The Sun 191120

œ œ INSIDE
 

PAC probe on page Shame driving page
TELLING IT AS IT IS 3 issues starts abused men
2 3

Nov 30 to silence

ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020

No. 7663 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my

LONELY AT THE FRONT ... A Labuan
Health Department personnel cuts a lonely
figure as he walks past a shuttered shop on
the way to conduct Covid-19 screening in
the commercial heart of the federal territory,
which is under conditional movement
control order, yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX

No go for Batu Sapi

█ BY NICOLAS ANIL oKing proclaims emergency in Sabah page
[email protected] parliamentary constituency
18
PETALING JAYA: The Batu Sapi by- Warisan Sabah on Oct 2. The EC has earlier set Hardest hit are Selangor and the Federal
election that has been scheduled for Nov 23 for nomination, Dec 1 for early voting Territory of Kuala Lumpur which have been Tugging the
Dec 5 will not proceed until the and Dec 5 for polling. chalking up several hundred new cases every heartstrings
country comes out of the Covid-19 day.
crisis. For Malaysians, the move could not have Nationwide, the daily tally has risen to as
come at a better time. The nation saw a sharp high as 1,800 infections.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah increase in the number of Covid-19 cases for In a statement issued after the King’s
Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah weeks after the conclusion of the Sabah state audience with Muhyiddin, Noor Hisham and
proclaimed an emergency in the Sabah election in September. Ghani, Istana Negara said the King felt “the NEXT GEN
parliamentary constituency on the advice of best way forward is for the by-election to be
Health Director-General Tan Sri Noor Hisham The surge was blamed mostly on the failure postponed for the safety and well-
Abdullah and Election Commission (EC) of candidates and supporters to observe the being of the people”.
chairman Datuk Ghani Salleh yesterday. standard operating procedure during the This is likely to set the Turn to
campaigning period as well as on polling day. groundwork for two other by- —
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, elections that have to be held page 3
who was also at Istana Negara for an audience The rapid increase in the daily tally of new within the next 60 days.
with the King, made the announcement “live” cases has spread to the peninsula as Sabahans
on TV in the late afternoon yesterday. who had flown home to cast their votes
returned to work.
Muhyiddin said a new date will be set for
the by-election, made necessary by the death
of incumbent Datuk Liew Vui Keong of Parti

2 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

RAJVINDER SINGH ATTHE DEWAN RAKYAT

PAC probe on 3 issues begins on Nov 30

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public o Land swap involving Defence Ministry, AES Wong said the PAC will start its Transport Ministry through
Accounts Committee is set to probe and the 1Bestarinet project merits investigation, proceedings by calling the first outsourcing.
from Nov 30 three issues, namely a says committee chief witness, the defence ministry’s
land swap involving the Defence secretary-general, on Nov 30 and LTAT is a statutory body
Ministry, Automated Enforcement set up in May 2018 to investigate cases where political considerations after that it will decide on other established by an Act of Parliament,
System (AES) and the 1Bestarinet acquisition and purchase of assets by took precedence over defence witnesses who need to be called. Act 101, in 1973 as a savings scheme
project. ministries in terms of interests. for officers of the armed forces and to
misappropriation, abuse of power or “Land swap is a method used to On the AES, he said the issue is provide retirement and other benefits
PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh any financial waste. develop the Defence Ministry’s that the Armed Forces Fund Board to members of other ranks.
said the issues were brought to its facilities financed through the (LTAT) had paid RM555 million to
attention by the Governance, Speaking at a media conference, exchange of federal land with the take over the concession when the On the 1BestariNet System
Procurement and Investigation Wong said the committee had private sector. previous concessionaire had only Services project, Wong said the
committee. investigated 16 land swap deals “It is intended to meet the invested RM40 million in the project. governance panel found weaknesses
involving 1,170ha of government development allocation and negligence in the
He said during Monday’s meeting land valued at RM4.8 billion. requirements that are found to be He said the governance implementation of the project which
with the governance panel, its head insufficient for plans to upgrade and committee investigated the rationale led to its objectives not being met.
Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, who is the He said the deals resulted in the build new military facilities.” behind LTAT’s decision to invest such
former auditor-general, informed government suffering losses because a huge sum in the acquisition of the The RM2.71 billion project was
them of the three issues. of inconsistent land valuations and AES company. implemented by the Education
Ministry for eight years from 2011 to
He said PAC is of the opinion that The AES project is an enforcement 2019, he said, adding that the
these three merit proceedings to be initiative aimed at addressing the objective of the project was to furnish
brought against them. issue of road accidents in the country. about 10,000 schools nationwide
with high speed 4G internet access.
The governance committee was It was implemented by the
Pejuang lists 12
MP comes to the 388 complaints about Wage Subsidy programme conditions for
defence of Jasa budget support
THE Social Security Organisation complaints are completed. medium enterprises closed shop, he
THE Special Affairs Department (Socso) has received 388 complaints “As of Nov 11, Socso has received said, adding that 5,537 employers PARTI Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang)
(Jasa) is not a government unit that over the Wage Subsidy Programme were blacklisted for violating terms has listed 12 proposed amendments
carries out cybertrooper work, said (WSP). 388 complaints against employers and conditions such as sacking of if it is to support Budget 2021 tabled
Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni who misused the WSP involving employees and not paying on Nov 6.
who has previously worked with the Human Resources Minister Datuk nearly RM20 million,” he said in contributions to Socso.
department. Seri M. Saravanan said Sosco had response to a question by Charles Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir
During his time with Jasa he went received 388 complaints against Santiago (PH-Klang). Saravanan said an arrest was (Independent-Jerlun) said the
from Kangar to Sabah to see and employers since the implementation made in Kedah last month over the proposed amendments are the
listen to and then channel of the WSP in June. Santiago had asked the minister misuse of WSP funds with the help of conditions set by Pejuang MPs in
information to the government, he about the companies availing the the Malaysian Anti-Corruption exchange for their support.
said, citing also the example of Jasa He said 156 cases involved false WSP funds as well as those that had Commission, while five more cases
going to Ba’kelalan in Sarawak to claims and misuse of WSP funds, gone bankrupt. are under investigation Pejuang will reject the budget if
build a futsal court for the while 232 cases are under the proposed amendments are not
community. investigation. Saravanan said Socso had taken He said Sosco will display the list made, he said.
The Perkitan Nasional action against employers who failed of employers who have received the
“Socso will suspend payments to to comply with the stipulated WSP assistance on its Prihatin “The 12 conditions are given so
employers suspected of making false conditions. website. that the government does not waste
claims until all investigations on the money under the current situation,”
As of Oct 2, a total of 713 small and he said when debating the budget.

