the UnitedStates and China has been remarkablystable in the months since the Busan meeting,” said Joe Mazur, a senior analyst atconsulting firm Trivium China, referringto the October summit that sealed a tarifftruce.“The longer the two leaders go withouttalking, the more risk of a return to theugliest days of the trade war.”For its part, Beijing has shown commitment to the summit by emphasising the“irreplaceable” role of head-of-statediplomacy.Hours before the probes into US tradepractices were announced, China’s commerce minister urged Greer to avoid“vicious competition” and implement theconsensus reached at the last leaders’meeting in South Korea.The conflict in the Middle East nowappears to be the biggest source of uncertainty.When Trump delayed his visit to China,he cited the need to stay in Washington tofocus on US military operations in Iran.The war is now in its second month, andshowing few signs of ending anytime soon.Greer on Tuesday downplayed the prospect that the conflict could delay talksfurther, saying preparations for the summit are on track.“The Chinese want stability. We wantstability. I actually see a positive agendawith China going forward,” Greer said onBloomberg Surveillance.Asked if he needed to meet his Chinesecounterparts again before the summit, hesaid it would not be necessary, contraryto Leavitt’s suggestion the day before.Trump and Xi are expected to meet fourtimes this year, including at two leaders’summits both nations are hosting in thefinal months of 2026.Any further delay in the Republicanleader’s trip to Beijing – the first by a USpresident in nearly a decade – would takethe momentum out of that schedule.“It would be diplomatically awkwardfor President Trump to delay the summit asecond time, and delaying again could alsodisrupt the cadence of meetings potentially taking place later in the year,” said BrianHart, deputy director of the China PowerProject at the Centre for Strategic andInternational Studies.“That would potentially undermine therelative stability achieved in Busan.”Taiwan remains a flashpoint, with Xithis week inviting the chairwoman of theisland’s main opposition party to Chinafor the first time in a decade.That meeting will give the Chinese leader a chance to press Cheng Li-wun over aspecial military budget President LaiChing-te is trying to to pass, in part to buymore weapons from Washington.Chinese officials are wary of further USarms sales, an issue Xi raised directly withTrump in a February phone call duringwhich he urged the United States to proceed with “utmost caution”.The Chinese Communist Party considers the self-ruled island its own territorydespite never having ruled it.Still, China has been measured inresponding to fresh trade tensions, illustrating the mutual desire to prevent anyrupture.Beijing cast its latest probes as countermeasures to the United States’ so-calledSection 301 investigations, initiated by theTrump administration to lay the groundwork for replacing tariffs struck down bythe Supreme Court in February.The court ruling removed Trump’s 10%so-called reciprocal tariff on Chinesegoods, as well as a separate 10% levy overfentanyl.Although the Trump administration hassince moved to impose a 10% flat globaltariff, overall US levies on China remainbelow pre-ruling levels.“This reflects the current pattern ofChina-US economic interaction: wheneverthe United States provokes, China strikesback resolutely – and we mean what wesay,” said Wu Xinbo, director at FudanUniversity’s Centre for American Studies.The latest moves, however, underscorea widening gap in how the two sides interpret Washington’s actions. — BloombergNectar Gan writes for Bloomberg. Theviews expressed here are the writer’s own.

STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026 News 5Defensive incomea boon for finance sectorCurrent pricing implies compelling 2027 dividend yieldsfinancePETALING JAYA: Recent weakness inbanking stock prices have prompted analysts to advocate a “buy” call on the shareswhile reiterating their “overweight” callson the sector.In a report, Hong Leong InvestmentBank (HLIB) Research said recent profit-taking had presented an attractive “buyon weakness” opportunity.At 2027 price-to-book of 0.92 times, theFinance Index is trading at minus onestandard deviation below its five-yearmean of 1.07 times, suggesting undemanding valuations.“Current pricing also implies compelling2027 dividend yields of above 6% for mostbanks, offering defensive income appealamid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty andwe therefore reiterate our ‘overweight’rating on the sector,” said HLIB Research.A banking analyst told StarBiz that bankstocks were “about the only stocks” thatcan recover very fast, when the marketrecovers its losses.“Banks are a proxy to everything, especially the economy and the stock market. Ifbanks are down for a long time, that’swhen it’s time to be worried,” he said.In its report, HLIB Research said thebanking sector’s system loan growthimproved modestly to 5.2% in Februarydriven by stronger business lending, whilehousehold growth remained stable.However, leading indicators weakened,with a sharp decline in loan applications –particularly from households – resulting inmuted approvals.Deposit growth continued to moderateamid softer current account savingsaccount and foreign inflows with resilientasset quality, it said,Margins compressed slightly due tohigher funding costs. Overall, fundamentals remain intact, with attractive valuations and dividend yields supporting aconstructive sector outlook, said theresearch house.Kenanga Research said following therecent correction in the sector, it was taking the opportunity to upgrade MalayanBanking Bhd to “outperform”.“While we expect flattish earningsgrowth in 2026 relative to peers due toongoing investments under its ROAR30strategic initiatives, current valuationsappear more compelling for investorsseeking a lower-risk regional bankingexposure, supported by its relatively lowerexposure to Indonesia,” it told clients.“Meanwhile, we also upgrade BankIslam Malaysia Bhd (BIMB) and MBSB Bhdto outperform, underpinned by theirattractive dividend yields of more than6%.”For BIMB, the research house expectssentiment to improve with the onboardingof a new management team while forMBSB, it anticipates a normalisation inearnings following the weak fourth-quarter 2025 (4Q25) performance from unforeseen provisions, which undermined thegradual recognition of its syndicatedfinancing pipeline, it said.Kenanga Research said it believes theeffects of inflation could be back-loaded.Thus, it preferred to stay selective withbanks that are more insulated to inflationary pressures.“We believe the sector’s resilienceremains intact, supported by attractive andsustainable dividend yields of circa 5%,which continue to position banks as adefensive haven for investors,” it said.Kenanga Research said following strongaccumulation in the 1Q26, and a subsequent pullback amid heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran, it believed thesector’s longer-term resilience remainsintact.“That said, we flag potential credit costrisks heading into the upcoming Mayreporting season, where we expect banksare likely to raise macroeconomic overlaysby five to 10 basis points, translating to acirca 3.5% to 7% earnings impact.“This is in response to rising inflationary pressures from oil price volatility,which could drive higher transportationand logistics costs and, in turn, weigh onborrowers’ repayment capacity,” itadded.“We believe the sector’s resilience remainsintact, supported by attractive and sustainabledividend yields of circa 5%, which continue toposition banks as a defensive haven forinvestors.”Kenanga ResearchData centre contract wins boost Southern ScorePETALING JAYA: Southern Score BuildersBhd’s (SSBB) latest contract to undertakeelectrical works for data centre (DC) projects reinforces the group’s strong presencein the fast-growing DC sector, according toPhillip Capital Research.SSBB announced that its 51%-ownedsubsidiary, SJEE Engineering Sdn Bhd, hassecured two letters of award from a localconstruction company to undertake anelectrical subcontract works for a DC project (worth RM150mil) and another additional electrical works for an existing subcontract project (at RM39mil).The research firm said including thislatest win, the company’s year-to-date contract wins have reached circa RM425mil,representing 39% of Phillip Capital’s financial year 2026 (FY26) replenishmentassumption of RM1.1bil.“This lifts SSBB’s outstanding order bookto RM1.6bil, with DC projects accounting for27% of the total. Assuming a 15% net profitmargin, we estimate the two projects willcontribute RM28.4mil over the contractperiod. This repeat order from an existingclient demonstrates the group’s executiontrack record and client confidence, servingas a strong testament to its reliability andstrengthening its positioning for future project wins,” the research firm said in a report.The scope of work includes supply, installation, testing and commissioning, as wellas maintenance and warranty, with a totalcontract value of RM189mil.The new contract commenced in March2026 and is scheduled for completion byNovember 2026, while the existing project,which was awarded in August 2024, isexpected to be completed by October 2026.Overall, Phillip Capital said replenishment prospects remain healthy, supportedby a diversified RM1.4mil tender book,comprising DC (24%), residential (38%) andgovernment-related buildings (38%).However, it keeps the company’s earnings forecast unchanged as this contractfalls within replenishment assumption.“We reiterate our ‘buy’ rating and targetprice at RM0.75, pegged to a target 18 timesprice-to-earnings multiple on FY27 estimated earnings per share.“We continue to favour SSBB for its strategic expansion into the fast growing DCsector, coupled with robust order bookvisibility from existing anchor clients.”Meanwhile, Apex Research also kept its“buy” call on the stock with a slightly higher target price of RM0.81.Assuming a profit after tax margin of18%, it said the contract is expected to contribute around RM17.4mil (or 23% of FY26earnings) over the FY26-FY27 period.TNB proposesRM10bil sukukprogrammeKUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd(TNB) has lodged an Islamic medium-termnotes (sukuk wakalah) programme of upto RM10bil in nominal value with theSecurities Commission (SC).The electricity utility company said theprogramme will have a tenure of 50 yearsfrom the date of the first issuance, withindividual sukuk issued under the programme having a tenure of one year to 50years.“The programme provides TNB withthe flexibility to issue sukuk from time totime, including those that comply withsustainability and sustainability-linkedguidelines or frameworks.“The sukuk wakalah programme hasbeen assigned a final rating of AAA byRAM Rating Services Bhd,” it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday.TNB said proceeds from the issuance ofthe sukuk will be utilised to finance syariah-compliant capital expenditure, investments, general corporate purposes, andworking capital requirements, as well asto refinance existing conventional borrowings and Islamic financing facilities.— BernamaMaxim Globalaccepts Islamicfacilities for dealKUALA LUMPUR: Maxim Global Bhd’s70%-owned indirect subsidiary, F3 CherasDevelopment Sdn Bhd, has acceptedIslamic banking facilities worth RM54milfrom AmBank Islamic Bhd.The company said in a filing with BursaMalaysia that the facilities will be used topartly finance the development cost forthe decommissioning and upgrading ofsewerage treatment plants in Alam Dami,Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.It said the facilities will result in theMaxim group incurring interest andfinancing expenses, which will be chargedto profit or loss, thereby directly impacting its earnings.However, these costs are expected to befully covered by future earnings from thedevelopment of the land after the completion of the project. — BernamaTopmix acquiresJohor land plotsfor RM19milPETALING JAYA: Topmix Bhd is proposing to acquire two pieces of freeholdvacant parcels of land in Johor Baru, totalling 10,117 sq m from Kesas KenanganSdn Bhd for a combined amount ofRM18.97mil.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the decorative surface solutions provider saidthe proposed acquisitions are in line withthe group’s long-term strategic plan toexpand its operational capacity andenhance its manufacturing and warehouse infrastructure.“The strategic proximity to major seaport, border crossing and airport infrastructure is expected to enhance supplychain efficiency, optimising logisticalefficiency and improve operational efficiency.“In addition, the proposed acquisitionsprovide long-term operational flexibilityand support the group’s expansion strategyby securing industrial landina high-demand growth corridor.”Ringgit ends higher on de-escalation of war optimismKUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit extendedearlier gains to end higher against the USdollar yesterday driven by renewed optimism among market traders followingsigns of possible de-escalation in theUS-Iran war.At 6pm, the local currency rose to4.0240/0295 against the greenback fromTuesday’s close of 4.0475/0520.Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashidsaid market traders are observing signs of apossible de-escalation in the US-Iran war asindicated by President Donald Trump thatthey are looking to withdraw from the areawithin a few weeks.“Therefore, I think that has led to someform of optimism among the traders whichled to the acquisition of ringgit,” he toldBernama.At the same time, he said the US dollarindex fell by 0.35% to 99.613 points, indicating a weaker greenback -- a reflection ofoptimism that the de-escalation in warbetween the United States and Iran couldhappen at some point in the near future.Meanwhile, Mohd Afzanizam said thereis also an indication that the US labourmarket is softening as it was reported lastnight that the number of job openings inthe United States fell to 6.88 million for themonth of February, compared to 7.24 million in the month of January.

