Malaysian Paperwww.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPYRM1THURSDAYAPR 2, 2026SCAN MENo. 9109 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) Malaysian Paperwww.thesun.my RM1.00 PER COPYRM1THURSDAYAPR 2, 2026SCAN MENo. 9109 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) HERCULES HELP... An RMAF C-130 Hercules conducts cloud seeding over Air Itam and Teluk Bahang dam catchments to boost Penang’s water reserves. – BERNAMAPIC Government rolls out WFH to curb fuel useReport on—page 3Policy to take effect April 15 across public sector, GLCs as govt moves to safeguard energy supply.Food4U extends helping hand to KL’s homelessFrom severe burn recovery to safe housing, ‘Sanctuary’ offers new beginning for three vulnerable individuals.Report on—page 6Asean ministerial-level meetings to go virtualReport on—page 4Sessions move online; only heads of govt will gather physically to coordinate regional responses and global energy strategies. THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026EditorialT: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] AdvertisingT: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN MEBulk up or Bulk up or lean down? lean down?Latest fitness trends in Malaysia Latest fitness trends in Malaysia – P22WEEKLYFOCUSMONDAYTechnology and social mediaTUESDAYFamily and parentingWEDNESDAY Fashion and beautyTHURSDAY Homeand livingFRIDAYTravel and leisureSATURDAY Food and beveragep23 Beating dry spell with tailored tips for every day p24 ‘Bhajan clubbing’ overwrites India’s nightlife habitsp25 Bront Palarae shares on being polygot actor 123RFPIC Diesel hits RM6Putrajaya boosts subsidies and targeted aid as global market volatility pushes unsubsidised fuel to record-breaking price levels.9 773141 086004 eISSN 3141-0863Report on hpage 2
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20262Unsubsidised diesel rises to RM6.02PETALING JAYA: The government is pulling out all stops to shield Malaysians from the shock of surging global oil prices, even as diesel prices rocket past the RM6 mark this week, piling fresh pressure on consumers and businesses. Subsidies are being ramped up, controls tightened and targeted aid rolled out as energy markets grow increasingly volatile. From today until April 8, oGovt moving mountains to shield Malaysians from surging global pricesŰ BY FAIZ RUZMAN AND QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI [email protected] diesel in Peninsular Malaysia will jump 50 sen to RM6.02 per litre from RM5.52, while RON97 will ease by 20 sen to RM4.95 per litre from RM5.15. In a statement yesterday, the Finance Ministry said the revision reflects sustained pressure in global energy markets, particularly crude oil and refined fuel benchmarks. “The prolonged global energy crisis has driven Brent crude prices up by more than 40%, exceeding US$100 per barrel. “More critically, the prices of refined petrol and diesel have surged to US$150 and US$250 per barrel respectively, placing upward pressure on retail prices,” the ministry said in a statement. Despite the latest market-linked adjustment, Putrajaya said subsidised rates for targeted groups would remain unchanged, including RM1.99 per litre for RON95 under Budi95, RM2.15 for diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, RM2.05 under SKPS (subsidised petrol) and RM2.15 under SKDS (subsidised diesel) “Since the West Asia crisis erupted, the government has not fully floated retail pump prices and has continued absorbing part of the subsidy cost for petrol and diesel for three consecutive weeks. “Efforts to maintain subsidised petroleum prices for the public and selected sectors will continue to be strengthened to curb rising goods prices and protect public wellbeing.” As an interim measure following the diesel price increase, the government said it would maintain the additional RM100 Budi diesel cash aid in April, bringing total assistance to RM300 for ‘Budi Individu’ and ‘Budi Agri-Komoditi’ recipients. It added that medium and longterm measures are being considered to ensure the subsidy mechanism remains sustainable, transparent and beneficial amid the ongoing global energy crisis and its wider market implications. The Madani government said it would continue to carefully balance fiscal discipline with public protection to preserve economic stability and safeguard livelihoods during this period of heightened uncertainty. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s banking sector remains on firm footing and ready to cushion customers against mounting financial strain triggered by global uncertainties, including tensions in the Middle East, the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) said. In a separate statement, ABM acknowledged that external developments could weigh on households and businesses, but assured that banks stand ready to extend appropriate assistance to those affected. “Our priority is to ensure customers feel supported and have access to suitable assistance during challenging times.” Customers facing financial difficulties are urged to engage their respective banks early to discuss available options, with support assessed on a case-by-case basis for those with genuine needs. “Assistance may include repayment restructuring and other tailored financial solutions aimed at helping customers manage shortterm financial pressures while maintaining long-term financial stability.” The banking industry also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with customers and stakeholders to ensure continued access to financial support, in line with Malaysia’s broader goals of economic stability and resilience. ABM emphasised that early engagement remains critical, urging customers to promptly reach out to their banks to explore available assistance.Nadma to carry out cloud seeding operations in four statesPUTRAJAYA: The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will carry out four series of cloud seeding operations in Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Johor, from April 6 to April 9, as a proactive measure to increase water levels in dams affected by prolonged hot weather. Deputy Prime Minister and Central Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the operations are being implemented following the hot weather phenomenon, currently affecting several areas, due to the monsoon transition, which began on March 29, and is expected to continue until May. “Although the period brings the formation of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, several areas remain at high risk of experiencing Level One and Level Two heatwaves, with temperatures reaching between 35°C and 40°C . “These conditions have not significantly helped to increase dam water levels, thereby affecting water resources and the agricultural sector, and also impacting the daily lives of the (public), particularly vulnerable groups in rural and interior areas,” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that the cloud seeding operations would be carried out in collaboration with the Air Force, which would provide C-130 Hercules aircraft, while the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) would coordinate the technical and scientific aspects of the operations. He said the operations would focus on 11 dams: the Timah Tasoh dam in Perlis; Ahning, Pedu and Muda dams in Kedah; Temenggor and Bukit Merah dams in Perak; and the Lebam, Upper Layang, Lower Layang, Gunung Pulai and Machap dams in Johor. “This is a proactive effort to restore water levels affected by prolonged hot weather. Ahmad Zahid said as part of disaster preparedness measures, the comittee has also been instructed to ensure that the State Disaster Command Centre (SDCC) is activated and strengthened, to ensure that decisions made are based on technical information and data-driven analysis. He added that all relevant agencies must channel information to the SDCC for coordination and recording, including data on dam water levels, raw water supply, soil moisture levels in critical areas, landslide-prone zones, flood-prone areas and other related information. “The comittee must act early, by identifying the needs of the (public), as well as the agricultural and commercial sectors, such as delivering emergency water supplies via tanker lorries to areas experiencing critical water disruptions, and submitting requests for the implementation of cloud seeding operations to more effectively increase dam water levels. “The comittee must also identify the best methods as part of a medium-term strategy, including identifying alternative water catchment areas during the rainy season, for use during periods of hot weather,” he said. He added that Nadma needs to conduct a comprehensive assessment, based on findings from the comittee and the SDCC, to develop a long-term mitigation plan and identify the best solutions for managing disasters in the future. He also said all government agencies must intensify efforts to ensure that their respective target groups are not adversely affected, particularly in sectors such as food supply, agriculture, public health, education, entrepreneurship, livestock and others expected to be impacted. He also urged the public to use water prudently and to always comply with the authorities’ instructions. – Bernama‘Hormuz tensions test for energy resilience’PUTRAJAYA: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Iran conflict should be viewed as a test of Malaysia’s energy resilience and an opportunity to accelerate reforms, rather than a cause for public alarm, energy experts say. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Solar Energy Research Institute director Prof Dr Norasikin Ahmad Ludin said the situation underscores that energy security is no longer solely about fuel prices, but also about ensuring a continuous supply amid global geopolitical uncertainties. “The ability to purchase fuel without a guaranteed supply could lead to black markets, disruption of public services and most critically, a crisis of public trust in the government.” She emphasised that Malaysia’s energy security strategy must be implemented in phases, covering short, medium and long-term measures to strengthen the national energy system. She said in the short term, the government should prioritise stabilising the domestic energy system, including extending the operation of high-efficiency coal plants as a backup source and optimising technology to improve fuel efficiency. She added that the use of artificial intelligence in logistics and Intelligent Traffic Systems could reduce fuel wastage and enhance supply chain efficiency. She also said financial strategies, such as hedging against oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, are also crucial for mitigating price shocks that could affect the country’s fiscal position. Norasikin emphasised the need to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and strengthen regional energy integration over the medium term to reduce dependence on imports. She said key measures include expanding the Asean power grid, increasing the adoption of B30 and B40 biodiesel, and diversifying LNG import sources to countries such as Australia and Papua New Guinea. She also highlighted that investments in emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors, green hydrogen and the electric vehicle battery ecosystem, would be vital to ensuring long-term energy stability and sustainability. She called for electricity market reforms, including the adoption of cost-reflective tariffs, to attract greater investment in renewable energy. Norasikin said clear and consistent public communication is vital for managing any energy crisis and maintaining public confidence, adding that the government should also prepare contingency plans for priority-based fuel distribution in the event of supply disruptions. “In facing these challenges, calm, discipline and unity are essential to ensure national stability. “Transparent communication is key to preventing panic and unnecessary hoarding that could worsen the situation.” Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia Political Science and Civil Studies Department lecturer Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi said the evolving global geopolitical landscape requires Malaysia to shift from passive neutrality to “active neutrality”, a more proactive diplomatic stance to safeguard trade and energy interests. “Active neutrality means Malaysia must play a more strategic and proactive role in international diplomacy, strengthening ties with multiple trading partners and regional powers without over-reliance on any single bloc.” – BernamaMalaysians flocked to fuel up their vehicles under the original 300 litre Budi 95 fuel subsidy quota before the government imposed a revised 200 litre quota yesterday in light of the US-Iran conflict. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20263SUBANG JAYA: One year after the devastating Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion, three civil society groups have renewed calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), saying crucial questions remain unanswered and accountability gaps persist. The Artivist Network, Greenpeace Malaysia and RimbaWatch said official investigations failed to fully examine issues around pipeline routing, monitoring and regulatory oversight. Their renewed call follows the release of a policy brief titled “Putra Heights One Year On: Unanswered Questions Remain”.The Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) Phase II pipeline, operated by Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB), ruptured on April 1, 2025 at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights. The explosion and fire burned for seven-anda-half hours at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, destroying 511 homes, 360 vehicles and affecting more than 110 individuals, in addition to pets and livestock. RimbaWatch co-founder Adam Farhan said the disaster revealed systemic problems in Malaysia’s pipeline safety and urban planning. “Planning decisions allowed pipelines near residential areas, buffer zones were inadequate, community safety protocols were weak and monitoring systems appear to have failed. “This was not simply an accident; it raises serious questions about how KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,501 delayed, sick and abandoned private housing projects have been revived since the establishment of the Task Force on Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects in 2023. Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the achievement involves 176,687 housing units with a gross development value of RM140.87 billion. She said of the total, 121 projects have been restored from “sick” to active status, while 1,345 projects have been completed and issued Certificates of Completion and Compliance. “In addition, 35 previously abandoned projects have been revived either through physical completion or settlements for buyers,” she told reporters after a site visit to the Residensi Hektar Gombak project yesterday. She added that for the first two months this year, 145 private housing projects were identified as delayed and 309 as “sick”, marking a significant decline from previous periods. However, 99 projects remain abandoned, with authorities currently assessing the best solutions for each case. Aiman Athirah said the government is targeting zero new abandoned housing projects by 2030 through targeted interventions by the task force. She also said three states, namely Malacca, Perlis and the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, have recorded zero abandoned projects. “This shows we are on the right track in strengthening the task force and addressing delayed, sick and abandoned housing projects. The ministry will also intensify on-site monitoring to ensure more effective intervention and progress oversight.” On the Residensi Hektar Gombak project, she said it is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, with progress improving by about 20% since her last visit in November. She attributed earlier delays to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, including constraints in building materials and labour. She said contractors who repeatedly fail to complete projects would be blacklisted and face action. – BernamaRenewed call for RCI into Putra Heights blastŰ BY HARITH KAMAL [email protected] (third from right) said the disaster revealed systemic problems in Malaysia’s pipeline safety and urban planning. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUNOver 1,000 ‘sick’ housing projects revivedWFH for civil servants from April 15PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will roll out a work-from-home (WFH) policy across ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies beginning April 15 to curb fuel consumption and safeguard energy supply. In a special address yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move is part of measures to reduce fuel oMove aimed at easing pressure on national energy resources: AnwarŰ BY HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN [email protected] and ensure a sustainable energy supply. He said the move, agreed upon during a Cabinet meeting, is aimed at easing pressure on national energy resources amid ongoing global uncertainties. “The objective is to reduce fuel usage and ensure the sustainability of energy supply. Further details will be announced,” he said during a special briefing yesterday. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, emphasised that the government is taking proactive steps to cushion the impact of the global energy crisis through its People’s Support Initiative, adding that Putrajaya is currently spending about RM4 billion monthly to absorb rising fuel costs. Describing the situation as “extraordinary”, he said Malaysia is not immune to the spillover effects of the West Asian conflict, which has disrupted global supply chains, particularly energy. He said despite the challenges, the country remains relatively stable, supported by early interventions including controlled fuel usage, secured energy supply and coordinated planning with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which has ensured sufficient oil and gas supply at least until May. The prime minister also announced that the Budi 95 fuel quota has been temporarily decreased to 200 litres per month from yesterday while the use of subsidised diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will also be enforced immediately. He also cautioned against the spread of false information, adding that that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has detected 96 instances of fake news related to fuel and electricity prices on social media. “We have no choice but to act firmly. The authorities, including police and MCMC, will take necessary action against those spreading false information for narrow political interests.” Anwar added that the government would continue engaging with stakeholders, including small contractors, farmers and fishermen to address concerns and ensure targeted assistance reaches those most affected. He said the prolonged conflict in West Asia would take a lengthy time to recover from, but Malaysia remains in a relatively stable position to weather the challenges. He also said crisis has disrupted global supply chains, particularly in energy, although Malaysia has so far stayed resilient. “When this happens, it inevitably affects global supply chains, especially energy, and Malaysia is not spared. Yet we are entering this phase with a relatively stable economy and can still maintain RON95 at RM1.99. “That is remarkable, given oil prices and supply pressures, with queues and rationing in some countries. Even if conditions ease slightly, we cannot afford complacency.” He added that the conflict’s impact has now gone global, including in Malaysia. “Discussions with Iran’s president, Gulf leaders, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and my recent visit to Indonesia with President Prabowo Subianto show the situation may worsen before improving and will take much longer to recover.”high-pressure pipelines are managed in Malaysia,.” The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) report tabled in Parliament on Oct 6, 2025 concluded the explosion was caused mainly by ground conditions rather than operational failures. It found no evidence of sabotage, excessive pressure or operator negligence. Soft, loose and waterlogged soil caused the ground to sink 24.3cm, shifting the pipeline 15.9cm and weakening a welded joint that eventually leaked gas. Despite the technical findings, the NGOs said several key issues remain unresolved. “Who approved the pipeline’s construction through areas already earmarked for residential development? The PSSC did not examine zoning decisions. “Planning documents show that the Rancangan Struktur Daerah Petaling Jaya dan Sebahagian Daerah Klang 1988–2010 specifically routed the pipeline through areas later developed for housing.“Public records indicate the alignment was known as early as 1989, two years before the pipeline began operations.” The groups said community awareness and emergency preparedness were also lacking. “Interviews with landowners and tenants show low awareness of pipeline hazards and how to respond safely. “Operators are required to clearly inform the public on how to spot gas leaks, report emergencies, and act safely, as recommended by ASME B31.8 (an international standard for gas pipeline safety),” Adam said. However, the report says PGB’s public safety information was limited to pipeline signage and a hotline. Meanwhile, questions remain about Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and monitoring responsibilities. While Malaysia’s EIA Order 1987 requires assessments for pipelines measuring over 50km, it is unclear whether EIA were conducted for PGU Phase II or the adjacent UEP Subang Jaya development. The NGOs are urging the government to establish a full RCI under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950, with powers to subpoena witnesses and documents. They also want the inquiry to specifically examine potential negligence by all parties responsible for zoning, constructing, operating and monitoring the PGU Phase II pipeline, including the Subang Jaya City Council, the Energy Commission, PGB and the Occupational Safety and Health Department. The groups further recommended clarifying the Energy Commission’s role in pipeline safety, strengthening public communication and emergency protocols, and phasing out fossil fuel energy by 2050, including a ban on new coal and gas plants from 2026. “Reducing reliance on high-pressure gas pipelines would eliminate the risk of similar disasters in the future,” Adam said.
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20264MCMC calls for Jendela 2 draft plans to enhance connectivityKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued its first invitation for the submission of draft plans under the National Digital Network Phase 2 (Jendela 2), reflecting the government’s continued commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure and enhancing connectivity nationwide. MCMC said in a statement that the implementation of Group 1 would adopt a fit-for-purpose approach, including the provision of public cellular services for 4G and 5G, WiFi solutions via satellite connectivity, as well as the introduction of a Neutral Host Platform for the first time. According to MCMC, the platform enables users to access WiFi networks using their existing mobile data plans from their respective network operators, thereby supporting a more consistent and seamless user experience. “Group 1 covers 1,000 sites nationwide, with 31.1% in Peninsular Malaysia, 33.7% in Sarawak and 35.2% in Sabah. “The project is expected to begin as early as the third quarter of 2026, subject to evaluation and governance processes. The remaining 1,700 sites will be implemented in subsequent groups, which will be finalised by MCMC at a later stage.” Since the implementation of Jendela Phase 1, MCMC said the government had made progress in expanding coverage and improving service quality, while Jendela 2 continued these efforts. The initiative is designed to bridge coverage gaps, enhance network performance and expand access to high-quality broadband, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “This initiative supports the national agenda to expand internet coverage to 2,700 sites nationwide and will benefit about 217,000 residents in rural and remote areas, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, while ensuring these communities continue to receive attention in the national development agenda.” In this regard, MCMC said in line with Regulation 5 of the Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) Regulations 2002, it was inviting eligible licensees to submit their Registration of Interest and Universal Service Provision Draft Plans within the stipulated period as a basis for evaluation to identify suitable licensees. The commission added that it would continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of Jendela 2 and the delivery of quality digital connectivity across the country. – Bernama‘Act provides recognition, protection for gig workers’KUALA LUMPUR: The Gig Workers Act 2025 (Act 872), which came into effect on Tuesday, is a historic step towards recognising and protecting the gig community’s welfare in the country, said the Malaysian E-Hailing Coalition (GEM). GEM chief activist Masrizal Mahidin said the Act’s implementation proves that labour reforms are underway, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive and resilient employment ecosystem. “Malaysia has the potential to become a model at both regional and global levels if the Act is implemented effectively and consistently. “Let us together shape a future for gig workers that is better protected, sustainable, innovative and competitive,” he said. Masrizal also expressed appreciation to Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan for introducing the Act, which is seen as a proactive step in championing the plight of p-hailing and e-hailing workers. Passed in Parliament last year, the Act provides a legal framework to protect individuals working on e-hailing platforms, including access to social protection, dispute resolution mechanisms and fairer wage structures. Its enforcement is expected to benefit about 1.64 million workers in the gig economy. Prior to the enforcement, gig workers operated under a contract-for-service arrangement, which classified them as selfemployed individuals, Bernama reported. This resulted in a lack of protection under the Employment Act 1955, including the absence of mandatory contributions to the Employees Provident Fund and the Social Security Organisation by e-hailing platform companies. Malacca allocates RM1.2m to boost unity initiativesMALACCA: The National Unity and Integration Department has received a special allocation of RM1.2 million from the Malacca state government since 2023 to implement a wide range of community unity programmes. Its Malacca director, Intan Suhana Yusuff, said the department receives RM300,000 annually to drive inter-racial integration initiatives aimed at enhancing socioeconomic wellbeing in the state. “The Malacca department received the allocation under the state government’s Focus 9: Health, Human Resources and Unity, which is designed to strengthen unity among local communities through various programmes that directly support the national unity agenda. “Since the implementation of this initiative, a total of 311 programmes have been carried out, involving 72,212 participants. This reflects a very encouraging response from the community and highlights the effectiveness of efforts to strengthen unity at the grassroots level,” she told Bernama. Among the initiatives implemented is the Jalinan Mesra Perpaduan@KRT Programme, held in conjunction with the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat Programme. Intan Suhana said this initiative has proven effective in delivering unity-driven messages to a broad target group. She added that the programmes involve diverse segments of society across various races and stakeholders, including Rukun Tetangga Areas, the Voluntary Patrol Scheme, the Rukun Negara Secretariat, Rukun Negara Clubs as well as Perpaduan childcare centres and kindergartens. It also involves community mediators, as well as federal and state agencies, statutory bodies, government-linked companies, corporate and private sectors, NGOs and local community leaders. Looking ahead to 2026, she said more programmes have been planned and are expected to continue delivering positive impact through a comprehensive and inclusive approach, in line with the unity government’s aspiration to build a Civil Malaysia under the 13th Malaysia Plan. “This effort aligns with the Together Building a Nation theme led by the National Unity Ministry in strengthening unity towards nation-building. “It also supports the achievement of the state-level Unity Index 2025, where Malacca recorded a high score of 0.816, the second highest in Malaysia, positioning Malacca as a model of social excellence,” she said. “The people in Malacca demonstrate a strong national ethos, positive cross-ethnic social relations, and active participation in community activities. Transparent governance and a harmonious social environment remain the state’s key strengths,” she added. All Asean ministerial-levelmeetings to be held virtuallyPETALING JAYA: All Asean ministerial-level meetings this year will be held virtually, with only engagements involving heads of government proceeding physically. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet had been briefed on the matter, noting that no in-person sessions would take place in Manila or elsewhere at the ministerial level. “Among the earliest upcoming meetings under the Asean framework will be the Health Ministers’ Meeting, which will also be held online,” he said at the weekly press conference yesterday. Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, said the Cabinet has agreed to set up a Communications Command Centre under the National Economic Action Council (NEAC), with daily media briefings scheduled at around 4pm. He said the committee will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and is expected to meet regularly, likely on a near-daily basis at the initial stage, to coordinate the government’s messaging – particularly on responses to the global energy crisis and the ongoing conflict in West Asia. “The Cabinet also discussed and decided that Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir will meet the Fahmi said a Communications Command Centre will be set up for daily media briefings on government responses to the global energy crisis and the ongoing conflict in West Asia. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUNoNo in-person sessions this year, with only engagements involving government heads to proceed physically, says ministerŰ BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI [email protected] Special Select Committee on Finance and Economy. “The purpose is to present the government’s views and outline measures formulated thus far, particularly on economic and financial issues arising from developments in West Asia and their impact on the national economy amid the global energy crisis,” he said. Fahmi said the NEAC had received a detailed presentation from Petronas, with several aspects reviewed. He added that the prime minister has instructed continued monitoring, adding that the situation at Petronas remains under control for the April–May period. “At the same time, several vessels are currently en route and awaiting clearance to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. “Malaysia is not paying any toll, contrary to claims arising from misinterpretation of certain headlines circulated online,” he said. Fahmi stressed that weekly fuel prices for RON95, RON97 and diesel will continue to be announced every Wednesday, and any information circulating outside this schedule – especially if not issued by the Finance Ministry – should be treated as false. “Over the past three days, a significant amount of false information has circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook, Threads, TikTok and X. “As of midnight yesterday (March 31), a total of 96 pieces of content identified by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have been verified as false. This includes content involving misuse of news logos. “MCMC issued a statement confirming that three individuals who spread false information have been called in to provide statements and are being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act,” he said. Fahmi said the NEAC will continue deliberations at its meeting next week, with further announcements to follow as necessary. He added that the prime minister is scheduled to meet all menteris besar and chief ministers today to discuss the global energy crisis and its impact on the domestic economy. “Several measures and responses will be examined, and updates will be communicated following the meeting,” he said. Fahmi said several press briefings are also expected this afternoon, including one by the deputy prime minister II and possibly a statement from the prime minister after the meeting with state leaders.