government plans to revive the “Reduce the number of Cabinet
department next year and it has been ministers and cut ministers’ and
allocated more than RM80 million in deputy ministers’ salaries up to at
Budget 2021. least 30% or do what Italy did where
It was abolished under the they dropped all deputy ministers
Pakatan Harapan government. during the Covid-19 period,” he said
“I hope the budget given to Jasa when spelling out some of the
will be used to help the people. The conditions.
government should also consider
appointing a new director-general for Mukhriz said Pejuang wants the
Jasa who is from the administration budget for the Health Ministry’s non-
and diplomatic service and not a communicable disease sector to be
political party member who has increased as it is struggling with
certain interests.” Covid-19.
He said he believed the decision to
abolish Jasa was due to unease over “Even if we win the fight against
the work led by its previous director- Covid-19 it does not mean that other
general. diseases will just disappear.”
Meanwhile, former
Communications and Multimedia He said the government should
minister Gobind Singh Deo (PH- also postpone all mega projects and
Puchong) claimed that some RTM focus on small ones.
staff have not received their salaries
on time recently. Mukhriz said Pejuang wants the
He said these were the problems government to postpone
faced by piecemeal workers in RTM construction projects involving
who are facing delays in salary ministry buildings and reduce the
payment due to so-called lack of allocation to the Prime Minister’s
funds. Department.
Gobind said instead of spending
RM85 million on Jasa, the In Budget 2021, the Prime
government should strengthen the QUICK DELIVERY ... WarongRider, a platform that can be used nationwide by hawkers and petty traders, was Minister’s Department’s budget was
Information Department. launched by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry. – BERNAMAPIX increased to RM11 billion from
RM7.9 billion last year.

Vernacular press digest

‘Think thrice before dipping into Account 1’

█ BY KONG SEE HOH that unless they have no choice, they the facility as an option instead of a million people who are in such a withdraw from their Account 1 only
[email protected] should think thrice before laying their “must-do”. predicament,” said Chua, who is the when they are still unable to put food
ALTHOUGH the government hands on their retirement savings. head of tax and financial consulting on the table after seeking the
estimates that two million Employees “The (i-Sinar) facility will help the at Asia Business Centre Malaysia. aforementioned recourse.
Provident Fund (EPF) contributors He said based on government genuinely needy people. After all, if
can make monthly withdrawals from statistics, some 500,000 Malaysians they can’t put food on the table, is He told China Press in a report “Dipping into the EPF accounts
their Account 1 under the i-Sinar have lost their jobs in the wake of the there a future for them to think or published yesterday that those facing will definitely affect life in retirement.
facility, financial planning expert Covid-19 pandemic but now as many worry about? financial issues should try to alleviate What’s more, 32% of EPF
Datuk Chua Tia Guan doubts all of as two million EPF contributors who their problems via the loan contributors have less than RM5,000
them are desperate enough to have to are either jobless, made to take “The measure is meant to help repayment moratorium, withdrawals in their Account 1.”
do it. unpaid leave or have lost their those facing critical financial from their EPF Account 2 and the
incomes, are entitled to make problems, such as not having money Employment Insurance Scheme He also advised contributors who
He reminded these contributors withdrawals from their Account 1. to even buy bread and butter – people benefits. are not stock market savvy against
really fighting for survival. withdrawing money from Account 1
He said contributors should see Chua advised contributors to to dabble in shares.
“I am not certain if there are two

‘i-Sinar best way 3theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
forward for those NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
who have lost
their jobs’ Shame driving abused
men to silence
KUALA LUMPUR: Withdrawals from
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) oMales who are victims of domestic their situation,” Chooi, who is with “shameful and silly” of men to be
savings under the i-Sinar programme violence tend to hide in the shadows the Social Sciences faculty, said. victims of gender and domestic
is the best way to help targeted abuse.
people survive the post-Covid-19 “Instead of being the ‘dominant’ Nisha said a support group for
pandemic situation, an economist figure and having their wives men who are in abusive
said yesterday. ‘submitting’ to their will, they are relationships will encourage them
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI advocacy officer at the Women’s Aid being abused by a woman. There is to open up and get help.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief [email protected] Organisation (WAO) Rusni Tajari. a shame or ego factor at work.” However, she is of the view that
economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam PETALING JAYA: The beating hurts, men could share the same support
Abdul Rashid said the scheme was but the shame is worse. That is the Officially, men account for about She said men who are being group as women.
aimed at helping affected people who logic men live by, ingrained further 25% of all domestic or spousal abuse abused also do not believe anyone “State resources are
have lost their jobs and are subjected by what society expects of them. victims but, Tajari said, this may not will take notice if they tell their overwhelmingly focused on
to salary cut. exactly reflect the reality. “Many stories or relate their experience, so women’s issues so why have a
Men are perceived to be mentally, cases go unreported,” she told they choose to be silent. separate group to compete for the
“There is a need for cash emotionally and physically stronger theSun. same resources?” she asked.
assistance in the immediate term and and therefore immune to spousal All Women’s Action Society She argued that it would be
withdrawing their EPF savings is one abuse and domestic violence. Under the Domestic Violence Act, (Awam) programme and more cost effective for women
of the means to alleviate their abuse within the confines of the operations manager Nisha survivors of abuse to share the same
financial predicament,” he told It is this pervasive culture that home covers more than just acts of Sabanayagam said men who resources with the male victims.
Bernama. keeps them from opening up on violence against the spouse. Abuse survive an abusive relationship only She said Awam offers free
being at the receiving end of mental against siblings and children are live to suffer high levels of social counselling service for both men
However, he said, there is also a and physical abuse. covered as well, and many men are stigma. and women.
need to ensure the EPF contributors’ subject to such mistreatment. For the longer term, Nisha said,
savings for retirement are to be While women are more open to “The man is now seen as having steps should be taken to determine
preserved as more people tend to live sharing their experience about being Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer taken the place of the woman. For the root cause of domestic violence
longer these days. abused, men who are also victims of Dr Chooi Weng Tink said there are a men, social expectations only make and find solutions that are
domestic violence tend to hide in the few reasons men don’t speak up. them feel ashamed of themselves.” sustainable.
MauKerja.my chief executive shadows, rendering them even more
officer Ray Teng said the latest EPF helpless, according to senior “Firstly it is not common that we She said whenever Awam goes
scheme should only be utilised by encounter a female abuser. Male public on the issue of domestic
those who lost their jobs and are victims may also feel ashamed of violence against men, society
experiencing major cash flow issues. sniggers and concludes that it is