6 News STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026ABM: Banking industry remains resilient, customers to get supportPETALINGJAYA:TheAssociationof Banks in Malaysia (ABM) hasgiven an assurance that the country’s banking industry remainsstrong and resilient.In a statement, ABM said it iscommitted to supporting customers amid global uncertainties,including developments in theMiddle East.“Recognising that externaldevelopments may create financial pressures for some individuals and businesses, banks remainready to provide support where itis needed.“Our priority is to ensure customers feel supported and haveaccess to appropriate assistanceduring challenging times.”According to ABM, customerswho may be experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged toreach out early to their respectivebanks.“Support has always been available for those with genuine needs,and banks will continue to revieweach situation with care, understanding, and flexibility.“Assistance may include repayment arrangements and other tailored financial solutions designedto help customers manage shortterm pressures while maintaining long-term financial well-being.”ABM said the banking industryremains committed to workingclosely with customers and relevant stakeholders to ensure thatindividuals and viable businessescontinue to receive support, inline with the country’s broaderobjectives of economic stabilityand financial resilience.“ABM would like to emphasisethat early engagement is key.“Customers are encouraged tocontact their banks promptly todiscuss available assistance,” itadded.Strong CPO priceslift United MalaccaFy26 earnings likely to be 43% higherPETALINGJAYA:UnitedMalaccaBhd is likely to see a strongerfourth quarter to lift its financialyear 2026 (FY26) core net profitby 43% year-on-year, given thecurrent strength in crude palm oil(CPO) prices and rising yields.Its nine-month FY26 core netprofit was already up by 50%year-on-year, said KenangaResearch.It expected FY27 to be slightlyweaker on global edible oil prices,as its Indonesian upstream hasyet to hit prime yields while costwas expected to rise even thoughit remained contained.The research house upgradedFY26 core earnings per share(EPS) by 4% to 79.3 sen and FY27core EPS by 8% to 76 sen.Kenanga Research added thatthe group reported good ninemonth FY26 earnings that exceeded expectations, accounting for80% of the research house’s and97% of consensus full year’s estimates, respectively.Meanwhile, TA Research raisedits FY26-FY28 earnings estimatesby 16.5% to 21.4%, driven byhigher fresh fruit bunch (FFB)growth assumptions in line withmanagement guidance, alongsidefirmer CPO price assumptions.CIMB Research also raised itsFY26–FY28 earnings forecasts by48% to 70%, reflecting higher CPOprices, FFB output and operatingcosts.It maintained its “buy” call witha sum-of-parts-based target price(TP) of RM6.83 a share.The research house expectedCPO prices to strengthen in 2026,supported by higher biodieselmandates in Indonesia and theUnited States, which will boostedible oil demand.In addition, potential El Ninoconditions in the second half of2026 could tighten supply.The research house also raisedits dividend forecasts for 2026–2028 to 22 sen from 12 sen, reflecting higher earnings projectionsand a higher dividend payoutratio of 27.8%to 31%.This implied a dividend yield of3.7%.TA Research maintained its“buy” call with a higher TP ofRM7.34 a share from RM7.29 pershare, after rolling forward itsvaluation base year to 2027 withprice-to-earnings multiple of 13times.“As a pure upstream planter,the group is well placed to benefitfrom any upside in CPO prices,”said the research house.Kenanga Research said its TP isbased on 0.9 times price to bookvalue, which is the 10-year average for mid-sized planters.It retained its “outperform”stance and maintained its TP atRM6.70 a share.The research house said management has guided for strongerFFB production growth of 8% to10% for FY26 (versus 3% to 5%previously), supported by an optimal oil palm age profile andimproved operational efficiency.“Asapureupstream planter,the group is wellplaced to benefitfrom any upsidein CPO prices.”TA ResearchCOMMODITIESZecon appoints Morshidi as chairmanPETALING JAYA: Zecon Bhd hasannounced the appointment ofTan Sri Mohamad Morshidi AbdulGhani as its new chairman.In a statement, the engineeringand construction solutions provider said Mohamad Morshidibrings over 40 years of leadershipexperience to Zecon.“He notably served as the StateSecretary of Sarawak from 2009to 2019. His extensive backgroundincludes senior roles within theChief Minister’s department,management executive positionsat PETRONAS, and a tenure as thedirector of Kuching North CityHall.Zecon said that MohamadMorshidi holds several prominent chairmanships and directorships, including chairman of theDevelopment Bank of Sarawak,chairman of the Sarawak DigitalEconomy Corp Bhd, chairman ofthe Centre For TechnologyExcellence Sarawak and chairman of the Sarawak Trade andTourism Office Singapore.He is also a director of SarawakEnergy Sdn Bhd and the SarawakMultimedia Authority.Separately, the company alsoannounced the appointment ofBrandon Goh Mun Han as itschief operating officer.“He began his career in 1995 asan assistant auditor with Ernst &Young and progressed to seniorauditor, auditing companiesacross diverse sectors.“In 2001, he joined DawlaCapital Sdn Bhd, where he monitored and managed a portfolio ofquoted shares.”SME Bank’s financing approvals up 19%PETALING JAYA: Small MediumEnterprise Development BankMalaysia Bhd (SME Bank) reported strong 2025 results, with totalapproved financing rising 19%year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM4.3bil.In a statement, the bank saidthe growth reflected sustaineddemand across key sectors,including bumiputra development, technology and innovation,digital adoption, climate-resilientinitiatives, the halal industry andtourism, in line with Bank NegaraMalaysia’s PerformanceMeasurement Framework andtheMadaniEconomicFramework.Relief president/chief executiveofficer Samad Majid Zain said:“SME Bank’s performance in 2025reaffirms our developmental mandate in strengthening Malaysia’smicro small and medium enterprise (MSME) ecosystem.”He added that of the RM4.3bilin approved financing, a total ofRM3.8bil was channelled toMSMEs, up around 20% y-o-y,with more than 60% of customerssecuring financing of RM1mil andbelow.Samad said the growth infinancing underscored the bank’scontinued focus on expandingaccess for underserved andunserved entrepreneurs.

STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026 News 7SupportlineBy FONG MIN YUANThe comments above do not represent arecommendation to buy or sell.drB-hiCOM Bhd has advanced above the50-day simple moving average (sMa) for thefirst time in a month as the share attempts tobreak out of a consolidation phase.The technical indices have lifted to firm levels with the slow-stochastic rising at 59 pointsand the 14-day relative strength index (rsi)climbing at 55 points.The daily moving average convergence/divergence (MaCd) histogram has charted alonger upward bar, reflecting the growing bullishness.With the rising momentum, the share islooking at a resistance of rM1.24, which incrossing would see the share ascend to ahigher hurdle at rM1.35.support for the share lies at rM1.02 and 92sen.TOp Glove Corp Bhd snapped a three-day rallyyesterday, but the week’s gains have put it ona more solid technical footing.The share rose above the 100-day sMa linethis week and came within striking distance ofa resistance at 72 sen.a breach above this could see the share risetowards a higher resistance of 95 sen.Going by the technical indices, the share istaking a breather from overbought levels oftrading. Nevertheless, once the indices haveneutralised, the share is expected to resumeits upward trajectory.The MaCd is indicating a bullish signal withthree successively higher positive bars, reflecting the growing momentum.support for the share is pegged to 60 senand 53 sen.Bursa Malaysia Bhd is bouncing back on atwo-day rally as the technical indices avoidedcrossing below the oversold line and areshowing signs of recovery.The counter has crossed above the 100-daysMa line and is looking to reclaim rM8.70 anda recent closing high of rM9.11.While the technical charts are retracinghigher, the slow-stochastic has hit a bullish 51points while the rsi is rising at 46.support is pegged to rM8.40 and rM8.20.OIL AND GAS “Now that Kasawari is producing andemissions have begun, we are lookingto expedite efforts to capture and injectthe CO2 as soon as possible.”Emry Hisham YusoffPETRONAS to bringforward carbon projectCO2 injection at sarawak gas field likely in 2027KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam NasionalBhd (PETRONAS) is looking to bring forward the first carbon dioxide (CO2) injection for its carbon capture and storage(CCS) project at the Kasawari gas field, offshore Sarawak, to 2027.This is earlier than its previous projection of 2029 or 2030 and forms part ofefforts to reduce the group’s carbon emissions footprint.PETRONAS head of carbon managementEmry Hisham Yusoff said the plan, whichremains at an early stage of discussion,takes into account that the gas field beganproduction in August 2024.He said Kasawari was developed beforePETRONAS formalised its net-zero carbonemissions commitment, resulting in a gapbetween production and carbon management planning.“When Kasawari was being developed,PETRONAS had not yet made its carboncommitment.“During the fabrication stage, we cameup with our net-zero carbon emissions target and realised the field would emit CO2.So we need to address that.“There is a gap between production andinjection readiness, including identifyingsuitable fields for CO2 storage.“Now that Kasawari is producing andemissions have begun, we are looking toexpedite efforts to capture and inject theCO2 as soon as possible,” he said.Emry Hisham told reporters this whenasked about the CCS project on the sidelinesof theOffshoreTechnologyConferenceAsia here yesterday.He added that PETRONAS aimed to capture 3.3 million tonnes per annum of CO2for injection under the CCS project.The Kasawari gas field is set to integrateone of the largest offshore CCS projectsglobally to manage high CO2 levels, andhas commenced operations at about 200million cu ft per day, with plans to rampup output to support liquefied natural gassupply.Emry Hisham said PETRONAS is awaiting the final form of the National ClimateChange Bill before assessing its full implications on the industry, including theimplementation of climate obligations andcarbon-related regulations.Earlier in March, the Natural Resourcesand Environmental Sustainability Ministrysaid the bill is slated to be tabled in thesecond session of Parliament in June.The bill is intended to serve as a dedicated climate legislation, establishing a legalframework for climate governance, emissions management, carbon market regulation, as well as reporting and compliance.Emry Hisham also urged the government to expedite the finalisation of bilateral agreements between Malaysia and othercountries to facilitate cross-border carbonmovement for CCS projects.He said Malaysia is currently in discussions with Singapore and Japan on potential collaboration, with talks with Singaporeunderstood to be more advanced.However, no agreement has been signedto date, although negotiations are ongoingand a bilateral agreement between thecountries would be required before anyformalisation.Emry Hisham was a panellist at an industry session titled “Scaling decarbonisationand CCUS: Transforming offshore assetsfor sustainable energy production.”At the session, he said policy and regulatory clarity remained key to unlocking CCSinvestments, noting that while Malaysia’sexisting legal framework supports carboninjection within petroleum operations, itdoes not fully cover carbon capture fromnon-petroleum facilities such as energy orgas processing plants.He said the Carbon Capture, Utilisationand Storage (CCUS) Bill 2025 was introduced to address this gap and enable CCSactivities, including cross-border projects.He added that bilateral agreementsbetween governments are still required tofacilitate carbon movement and ensurealignment with international frameworks.Emry Hisham also said liability is a critical consideration, noting that underMalaysia’s framework, CCS developers arerequired to monitor and assume responsibility for storage sites for at least 10 yearspost-closure before applying for handoverto the government, subject to regulatoryapproval and possible extension. —BernamaWar fails to dent MTT Shipping IPO, expansion plansKUALA LUMPUR: MTT Shipping andLogistics Bhd is forging ahead with expansion plans and an April initial public offering (IPO), shrugging off disruptions fromthe Middle East war as cargo volumes holdsteady.