THURSDAY | APR 2, 202653 held over insults towards royals, IslamJOHOR BAHRU: Police have detained three individuals, including a 17-year-old teenager, to assist in an investigation into the dissemination of content on TikTok containing elements of incitement, defamation and insults against Islam, the Johor royal institution and Johor police chief. Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the two women and one man, aged between 17 and 49, were arrested in Taman Saujana here on Tuesday. “Police received a report from a local man who detected a video uploaded by the owner of the account ‘ratunurputribalqis’ allegedly containing defamatory statements last Sunday,” he said in a statement. The content in the post included claims that the Sultan of Johor and the Tengku Mahkota Johor, as well as the prime minister, sought advice from the account owner in preparing speech texts. Additionally, the content also displayed defamatory claims that the Sultan of Johor kept the account owner’s identification documents for certain purposes related to teachings she promoted. The essence of the post also included accusations against the Johor State Islamic Religious Department of being involved in misconduct and corruption, as well as claims that obligatory prayers would revert to two rakaat (a single unit of prayer) and voluntary prayers to one rakaat.Ab Rahaman said checks found that all suspects had no prior records and initial urine screening tests were negative. He added that several items were seized for investigation and the suspects to be remanded for four days until tomorrow. The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988, and Sections 298 and 500 of the Penal Code. Johor Bahru South District police chief ACP Raub Selamat said in a separate statement that items seized included a jacket, mobile phones, glasses, rings, necklaces, bracelets, a table, a Quran, scripts, letters and related accessories to assist investigations. – BernamaBukit Cherakah appeal dismissedPUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court, in a 2-1 majority decision, dismissed an appeal by two NGOs challenging the degazettement of Bukit Cherakah as a forest reserve. The two NGOs are Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia and the Shah Alam Community Forest Society. Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais and Federal Court Judge Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang formed the majority in dismissing the appeal, while Federal Court Judge Datuk Lee Swee Seng delivered a dissenting judgment. The court made no order as to costs. On Sept 9, 2024, the apex court granted the two NGOs leave to appeal against the dismissal of their judicial review application challenging the matter. In 2022, the Shah Alam High Court denied the NGOs leave to commence a judicial review of the Selangor government’s decision to degazette 406.22 hectares of Bukit Cherakah. Their subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Jan 24, 2024, on the grounds that the judicial review application had been filed out of time. The NGOs took the matter to the Federal Court, seeking leave to appeal the lower court’s decision. In their application for judicial review, the NGOs named the Selangor government, the State Executive Council, the State Forestry Department director and the Petaling Land and Mines Department as respondents. The other respondents were YCH Development Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor and Restu Mantap Sdn Bhd. – BernamaDriver charged with murderof motorcyclist in road crashKLANG: A man believed to have been under the influence of drugs was charged with murder at the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday over the death of a motorcyclist in a crash on Sunday. R. Saktygaanapathy, 28, was charged with causing the death of Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33, at Jalan Raya Barat, Klang, at 11.47am on March 29. The charge, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane. No plea was recorded from the accused after the charge was read out before Magistrate M. Khartiyayini, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court. In a separate charge, Saktygaanapathy pleaded guilty at the same court to self-administering drugs – believed to be benzodiazepine and tetrahydrocannabinol – at the South Klang district police headquarters’ Narcotics Office at 3.30pm on the same day, Bernama reported. He was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, and may include a supervision order of up to three years. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the murder charge. Saktygaanapathy in court to face charges. – BERNAMAPICoDrug user faces death penalty or jail term of up to 40 years and 12 strokes of cane if convictedThe accused was unrepresented. The court set June 3 for mention of all cases and the submission of pathology reports. Earlier, the accused arrived at the Klang Court complex at 8.50am in handcuffs, escorted by police officers. The victim’s wife, Nor Nadia Abdul Majid, 32, was present in court to follow the proceedings. In the incident last Sunday, South Klang police chief ACP Lim Jit Huey said the victim was killed after being struck by a car allegedly driven at high speed and in a dangerous manner in Jalan Raya Barat. Due to the impact, the victim was thrown onto another vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations found that the car driven by the suspect was travelling towards Klang town at high speed. The driver is believed to have overtaken several vehicles before veering into the opposite lane and colliding with the victim’s motorcycle. Mara adopts sons of late Amirul HafizIPOH: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has adopted two children who lost their father in a tragic road crash in Klang, Selangor recently as foster children under Yayasan Pelajaran Mara (YPM). Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the adoption of Muhammad Aqif Amsyar, nine and Muhammad Afif Izz Rayqal, seven, sons of Amirul Hafiz Omar, 33, reflects a sense of responsibility and compassion and is not merely temporary assistance but a long-term commitment to ensure their education is safeguarded. “A monthly allowance of RM120 each will be provided at the primary school level and increased to RM150 when they enter secondary school, along with continuous monitoring until they complete their schooling,” he posted on Facebook yesterday. He also expressed gratitude to Larut Umno chief Datuk Mohammad Daud Mohd Yusoff and YPM chief executive officer Faisalludin Mohamat Yusuff, who represented him earlier in visiting and extending assistance to the victim’s family. He also conveyed words of encouragement to Aqif and Afif to remain strong and resilient, and to study diligently. He said the tragedy not only claimed the life of a father but also left deep emotional scars on the entire family. Asyraf said he had a video call with the victim’s mother, Faridah Ahmad, 56, which was also shared on Facebook while the victim’s widow, Nor Nadia Abdul Majid, 32, was out handling matters related to the deceased. “In a voice filled with emotion, she shared that the deceased was a good son. This loss is the loss of a pillar of support for young children,” he said. – Bernama16kg of cocaine worth RM7.3m found on beachKUANTAN: Police discovered a bag containing more than 16kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth RM7.31 million, washed ashore along the coastal area of Pantai Tanjung Gosong in Pekan. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the discovery followed a public tip-off, after which a team from the Pahang contingent’s Criminal Investigation Department conducted an inspection at the location at 2.45pm on Tuesday. Further inspection found that the bag contained 14 compressed black packages labelled “stone”, believed to be cocaine, with an estimated weight of 16.263kg, in addition to six other packages whose contents had already dissolved, he said yesterday. – Bernama
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20266@thesundailyFOLLOW ON TWITTER Malaysian PaperGroup rescues three, expands plansPETALING JAYA: As the capital city recently marked its Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri celebrations, charity group Food4U said its weekly outreach to the disabled, poor and homeless continued on Kuala Lumpur’s margins. Its founder Tony Lian, 75, popularly known as Uncle Tony, said three homeless individuals were rescued and moved into shelter and medical care during the festive period. In a statement, he said the effort was carried out with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Social Work Medical Department and members of the public, as Food4U continued serving dinner at its centres every week throughout the festive period. The group said the three individuals were placed at The Sanctuary 1 and The Sanctuary 2, where food, shelter and medical aid were provided. One of them was a homeless woman who had suffered severe burns and was treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital before later being placed under shelter care. “She has recovered and is homeless. She is now staying at The Sanctuary 2.” Another case involved a man found sleeping along a street in Medan Tuanku. He was first rescued and placed at Pusat Khidmat Gelandangan Medan Tuanku, with Food4U saying further arrangements were being made to move him into longer-term shelter support. “Food4U will bring him to The Sanctuary 1 and provide shelter, food and medical care.” The statement, however, did not provide further details on the third individual, but indicated that all three were assisted during the same outreach period. Lian also said the group was moving ahead with The Sanctuary 4 as demand for male shelter space continued to grow. “Food4U is embarking on The Sanctuary 4 as the occupancy for men has exceeded our expectations. “Compassion transcends race, religion and political affiliation.” Food4U was founded in 2015. According to its website, the ongoing project took off when Lian ran a soup kitchen out of his own kitchen with help from family and friends, initially distributing bread and water to about Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN [email protected] urged to donate blood, save livesSIBU: A paediatrician has urged more people to come forward as blood donors, stressing that every donation plays a crucial role in saving lives amid declining blood supplies. Paediatrician and head of the Clinical Research Centre at Sibu Hospital Dr Toh Teck Hock said the hospital’s blood bank had recently implemented conservation measures following a drop in donations over the past one to two months, particularly during the festive ‘Kong Xi Raya’ period. He said while some individuals may feel uneasy at the sight or mention of blood, donating blood is a simple and cost-free act that many are able to do. “As doctors, we sometimes take for granted the availability of blood when we request it for patients, but in reality, supply depends entirely on voluntary donors,” he said in a Facebook post after participating in a blood donation drive here recently. Toh, who donated blood together with his wife, described the experience as meaningful and humbling, adding that good health should not be taken for granted. He said passing the screening process was itself a blessing, noting that some young individuals were unable to donate due to health issues such as high blood pressure. Toh also highlighted the universal nature of blood donation, saying it transcends social, racial and cultural differences. “Blood does not recognise boundaries of class, race or belief. Once donated, it becomes a universal gift that can help anyone in need. Every drop counts.” He urged the public to donate regularly, emphasising that even a single contribution can make a significant difference. - Bernama80 people in the city centre. As demand grew, he brought in volunteers and expanded the operation. The group now has a 15-member team and is able to serve up to 300 people with hot food, fresh fruits and vegetables, drinks and other necessities. In a separate earlier profile published by an English daily, Lian described his humanitarian efforts as an inspiration from his mother, who had once sheltered four homeless women despite the family’s own financial difficulties. Food4U continues distributing food to the disables, poor and homeless during its weekly outreach throughout the festive period. – PIC COURTESY OF FOOD4U.oOutreach continues through festive period as demand for accommodation surpasses expectations
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20267Haze cloaks northern ThailandBANGKOK: Swathes of northern Thailand choked under a blanket of haze caused by crop burning and forest fires, putting the country’s second city atop air pollution rankings on Tuesday. Seasonal air pollution has become a headache for touristdependent Thailand, and prompted lawsuits and a legislative push by clean air activists. Despite the efforts, northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai tourist destination topped the rankings for world’s most polluted major city for part of Tuesday, according to the IQAir monitor. The level of PM2.5 pollutants – cancer-causing microparticles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs – hit 110 micrograms per cubic metre. The World Health Organisation recommends 24-hour average exposures should not be more than 15 micrograms for most days of the year. Even worse hit was Pai, a usually verdant destination for backpackers and nature lovers in Mae Hong Son province, where PM2.5 levels topped 600, according to some monitors. Dao, a cafe workere, has lived through years of seasonal air pollution in Pai but said this year was especially bad. Another Pai resident, organic farmer George Wolstencroft, also declared the haze “probably the worst I’ve ever seen it”. “In any direction, the smoke is visible less than 50m away,” he said. The Chiang Mai governor’s office said illegal burning and forest fires in national parks were causing the hazardous haze. Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, a government body, said it had recorded a “new high” of 4,750 fire hotspots across the country on Monday. It said more than 5,000 hotspots were detected across the border in Myanmar, with thousands more combined across Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The spike in air pollution comes as clean air activists warn a Bill to enshrine the right to breathable air and to tax emitters is in danger of dying in parliament. The Bill was put on hold when parliament was dissolved last year, and if it is not picked back up within a limited window, the process will go “back to the drawing board”, the Thailand Clean Air Network has said. – AFPA drone view of Chiang Mai on Tuesday. – REUTERSPICSeoul, Jakarta tie up on energy securitySEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks yesterday with Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto, discussing energy security and agreeing to expand cooperation in areas such as critical minerals and technology, Lee’s office said. The summit talks followed a welcome ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. Lee said energy security had become a growing concern amid the uncertainty triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. “We view Indonesia’s stable role in supplying key energy resources such as LNG and coal as very reassuring,” Lee said in a statement, calling for closer cooperation on energy supply and resource security. Lee and Prabowo also oversaw the signing of preliminary agreements, including support for projects in renewable energy and data centres as the countries elevate their relationship into a strategic partnership. Prabowo also said that strong defence capabilities were essential, saying peace and stability required “robust security and defence”. No deals were announced on defence cooperation, however, including on the two countries’ joint project to develop South Korea’s homegrown KF-21 fighter jet. Korea Aerospace Industries last month said it was in talks with Indonesia on a potential sale of KF21 fighter jets, but said no decisions had been made. Media reports said that Jakarta was considering buying an initial batch of 16 aircraft. South Korea expects Indonesia to complete a payment related to the joint development programme by the end of this year, an official told Reuters. The countries were expected to advance defence ties, as well as strengthen cooperation in new growth areas such as artificial intelligence, infrastructure, shipbuilding, nuclear power, energy conversion, and cultural industries, the Blue House said earlier. Lee is also set to award Prabowo South Korea’s highest civilian honour, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa. – ReutersPrabowo and Lee meeting at the presidential office in Seoul. – AFPPICChina against renaming islandsBEIJING: China accused the Philippines of breaking international law and threatened “measures” to protect its sovereignty after Manila said it would rename island features in the South China Sea. Beijing claims the South China Sea in nearly its entirety, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Under an executive order by President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday, Manila will rename more than 100 reefs, islands, atolls and other features belonging to the Spratly archipelago. China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the move “infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty and violates the UN charter and relevant international laws”. “China opposes the Philippines undermining China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” she said. The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have competing claims to areas of the South China Sea, most importantly the Spratlys, which are believed to sit on vast oil and gas resources. Manila most prominently used the renaming mechanism in 2012 under the Benigno Aquino administration, when it dubbed areas of the crucial waterway nearest its coast the West Philippine Sea. “More than 100 Kalayaan Island Group features will have Philippine names ... which strengthens administration and governance, as well as sovereignty, in Palawan and the West Philippine Sea,” the presidential palace said in a statement. – AFPCambodia hands overtycoon to ChinaBEIJING: An alleged member of Chinese-Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi’s online scam and money laundering operation, Li Xiong, was extradited from Cambodia to China, Chinese broadcaster CCTV reported yesterday, citing security officials. “Li Xiong has been placed under coercive measures according to the law, and the relevant case is under further investigation,” CCTV said. Chen founded the Prince Group, a Cambodian conglomerate with fingers in everything from real estate to banking and airlines – and according to US prosecutors, cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes that stole billions of dollars from victims worldwide. In a statement, the Cambodian government confirmed that he was extradited to China. Li is the former chair of the Huione Group, CCTV report said. Huione Group allegedly laundered at least US$4 billion (RM16 billion) worth of illicit proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025, according to the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Agency (FinCEN). Of the US$4 billion total, FinCEN found that Huione Group laundered at least US$37 million worth of virtual currency that came from North Korean cyber heists, at least US$36 million from virtual currency investment scams, and US$300 million worth of virtual currencies oLi Xiong linked to online scam centres from other cyber scams. China sent experts to Cambodia to help with the investigation, which led to the arrest, Cambodian government spokesperson Touch Sokhak told Reuters. “This shows Cambodia’s commitment to clear out online scams and that Cambodia is not a safe haven for scam criminals, he said. Both Chen and Li had been granted Cambodian citizenship, which was later revoked by Phnom Penh. Chen had served as an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen. Across Southeast Asia, organised criminal gangs have used casinos, hotels and fortified compounds as bases to carry out sophisticated online scams. – Reuters/AFP
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20268 READ OUR HERE/thesun Malaysian PaperFrance eyes teen social media banPARIS: President Emmanuel Macron is hoping France will become one of the first European Union countries to ban social media for under15s. Both houses of parliament seem to have different visions for the ban, meaning they will likely need to reach a compromise before it can become law. But even if the legislation is adopted, questions remain over whether it could be enforced. The lower house National Assembly in January passed legislation demanding all social media platforms refuse new users under 15 and suspend accounts belonging to children under that age. Authorities want the Bill, which also provides for a ban on mobile phones in high schools, to be enforced from September. But the right-leaning Senate, which adopted the Bill on Tuesday, did so with some reservations and attached several conditions through amendments to the text, which could delay the Bill being adopted by both houses. A committee in the upper house has instead suggested a two-tier system, distinguishing between platforms flagged as harmful to a child’s “physical, mental, or moral development”, and those that could still be accessed with parental consent. Their revised version of the Bill excludes encyclopaedias and educational platforms. France’s public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health. The president has said the emotions of children and teenagers should not be “for sale or manipulated by American platforms and Chinese algorithms”. Nine child protection associations in January said lawmakers should hold the platforms responsible, not ban children from social media. Hard-left lawmaker Arnaud Saint-Martin said such a ban would amount to “digital paternalism” and be an “overly simplistic” response to the negative impacts of technology. While backing France’s right to impose such a ban, the European Commission in January said that any enforcement would lie with the European Union. – AFPPope floats ‘off-ramp’ROME: Pope Leo XIV expressed hope on Tuesday evening that President Donald Trump is looking for an “off-ramp” for the Iran war, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. “Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp,” the pontiff said when asked by a journalist outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome. “Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing.” The 70-year-old is the first head of the Catholic Church from the US. The pope had been asked whether, in view of the Iran war, he wanted to make an appeal to Trump. Leo replied: “I’m told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war.” He then expressed his hope for a way out of the conflict. An end to hostilities would be a “a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created and it’s increasing constantly – in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Leo said. Since the start of the military escalation following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the pope has repeatedly spoken out in favour of an end to the violence. He also used his sermon on Palm Sunday at the weekend for an urgent appeal for peace: “Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war ... He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” – BernamaGreenpeace accuses big oil of reaping ‘war profits’PARIS: A study commissioned by Greenpeace said yesterday that oil companies have been making more than €80 million (RM373 million) a day in “war profits” in the European Union since the start of the war. “If this level persists, the oil companies can expect additional operating profits of approximately €2.5 billion for the month of March alone,” the study said. The study examined the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of fuel at the pump between January and February, and the first three weeks of the war in March. oIncrease in margins much greater for diesel“The report shows that the rise in prices at the pump is far greater than that of underlying crude oil prices,” Greenpeace said in a statement. The increase in margins was much greater for diesel fuel than for petrol. “Compared with the pre-war months, the oil companies earned a daily excess profit of €75.3 million from the sale of diesel fuel to cars and trucks,” the report said. “Petrol sales contributed €6.1 million a day.” Margins were expanded predominantly in countries with high purchasing power such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Germany, the report said. In Germany, excess profits stood at €23.8 million a day, followed by France, at €11.6 million a day. “Greenpeace France is calling on European governments to introduce permanent additional taxes on the profits of oil and gas companies, the proceeds of which would be used to reduce energy bills and accelerate European energy independence,” the environmental group said. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb 28, triggering a regional conflict that has caused global oil and gas prices to surge and sparked fears of fuel shortages, especially in import-reliant Asia. Last week, the price of diesel in France hit its highest level since 1985, surpassing the peaks reached after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices. – AFPSpring brings calm in a troubled worldGILGIT: The harsh days of winter are over in Pakistan’s high north and while snow still tops the towering peaks that dominate the landscape, spring has arrived in the foothills. But this year, visitors who have come to witness the region’s cherry and apricot blossoms see it as the perfect tonic to the war in the Middle East and its knock-on effects. “There’s war going on all over the world right now. It’s petrol crisis, this and that, everything has become more expensive, everyone is in a depression,” Hatib, 27, from Karachi, told AFP. “But to get out of depression, you need to step outside, go out somewhere, see places, explore and relax the mind,” he said. The blossoms that turn bare trees into a vibrant shade of pink carpet the thawing farmland of Gilgit-Baltistan from late March every year, marking renewal and the promise of fruit harvests to come for local people. “The best part is when these flowers are falling. It literally feels like a dream,” Hatib said. The region, home to about 1.7 million people, has some of the world’s highest mountains, including K2, which soars to 8,611m, second only to Mount Everest. The jagged mountain ranges, high-altitude lakes and glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan are a magnet for the daring and adventurous. But more sedate visitors can instead take selfies in the orchards of the flowering deep valleys, under a clear blue sky with only the chirrup of birdsong and the bleat of foraging goats to break the surrounding silence. “No matter how much inflation there is in Pakistan today, no matter how much petrol prices are going up, tourists still don’t want to miss the cherry blossom and apricot blossom season,” said local visitor Maria Akbar, 29. “Even if we have to spend extra money, it’s not a problem, but we’ll enjoy this view.” – AFPA villager walks by apricot trees in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan. – AFPPIC
THURSDAY | APR 2, 20269BAGHDAD: An American journalist was kidnapped on Tuesday in Baghdad, the United States said. The State Department said it had warned the journalist of security risks and was working to ensure the American’s release “as soon as possible”. “An individual with ties to a militia group, Kataib Hezballah, believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities,” Dylan Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, wrote on X. Iraq said that authorities intercepted a vehicle that overturned as they tried to flee. “Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime,” the Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a statement. An Iraqi security source said the abduction occurred in Baghdad. The journalist was identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer, by media advocacy groups as well as AlMonitor, one of the news outlets for which she worked. Al-Monitor in a statement said it was “deeply alarmed” by Kittleson’s kidnapping and called for her “safe and immediate release”. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” the news organisation said. Kittleson is a “legitimate journalist” with experience in the Middle East and is based in Rome, according to the International Women’s Media Foundation. Johnson said that the State Department had “fulfilled our duty” to warn the journalist about threats and reiterated a warning for Americans to leave Iraq. “The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories.” – AFPIran has will to end war end war TEHRAN: Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war with the United States and Israel, President Masoud Pezeshkian said, stressing that Tehran was seeking guarantees the conflict would not flare up again. The comment by the head of state, which boosted markets in the United States, came after a day of heavy strikes on Iran and followed a tough warning from the powerful Guard Corps. The Guards threatened to retaliate against leading US tech firms such as Google, Meta and Apple from yesterday if more Iranian leaders were killed in “targeted assassinations”. The Guards charged that 18 companies, also including Intel, Tesla and analytics firm Palantir, were complicit in previous killings and warned they “should expect the destruction of their relevant units in exchange for every assassination in Iran”. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war on Feb 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei and setting off a wave of retaliatory attacks. Trump has since zigzagged on whether Washington plans to further escalate the war that has roiled the world economy, possibly by deploying American ground forces, or try to end it through negotiations with Tehran. Pezeshkian, in a phone call with the president of the European Council, said Iran had “the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met, especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression”. Responding to a 15-point US plan to end the war last week, Tehran had put forward a counterproposal demanding a mechanism guaranteeing that Israel and the US would not return to war. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, speaking earlier after he visited US troops in the Middle East, vowed that “the upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it”. Asked about next steps, Hegseth said that “you can’t fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do, or what you are not willing to do, to include boots on the ground”. Trump had threatened on Monday that if Iran didn’t agree to a deal, US forces would “obliterate” all of its oil wells, its main Kharg Island export terminal, and possibly its water desalination plants. On Tuesday, heavy strikes hit Iran, including the central city of Isfahan and Tehran, where AFP journalists heard blasts, with air defences activated. Iranian media reported damage to a religious centre in Zanjan, while the government said airstrikes had hit a plant making cancer drugs and Kittleson in Baghdad on Tuesday hours before her kidnapping. – AFPPIC anaesthetics. – AFPKuwait’s international airport after a reported drone strike yesterday. – AFPPICFreelance journalist kidnapped in BaghdadIndonesia wants UN probeJAKARTA: Indonesia has called on the United Nations to conduct an investigation into the deaths of three of its Unifil peacekeepers following Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, a Foreign Ministry official said. The ministry’s UN representative, Umar Hadi, made the statement during an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday. “We demand a direct investigation from the UN, not just Israel’s excuses,” he said. Indonesia said earlier this week that Israeli military operations have put UN peacekeepers in Lebanon at grave risk. The Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in Lebanon after a bloody weekend in which Lebanese journalists and medics were also killed in Israeli strikes. A roadside explosion appeared to have struck the convoy of two Indonesian peacekeepers killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said on Tuesday. The Israeli military said on Tuesday that its review of an incident involving Unifil troops on Monday concluded that Israeli troops did not place an explosive device in the area and that no troops were present there. – Reuters oTehran seeks guaranteesBahrain circulates revised Hormuz draftPARIS: Bahrain has circulated a revised UN Security Council draft resolution on protecting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, retaining language authorising “all necessary means” but dropping an explicit reference to binding enforcement. Shipping through the waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass and which underpins Gulf economies, has already slowed to a near-halt after Iran struck vessels amid its conflict with the United States and Israel. Bahrain’s initial draft, seen by Reuters and backed by other Gulf Arab states and Washington, explicitly invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the Security Council to authorise measures ranging from sanctions to military force. Diplomats said adoption of such a resolution would have been unlikely, as Iran’s partners Russia and China were expected to veto it if necessary. A Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes from its five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. The revised text seen by Reuters, which diplomats said is still under negotiation, removes the reference to Chapter VII, but retains language associated with it. It would authorise states to use “all necessary means commensurate with the circumstances” to ensure passage and prevent interference with navigation. The draft also encourages states that rely on maritime routes through the strait to coordinate defensive efforts. Diplomats said there was a tentative aim to put the text to a vote today. – Reuters
10THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026thesun.myContact us now for special deals on digital, video and print advertising.03-7784 6688 [email protected] retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026./thesuntelegramFOLLOW ON TELEGRAMmRAM/Malaysian PaperClassrooms without adequate cooling can become environments where attention, memory and learning capacity can be compromised. – AFPPICToo hot to ignoreEVERY year, Malaysia announces, almost ritualistically, that it has recorded its “hottest year yet”. The phrase has become so routine that it risks losing meaning like an annual headline we scroll past without pause. But this normalisation of heat is precisely the danger. When extremes become expected, urgency dissolves. This year alone, the Health Ministry has reported 15 heat-related cases, including heatstroke incidents and one death. The rising heat in Malaysia is often framed narrowly as a public health concern: heatstroke cases, dehydration and strain on hospitals. These are real and immediate. Yet, to understand the full gravity of what is unfolding, we must widen the lens. Heat is not just a meteorological condition; it is a systemic stressor reshaping productivity, inequality, governance and even geopolitical stability. Consider labour. Malaysia’s economy still depends heavily on outdoor and semi-outdoor work like construction, logistics, agriculture and the informal sectors. As temperatures rise, productivity does not decline linearly but collapses beyond certain thresholds. Workers slow down, take longer breaks or fall ill. Employers quietly absorb inefficiencies while workers, especially migrants and lower-income Malaysians, bear the physical cost. Heat becomes an invisible tax on the most vulnerable. Education is another underdiscussed casualty. The King himself has warned that prolonged heat could affect students, urging authorities to ensure their well-being. But beyond immediate health risks lies a more insidious impact –cognitive decline. Classrooms without adequate cooling can become environments where attention, memory and learning capacity can be compromised. Over time, this will erode national competitiveness in ways that will not show up in next quarter’s GDP but will define the next generation. And then there is the global context. The current instability surrounding Iran and the broader West Asian region is not just a geopolitical issue, it is also a climate issue. Energy markets are tightening, oil prices are volatile and inflationary pressures are rising across Asia. Analysts warn that prolonged conflict could significantly reduce regional growth while driving inflation higher. This creates a dangerous feedback loop. As climate impacts intensify, governments need more resources to adapt. Yet, geopolitical instability drains those very resources, diverting attention and funding towards immediate economic survival. Malaysia is caught in this intersection. A heat-stressed nation operating within an energy-unstable world. What is most troubling, however, is the illusion of adaptation. Air conditioning is often seen as the solution. But it is, in reality, a temporary coping mechanism that exacerbates the underlying problem. Increased cooling demand drives higher electricity consumption, much of which still depends on fossil fuels. The result is a selfreinforcing cycle: more heat, more cooling and more emissions. Worse still, access to cooling is unequal. The wealthy retreat into climate-controlled spaces while the poor endure the heat. Climate change, in this sense, is an inequality multiplier. So what must change? First, Malaysia must treat heat as a critical infrastructure risk. This means investing in urban design by expanding tree canopies, implementing reflective building materials and redesigning cities to reduce heat islands. These are structural defences.Second, labour policies need updating. Mandatory heat safety standards, such as enforced rest cycles, shaded work areas and hydration requirements, should be codified and strictly monitored. Technology can assist here, from wearable heat sensors to predictive weather alerts tailored for industries. Third, education infrastructure must adapt. Retrofitting schools with passive cooling designs like ventilation, shading and heatresistant materials can significantly improve learning conditions without dramatically increasing energy use. Fourth, diversify energy aggressively. Malaysia has strong potential in solar energy. Scaling this is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic one, reducing vulnerability to global energy shocks exacerbated by geopolitical tensions.Fifth, public awareness must evolve. Heat should not be treated as a seasonal inconvenience but as a chronic risk. Simple behavioural shifts like hydration habits, adjusted work hours and community cooling spaces can make a substantial difference. But perhaps most importantly, the narrative must change. If every year is the hottest on record, then we are not experiencing anomalies, we are witnessing a trajectory. If that trajectory continues, the question is no longer how hot it will get but how much of our social, economic and political systems will bend or break under the pressure. The real crisis is not that Malaysia is getting hotter; it is that we are beginning to accept it. Dr Mogesh Sababathyis a youth climate advocate, member of the National Consultative Panel to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and PhD candidate at Universiti Putra Malaysia.Comments: [email protected] VOICEBY MOGESH SABABATHY“Heat should not be treated as a seasonal inconvenience but as a chronic risk. Simple behavioural shifts like hydration habits, adjusted work hours and community cooling spaces can collectively make a substantial difference.
11THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026Diplomacy wins safe Hormuz accessLET’S give credit when it’s due. The decision by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to engage in relentless phone-call diplomacy – alongside numerous foreign visits – is now yielding tangible, measurable results. Few outcomes are as strategically significant as Iran allowing Malaysian vessels to pass through the Straits of Hormuz. According to news reports, about 50% of Malaysia’s total oil passes through the narrow strip. The prime minister had called up Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, while Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan also spoke to his counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to allow seven ships to continue their journey home, of which four are carrying crude oil. Iran’s ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, has stated that the vessels would be allowed to pass through the strait safely – and free of charge. As of late March, reports indicate that Iran has begun demanding “transit fees” or “tolls” from ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, with some reports suggesting charges of up to US$2 million (RM8.03 million) per vessel. It is not just a symbolic win but a hard geopolitical achievement. Malaysia has always strongly defended its neutrality. Malaysia is a friend to everyone but we are not afraid to speak up when something isn’t right, including the attacks on Iran and the Palestinians in Gaza. The passage through the Strait of Hormuz is crucial, as while Malaysia produces its own oil, it imports significant amounts of crude from the Persian Gulf, which is roughly 69% of its crude oil imports, to keep domestic refineries running. Malaysia exports its own lighter, higher-priced crude while importing heavier, cheaper oil from the Middle East that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the strait has created significant economic pressure, forcing the government to increase fuel subsidies to control domestic prices. At a time when the Strait – through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows – has become a conflict zone, Iran has been restricting passage and asserting tight control over shipping. Yet, Malaysia has secured a special carve-out, with its tankers and crews allowed safe passage following direct engagement with Tehran and other regional powers. Why does Malaysia’s foreign policy work? First, Anwar has positioned Malaysia as an honest broker, not a partisan actor. Unlike major powers entangled militarily or politically, Malaysia has consistently called for de-escalation and dialogue, rejecting military involvement while maintaining moral clarity on the conflict. This neutrality gives Kuala Lumpur credibility in Tehran. Second, Anwar’s personalised diplomacy matters. In an era of fractured multilateralism, direct leader-to-leader communication –phone calls with Iranian, Turkish and Egyptian counterparts – cuts through bureaucracy and builds trust. These are not mere formalities; they signal respect, recognition and seriousness to a country like Iran that feels strategically isolated and “repeatedly deceived” by global powers. Third, Malaysia brings economic relevance without a strategic threat. Iran understands that Malaysia is a major energy consumer and trading partner, not a military adversary. Allowing Malaysian ships through does not weaken Iran’s geopolitical posture but strengthens its ties with a key Southeast Asian nation. We may be a small country but middle powers like Malaysia can still exercise influence, not through force, but through credibility, consistency and communication. Let’s not forget that when our 23 Malaysian volunteers from the Global Sumud Flotilla were detained by Israel while on a Gaza aid mission, they were freed following intense diplomatic efforts led by Anwar last October. It was the result of many phone calls to numerous leaders, including the influential and powerful President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye. During peacetime, it is easy to overlook the quiet effectiveness of diplomacy conducted over the phone. Yet, the release of Malaysian tankers and the reopening of a critical supply route show that such diplomacy is not naive; it is pragmatic and consequential. Anwar’s approach demonstrates that even in a highly polarised conflict, access can be negotiated, not assumed. And Malaysia, by choosing engagement over alignment, has secured something many larger nations have not – trust. That is the real strategic capital in international diplomacy. – Bernama Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is the chairman of Bernama and a National Journalism Laureate.Comments: [email protected]’s approach demonstrates that even in a highly polarised conflict, access can be negotiated, not assumed. – REUTERSPICDangers of fake experts in the age of algorithmic authorityIN an era where information travels faster than verification, the figure of an “expert” has become both ubiquitous and dangerously unstable. Expertise, once built through rigorous study, peer scrutiny, ethical fieldwork and institutional accountability is increasingly mimicked by individuals who lack the credentials and intellectual discipline that genuine expertise requires. These “fake experts” now shape public discourse on issues ranging from public health to national security, with consequences that are not merely academic but also social, political and potentially dangerous. This problem is driven by the erosion of traditional gatekeeping. Institutions such as universities, professional bodies and peer-reviewed journals once distinguished informed analysis from speculation. Today, however, social media platforms reward visibility over validity and algorithms privilege engagement over accuracy. In this environment, confidence is often mistaken for competence. Fake experts thrive within this system. They appropriate the language of scholars, selectively cite literature and present themselves as authoritative voices. Their performance mimics expertise, technical vocabulary, polished delivery and apparent familiarity with research but lacks methodological rigour, sustained engagement with literature and accountability to scholarly communities. A particularly troubling aspect is the misuse of academic referencing. Some individuals claim ownership over ideas simply because they have invested effort in compiling or presenting them, reflecting a misplaced analogy to the “sweat of the brow” doctrine in copyright law, where protection may be justified by the labour expended. However, extending this logic to academia is fundamentally flawed. Scholarly authority is not earned through effort alone, nor does the compilation of existing literature confer ownership over ideas. Academic credibility is instead grounded in original contribution, methodological integrity, verifiability and engagement with existing scholarship. It is produced through ethical fieldwork, robust data, critical analysis and transparent citation and strengthened through scrutiny whether by peer review, institutional oversight or validation by recognised experts. Work that merely reproduces or repackages existing material without proper grounding cannot be elevated to COMMENT by Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul HamidCOMMENT by Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai“Fake experts thrive within this system. They appropriate the language of scholars, selectively cite literature and present themselves as authoritative voices.expertise, regardless of the effort invested. This is especially critical in fields such as criminology, counter-terrorism and human trafficking, where credible knowledge must be rooted in empirical research, ethical engagement and authoritative sources, including peerreviewed scholarship and reports by government agencies, local authorities and reputable international organisations. These forms of knowledge are subject to accountability while algorithm-driven content is not. The danger extends beyond misinformation. Fake expertise undermines the epistemic foundations of governance and policy. Decisions on national security, criminal justice and public welfare require nuanced, evidence-based analysis. When influenced by unqualified voices, the result may be ineffective or even become harmful policy. Even established institutions are not immune. NGOs and INGOs (international non-governmental organisations), as well as media organisations, sometimes platform individuals as “experts” without rigorous verification of their credentials or experience. Such uncritical amplification legitimises pseudoexpertise and misleads the public. Over time, this erodes trust in genuine experts. When all voices appear equally authoritative, audiences may retreat into scepticism, fuelling a broader crisis of trust in institutions and knowledge systems. In some cases, fake experts are even mobilised to advance ideological agendas, providing a veneer of legitimacy to positions that would not withstand proper scrutiny. Addressing this challenge requires stronger standards across sectors. Media organisations must verify expertise more rigorously. NGOs and INGOs must conduct proper due diligence. Academic institutions must remain actively engaged in public discourse. Above all, it is essential to reaffirm that expertise is not validated by visibility or effort but by rigour, ethics and accountability. Ultimately, expertise is a form of social trust. It is granted to those who adhere to disciplined methods and intellectual honesty. Fake experts exploit this trust while evading its obligations. In an age defined by complex challenges, from digital radicalisation to transnational crime, the cost of mistaking performance for expertise is profound. If societies lose the ability to distinguish genuine knowledge from imitation, decisions will be shaped not by evidence but by persuasion, and persuasion however compelling is no substitute for truth. Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid is a criminologist and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya.Comments: [email protected]
PROPERTYTHURSDAY | APR 2, 202612MONBanking & Finance TUESEducation News/Health & Wellness WEDESG THURPropertyIntegrated renovation and solar packages for Tropicana’s Avisa ResidencesPETALING JAYA: Tropicana Corporation Bhd has inked a dual strategic partnership to integrate home renovation and solar panel solutions into its Tropicana Alam township in Puncak Alam, positioning the move as part of its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. The group formalised collaborations with Signature Distribution Sdn Bhd and EDCA Sdn Bhd, marking what it described as a milestone initiative for Avisa Residences, its first GreenREcertified two-storey Premium Green Terraces. Tropicana managing director of marketing, sales and business development Ixora Ang said the partnership reflects the developer’s direction as a recently accorded four-star ESG-rated company by Bursa Malaysia. “Recognising the importance of creating communities that stand the test of time with sustainability at the forefront, we are proud to partner with Signature and EDCA Energy, further reinforcing our ESG commitments to our stakeholders,” she said. Ang noted that affordability remains a key Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM [email protected] Land begins vacant possession for Sutera Phase 1 at S2 Heights Aman PETALING JAYA: IJM Land has reached a meaningful milestone with the commencement of Vacant Possession for Sutera Phase 1 at S2 Heights Aman, marking the first residential milestone across the 400-acre masterplan and the realisation of a vision shaped by nature, space, and long-term community intent. With a GDV of RM269 million, Sutera Phase 1 comprises 204 freehold two-storey link homes, delivered in January 2026 in accordance with the planned development timeline. “From the outset, Sutera was planned as a place where families return to calm. We focused on delivering homes within an environment that supports everyday life, where nature is present, space is generous, and the surroundings play a meaningful role in how people feel when they arrive home,” said IJM chief operating officer Datuk Chai Kian Soon. The homes range from 1,949 to 2,106 sq ft, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a minimum 50-foot road frontage. Utilities and drainage are discreetly placed underground at the backlanes to preserve clean sightlines and outdoor usability. Smart home and future-ready features include a digital door lock, door sensors, indoor siren, EV isolator charging points, and flexible layouts that allow ground-floor rooms to be adapted for elderly family members or wheelchair friendly living. “Sutera was shaped around how life unfolds over time,” Chai said, adding that it is a place where different generations can live together with ease, where space supports change, and where the environment quietly enriches everyday moments.” Building on the momentum of Phase 1, Sutera Phase 2 has now opened for sale with a GDV of RM92.9 million, introducing 104 units of 22’ x 65’ two-storey link homes with built-ups starting from 1,949 sq ft. As a continuation of the Sutera story, Phase 2 reflects the same emphasis on space, greenery, and thoughtful township planning, appealing to families seeking a home within an environment that feels considered and quietly distinctive.IOI Properties, Affin Bank offer flexible financing toolsPUTRAJAYA: IOI Properties Group Bhd (IOIPG) has collaborated with Affin Bank, becoming the first property developer to be announced as a partner for the Affin Home Reno/-i and Flexi Save/-i financing solutions across selected residential and commercial in Klang Valley and Johor. This partnership provides better access to comprehensive financing tools for homebuyers and commercial property buyers alike. With Affin Home Reno/-i, homebuyers can enjoy greater financial flexibility when seeking to purchase and personalise their desired residential property within IOIPG’s townships. For commercial property buyers, they can leverage Flexi Save/-i, a first of-its-kind fully flexible financing tool with no lock-in period on selected commercial properties within the group’s portfolio of thriving and mature townships. These townships across Klang Valley and Johor which include IOI Resort City, Putrajaya; 16 Sierra, Puchong South; Bandar Puchong Jaya; Bandar Puteri Puchong; Warisan Puteri, Sepang, Senna Puteri, Salak Tinggi; and Bandar Putra Kulai, Johor are master-planned for residential and business communities to thrive and succeed. Affin Home Reno/-i combines the home loan and renovation costs into one package with a margin of up to 120%, while Affin Flexi Save/-i enables borrowers to offset financing balances against deposit savings, potentially reducing interest or profit payments. Enjoy greater financial flexibility with attractive ready-to-move-in homes:0 Arawani, Bandar Puteri Bangi: Arawani Partnership between IOI Properties and Affin Bank introduces Affin Home Reno/-i and Flexi Save/-i solutions for selected developments.o Home Reno/-i combines home loan and renovation costs; Flexi Save/-i enables outstanding balances to be offset against depositsconsideration in Tropicana Alam’s first foray into the Puncak Alam market. Beyond pricing, she said the group is looking at ways to reduce buyers’ upfront outlay while enhancing longterm value. “When we talk about affordability, it is beyond just owning the shell or the home itself. We then look at strategic partnerships, aligned with Tropicana’s direction of sustainable living and green living, while future-proofing homeownership,” she said at a press conference following the signing ceremony. Under the collaboration, Signature will offer seven curated home-enhancement packages exclusively to Avisa Residences buyers, with entry packages starting from RM20,800. The initiative introduces a structured instalmentbased prepayment option, allowing homeowners to progressively settle renovation costs over six, 12 or 18 months prior to commencement of works. Signature International Bhd group CEO Lau Kock Sang said the packages were designed to cater to varying budgets and lifestyle preferences. “We know all buyers always have a budget. This time, we worked out very flexible packages for them to choose from,” he said, adding that offerings range from built-in cabinetry solutions to curtains, furniture and more comprehensive interior enhancements. Lau said the structured, interest-free prepayment arrangement enables early planning and greater financial clarity, with renovation works commencing only upon full payment. “We want to enhance the value of the property, whether through more premium materials or cosy design concepts. We give flexibility to the homeowner,” he added. Meanwhile, EDCA Energy will provide two competitively priced solar panel packages under the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme, initially available to the first 80 units, with potential expansion subject to demand.EDCA Energy founder and director Edward Chye said the company is targeting greater adoption among homeowners as energy costs remain a concern. “At the first stage, we are giving special rates to the first 80 homeowners. Of course, in the future, we are looking for more buyers to attach to our programme,” he said. Chye said the two solar options differ in panel configuration and capacity, allowing homeowners to customise systems based on their electricity consumption levels. “If your TNB bills are about RM200 per month, you can opt for the big panel selection. If your bills are RM350 and above, you can opt for the 12-panel option,” he explained, adding that excess energy generated can be channelled back to the grid under the government-backed programme. Avisa Residences spans 35.82 acres and comprises 480 units with built-ups ranging from 1,917 sq ft to 2,351 sq ft, priced from RM688,800. The development sits within the 362-acre Tropicana Alam township, which features 29% greenspace and water bodies, alongside amenities such as a 9.5-acre recreational park, a scenic lake and a 1.3km jogging trail. Ang said the current collaboration serves as a proof of concept and may pave the way for similar green partnerships in future launches. “Tropicana has always had this commitment whereby our buildings and developments moving forward are green and sustainable in direction. We have many other developments to be launched, so stay tuned for other green and sustainable partnerships,” she said.comprises 151 semi-detached, linked semidetached and bungalow units across 18 acres, with built-ups of 2,957–4,790 sq ft, priced from RM1.4 million. 0 Aster, 16 Sierra, Puchong South: Aster comprises 121 units of 2-storey terrace homes with generous built-up areas ranging from 2,349–2,421 sq ft, starting from RM1.44 million. 0 2Rio Residence, Bandar Puteri Puchong: 2Rio Residences offers 632 units of serviced apartments in 2 or 3-bedroom configurations ranging from 764–1,012 sq ft, starting from RM605,000. 0 GEMS Residences, IOI Resort City: The GEMS Residences offers 676 units of condominium ranging from 969–1,475 sq ft, starting from RM733,800. 0 Sonatia 3, Bandar Putra Kulai, Johor: Sonatia 3 comprises 97 units of double-storey terrace homes with a built up area of 2,417 sq ft on 22’ x 70’ lots, with prices starting from RM709,665. Enjoy no lock-in period for selected upcoming commercial properties: 0 The Cube Plus, Bandar Puteri Puchong: Cube Plus, comprising 4-storey cluster semi detached shop offices, presents commercial property buyers with an opportunity to own premium shop offices strategically located near major residential catchments of Bandar Puteri Puchong with excellent connectivity to highways such as LDP, SKVE, and Kesas. 0 Davallia, Bandar Puteri Bangi: The 63-unit Davallia, spanning across 9.2 acres, features 8 blocks of double-storey shop offices with builtups ranging from 3,120 sq ft to 5,581 sq ft and 1 block of single-storey stratified shop offices with built-ups ranging from 702 sq ft to 1,948 sq ft. It boasts direct access to the North-South Expressway and seamless links to the Elite, Lekas, SILK, and SKVE highways. 0 Senna Square, Senna Puteri, Salak Tinggi: Spanning 4.65 acres, Senna Square comprises 30 units of double-storey shop offices, 7 units of single-storey strata shop offices, and 21 units of affordable shop lots. Built-up sizes range from 714 sq ft to 4,977 sq ft, with standard units offering a generous 26-foot-wide frontage. Strategically located within the thriving township of Senna Puteri and in proximity to Sepang’s administrative centre, the development also enjoys convenient access to the nearby ERL station, positioning it to serve a growing and vibrant catchment.
THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026EditorialT: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] AdvertisingT: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] ME‘Fertiliser markets could be entering sustained upcycle’ KUALA LUMPUR: Fertiliser markets could be on the cusp of a more sustained upcycle rather than a short-lived price spike, as geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains and tighten availability of key inputs. Cropmate Bhd managing director Lee Chin Yok (pic) said current disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict are exposing deeper structural pressures across the industry, particularly in sourcing and logistics.“Overall, we see this as the early phase of a potential upcycle, rather than a purely short-term fluctuation,” he told SunBiz, pointing to a convergence of supply constraints and resilient demand fundamentals. Fertiliser prices have already reacted sharply. Urea prices have climbed about 35% since the start of the conflict, while sulphur prices have surged roughly 40% since February, reflecting tightening global supply. However, Lee stressed that the issue extends beyond pricing. “More importantly, the situation is not just about pricing, but availability,” he said, noting that disruptions to key shipping routes such Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM [email protected] seeks to bring forward first CO2 injection at Kasawari to 2027KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (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 as early as 2027. This is earlier than its previous projection of 2029 or 2030 and forms part of efforts to reduce the group’s carbon emissions footprint. Petronas head of carbon management Emry Hisham Yusoff said the plan, which remains at an early stage of discussion, takes into account that the gas field began production in August 2024. He said Kasawari was developed before Petronas formalised its net zero carbon emissions commitment, resulting in a gap between production and carbon management planning. “When Kasawari was being developed, Petronas had not yet made its carbon commitment. During the fabrication stage, we came up 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 and injection readiness, including identifying suitable fields for CO2 storage. Now that Kasawari is producing and emissions have begun, we are looking to expedite efforts to capture and inject the CO2 as soon as possible,” he said. Emry Hisham told this to reporters when asked on the CCS project at the Kasawari gas field on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference Asia 2026 here yesterday. He added that Petronas aims to capture 3.3 million tonnes per annum of CO2 for injection under the CCS project. The Kasawari gas field is set to integrate one of the largest offshore CCS projects globally to manage high CO2 levels, and has commenced operations at about 200 million cubic feet per day, with plans to ramp up output to support liquefied natural gas supply. Emry Hisham said Petronas is awaiting the final form of the National Climate Change Bill (Ruupin) before assessing its full implications on the industry, including the implementation of climate obligations and carbon-related regulations. Earlier in March, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability said Ruupin is slated to be tabled in the second session of Parliament in June 2026. The Bill is intended to serve as Malaysia’s dedicated climate legislation, establishing a legal framework 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 other countries to facilitate cross-border carbon movement for CCS projects. He said Malaysia is currently in discussions with Singapore and Japan on potential collaboration, with talks with Singapore understood to be more advanced. However, no agreement has been signed to date, although negotiations are ongoing and a bilateral agreement between the countries would be required before any formalisation. Earlier, Emry Hisham took part as a panellist at an industry session titled “Scaling Decarbonisation and CCUS: Transforming Offshore Assets for Sustainable Energy Production.” At the session, he said, policy and regulatory clarity remain key to unlocking CCS investments, noting that while Malaysia’s existing legal framework supports carbon injection within petroleum operations, it does not fully cover carbon capture from non-petroleum facilities such as energy or gas processing plants. He said the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Bill 2025 was introduced to address this gap and enable CCS activities, including crossborder projects. Emry Hashim added that bilateral agreements between governments are still required to facilitate carbon movement and ensure alignment with international frameworks. He also said liability is a critical consideration, noting that under Malaysia’s framework, CCS developers are required to monitor and assume responsibility for storage sites for at least 10 years post-closure before applying for handover to the government, subject to regulatory approval and possible extension. – BernamaCropmate believes it is now better positioned to manage volatility.as the Strait of Hormuz have slowed global supply flows, with parts of the market approaching what he described as a “near standstill”. For Cropmate, the immediate impact has been relatively constructive. A stronger pricing environment is supporting higher selling prices, particularly for inventory secured earlier, which could enhance margins in the near term. At the same time, customers are placing greater emphasis on supply capturing windfall gains. Compared with previous fertiliser cycles, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current RussiaUkraine conflict, Cropmate believes it is now better positioned to manage volatility. Lee said Cropmate has strengthened its procurement and inventory planning, including diversifying sourcing and maintaining appropriate stock levels to mitigate supply disruptions and price spikes.The current cycle, however, presents a different challenge. “Volatility is being driven not only by pricing but also by supply availability,” he said, highlighting that logistics disruptions are playing a more pronounced role this time around. On the demand side, plantation players, particularly in oil palm and durian, are beginning to adjust purchasing behaviour in response to rising prices and uncertainty. While fertiliser remains an essential input and overall demand is holding up, some buyers are becoming more proactive in securing supply earlier. “The shift is towards earlier and more disciplined purchasing, rather than a decline in demand,” Lee said, adding that most players are focusing on optimising application rather than cutting usage. Cropmate’s exposure to geopolitically sensitive regions is mitigated through diversified sourcing, forward procurement and continuous market monitoring, allowing it to respond proactively to disruptions.Lee also pointed out that the group’s focus on blended and specialty fertilisers provides an added layer of resilience. Blended fertilisers offer formulation flexibility, enabling the company to adjust input mixes based on prevailing raw material conditions, while specialty fertilisers tend to be more value-added and less pricesensitive. “This combination enables us to maintain pricing discipline and product relevance, even in a rising cost environment,” he said. Unlike larger industry players that are heavily tied to long-term plantation tenders with fixed pricing commitments, Cropmate operates on a more flexible, demand-driven model.The company primarily serves smaller plantations, traders and retailers, where pricing cycles are shorter and more responsive to current market conditions. This allows it to adjust prices more dynamically and manage cost fluctuations more effectively during periods of volatility. “In contrast, larger players with long-term volume commitments may face greater exposure when input costs rise sharply,” Lee said. As global supply chains remain under strain, the fertiliser sector’s trajectory will ultimately depend on how geopolitical developments unfold.reliability, shifting demand towards suppliers with established procurement networks and consistent delivery capabilities. “In the current environment, pricing power and market share are increasingly shifting towards suppliers with stable supply capabilities,” Lee said. Despite the volatility, Cropmate has not experienced material supply disruptions so far, supported by its procurement planning and inventory management strategies. The company operates on a costplus pricing model, which allows it to pass rising raw material costs through to customers. As a result, higher commodity prices tend to translate into increased selling prices rather than significant margin expansion. “Margins tend to remain relatively stable, rather than being significantly compressed or expanded,” Lee explained, adding that the focus remains on pricing discipline and continuity of supply. He noted that the group’s procurement strategy may offer shortterm benefits where inputs were secured at earlier price points, although the broader emphasis is on maintaining stability rather than oCropmate MD says disruptions linked to Middle East conflict exposing deeper structural pressures across the industry, especially in sourcing and logistics
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202614centre of Malaysia’s climate strategy. In the upcoming cycle of the operational phase, the SGP will provide grants of up to US$75,000 (RM303,000) per project, an increase from the current ceiling of US$50,000. Syed Ibrahim said that this effort reflects a stronger commitment to empower community-based organisations with greater resources to implement impactful, locally driven solutions for environmental sustainability and resilience. “Resilience is not built by infrastructure alone. It is built by communities and the systems they sustain. “Ultimately, sustainability is shaped by people, and lasting change begins at the community level,” he said when opening the GEF SGP Malaysia National Conference 2026 organised by UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in Putrajaya yesterday. Syed Ibrahim said the SGP presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen community preparedness and resilience in mitigating and adapting to potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts due to environmental and climate conflicts. “Across Malaysia – from remote forests and protected areas to our urban centres – communities are stepping forward to address environmental pressures. They are protecting forests, managing rivers, restoring ecosystems, and sustaining livelihoods through practices that are closely tied to their natural environment,” he said. The two-day conference brings together communities, government officials, civil society organisations and development partners under the theme “Local Action, Global Impact”, serving as a national platform to share lessons, celebrate achievements, and chart the course for community-led environmental action across Malaysia. In his welcoming remarks, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Edward Vrkic noted that the UNDP executive board in New York earlier this year reviewed Malaysia’s new Country Programme Document for 2026-2030, which places strong emphasis on advancing a naturepositive development pathway. “The goal is to ensure that by 2030, Malaysia’s natural resources are managed more sustainably, and its incredible biodiversity is preserved. “But how do we move from the halls of New York to the forests of the Crocker Range in Sabah or the indigenous landscapes of the Upper Baram in Sarawak? We do it through you,”Vrkic said, calling for a wholeof-nation approach in environmental preservation and climate action. The SGP is a flagship global programme and the only mechanism under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that directly disperses funding to local communities on the ground. This model is so effective that UNDP is now looking to leverage the Adaptation Fund, using this same community-based mechanism to further strengthen local climate resilience. Implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF, the SGP has, for more than 30 years, demonstrated that community action is powerful in achieving global environmental outcomes. In Malaysia, SGP has been active for 26 years, supporting more than 294 projects led by over 200 community-based organisations, with over US$10 million disbursed in grants. Under the Seventh Operational Phase, SGP Malaysia operationalised integrated landscape-based approaches across three priority landscapes – the Crocker Range Conservation Reserve in Sabah, the Middle and Upper Baram Region in Sarawak and urban green spaces in Klang Valley – testing practical, community-led solutions to environmental challenges while strengthening local livelihoods and building leadership.Component makers voice support for Miti’s automotive investment policiesPETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Automotive Component Parts Manufacturers (MACPMA) has come out in support of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (Miti) recent clarification on Malaysia’s automotive investment policies, which are applied uniformly and consistently to all investors. MACPMA president Chin Jit Sin said the association acknowledges Miti’s commitment to maintain an open and welcoming investment environment while ensuring that new automotive investments contribute meaningfully to the long-term sustainability of the national automotive ecosystem. He added that the emphasis on export orientation, localisation and integration with the domestic supply chain is essential to strengthening Malaysia’s industrial base and trade competitiveness. “MACPMA supports Miti’s position that automotive investment incentives and manufacturing licences should be aligned with national development objectives, including technology transfer, capability upgrading, and the continued growth of local Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 component manufacturers. Such an approach is critical to sustaining and strengthening the established vendor ecosystem that has been built through decades of investment and industrial development,” said Chin.MACPMA said it concurs with Miti that these policies are developmental in nature and are not protectionist.Airwallex set for full commercial launch after securing key BNM approvalsPETALING JAYA: Airwallex, a global financial and payments platform, has received approval from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for its emoney issuing and Class A licences. With these licences, Airwallex is able to provide a complete suite of payment services in Malaysia. This empowers companies to expand and thrive across borders, while enabling businesses globally to operate more seamlessly in this dynamic economic market. “Malaysia is a strategic market for Airwallex, and these approvals enable us to bring our full financial infrastructure to businesses on the ground. We’re excited to support local businesses in scaling internationally, and to play a role in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a hub for regional and global growth,” said general manager, Asia-Pacific, Arnold Chan. In a statement yesterday, Airwallex said holding both emoney issuance approval and a Class A licence strengthens its position as a fully regulated financial platform for businesses in Malaysia. This enables Airwallex to deliver comprehensive financial infrastructure – going beyond payments to support multicurrency accounts, FX and complex business use cases within a unified platform. These approvals build on Airwallex’s existing Class B Money Services Business licence and its Registered Merchant Acquirer status, reflecting deepened regulatory trust and support from Malaysia’s central bank. Together, they mark a shift from selective product access to a full-stack offering for Malaysian companies. Airwallex said it has continued to invest in its local presence, growing its Malaysia team by 66% in 2025 and recently expanding into a new office space with capacity for over 160 employees. In addition, Airwallex Malaysia plans to double its headcount in 2026. This expansion, it said, reflects strong business momentum in the market, with over RM2 billion in remittance transaction volume processed in 2025, driven by rising demand from Malaysian businesses operating across borders. SME Bank records RM4.3 billion approved financing in 2025PETALING JAYA: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) recorded a strong performance for 2025, with total approved financing of about RM4.3 billion, marking a 19% year-onyear increase. The growth reflected sustained demand across key strategic sectors including Bumiputera development, technology and innovation, digital adoption, climate-resilient initiatives, the halal industry, and tourism, in alignment with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) and the Madani Economic Framework. SME Bank relief president/CEO Samad Majid Zain said, “SME Bank’s performance in 2025 reaffirms our developmental mandate in strengthening Malaysia’s MSME ecosystem. “Total approved financing grew 19% year-on-year to approximately RM4.3 billion, with approximately RM3.8 billion channelled to MSMEs, representing approximately 20% increase from the previous year, while more than 60% of customers secured financing of RM1 million and below, underscoring our continued focus on widening access for underserved and unserved entrepreneurs.” He added that this progress is reinforced by the government’s trust in the bank, with close to RM2 billion in strategic initiatives mandated under Budget 2026 to accelerate inclusive MSME growth and strengthen enterprise resilience across the economy. “Beyond financing, SME Bank delivered integrated solutions encompassing capacity building and targeted advisory support. In 2025, the bank supported more than 14,500 entrepreneurs through our overall developmental, social and financial inclusion initiatives. “These efforts support the continued strengthening of Malaysia’s MSME ecosystem, which contributes close to 40% of the nation’s gross domestic product, equivalent to more than RM650 billion in economic value, underscoring the sector’s critical role in driving inclusive growth, employment and economic resilience,” Samad Majid said. SME Bank said it advances its developmental mandate through targeted interventions that build stronger enterprises, reinforce business resilience and widen market opportunities, particularly among underserved segments of the economy. In doing so, capacity building initiatives, social finance solutions and export acceleration programmes help drive income growth, encourage digital adoption and strengthen the competitiveness of Malaysian businesses. Empowering communities at centre of M’sian climate strategyPETALING JAYA: Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Deputy Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (pic) yesterday announced an increase in Small Grants Programme (SGP) allocations to strengthen the position of communities at the oSmall Grants Programme will provide up to US$75,000 per project, up from current ceiling of US$50,000
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202615Tencent’s WeChat granted Malaysia Digital statusKUALA LUMPUR: Tencent’s subsidiary WeChat Malaysia Sdn Bhd has been awarded “Malaysia Digital” (MD) status by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), reflecting Tencent’s long-term commitment to supporting Malaysia’s digital transformation. In a statement yesterday, Tencent said that the recognition underscores the establishment of its technological and business operations hub in Malaysia, aimed at powering global technology innovation and delivering excellence in customer experience. The hub will provide high-value technical support and optimisation across Tencent’s business groups, driving innovation and value creation in games & entertainment, payments, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies. It will also leverage Tencent’s operational expertise to enhance digital systems for local businesses. As an example, Malaysia’s first AIpowered digital bank Ryt Bank has adopted Tencent’s messaging and Real-Time Communication (RTC) capabilities within its digital application to power intelligent chatbots and enhance the security of financial transactions. Tencent said it continues to drive digital-first engagement models across its platforms in Malaysia, including AI and omnichannel experiences for both domestic and Malacca Securities is underwriter for Elsa’s IPOKUALA LUMPUR: Elsa Bhd, an integrated oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) solutions provider, signed an underwriting agreement with Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd in conjunction with its proposed initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd. Malacca Securities is acting as the principal adviser, sponsor, underwriter, and placement agent for the listing exercise. Based on the proposed structure, Elsa’s IPO involves a public issue of 118,400,000 new ordinary shares, representing approximately 21.99% of its enlarged issued share capital, as well as an offer for sale of 36,400,000 existing shares, representing approximately 6.76% of the enlarged share capital. Upon completion of the IPO, Elsa will boast an enlarged issued share capital of 538.4 million shares. The 118,400,000 new shares will be allocated as 26,920,000 new shares for application by the Malaysian public – 10,768,000 new shares for eligible persons and 80,712,000 new shares will be offered via private placement to selected investors. Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, Malacca Securities will underwrite the 37,688,000 new shares made available to the Malaysian public and eligible persons. Elsa executive chairman Amiruddin Mohd Zain said: “The signing of the underwriting agreement marks an important step forward in our corporate journey, officially moving us into the execution phase of our proposed listing on the ACE Market. With this milestone secured alongside Malacca Securities, we will continue to focus on executing our growth plans in a disciplined manner as we prepare for the upcoming prospectus launch and subsequent stages of the listing process.” Elsa is principally involved in the provision of integrated solutions across four core business segments: oilfield service solutions, digital solutions, robotics and engineering solutions, and talent solutions. Operating on a highly scalable, asset-light model, the group integrates advanced technologies and capabilities from its network of partners to deliver specialised, high-value solutions to oil and gas operators.The group currently serves a robust portfolio of clients within the Petronas ecosystem, alongside international and independent oil and gas operators operating in Malaysia. The proposed listing is expected to unlock the strategic capital required to support Elsa’s continued growth trajectory, specifically strengthening its technical workforce, expanding its robotics and asset inspection capabilities, and providing the working capital headroom necessary to execute its expanding pipeline of projects.international users. It added that these will enhance customer interactions, streamline service operations, and enable real-time user insights across platforms. The hub will also support applications such as travel and cross-border payments, in line with growing digital adoption among businesses and consumers. MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil said: “WeChat Malaysia’s achievement of Malaysia Digital status reinforces Malaysia’s position and readiness as a strategic gateway for global technology companies to scale innovation and regional operations. MDEC remains committed to enabling a conducive and future-ready ecosystem that empowers companies like Tencent to thrive, while catalysing knowledge transfer, high-value job creation, and the advancement of local digital capabilities. This collaboration clearly reflects our continued goal of championing Malaysia’s digital economy.” Tencent said it will continue to explore strategic partnerships that connect local businesses to global audiences in Malaysia. This is exemplified by the recent memorandum of collaboration between Tourism Malaysia and Weixin Pay, which aims to enhance the travel experiences for visitors to Malaysia. Local merchants in Malaysia have also benefitted from Weixin Pay’s seamless mobile payment solutions, which recorded a 131% year-on-year increase in tourist spending during the Lunar New Year period. “As Tencent accelerates its growth in Malaysia, securing the MD status reflects our strategic alignment with the country’s digital transformation goals. By anchoring our technological and business operations in Malaysia, we are strengthening local capabilities while delivering innovation that serves millions of users worldwide,” said Tencent Malaysia country manager Judy Wong.The press statement said the expansion of Tencent’s Global Technology, Digital Innovation and Customer Experience capacities builds on its continued growth in Malaysia. Following its office expansion in December 2025, Tencent has doubled its workforce in Malaysia, with over 90% of its workforce comprising local professionals supporting both domestic and international operations.Since entering the Malaysian market in 2013, Tencent has contributed significantly to the country’s digital economy across games & entertainment, payments, AI, and cloud. Malaysia’s strong digital ecosystem continues to position the nation as a key hub for innovation and digital services globally.Anuar Fariz (left) presents the Malaysia Digital status commemorative plaque to Wong, with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (behind left) in attendance.oNew operations hub to support global tech innovation while strengthening nation’s tech ecosystemBursa, FTSE Russell seek feedback on FBM KLCI, FBM70 enhancementsKUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd, together with FTSE Russell, has issued a consultation paper seeking market feedback on proposed enhancements to the methodologies of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Mid 70 Index (FBM70). As Malaysia’s economic landscape evolves, the FBM KLCI and FBM70 play an important role in shaping how domestic and international investors access the Malaysian equity market. The consultation forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure that Malaysia’s key equity benchmarks remain relevant as the Malaysian equity market grows in size, breadth and liquidity. The consultation paper sets out options for both benchmarks, namely, expanding the FBM KLCI from 30 to 50 constituents, with an optional 10% company level capping mechanism to support broader sector representation, or retaining the current FBM KLCI structure and revising the FBM70 from 70 to 50 constituents, consequential to the potential expansion of the FBM KLCI, with no changes to the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Top 100 Index (FBM100); or retaining the current structures of the FBM KLCI and FBM70, applying the same guiding principle of market monitoring and flexibility to adapt to future conditions as necessary. Bursa Malaysia and FTSE Russell invite interested parties from the public and investment community, including asset owners, asset managers, brokers, fund managers, proprietary trading firms, public listed companies to submit their feedback on the proposed enhancements via https://www.lseg.com/en/ftserussell/governance/marketconsultations by April 24. The exchange said all feedback received will be reviewed in accordance with the FTSE Russell Policy for Benchmark Methodology Changes before a final determination is made on whether to proceed with the proposed enhancements or to maintain the current index methodologies. It also said subject to the outcome of the consultation, any approved changes to the FBM KLCI and FBM70 are intended to be implemented either in December 2026 or in June next year. Further details, including the final decision and the implementation timeline, will be announced following the conclusion of the consultation process. Bursa Malaysia said this consultation reflects the joint commitment of Bursa Malaysia and FTSE Russell to maintaining credible, transparent and forward looking market benchmarks that support investment decision making, capital formation and the long term development of Malaysia’s capital market.From left: Amiruddin, Elsa managing director Daniel Ilham Khong, Malacca Securities chief business strategy officer Chuck Lim, and co-head corporate finance Law Kim Fatt posing after the signing ceremony.