“There are pros and cons. People Plans to boost tourism in Perak in the pipeline
have a choice. If you really need the
cash and there is no other way, you IPOH: To revive the domestic Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed we will announce several travel Optimisation Innovative Solutions
should make use of the programme.” tourism sector, the Perak Radzi said the details of the packages including discounts of up Sdn Bhd to the state government at
government will announce several initiatives will be fine-tuned as soon to RM150 for each package that will Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan.
However, he said, i-Sinar is a initiatives, including discounted as the conditional movement control be sold by a network of travel
temporary measure for people to use prices for visits to various order (CMCO) is lifted. agencies,” she said yesterday. Nolee Ashilin also said Mentri
their retirement savings and continue destinations. Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal
to survive financially but would cost “We have planned that when the Nolee was speaking to reporters Azumu will announce several
them and EPF some future State Housing, Local Government CMCO ends and we return to RMCO after the handing over of 3,000 initiatives today to help hawkers and
investment fund cash flow. and Tourism Committee chairman (recovery movement control order) bottles of liquid sanitisers by Proven small traders. - Bernama

On Monday, the EPF announced
that i-Sinar would benefit two million
eligible members with an estimated
advance amount of RM14 billion to
be made available.

Eligible contributors will have
access to an advance of up to
RM9,000 for those with Account 1
savings of RM90,000 and below, and
up to RM60,000 for those having
more than RM90,000 in Account 1.

Input for 12MP
sought

KUALA LUMPUR: The public are
invited to share their views and
suggestions on the country’s
development roadmap for
consideration in the preparation of
the 12th Malaysia Plan, 2021-2025
(12MP).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Economy) Datuk Seri
Mustapa Mohamed said the public
could focus on certain points such as Muhyiddin
courses of action on reviving the announcing “live”
economy, addressing poverty, skilled on TV the
human capital development, emergency for
technology adoption and digitisation. Batu Sapi as
Suggestions related to community proclaimed by the
participation in the digital economy, Yang di-Pertuan
environmental sustainability, Agong.
development of Sabah and Sarawak – BERNAMAPIX
and improving the efficiency of the
public service may also be forwarded.
The channel to do so is a special
website, http://rmke12.epu.gov.my/
engagement and at #RMKe12 on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Suggestions may be submitted from By-elections okay if SOP followed, says analyst
now until Dec 2, 2020.
“Cognisant that the country is in a
difficult and challenging situation The Gerik parliamentary seat and the EC to enforce a postal voting introduce a barcode system to and Slim River by-elections amidst
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the the Bugaya state seat in Sabah have system if the Gerik and Bugaya by- ensure checks and balance. the Covid-19 pandemic shows that
government strives to ensure that the been left vacant by the death of their elections are to proceed. Political analyst Prof Dr “it should not be a problem”, he
12MP, which is in the final stage of respective representatives Datuk Otherwise, he said, all Azizuddin Sani said the by- added.
preparation, is mapped out to enable Hasbullah Osman and Datin Manis parties should avoid “stoking From elections could proceed safely
the country’s economy to recover and Muka Mohd Darah this week. the fire” with by-elections that front if the SOP is strictly enforced. Azizuddin shot down a proposal
be competitive,” Mustapa said in a require voters to be physically page to leave the path clear for the
In response to a question from “A by-election is a small- incumbent party to win the by-
statement yesterday. theSun earlier, Human Rights present to cast their votes. scale election so it should election uncontested. “Everyone
The 12MP will be tabled in Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) He is also a proponent for postal proceed as planned,” he said. should have a fair chance to
Parliament in early 2021. - Bernama commissioner Jerald Joseph urged voting, saying that the EC could The experience from the Chini compete,” he stressed.

4 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Down to three digits, 660 cases reported

o Covid-19 total tops latest development brings the total of Covid-19 media briefing yesterday. (Penang), Besi Demak (Sarawak) and Ismail Sabri said this was because
50,000, with 630 Covid-19 cases in the country to There were four fatalities Parit Kassan (Johor, Malacca) clusters. the MoH had carried out screening
recoveries and four 50,390, with active cases at 12,814. on all foreign workers involved and
deaths yesterday, taking the death toll to 322. Meanwhile, the enhanced the two construction sites had been
In addition, 630 recoveries were The deaths involved two local movement control order (EMCO) will closed.
PETALING JAYA: After recording recorded in the last 24 hours, he said. be enforced at Zone B and Zone C of
four-digit cases daily since Nov 13, women aged 76 and 80 in Perak , a Taman Meru 2C in Ipoh, Perak, from “All Covid-19 positive workers
Covid-19 cases in the country have “Of the total new cases, 656 were 59-year-old local man and and a 62- Nov 20 to Dec 3. have been warded in the hospital
dropped to three digits once again, local infections while four were year-old foreign woman in Sabah. and close contacts are quarantined
with 660 reported yesterday. imported, two from Turkey and one Senior Minister (Security) Datuk in hotels borne by the employer,” he
each from India and Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Health (MoH) Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said two said.
Health Director-General Tan Sri identified eight new Covid-19 clusters localities in Sabah, namely Kampung
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the “The local infections involve cases while three others have ended. Nahaba and Kampung Tegudon in From the total 3,128 construction
in Sabah with 387 cases, Selangor Kota Belud will also be placed under workers screened, 1,346 positive
(139), Negri Sembilan (31), Kuala The three new clusters in Sabah the EMCO for the same period. cases were recorded.
Lumpur (29), Penang (16), Perak were the Sabaru Cluster in Lahad
(16), Labuan (13), Kedah (11), Datu, Tomher Cluster in Ranau and However, EMCO will not be Meanwhile, the two construction
Malacca (four), Sarawak (three), the Garden Cluster in Tawau. enforced at construction sites sites, Phase 2 of Pavilion Damansara
Johor (three), Kelantan (three) and involving the Damanlela cluster in Heights and PARC3 in Cheras have
Putrajaya (one),” he said during a The other new clusters were Putra- Kuala Lumpur. been closed.
18 (Putrajaya, Selangor), Murni (Kuala
Lumpur, Selangor), Seri Pasir