“Our ships are still full,” Ooi Lean Hin,managing director of Malaysia’s largestcontainer shipping operator, said in aMonday interview.The company is seeking RM652mil fromits IPO, offering 633.5 million shares atRM1.03 each for an implied market valueof about RM2.58bil.The deal came amid a pickup in listingactivity, including Sunway HealthcareHoldings Bhd’s RM2.86bil offering lastmonth, the largest in nine years.MTT Shipping, however, isn’t insulatedfrom rising prices due to the conflict, Ooisaid. While freight costs have increasedbetween US$50 to US$100 per twenty-foot-equivalent unit in Asia, the hikes lagbehind those of other regions, he added.Rates in Asia “are quite good at themoment,” said Ooi, a former EvergreenMarine Corp executive and chairman of theShipping Association of Malaysia, addingthatpricemechanisms are inplace to ensurebunker costs are passed on to customers.MTT Shipping serves trade betweenPeninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah andSarawak, where it has a 46% market share,the company said. It also operates in countries such as Indonesia and India.MTT Shipping has Malaysia’s largest andyoungest fleet of 26 container ships. Itowns 25 of the vessels and uses Port Klangas its primary hub. — BloombergMyNews to deliver earnings growth on new storesPETALING JAYA: MyNews Holdings Bhdmay continue to deliver top line growth onopening of more stores in the mediumterm, according to RHB Research.The company is targeting some 100 newstores in its financial year 2026 (FY26), with27 stores already opened so far this year.Its focus will be on transit hub areas.The research house expected the company’s South Korean CU convenience storesto continue to be profitable, supported bymore aggressive promotions, an improvedstock-keeping unit mix and better siteselection.The company’s WHSmith bookstore contribution grew 5.8% quarter-on-quarterand 11.6% year-on-year (y-o-y), and theresearch house expects this trend to continue, supported by overall tourism momentum.“But we expect continued cost pressuresfrom higher depreciation and labourexpenses amid ongoing expansions,although this should normalise as storeproductivity improves.“We expect modest cost savings (circaRM500,000 to RM1mil annually) from thereduction in the sales and services tax from8% to 6%,” it said.RHB Research maintained its “buy” callon the counter but cut its FY26 to FY28’sforecast earnings by 12%, 11% and 11%,respectively, on a conservative operatingenvironment.Its discounted cash flow-derived targetprice is lowered to 70 sen, valued at a FY26forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22 times,which is broadly in line with its long-termmean.Meanwhile, CIMB Research saidMyNews’ first quarter (1Q26) financial performance was below its and consensusestimates.This was mainly due to higher-than-expected operating expenditure (opex),which included the expanded service taxscope covering leasing services and weaker operating leverage.Its 1Q26 revenue rose 10.5% from theprevious year to RM238mil, driven bystronger in-store sales and continued network expansion.Earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation margin, however,narrowed 0.7 percentage points y-o-y to13.4%.This was due to higher opex due to anincrease in administrative expenses, heavier promotional activity, and higher sellingand distribution costs.Bursa Malaysia8.88.48.0420RM VOL (MIL) APRIL 1 RM8.6921-dayO N D J FM ADRB-Hicom1.301.151.001260RM VOL (MIL) APRIL 1 RM1.12O N D J FM A21-dayTop Glove0.750.650.55120600RM VOL (MIL) APRIL 1 66 SENO N D J FM A21-day

8 STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026

STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026 Foreign News 9South Korea exports surge despite rising Iran risksSEOUL: South Korea’s exports continuedto surge in March as record semiconductorshipments driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and demand from Chinahelped cushion the economy even as external risks intensified amid the war in Iran.The value of shipments adjusted for differences in the number of working dayssoared 41.9% from a year earlier, according to data released by the trade ministry.Unadjusted exports rose 48.3%, compared with a revised 28.7% gain for the fullmonth of February,while imports increased13.2%, resulting in a trade surplus ofUS$25.74bil.Semiconductors continued to power theoverall increase, setting a fresh record ofUS$32.8bil in chip shipments.That was a 151.4% jump from a yearearlier, supported by sustained globalinvestment in AI and data centres.Shipments of autos, petroleum productsand computers also increased, the tradeministry noted in a statement.By destination, exports to the UnitedStates increased 47.1%, while the value ofshipments to China climbed 64.2%, thelargest jump since the aftermath of theglobal financial crisis.Semiconductors and petroleum productstopped the export list to China.For now the data suggest South Korea’sexport engine remains intact, despitemounting headwinds from surging energyprices and geopolitical uncertainty.“Memory chip prices have softenedrecently, but remain elevated from a yearearlier, supporting continued robust exportgrowth,” said BNP Paribas economist JeehoYoon. “It’ll be crucial to keep a close eye onwhether there’s a risk of a sharp drop inprice momentum, and whether volumescan sustain solid growth.” — BloombergChina’s new AIstocks drivevolatility in AsiaBEIJING: Chinese artificial intelligence(AI) firms have emerged as one of the mostvolatile pockets of Asia’s equity markets,with shares of newly listed model developers and chip designers swinging on retailflows.Half of the region’s top 10 most volatilestocks based on 90-day annualised volatility are recent initial public offerings (IPOs)from the sector, according to Bloombergcalculations for firms valued aboveUS$10bil.Moore Threads Technology Co, for example, soared more than 700% in five daysbefore nearly halving, while AI modeldeveloper MiniMax Group Inc climbedmore than 500% since its January debut.Chinese stocks – especially those listed inHong Kong – are no stranger to speculativeswings.But the recent surge in volatility hasbeen amplified by thin institutional ownership and the frenzy around all things AI.The swings could intensify as some companies move toward inclusion into tradinglinks with onshore exchanges, opening thedoor for mainland investors who are evenmore inclined to quick, momentum-driventrading.“All these new AI stocks are almost entirely valued on their AI roadmap. That meanstheir earnings and sentiment are highlysensitive to the whole AI story in China,”said Jasmine Duan, senior investment strategist at RBC Wealth Management Asia.“There is risk in chasing the rally becausesome of their business models are notproven, and change can be quite rapid.”The latest hype around China’s tokenconsumption highlights just how extremethose moves can be.Investors are starting to bet that tokensellers like MiniMax and Knowledge AtlasTechnology JSC Ltd, known as Zhipu, arebest positioned to benefit from the risingdemand for tokens – which measures dataunits processed by AI models for generating text and other inputs.Exchange data show that institutionsrequired to disclose their holdings accountfor just 9.3% of MiniMax’s shares, with theremainder held by individuals and non-reporting investors.Among Asia’s five most volatile stocks –four of them newly listed Chinese firms –institutional ownership averages 13%.By contrast, they own about half ofTencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba GroupHolding Ltd.In March, MiniMax stock’s average intraday percentage move was 14 points, whileZhipu had a 13-point high-to-low change.That compares with just 3.6% for Alibaba.Bloomberg Intelligence forecast thatMiniMax and Zhipu will deliver revenuegrowth of more than 150% year-on-year in2028. — BloombergAirlines, tourism striveto weather fuel crisisprice spikes jeopardise double-digit growth ambitionsHANOI: The aviation and tourism sectorsare under mounting pressure from surgingfuel prices, prompting calls for flexibility,cost-cutting measures, policy support andways to boost competitiveness to stabiliseairfares and sustain growth.The government has taken swift actionto cushion the impact of rising oil pricesrelated to the Middle East conflict, including tax cuts and an advance of eight trilliondong to the fuel price stabilisation fund.Without these steps, domestic fuel pricescould have fluctuated more sharply,according to Thanh Nien newspaper editorin-chief Nguyen Ngoc Toan.However, he warned that even if geopolitical tensions in the Middle East ease,global oil prices are likely to remain highdue to damage to production facilities, withrecovery expected to take months orlonger.The prolonged impact is rippling acrossaviation and tourism, sectors seen as critical to Vietnam’s double-digit growth ambitions for the next few years, Toan said.Airlines have reported flight cancellations, route consolidations and reducedflight frequencies due to fuel shortages,while also considering fuel surcharges oninternational routes and higher domesticfare caps.Travel firms, meanwhile, are strugglingwith losses on pre-sold tours and risinginput costs.“Increasing airfares is almost inevitable,but higher prices will affect demand and,in turn, airlines’ business performance,”said Toan.Domestic carriers added that as fuel nowaccounts for a significant share of operating costs, there is little room to absorb further increases.Dao Duc Vu, deputy general director ofSun PhuQuoc Airways, said the fuel pricesurge represents a major shock for theyoung airline, with fuel costs making uparound 40% of total expenses.“We are focusing on optimising all operations, from flight schedules to aircraftturnaround times and technical solutionsto reduce fuel consumption,” Vu said, adding that fare adjustments are difficult toavoid but will be managed to limit the burden on passengers.Vietravel Airlines deputy director LeTien Dung said the firm plans to cut underperforming routes and reduce flight frequencies in early April as fuel costs, whichtypically account for up to 35% of airlines’operating expenses, rise.However, he said the carrier intends toincrease flights during the peak holidaytravel period from April 30 to May 1 tomeet demand.Describing the current energy shock asfaster and less predictable than the Covid19 pandemic, deputy director of BambooAirways Vo Huy Cuong warned of potentialfuel shortages that could disrupt operations.The airline is prioritising domestic routesintegrated with tourism and resort ecosystems and short-haul regional markets,while focusing on fuel-efficient aircraft tonavigate the crisis.Despite higher airfares, passengerdemand remains strong, Cuong said.Vietnam Airlines is also feeling the strain.Dang Anh Tuan, deputy general director ofthe national flag carrier, described thesurge in fuel prices as a major post-pandemic shock, with Jet A1 prices triplingcompared to the airline’s initial forecasts.He said for every US$1 increasein oil price above planned fuel costs,the airline incurs an additional costof 300 billion dong per year.Tuan added that the airline is implementing a flexible pricing strategy, maintaining fares below the ceiling while balancing operational sustainability and consumer affordability, to meet travel demandand contribute to the country’s economicgrowth.Meanwhile, Tran Ngoc Dong Quan fromthe Ho Chi Minh City Department ofTourism said tourism posted strong growthin 2025 and early 2026 but rising fuel costssince March have affected both aviationand maritime transport, increasing overalltravel expenses.In response, tourism firms are shiftingfrom price competition to product diversification, focusing on short-haul, domesticand urban tourism, as well as cost-efficienttravel options.Some companies are also separating fuelcosts from tour prices to improve transparency.Quan said steps have been taken to promote restructuring of the demand market,product diversification and service qualityimprovement.Ho Chi Minh City plans to roll out monthly stimulus programmes offering 10,000packages of up to 2.5 million dong perinternational visitor, he added. — Viet NamNews/ANNDestination perks: a female tourist poses for photos in front of the Opera house in hoChi Minh City. Quan says ho Chi Minh City plans to roll out monthly stimulus programmesoffering 10,000 packages of up to 2.5 million dong per international visitor. — aFpVietnamEXCHANGE RATE1 us dollar ...........................4.0980 3.9510 3.94101 australian dollar ...............2.8470 2.7310 2.71501 Brunei dollar .....................3.1840 3.0840 3.07601 Canadian dollar ................2.9400 2.8570 2.84501 Euro ...................................4.7370 4.5820 4.56201 New Zealand dollar ..........2.3620 2.2750 2.25901 singapore dollar ...............3.1840 3.0840 3.07601 sterling pound ..................5.4220 5.2490 5.22901 swiss Franc ......................5.1610 4.9390 4.9240100 uaE dirham .................112.5900 106.6800 106.4800100 Bangladesh Taka ..........3.4060 3.1580 2.9580100 danish Krone ..............64.9800 59.7700 59.5700100 hongkong dollar ........52.6900 50.0500 49.8500100 indian rupee ................4.4700 4.1500 3.9500100 indonesian rupiah .......0.0252 0.0222 0.0172100 Japanese yen ...............2.6000 2.4790 2.4690100 Norwegian Krone .......43.3700 39.8600 39.6600100 pakistan rupee ............1.5200 1.3600 1.1600100 philippine peso ............6.8500 6.4400 6.2400100 Qatar riyal ...................113.3700 107.6300 107.4300100 saudi riyal ...................110.0800 104.5000 104.3000100 south africa rand ......25.1100 22.6700 22.4700100 sri lanka rupee ...........1.3600 1.1900 0.9900100 swedish Krona ...........44.6300 40.6300 40.4300100 Thai Baht ....................13.1400 11.6400 11.2400SEllING BuyING BuyINGTT/OD TT ODOpENING RATES By MAyBANk ON ApRIl 1, 2026“It’ll be crucial to keep a close eye on whetherthere’s a risk of a sharp drop in pricemomentum, and whether volumes can sustainsolid growth.”Jeeho Yoon