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202616/thesundailyFOLLOW ON FACEBOOK/Malaysian PaperGiving businesses a ‘digital employee’PETALING JAYA: Agmo Holdings Bhd, a digital solutions specialist listed on Bursa Malaysia, is partnering with Lark, a global all-in-one collaboration platform, to integrate enterprise AI capabilities into workplace environments and support broader adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The collaboration brings together Agmo’s AgmoClaw, which an enterprise AI control layer built on the OpenClaw framework with Lark’s integrated collaboration platform. Through this integration, businesses are able to deploy AI-driven assistants within their existing digital workflows, without requiring separate systems or extensive technical implementation. In a statement yesterday, Agmo said the partnership is intended to address common challenges faced by oAgmo Holdings-Lark partnership aims to address common challenges faced by SMEs in adopting artificial intelligenceCGS International maintains 2026 GDP forecast for Malaysia at 4.8%KUALA LUMPUR: CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd has maintained its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast of 4.8% year-on-year for Malaysia, supported by favourable fiscal space and strong export momentum. In a research note, the investment firm noted that Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) 2026 GDP growth forecast for Malaysia is at 4.0-5.0%, slightly more optimistic at the upper range than the Ministry of Finance’s 4.0-4.5%, amid a better growth momentum. It sees that the core message for 2026 remains consistent – that domestic demand is anchoring growth – with a more constructive view on the ringgit and Malaysia’s export strength. “We think there is still a possibility that Malaysia could weather the crisis better than expected, even as the West Asia war prolongs, amid its favourable fiscal space and robust export momentum. “On BNM’s monetary policy, we expect no change to the overnight policy rate (OPR) this year, although we would keep a close watch on signs of demand-pull inflation,” it said. Public Investment Bank Bhd also maintained its 2026 GDP growth forecast for Malaysia at 4.6%. It said BNM expects Malaysia’s output gap to remain marginally positive in 2026, with potential output growth at 4.5% - 5.5%. That keeps the economy close to trend rather than pointing to either a sharp loss of momentum or an overheating cycle, it said. “The economy still runs with enough domestic support to stay within BNM’s official range, but the wider 4%-5% band also tells us that uncertainty around the baseline is larger than before.”Concrete Engineering gets takeover offer from YTL CementKUALA LUMPUR: Concrete Engineering Products Bhd (Cepco) has received an unconditional mandatory takeover offer from YTL Cement Bhd following the latter’s acquisition of a 53.49% stake in the company at RM2.60 per share. The offer follows YTL Cement’s entry into unconditional share purchase agreements (SPAs) to acquire 39.91 million shares in Cepco for a total cash consideration of up to RM103.78 million, Cepco said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday. It said the acquisition will be transacted within two market days via direct business transactions in accordance with the exchange’s rules. “Upon completion of the acquisition, YTL Cement’s direct shareholding in Cepco will increase from nil to approximately 53.49%,” it added. As the SPAs are not subject to any conditions precedent and are unconditional, YTL Cement is obliged to extend a mandatory takeover offer to acquire all remaining Cepco shares not already owned by it, in compliance with the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 and the Securities Commission’s rules on take-overs, mergers and compulsory acquisitions, it added. Shares of the company, which manufactures prestressed spun concrete piles and poles, were last traded at RM1.87 prior to its suspension yesterday. Its shares will resume trading today. – BernamaJohor aims to lead in FDI, strengthen JS-SEZ frameworkJOHOR BAHRU: Johor is committed to sustaining its position as a leading investment destination and to remain at the forefront of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, which reached RM110.1 billion in 2025, the highest among all states. Johor State Economic and Investment Advisor Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad said the state will not remain complacent despite its strong performance, but will enhance its competitiveness and investment ecosystem continuously. He also said the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will serve as a key blueprint to provide clarity and certainty for both new and existing investors, while also enabling the state to retain and expand current investments. “What is important now is for Johor to maintain its momentum and remain a preferred destination for investors. “We are not only talking about attracting investments, but also reclaiming and strengthening investments that are already in Johor. The JS-SEZ will address uncertainties and provide a clear framework for investors,” he said during the Asia Summit on Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing 2026 here yesterday. Efforts to enhance JohorSingapore cross-border connectivity are also being accelerated under the JS-SEZ, including the QR code immigration clearance, digital cargo systems, and the upcoming Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Hasni said the RTS Link, scheduled to commence in January 2027, is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour each direction, potentially transforming travel patterns across one of the world’s busiest land border crossings. It currently records about 300,000 daily travellers, including 100,000 motorcyclists. “We cannot afford any glitches in our systems, whether it is the QR code clearance, digital cargo, or the RTS itself. These initiatives must work seamlessly to support growing cross-border movement,” he said. Hasni, who is also Johor Economic, Tourism and Cultural Office Singapore executive chairman, said the improved connectivity could significantly alter commuting trends, with more efficient travel potentially increasing movement between Johor and Singapore in both directions. On the industrial front, he said Johor currently hosts the largest number of data centres in Southeast Asia, and accounts for more than 50% of the state’s total FDI last year. He acknowledged, however, that the sector’s high demand for electricity and water presents sustainability challenges, particularly amid climate change and resource constraints.MICCI calls for flexible implementation of new expatriate policy KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) acknowledged the upcoming revisions to the Expatriate Employment Policy, set to take effect on June 1, 2026.It also supports the government’s efforts to strengthen local talent development. At the same time, MICCI emphasises that effective implementation will require flexibility, particularly for companies managing specialised roles and longterm talent transitions. The revised policy introduces higher salary thresholds, defined employment durations, and succession planning requirements. While these measures are intended to encourage localisation, MICCI notes that in practice, the transfer of skills and experience does not always follow a fixed timeline. MICCI president Christina Tee (pic) said: “Developing Malaysian talent is a priority we fully support, and many companies are already investing in building strong local pipelines. “However, in roles that require specialised expertise or regional experience, localisation takes time and cannot always align with fixed policy timelines.” “A more flexible, case-by-case approach allows businesses to manage this transition responsibly, ensuring continuity while supporting meaningful knowledge transfer to local talent over time,” Tee added. The chamber also emphasised that implementation should take into account sector-specific realities, as succession timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the role. In specialised or leadership positions, developing local successors may require longer timeframes, and a more tailored approach will be important to ensure effective capability transfer. The chamber further noted that efficient and predictable processes will be critical, particularly as the policy applies to both new and renewal applications from June 1. Clear timelines and streamlined approvals will support better workforce planning and reduce uncertainty for businesses managing ongoing operations. Ultimately, how the policy is applied in practice will determine its effectiveness, particularly as businesses plan workforce transitions, project timelines, and long-term investments in Malaysia.SMEs in adopting AI, including cost considerations, implementation complexity, and the need for governance. By embedding AI capabilities directly within Lark’s ecosystem, both parties aim to streamline deployment and enable more practical, day-to-day use of AI across business functions. From a business model perspective, the collaboration introduces a subscription-based structure complemented by usage-based pricing. This provides a scalable framework for customers, while supporting the development of recurring revenue streams and ongoing platform utilisation. Agmo said the integration specifically addresses the primary barriers to AI adoption for smaller businesses, such as high development costs, complex implementation cycles, and a lack of centralised governance. In terms of functionality, the integrated solution supports automation across routine processes such as administrative workflows, scheduling coordination, and internal documentation. A centralised management layer is also incorporated to allow organisations to monitor usage and maintain oversight on operational and data governance requirements. By utilising a scalable cloud architecture, Agmo ensures that every AI assistant operates in an isolated and secure environment. This guarantees that as an SME scale, its AI resources scale proportionally, maintaining high performance and data privacy while requiring zero coding to maintain. The partnership also reflects a broader shift towards platform-based delivery of enterprise technologies. By leveraging Lark’s existing ecosystem and user base alongside Agmo’s artificial intelligence capabilities, the collaboration is positioned to support more efficient scaling and wider accessibility of AI tools within the SME segment. Agmo CEO Tan Aik Keong said: “Our mission at Agmo has always been to democratise technology that drives real, tangible business value for the SME sector. “By integrating AgmoClaw with Lark, we are giving businesses a ‘digital employee’ that is not only highly intelligent but also deeply embedded into their existing daily workflows. “This partnership is a gamechanger because it removes the technical friction of AI, allowing even the smallest teams to automate their finance, scheduling, and documentation with full governance and one-click simplicity.” The AgmoClaw integration is currently available for deployment, with an initial trial offering provided to support user adoption.
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202617Stocks rally, oil dives after Trump says war to end ‘very soon’HONG KONG: Equities rallied and oil tumbled yesterday after US President Donald Trump said the Middle East war would be over in up to three weeks and his Iranian counterpart said Tehran had “the necessary will” to bring it to an end. The remarks came as the economic impact of the conflict worsens, with average US gasoline prices topping US$4 a gallon for the first time in four years this week, European inflation spiking and governments unveiling a range of support measures. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office the United States would be leaving Iran “very soon”, perhaps within “two weeks, maybe three”. “But we’re finishing the job,“ he insisted. “We want to knock out every single thing they have,“ Trump said, before adding that “it’s possible that we’ll make a deal before that”. Earlier, Iranian leader Masoud Pezeshkian told the head of the European Council the country had “the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met – especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression”. Wall Street surged, with the Nasdaq up 3.8% and the S&P 500 adding almost 3%. In Asia, Seoul – the standout before the war but among the worst-hit since it started – soared more than 8%, while Tokyo piled on more than 5% and Taipei more than 4%. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta were also sharply higher with London, Paris and Frankfurt. And oil prices tumbled, with Brent at one point shedding more than 5% – back below US$100 for the first time since last week – and West Texas Intermediate off more than 4%. Traders appeared to brush off Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments that Israel would press ahead with its campaign and that “we will continue to crush the terror regime”. However, Trump also said US forces would not work to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas passes, and said it was up to other countries to do so. “What happens with the strait we’re not going to have anything to do with,“ he said. In a Truth Social post earlier on Tuesday, Trump lashed out at Nato allies and other countries that have refused to help the United States secure the waterway. “The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,“ he wrote. “Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” The remarks came after he said on Monday he was willing to end the war even if the strait remained closed. Trump has zigzagged on whether Washington plans to escalate the conflict – possibly by deploying American ground forces – or try to end it through negotiations. Still, City Index’s Fiona Cincotta warned in a commentary: “Even if outright military tensions ease, the economic damage from elevated oil prices may already be feeding through. “Higher energy costs are likely to tighten financial conditions, raise inflation pressures, and weigh on growth.” She added that “diplomatic signals remain mixed, and as long as uncertainty persists and shipping disruptions remain in place, oil prices are likely to stay elevated”. Traders remain wary as US troops continue to arrive in the region, and after the Wall Street Journal cited Arab officials as saying the United Arab Emirates was preparing to help Washington open the Strait by force, which would make it the first Gulf nation to join the battle. The head of maritime analyst group Kpler told AFP Asia faced the gravest fallout from the war. “We think Asia will, for now, be the ones suffering the most,“ president Jean Maynier said. Gold rallied as the easing of oil prices boosted hope that a feared spike in inflation that could force central banks to lift interest rates. – AFPIndia increases jet fuel, commercial LPG costsNEW DELHI: India’s Petroleum Ministry said yesterday that domestic jet fuel prices would rise as the Middle East war pushed up energy costs, but that it had cushioned airlines from an expected 100% jump. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) makes up a substantial chunk of airlines’ expenses, and sustained increases could translate into higher airfares. State-run refiner Indian Oil Corporation said that ATF prices rose by 8.5% in the capital Delhi, with similar rises in other major cities. “Due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz, and extraordinary situation in global energy markets, price of ATF for domestic markets was expected to increase by more than 100 % on April 1,“ the Ministry of Petroleum said in a statement. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial shipping route for oil and gas virtually paralysed by the Middle East war. But the ministry said it had “passed only a partial and staggered increase of 25%” to airlines in order to “insulate the domestic travel costs from the substantial increase in international prices”. Foreign travel routes “will pay for the full increase in ATF prices consistent with what they pay in other parts of the world”, it added. Commercial cooking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) gas prices have also risen. India is the world’s fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and second-largest buyer of LPG, which is used for cooking and predominantly sourced from the Middle East. For commercial LPG, 19kg cooking gas cylinder prices increased by around 200 rupees (RM8.58) on average across four key cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Domestic household LPG prices were left unchanged in this round of revisions. – AFPFuel crisis powers surge in electric vehicle interest TOKYO: Motorists across the Asia-Pacific region are switching to electric vehicles at a rapid pace, as rising fuel costs due to the Middle East war force consumers and companies to reconsider their reliance on petrol and diesel vehicles. The US-Israeli war on Iran has nearly halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which in normal times carries about a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas, in what the International Energy Agency has called the most substantial supply disruption ever. More than 80% of the crude that passes through the strait is headed for Asia, making the region one of the hardest hit by the oil shock and leaving both consumers and governments to find ways to ease the rising cost burden. Australia, a country heavily reliant on fuel for transport across its vast landscape, experienced a 100% uptick in EV loans in March, as more consumers visit showrooms, according to a report from NAB, the country’s second-largest lender. Enquiries for EV-related lending from companies have increased 88%, it said. “We’re seeing more SMEs and larger operators explore EVs and electrification as a way to manage running costs and future-proof their operations, particularly in a period of ongoing fuel price volatility,” said Shane Ditcham, NAB’s executive for business banking. Surging energy prices are also poised to become a strong tailwind for EV sales in some Asia-Pacific countries like Australia and Japan, where slow-charging infrastructure rollouts and consumer preferences for gas-powered cars capped EV sales growth in the past, analysts said. Sanshiro Fukao, an executive fellow at the Itochu Research Institute, said Japan is now at a point where “the trend of shifting to EVs is finally starting to move into full swing” due to rising energy costs. “With the government subsidising petrol prices in Japan, people at the moment still think that it will be OK. But I expect the situation is going to get worse within the month,” he said, adding that could drive a shift toward EVs. Pure battery-powered EV sales account for less than 2% of total vehicle sales in Japan, as major producers such as Toyota have pushed for the adoption of hybrid vehicles. Toyota and Nissan are expected to gradually expand their line-ups in Japan, as Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives in his BYD EV at the Government House in Bangkok. – REUTERSPICoInquiries for EVs soar in Asian countries as energy costs rise, petrol runs outgovernment subsidies for EV purchases were raised to as much as ¥1.3 million (RM33,000) per vehicle starting in January. And this week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company would make a big investment in Japan in terms of service and its Superchargers. Australia, which has seen rising EV sales in recent years, is also experiencing accelerated momentum, propelled by rising fuel costs. Searches for EVs on major car-sale websites have tripled over the last month and more than half of Australians would consider purchasing an EV, according to 7NEWS, a local television service. “I don’t think there’s anyone out there today who has bought an electric vehicle who’s regretting the decision at this point in time,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last week. In neighbouring New Zealand, more than 1,000 EVs were registered in the week that ended on March 22, close to double the week before, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said last week. “This makes it the biggest week in EV registrations since the end of 2023,” he said. South Korea also reported an acceleration in EV adoption, with registrations more than doubling in March from a year earlier, lifted by rising fuel prices, competition from Tesla and BYD and as consumers rushed to benefit from government EV subsidies. “While it’s unclear how long the current situation will last, higher oil prices are prompting more people to visit showrooms and take test drives,” said a salesperson at a BYD dealership in Gyeonggi province. “It’s not the only reason, but it is certainly one of them.” Growing demand for EVs in the Asia-Pacific region is a major boon for Chinese EV makers, which are focusing more on the export market as sales slow at home. In China, EVs and hybrids already account for more than 50% of total vehicle sales, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. “China is already past the tipping point on (new energy vehicle) adoption ... (but) it is nothing short of a major EV tailwind in other markets,” said Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based consultancy Automobility. BYD, China’s top EV maker, saw overseas vehicle sales as a share of its total more than double to 22.7% last year and it more than doubled again to 50% in the first two months of 2026 while its domestic sales plunged. Its Malaysian distributor, BYD Sime Motors, said it observed an uptick in enquiries and customer interest in March compared with the first two months of the year and the company has introduced targeted initiatives such as customised campaigns for corporate and government employees as well as festive promotional campaigns to make its vehicles more accessible. At the Bangkok International Motor Show last week, hundreds of consumers showed great interest in EVs on display, after witnessing the growing frustrations and long lines at local gas stations across the country. “I’ve never thought of veering towards (EV) engines until this crisis,” said 31-year-old Panupong Kunlachotpanit. “It seems like the soaring fuel price and the war are not showing signs of slowing down in the near future at all, so I’m here to check out electric cars.”– Reuters
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202618SYDNEY: Artificial intelligence giant Anthropic is eyeing data centre investments in Australia, saying yesterday the nation was a “natural partner” for work in the booming sector. With immense renewable energy potential and vast stretches of uninhabited land, Australia has touted itself as a prime location for the power-hungry data centres needed to power AI. US-based Anthropic said it was “exploring investments in data centre infrastructure and energy throughout the country” after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government. “The visit to Australia marks the beginning of long-term collaboration and investment into the Asia-Pacific region,” the technology company said in a statement. “Australia’s investment in AI safety makes it a natural partner for responsible AI development.” The agreement, signed by Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei in capital Canberra, said the firm would abide by local laws to “maintain strong social licence for investment”. Australia’s arts sector has accused Anthropic and other AI companies of pushing to loosen copyright laws so chatbots can be trained on local songs and books. Anthropic said it had also agreed to share AI research and safety information with Australian regulators, mirroring similar agreements in Japan and Britain. Industry Minister Tim Ayres said Australia and Anthropic would harness AI responsibly”. New data centres – warehouse facilities that store files and power AI tools – are springing up worldwide. But there are increasing fears about the environmental impact of hulking data hubs. Singapore halted data centre developments between 2019 and 2022 over energy, water and land use worries. Australia last week adopted new rules governing the operation of data centres. Tech companies must show how they will source renewable energy and minimise their emissions. “As demand for AI grows, continued expansion of data centre infrastructure must reflect Australian values and be environmentally and socially sustainable,” the guidelines state. Anthropic’s Claude is the Pentagon’s most widely-deployed frontier AI model and the only such model currently operating on its classified systems. But the company is locked in a dispute with the US government, after saying it would refuse to let its systems be used for mass surveillance. Washington has since described Anthropic’s tools as an “unacceptable risk to national security”. The United States has not only blocked use of the company’s technology by the Pentagon, but also requires all defense contractors to certify that they do not use Anthropic’s models. – AFPOpenAI raises US$122b in closed funding roundSAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI on Tuesday said that the startup was valued at US$852 billion (RM3.4 trillion) in a freshly closed funding round that raised US$122 billion. The eye-watering level of funding came in higher than originally projected, reflecting the surging costs of computing power and arriving amid lingering questions about whether OpenAI and other AI companies can generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses. “The capital being deployed today is helping build the infrastructure layer for intelligence itself,“ OpenAI said in a blog post. “Over time, that value will flow back into the economy, to companies, to communities, and increasingly to individuals.” The ChatGPT-maker said that its revenue rate of US$2 billion monthly is quickly growing. The funding round included a diverse set of partners including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Softbank, according to OpenAI. In an unusual move, some US$3 billion was reportedly raised from individual investors. ChatGPT claims the top position in consumer AI, with more than 900 million weekly active users and some 50 million subscribers. Use of ChatGPT’s online search engine has tripled over the course of a year, according to OpenAI. “These are not just growth milestones – they show that frontier AI is becoming part of everyday life for people around the world,“ the San Francisco-based startup said in the post. The company in February began rolling out advertising for its non-premium users in a bid to bring in more revenue. OpenAI also announced that it is building a “superapp” that will combine ChatGPT, internet browsing, a Codex coding tool, and agentic capabilities that allow digital assistants to independently tend to tasks. The massive funding round comes with anticipation that OpenAI is planning to become a publicly traded company this year as competition intesifies in the AI sector. Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees, continues to gain ground and grab headlines for its well-regarded Claude AI models. Google’s AI model Gemini has emerged as another potent competitor, with Elon Musk’s xAI also attracting investment and users. – AFPAnthropic mulls data centre investments in Australia oDown Under boasts vast stretches of uninhabited land and immense renewable energy potentialChina robotaxis stall in apparent ‘malfunction’BEIJING: A string of self-driving robotaxis owned by Chinese internet giant Baidu stalled in central China, stranding passengers after an apparent “system malfunction”, police said yesterday. Local authorities in Wuhan, Hubei province, began receiving calls “one after another” on Tuesday night about “multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move”, police said in a statement. Apollo Go is Baidu’s driverless taxi service which began charging for rides in Beijing in 2021 and operates in designated areas across several cities. “After investigation, preliminary findings suggest the cause was system malfunction,” police added, without specifying how many cars were impacted. Social media users shared videos of themselves attempting to contact customer service from inside their stalled robotaxis as other vehicles passed by. “Apollo Go, are you paralysed?” one person wrote on social media, alongside a video of unanswered calls to the company dialled from an in-car tablet. The light green Apollo Go logo was visible on the steering wheel. The social media user said they were “stuck” in the middle of the road for more than 30 minutes. Baidu did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment. The company has announced deals to have its cars on popular rideshare apps Lyft and Uber and is seeking to expand its presence outside China. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Apollo Go delivered 3.4 million driverless rides, with total rides increasing over 200% compared to the same period a year prior, according to company filings. The company has a fleet of more than 500 driverless cars in Wuhan. – AFPNike shares tumble after it reports lower earningsNEW YORK: Nike reported a drop in profits on flat sales on Tuesday as the sports giant performed well in North America but cautioned of a tough environment in other regions. The sports giant, which is eyeing a big promotional stretch with the upcoming World Cup and other major competitions, acknowledged disappointment with the pace of turnaround after a difficult run in recent years. “Our comeback is taking longer than we would like,“ chief financial officer Matthew Friend said . Profits fell 35% to US$520 million while revenues were unchanged at US$11.3 billion for the quarter ending March 31. The company’s sales have been particularly weak in Greater China, while executives have also faced questions about product innovation. Revenues in Greater China fell again in Tuesday’s batch of results, this time by 7%. Executives also cautioned about soft demand in the Europe, Middle East Africa region, where traffic disruption due to the Middle East war also looms as a negative factor. Nike sank 9.1% in after-hours trading. – AFPAn Apollo Go driverless robotaxi in Wuhan. – AFPPIC