Extra allowance only for those involved in fight against pandemic ‘Work together
KUALA LUMPUR: The special Covid-19 article published by a news portal. paid from March to September 2020 totalled
allowance for healthcare personnel is given Chen explained this directive is also not RM3,076,300. for equitable
only to those performing duties of fighting the access to vaccines’
pandemic, said Health Ministry secretary- continuous in nature whereby any officer who “In this regard, the hospital also held a series
general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min. no longer performs the duties or is later of engagements with officers to explain the KUALA LUMPUR: Asia-Pacific economies have
directed to work at non-Covid-19 facilities is no allowance and the need for officers to be been urged to come together to ensure equitable
“The allowance is made on a targeted basis. longer eligible for the allowance. directly involved in the duties related to Covid- access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines
It is not for all 252,765 permanent officers and 19 at the hospital. for Covid-19 when they are made available.
the more than 40,000 contract officers currently However, he said any healthcare officer who
serving in the ministry. has not previously received the allowance will “Not all officers are involved because the Senior Minister (International Trade and
be eligible to receive it when instructed to hospital also needs to ensure other services Industry) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said
“This is because not all officers are perform the duties. continue as usual while avoiding potential this was a key call to action from the Asia-Pacific
instructed to perform duties related to Covid-19 infection of the virus at the hospital. This Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting
and most of them are still performing their non- Based on feedback from Penang Hospital, engagement was also made to ensure all (AMM).
Covid-19 duties as usual in health facilities,” he all healthcare officers who have been instructed eligible officers receive the allowance,” he said.
said in a statement yesterday in response to an and are still performing duties related to Covid- – Bernama “We should regard Covid-19 vaccinces as
19 are duly paid the allowance. The allowance public goods that are critical to protect our
health,” he said.

At the same time, he added while the Covid-
19 war is being fought Asia-Pacific economies
should also not lose sight of other priorities.

“As much as we must be realistic and
pragmatic in our response to the current
situation, we must also strengthen solidarity to
foster quality growth and enhance the resilience
of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec)
countries to ensure a robust recovery,” he added
at the virtual AMM he chaired on Monday.

At the meeting, Apec economic ministers also
reaffirmed their support for the World Trade
Organisation, noting that the rules-based
multilateral trading system is central to efforts in
enhancing market predictability and business
confidence.

Azmin described the Covid-19 pandemic as
“possibly the harshest economic crisis of modern
times”.

“As the impact on the economy has been
severe, Apec member economies must forge
closer collaboration and find long-term
sustainable solutions not just to deal with the
current situation but also future contingencies
that may affect us on a global scale,” he said in a
statement issued yesterday.

He added the AMM also underscored the
importance of working closely to leverage latest
cutting edge technologies and exploiting
advances brought about by digital
transformation to facilitate the reopening of
economic activities, particularly for the benefit of
micro, small and medium enterprises, women,
youth and vulnerable groups. – Bernama

GETTING READY ... A health ministry official preparing beds at a quarantine and low-risk treatment centre at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang in Facebook post on tourists
George Town, Penang yesterday. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN driven to Miri refuted

SOP to curb spread of virus at all drug rehab centres MIRI: Acting Miri Resident, Abdul Aziz Mohd
Yusuf yesterday refuted a posting by Facebook
KOTA BARU: All drug rehabilitation centres undergo a health screening procedure. Those Instead of classrooms, these exercises are account holder Jenifer Lawrence who claimed
across the country have 16 standard operating who come from Covid-19 red zones must also now conducted in open areas and officers on the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee
procedures (SOP) to curb the spread of Covid- take a swab test. duty are required to ensure the SOP is (SDMC) had allowed a tourist bus to be used to
19 among inmates. observed, Zulkifli told reporters at the AADK ferry 46 passengers from Sabah to Miri.
Zulkifli said food items can only be delivered Kelantan Semarak Kasih Appreciation
National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) director to the gate to reduce close contact between ceremony on Tuesday night. The fact was the bus had transferred the
Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said the SOP was inmates and outsiders. passengers who earlier arrived from Kota
adopted and put in place in March when the He said so far, there has been no Covid-19 Kinabalu by air to a hotel here from Miri Airport.
movement control order was imposed. Activities within the rehabilitation centres infection among inmates at AADK
have also been reduced. There are fewer rehabilitation centres. – Bernama Lawrence shared a link to a Chinese press
Under the SOP, all inmates are required to module exercises. report on “Sarawak Covid-19 Awareness Group”
Facebook page and said a tourist bus had
carried the 46 passengers from Sabah by land.

However, Lawrence then corrected her
posting by saying the daily had misreported the
matter. – Bernama

5theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Ordinary people, extraordinary lives

Advocating environmental
causes through art

o In his works, orang asli artist captures effects of nature between modern consumerism and the
degradation on Temuan community traditional and sustainable way of life.