10 Foreign News STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026Prabowo sets 100GWsolar power targetanalysts warn plan lacks funding, technical expertiseJAKARTA: President Prabowo Subiantohas announced an ambitious plan to generate 100GW of solar-based electricity withinjust three years.Speaking at the Japan-Indonesia Forumin Tokyo on Monday, Prabowo laid out thetarget before an audience of Japanese business leaders, adding the move is an urgenteffort amid global energy uncertainty.“For us, this is urgent, given the currentsituation,” Prabowo said . “We have a planand are determined to implement it immediately.”The solar power push is part of a broaderreform agenda, Prabowo said, calling oninternational partners, particularly Japan,to understand the direction of his administration’s governance overhaul and economic transformation.The 100GW solar target, which the government plans to deploy through thenationwide Red and White Cooperatives(KMP) programme, would require massive investment in photovoltaic farms,storage systems and transmission infrastructure.Analysts have questioned the feasibilityof the timeline, pointing out the cooperatives’ lack of technical expertise, theimmense financial investment requiredand the current state of Indonesia’s domestic solar manufacturing, which experts saidis far from ready to meet such colossaldemand.As a result, the programme may facedelays or risk dependence on foreignequipment, undermining its domestic economic goals.Beyond the energy transition, Prabowosaid that Indonesia can no longer rely onexporting raw materials.He stressed that the country is nowfocused on developing its downstreamindustry and industrialisation projects toextract maximum economic value from itsnatural and mineral resources.“We can no longer be satisfied with simply exporting raw materials without adding value,” he said.“Our critical minerals are strategicassets. Our mineral resources must be protected for future generations.”Last July, Coordinating Food MinisterZulkifli Hasan stated that the governmentplanned to accelerate the adoption of solarpower at the local level through more than80,000 newly launched village-level cooperatives.The initiative, which could cost aroundUS$100bil, would involve building solarfarms of one ha to 1.5 ha in villages ofevery sub-district across the archipelago.“If each village generates its own power,we will not need long-distance transmission like that provided by PT PerusahaanListrik Negara,” the minister, who alsoleads the task force behind the cooperatives initiative, said in July.Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of theInstitute for Essential Services Reform,also expressed reservations about thebankability and execution capacity of theKMP to lead Indonesia’s massive 100GWsolar initiative.He highlighted a significant misalignment between the programme’s scale andthe implementers’ current operationalreadiness.“Under current conditions, the KMP certainly does not have the funding capacityto execute this project,” he said lastSeptember, stressing the critical need for afinancing mechanism involving the government and international financial institutions. — The Jakarta Post/ANNAmbitious push: subianto (right) and Japanese prime Minister sanae Takaichi arrive fortalks in Tokyo. The indonesian president says the move to harness solar-based electricity isan urgent effort amid global energy uncertainty. — reutersKT Corp names B2B veteran as new CEO, signals shift to AISEOUL: KT Corp names Park Yoon-youngas its new chief executive officer (CEO),marking a leadership change as the telecom giant moves to stabilise managementand accelerate its push into artificial intelligence (AI).The appointment was confirmed at KT’s44th annual shareholders meeting at thecompany’s research and development centre in Seoul.Park’s nomination secured approvalfrom more than 60% of participating voting shares. His term will run through the2029 shareholders meeting.Park, in his first message to employeessince taking office, said he would provehimself “through speed and execution, notwords or formality”.“Our responsibility for security, networks and quality has grown heavier thanever,” he said, pledging to position KT asboth a national backbone telecom operatorand an “AX platform company” leading theAI era. AX refers to AI transformation.Park said he would first focus on reinforcing the company’s fundamentals.Security governance and operational systems will be tightened, while the information technology (IT), and network infrastructure will undergo a thorough review.He added that KT will also move aheadwith future technologies such as 6G, satellite communications and AI-RAN.At the same time, the company is seekinggrowth across both consumer and enterprise segments.In the business-to-consumer business,KT aims to move beyond traditional telecom services towards AI-driven lifestyleofferings.In business-to-business (B2B), it plans toexpand its B2B AX strategy, focusing onaddressing demand across sectors including public services, finance and manufacturing.At the Tuesday meeting, shareholdersapproved a series of amendments to thecompany’s articles of incorporation.These included renaming outside directors as independent directors, expandingdirectors’ fiduciary duties, introducingelectronic shareholders meetings andadopting the separate election of auditcommittee members.KT provided a live online broadcast ofthe shareholders meeting for preregisteredparticipants.Beginning with the 2027 annual meeting,the company plans to introduce a full electronic shareholders meeting system, allowing shareholders to participate and exercise voting rights online without beingphysically present.Kim Young-shub, who ended his CEOterm on Tuesday, said: “We sincerely apologise for the concerns caused by last year’ssecurity breach,” adding that KT will reinforce fundamentals across its network, IT,marketing and customer service operations to rebuild trust.He also said KT would continue accelerating its transition into an AICT company,pushing for changes across business andtechnology while prioritising customertrust and sustainable growth.AICT is a combination of AI, informationtechnology and customer trust, accordingto the company.Later in the day, KT carried out a sweeping reshuffle alongside an organisationaloverhaul, cutting the number of executivesby about 30%.The move is aimed at streamlining theorganisation, strengthening agility andpromoting talent based on expertise andperformance to drive future growth.The company highlighted “KT professionalism” as its core value.As part of efforts to navigate ongoingchallenges and reinforce internal stability,KT replaced all heads of CEO-level units.It also pushed through a broad personnel shake-up, elevating younger, performance-driven leaders in key areas such asB2B, AX and AI.Among the notable appointments, KimBong-kyun, born in 1972, was promoted toexecutive vice-president and will overseethe company’s B2B business.Ok Kyung-hwa was also promoted tovice-president, becoming the first femaleexecutive at KT to reach the position. Shewill lead the company’s IT technology division. — The Korea Herald/ANNIndonesia,Japan seekdeeper energysecurity tiesJAKARTA: Japan is seeking to work moreclosely with Indonesia on energy security,Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, asglobal concerns over supply disruptionsintensify amid escalating geopolitical tensions.“In light of the Iran situation, the strategic importance of resources and energysecurity is once again being recognisedglobally. Indonesia is a major resource-richnation,” Takaichi said alongside PresidentPrabowo Subianto after bilateral talks inTokyo on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.Her remarks set the tone for a series ofagreements signed during Prabowo’s visit,where Jakarta and Tokyo inked 10 memoranda of understanding and strategicbusiness deals worth a combinedUS$23.63bil.The agreements were announced at theIndonesia-Japan Business Forum held atthe Imperial Hotel Tokyo on Monday, spanning a wide range of sectors such as cleanenergy-based downstream projects, oil andgas exploration, geothermal developmentand financial inclusion.Prabowo’s visit took place amid escalating tensions in the Middle East that havedisrupted oil and gas flows through theStrait of Hormuz.Japan has moved to safeguard suppliesby ramping up coal use, tapping oil reservesand seeking alternative sources.Indonesia remains a key partner, as theworld’s largest thermal coal exporter and amajor LNG supplier, with about a quarterof its shipments bound for Japan.During the summit, both countries alsopledged to push for de-escalation in theMiddle East, putting forward their “bestefforts to convince all parties to deescalate,” Prabowo said.He also invited greater Japanese participation in Indonesia’s economy, including incritical minerals, rare earths, industrialisation and nuclear energy.“If there’s a real partnership between theJapanese economy, Japanese industry andIndonesia, both our peoples will benefit.“When both our peoples benefit, this willbe a pillar of peace and stability,” Prabowosaid at the event on Monday. — The JakartaPost/ANN“Our responsibility for security, networks andquality has grown heavier than ever.”Park Yoon-youngINDONESIA

STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026 Foreign News 11Unilever to merge foodarm with McCormickshares in both firms slide amid criticism of valuationLONDON: Unilever will merge its foodbusiness with spice maker McCormick, itsays, creating a company worth aroundUS$65bil in the second-largest food transaction in history.The agreement is chief executive officer(CEO) Fernando Fernandez’s biggest gambit since taking the helm in March 2025and comes after he completed the spin-offlast year of Unilever’s multi-billion euro icecream business, home to Ben & Jerry’s andMagnum.Though Unilever’s food unit is ahigh-margin business, sales growth haslagged the company’s personal goods andbeauty businesses and weighed on itsambition to increase overall group sales by4% to 6% in the near term.Investor pressure to shed food brandsincreased after it was revealed in 2022that billionaire activist-shareholderNelson Peltz had built a stake in Unilever.Peltz has been linked to the departure offormer CEOs Alan Jope and HeinSchumacher, with Fernandez, Unilever’sformer finance chief and a veteran beautyand well-being executive, promoted tofocus on streamlining the company’s portfolio.Still, Unilever shares fell 3% to a nearlyone-year low with investors and analystscriticising the deal’s structure, whileMcCormick shares tumbled 9% as WallStreet trading opened.“Why is Unilever disposing of a businessdominated by two brands, of which itowned 100%, for a minimal control premium and leaving its shareholders with a55% shareholding in a sprawling food business?” RBC analyst James Edward Jonesasked, referring to Knorr stock cubes andHellmann’s mayonnaise.Unilever and McCormick said the transaction will be structured as a so-calledReverse Morris Trust (RMT), which offerstax benefits.Unilever will spin off the food divisionand then merge it with the Cholula hotsauce owner.The deal is the largest RMT transactioninvolving a European company, saidRothschild, which served as joint-leadfinancial adviser to McCormick.Unilever and its shareholders will have a65% stake in the fully diluted combined-company outstanding equity, equivalent to US$29.1bil based on McCormick’sone-month volume-weighted average priceof US$57.84, the companies said in a jointstatement.The British consumer goods giant willalso receive US$15.7bil in cash. The dealvalues Unilever’s food business at nearlyUS$45bil andMcCormick at about US$21bil,the companies said.The agreement excludes certain assets,including Unilever’s operations in India,they added.