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202619STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) PCHEM 5.400 -0.670 419,240 KLCC 8.820 -0.240 7,564 MISC 8.200 -0.240 18,224 NIKKEI-HW 0.975 -0.225 904 HSI-PWRD 1.610 -0.220 34,924 HSI-PWPP 0.550 -0.190 220 HSI-PWRB 0.600 -0.175 368 HSI-PWRE 0.990 -0.170 50 HENGYUAN 1.240 -0.160 179,744 SP500-H65 0.765 -0.160 3,060 NIKKEI-HV 0.435 -0.155 10,440 WPRTS 5.800 -0.130 73,456 PCHEM-C2C 0.360 -0.125 13,756 HSI-PWPS 0.340 -0.120 2,754 PCHEM-C1Z 0.190 -0.120 172,805 PCHEM-C2B 0.290 -0.120 9,294 SP500-H63 0.470 -0.120 100 TAANN 5.310 -0.120 8,795 HSI-PWP8 0.765 -0.115 80 HSI-PWRG 0.670 -0.115 100STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/-(RM) +/-(%) VOLUME (’00)VS 0.200 -0.005 -2.44 1,946,352 ZETRIX 0.755 +0.015 +2.03 1,304,499 AAX 1.210 +0.100 +9.01 946,249 TOPGLOV 0.660 -0.030 -4.35 837,997 SUNMED 2.130 +0.130 +6.50 795,811 ARMADA 0.340 -0.005 -1.45 730,942 HSI-CWOK 0.145 +0.045 +45.00 685,256 TANCO 1.470 +0.020 +1.38 526,011 CAPITALA 0.435 +0.020 +4.82 485,426 BORNOIL 0.010 - - 482,663 PCHEM 5.400 -0.670 -11.04 419,240 HSI-PWPM 0.110 -0.045 -29.03 415,560 INARI 1.390 +0.100 +7.75 386,045 GDB 0.370 -0.005 -1.33 376,808 PHARMA 0.260 +0.015 +6.12 376,721 VELESTO 0.340 - - 344,050 OCR 0.045 - - 343,480 TWL 0.025 - - 311,064 HARTA 1.160 +0.010 +0.87 272,374 DIALOG 2.110 -0.080 -3.65 272,228SUNBIZ presents a summary of the day’s trading activity on Bursa Malaysia and other markets in an easy to digest format.MARKET ROUND-UP: APR 1[ Sources: Bursa Malaysia, Bernama, shareinvestor.com and websites DISCLAIMER: The data and reports are provided as a service to investors. Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences resulting from usage of the information.Top 20 ActivesTop 20 Losers (By RM)Bursa IndicesINDEX CLOSING DAILY DAILY CHANGE CHANGE (%)DJIA (US) 46,341.51 1,125.37 2.49 S&P 500 (US) 6,528.52 184.8 2.91 NASDAQ (US) 21,590.63 795.99 3.83 NYSE (US) 22,089.43 507.78 2.35 EURO STOXX 50 (EUR) 5,699.54 129.81 2.33 FTSE 100 (UK) 10,349.94 173.49 1.71 DAX (GER) 23,182.53 502.49 2.22 NIKKEI 225 (JPN) 53,739.68 2,675.96 5.24 TOPIX INDEX (JPN) 3,670.90 173.04 4.95 HANG SENG INDEX (HK) 25,294.03 505.89 2.04 CSI 300 (CHN) 4,526.07 76.02 1.71 MSCI ASIA PACIFIC 226.48 -3 -1.31 SHANGHAI SE COM (CHN) 3,948.55 56.69 1.46 KOSPI INDEX (SK) 5,478.70 426.24 8.44 SENSEX INDEX (IND) 73,319.91 1,372.36 1.91 ASX 200 (AUS) 8,671.79 190.01 2.24 ALL ORDINARIES INDX (AUS) 8,885.59 201.64 2.32 FBM KLCI 1,708.90 18.54 1.1 STRAITS TIMES INDEX (S’PORE) 4,979.63 94.18 1.93 WTI (US$/BBL.) 99.37 -2.01 -1.98 BRENT (US$/BBL.) 102.49 -1.48 -1.42 GOLD (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 4,753.60 75 1.6 SILVER (COMEX) (US$/T OZ) 74.57 -0.3 -0.45 PLATINUM (US$/T OZ) 1,956.64 2.99 0.15 COPPER (COMEX) (US CENTS/LB.) 564.3 2.9 0.52 COPPER 3MO (LME) (US$/MT) 12,335.50 112 0.92 CORN (US CENTS/BU.) 453.5 -4.25 -0.93 WHEAT (US CENTS/BU.) 606 -10.25 -1.66 SOYBEAN OIL (CBOT) (US CENTS/LB.) 67.85 -1.03 -1.5 COCOA (ICE) (US$/MT) 3,284.00 -16 -0.48 RUBBER (S’PORE) (US CENTS/KG) 198.6 2.6 1.33World Stocks/CommoditiesAs at 6pm, Apr 1.STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (%) VOLUME (’00) GAMUDA-C4F 0.005 -75.00 100 CDB-C77 0.055 -63.33 3,250 99SMART-C20 0.010 -60.00 890 ECOSHOP-C3 0.075 -50.00 2,750 ECOSHOP-CQ 0.005 -50.00 1,080 FBMKLCI-HEH 0.005 -50.00 5,000 INARI-C4F 0.005 -50.00 700 KOSSAN-C90 0.015 -50.00 26,500 LCTITAN-C2 0.010 -50.00 22,000 NEXGBINA-WC 0.005 -50.00 267 SUPERMX-C5H 0.010 -50.00 24,866 MSM-C15 0.080 -46.67 376 PBBANK-C2K 0.085 -43.33 5,750 HSI-PWPK 0.040 -42.86 12,846 DIALOG-C2M 0.060 -40.00 32,734 PCHEM-C1Z 0.190 -38.71 172,805 MI-C41 0.025 -37.50 300 PCHEM-C1Y 0.085 -37.04 750 DIALOG-C2Q 0.060 -36.84 280 HSI-CWQL 0.090 -35.71 10Top 20 Losers (By %)STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (RM) VOLUME (’00) NESTLE 100.700 +1.580 783 MPI 29.960 +1.180 1,070 UTDPLT 34.800 +0.800 12,179 HLFG 19.520 +0.560 3,527 SUNCON 6.800 +0.430 44,769 ALLIANZ 20.900 +0.420 290 HEIM 23.000 +0.400 1,330 HLBANK 22.300 +0.400 26,416 SUNWAY 5.180 +0.380 159,077 MCEMENT 6.390 +0.340 52,259 DLADY 32.000 +0.300 253 MAYBANK 11.660 +0.300 151,023 PETGAS 18.260 +0.300 3,360 MI 2.830 +0.270 31,225 ITMAX 4.710 +0.260 13,945 NIKKEI-CX 0.740 +0.230 3,991 SHH 1.200 +0.210 386 ALLIANZ-PA 21.200 +0.200 22 RHBBANK 8.630 +0.190 80,473 BURSA 8.690 +0.180 6,464Top 20 Gainers (By RM)STOCKS CLOSING (RM) +/- (%) VOLUME (’00) SUNWAY-C51 0.020 +300.00 7,550 BCMALL 0.010 +100.00 21 DRBHCOMC3V 0.010 +100.00 2,185 HSI-CWK5 0.010 +100.00 1,352 ITRONIC-WA 0.010 +100.00 1 KRONO-WA 0.020 +100.00 4,220 SCGBHD-CP 0.040 +100.00 500 SMTRACK 0.010 +100.00 125 SPSETIA-C1C 0.010 +100.00 16,679 UEMS-C2D 0.010 +100.00 3,100 YTLPOWR-C1E 0.010 +100.00 2,450 NVIDIA-C3 0.100 +81.82 1 MI-C38 0.090 +80.00 9,825 CDB-C75 0.035 +75.00 2,600 GREATEC-C26 0.035 +75.00 28,716 HSI-CWMN 0.035 +75.00 3,406 MI-C39 0.035 +75.00 1,500 AAX-C38 0.085 +70.00 13,842 GREATEC-C23 0.075 +66.67 63,962 MNC-PA 0.025 +66.67 139Top 20 Gainers (By %)INDEX CHANGEFBMEMAS 12,451.60 +147.28 FBMKLCI 1,708.90 +18.54 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 509.22 +4.70 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 181.88 -1.02 CONSTRUCTION 263.61 +7.05 FINANCIAL SERVICES 20,462.20 +438.26 ENERGY 792.32 -5.22 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 427.84 +5.03 HEALTH CARE 1,587.96 -3.53 TRANSPORTATION 991.98 -10.13 PROPERTY 1,123.50 +20.02 PLANTATION 8,966.27 -17.96 FBMSHA 12,199.60 +82.47 FBMACE 4,350.35 +103.44 TECHNOLOGY 52.18 +1.67 TURNOVER: 3.584 bil VALUE: RM3.562 bilFBM KLCI ends 1.1% higher on improved sentimentBURSA Malaysia closed higher yesterday, with the key index rising 1.1%, in line with firm gains across regional markets following a strong rally on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said the improvement in sentiment was underpinned by easing geopolitical concerns and a decline in oil prices. At 5pm, the FBM KLCI increase 18.54 points or 1.1% to 1,708.90. The benchmark index opened 25.58 points higher at 1,715.94, marking its intraday high, and hit a low of 1,700.20 during the mid-morning session. The broader market was positive, with gainers leading decliners 780 to 444. A total of 475 counters were unchanged, 926 untraded and 11 suspended. Among heavyweights, Maybank added 30 sen to RM11.66, Public Bank gained nine sen to RM4.77, CIMB climbed 16 sen to RM7.71, and Tenaga Nasional garnered 18 sen to RM14.08, while IHH Healthcare slipped two sen to RM8.96. On the most active list, V.S. Industry eased half-a-sen to 20 sen, Zetrix AI inched up 1.5 sen to 75.5 sen, AirAsia X perked up 10 sen to RM1.21, and Top Glove shed three sen to 66 sen. Among top gainers, Nestle rose RM1.58 to RM100.70, Malaysian Pacific Industries put on RM1.18 to RM29.96, United Plantations jumped 80 sen to RM34.80, and Hong Leong Financial added 56 sen to RM19.52. As for top losers, Petronas Chemicals decreased 67 sen to RM5.40, KLCC Property and MISC slipped 24 sen each to RM8.82 and RM8.20, respectively, Hengyuan Refining shrank 16 sen to RM1.24, and Westports gave up 13 sen to RM5.80. – Bernama 1,708.90 pts Apr 1, 2026 -109.2138.60%43.09%18.31%-28.85+138.061-April-2026
BIZ & FINANCETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202620SUNBIZ presents extracts of a selection of commentaries and research reports received from stockbrokers on counters that could be of interest to investors.THE ringgit extended earlier gains to end higher against the US dollar yesterday driven by renewed optimism among market traders following signs of possible de-escalation in the US-Iran war. At 6pm, the local currency rose to 4.0240/0295 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.0475/0520. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said market traders are observing signs of a possible de-escalation in the US-Iran war as indicated by US President Donald Trump that they are looking to withdraw from the area within a few weeks. “Therefore, I think that has led to some form of optimism among the traders which led to the acquisition of ringgit,” he told Bernama. At the same time, he said the US dollar index fell by 0.35 per cent to 99.613 points, indicating a weaker greenback -- a reflection of optimism that the de-escalation in war between US and Iran could happen at some point in the near future. At the close, the ringgit was traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It weakened against the British pound to 5.3507/3580 from 5.3484/3543 at Wednesday’s close, fell versus the Japanese yen to 2.5358/5394 as compared with 2.5351/5381 previously, and slipped vis-à-vis the euro to 4.6666/6730 from 4.6417/6468. The local currency traded mixed against Asean currencies. It went down versus the Singapore dollar to 3.1369/1414 from 3.1361/1399 at Tuesday’s close and eased against the Philippine peso to 6.68/6.69 from 6.66/6.67.Ringgit ends higher on US-Iran de-escalation hopes[Compiled by SunBiz Team DISCLAIMER: The information is extracted from stockbrokers’ commentaries and research reports and do not represent the views or opinions of Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd. It is not a solicitation, recommendation or an offer to buy or sell the equities featured. Sun Media Corporation shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences resulting from usage of the information.FOREIGN CURRENCY SELLING TT/OD BUYING TT BUYING OD 1 US Dollar 4.0980 3.9510 3.9410 1 Australian Dollar 2.8470 2.7310 2.7150 1 Brunei Dollar 3.1840 3.0840 3.0760 1 Canadian Dollar 2.9400 2.8570 2.8450 1 Euro 4.7370 4.5820 4.5620 1 New Zealand Dollar 2.3620 2.2750 2.2590 1 Singapore Dollar 3.1840 3.0840 3.0760 1 Sterling Pound 5.4220 5.2490 5.2290 1 Swiss Franc 5.1610 4.9390 4.9240 100 UAE Dirham 112.5900 106.6800 106.4800 100 Bangladesh Taka 3.4060 3.1580 2.9580 100 Chinese Renminbi 59.6400 57.0800 N/A 100 Danish Krone 64.9800 59.7700 59.5700 100 Hongkong Dollar 52.6900 50.0500 49.8500 100 Indian Rupee 4.4700 4.1500 3.9500 100 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0252 0.0222 0.0172 100 Japanese Yen 2.6000 2.4790 2.4690 100 New Taiwan Dollar N/A N/A N/A 100 Norwegian Krone 43.3700 39.8600 39.6600 100 Pakistan Rupee 1.5200 1.3600 1.1600 100 Philippine Peso 6.8500 6.4400 6.2400 100 Qatar Riyal 113.3700 107.6300 107.4300 100 Saudi Riyal 110.0800 104.5000 104.3000 100 South Africa Rand 25.1100 22.6700 22.4700 100 Sri Lanka Rupee 1.3600 1.1900 0.9900 100 Swedish Krona 44.6300 40.6300 40.4300 100 Thai Baht 13.1400 11.6400 11.2400Exchange Rates Source: Malayan Banking Bhd/BernamaAsean manufacturing slows on weak demand, rising costsKUALA LUMPUR: The Asean manufacturing sector recorded notable slowdowns in demand indicators in March, and sharp upswings in input costs and output charges, marking the sector’s weakest performance in six months, said S&P Global. In a statement yesterday, it said output growth and new orders were solid and on par, but considerably softer than the sharp expansions recorded in February. “This led to slower and only marginal upticks in both purchasing and employment. “At the same time, price pressures surged in March, with the survey’s price gauges moving back above their long-run averages,” it said. The S&P Global Asean Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 51.8 in March. Although it signalled a moderate improvement in Asean’s manufacturing, extending the current expansion to nine months, the figure was the lowest since September 2025, highlighting a notable loss of growth momentum since February, it said. There were solid increases in new orders and output in March, continuing the expansion seen since the middle of 2025. But the rise in new orders was the weakest since last August, and production growth was the slowest in eight months. A decline in new export orders weighed on total sales. “In turn, firms adjusted their buying and hiring activity in March. Both rose marginally,” it said. Meanwhile, firms reduced their stocks of post-production items, the first month of destocking since last November, it said. – BernamaMARKETS/FROM THE BROKERS DESPITE external headwinds, business activities remained sound in 2H’25, supported by resilient domestic demand, which resulted in a credit to business growth of 5.1%. Businesses debt servicing remained healthy, with interest coverage ratio maintaining at 6.4x (1H’25: 6.4x). Asset quality remained healthy with pockets of stress arising from SMEs borrowers. However, overall share of firms-atrisk improved by 2.2ppts to 23.7%. Moving forward, business sector outlook is expected to be driven by resilient domestic demand, sustained exports especially for the electrical and electronics goods and steady tourism activities. Overall household (HH) debt expanded by 5.6% in 2H25, mainly driven by housing and auto loans. HH debt-to-GDP ratio maintained at 84.8%, with limited signs of overstretched borrowers. Median debt service ratio (DSR) is also steady at 33%, suggesting continued ability to meet loan repayments. Buy now pay later (BNPL) volume and value increased to 140.3 million and RM11.9 billion respectively (1H’25: 102.6 million, RM9.3 billion). Despite the growth in BNPL transaction volume and value, asset quality seems manageable with share of overdue BNPL debt maintaining at 3.2%. The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) remained healthy and above regulatory minimum at 154.8% and 115.7% respectively as at 2H’25 (1H’25: 160.5% and 115.7%). Banking system deposits rose 4.5% YoY, largely driven by growth from resident businesses and individuals. With year-end deposit competition easing and funding sources becoming more diversified, coupled with the July 25 OPR cut, banks saw a moderation in funding costs. – PublicInvest Research, April 1CORE profit of RM4.1 million (+0.9% YoY, -27.7% QoQ) met 15% of our and consensus’ forecasts. The negative deviation was mainly due to higher operating expenses and depreciation from its ongoing expansion. Revenue rose 10.5% YoY to RM238.4 million, driven by outlet expansion (699 stores vs 632 YoY). We also note from management that SSSG has remained broadly flat, suggesting that revenue growth continues to be driven by new store openings. EBITDA grew 4.8% YoY to RM31.5 million, although EBITDA margin declined to 13.2% (Q1’25: 13.9%) due to elevated cost pressures owing to higher labour costs associated with expansion, increased marketing expenditure, and higher head office maintenance costs. EBIT also declined on higher depreciation expenses.We expect Mynews to deliver continued growth, driven by store expansion, with management targeting 100 new store openings (ex-WHSmith) in FY26 (27 stores opened YTD). Management remains optimistic, with a strong pipeline of viable locations, particularly in transit hubs. Additionally, we expect CU to continue to be profitable, supported by more aggressive promotions, an improved stock-keeping unit (SKU) mix, and better site selection, enabling a gradual utilisation of RM55 million of carried-forward tax losses at the subsidiary level. WHSmith’s contribution grew 5.8% QoQ and 11.6% YoY, and we expect this trend to continue, supported by overall tourism momentum. We expect continued cost pressure from higher depreciation and labour expenses amid ongoing expansions, although this should normalise as store productivity improves. BUY with RM0.70 TP. – RHB Research, April 1WE see a high possibility of declining global palm oil production trend in the coming years as small planters, who made up about 15% and 41% of Malaysian and Indonesian oil palm plantations, are likely to hold back their replanting plans and cut the fertiliser applications, given the current high CPO prices and hefty fertiliser costs. In our view, we foresee it could have a severe impact on the FFB yield performance for both Malaysia and Indonesia in the subsequent years. The situation might be exacerbated by the extreme hot weather this year, which could have a negative impact on the biological stress of palm trees, resulting in increased bunch failure. Meanwhile, Malaysian Palm Oil Council projects that about 35% (2m ha) of Malaysian oil palm plantations will be 19 years or older by next year compared to around 30% (1.7m ha) this year, putting more pressure on the output from the world’s second largest producer.The warming El Niño weather phenomenon could form later this year, potentially pushing temperatures across the Southeast Asian region to record heights. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a 50-60% possibility of El Niño developing during the July-Sept period and beyond. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department expects the country to gradually transition towards a weak El Niño phase between June and August. The prolonged dry weather could stress oil palm trees, resulting in an abortion of FFB. Based on past events, we estimate that the El Niño could affect the FFB production by up to 16% and cut the CPO production by up to 14% in the subsequent years if a strong El Niño occurs. – PublicInvest Research, April 1Plantations OverweightBanking OverweightSource: PublicInvest ResearchSource: BloombergSource: PublicInvest ResearchMyNews Holdings Bhd Buy. Target price: RM0.70April 1, 2026: RM0.53
THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026EditorialT: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: [email protected] AdvertisingT: 03-7784 8888 E: [email protected] SCAN MEBulk up or lean down?Latest fitness trends in Malaysia – P22WEEKLYFOCUSMONDAYTechnology and social mediaTUESDAYFamily and parentingWEDNESDAYFashion and beautyTHURSDAYHomeand livingFRIDAYTravel and leisureSATURDAYFood and beveragep23 Beating dry spell with tailored tips for every day p24 ‘Bhajan clubbing’ overwrites India’s nightlife habitsp25 Bront Palarae shares on being polygot actor– 123RFPIC
LYFETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202622Fitness trend or fad?WHEN thinking of a gym, the image of heavy steel and sweat-packed muscles are often part of the picture. It is only right to think as such because bodybuilding has been long attributed to the gym, with iconic figures such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Bumstead setting the standard for decades. However, gym-goers nowadays aim to achieve a different set of goals and current trends have moved to more fitness-focused routine –utilising gyms to a wider range of potentials. For this, many paths of fitness-based training are explored and in 2026, here are top three trends that have shown the most explosive growth. Hyrox As part of the latest fitness craze, Hyrox started in the UK eight years ago and has since become a social media sensation. Now, it has become a global indoor fitness competition that combines 8km of running with eight functional workout stations designed to test aerobic capacity and strength. Closely related to Crossfit – a high-intentsity fitness routine that combines lifting, gymnastics and conditioning to boost overall strength, cardio and agility – Hyrox features different but simpler exercises to prioritise endurance over raw strength. Being a high intensity interval-circuit workout, the form of Hyrox exists in competitions and training routines with participants completing 1km of running, followed by different functional workouts – burpee broad jumps, wall balls and rowing – for an interval of eight times. Hyrox primarily gained traction due to its visibility and accessibility, prompting it to go viral among fitness enthusiasts who value results and convenience. Not for the faint of heart, it is commonly attempted by intermediate to professional athletes who enjoy the competition of endurance. Now, among the fastestgrowing fitness movements globally, Hyrox has turned gym training into a Gyms are being used to their full potential for various fitness goals. – 123RFoTop three methods in health, endurance training that have been gaining popularity among gym ratsŰ BY GREGORY SHANERunning intervals as part of Hyrox workouts.Battle rope exercises for hybrid-training endurance and conditioning.Fitness is for any age, separated by the type of goals they want – ALL PICS FROM 123RFsport enjoyable for those who seek a competitive edge while being able to measure their performance, giving even casual gym-goers a purpose for training without any qualification required. Hybrid-training Hybrid-training has been around for some time but it never really appeared particularly distinct until the 2010s. Later, it became popular around the world from 2020 onwards. This training does not just focus on building aesthetics but endurance – training to be efficient, functional and well-rounded rather than specialising in a certain area of interest. With its roots deep in military and tactical training – combining running, lifting and calisthenics –hybrid-training first appeared in Crossfit and gained popularity in 2010 when athletes demonstrated that they could be strong and endurance-capable. Famous figures such as Nick Bare popularised this method by running marathons while maintaining a bodybuilder-like physique, showcasing a mixture of strength, conditioning and endurance – thus, introducing the term “hybrid athlete”. Hybrid-training trains multiple physical qualities at once – usually strength and endurance – in a structured manner to complement each other. A way to do this is by structurally schedullng the type of exercises such as placing cardio after a lifting session – while adjusting the intensity – to avoid performance interference. To maximise the benefit of this training method, a balance must be achieved by applying strength and endurance exercises – heavylifting and running – along with conditioning exercises such as burpees to allow the body to be more efficient in handling different exercises. Of course, the most important thing is to get optimum rest and nutrition. This make the exercise not for the faint-hearted, especially those who wish to practise it long term. Reformer pilates Picking up trend during the pandemic period of 2020–2025, pilates gained traction during the cultural and lifestyle shifts at the time, where people opted for fitness away from high-impact, extreme workouts such as HITT. Gaining massive appeal from beginners, seniors and people returning to fitness, – particularly among women – the exercises go far from aesthetics and focuses on lowintensity movements. Pilates emphasise controlled movement, stability and functional strength that poses low impact on the joints, core stability and spinal alignment. These movements support everyday movement and aging well, such as fixing sitting and standing posture while serving as a supplement to other types of exercises such as Crossfit. Reformer pilates is a variant of these, focusing on low-impact, highintensity workouts performed on a specialised machine using springs, straps and a sliding carriage to provide resistance and support. These exercises are designed to strengthen the core, improve flexibility and tones muscles through precise, controlled movements that challenge the whole body, making it suitable for all fitness levels. The big takeaway from pilates is its focus on longevity with its exercises mainly training mobility and injury prevention – a very alluring trait for those who wish to get fit with minimum goals and effort. Which will you choose?Nowadays, fitness does not limit you specifically to strength and endurance but rather, a tailor-made option ready for the different fitness goals that you would like to achieve. Just like the shifting of lifestyle trends sell different kinds of routines, a fitness trend exists as long as there is a specific need to be catered and new optimisation routes waiting to be discovered by those exploring their fitness journeys.
LYFETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202623Survival guide to heatwave THE walk from your car to the office door has become a mini endurance test. Your shirt clings to your back before you have even reached the elevator. Welcome to Malaysia’s latest reality show: “Survivor: Malaysia Heatwave Edition” – now playing in every neighbourhood. This is not just your normal uncomfortable weather. According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, we are locked into the southwest monsoon’s blazing grip, with temperatures hitting 37°C in some areas. Your body is sending you messages – the sudden loss of appetite, the afternoon brain fog, the way sleep feels impossible even with the fan on full blast. These are not just minor inconveniences –they are your internal warning system lighting up. When your body waves a white flag Heat exhaustion does not announce itself with fanfare. It creeps in through dizzy spells during your lunch break, muscle cramps that appear out of nowhere and fatigue that no amount of coffee can fix. Your body’s cooling system – usually a marvel of biological engineering –starts to falter under relentless heat. For young children, elderly family members and anyone spending hours outdoors, the stakes are higher. When heat exhaustion escalates to heatstroke, the body essentially gives up on cooling itself. The sweating stops entirely. It is a medical emergency disguised as “just really hot weather.” So before the heat takes a toll on your body (or your mood), here are some smart ways to keep your cool. 1. Stay indoors That dizzy feeling when you step outside? That is not dramatic – that is your cue to retreat. Between noon and 4pm, the sun transforms into Malaysia’s most aggressive bully. Even a quick dash to the mamak can feel like crossing a furnace. If you must venture out, think like a vampire – seek shade aggressively, carry portable shade (umbrellas are not just for rain) and treat every air-conditioned space like a sanctuary.Staying indoors between noon and 4pm helps you avoid the blazing sun. – 123RFPICoHow Malaysians can beat hot weather, create cooler, more comfortable home when temperatures riseAs the heatwave persists, staying cool indoors is essential, with proper airflow, hydration and effective cooling helping households remain comfortable.2. Hydration beyond water bottle By the time thirst hits, you are already playing catch-up. Your body has been silently losing water through sweat, breath and the simple act of existing in this heat. Even office workers in airconditioned spaces can find themselves surprisingly depleted. Think of hydration as a fullspectrum strategy. Yes, keep that water bottle permanently attached to your hand — bonus points if it is filled with crisp, purified water from your water purifier. But also raid the produce section: cucumbers, watermelon and berries are basically edible water bottles. That bowl of clear soup your grandmother insists you to have? She has been ahead of the hydration game all along. 3. Cool economics of staying sane When opening windows becomes a cruel joke and your fan is just pushing hot air around, air conditioning shifts from luxury to necessity. But with units running non-stop, electricity bills can spike faster than the mercury. The smarter move? Invest in efficiency. LG’s AI Air Conditioner takes cooling to the next level with a five-star energy efficiency rating – helping you reduce power consumption while maximising performance. Its built-in (artificial intelligence) AI technology automatically adjusts settings to create the most comfortable indoor environment, no matter how intense the heat gets outside. Plus, with extended warranty coverage and maintenance packages, it is essentially insurance for your sanity when the heat refuses to break. Because the last thing you need during a heatwave is a broken AC and a repair bill. 4. Dress like you mean it Your wardrobe becomes tactical gear in this heat. Loose cotton and linen become your best friends –they are not just comfortable, they are survival equipment. Light colours reflect heat like a shield, while dark fabrics turn you into a walking heat magnet. Do not underestimate accessories: wide-brimmed hats, UV sunglasses and breathable face coverings are not fashion statements – they are your personal climate control system. 5. Turn your home into a cool(er) sanctuary Your house can become an unwitting accomplice to the heat, trapping warmth like a greenhouse. Combat this by playing defense: curtains drawn during peak sun hours, crossventilation when evening brings relief and strategic cooling tricks like ice bowls near fans. Here is a revelation: avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day. Every appliance that generates heat is working against you. Your stove, oven, even that rice cooker – they are all tiny furnaces heating up your space. Malaysia’s current heatwave is a sustained assault on our normal routines and pretending otherwise is how people end up in emergency rooms. The mercury is not just rising –it is demanding respect. Whether you are commuting through KL’s concrete jungle, working from your increasingly stuffy home office or just trying to sleep through another sweltering night, preparation is the quick route to survival. Smart habits, efficient cooling and a few strategic adjustments can mean the difference between enduring this heat and actually living through it. Because when the temperature refuses to drop, adaptation is essential. This article is contributed by LG Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd.
LYFETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202624@thesundailyFOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM@tMalaysian PaperDevotional rave sways Indian youthIN India’s capital, Hindu “bhajan clubbing” is electrifying nightlife, with revellers dancing to traditional devotional songs reimagined through guitars and pounding drumbeats, transforming public venues into spiritual hangouts. ChaiLeela, a cafe in the suburb of Noida, crackled with energy as devotees swayed to rhythmic riffs soaring into crescendos in songs praising the deity Krishna. “I felt energised and alive,” said Himanshu Gupta, a 30-year-old IT professional and regular attendee of the song nights. Bhajans – devotional songs with ancient roots in Hinduism – have long been used as a spiritual bridge between the individual and the divine. But “bhajan clubbing” represents a modern twist that is gaining traction in New Delhi, which hosted at least five major devotional concerts in March alone, drawing tens of thousands. One open-air event last month – at the grounds of the 16th-century Purana Qila fort – drew about 7,000 devotees, with the atmosphere resembling a rave more than a religious gathering. “It provides an opportunity for our youth to connect with devotion and spirituality. It feels great to be here,” said Aishwarya Gupta, 31, a nuclear physicist attending the concert, her face dotted with paint and religious marks. Musicians performed devotional hits backed by guitars and drums as crowds danced in a near-trance. “It is a calming feeling,” said Kumar Shubham, a 27-year-old doctor and fitness influencer, who said the events also instilled “pride” in Indians. “When we see today’s youth, they seem more interested in things other than religious matters. But this... shows them the right path... it’s a good way to connect with God,” said businessman Jay Ahuja, 28. ‘Spirituality, not spirits’ The phenomenon reflects a broader Revellers enjoy Hindu spiritual songs called ‘Bhajans’ during the Sanatan Journey devotional music festival at the iconic Purana Qila in New Delhi. – PICS FROM AFPo‘Bhajan clubbing’ takes over nightlife in IndiaBFF: Oldest dog DNA suggests 16,000 years of human companionshipTHE discovery of the oldest dog’s DNA suggests they have been our best friends for nearly 16,000 years – 5,000 years earlier than had previously been thought, new research said last month. Despite being ubiquitous in the homes, backyards and hearts of people across the world, surprisingly little is known about where dogs come from. “It’s just an interesting mystery,” Swedish geneticist Pontus Skoglund of the UK’s Francis Crick Institute told reporters. Dogs are most likely a mix of two types of grey wolves, he said. However exactly when dogs diverged from wolves has been difficult to trace, partly because their ancient bones are tricky to tell apart. That is why scientists behind two new studies published in the journal Nature sequenced the genomes from archaeological remains, shedding light on the elusive origins of our furry friends. The first study revealed the world’s oldest canine DNA was discovered in a Surprisingly, little is known about where dogs come from. –REUTERSPIC Madhava’s Rock Band sing Hindu spiritual songs called ‘Bhajans’ during the Sanatan Journey devotional music festival at the iconic Purana Qila in New Delhi. revival of public expressions of Hindu identity in India, alongside the growing political and cultural influence of Hindu populist narratives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has backed the trend, noting bhajan traditions had been the “soul of Indian culture for centuries”. The 75-year-old Hindu nationalist leader has praised how bhajan clubbing “incorporated the spirit of devotion into the youth’s experiences and lifestyles”, speaking in his weekly radio broadcast in January. When tens of thousands packed Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for a devotional show this month – with electric guitars and drum beats projected by giant speakers – it was introduced by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, a member of Modi’s party. Nikunj Gupta, 26, who organised the devotional music festival at Purana Qila, said that “spirituality is necessary to unite the next generation”. He said such events offered young people a festive atmosphere without the alcohol that is commonly associated with concerts in Delhi, which some conservatives frown upon. “It gives them a medium to explore a different activity, rather than going to a regular club where they have to consume alcohol with friends. We want the youth to be high on spirituality, not spirits,” he said. The movement is also spreading beyond India. In neighbouring Hindu-majority Nepal, more than 3,000 people attended a bhajan club night in February. “We wanted to raise the interests of youths in bhajans – the essence of the music remains the same, but we deliver it in a bit more modern style. It is for anyone who wants to begin their spiritual journey... People really enjoy it – and it is growing popular,” the night’s co-founder, Abhishek Adhikari, 28, told AFP. In India, fashion figure Ratnadeep Lal compared the shows to flashy international concerts. “I have attended many international concerts, such as Shakira. “This kind of initiative in India, which uses devotional music to teach and connect with the next generation, is very good,” he said.piece of a skull in Pinarbasi in what is now Turkiye. The female puppy, which was perhaps “a few months old”, probably looked like a small wolf when it lived roughly 15,800 years ago, according to study co-author Laurent Frantz of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Before Wednesday, the oldestknown dog DNA was from 10,900 years ago. Also breaking that record was genetic evidence the team found in southwest England dating back 14,300 years, which illustrated how early dogs had spread across Europe. Frantz said scientists could not prove exactly what role these dogs had among humans living during the last Ice Age. “But I think we can assume that they must have played a role because they would have been expensive to feed,” he said. Perhaps the dogs were used for hunting or protection, he speculated. Even if these dogs were not treated the same as pets are today, there was likely still a strong bond, he said, adding that “kids will still have played with puppies”. Another sign of a close relationship was that puppies had been found buried above human graves in Pinarbasi. ‘Search for missing link’For the other study, a large team of researchers compared the genomes of 216 dog and wolf remains from across Europe. This allowed them to chart how dogs evolved on the continent. Starting around 10,000 years ago, there was a huge migration of people from southwest Asia to Europe during what is known as the Neolithic agricultural revolution. This mass arrival of farmers resulted in human genetic mixing as people from different areas met and had children. However, this genetic mixing did not happen at the same time with dogs, the researchers were surprised to find. It seems the hunter-gatherers who had been living in Europe before the farmers arrived had already been keeping dogs. “Dogs were clearly important to our ancestors, as the first farmers seem to have adopted previous hunter-gatherer dogs into their groups as they moved into Europe,” said study co-author Skoglund. This suggests dogs must have been domesticated well before that point. And there is still a “genetic abyss between dogs and wolves”, Skoglund added. “The search for the missing link continues.” – AFP
LYFETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202625oBront Palarae talks about acting in Thai, Malaysian film industries as polyglot that gives him competitive edgeSINCE venturing into the Indonesian and Thai film industries, Bront Palarae has continued to rise as an actor, cementing his presence on the international stage while remaining firmly established at home. The popular Malaysian actor’s ability to master multiple languages, including speaking Thai fluently, has given him a distinct competitive edge, making him more appealing to foreign productions and opening up wider acting opportunities across the border, reported Bernama. Bront recently drew attention for his role in the horror thriller Kong Tao, a Malaysian-Thai production. Since its theatrical release on March 19, the film, centred on black magic in Southeast Asia, has recorded box office earnings of RM2.2 million. Although he was not required to speak Thai in the movie, the 48-year-old actor said his command of the language, along with English, helped facilitate smoother communication on set. The cast of Kong Tao also included actors from Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. “In a multicultural and multilingual country like Malaysia, language skills are a major asset, not just in acting but in any field. “Even if not every role requires intensive use of a foreign language, understanding it helps deliver a more convincing performance. It’s not just about communication, (knowing other languages) allows us to better understand others, their culture, work practices and perspectives,” he said. Bront, whose real name is Nasrul Suhaimin Saifuddin, said his experience in the horror film offered fresh insights, particularly in understanding how different societies perceive mystical elements. Bront, who won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 21st Baan Nang Klang Lakorn Awards in Thailand last year, said his approach focused more on understanding cultural perspectives rather than delving deeply into specific rituals. “The experience allowed me to see how stories and beliefs from different cultures are translated visually. “I was also excited to be part of a production that brings together actors from across Asia, including Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. “A film that explores black magic is particularly interesting because it draws from Malaysian culture and that of neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that the film also stars popular Hong Kong actor Philip Keung and Thai actress Kao Supassara. Bront also said he and his family celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Boston in the US, as he is currently pursuing an Executive Master of Business Administration course at the Asia School of Business. The actor, who is also a director, said studying abroad has not only expanded his knowledge but also broadened his perspective on the global creative industry.Bront at a recent press conference for Kong Tao.Bront (right) in a scene in Kong Tao. Cast of Kong Tao give inside scoop, reminiscing moments on setTHE cast of Malaysia–Thailand horror thriller Kong Tao, including local talents Bront Palarae, Yumi Wong, Eric Lay, Singapore actor Glenn Yong, Mayiduo as well as Hong Kong actor Philip Keung, recently shared their filming experiences of the movie and character challenges in a press conference: Eric Lay goes fully nude for first time, calls it ‘extremely stressful’ Lay, who recently gained popularity through his brother’s Chinese New Year vlog, plays a flirtatious and carefree YouTuber named Wei Kang in the film. He joked the character somewhat resembles his real personality. However, Lay revealed filming nude scenes for the first time in his career was far from easy. “I had to remove even my underwear. Standing completely naked in front of the director and cinematographer while being asked to pose left and right – and having guys look at my backside –it was really uncomfortable,” he laughed. Although he built trust with his co-star beforehand, Lay admitted he has no plans to take on similar scenes again. “Next time, I definitely want to keep my underwear on.”Yumi Wong may bid farewell to acting Wong, who plays YouTuber Wein, revealed Kong Tao might be her final film as she plans to focus on behindthe-scenes production work. “I’ve been running several production companies over the past three years. It’s time to give opportunities to younger talents and focus on growing the business,” she said. Philip Keung ‘apprentices’ in Thailand, witnesses bizarre potion incident Playing a shaman in the film, Keung not only had to deliver lines in Mandarin and Thai, but also travelled to Thailand with the crew to learn ritual gestures and chants from local masters. He admitted at the press conference that the director insisted he refrain from speaking Cantonese, which initially made him feel pressured. “I was very nervous at first, but once filming began, everything came naturally. It still feels quite surreal,” he said. One of his most unforgettable experiences involved a strange potion presented by a master during their visit. Despite warnings from crew members, Keung bravely held out his hand to receive it. The liquid caused From left: Mayiduo, Wong, Kao, Keung, Yong, Lay and Bront at the Kong Tao press conference.Jack of all tradesno reaction on his palm, but when it dripped onto the ground and his shoes, it appeared to corrode and melt the surface – an incident he still finds hard to explain. Glenn Yong says he was ‘under Kao’s love spell’ Yong, who portrays paranormalexploring YouTuber Chen Xin, also joked about his dynamic with Thai actress Kao Supassara Thanachat in the film. “Everyone else was cursed – I was the one who got hit by Kao’s love spell. Wherever she goes, I follow.” When asked if he was charmed by the Thai beauty in real life, Yong laughed and said the question felt like a “trap”, but added candidly, “She’s really beautiful – why not?” Horror thriller Directors Peiji Goh and Yong Choon Lin explained Kong Tao explores the rarely portrayed Southeast Asian black magic culture, aiming to deliver a deeply immersive horror experience that transcends borders. The story revolves around a mysterious mass-possession case involving students. Thai journalist Fon investigates the decades-old incident and crosses paths with four YouTubers who travelled to Thailand for paranormal content. After returning home, they begin experiencing terrifying supernatural events – with one of them dying under mysterious circumstances. Kong Tao is supported by Malaysia’s Ministry of Communications and National Film Development Corp, and distributed by Mega Films Distribution.
LYFETHURSDAY | APR 2, 202626Ű BY GREGORY SHANEBINGE-WORTHY FLICKSYour Friends & NeighboursCast: Jon Hamm, James Marsden, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Lena Hall, Aimee Carrero, Eunice Bae, Isabel Gravitt and Donovan Colan. Created by bestselling author Jonathan Tropper, the second season of Your Friends & Neighbours sees Andrew Cooper return and doubles down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, that is until the arrival of a new neighbour threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk. The second season will make its global debut on Apple TV with its first episode this Friday, following up with new episodes every Friday until its finale on June 5.OutcomeCast: Keanu Reeves, Jonah Hill, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Susan Lucci, Laverne Cox, David Spade, Martin Scorsese, Atsuko Okatsuka, Roy Wood, Jr, Welker White, Kaia Gerber and Ivy Wolk. Directed by Jonah Hill and written with Ezra Woods, the upcoming dark comedy centres around beloved Hollywood star Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves), who must dive into the depths of his hidden demons after he is extorted with a mysterious video that is sure to shatter his image and end his career. With the support of his lifelong besties Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer), along with his crisis lawyer Ira (Jonah Hill), Reef embarks on a soul-searching journey to make amends with anyone he could have possibly wronged in hopes of identifying the blackmailer. The film debuts on April 10, globally on Prime Video. Hacks Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl ClemonsHopkins, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo, Robby Hoffman, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin OlsonThe Emmy-winning Max Original comedy series returns once again for a fifth and final season, with 10 episodes available throughout the season. In the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that she passed away, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) return to Las Vegas, more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian. The season is set to be released on HBO Max on April 10, with episodes released weekly until the series finale on May 29.Perfect CrownCast: IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh SangHyun and Gong Seung-Yeon. The series sets a tale for a touching romantic comedy by Korean stars IU and Byeon Woo-seok. Directed by Park Joonhwa and written by Yoo Jiwon, the story follows royal Grand Prince I-AN, becoming embroiled in a power struggle with other members of the royal family who pressures him to wed. The series is set to debut on April 10 on Disney+ Malaysia.The BoysCast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan MitchellBased on The New York Times bestselling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys returns for a fifth and final season. The season is set to premiere on Prime Video with two episodes on April 8, 2026 with new episodes released weekly until the series finale on May 20, 2026.Margo’s Got Money TroublesCast: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham, Nicole Kidman, Marcia Gay Harden, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty and Lindsey Normington. Based on Rufi Thorpe’s best-selling novel, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is set to feature as an eight-episode Apple Original series, with Emmy nominees Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer leading the cast. This heartwarming and comedic family drama follows recent college dropout and aspiring writer Margo, who is the daughter of an ex-Hooter’s waitress and ex-pro wrestler as she’s forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them. The series will premiere globally on April 15 on Apple TV with three episodes and is followed by a new episode every Wednesday until May 20.The Flowers of Evil Cast: Fuku Suzuki and Ano. Takao Kasuga (Fuku Suzuki) is driven to despair by life in his dull hometown, but manages to find comfort in the pages of his favourite literary works. Inspired by the poems of Baudelaire, Kasuga yearns for the attentions of his seemingly perfect classmate Nanako Saeki but when he gets caught smelling her gym clothes after school, he finds himself being pushed down a dark path by his blackmailing classmate Nakamura (Ano). The movie will come to screens on April 9 on Disney+.Yumi’s CellsCast: Kim Go-eun and Kim Jae-won Korean romantic comedy series Yumi’s Cells, starring Kim Go-eun is back again with its third season. The series zooms in on the next chapter of Yumi’s journey as she becomes a successful writer and meets aspiring producer Soon-rok, with new adventures and an unpredictable romance unfolding. The drama is set to make its streaming debut on April 13, spanning across eight episodes on HBO Max.
PERISYTIHARAN JUALANDALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANGPERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-74-01/2026Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965DanDalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 36583/2008( bertarikh : 12/08/2008) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah GRN 147941 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Suratan Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S.(D): 15317), Lot 8935, Mukim 14, Daerah Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang DanDalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012ANTARAPublic Bank Berhad (No. Syarikat : 6463-H).. PLAINTIFDANRameshtharan a/l Nadason (No. Kad Pengenalan : 780323075489)...DEFENDANMenurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 26 Jun 2023 dan 9 Mac 2026, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi eLelong di KuantanAKAN MENJUAL SECARALELONG AWAMPada Hari Selasa, 14 April 2026, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi,SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG,KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMURNOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan agar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanggungan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum juaIan lelongan dijaIankan.Sila layari https://eIeIong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderwebBUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK:No. Hakmilik : GRN 147941 (dahulunya dikenali sebagai Suratan Hakmilik Sementara No. H.S.(D): 15317)No. Lot : Lot 8935Mukim/Daerah/Negeri : 14 / Seberang Perai Tengah / Pulau PinangPegangan : Hakmilik KekalNo. Petak/No. Tingkat/No. :BangunanKeluasan Tanah : 1206.0000000000 kaki persegi: 112.0000000000 meter persegiPemilik Berdaftar : Rameshtharan a/l NadasonSyarat Nyata : Tanah ini hendaklah digunakan untuk tujuan kediaman sahaja.Sekatan Kepentingan : TiadaBebanan / Lain-Lain : The subject property is charged to Public Bank Berhad vide Presentation No. 0799SC2008036583 dated 8th October 2008. Kawasan Rizab :Kaveat : No Pers 0799B2008012806 Kaveat Pemegang Lien atas Tanah oleh PUBLIC BANK BERHAD didaftarkan pada 5 Ogos 2008LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH :Hartanah tersebut adalah An intermediate double storey terrace house yang beralamat pos di No. 78, Lorong Impian Indah 1, Taman Impian Indah, 14000, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang.HARGA RIZAB :Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 470,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: EMPAT RATUS TUJUH PULUH RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir-butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:-Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NORAlamat : NO. 27, 1ST & 2ND FLOORJALAN MAJU JAYAPUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000, PG, MYNo. Telefon : 04-5398855No. Fax : 04-5395855No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2023-190/RN(RS/j)322 NoticesJob Descriptiont#VJMEJOHBOETVTUBJOJOHTUSPOHXPSLJOHSFMBUJPOTIJQXJUIBEWFSUJTJOHBHFODJFTBOEDMJFOUTt/FXCVTJOFTTEFWFMPQNFOUBOECVTJOFTTSFUFOUJPOt$PODFQUVBMJTFQMBOBOEFYFDVUFDSFBUJWFBOEJOOPWBUJWFNBSLFUJOHDBNQBJHOTUPFOIBODFCSBOEWJTJCJMJUZBOEFOHBHFNFOUt$SFBUFEFWFMPQBOEDPOUJOVPVTMZJNQSPWFNBSLFUJOHNBUFSJBMQSFTFOUBUJPOTBOEQSPQPTBMTUIBUTIPXDBTFPVSQSPEVDUTTFSWJDFTFGGFDUJWFMZRequirementst41.MFWFMXJUIBUMFBTUUXPZFBSTPGFYQFSJFODFt%JQMPNBPS#BDIFMPSTEFHSFFJOCVTJOFTTNBSLFUJOHPSPUIFSSFMBUFEGJFMETt'SFTIHSBEVBUFTBSFFODPVSBHFEUPBQQMZUSBJOJOHXJMMCFQSPWJEFEt(PPEDPNNVOJDBUJPOQSFTFOUBUJPOQSPCMFNTPMWJOHBOEPSHBOJTBUJPOBMTLJMMTt1BTTJPOBUFJODMJFOUTFSWJDJOHt1PTTFTTPXOUSBOTQPSUBOEXJMMJOHUPUSBWFMt\"CMFUPTUBSUXPSLJNNFEJBUFMZOfficebased in Petaling Jaya(Five-day week)MEDIA SALES - SpecialistSend in your CV with your photo via email to : [email protected] SALES -Representative/Agent (Freelance)Requirementt.JOJNVNPOFZFBSTBMFTFYQFSJFODFJODMBTTJGJFEBEQSJOUBOEEJHJUBMBEWFSUJTJOHt5IPTFXJUIPVUTBMFTFYQFSJFODFCVUXJUINFEJBBEWFSUJTJOHLOPXMFEHFNBZBMTPBQQMZt\"UUSBDUJWFDPNNJTTJPOQBDLBHFBOEJODFOUJWFTt\"CMFUPTUBSUJNNFEJBUFMZt$FOUSBM/PSUIFSO4PVUIFSO&BTU$PBTUBOE4BCBI4BSBXBL302 JobsDALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET AMPANGDALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIAWRIT NO: BC-A72NCvC-18-02/2026ANTARALEMBAGA KUMPULAN WANG SIMPANAN PEKERJA…PLAINTIFDAN1.HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)]2.FAKHREDDIN AHMADIDANESHASHTIANI MOHAMMADHOSSEIN (NO. PASPORT: Y37534778)3.FERESHTEH AHMADZADEHHERAVI MAHMOUD (NO. PASPORT: Y37534305)4.NUR SYAZANA BINTI ROSLEY (NO. K/P: 920714-14-5036)5.NORLIZA BINTI MOHD SALLEH KHAN (NO. K/P: 610827-02-5926)…DEFENDAN- DEFENDANNOTISKepada:-SILA AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Majistret Selayang dalam Writ Saman No. BC-A72NCvC-18-02/2026 olehLEMBAGA KUMPULAN WANG SIMPANAN PEKERJA yang beralamat ibu pejabat di Seksyen Pendakwaan dan Litigasi, Jabatan Undang-Undang, Tingkat 4, Menara KWSP, No. 1, Persiaran Kwasa Utama, Kwasa Damansara, Seksyen U4, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan dalam mana tuntutan Plaintif adalah untuk suatu Penghakiman, termasuk tetapi tidak terhad kepada perintah-perintah seperti berikut:-a)Terhadap Defendan Pertama:- i.Tunggakan dividen sebanyak RM4,385.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2012 sehingga Mei 2015, Mac 2020 sehingga Ogos 2020 dan Oktober 2020 sehingga Januari 2021 yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;ii.Tunggakan caj lewat bayar sebanyak RM4,415.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2012 sehingga Mei 2015, Februari 2020 sehingga Ogos 2020 dan Oktober 2020 sehingga Januari 2021yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;b)Terhadap Defendan Kedua dan Defendan Ketiga:- i.Tunggakan dividen sebanyak RM4,303.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2012 sehingga Mei 2015 dan Mac 2020 yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;ii.Tunggakan caj lewat bayar sebanyak RM4,287.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2012 sehingga Mei 2015 dan Mac 2020 yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;c)Terhadap Defendan Keempat dan Defendan Kelima:- i.Tunggakan dividen sebanyak RM108.