Ex-youth and █ BY ELLY FAZANIZA childhood experience. He is known for his arresting portraits. One,
sports [email protected] “I witnessed the jungle encroachment and titled “Age of Tomorrow”, depicts an orang asli
minister ART can be a medium to communicate every woman against a backdrop of a lush green
Mokhtar emotion, from joy to grief or from love to hate. the scars left behind in the name of environment next to a barren land littered with
laid to rest development,” he told theSun. This fuelled a logs.
Orang asli artist Shahar “Shaq” Koyok has desire to make things right for his people.
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN used this to great effect. Shaq said his intention is to start a
[email protected] He noted that in a rapidly modernising conversation with his paintings.
In every one of his works, the central theme Malaysia, there is a conflict between the desire
KUALA LUMPUR: Former youth and is the environmental degradation caused to the to build and urbanise and to respect the “We want our voices to be heard. Our way of
sports minister Datuk Mokhtar jungles in Selangor where he lives, as well as the environment. life is woven into a chain. Everything we do has
Hashim (pix), who passed away fight for his Temuan community’s land rights. consequences for others,” the activist in him
yesterday, was laid to rest at the Bukit “I try to capture the tension and pressure pointed out.
Kiara Muslim cemetery. Thirty-five-year-old Shaq’s personal crusade faced by my people whose lives interact with
for the environment was sparked by his own this environment,” he said. His journey as an artist began when he was
Mokhtar, 78, a former Tampin five years old, watching his brother painting a
member of parliament passed away at Shaq emphasises on the inequalities picture of the jungle.
about 3.10am at the Ampang hospital.
Shaq’s journey as an artist began when he was five years old. “He was making something out of nothing,
Prior to his appointment as cabinet expressing his thoughts visually,” he said.
minister in 1980, he had served as Samy Vellu’s mental health issues BRIEFS
parliamentary secretary of the declared confidential Growing up in Kampung Pulau Kempas, a
Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry Temuan village in Banting, meant frequent
and then as deputy minister of KUALA LUMPUR: All matters relating to an The application was made by Vell Paari in fishing trips with friends.
Agriculture and Rural Development inquiry on former MIC president Tun S. Samy the suit he filed to declare that his father was
between 1972 and 1976. Vellu’s mental health cannot be disclosed to the incapable of managing his own affairs. “We lived near a swamp and during the dry
public, according to a lawyer involved in the season the fish would be wiggling in the mud. It
He courted controversy when, in case. Vell Paari, 58, filed the suit on Dec 2 last year, was easy to catch them,” he recalled. The catch
what can be said was one of the seeking a court order that an investigation be would then be smoked or salted to preserve it.
earliest politically motivated murders, This was after High Court judge Wong Chee conducted to ascertain the mental fitness of his
he was convicted for the murder of Lin granted Samy Vellu’s son Datuk Seri S. Vell father, and whether the former works minister During his secondary school days, he
then Gemencheh assemblyman Paari’s application to keep the matter has the capacity to manage himself and his received a lot of encouragement from his
Datuk Mohamad Taha Talib. confidential on Oct 2. matters. teachers and was even commissioned to do
personal pieces. He later enrolled in Universiti
Mohamad Taha, then aged 49, was Lawyer David Mathews, who represented In the suit, Vell Paari sought an order that a Teknoloji Mara in Malacca where he studied
shot multiple times and killed Vell Paari, said there was a protective or sealing date, time and place be set for an investigation fine arts. To earn a living, he would set up his
opposite his house in Gemencheh, order in force relating to the inquiry. to be conducted under Section 52 of the Mental easel at street corners on most weekends.
Negri Sembilan on April 14,1982, just Health Act 2001 on his father, to determine the
days before the sixth general election. “The court made the confidentiality order. period his father had been suffering mental Upon his graduation at aged 23, Shaq tried
Court dates and court papers relating to the disorder. to get his works displayed at art galleries but
He was at that time the state inquiry cannot be revealed. I cannot say more,” instead of paintings of orang asli, they asked for
legislative assembly speaker. he said, adding that the application for sealing He also sought a court order to find out if his more commercially appealing pieces.
order into the inquiry was made on Sept 27. father is capable of giving orders to his lawyer to
Mohamad Taha and Mokhtar were act on his (Samy Vellu) behalf and to determine This experience motivated him to continue
reportedly involved in a power tussle On Sept 11, Wong allowed Vell Paari’s the types of property his father owned. featuring his own community and to date, he
for control of the Tampin Umno application for his father to undergo mental – Bernama has produced about 300 paintings that were
division, which resulted in the health inquiry. displayed at Galeri Petronas at KLCC.
murder.
He has gone on to stage solo exhibitions in
Mokhtar then aged 40, and four of Melbourne, London and Miami.
his accomplices, were subsequently
arrested for Mohamad Taha’s murder. But true to his childhood name “Kujal”
which means “stubborn” in Temuan, Shaq has
A ballistics report showed that the never let up on his fight to conserve and protect
bullets that killed the politician were the water catchment and forest areas in his
fired from Mokhtar’s handgun. village.

Mokhtar was charged for the SETIU FIRST TO BE HIT
murder and on March 6, 1983, the BY MONSOON FLOODS
Kuala Lumpur High Court found him
guilty and meted out the death KUALA TERENGGANU: The monsoon is
sentence. back and the flood season has started in
Terengganu, with Setiu as the first
The following year, the death district to be hit. A total of 44 people
sentence on Mokhtar was commuted from 11 families in the district were
to life imprisonment. evacuated to two flood relief centres,
which were opened at 1am yesterday to
Seven years later, a royal pardon by accommodate them. The chief
the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong secured secretariat of the State Disaster
his freedom in 1991. Management Committee, Lt-Kol Che
Adam A. Rahman said the relief centres
Ex-telco consumer service head remanded over SMS fraud were at Balairaya Sungai Lerek and
Surau Kampung Bukit Nyior Pelong.
PUTRAJAYA: A former telecommunication The remand order until Nov 22 was issued have offered and accepted bribes to obtain Evacuation is still in progress in several
company customer service head has been by magistrate Siti Roslizawati Mohd Zanin personal information of pre-paid customers other areas, he said in a statement
remanded for five days starting yesterday to here in response to an application of the of the company. yesterday. – Bernama
facilitate investigation into a corruption case Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
involving a short messaging system (SMS) (MACC) yesterday. The telephone numbers obtained were MAN STABBED TO DEATH
fraud syndicate. allegedly used by a content provider fraud BY SON AFTER QUARREL
According to an MACC source, the 46- syndicate to charge subscription via SMS
So far, 17 individuals including two with year-old woman was arrested at MACC without the knowledge and agreement of JELEBU: A man was stabbed to death by
“Datuk” title have been remanded since Nov headquarters here at about 11pm last night customers, the source said. his son following an argument in their
10 on suspicion of being involved in the after giving her statement. house in Kampung Simpang Pertang
case. The case is being investigated under here yesterday. Jelebu district police
The remanded individuals are believed to Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009. – Bernama chief DSP Maslan Udin said police were
alerted of the incident after passers-by
saw the victim, aged 59, lying in a pool
of blood at the house door at about
9.30am. Based on preliminary
investigation, a quarrel broke out after
the man scolded his son, aged 35, for
spending too much time on the phone.
During the quarrel, the man was said to
have hit the son with a plastic chair and
the son retaliated by stabbing the
father. The suspect, who, is
unemployed, then fled on a motorcycle,
but was arrested by the police about 20
minutes later. – Bernama