“It’s true that it will leave Unilever as apure-play (household and personal care)business, but this does not strike us as asmooth way of bringing it about,” RBC’sJones added.Unilever traces its roots in the food sector to 1860, when one of its Dutch foundingfamilies began building up a business inthe butter trade.Unilever itself was created in 1929 whenMargarine Unie and Lever Brothers joinedin what was at the time one of the biggestindustrial mergers ever in Europe.Last year, the food business accountedfor just over a quarter of overall annualsales of €50.5bil, and a big portion of its96,000 employees around the world.“The deal will be transformational forMcCormick, but incremental for Unilever,”said Chris Beckett, consumer staples analyst at Quilter Cheviot, a Unilever investor.“McCormick gets global scale and distribution particularly in condiments andhopefully gets better sales growth fromUnilever’s brands.”Unilever’s sprawling consumer brandempire also includes Dove soaps, Cif cleaning products and Axe deodorant.The company has spent most of the lastcentury snapping up food and beveragebrands from Marmite to Colman’s andHorlick’s – until the past decade whenhealth-conscious shoppers started shyingaway from packaged food in favour offresh groceries.The rise of glucagon-like peptide-1weight loss drugs in recent years has further eroded demand and investors’ faithin packaged food, especially due to stiffcompetition from cheaper private labelbrands.Over the past year, Unilever has divestedseveral non-core food assets, includingsnack brand Graze and plant-based meatbrand The Vegetarian Butcher.“There is logic in a disposal of the foodsbusiness where volumes have been mutedover the past years,” Harsharan Mann, aportfolio manager at Unilever shareholderAviva Investors, said in comments sent toReuters.The RMT model is “sensible” given taxissues that had plagued similar deals inrecent years, she added.“Global peers such as Procter & Gamblehave successfully used this structure inprior years for disposals of non-core businesses in a tax-free structure.”The deal with McCormick comes on topof an ongoing cost-cutting programmeUnilever has had in place since 2024, meantto save around €800mil in costs over thenext three years.Reuters reported exclusively late onMonday that Unilever had implemented aglobal hiring freeze “at all levels” that willlast at least three months, citing the effectsof the widening conflict in the Middle East.— ReutersMinimal control: McCormick spices at a grocery store in Medford, Massachusetts. Thedeal values unilever’s food business at nearly us$45bil and McCormick at about us$21bil.— reutersUS job openings decline in February as hiring slowsNEW YORK: US job openings fall and hiring slows to the weakest since 2020 inFebruary, pointing to cooler labourdemandbefore the war in Iran triggered additionaluncertainty.Vacancies decreased to 6.88 million froman upwardly revised 7.24 million inJanuary, which was the highest since May,according to Bureau of Labour Statisticsdata released on Tuesday.After a pickup in openings at the start ofthe year, the slowdown in hiring andvacancies indicates employers are proceeding cautiously after a year of near-zerojob growth.Looking ahead, the war-driven surge inoil prices risks pushing up operating costsfor companies and threatens to impedefurther hiring.The hiring rate declined to the lowestlevel since April 2020 amid pullbacks inconstruction and, leisure and hospitality,which may have partly reflected severewinter weather during the month.Business and professional services hiring also dropped.The pullback in openings was driven bydeclines in accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, andmanufacturing.“Continued declines in job openings andhiring affirm that employers remain cautious about expanding headcount based onwhat they know, such as rising costs ofbusiness, and what they don’t know, especially due to policy uncertainties as well asgeopolitical tensions,” Noah Yosif, chiefeconomist at the American StaffingAssociation, said in a note.The layoffs rate edged up but remainedlow. While major employers like MetaPlatforms Inc and Oracle Corp are movingforward with sizeable job cuts as resourcesget redirected to investment in artificialintelligence, overall layoffs across theUnited States remain subdued throughoutthe economy.With the number of unemployed peoplecontinuing to exceed job openings, the figures also reinforce the Federal Reserve’s(Fed) view that the labour market is not asource of inflationary pressure.The ratio of vacancies per unemployedworker, a proxy of the balance betweenlabour demand and supply, eased to 0.9 inFebruary. At its peak in 2022, the ratio was2 to 1.The government’s jobs report due tomorrow is expected to show payrolls rebounded in March after a sharp drop a monthearlier.With the United States and Israel’s warin Iran expected to push US inflation higher this year, Fed officials are now seenkeeping interest rates higher for longer,even as the job market remains soft.According to the Job Openings andLabour Turnover Survey report, theso-called quits rate, which measures thepercentage of people voluntarily leavingtheir jobs each month, dropped to 1.9%.That matched the lowest level since 2020.This suggests people are less confident intheir ability to find a new position. —BloombergUS oil outputfalls the mostin two yearsNEW YORK: US crude oil output fell by themost in two years during January following a severe winter storm that knockedproduction offline in large swathes of thecountry, data from the Energy InformationAdministration (EIA) shows.US crude oil output fell 410,000 barrelsper day (bpd) month-on-month (m-o-m) inJanuary to 13.25 million bpd, the lowestsince February 2025, the EIA data showed.Total US crude oil and petroleum products consumption, meanwhile, fell 201,000bpd to 20.7 million bpd in January, thelowest since November 2025, the EIA said.Demand for petrol fell sharply duringJanuary’s winter storms. Product supplied,the EIA’s measure of demand, for finishedpetrol fell 501,000 bpd m-o-m to 8.3 millionbpd, the lowest since January 2022.Retail petrol prices crossed US$4 for 3.8litres on Monday as the war upended global oil markets, which could add more pressure to fuel demand in the United States.Demand for distillate fuels, whichinclude diesel and heating oil, surged inJanuary as consumption for power generation and space heating rose due to unusually low temperatures. — ReutersLooking ahead, the war-driven surge in oilprices risks pushing up operating costs forcompanies and threatens to impede furtherhiring.

12 Foreign News STARBIZ, Thursday 2 april 2026Dollar wraps up best month since July amid war in Middle EastNEW YORK: The dollar finishes its bestmonth since July as war in the Middle Eastupends energy markets, buffets economicforecasts, and sends investors rushing tothe world’s primary reserve currency.Buoyed by those haven flows, theBloomberg Dollar Spot Index was up 2.4%last month despite Tuesday’s decline. TheUS position as the world’s largest producerof oil has also supported the currency amida surge in global energy prices, as have fading expectations for global growth.“The dollar rallied as a safe haven bid onweakening global growth expectations,”said Noah Buffam, strategist at CIBC CapitalMarkets.Investors have favoured the dollar sincethe disruption to global energy markets –particularly the shuttering of the Strait ofHormuz – highlighted Europe and Japan’sdependence on oil and natural gas imports.Traders, positioned for dollar weaknessbefore the conflict, quickly abandonedthose wagers. They now hold more thanUS$7bil in bullish bets in the derivativesmarket, the most since December.The dollar index weakened on Tuesdayafter five days of advances as PresidentDonald Trump had signalled willingness toend the war in Iran even if the Strait ofHormuz remains largely closed. Oil pricesdeclined.“Markets are thinking it may be ‘real’ thistime,” said Andrew Hazlett, a foreign-exchange trader at Monex Inc about Trumpcomments. The “de-escalation hopes” areweighing on the greenback, he said.Some Wall Street banks that held a dimview on the dollar heading into the year –JPMorgan Chase & Co and Goldman SachsGroup Inc among them – are now reconsidering their stance on the US currency.However, day-to-day swings in globalrisk sentiment and news headlines makeupdating forecasts exceedingly difficult.Expectations that the Federal Reservewill cut interest rates this year, meanwhile,have foundered as renewed inflationaryfears drive traders to reconsider. Investorsand market watchers, including at InvescoLtd and Barclays Plc, worry that the warwill reignite discussions concerning a fundamental, long-term move away from USmarkets and the greenback. — BloombergTop pick: Freshly printed us dollar notes are processed for packaging at the us Treasury’sBureau of Engraving and printing. The currency has rallied as a safe-haven asset. — aFpOpenAI valued atUS$852bil post-fundraiseNEW YORK: OpenAI has completed a dealto raise US$122bil from investors at anUS$852bil valuation, marking the company’s largest funding round to date by farand bolstering its costly push for morechips, data centres and talent.The bulk of the financing, which hadbeen in the works for months, came fromthree large tech companies. Amazon.comInc agreed to invest US$50bil in the round,while Nvidia Corp and SoftBank GroupCorp each put in US$30bil.A large portion of Amazon’s investment– US$35bil – is contingent on OpenAI goingpublic or reaching the technological milestone of artificial general intelligence.The ChatGPT maker also secured funding from a long list of other prominentbackers, including Andreessen Horowitz,Abu Dhabi’s MGX, D E Shaw Ventures, TPGand T Rowe Price. The company’s valuationincludes the money raised. BloombergNews previously reported details of thosetalks and the financial terms of the deal.In a first for the company, OpenAI raisedmore than US$3bil from individual investors through bank channels. The startupalso said it will be included in severalexchange-traded funds managed by CathieWood’s Ark Invest, with the goal of offeringmore people exposure to the artificial intelligence (AI) firm.OpenAI chief financial officer SarahFriar said the financing “blows out of thewater even the largest initial public offering (IPO) that’s ever been done.”The deal, she said, is meant to give thecompany “a lot of flexibility” to invest incomputing resources and its AI roadmap ata time of broader uncertainty for the public markets, including from the Iran war.The AI developer has previously said it’scommitted to spending more than US$1.4trillion on physical infrastructure in thecoming years to support its AI software.To finance those bets, OpenAI and rivalAnthropic PBC have tapped an overlappinggroup of venture funds and tech companies, including their cloud and chip suppliers like Amazon and Nvidia.The complex web of tie-ups has sparkedconcerns about the fallout if the technologydoesn’t match today’s lofty expectations.The two startups are also expected to gopublic as soon as this year, bringing inadditional capital and testing Wall Street’sappetite for unprofitable but fast-growingAI businesses.Friar said OpenAI needs to be “public-company capable,” referring to it as“good hygiene” for a business, withoutsharing specific details of plans for an IPO.She also said an IPO can serve as a“trust-building moment” for a firm.OpenAI said Tuesday that it’s currentlygenerating US$2bil in revenue each month.The company, which gained householdattention as a product for everyday users,is also seeing traction among business customers. Enterprise sales now make up 40%of its revenue, it said, with that figureexpected to increase to 50% by year’s end.The company’s financial commitmentfrom Amazon also comes with a cloudagreement to host and distribute OpenAI’smodels for enterprise customers. Thatpartnership will include a revenue-sharingagreement, Friar said, without disclosinghow much.OpenAI has stepped up its revenue pushthis year by introducing advertising inChatGPT, an option that chief executiveofficer Sam Altman had once described asa “last resort.” — BloombergChatGpT maker secures us$122bil from investors“The deal is meant to give the company ‘a lot offlexibility’ to invest in computing resources andits AI roadmap at a time of broader uncertaintyfor the