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2020 sehingga Ogos 2020 dan Oktober 2020 sehingga Januari 2021 yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;ii.Tunggakan caj lewat bayar sebanyak RM160.00 bagi tempoh Mac 2020 sehingga Ogos 2020 dan Oktober 2020 sehingga Januari 2021 yang terakru ke atas tunggakan caruman bulanan KWSP;d)Kos bagi tindakan ini; dane)Lain-lain relif yang Mahkamah yang mulia ini fikir wajar dan suaimanfaatDAN TELAH DIPERINTAHKAN BAHAWA penyampaian Writ Saman dan Penyata Tuntutan bagi tindakan ini kepada kamu dilaksanakan secara penyampaian ganti melalui penampalan satu salinan Writ Saman bermeterai bertarikh 05.02.2026 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 05.02.2026 dan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 05.03.2026 di alamat-alamat seperti yang dinyatakan di atas dan melalui pengiklanan dalam satu akhbar harian tempatan dan penyampaian seumpama itu hendaklah dianggapkan sebagai penyampaian yang baik sempurna dan cukup ke atas Defendan-Defendan dalam tempoh penamatan tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh yang terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan sedemikian itu dilaksanakan, dan kos permohonan ini hendaklah menjadi kos dalam kausa. Kamu boleh mendapatkan Writ Saman dan Penyata Tuntutan ini dengan memohon di Mahkamah.Bertarikh pada 31 Mac 2026 t.t. .................................................Tetuan Ahmad Fuad Abi & AidilPeguamcara PlaintifNOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Ahmad Fuad Abi & Aidil, peguamcara Plaintif yang dinamakan dengan alamat penyampaian di I-91-1, Bistari De Kota, Jalan Teknologi 3/9, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-2774 6324 | Emel: [email protected][Ruj: AFAA/26/LIT/1502/KWSP(18)-13/AM] [Ruj KWSP: 9/4/2-0395-04(L)/GBK/2025/0071]1.HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)] 304, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangordan/atauSuite C5-M, Jalan Selaman 1Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang68000 AmpangSelangor 2.FAKHREDDIN AHMADIDANESHASHTIANI MOHAMMADHOSSEIN (NO. PASPORT: Y37534778) d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)] 304, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangordan/atauFAKHREDDIN AHMADIDANESHASHTIANIMOHAMMADHOSSEIN(NO. PASPORT: Y37534778)d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD.[NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)]Suite C5-M, Jalan Selaman 1Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang68000 AmpangSelangor dan/atauFAKHREDDIN AHMADIDANESHASHTIANIMOHAMMADHOSSEIN(NO. PASPORT: Y37534778)No. 7, Jalan 14C 1/1Presint 1462050 PutrajayaWilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya3.FERESHTEH AHMADZADEHHERAVI MAHMOUD (NO. PASPORT: Y37534305) d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)] 304, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangordan/atauFERESHTEH AHMADZADEHHERAVIMAHMOUD(NO. PASPORT: Y37534305)d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD.[NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)]Suite C5-M, Jalan Selaman 1Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang68000 AmpangSelangor dan/atauFERESHTEH AHMADZADEHHERAVIMAHMOUD(NO. PASPORT: Y37534305) No. 7, Jalan 14C 1/1Presint 1462050 PutrajayaWilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya4.NUR SYAZANA BINTI ROSLEY (NO. K/P: 920714-14-5036) d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)] 304, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangordan/atauNUR SYAZANA BINTI ROSLEY(NO. K/P: 920714-14-5036)d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD.[NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)]Suite C5-M, Jalan Selaman 1Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang68000 AmpangSelangor dan/atauNUR SYAZANA BINTI ROSLEY(NO. K/P: 920714-14-5036)No 3, Jalan Cecawi 6/5Kota Damansara47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor5.NORLIZA BINTI MOHD SALLEH KHAN (NO. K/P: 610827-02-5926) d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD. [NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)] 304, Jalan 3 Taman Ampang Utama 68000 Ampang Selangordan/atauNORLIZA BINTI MOHD SALLEH KHAN(NO. K/P: 610827-02-5926)d/a HAPPYDAYS CREATIVE LEARNING CENTRE SDN. BHD.[NO. SYARIKAT: 201001036240 (920164-T)]Suite C5-M, Jalan Selaman 1Dataran Palma Off Jalan Ampang68000 Ampang Selangor dan/atauNORLIZA BINTI MOHD SALLEH KHAN(NO. K/P: 610827-02-5926) No 3, Jalan Cecawi 6/5Kota Damansara47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor302 Jobs 322 NoticesDALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM NEGERI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, MALAYSIA(BAHAGIAN KELUARGA)SAMAN PEMULA NO.:WA-24F-259-10/2025Dalam perkara mengenai perkahwinan di antara DANG THI NO dan LIM BENG TEONG DanDalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 50(1), 50(2) dan 106 (1)(vi) Akta Membaharui Undang-Undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 DanDalam perkara Kaedah 4 KaedahKaedah Prosiding dan Perceraian dan Hal-Ehwal Suami Isteri 1980 ANTARADANG THI NO (NO. PASPORT SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM: E01546537)…PEMOHONDANLIM BENG TEONG(NO. K/P: 900223-07-5493)…RESPONDENNOTIS IKLANKepada:- LIM BENG TEONG(NO. K/P: 900223-07-5493)C-5-8 Cheras Ria Apartments Jalan 6/95B, Off Jalan Ketumbar Taman Cheras Utama Cheras 56100 Kuala Lumpur AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Saman Pemula bertarikh 13-10-2025 dan Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Dang Thi No pada 09-10-2025 (selepas ini dikenali secara kolektif sebagai (“Kertas Kausa tersebut”) telah dikeluarkan terhadap anda sebagai Responden di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Kuala Lumpur oleh Dang Thi No (NO. PASPORT VIETNAM: E01546537) dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan bahawa Kertas Kausa tersebut berserta satu salinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti yang dimeteraikan bertarikh 29 Januari 2026 ditampalkan di Papan Kenyataan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dan pada suatu tempat yang mudah dilihat di alamat terakhir kamu di C-5-8 Cheras Ria Apartments, Jalan 6/95B, Off Jalan Ketumbar, Taman Cheras Utama Cheras 56100 Kuala Lumpur dan menyebabkan suatu Notis diiklankan dalam akhbar harian “The Sun” untuk sekali dalam Bahasa Malaysia (“Penampalan-Penampalan dan Pengiklanan tersebut”) dan Penampalan-Penampalan dan Pengiklanan tersebut hendaklah menjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup akan Kertas Kausa tersebut ke atas kamu empat belas (14) hari selepas tarikh akhir Penampalan-Penampalan dan Pengiklanan tersebut dibuat. Selanjutnya ambil perhatian bahawa Pengurusan kes bagi Kertas Kausa tersebut di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Kuala Lumpur adalah pada 19 Mei 2026 jam 9.00 pagi secara E-Review. Kertas Kausa tersebut juga boleh disemak oleh anda atas permohonan di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Kuala Lumpur.Bertarikh pada 31 Mac 2026 Christopher Vun & Partners___________________________Tetuan Christopher Vun & Partners Peguamcara bagi Pemohon NOTIS IKLAN ini adalah difailkan oleh Tetuan Christopher Vun & Partners, Peguamcara bagi Pemohon yang mempunyai alamat penyampaian di D-3A-8, Plaza Mont Kiara, 2, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. [Tel No: 03-6412 5494][Faks No: 03-6412 5495] [No. Ruj: LIT/250122/TND/CV/CC]PERISYTIHARAN JUALANDALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-47-01/2026Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965DanDalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0705SC2008001468 (bertarikh : 09/07/2008) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah Geran Mukim No. Hakmilik: 792, Lot 1293 Mukim 11, Daerah Barat Daya, Pulau PinangDanDalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012ANTARA Public Bank Berhad (No. Syarikat : 6463-H)...PLAINTIFDANOmar Khan Bin A Moosa (No. Kad Pengenalan : 670417075677)...DEFENDANMenurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 9 Mei 2025 dan 12 Mac 2026, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di KuantanAKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAMPada Hari Rabu, 15 April 2026, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMURNOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan agar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanggungan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum jualan lelongan dijalankan.Sila layari https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderwebBUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK:No. Hakmilik : Geran Mukim No. Hakmilik: 792No. Lot : Lot 1293Mukim / Daerah / Negeri : 11 / Daerah Barat Daya / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik KekalNo. Petak/No. Tingkat/No. Bangunan :Keluasan Tanah : 2379.0000000000 kaki persegi 221.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Omar Khan Bin A MoosaSyarat Nyata : (FIRST GRADE) The Land comprised in this tittle: (a) shall not be affected by any provision of the National Land Code limiting the compensation payable on the exercise by the State Authority of a right of access or use conferred by Chapter 3 of Part Three of the code or on the creation of a Land Administrator’s right of way; and (b)subject to the implied condition that land is liable to be re-entered if it is abandoned for more than three years, shall revert to the State only if the proprietor for the time being dies without heirs; and the title shall confer the absolute right to all forest produce and to all oil, mineral and other natural deposits on or below the surface of the land (including the right to work or extract any such produce or deposit and remove it beyond the boundaries of the land)Sekatan Kepentingan : TiadaBebanan / Lain-Lain : Charged to Public Bank BerhadKawasan Rizab :Kaveat : LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH :Hartanah tersebut adalah A Double-Storey Semi-Detached House yang beralamat pos di No. 1, Solok Sungai Batu 1, 11920, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.HARGA RIZAB :Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 526,500.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: LIMA RATUS DUA PULUH ENAM RIBU LIMA RATUS SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120)hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir-butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:-Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NORAlamat : NO. 27, 1ST & 2ND FLOORJALAN MAJU JAYAPUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000, PG, MY No. Telefon : 04-5398855No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2024-027/OKAM(RS/j)322 Notices 322 NoticesAdvertise with us & connect to our urban readers. KLANG VALLEY PENANG | KEDAHPERAK | PERLIS PAHANG | KELANTANTERENGGANUMS. Shoba / MS. BalqishTEL: 03-7784 8888WHATSAPP: 018 261 6626 MALACCAMR. RajahTEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051JOHOR BAHRUMS. Anne LimTEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549 SCAN METHURSDAY APR 2, 2026TEL: 03-7784 6688 FAX: 03-7785 2625 EMAIL: [email protected]
SPORTSTHURSDAY | APR 2, 202628DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYADI PULAU PINANGDALAM KEBANKRAPAN NO. PA-29NCC-17-01/2026Per:Tan Joo Tat [No. K/P: 720803-07-5459]Penghutang PenghakimanEx parte:Hong Leong Bank Berhad [No. Syarikat: 193401000023(97141-X)]Pemiutang PenghakimanNOTISDalam perkara Notis Kebankrapan yang bertarikh pada 12-01-2026Kepada:Tan Joo Tat127 Lorong Desa Oren 1Taman Desa Oren Sungai Puyu13020 Butterworth Pulau PinangDan22, Lorong Cengkeh 5Taman Cengkeh 13400 Butterworth Pulau PinangAMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Notis Kebankrapan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh Hong Leong Bank Berhad yang beralamat di Tingkat 30, Menara Hong Leong, No. 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Notis Kebankrapan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya berserta satu salinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti di papan notis Mahkamah Tinggi di Pulau Pinang dan menampal di tempat ketara premis Penghutang Penghakiman di 127 Lorong Desa Oren 1, Taman Desa Oren Sungai Puyu, 13020 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang dan di 22, Lorong Cengkeh 5, Taman Cengkeh, 13400 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang dan menyiarkan Notis ini sekali di dalam akhbar tempatan berbahasa Inggeris iaitu “The Sun” penampalan dan penyiaran disifatkan penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup bagi Notis Kebankrapan tersebut ke atas kamu selepas tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh penampalan atau penyiaran yang terakhir.Jika kamu berniat untuk menentang atau membela diri, kamu Tan Joo Tat [No. K/P: 720803-07-5459] mestilah dalam masa tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk mengenepikan Notis Kebankrapan tersebut dengan memasukkan satu afidavit bagi maksud tersebut di mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Petisyen Pemiutang boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu.Notis Kebankrapan tersebut boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan di Mahkamah ini.Bertarikh pada 12 Mac 2026tandatangan......................MASYITAH BINTI AYOIBPenolong Kanan Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi MalayaGeorgetownNotis ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kek Ooi & Lee Hong, Peguamcara bagi Pemiutang Penghakiman yang dinamakan di atas dan alamat untuk penyampaian kepadanya ialah di 53, Tingkat 1, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 Pulau Pinang. 322 NoticesDALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYADI PULAU PINANGDALAM KEBANKRAPAN NO. PA-29NCC-27-01/2026Per:Chandramohan @ Kasava A/LL.Naranasamy[No. K/P: 621224-02-5605]Penghutang PenghakimanEx parte:Hong Leong Bank Berhad[No. Syarikat: 193401000023(97141-X)]Pemiutang PenghakimanNOTISDalam perkara Notis Kebankrapan yang bertarikh pada 14-01-2026Kepada:CHANDRAMOHAN @ KASAVAA/L L.NARANASAMYNo 15 Lorong Nangka 1Taman Desa Damai 14000 Bukit Mertajam Pulau PinangDan44 Lorong Nangka 5Taman Desa Damai 14000 Bukit Mertajam Pulau PinangDanD/A Fortress Engineering and Services 19 Lorong 1/SS3Bandar Tasek Mutiara Simpang Ampat 14120 Pulau PinangAMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Notis Kebankrapan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh Hong Leong Bank Berhad yang beralamat di Tingkat 30, Menara Hong Leong, No. 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Notis Kebankrapan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya berserta satu salinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti di papan notis Mahkamah Tinggi di Pulau Pinang dan menampal di tempat ketara premis Penghutang Penghakiman di No 15 Lorong Nangka 1, Taman Desa Damai, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang dan di 44 Lorong Nangka 5, Taman Desa Damai, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang dan di D/A Fortress Engineering and Services, 19 Lorong 1/SS3, Bandar Tasek Mutiara, Simpang Ampat, 14120 Pulau Pinang dan menyiarkan Notis ini sekali di dalam akhbar tempatan berbahasa Inggeris iaitu “The Sun” penampalan dan penyiaran disifatkan penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup bagi Notis Kebankrapan tersebut keatas kamu selepas tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh penampalan atau penyiaran yang terakhir.Jika kamu berniat untuk menentang atau membela diri, kamu Chandramohan @ Kasava A/L L.Naranasamy [No. K/P: 621224-02-5605] mestilah dalam masa tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk mengenepikan Notis Kebankrapan tersebut dengan memasukkan satu afidavit bagi maksud tersebut di mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Petisyen Pemiutang boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu.Notis Kebankrapan tersebut boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan di Mahkamah ini.Bertarikh pada 12 Mac 2026tandatangan......................MASYITAH BINTI AYOIBPenolong Kanan PendaftarMahkamah Tinggi MalayaGeorgetownNotis ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kek Ooi & Lee Hong, Peguamcara bagi Pemiutang Penghakiman yang dinamakan di atas dan alamat untuk penyampaian kepadanya ialah di 53, Tingkat 1, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 Pulau Pinang. DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYADI PULAU PINANGDALAM KEBANKRAPAN NO. PA-29NCC-16-01/2026Per:Muhammad Zahir Bin Mat Isa[No. K/P: 771106-02-5923]Penghutang PenghakimanEx parte:Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad[No. Syarikat: 200501009144(686191-W)]Pemiutang PenghakimanNOTISDalam perkara Notis Kebankrapan yang bertarikh pada 12-01-2026Kepada:MUHAMMAD ZAHIR BIN MAT ISA Block C-5-2, Taman Bukit Jambul,Jalan Sungai Nibong,11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.DanPlot 613, Taman Arowana – Phase 2-,KS2 – Alpinia 2,08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah.DanNo. 10, Kg Seberang Alor,Hutan Kampung,05350 Alor Setar, Kedah.AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Notis Kebankrapan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad yang beralamat di Tingkat 30, Menara Hong Leong, No. 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Notis Kebankrapan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya berserta satu salinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti di papan notis Mahkamah Tinggi di Pulau Pinang dan menampal di tempat ketara premis Penghutang Penghakiman di Block C-5-2, Taman Bukit Jambul, Jalan Sungai Nibong, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang dan di Plot 613, Taman Arowana – Phase 2-, KS2 – Alpinia 2, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah dan di No. 10, Kg Seberang Alor, Hutan Kampung, 05350 Alor Setar, Kedah dan menyiarkan Notis ini sekali di dalam akhbar tempatan berbahasa Inggeris iaitu “The Sun” penampalan dan penyiaran disifatkan penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup bagi Notis Kebankrapan tersebut ke atas kamu selepas tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh penampalan atau penyiaran yang terakhir.Jika kamu berniat untuk menentang atau membela diri, kamu Muhammad Zahir Bin Mat Isa [No. K/P: 771106-02-5923] mestilah dalam masa tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk mengenepikan Notis Kebankrapan tersebut dengan memasukkan satu afidavit bagi maksud tersebut di mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Petisyen Pemiutang boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu.Notis Kebankrapan tersebut boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan di Mahkamah ini.Bertarikh pada 12 Mac 2026tandatangan......................MASYITAH BINTI AYOIBPenolong Kanan PendaftarMahkamah Tinggi MalayaGeorgetownNotis ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kek Ooi & Lee Hong, Peguamcara bagi Pemiutang Penghakiman yang dinamakan di atas dan alamat untuk penyampaian kepadanya ialah di 53, Tingkat 1, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 Pulau Pinang. DALAM MAHKAMAH SESYEN DISHAH ALAMDALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN,MALAYSIAWRIT NO. BA-A52NCVC-17-01/2026ANTARATENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD[No. Syarikat: 199001009294 (200866-W)]…PLAINTIFDAN1.CHEW YONG FOO [No. K/P: 840120-11-5091] [Dahulunya berniaga atas nama & gaya Multiblock Network] [No. Syarikat: 201503222308 (002462024-H)]2.CHEW YONG CHIN [No. K/P: 900425-11-5377] [Dahulunya berniaga atas nama & gaya Multiblock Network] [No. Syarikat: 201503222308 (002462024-H)]…DEFENDAN-DEFNDANNOTIS PENYAMPAIANGANTI-BENTUK IKLANKepada,CHEW YONG FOO[Nric No. : 840120-11-5091][formerly doing business under the name & style Multiblock Network][Company No. : 201503222308 (002462024-H)]B-08-08, The Heron Residency, Persiaran BukitPuchong,47100 Puchong,Selangor Darul EhsanAnd/orCHEW YONG CHIN[Nric No. : 900425-11-5377][formerly doing business under the name & style Multiblock Network][Company No. : 201503222308(002462024-H)]B-08-08, The Heron Residency, Persiaran BukitPuchong,47100 Puchong,Selangor Darul EhsanDalam perkara Writ yang dikeluarkan pada 16haribulan Januari 2026.AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan Writtelah dikeluarkan terhadap Defendan-Defendandalam Mahkamah Sesyen di Shah Alamdalam Guaman No. BA-A52NCVC-17-01/2026oleh Tenaga Nasional Berhad [No. Syarikat:199001009294] (200866-W)] di mana tuntutanPlaintif adalah bagi jumlah RM254,734.45 yangmerupakan kehilangan hasil, cukai dan kos operasi yang ditanggung akibat kejanggalandan/atau pengusikan pepasangan meter diPremis No. 12B, Jalan PU 7/3, Taman PuchongUtama, 47140 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan(“Premis tersebut”), bagi Akaun Pengguna No. 210074138200; secara alternatif, restitusi bagijumlah sebanyak RM 254,734.45 bagi jumlahkehilangan hasil termasuk kos operasi dan cukaiberkaitan berkenaan pemeriksaan pepasanganmeter/meter yang dijalankan di Premistersebut pada 27/4/2021; secara alternatif, gantirugi untuk ditaksirkan; faedah atas jumlahpenghakiman pada kadar 5% setahun daritarikh pemeriksaan pepasangan meter pada27/4/2021 sehingga tarikh penghakiman;faedah atas jumlah penghakiman pada kadar5% setahun dari tarikh penghakiman sehinggatarikh penyelesaian penuh; kos dan adalahdiperintahkan bahawa sesalinan Writ danPernyataan Tuntutan kedua-duanya bertarikh16/1/2026 (“Writ tersebut”) berserta PerintahUntuk Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 10 Mac2026 disampaikan kepada kamu melaluiPenyampaian Ganti iaitu dengan menampalkandi Papan Notis Mahkamah Sesyen Shah Alam,di alamat kedua Defendan-Defendan B-08-08,The Heron Residency, Persiaraan Bukit Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan jugamengiklankan notis penyampaian ganti sekalidalam surat khabar harian tempatan “The Sun”dan bahawa penampalan dan pengiklanan itumenjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dancukup ke atas Defendan tersebut empatbelas(14) hari selepas dari tarikh pengiklanan ataupenampalan yang mana terkemudian.Sekiranya kamu berhajat untuk membuatpembelaan terhadap tindakan tersebut, kamumestilah diwakili oleh Peguambela kamu dihadapan Mahkamah Sesyen Shah Alam pada22/4/2026 (secara E-Review), jam 9.00 pagi.Sekiranya kamu gagal berbuat demikian makaPenghakiman Ingkar boleh diberikan terhadapkamu.Bertarikh pada 30 haribulan Mac 2026…..….………tt..…….……..Tetuan Sandosh AnandanPeguamcara bagi PlaintifNotis Penyampaian Ganti Bentuk Iklan inidikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Sandosh Anandan,Peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif yang beralamatdi Unit A502, Blok A, Kelana Square, No. 17,Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya,Selangor Darul Ehsan.Tel: 03-78065819 / 03-7804607Fax: 03-78807409(Ruj: SA/L/TNB/MULTIBLOCK 1/2150/2025/SA)DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DIKUALA LUMPURDALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALALUMPUR, MALAYSIA(BAHAGIAN DAGANG)DALAM PERKARA KEBANKRAPANNO.: WA-29NCC-2957-12/2025BERKENAAN :CHEN GUOHUI[NO. PASPORT REPUBLIKRAKYAT CHINA: EG8638003]PENGHUTANG PENGHAKIMANEX-PARTE :HWA SHEN SDN. BHD.[NO. PENDAFTARAN:201301003900 (1033741-T)]PEMIUTANG PENGHAKIMANN O T I SKepada:CHEN GUOHUI8-14-3, Menara PinangNo. 8, Jalan Kia Peng50450 Kuala Lumpurdan6A, Level 6, Chulan TowerNo. 3, Jalan Conlay50450 Kuala LumpurdanLot 677, Persiaran Subang PermaiUSJ 1, Off Jalan Kewajipan47500 Subang JayaSelangor Darul EhsanAMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu NotisKebankrapan bertarikh 1 Disember 2025(“Notis Kebankrapan tersebut”) telahdikeluarkan terhadap kamu, CHEN GUOHUIdi Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di KualaLumpur oleh HWA SHEN SDN. BHD. yangberalamat di Unit No. 12-06, 12th Floor, Menara TJB, No. 9, Jalan Syed Mohd Mufti,80000 Johor Bahru, Johor dan Mahkamahini telah memerintahkan bahawa NotisKebankrapan tersebut disampaikanterhadap kamu secara penyampaian gantidengan menampalkan sesalinan NotisKebankrapan tersebut berserta dengansesalinan Perintah penyampaian ganti(“Kertas-kertas kausa tersebut”) padaPapan Notis Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya diKuala Lumpur dan pada suatu bahagianyang terang di premis alamat-alamatterakhir kamu yang diketahui, iaitu di6A, Level 6, Chulan Tower, No. 3, JalanConlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur dan di Lot677, Persiaran Subang Permai, USJ 1, OffJalan Kewajipan, 47500 Subang Jaya,Selangor Darul Ehsan dan di pos pengawalkeselamatan di 8-14-3, Menara Pinang, No. 8, Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur dandengan mengiklankan sekali Notis ini dalamsuatu surat khabar tempatan iaitu “TheSun”, DAN AKHIRNYA DIPERINTAHKANbahawa penampalan dan pengiklanansedemikian akan dianggap sebagaipenyampaian sempurna dan memadai bagiNotis Kebankrapan tersebut terhadap kamuempat belas (14) hari selepas tarikh akhirpenampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut.Sekiranya kamu berhasrat untukmembantah Notis Kebankrapan tersebut,kamu dikehendaki untuk memfailkansama ada Afidavit atau Notis Permohonandisokong dengan Afidavit bagi maksudtersebut dalam tempoh tujuh (7) hariselepas tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanantersebut dilaksanakan. Jika kamu ingkarberbuat demikian, Petisyen Pemiutang akandifailkan terhadap kamu.Notis Kebankrapan tersebut boleh diperiksaoleh kamu atas permintaan di Mahkamahini.Bertarikh 19 Januari 2026………………………………Penolong Kanan PendaftarMahkamah Tinggi MalayaKuala LumpurNOTIS ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kee Sern,Siu & Huey, peguamcara PemiutangPenghakiman yang mempunyai alamatpenyampaian di No. 468-11E(2), Tingkat2, Blok C, Rivercity, Jalan Sultan AzlanShah (dahulunya Jalan Ipoh), 51200 KualaLumpur.(603) 9212 2688(603) 4044 0448Emel: [email protected][Ruj:HW/ASX/LKS/GL06/HSSB- CG/250713]DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYADI KUALA LUMPURDALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUANKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA(BAHAGIAN DAGANG)DALAM PERKARA KEBANKRAPANNO.: WA-29NCC-2956-12/2025BERKENAAN:YONG KAR MOH[NO. K/P: 710925-10-5127]PENGHUTANG PENGHAKIMANEX-PARTE:HWA SHEN SDN. BHD.[NO. PENDAFTARAN:201301003900 (1033741-T)]PEMIUTANG PENGHAKIMANN O T I SKepada:YONG KAR MOHA-32-3, Mont Kiara Verve SuitesJalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara50480 Kuala LumpurAMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu NotisKebankrapan bertarikh 1 Disember2025 (“Notis Kebankrapan tersebut”)telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu,YONG KAR MOH di Mahkamah TinggiMalaya di Kuala Lumpur oleh HWA SHEN SDN. BHD. yang beralamat diUnit No. 12-06, 12th Floor, Menara TJB, No. 9, Jalan Syed Mohd Mufti, 80000Johor Bahru, Johor dan Mahkamah initelah memerintahkan bahawa NotisKebankrapan tersebut disampaikanterhadap kamu secara penyampaianganti dengan menampalkan sesalinanNotis Kebankrapan tersebut bersertadengan sesalinan Perintah penyampaianganti (“Kertas-kertas kausa tersebut”)pada Papan Notis Mahkamah TinggiMalaya di Kuala Lumpur dan pada suatubahagian yang terang di pos pengawalkeselamatan premis alamat terakhirkamu yang diketahui, iaitu di A-32-3,Mont Kiara Verve Suites, Jalan Kiara 5,Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur dandengan mengiklankan sekali Notis inidalam suatu surat khabar tempataniaitu “The Sun”, DAN AKHIRNYA DIPERINTAHKAN bahawa penampalandan pengiklanan sedemikian akandianggap sebagai penyampaiansempurna dan memadai bagi NotisKebankrapan tersebut terhadap kamuempat belas (14) hari selepas tarikhakhir penampalan dan pengiklanantersebut.Sekiranya kamu berhasrat untukmembantah Notis Kebankrapantersebut, kamu dikehendaki untukmemfailkan sama ada Afidavit atau NotisPermohonan disokong dengan Afidavitbagi maksud tersebut dalam tempohtujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh penampalandan pengiklanan tersebut dilaksanakan.Jika kamu ingkar berbuat demikian,Petisyen Pemiutang akan difailkanterhadap kamu.Notis Kebankrapan tersebut bolehdiperiksa oleh kamu atas permintaan diMahkamah ini.Bertarikh 19 Januari 2026………………………………Penolong Kanan PendaftarMahkamah Tinggi MalayaKuala LumpurNOTIS ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Kee Sern,Siu & Huey, peguamcara PemiutangPenghakiman yang mempunyai alamatpenyampaian di No. 468-11E(2), Tingkat2, Blok C, Rivercity, Jalan Sultan AzlanShah (dahulunya Jalan Ipoh), 51200Kuala Lumpur.(603) 9212 2688(603) 4044 0448Emel: [email protected][Ruj:HW/ASX/LKS/GL06/HSSB-YKM/250712]DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DIKUALA KUBU BHARUDALAM NEGERISELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIAGUAMAN SIVIL NO. :BF-A72NCvC-338-12/2025ANTARAMAJLIS PERBANDARAN HULU SELANGOR(dahulunya dikenali sebagai MAJLIS DAERAHHULU SELANGOR)... PLAINTIFDANCHAN KAM KHIONG @ TAM KAM KHIONG (NO. K/P : 460731-10-5293)…DEFENDANNOTIS(Dalam perkara Writ SamanNo. : BF-A72NCvC-338-12/2025dan Pernyataan Tuntutan yangkedua-duanya bertarikh 19.12.2025)Kepada : -CHAN KAM KHIONG @ TANG KAM KHIONGLot 563/564Kampung Tasek Permai68000 Ampang, SelangorDan/atauCHAN KAM KHIONG @ TANG KAM KHIONGNo. 31 Jalan Kemboja 3EPerniagaan Jalan KembojaBukit Sentosa48300 Rawang, SelangorAMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu Writ Samandan Pernyataan Tuntutan yang kedua-duanyabertarikh 19.12.2025 (selepas ini dirujuksebagai “Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutantersebut”) telah dimulakan terhadap kamu diMahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu dalamGuaman Sivil No. : BF-A72NCvC-338-12/2025ini oleh MAJLIS PERBANDARAN HULUSELANGOR yang beralamat di Jalan BukitKerajaan, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, SelangorDarul Ehsan dan Mahkamah ini telahmemerintahkan supaya Writ Saman danPernyataan Tuntutan tersebut di sampaikankepada kamu secara penyampaian gantiiaitu dengan menampalkan satu salinan WritSaman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebutbeserta satu salinan Perintah bertarikh06.03.2026 (selepas ini dirujuk sebagai“Perintah tersebut’) di papan notis MahkamahMajistret Kuala Kubu Bharu dan denganmenampal satu salinan Writ Saman danPernyataan Tuntutan tersebut dan Perintahtersebut di alamat-alamat terakhir kamuyang diketahui di Lot 563/564, KampungTasek Permai, 68000 Ampang, Selangordan/atau di No. 31, Jalan Kemboja 3E,Perniagaan Jalan Kemboja, Bukit Sentosa,48300 Rawang, Selangor; dan denganmengiklankan satu Notis PenyampaianGanti mengenai tindakan ini sekali dalammana-mana satu keluaran surat khabar“THE SUN”. DAN BAHAWA penyampaiansecara penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebutakan dianggap sempurna dan sah ke ataskamu selepas tamatnya tempoh tujuh (7)hari daripada tarikh akhir penampalan dan/atau pengiklanan yang mana lebih lewat.Dan Selanjutnya bahawa selepas tamatnyatempoh tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh akhirpenampalan atau pengiklanan tersebut, yangmana lebih lewat, sekiranya kamu gagal untukmemasukkan memorandum Kehadiran dalamtempoh tersebut, Plaintif diberi kebenaranuntuk memasukkan suatu PenghakimanIngkar Kehadiran terhadap kamu. Jika kamuberhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut,kamu mestilah hadir samada secara sendiriatau melalui peguambela kamu di hadapanMAJISTRET, MAHKAMAH MAJISTRETKUALA KUBU BHARU, 44000 KUALA KUBUBHARU, SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN PADA06.04.2026 PADA PUKUL 9.00 PAGI. Jikakamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, penghakimanboleh diberikan terhadap kamu.Notis boleh diperiksa oleh kamu denganmemohon kepada Mahkamah ini.Bertarikh pada 02 April, 2026.................................t.t...............................Tetuan Zainal Ithnin & PartnersPeguamcara bagi pihak PlaintifNOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh TetuanZainal Ithnin & Partners, peguamcara bagipihak Plaintif yang dinamakan di atas yangberalamat di No 7-2-1, Tingkat 2 Jalan MedanPB4A, Pusat Bandar Seksyen 9, 43650 BandarBaru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan.(Tel : 03-89250234/0244/0264Faks : 03-89250269)[Ruj : ZLT/MPHS/CTF3/CKH/178/19(NAR]322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 NoticesNOTICE OFAPPLICATION FORVOLUTARY WINDING UPOF LIMITED LIABILITYPARTNERSHIP(Section 50(4)(a) ofthe Limited LiabilityPartnerships Act2012)Notice is hereby giventhat GREEN TECHNOLOGYSOLUTIONS PLT (LLPNo. 201904003844(LLP0022656-LGN))will be making anapplication to theRegistrar of LimitedLiability Partnershipsfor a declaration ofdissolution pursuantto section 50(2) ofthe Limited LiabilityPartnerships Act 2012within seven (7) daysafter the publication ofthis notice. Any partneror creditor of the LLPdesiring to object to theapplication may do so inwriting to the CompaniesCommission of Malaysiawithin thirty (30) daysfrom the date of thisnotice.Dated: 2nd April 2026322 NoticesGOLF SUPERSTAR Tiger Woods said yesterday he was “stepping away” to seek treatment and focus on his health after his arrest last week in Florida for driving under the influence. Woods crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home last Friday. The 15-time major champion was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him, but has pleaded not guilty to DUI charges, telling authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels. “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” said Woods in a statement yesterday. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.” Woods, 50, had previously suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021 single-car crash in California. During the latest accident, Woods rolled his vehicle onto its side and was forced to exit from the passenger’s side door. Neither he nor the truck driver were injured. Woods was charged with suspicion of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test, when he would not submit to urine tests after a breathalyzer test showed no alcohol in his system. Woods posted bond and was released from the Martin County jail on Friday night. He entered a not guilty plea in Martin Circuit Court. Woods waived a planned arraignment and has demanded a jury trial in the matter. In the accident report from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, authorities said Woods “stated he was looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station and did not notice the vehicle in front of him had slowed down.” Sheriff’s deputies said in the report that Woods was observed “sweating profusely” and described his movements as “lethargic and slow” and he was “limping and stumbling to the right” while walking. Police said in the report that Woods was found with two hydrocodone pills, an opioid painkiller, and appeared unable to safely drive a vehicle when apprehended. Asked about his medical condition, the report said, “Woods advised he’s had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg… Woods advised he has a limp and his ankle seizes while walking.” Woods underwent emergency surgery for multiple compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle following his California crash in 2021. He returned to competition at the 2022 Masters and finished 47th despite struggling simply to walk 72 holes at Augusta National. Next week, Woods is scheduled to attend the Champions Dinner at Augusta National ahead of the 90th Masters. – AFPTiger back into the WoodsFifteen-time major champion ‘stepping away’ to focus on health after DUI arrestGolf superstar Tiger Woods. – AFPPIC