6 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Resurgence in Covid cases BRIEFS FIRST COVID TEST KIT
in Asia hampers reopening FOR HOME USE
WASHINGTON: The US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has
approved the first Covid-19 self-
testing kit for home use that
provides results within 30
minutes. The single-use test,
made by Lucira Health, has been
given emergency use
authorisation for home use with
self-collected nasal swab samples
TOKYO/SEOUL: Australia reported o Adelaide on snap lockdown after highly South Korea’s Vice Health Minister in individuals age 14 and older
a highly contagious virus strain contagious virus strain detected Kang Do-tae said in a meeting. who are suspected of Covid-19 by
which forced a state-wide lockdown their health care provider, the FDA
as daily coronavirus cases in Tokyo “Infections are now occurring said. “While Covid-19 diagnostic
and South Korea hit fresh highs simultaneously in every corner of our tests have been authorised for at-
yesterday and pollution-cloaked society, real life situations, unlike home collection, this is the first
New Delhi struggled with rising 24-hour infection rate. economic recovery, stymie “travel the past when there were large that can be fully self-administered
cases. “We are going hard and we are bubble” plans, and fan public outbreaks from a specific place or and provide results at home,“
worries like in Japan which is group,” Kang said. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn
Adelaide imposed a six-week going early. Time is of the essence preparing to host the Olympic said. – Reuters
lockdown after a new outbreak in the and we must act swiftly and games next year. In India, fresh cases rose to 38,617,
state expanded to 22 cases, decisively,” South Australia state though infections have slowed from CHINA TARGETS
restricting people from leaving their Premier Steven Marshall said. While South Korea tightened a September peak but cases are FROZEN FOOD IMPORTS
homes, mandating masks, closing social distancing rules, Tokyo said rising in the capital New Delhi, a
schools, factories and takeaway food, “We have one chance, and will be officials would meet today to discuss city of 20 million where crowds BEIJING: Mass-testing campaigns
and banning funerals and weddings. throwing all our resources at it if the city needs to raise its infection thronged markets for last week’s have been rolled out in China
because we know the consequences alert to the highest level. Diwali festival. after reports of coronavirus traces
The South Australia state of getting it wrong,” Marshall said. on imported food and packaging.
government warned that the strain of “We’re in a crisis where there are Officials in the city are drawing Customs inspectors across the
virus detected in the new cases was A resurgence of Covid-19 cases in pessimistic views that predict up plans to reinstate some country have so far tested more
highly contagious with a Asia could hamper prospects for a another nationwide transmission,” curbs, such as lockdowns of some than 800,000 samples from
broader reopening needed to boost markets. – Reuters refrigerated imports and
suspended shipments from 99
Christmas overseas suppliers, senior customs
candles official Bi Kexin told reporters
depicting Santa last week. Meanwhile, major
Claus wearing a food-producing countries are
protective mask frustrated with China’s scrutiny of
displayed at imported products and are calling
Gerakis’ shop as on it to stop aggressive testing
the Covid-19 for the coronavirus, which some
pandemic say is tantamount to a trade
continues in restriction. Supported by
Thessaloniki, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Britain
Greece. and the US, Canada argued that
– REUTERSPIX China had not provided scientific
justification for the measures.
– AFP/Reuters

Trump rebuked
for refusal
to share data

Santa candles get masked in Greece WASHINGTON: US doctors and nurses
have urged the Trump administration to
THESSALONIKI: A Greek town of Thessaloniki has made else,” Gerakis, 37, told Reuters forced Greek authorities to reimpose share critical Covid-19 data with
candlemaker has come up with a decorative candles featuring Father Television. Snowmen are also a nationwide lockdown. President-elect Joe Biden’s transition
novel way of highlighting the need to Christmas with a big blue surgical sporting a mask. team to avoid unnecessary delays in
wear a mask to curb the spread of the mask covering his white beard. “Christmas is a bit of a question tackling the pandemic as states crack
new coronvirus – putting them on Thessaloniki has been hard hit by mark for all of us this year, we don’t down on skyrocketing infections.
his Santa candles. “Because of the times, we are the Covid-19 pandemic in a second, know how this will end. We have to
trying to convey a message that more aggressive surge which be optimistic but it’s uncertain what Members of several medical
Alexios Gerakis in the northern health comes first, then everything resurfaced in the autumn which will happen,” Gerakis said. – Reuters associations made the plea for
cooperation in a letter published on
UK slammed for splashing out on coronavirus deals Tuesday, a day after Biden warned that
“more people may die” if outgoing
LONDON: Britain’s government has took grip earlier this year, the phase of the pandemic.” The government set up a “high President Donald Trump continues to
failed to account clearly for all of the government had to scramble to Meanwhile, Britain’s Business priority lane” to favour companies block a smooth transition following his
US$24 billion (RM98 billion) it has secure supplies of personal recommended by ministries, civil defeat in the Nov 3 presidential election.
shelled out for supplies and services protective equipment in a strained Secretary Alok Sharma has refused to servants, members of parliament
linked to the coronavirus pandemic, global marketplace. apologise for a lack of transparency and senior staff from the National Health officials have warned that the
state auditors said in a report in spending millions of pounds of Health Service. winter may usher in a new wave of
yesterday. “While we recognise that these tax-payer money to secure personal Covid-19 deaths with community spread
were exceptional circumstances, it protection equipment, saying the “We found inadequate rampaging across the country and
The report by the National Audit remains essential that decisions are government was under huge documentation in a number of cases hospitalisations at record levels.
Office (NAO) came as the properly documented and made pressure to supply the frontline. on how the risks of procuring
Conservative government is under transparent if government is to suppliers without competition had “Real-time data and information on
mounting attack from opposition maintain public trust that taxpayers’ “The NAO report has been mitigated,” the report said. the supply of therapeutics, testing
parties for alleged cronyism in its money is being spent appropriately acknowledged that we had to do supplies, personal protective equipment,
award of lucrative Covid-19 contracts and fairly,” he said. things at a great deal of pace,” he told Some contracts were awarded ventilators, hospital bed capacity and
to well-connected business figures BBC television. “The key pressure retrospectively, after work had workforce availability to plan for further
and donors. “The evidence set out in our was to get PPE. We had to do an already been carried out, and there deployment of the nation’s assets needs
report shows that these standards of enormous amount, work very fast to was “not always a clear audit trail to to be shared to save countless lives,” said
NAO chief Gareth Davies transparency and documentation secure the PPE and that’s what we support key procurement decisions”, the letter, signed by the heads of the
recognised that when the pandemic were not consistently met in the first did.” it said. – AFP/Reuters American Medical Association, the
American Nurses Association and the
American Hospitals Association.

The soaring rate of new infections,
even in states that had managed to keep
the virus at bay over the summer, has
prompted health officials to sound the
alarm, and at least 15 states to issue
sweeping new public health mandates.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan
issued orders effective tomorrow
requiring restaurants and bars to close by
10pm and restricts businesses and
organisations to 50% capacity.