public markets, including from the Iranwar.”Sarah FriarNike forecasts sales drop as China weakness hurts turnaround effortsLONDON: Nike’s forecast of a surprisedrop in fourth-quarter (4Q) sales has sentits shares down more than 9% in extendedtrading, as persistent weakness in Chinaand slow progress in clearing older inventory hamper turnaround efforts.Under chief executive officer Elliott Hill,Nike has pulled back promotions, steppedup product innovation and refocused oncore franchises like running, as it tries toreset the business after years of excessinventory and uneven demand acrossNorth America and China.But the turnaround “is taking longerthan I would like,” Hill said on Nike’s 3Qearnings call.Chief financial officer Matt Friend projected a 2% to 4% drop in current-quartersales, compared with Wall Street estimatesof a 1.9% rise, according to data compiledby LSEG.In China, where operational misstepshave collided with fierce domestic competition, Nike’s sales fell 10%.Friend said Nike made “forward progress” in the region, as running grew double-digits. The decline was an improvement over last quarter’s 16% drop in China.Yet, Friend warned that the improvement may not be linear. The company isreducing selling in China as it worksthrough a backlog of old inventory, andexpects China sales to fall a staggering 20%next quarter, Friend said.Greater China is Nike’s third-largest market, after North America and Europe, theMiddle East and Africa, and it accounts for15% of annual sales. But it’s been a slog inrecent quarters, due to a combination ofweaker product assortments and share losses to local competitors Anta and Li Ning.As Nike tries to clear out old stock acrossthe globe, it’s marking down items, whichsqueezes margins. In its European market,“promotions across the marketplace wereup versus the prior year,” and “we werealso more aggressive with promotions onNike digital,” Friend said. — ReutersCFTC top copwarns againstinsider tradingNEW YORK: A key Commodity FuturesTrading Commission (CFTC) official saysthe agency will use its powers to root outinsider trading in prediction markets, asconcerns about suspicious activity on theexchanges grow.“Unfortunately, there’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insidertrading doesn’t apply in the predictionmarkets,” CFTC enforcement directorDavid Miller said at a panel at New YorkUniversity. “That is wrong.”The multibillion-dollar industry hassurged over the past year, despite legalchallenges from state officials who arguethe federally-regulated exchanges shouldfall under their jurisdiction.That rapid expansion has also promptedconcerns about insider trading as somewagers are thin enough that a single tradercan move prices.Prediction market customers can placewagers on everything from college basketball games to geopolitical events.Earlier this year, a trader on Polymarketmade approximately US$400,000 bettingon the ouster of former Venezuelan leaderNicolas Maduro, with many of the tradesplaced just before President Donald Trumppublicly announced the United States hadcaptured him.Some lawmakers have since introducedbills seeking to crack down on insider trading and rein in the industry.The CFTC under the Trump administration has generally embraced predictionmarkets and the exchanges have recentlytaken a more proactive approach to insidertrading.Both Kalshi and Polymarket announcednew rules last week, as the public backlashhas grown. — Bloomberg

THE STAR, THuRSdAy 2 ApRil 2026 [email protected], mayhemand mysteries3South Korea’sreal estate craze4Thrifted finds, butmake it fashion9&10ShowbizEight-piece K-pop boy band Ateez gets candid aboutearly clashes within the group and how growingtogether as a team shapes its journey. 2Photo: Handout

2 Showbiz STARLIFESTYLE, Thursday 2 april 2026StrongerBy ANNDREA A. [email protected] Korean powerhouseAteez set Kuala Lumpur ablazeon March 22 when it brought itsIn Your Fantasy World Tour tothe Unifi Arena (formerly AxiataArena).Long before the first spotlighthit the stage, the atmosphere wasalready electric, with thousandsof fans – affectionately known asAtinys – filling the space withdeafening chants that set thetone for the evening.Scenes like this are familiar forthe eight-piece group, led byHong-joong and joined by Seonghwa, Yun-ho, Yeo-sang, San, Mingi, Woo-young and Jong-ho.While the band had performedin Malaysia during the 2025Kpop Masterz concert alongsideother acts, returning for a soloshow was something entirelydifferent.“We’ve always wanted to cometo Malaysia, and having our ownconcert here feels different,”Yun-ho, 27, told StarLifestyle inan exclusive interview just anhour before soundcheck on theday of the show.“It’s like having a special timefor only us and Atinys ... It’s extrameaningful for us.”He was joined by Hong-joong,who said returning here carrieda personal resonance.“I first visited Malaysia 10years ago with my family butnever knew that I’d be performing here someday... It feels likeI’ve reached another fantasy,”Hong-joong, 27, said.Embarking on a new journeyFresh off the Feb 6 release ofits EP Golden Hour: Part 4, Ateezstands at a pivotal intersection:closing one chapter while boldlystepping into the next.Hong-joong described theGolden Hour series, launched in2024, as a reflection of thegroup’s artistic growth since itsateez comprises (from left) hong-joong, yeo-sang, Min-gi, Woo-young,seong-hwa, Jong-ho, yun-ho and san. — ateez/Xyun-ho debuted as a member ofateez in October 2018. —handouthong-joong visited Malaysiawith his family over a decadeago. — handoutThe eight-piece band at its show in Kl on March 22. — ateez/Xtogethergoals and move forward togetheras eight.“We share the same goal – wewant to continue our journeywith Atinys which is why therewas no hesitation when werenewed our contracts together,”he added.Unbreakable bondReflecting on Ateez’s journey,Yun-ho shared how the group’sbond has strengthened over theyears.He noted that communicationhas become almost instinctive – asimple glance is often enough tounderstand how each member isfeeling.“After spending seven yearstogether, it’s natural for our bondto become stronger.“The results we’ve achievedand the trust Atinys have placedin us motivate us to work evenharder as a team,” he said.Hong-joong recalled that during the group’s early days, themembers often clashed due todifferent thoughts and opinions.“Not physically but throughverbal arguments,” he laughed,before continuing, “We were soyoung back then, but we’re getting older and are adults now.”He added that today, the members respect each other’s boundaries and make a conscious effortto communicate thoughtfully andclearly.“We put effort into understanding each other so that noone gets hurt.“We’re also very clear whentalking about what we want toavoid misunderstandings,” heexplained.As our conversation drew to aclose, both members shared aglimpse of what Ateez has instore for Atinys in the yearahead.Individually, Hong-joong saidthe members are focused onhighlighting their own strengthsmoving forward.“Everyone has different desiresin a positive way, and I respectthat.“We’re all working to find abalance between our solo ambitions and group goals,” he added.On the group front, Yun-hopromised a year full of comebacks and exciting activities.“We want to show more sidesof ourselves and release manydifferent genres of music.“There will be various activities and a lot of different thingswe will do to express ourselvesbetter.“We are currently workinghard on preparations, so pleaselook forward to it,” he said.debut in October 2018.“Through this series, we wanted to explore new sides of Ateezand experiment with differentconcepts.“Each instalment features amix of genres, and for the latestone, we focused on showcasing amore energetic side to kick offthe year.“We just wrapped up ourseven-year story, so I think it’sgood to show a new side to kickoff our new journey,” he said.(Parts 1 and 2 were released in2024 while Part 3 came out in2025.)Part 4 is particularly meaningful as it marks Ateez’s first comeback following contract renewalswith talent agency KQEntertainment.Despite consisting of justfive tracks, each song offers adistinct vibe – the lead singleAdrenaline bursts with explosiveenergy; On The Road is moreintrospective; and Nasa boldlyhighlights the group’s ambitiousside.A key challenge behind theproject was capturing Ateez’smany facets within the confinesof a tightly packed 16-minute EP.Despite that, Yun-ho believesthese hurdles are necessary forgrowth.“If there were no challenges,there wouldn’t be Ateez.“We grow with the difficultieswe face each album,” he said.Shared dreamsSince debuting on Oct 24, 2018,Ateez has consistently pushedthe boundaries of its sound withhits like Wonderland, Inception,Ice On My Teeth, Bouncy andmore.The group has also made history globally, becoming the firstK-pop boy group to perform atCoachella and the first SouthKorean act to headline Morocco’sMawazine Festival, the world’ssecond-largest music festival.Last year, the band’s leadsingle Lemon Drop debuted atNo.69 on the Billboard Hot 100,making Ateez only the thirdK-pop boy group to chart there,alongside BTS and Stray Kids.Even amid these accolades,Ateez remains committed togrowth – both collectively andindividually.Hong-joong emphasised thatbalancing group goals withpersonal ambitions has becomecentral to its journey.This balance shone in Part 3(In Your Fantasy edition) whereall eight members showcasedtheir individual artistry throughsolo tracks for the first time.Despite exploring solostrengths, unity remains toppriority for Ateez.“Everyone has differentcharms and are great as individuals, but the best version of ourselves is when all of us aretogether,” Hong-joong said.That unity also guided themembers’ decisions to renewtheir contracts with KQEntertainment last July.According to Hong-joong,everyone made a promise backin 2018 to keep making new

WHEN actor William Gillette was bringingSherlock Holmes, a play loosely based onthe character created by Arthur ConanDoyle, to Broadway in November 1899, hewired a cable to Conan Doyle and askedpermission to take creative liberties.“You may marry him, murder him or doanything you like to him,” Conan Doylereplied – a blessing that Gillette used toadd a love interest, furnish Holmes with apipe and give him a snappy line of originaldialogue that would become his catchphrase: “Elementary, my dear Mr.Watson.”Now, the creators of Young Sherlock areusing a similarly liberal approach to tellthe story of the famous detective’s wayward adolescence.This time, as a charismatic 19-year-oldwith a strong jaw and a sly smile, he’s adistinctly Gen Z take on the consultingdetective – a teenage heartthrob caughtbetween the frat house and 221B BakerStreet.Its style, tone and attitude are brassyand jocular, full of fast-moving fight scenesand irreverent one-liners.In that, it bears a strong resemblance tothe two Sherlock Holmes movies made byGuy Ritchie – who also produced anddirected this new show.“Guy’s incredibly unique,” MatthewParkhill, the Young Sherlock writer andshowrunner, said in an interview.“The idea goi i hicapture the attimovies.”Parkhill saidproducer Simoapproached himit was billed asYoung Sherlockinstalment serinovels by AndrComplex famiAlthough Parabout a 14-yearin 19th-centuryfelt drawn to thSherlock of Confistfights in priscomplex family“It’s nothingwhich I loved rParkhill said. “Bdidn’t know whdo with a 14-yeschoolboy – sowent in a differdirection.”The series,whose star-paccast includes CoFirth and NatasMcElhone, is stbilled as basedLane’s novels.But Parkhillabandonednearlyeverything inthem, working up a newstory aboutSherlock’sknockaboutyouth.We see theyoung detective in and outof trouble as aporter at theUniversity ofOxford, spendinhis time both soing mysteries acausing mischiThe show’s bdeparture fromLane’s and ConDoyle’s books isHolmes’ nemesinto his mate a(solving) crimeJames in the shplayed by Dona“I was very interested in this sort ofButch-Sundance relationship betweenthem,” Parkhill explained.“Obviously the audience knows whereit’s going to end up. So you get the deliciousness of being able to use that to create tension and use that dramatic irony.That’s a lot of fun to play with.”Cool takePlaying the junior Holmes is HeroFiennes Tiffin, who was on vacation inThailand when the offer came in to try outfor the part.He was so eager, he recalled recently,that he shimmied out of his bathing suitd h hi li tle morething to anwas delights – Fiennesside – hady, to say that,” Fiennesed Joe andmy uncle,econd.” (As itock’s uncle ins sensibilitypreviouslymedy They Warfare.ooting thatTiffin said,to have ae Nazi solhimself inhe character:but harnessfear to findgth. After thet take, Ritchiepproachedwith notes.“Hero,Hero,Hero,” headvised,accordingto the actor.