SPORTSTHURSDAY | APR 2, 202629/theSunMediaFOLLOW ON YOUTUBE/Malaysian PaperGyokeres late strike completes Sweden’s ‘great escape’ SWEDEN finished rock bottom of their qualifying group with no wins yet booked their World Cup spot yesterday with a frantic playoff victory over Poland as manager Graham Potter orchestrated a stunning “great escape” five months after taking charge. Viktor Gyokeres struck two minutes from time to complete a 3-2 win and settle their qualification playoff final, sending Sweden back to the World Cup after sitting out the last edition in Qatar. Sweden’s qualifying path was statistically dismal. They earned only two points from six matches in Group B, with a friendly loss to Luxembourg in the same period. By contrast, Italy, whose World Cup hopes ended in a playoff defeat to Bosnia on Tuesday, won six of their eight qualifying games. Sweden, however, had a safety net as a 2024-25 Nations League group win offered them a backdoor route to the 2026 World Cup via the playoffs. Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked in October, with his time in charge viewed widely as a disaster. The sacking cleared the path for Potter’s return to the country where he led Ostersunds FK to a spot in the Europa League. The psychological shift under Potter was most evident in the 3-1 semifinal victory over Ukraine last week. Sweden displayed a clinical composure that had been missing during their winless qualifying campaign. It was a far cry from the mental fragility and frequent second-half collapses seen under Tomasson. Against Poland, that composure was even more evident as Sweden were twice pegged back but scored late to secure their place at the World Cup. “We have very good players and strong leadership, which has helped us a lot since they came in. We all appreciate them greatly. “They have created an environment where we can simply enjoy our football,“ goalscorer Anthony Elanga told Swedish media after the win over Poland. “We defend together and attack together. I think that is the most important thing.” – ReutersTHE Czech Republic clinched a place at this year’s World Cup by beating a battling Denmark side 3-1 on penalties in their playoff final after an absorbing encounter in which they led in both normal time and extra-time yesterday. The hosts were pegged back to 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and 2-2 after the extra period before Michal Sadilek sent Denmark’s Mads Hermansen the wrong way to win the shootout, sending the Czechs to their first World Cup since 2006. “The story is so beautiful – we’ve made it after 20 years,” Sadilek told Czech television. “I’ve lost my voice, and I hope to find it soon because I’ll need it for the celebrations.” The Czechs – who beat Ireland in a shootout in the playoff semifinals last week – stunned Denmark when Pavel Sulc found the top corner with a firsttime strike after three minutes. Denmark found their footing after the early setback and deservedly levelled in the 72nd minute through a Joachim Andersen header before Czech captain Krejci and Denmark’s Kasper Hogh scored in extra-time to send the match to penalties. Krejci, who missed in the shootout, lauded his team’s performance versus a side he thought were superior on the night after a match in which all four goals came from set pieces. “Before the match, I said the better team doesn’t always win – the team that wants it more does, and that was us,” he said. “Penalties are a bit of a lottery but they also reflected the way we approached the game. I’m proud of everyone.” In the shootout, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund smashed his attempt against the bar before teammate Anders Dreyer’s effort was saved and Mathias Jensen skied his shot over the bar. Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said it did not matter that his team outplayed the hosts at a raucous epet Arena. “When finals like this happen and penalty shootouts like this happen, anything can happen,” he told TV 2 Sport. “We saw that today too. We were a better team but it doesn’t (matter) because we are not going to the World Cup.” – ReutersCzech Rep down Denmark in penalty shootout Turkey end 24-year WC drought TURKEY ended a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final yesterday, sealing a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002 when they reached the semifinals. Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in the 53rd minute, turning the ball in from close range after Orkun Kokcu’s shot, following a driving run from Kenan Yildiz down the left. “Thank God. It has been 24 years. Some of us were not even born the last time we qualified, and some were too young to remember. We always dreamed of moments like this,” Kerem told Turkish TV. “We talked about 2002 and the success there, we always dreamed of it. Most of us don’t even remember 2002. Now we will give the next generation something to dream about at the 2026 World Cup. “We want to make our country proud,” he added. Turkey, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and arrived under pressure to deliver, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging talents and experienced internationals. “Emotionally I am at the top. I am incredibly proud. I wouldn’t change my players for a thing. Anyone who does this job dreams of the World Cup, I am incredibly grateful to my players. We have achieved our dream,” Montella told Turkish state news agency Anadolu. “It is an incredible feeling, I cannot describe it in words. The World Cup is the pinnacle,” he added. Turks took to the streets to celebrate the national team reaching their third World Cup, waving flags from honking cars and gathering on main streets. For Kosovo, ranked 79th and playing in front of a sold-out crowd, the defeat brought an end to a remarkable run that had taken them to the brink of a historic debut at a major tournament, less than a decade after joining Fifa and Uefa. COACH Graham Arnold challenged his team to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico yesterday. Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at the 1986 finals in Mexico. “With everything going on in the Middle East at the moment it made it harder for the players,” said the Australian Arnold, who had initially sought to have the fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the conflict. “Delighted for the players, very good boys, very happy for the 46 million Iraqis,” he added. “Hopefully it will help change the perception of Iraq and the football in Iraq. Doing something in the World Cup nobody expects us to do. “Let’s shock the world.” Because of travel disruption caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a gruelling threeday journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan. But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker Ali – the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war. Iraq midfielder Amir won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra. From the subsequent set piece Ali curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of AlHamadi who nodded home for 1-0. Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalized after 38 minutes. Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net. The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half. Iraq regained the lead eight minutes after the break, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko LawkFarji. His cross found captain Aymen and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner. Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held firm during nine minutes of stoppage time. The 62-year-old Arnold, who took Australia to the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, said: “We have two months to get fit. For us to do something at this World Cup would be a miracle.” – AFP‘Let’s shock the world’Iraq seal World Cup return after 40 years with famous win over BoliviaIraq’s Zaid Tahseen celebrates with the national flag after defeating Bolivia 2-1 yesterday to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. – REUTERSPIC
SPORTSTHURSDAY | APR 2, 202630COACHHajime Moriyasu cautioned it was only a friendly, but Japan’s slice of history with a statement 1-0 win over England at Wembley shows they could go deep at the World Cup. Japan strolled through Asian qualifying to become the first team to seal their place at the finals in North America and beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly at home in October. Yesterday they faced England, who like Brazil are among the favourites to win the showpiece this summer, and were full value for their victory. Kaoru Mitoma’s composed finish in the first half at Wembley condemned England to their first defeat by Asian nation. Moriyasu has said that Japan want to win the 2026 World Cup, and on this evidence that does not seem quite so outlandish. But Moriyasu struck a note of caution, especially with Thomas Tuchel’s England missing the influential trio Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. “Coming to the World Cup, I know it will be a totally different team for England,” said the coach, whose side beat Scotland 1-0 on Saturday in Glasgow. “Also, for us, this game at the end of the day is just a friendly game, so we must keep that in mind as well.” Japan, Asia’s highest-ranked side at 18 in the world, are in a testing group with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. But they should have more than enough to make it through, as they attempt to go beyond the World Cup last 16 for the first time. At Qatar 2022, Samurai Blue beat Spain and Germany in the group phase, before losing on penalties to Croatia in the knockout rounds. They look well equipped to go further this time with a squad full of technically gifted players who ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues. Following the England victory, Moriyasu again said that winning the World Cup was the goal. Moriyasu has his side finely tuned and they know exactly what to expect from him, having been in charge since 2018. “I’m confident that we can win no matter who we face,“ he said. – AFP6111/2026 01/04/2026 (WED)7497 6981 76965993287549568943374052831433073952159597060346663199481122564665164638437163719921,242,260.54749774977497769676966981769676966981698174976981357,723.88749769817696 BOAR1775122974297497438078 7 43 47617346173417347347617376177617 66,746,020.542,032,789.307 5 10 34 40 46 3100,000.0042 44 47 49 51 546 10 28 33 42 48 1121,325,309.206RM194,725Toto 4D Jackpot 2 (i-System)won on 29/03/2026 !805 766 +ROOSTER366 730 +MONKEY940 610 + TIGERDraw Date: 01/04/26 (Wed) Draw No: 6058/26 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL5766673006109395 + 6496 8834 + 11397989 + 0567 8712 + 76866791 + 4724 2535 + 04989382 + 7264 4360 + 14150725 + 9971 1938 + 0577RM11,230,932.005766 + 6730 6730 + 57665766 + 0610 0610 + 57666730 + 0610 0610 + 6730RM140,174.30RM661,388.80 RM1,065,833.30 RM1,233,339.00 149 395 806 496 668 834 831 139947 989 880 567 008 712 337 686856 791 074 724 162 535 730 498149 382 257 264 104 360 181 415400 725 209 971 831 938 180 577766 730 610RM1,457,336.50766 + 730 + 610 730 + 610 + 766766 + 610 + 730 610 + 766 + 730730 + 766 + 610 610 + 730 + 7661+3D J2 RM577,547.80 won on29/3/26!De Zerbi gets Spurs job R Former Brighton coach given five-year deal despite backlash from fansOBERTO DE ZERBI has been named as the new Tottenham boss on a five-year contract, tasked with saving them from a Premier League relegation despite a number of supporters’ groups having urged Spurs not to appoint him. Tottenham parted ways with Igor Tudor “by mutual consent” on Sunday after a disastrous sevengame spell that lasted just 44 days and left the north London club in dire straits, only one point and one place above West Ham in the Premier League relegation zone and in real danger of dropping out of the top flight since 1977. They are winless in their last 13 Premier League games, their longest run without a top-flight success in 91 years and endured an embarrassing 5-2 capitulation against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash before a futile second-leg success served as their only win under Tudor, who was a leftfield appointment when he replaced Thomas Frank in February. But the club has opted for ex-Brighton and Marseille coach De Zerbi, who left the Ligue 1 side in February. It was initially thought that the 46-year-old was only happy to join Spurs at the end of the season, once he knew their League status, but has had a change of heart and will become head coach immediately to try and steer them away from the drop. He has signed a long-term deal, with no relegation clause. A Tottenham statement said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as our new men’s head coach on a long-term contract, subject to work permit.” In a statement accompanying Tottenham’s announcement, De Zerbi insisted he is committed to the club’s “ambition for the future”. The Italian lasted less than two seasons in his previous two spells at Brighton and Marseille, and he has been immediately thrown into a relegation battle. “I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” said De Zerbi. “In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it. “Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.” De Zerbi developed a reputation for possession-based, attacking football while in charge of Benevento and Sassuolo in his homeland before a spell at Shakhtar Donetsk was cut short by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He joined Brighton and secured European football for the first time in the Seagulls’ history during his first season in charge – ultimately reaching the last 16 of the Europa League during the following campaign. That success saw him linked with managerial vacancies at giants such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich but his relationship with Brighton hierarchy completely broke down, leading to a mutual parting of ways at the end of the 2023/24 season. He then joined Marseille, finishing second in Ligue 1 in 2024/25 but leaving by mutual agreement in February 2026 after a Champions League exit in the league phase and a 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain domestically. – The Independent‘Samurai Blue can go far’Ű BY LUKE BAKERJapan’s Ayumu Seko (top) vies with England Jarrod Bowen for the ball during a international friendly match at Wembley Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIC
SPORTSTHURSDAY | APR 2, 202631HARIMAU MALAYA head coach Peter Cklamovski remained proud of the fighting spirit shown by the national team despite their 1-3 defeat to Vietnam in their final Group F match of the Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh on Tuesday night. Cklamovski said that, overall, based on performances on the pitch, Malaysia deserved to qualify on merit but admitted that off-field factors had ultimately affected the team’s chances. “On merit, on the field, we deserve to qualify. However, off the field is where we’ve been hurt. So when you put that into the equation of how the players feel, how they fight, and how they performed tonight away from home in front of a sell-out crowd, I couldn’t be prouder of them. “They did it for themselves, their families, for the nation of Malaysia and they did it for the next generation. They are truly an inspiration for Malaysia,” he told the post-match press conference. In Tuesday night’s’ encounter, goals from captain Do Duy Manh and a brace by naturalised forward Nguyen Xuan Son put the hosts in control before substitute Endrick Dos Santos scored from a penalty for Malaysia. Reflecting on the match, Cklamovski said his side showed encouraging attacking intent, particularly in the first half, but failed to capitalise on key chances. “In the first half, I thought after conceding early, there was a great response from our players. We created some really good moments and had opportunities to bring the game back to 1-1. “That would have been a game-changing moment, but credit to Vietnam because they took their chances. Their big Brazilian made a match-defining impact and finished well. “We had four or five really good chances to put the ball in the back of the net, and these are the moments that change football games,” the Australian tactician said. The hosts opened the scoring in the sixth minute through a powerful header by Duy Manh, who converted from a corner taken by Truong Tien Anh. Harimau Malaya had a chance to equalise in the 10th minute but Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim’s attempted chip, following a setup by Paulo Josue, went off target. Vietnam nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute when a long-range strike by Nguyen Hoang Duc rattled the crossbar, with national goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi beaten. However, Ahmad Syihan came to the rescue FORMER England U-21 international Axel Tuanzebe basked in the adulation of one of Africa’s largest nations yesterday after his goal in extra-time against Jamaica put the Democratic Republic of Congo into the World Cup. The centreback kneed the ball home in their inter-confederation playoff final to book a first World Cup place for the Congolese since they appeared at the 1974 tournament when the country was still known as Zaire. “To get the winning goal for the country, this is what, as a young boy, you dream about,” said Tuanzebe. “It’s happened for me, and I’m so very happy. I’m so proud of what I could do for my country.” Tuanzebe is Congolese-born but moved with his family to Britain as a five-year-old. He joined Manchester United aged eight and was included in the first-team squad when only 17. A member of England’s junior sides, he was released by Manchester United in 2023 and went to Ipswich Town in the Championship. Congo, who will play in Group K at the finals with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan, made overtures for him to play at the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2024 but he only switched allegiance at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. “My dad has been with me all the way and is here,” said Tuanzebe, pointing at the stands at the Estadio Guadalajara. “My brother too,” added the defender, who moved to Burnley at the start of the season. With a population of almost 110 million DR Congo is one of the continent’s most populous countries, but the majority of its team is made up of players from an extensive diaspora across Europe, who coach Sebastien Desabre said had forged a tight group. “I’m so happy for the Congolese people and these players. They have fought resiliently through these qualifiers,” the French-born coach said. –ReutersDefiant Cklamovski Harimau Malaya deserve to qualify despite Vietnam defeat, says coachWORLD CUP (Playoff finals)Bosnia-Hercegovina 1 (Tabakovic 79)Italy 1 (Kean 15) aet – Bosnia win 4-1 on pen, Sweden 3 (Elanga 20, Lagerbielke 44, Gyokeres 88) Poland 2 (Zalewski 33, Swiderski 55), Kosovo 0 Turkey 1 (Akturkoglu 53), Czech Republic 2 (Sulc 3, Krejci 100)Denmark 2 (Andersen 72, Hogh 111) aet – Czech Rep win 3-1 on pen, DR Congo 1 (Tuanzebe 100) Jamaica 0 aet, Iraq 2 (Ali 10, Aymen 53) Bolivia 1 (Paniagua 38).WORLD CUP GROUPSGroup A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic. Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland. Group D:United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey. Group E:Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia. Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay. Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan. Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia. Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES Equatorial Guinea 1 Madagascar 1, Australia 5 Curacao 1, Kazakhstan 1 Comoros 0, Botswana 1 Malawi 0, Iran 5 Costa Rica 0, Niger 0 Togo 1, Liberia 2 Libya 2, San Marino 0 Andorra 0, Norway 0 Switzerland 0, Serbia 2 Saudi Arabia 1, Montenegro 2 Slovenia 3, Russia 0 Mali 0, Hungary 0 Greece, Jordan 2 Nigeria 2, South Africa 1 Panama 2, Haiti 1 Iceland 1, Morocco 2 Paraguay 1, Guinea 0 Benin 1, Peru 2 Honduras 2, Ivory Coast 1 Scotland 0, Algeria 0 Uruguay 0, Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1, Ukraine 1 Albania 0, England 0 Japan 1, Wales 1 Northern Ireland 1, Austria 1 South Korea 0, Republic of Ireland 0 North Macedonia 0, Slovakia 2 Romania 0, Senegal 3 Gambia 1, Spain 0 Egypt 0, Burkina Faso 1 Guinea-Bissau 1, United States 0 Portugal 2, Argentina 5 Zambia 0, Brazil 3 Croatia 1, Mexico 1 Belgium 1, Canada 0 Tunisia 0.RESULTS & GROUPINGTuanzebe shines for Congo as they qualify for WCAll jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info.THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY348/26 01/04/202641676654447688052530521566960630493181818756377057452066760735788231615798948952481458745805RM4,915,647.76RM133,197.024167 + 66546654 + 41674476 + 41674167 + 44766654 + 44764476 + 66546 10 15 22 28 29 31 3617 27RM11,836,261.45RM208,231.6667547667547 754766754 5476675 47667 765 40 1Congo’s Axel Tuanzebe (right) and Jamaica’s Leon Bailey vie for the ball during their World Cup playoff final match in Mexico yesterday. – AFPPICwith a crucial touch to deny Do Hoang Hen’s effort inside the penalty box in the 32nd minute, as the score remained 0-1 at halftime. Vietnam got their second goal through a header by naturalised striker Xuan Son, who met a cross from Hoang Hen in the 51st minute. Xuan Son struck again when he was left unmarked in the penalty area to head home a cross from Tien Anh in the 59th minute, putting Kim Sang Sik’s men comfortably ahead at 3-0. Malaysia pulled one back via a penalty converted by substitute Dos Santos in the 77th minute, but were forced to accept defeat, extending their winless run against Vietnam away from home since 2014. After six matches, Vietnam, who have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Finals, collected 18 points, followed by Malaysia in second place (9pts), Laos in third (6pts) and Nepal at the bottom (3pts). Malaysia’s hopes of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup Finals on merit for a second consecutive time were dashed after being handed a points deduction by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Recently, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee found that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had breached Article 56 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code for fielding ineligible players in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Nepal and Vietnam last year. – AFPPlayers from Malaysia and Vietnam in action during the Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh on Tuesday night.– BERNAMAPIC
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: [email protected] THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026SCAN MEOh no, not again!Italy miss out on World Cup for third straight time after shootout loss to BosniaITALY’S agonising World Cup exile continues after they fell to a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their playoff final yesterday following a 1-1 draw. Four-time champions Italy had lost out at the playoff stage to miss the last two World Cups, and their last qualification in 2014 coincided with Bosnia’s only previous appearance. Since lifting the trophy in 2006, Italy have won one game at the finals. Bosnia will play in Group B at the World Cup, joining co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland, while Italy will be left with some serious soul-searching to do after yet another failure. Bosnia had suffered plenty of playoff heartbreak themselves, missing out on the 2010 World Cup and the last four European Championships, but they came from behind yesterday and their keeper did not need to make a save when the shootout came around. “These boys have a character and we knew they will make us proud,” Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez told reporters. “These young players have this feeling, they don’t think at all, they go to the pitch with brutal calmness.” Italy got off to the perfect start, with Moise Kean putting them ahead in the 15th minute, but had Alessandro Bastoni sent off three minutes before the break to raise the hopes of the home side. Bosnia levelled 11 minutes from time through Haris Tabakovic and both Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties while the hosts made no mistake from the spot to repeat their semifinal shootout win over Wales. Kerim Alajbegovic came off the bench to net the winning penalty against Wales, and the 18-year-old again showed nerves of steel, converting one of Bosnia’s spot-kicks against Italy. “I am so proud that we fought fiercely till the end,” he said. “I knew that I’d score the penalty regardless of who the goalkeeper is. Thanks everybody for being at the stadium, the atmosphere was brutal, we are going now to celebrate.” World Cup qualification was once a mere formality for Italy –their only previous absence before this barren spell came in 1958 –but they are now the only tournament winners to miss out on three successive finals. “Italian children will see another World Cup without Italy,” tearful winger Leonardo Spinazzola told RAI. “I still can’t believe that we went out like this, after playing with 10 men. With grit, we took it to penalties, we could have scored three or four goals and it’s really a great disappointment for everyone.” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso was emotional and apologetic after yesterday’s defeat and refused to talk about his future. “Today the boys didn’t deserve a beating like this,” a teary-eyed Gattuso told RAI. “We were left with 10 players, we had three decent chances and they barely troubled us. I’m sorry, this is football and I’m proud of my boys. “It hurts, because we needed it for us, for all of Italy and for our movement. A blow that’s difficult to digest.” Gattuso and Italy were incensed when a foul by Tarik Muharemovic on the edge of the area brought just a yellow card early in extratime, but the manager did not want to talk about refereeing decisions. “I don’t want to talk about anything, but today it’s unfair,” he said. “I have been in the world of football for years, sometimes I have rejoiced and today I take a beating. It’s hard to digest, they surprised me too for the heart they put into it. “We’re talking for the umpteenth time that we don’t go to the World Cup. I apologise if I didn’t make it, but the boys impressed me today.” When asked about his future, Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti early in the qualification campaign after defeat to Norway, said: “Today talking about my future is not important, it was important to go to the World Cup,” he replied. “We hold onto this performance, but it hurts and I’m sorry.” “It’s really painful. I would have given anything today, I would have given up years of my life, money, for us to achieve our goal,” added Gattuso. The head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina told reporters that he had asked Gattuso to stay on. “The mood is quite evident, especially for how this result has matured,” he said. “Allow me to congratulate the boys, in recent months they have had incredible growth, many of you have not been able to appreciate the climate and atmosphere in recent months. “I want to congratulate Rino Gattuso. He is a great coach, I asked him to stay at the helm with these boys. There is little to comment, the coach called them heroic. Then, I understand there are several evaluations to be made.” Reuters/AFPItaly’s Alessandro Bastoni (sitting) receives a red card from referee Clement Turpin during the World Cup European qualification final against Bosnia at the Bilino-Polje stadium yesterday. – AFPPICKerim Alajbegovic (left) celebrates after converting one of Bosnia’s spot-kicks against Italy during yesterday’s World Cup playoff final. – REUTERSPIC