“We are in a war right now and
the virus is winning,” Hogan told
reporters. – Reuters

7theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Dozens hurt as violent SAFETY FIRST ... Palace sentries
protests rock Bangkok wearing face masks take part in a
“changing of the guards” ceremony for
o Demonstrators clash said they were investigating who might have He said police had tried to push back BRIEFS tourists at the main gate of Deoksugung
with police, royalist used firearms. protesters from Parliament and to separate Palace in Seoul yesterday. – AFPPIX
counter-protesters over them and the yellow-shirted royalist counter-
constitutional reform The protest movement, which has called protesters. Protesters advanced on police with Street dog heads for
for deep constitutional reform to a system makeshift shields, including inflatable pool new life in countryside
BANGKOK: At least 55 people were hurt, demonstrators say has entrenched the power ducks.
some with gunshot wounds, when of the military, has emerged as the biggest NEW DELHI: An Indian street dog that lost its
demonstrators clashed with police and challenge to Thailand’s establishment in After about six hours, police pulled back front legs in a train accident headed yesterday for
royalist counter-protesters, in the worst years. and abandoned their water trucks, which the a new life in the English countryside.
violence since a new youth-led protest protesters mounted and sprayed with graffiti.
movement emerged in July. Thousands of demonstrators converged The three-year-old mutt was found badly
on parliament to put pressure on lawmakers “I hereby announce the escalation of the injured after being run over by a train at
Police fired water cannon and teargas at discussing changes to the constitution. protests. We will not give in. There will be no Faridabad in Haryana. A railways constable took
protesters who cut through razor-wire compromise,” Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak told the wounded dog to a shelter that looks after
barricades and removed concrete barriers The protesters also want the removal of the crowd at the gates of Parliament. thousands of stray dogs maimed on India’s
outside parliament. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former treacherous railways and roads every year.
army ruler, and to curb the powers of King Some protesters fought with dozens of
Police denied that they had opened fire Maha Vajiralongkorn. royalists who had remained behind after an “It is almost impossible to save such a badly
with live ammunition or rubber bullets, and earlier demonstration by hundreds of right- injured dog,” veterinarian Mahesh Verma said in
Bangkok’s Erawan Medical Centre said at wing Thais calling on lawmakers not to make a video shared by the People for Animals Trust
least 55 people were hurt. At least 32 were changes to the constitution. that named the pooch Rocky.
suffering from teargas and six people had
gunshot wounds. “Amending the constitution is going to lead Vets had to amputate the forelegs, leaving the
to the abolition of the monarchy,” royalist dog with stumps. But the dog, although not
“We tried to avoid clashes,” the deputy leader Warong Dechgitvigrom told reporters. named after the famous Rocky in the Sylvester
head of Bangkok police, Piya Tavichai, said at – Reuters Stallon movie, nevertheless, battled as hard as
a press conference. the underdog boxer to recover, using her chin for
balance as she hobbled about.
Trump sacks head of cybersecurity agency
The video about her plight went viral,
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump “Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs was in charge of fending off possible attracting dog rescue group Wild at Heart
fired the US top election security official who Krebs has been terminated as director of the foreign and domestic hacker intrusions into Foundation. They found her a home in
had rejected the president’s unsubstantiated Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security myriad voting machines, sorting and Cotswolds, southwest England, while an Indian
claims of “massive” fraud in the vote he lost to Agency.” counting machines, databases and other living in London paid for new artificial legs. – AFP
Joe Biden. systems that states and localities rely on to
Trump, who refuses to acknowledge that tally ballots. BAGHDAD , GREEN ZONE HIT
Trump announced on Twitter the he lost his bid for reelection to Democrat BY ROCKET FIRE
termination “effective immediately” of Chris Biden, has repeatedly claimed without Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of
Krebs, who leads the agency that jointly evidence that the voting and count was the House Intelligence Committee, said Krebs BAGHDAD: A volley of rockets
declared “the Nov 3rd election was the most replete with fraud. and his team had “worked diligently to slammed into the Iraqi capital Baghdad
secure in American history”. safeguard our elections”. late on Tuesday, killing one girl and
Krebs, who reportedly told friends last breaking a month-long truce on
“The recent statement by Chris Krebs on week he expected to be removed, appeared to “Instead of rewarding this great service, attacks against the US embassy. The
the security of the 2020 Election was highly confirm it in a tweet on his personal account. President Trump is retaliating against director violence came as Washington
inaccurate, in that there were massive Krebs and other officials who did their duty,” announced a historic cut in its troop
improprieties and fraud,” he wrote in a tweet. “Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend he said in a statement. – AFP numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today, Secure Tomorrow,” he wrote. According to the Iraqi military, four of
the rockets landed in the high-security
Putin to get lifetime immunity with passing of Bill Green Zone, where the US embassy
and other foreign missions are based.
MOSCOW: Russia’s lower house of If passed, the Bill grants former presidents upper house, the Federation Council, and Another three rockets also hit other
Parliament passed in its first reading a Bill that and their families immunity from persecution Putin’s signature. parts of Baghdad, killing one girl and
would grant former presidents immunity for crimes committed during their lifetime. wounding five civilians. – AFP
once they leave office. Under the Bill, a former president could be
They will also be exempt from searches, stripped of immunity if accused of treason or SOLOMON ISLANDS PLANS
The legislation, published on the lower arrests or questioning. other grave crimes and the charges are FACEBOOK BAN
house State Duma website, is among confirmed by the Supreme and Constitutional
constitutional amendments that were Currently, former presidents are only courts. Then both chambers of Parliament HONIARA: The Solomon Islands is
approved this summer in a nationwide vote immune from persecution for crimes must support the motion by a two-thirds reportedly planning to ban Facebook
and will allow President Vladimir Putin to committed while in office. majority. The Bills have sparked rumours that after receiving harsh criticism on the
again run for office when his fourth term ends Putin, 68, is planning to step down but the social media platform, sparking
in 2024. The State Duma on Tuesday approved the Kremlin has denied it. – AFP outrage among rights groups and
bill in the first of three readings. To be passed opposition figures in the Pacific island
into law the Bill will need approval from the nation. Communications Minister Peter
Shanel Agovaka drafted plans for a
temporary ban this week. Opposition
leader Matthew Wale said the ban
would represent unjustified
censorship. “Social media, especially
Facebook has been a key platform for
free exchange of views by citizens,“
Wale told AFP.