“Do it again,but just bemore cool thisme.”hey dider take,Tiffin said:pproachedsaying, “Let’seven morem this comperforst, like,om the hip,”fin said withWhen youh Guy, yougoing to be©2026 Therk TimesnySherlock ise on PrimeA GREAT deal of Ryan Gosling’s (pic)journey through the film Project HailMary unfolded in solitude.The La La Land actor spent longstretches filming alone on set, or acting opposite an alien creature hischaracter, Dr Ryland Grace, dubsRocky.“A lot of times I’d be locked into theset for hours on end with an earwig,”Gosling said.“The directors would talk to methrough the mic, ready toexplore. There’s an experimentationprocess that keeps it from being atypical blockbuster–it’s notoverwhelmed by its own scale.”The movie is directed by the SpiderVerse franchise director duo PhilipLord and Christopher Miller.The science-fiction drama, adaptedfrom Andy Weir’s bestselling novel,follows mild-mannered science teacher Grace, who wakes up alone on aspacecraft and slowly remembers heis humanity’s last hope to stop the sunfrom dying.His mission takes an unexpectedturn when he forms an unlikelyfriendship with an alien partner.The cast also features Sandra Hulleras Eva, a government official whorecruits Grace for the perilousassignment.With their characters leadingexperts in their fields, Gosling said theactors were well supported behind thescenes.“We had molecular biologists on setfor the experiments, and astronautsadvising us,” he said.“We were provided with the bestpossible team and support system.”Gosling’s involvement went deeperthan starring in the film.Weir, who also wrote theaward-winning novel The Martian,sent him the unpublished manuscriptand urged him not only to take thelead role but to help shape the projectas a producer.“I’ve never had a film take a biggerchunk out of me, but it’s never beenmore worth it,” the Barbie actor said.“It’s been a six-year journey to thispoint and just an experience of a lifetime.” – ReutersProject Hail Mary is showing atcinemas nationwide.STARLIFESTYLE, Thursday 2 april 2026 Showbiz 3MysteriesandmischiefBy CALUM MARSH Solitudespaceodysseyphoto:aFpBy ROLLO ROSS andDANIELLE BROADWAYing into this was to try toitude of his Sherlockthat when co-executiven Maxwell firstm about the project,an adaptation ofk Holmes, an eighties of young adultrew Lane.ily dynamicsrkhill enjoyed Lane’s booksr-old Holmes solving crimesy England, the showrunnerhe older and savviernan Doyle’s stories, one whoson yards and navigatesy dynamics.against the books,reading,”But I justhat toear-oldIrentckedolinshatillonngolvandef.boldestm bothnans turningsis Moriartynd partner in, who goes byhow and isal Finn.and threw on something “a littSherlockian”, then gave everytaudition over Zoom.After being cast, he said, heed to learn that Joseph FiennesTiffin’s uncle on his mother’s sjoined the cast.“It’s nice, in a very jokey wayhe got that role because of me,Tiffin said.“Matthew said that they hireonly then realised that he wasbut I don’t believe that for a sehappens, Fiennes plays Sherlothe show.)Fiennes Tiffin knew Ritchie’well, having worked with himin the World War II action comMinistry Of UngentlemanlyOn their first day shofilm together, Fienneshis character was setgunfight with somediers.The actor putthe mind of thfrightened,ing that fstrengfirstapwbmtimThanotheFiennesRitchie aponce more,do it again, but ecool.”“I went fromplex, layeredmance to jusshooting froFiennes Tiffa laugh. “Wwork withknow it’scool.” – ©New YorCompanYoung SavailableVideo.in YoungSherlock,the sleuthis a Gen Zheartthrob.Fiennes Tiffinplays thedashingdetective-inthe-making.— handout

HA Jung-woo, known for hitfilms such as Along With TheGods (2017 and 2018) and 1987:When The Day Comes (2017),returns to television with MadConcrete Dreams, a satire thattaps one of modern SouthKorea’s most enduring aspirations: property ownership.“(Shooting this series), I cameto think that becoming part ofthe FIRE (FinancialIndependence, Retire Early)movement shouldn’t be something that comes easily,” theSouth Korean actor said duringa press conference in Seoulrecently.“It’s great if you manage tobuy real estate, but what reallymatters is whether you canactually handle it. The dramasuggests that if you pursuesomething with vague hope,even if you achieve it, you’lleventually have to pay theprice,” Ha added.Mad Concrete Dreams centreson Soo-jong (Ha), a buildingowner who finds himself inover his head after purchasinga debt-ridden property anddoing everything possible tohold on to it.The premise arrives at a timewhen real estate ambitionsremain particularly intense inSouth Korea.For Ha, the role also struck apersonal chord, promptingreflection on his own experiences with property ownership.The 48-year-old drew considerable attention in the realestate market after selling abuilding in residential districtHwagok-dong in Seoul in 2021,reportedly making a capitalgain of 4.57bil won (RM12mil).“I realised early on that beinga landlord doesn’t automatically mean a comfortable life orfinancial stability. I’ve mademistakes myself when I lackedknowledge about real estate.That’s why Soo-jong’s story feltespecially relatable,” he said.While Ha’s character embodies the desperate side of property ambition, another key figurein the story approaches the situation from the world of finance.Shim Eun-kyung stars asYo-na, a member at the globalinvestment firm Real Capital,marking a shift towards a darker, more villainous role.The 31-year-old South Koreanactress – who has found successin both Japan and South Koreawith her award-winning performance in the films TheJournalist (2019) and TwoSeasons, Two Strangers(2025) – makes her returnto South Korean televisionafter six years.“As each character’s underlying desires come to the surface,the irony that emerges createssituations that are both funnyand sad,” she said.“I hope viewers will reflect onwhat kind of mindset is trulywise to live with.”The film-heavy line-up hasraised questions about how theproduction managed to assemble actors better known fortheir big-screen work.According to director LimPil-sung, the answer lies in thescript.“I felt like I had received ascript that comes along onlyonce every 10 years,” he said.“That’s the only way I canexplain casting like this.”For Lim, however, the intention was less about delivering aheavy-handed message andmore about letting the story’sabsurdity speak for itself.“Rather than pursuing somegrand message, I simply wantedto make something entertaining,” he said.“I tried to keep the directionunobtrusive so the actors andstory could flow naturally.There’s also a strong element ofblack comedy.“The chaos that unfolds whenpeople driven by desire collidewith one another should bringenergy to the series.”Returning to the K-drama’scentral warning aboutunchecked ambition, Ha offereda reflection on the risks ofproperty speculation.“You’ll see first-hand howdisastrous things can becomewhen someone quits a stablejob and puts a 2bil won(RM5mil) down payment on a20bil won (RM53mil) smallbuilding,” he said.“Buying a building isn’t somethrilling milestone thatcompletes your life.“If you’re dreaming about it,this drama might serve as auseful reference.” – The KoreaHerald/Asia News NetworkMad Concrete Dreams is availableon HBO Max.CEFR vocabulary level: A1 and A2Suitable for beginner or elementary English learnersColour and decorate each egg to show:Sometimes our eyes trick our brains.ggFIRST EGG:A repeating pattern.SECOND EGG:A funny face.It was Easter Games Week atTaman Jaya School.The Mystery Club saw a hugepaper egg taped to the notice board.It was bright pink and covered inarrows.“Look! This must be the clue,” Jaysaid.Everyone crowded around it. Somestudents copied the arrows. Othersfollowed the colours. Nothingworked.Maddie stepped back. “Why is thisegg so big?” he asked.“So that we will notice it,” Milliesaid slowly.Maddie looked around the hall.The small tables were neatly linedup. The floor tiles formed straightpaths.No one was looking at them.“The egg wants us to look here,”Maddie said, pointing to the noticeboard. “But Easter games are usuallyon the floor.”They followed the tile lines to aquiet corner. There, under a table leg,was a small basket with the prize.Jay laughed. “So, the huge paperegg clue meant nothing?”“No,” Maddie smiled. “It told uswhat not to follow.”“The loudest clue was the quietesttrick,” Maddie said.Millie tapped her notebook.“When something wants yourattention too badly…”“It’s hiding the truth,” the MysteryClub said together.The Easter Egg Clue That Meant NothingEaster eggs are part of a long-standing tradition in many cultures.Eggs are often decorated, hidden, orshared during Easter as a symbol ofnew beginnings and creativity.Today, Easter egg activities focus onfun, teamwork, and surprise, bringingpeople together through games, art,and playful challenges.Bright colours, big signs, and loud cluescan pull our attention — even when they arenot important. This is called misdirection. It happens whensomething noticeable makes us ignore quieter details.Good thinkers pause, step back, and look at the wholescene. They ask, “What am I not noticing?” In mysteries —and in real life — the best answers are not always whereeveryone is looking.Learning to slow down and think carefully helps us makebetter decisions and solve problems wisely.THE EASTER EGG TRADITIONDESIGN YOUR EASTER EGGSWHICH IS THE RIGHT EGG?The Easter Egg clue was impossible to miss - andimpossible to solve. Only the Mystery Club realisedthat the answer lay away from where everyone waslooking.The egg has yellow stars and small white dots.Its colour reminds us of the sky.It looks brightand cheerful withstars that makeit shine.Keeping it realK-drama Mad Concrete Dreams takes aimat South Korea’s property craze.By LEE YOON-SEOHa made headlines after selling a building in Seoul in 2021, reportedlymaking a capital gain of RM12mil. — Handout4 Showbiz STARLIFESTYLE, THuRSday 2 apRil 2026

SPORTING that HannahMontana blonde hair and bangs,Miley Cyrus (pic) went back toher roots – celebrating 20 yearsof the TV show that launchedthe career of a real-life pop starCyrus reunited with castmembers of Hannah Montanain Los Angeles late last monthfor the premiere of the HannahMontana 20th AnniversarySpecial (available on Disney+).Cyrus said that the milestonehas given her a chance to seethe character and series from“a new perspective”.Cyrus, who began the DisneyChannel show at age 13, playedMiley Stewart, a tween andmiddle-schooler hiding hersecret life as a famous popsinger.“Getting to be on the outsidenow, getting to be grown andbe a part of it in a way that Icouldn’t when I was in themiddle of it before, and all thechaos and the schedule andthe performing of it all,”Cyrus said.“Now it just gets to be acelebration. So it is a newperspective. I love that.”The anniversary special celebrates 20 years since the show’spremiere.Filmed in front of a live audience, it features archival footageand is centered on an interviewwith Cyrus – now 33 and a genuine pop star – conducted by podcast host Alex Cooper.It includes several musicalnumbers, starting with the seriestheme The Best Of BothWorlds and endingwith a new song dedicated to Cyrus’ youngerself.It also includesappearances by friendsand family members,including father BillyRay Cyrus, with whomMiley Cyrus tries to recreate their handshakefrom the series.Selena Gomez, whoplayed a rival, makes anappearance, as doesinger-songwriterChappell Roan, whopeaks to Miley Cyrus’nfluence on her career.Addressing the audince at the premiere,yrus paid tribute both toellow cast members andans.“Without you all, this showwould have never been what itis, and I love saying what it is,not what it was,” she said.“Tonight isn’t about lookingback into the past, but it’s aboutwhat it means to us still tonight,”she said. – APAFTER four years, Day6’s Wonpilreturns with a fresh solo sound,ready to lay his emotions bare.Wonpil’s EP Unpiltered is hisfirst solo release since his 2022album Pilmography.The seven-track mini album,written and composed byWonpil, reflects his desire topresent a side of himself thatfeels “newer, more vulnerableand less polished”.“This album will probably feelvery different from my first soloalbum,” said Wonpil, whose fullname is Kim Won-pil.“I think people will see a lot ofunfamiliar, new sides of me, so Ifeel both nervous and excited.”Intentional shiftThat shift was intentional fromthe beginning.When he first began workingon the album, Wonpil said hewanted it to stand apart fromPilmography, which leaned moretoward themes of comfort andwarmth.He had also been ruminatingon change while preparing forDay6’s 10th anniversary album,The Decade, last year.“I’ve always wanted to presentdifferent music and artisticstyles,” he said.“Those thoughts had beenbuilding up before I workedon Unpiltered, and since this ismy solo album, I took the timeto focus entirely on what Iwanted to do and experimentmusically.”At the centre of the new albumis the lead track Love Ward, adramatic rock ballad that channels bottled-up emotions throughthe metaphor of love. While thesong may appear to be aboutromance on the surface, Wonpilsaid it began from a differentimpulse: the need for release.“People can’t always fullyexpress what they really feel.There’s a layer to how much youcan say and what you shouldn’tSTARLIFESTYLE, Thursday 2 april 2026 Showbiz 5Jaggedlittleday6’s keyboardist Wup about pressure,and emotional releasolo Ep.By LEE JUNG-JOOonpil sayss new Epeatures aside ofhimself thatfeels ‘newer,morevulnerableand lesspolished’.— handoutr.heydiRMrfpasCspinenCyfefaphoto: reuters i hA new perspectiveand wanted to use this song torelease such emotions.”He also alluded to personalpain and a sense of loss thatinformed the album’s emotionalcore.Rather than hide those emotions, Wonpil said he chose to letthem surface through his music.“I always want to show thegood sides of myself to the publicand to my fans, but I wanted tobe different this time,” Wonpilsaid.“I wanted to show a differentimage of ‘human Wonpil’.”also reflectack, a playunfiltered”his name.he mostw withoutil answeredhout hesitaat he put aal storiesinto thed to severaltracks as examples: In LoveWard, he captured the sense ofemotional collapse – somethinghe said he wouldn’t haveexpressed in Day6 songs.In I’ve Grown Up, the artisteexplores the uneasy process ofpretending to be OK and actinglike an adult even when it feelsunnatural.In the album’s closing track,Piano, he reflects on the fear ofbeing forgotten and the desire tobe remembered.“Since the new album reflectsa darker side of my personalidentity and story, I also worriedthat people might be concernedfor me and my well-being,” hesaid.“But I don’t think you can onlyshow the good sides of yourself,and music feels like a safe spacefor me to communicate thoseemotions.”Thinking deeplyWonpil added that he hopeslisteners will not see the albumas a simple signal of distress,but as something that can helpthem process their own emotions.“I hope my album can helppeople release their own emotions as well,” he said.“I want Unpiltered to becomea channel where people can letout what they’ve been carryingdeep inside.”If Unpiltered captures anythingclearly, it may simply be a recordof where Wonpil is now: in his30s, under pressure and thinkingmore deeply than before, but stillmoving forward.Asked what kind of music heultimately wants to make, hisanswer was not tied to trends orimmediate results.“Not just as a solo artiste, butalso as a member of Day6, I wantto make music that doesn’t age,”he said.“My dream is to make musicthat still feels relevant even after10 or 20 years.” – The KoreaHerald/Asia News Networksay as a member of society,” hesaid.“Everyone holds things in andlives like that. I wanted this songto become a small outlet forthat.”Heightened responsibilityThe need for emotionalrelease, for Wonpil, wasshaped in part by the pressurehe felt after returning from hismilitary service in November2023.Day6 debuted in 2015, but theband gained wider attentionfrom late 2023 to early 2024with You Were Beautiful andTime Of Our Life.As the quartet drew greaterattention, Wonpil said hefound himself carrying aheightened sense of responsibility to meet growing expectations.“The way people looked atDay6 changed after I wasdischarged,” he said.“There was pressure from thatand I felt a greater sense ofresponsibility about songwritingand performing.“I realised I had been undermore stress than I thoughtPilWonpil opensvulnerabilityase in newWohisfeshfThat impulse ised in the title traon the word “ubuilt around hAsked whatwanted to shoa filter, Wonpi“emotion” withtion, adding thalot of his personaand experiencesalbum to do so.He pointeddgt,g

BELGIAN artist Nicolas Buissartstarted doubling as a tour guideas a joke after a newspaper inneighbouring Netherlandsnamed his city the “ugliest in theworld”.Some 15 years later, he is stillarranging tours of Charleroi forvisitors seeking beauty in dilapidated factories and rundownwarehouses – the remnants ofthe city’s industrial past.“Wallonia used to be prosperous; it’s a cradle of capitalism ofsorts,” he says of the surroundingFrench-speaking region.“The problem with capitalismis that it leaves a lot of wastebehind.”Yet that’s exactly what thedozen pensioners from thenorthern French city of Lille he’sdriving around Charleroi havecome to see on a dreary Marchday.Urban exploration, or “urbex”for short – the undergroundpastime of exploring abandonedplaces, at times skirting the lawin the process – has grown into aglobal movement over the pasttwo decades.Haunting complexes withshattered windows and mouldedceilings draw amateur photographers, selfie takers and thrillseekers from as far away asBerlin in Russia or Detroit inMichigan, United States.Buissart’s “city safari” takesvisitors up close to the slag heapsand giant ruins of steel andconcrete that shape Charleroi’slandscape.“There’s an aesthetic here thatI really like,” says VeroniqueMoussu, a member of the Lilleexpedition.“These spaces are enhanced bythe play of light, shadows andstreet art,” adds the retiree, whois on her second visit to Charleroiin four years.The southern city was once acoal-mining hub.More than 40 years after thelast pit shut down, it is nowmainly known for its airport – amajor European hub for low-costairline Ryanair.For the first stop of his tour,Buissart takes the group to anabandoned 1930s swimmingand leisure complex that hasbecome a playground for graffitiartists.Built by a Belgian industrialist,the “Solvay Pool” aimed to provide workers with relaxation andentertainment a stone’s throwfrom a 19th-century manufacturing site for soda ash that is nomore.The pool’s old roof no longerholds water; rain and wind rushinto the building, and the tiledfloor is now an ankle-spraining,cracked mess.Buissart, 46, a former designstudent, issues safety instructionsas he guides visitors inside, giving them half an hour to exploreand snap photos.The same happens at the second stop on the route, a massivewarehouse that was used fortreating stainless steel sheets butis now also falling into ruin.Once owned by steel giantArcelorMittal, the site has beenclosed for about 15 years.“You can imagine all the workers who toiled here and broughtthese places to life; now it’s dead,it’s destroyed,” says PascaleDufour-Floor, who lives on theFrench-Belgian border and joinedthe Lille group on the tour.Tourism promoters are hopingto turn these vestiges of a bygoneera into an asset.“This heritage is what setsus apart and attracts tourists,”said Valerie Demanet, director ofthe Charleroi Tourist Office. –AFPRON Rosano is one of the world’smost dedicated space tourists.A 65-year-old property manager from San Francisco, Californiain the United States, he completed a short trip aboard a VirginGalactic spaceplane in 2023 anduntil recently was expecting tofly around 100km above Earthon one of the Jeff Bezos-foundedBlue Origin’s New Shepard rockets.Rosano has had to change hisplans, though, following a surprise move by Blue Origin inJanuary to halt tourism flights forno less than two years. Rosano’sdisappointed.“I had painted a pretty largepicture of what that might meanfor me,” he said. “Seeing theEarth from that perspective: it’shumbling. It’s life changing.”Companies like Virgin Galacticand Scaled Composites envisioned a booming market forspace tourism when said in theearly 2000s they would launchhumans into suborbital space.Space tourism will become a“multi-billion-dollar industry”,said Eric Anderson, co-founder ofthe space exploration companySpace Adventures, in a 2003 issueof Space Times. But now, theindustry’s in crisis.Richard Branson’s VirginGalactic, which has been on hiatus since June 2024, announcedthat it has released a number oftickets for spaceflight expeditions, each priced at US$750,000(RM3.03mil).The company also released itsfull year earnings for 2025 onMarch 30. Shares rose as muchas 22% in US postmarket trading.But the stock is down about 30%for the year, as space tourismfaces limited demand and technology hurdles.“Tourism hasn’t really materialised as a market. We certainlyhave had a number of touristsponsored missions, but thosehave been limited, and we haven’t seen recurring demand forthem,” said Dana Weigel, Nasa’sInternational Space Station programme manager, during aMarch 24 presentation inWashington.Issues include limited demandand technology that takes yearsto scale, even as the addressablemarket is limited, said Eric Zhu,an aerospace and defence analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence.“The fundamental problem isscalability and cost,” he said.“The industry is targeting anextremely narrow slice of ultrahigh-net-worth individuals, buteven that cohort doesn’t generaterepeat business.”Holding patternVirgin Galactic has sent 31passengers to space and BlueOrigin has sent 98 (six of whomflew twice), including an allfemale crew that flew last yearwith Katy Perry, CBS Newsanchor Gayle King and Bezos’wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos.That flight prompted a backlash online after Perry sang during the flight and kissed theground upon re-entry.The first space tourist, DennisTito, flew aboard a Soyuz spacecraft in 2001. Russian rocketshave taken nine commercial passengers to space but none sincethe start of the full-scale invasionof Ukraine in February 2022.Roscosmos, the country’sequivalent of Nasa, wants toresume tourist flights to a proposed Russian space station, butthe “stigma” fromPerry’s trip hasn’teased, said RobertEnglish, director ofcentral Europeanstudies at theUniversity ofSouthern California.The flight “was anobvious target forcritics,” he said, “...because you kiss theEarth after survivinga long, harrowing,heroic journey – notafter a billionaire’sbrief bus ride.”Virgin Galacticexpects to launchthe first test flightfor its Delta spacecraft by the end of 202Responding to a request forcomment, the company declinedto disclose ticket prices or otherinformation before the upcoming results announcement.Previously Virgin Galactic hadbeen charging about US$600,000(RM2.41mil) for seats on the newspacecraft.Blue Origin’s prices are notpublicly available, but CraigCurran, president of the DePrezGroup of Travel Companies inRochester, New York, estimatesa ticket price of US$1.5mil(RM6.04mil) to US$2mil(RM8.05mil).“There really is no suborbitalspace tourism market right now,”he said. “In terms of having anactual product, we’re in a waitand-see for Virgin Galactic tobecome operational.”Branson has said he wants tofill the gap left by Blue Origin.“The space launch later thisyear is going to be really important, particularly now that BlueOrigin seems to have bowed outof putting people into space,”Branson said on March 4 vialivestream to a space conferencein London.Blue Origin hasn’t said it’sfinished with space tourism.“I think we’ll likely go backinto that business, but at themoment in time, it just makesmore sense to focus on themoon,” said Dave Limp, the CEOof Blue Origin, on Feb 17 at theDefence Tech Summit in WestPalm Beach, Florida.When reached for comment,Blue Origin referred to a newsrelease regarding the NewShepard pause.Filling the gapChinese companies haveannounced plans to pursue spacetourism. Beijing InterstellarH S aceflight Technology,wants to fly touristsin 2028 for the priceof 3mil yuan(RM1.73mil). Rocketmanufacturer andflight service providerCAS Space Technologyis targeting crewedspace tourism flightsby 2029, according tothe company.“They’re signallingwe’re going to compete’,” said Rachel Fu,professor in thedepartment of tourism,hospitality and eventmanagement at theUniversity of Florida.The industry may yetee a revival if ElonMusk’s SpaceX succeedsith Starship, its hugeusable rocket nownder development.Starship could cut thecost of putting a person in orbitby 90%, according to Fu.“Space tourism was nevermeant to remain a niche luxuryproduct,” she said. “The smallinitial customer pool functionsas a financial and technologicalbridge toward a longer-termgoal: lowering the cost of accessto space and expanding commercial activity beyond Earth.” –Bloomberg6 Travel STARLIFESTYLE, Thursday 2 april 2026a visitor looking at an abandoned swimming pool in Charleroi. The citystill bears the marks of a working-class past now lying fallow. — aFpThe allure of decaySpace tourism slowdownstarted well before KatyPerry’s panned trip.Virgin Galactic’s unity spaceship. — virgingalactic.com26.quest for Rochester New York estimatesHuman Spaisbt‘wppdhmUseMwireuunStaMission on hold,for now1u4s s, 2in025ger Katy perry after her trip to space on april. — blueorigin.com