8 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
SPEAK UP

COMMENT by Jason Loh SeongWei LETTERS

Govt is rightly cautious [email protected]
about CPTPP
WITH the signing of the Regional Set up parliamentary
Comprehensive Economic government or state intervention in the private transmitted across borders. Prohibiting data committee for
Partnership (RCEP) on Nov 15, the sector targeted at nurturing and developing localisation benefits countries with strong the disabled
stage is set for Malaysia to tap into certain industries and sectors. Outside of patents applications and track record. New data
Malaysia, South Korea with its chaebols and from one country can be used as part of the ON Nov 11, the Dewan Rakyat approved the
the world’s largest free trade area (FTA), Japan with its zaibatsus are classic examples. subsequent newer patent submissions in motion to replace the previously established
covering 2.1 billion people and accounting for Under the CPTPP, state aid rules remain a another country, with all the ramifications on 10 special select committees with nine new
30% of the world’s gross domestic product major concern. As highlighted in a report by us including also loss of tax revenue due to ease ones.
(GDP). Up next is the Comprehensive and Khazanah Research Institute, Chapter 17 of the of transfer pricing, for example. Ironically, this
Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) CPTPP specifically mandates “level playing undermines level playing field. It made me think; why not establish a
– spanning the Pacific Rim countries that are field” between state-owned enterprises special select committee on disabled
home to 495 million consumers contributing (government-linked companies or GLCs) at the Thirdly, on electronic commerce. persons affairs?
13.5% of the global GDP. federal level and non-state-owned enterprises Will our accession to the CPTPP render the
The CPTPP is a gargantuan FTA (read: foreign investors). This digital service tax (DST) under the Service Tax Maybe some issues relating to the laws,
in terms of the scope of provisions would definitively impact the Act (2018) susceptible to legal challenge as for example the review and amendment of
running into thousands of pages. “Ratification institutional, regulatory and being incompatible with the provisions on the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, can be
Previously, it was known as the must be financial advantages enjoyed by electronic commerce as per Chapter 14 of the brought to the committee on fundamental
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) dependent on GLCs from the government. CPTPP? liberty and constitutional tights, while other
under the lead sponsorship of the the CPTPP The relevant provisions mention the matters are maybe relevant for the
US. Essentially, the TPP is In addition, the TPP was also prohibition of the “imposition of customs committee on women and children affairs
perceived to be biased in favour of opposed within Malaysia on the duties on electronic transmissions”. Will the and social development.
the rights and interests of issues of investor-state dispute DST be interpreted under the ISDS as
multinational corporations, i.e. the settlement (ISDS) and intellectual constituting a violation of the government’s In theory, disabled persons’ issues can be
foreign investors (based in the US), property rights. “investment obligation”, where the digital brought to any of the nine new committees.
Firstly, on ISDS which basically content providers that are the foreign service
being aboutover governments as sovereign means disputes between the providers have operations in Malaysia, whether However, I am quite sceptical whether
‘fair’ trade andentities. Both the TPP and CPTPP government and foreign investors outsourced or through subsidiaries? any of these committees will give equal
are to be arbitrated by a Furthermore, will the DST be deemed as a attention to disabled persons’ issues relating
excludes China. non-judicial tribunal outside of the form of customs duties and, therefore, a form of to their respective areas of responsibility.
not just aboutEven with the withdrawal of the country’s sovereign jurisdiction. protectionism? Bearing in mind, legal action
Given developments post-TPP can still be initiated by an interested party Plus, I do believe there are strong
US from the TPP, the CPTPP or the which spills over into the current based in Malaysia with legal standing on the justifications for a special select committee
new version of the TPP remains basis of judicial review. Thus, the relevant on disabled persons affairs.
stakeholders who may be aggrieved needn’t go
‘free’ trade.highly controversial. It’s good that through the ISDS which of course has a much First, issues affecting persons with
International Trade and Industry CPTPP context, the worry is that higher threshold, for example, requiring impairment and/or chronic illness are
Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has will we be exposed to ISDS demonstration of loss of investments. cross-ministerial and cross-sectoral. The
reiterated Malaysia’s stand that proceedings in the event our Last but not least, as we pause to consider issues are not limited only to welfare aid.
there’s no timeline to ratify the government chooses to cancel or ratification of the CPTPP, have we weighed the They overlap various sectors such as the
CPTPP. And that ratification must be dependent renegotiate a contract with a foreign investor, as potential impact on intra-Asean cooperation economy and income, education, healthcare,
on the CPTPP being about “fair” trade and, was the case with the East Coast Rail Link. This and regionalisation? Will the CPTPP also technology, infrastructure, transportation,
therefore, not just about “free” trade. on the basis that it constitutes a form of simultaneously weaken Asean’s “centrality” as social services, social protection and disaster
Such caution is to be welcomed because “indirect expropriation” and breach of the “fulcrum” of the wider Asia-Pacific management.
both the old TPP and new CPTPP are not a investment obligation? cooperation – which lies at the core of RCEP?
standard FTA. Secondly, on intellectual property rights, The government is right to be focusing on Second, issues such as physical
And the basic provisions of the TPP remains there’s the well-acknowledged and intra-Asean cooperation by prioritising the accessibility across this country necessitate
intact in the CPTPP. well-founded argument that the TPP would RCEP. In doing so, we’re tapping into the vast close cooperation between the federal
Well-rehearsed arguments opposing the have resulted in the prices of drugs soaring, potential of Asean and the wider RCEP market government, state governments and local
TPP include: thus impacting access for the low income while playing a part in shaping the reshoring authorities.
0 the prospects of imported products groups due to patents enforcement and and onshoring phenomenon of the supply
threatening to swamp the local market and licensing requirements. chain reconfiguration. Third, the agenda of disabled persons’
thus, threatening to put domestic producers Now under the CPTPP, the suspension of empowerment and inclusion in Malaysia
and suppliers out of business as well as causing longer patent periods for innovative medicines Jason Loh Seong Wei is head of social, closely ties to our country’s commitments at
inflationary pressures; and and shorter periods for copyright protection law and human rights at EMIR Research, the international and regional levels, such as
0 the fear that the bumiputra agenda and may be welcomed as good news for Malaysia. the Incheon Strategy and the Asean
government procurement policy in relation to But will the inbuilt bias against data localisation an independent think tank focused on Enabling Masterplan 2025.
bumiputra contractors as well as local small work to the adverse disadvantage of new strategic policy recommendations based on
and medium-sized enterprises will be entrants into the CPTPP market, not least of all Hence, such a committee is needed as a
undermined in the name of “convergence”, Malaysia? rigorous research. part of the check and balance mechanism so
“non-regression” or “level playing field”. Data localisation means data collected be the government fulfill its duties and achieve
Added to that is the issue of state aid, i.e. first approved by the host country before being the targets stated in the international,
regional, and national plans.

Finally, the establishment of the
committee can expand the channels for the
disabled community and their organisations
to raise their voices and concerns on various
issues affecting them.

This, ultimately, increases the
participation of disabled persons in our
nation’s democratic process.

Muhamad Nadhir Abdul Nasir
Kluang

9theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
SPEAK UP

Outspoken women face danger in Libya

BY BEL TREW Deputy special
representative of the
IN Libya, for women’s rights UN secretary-general
defenders, even the dead are not for political affairs in
permitted to rest. The grave of Libya Stephanie
Hanan al-Barassi, a vocal critic of Williams speaks as
corruption and armed groups in the east Tunisia’s President
of the country, was desecrated just days Kais Saied listens
after she was assassinated. during the Libyan
Political Dialogue
The daughter of the prominent Forum in Tunis last
dissident lawyer posted pictures of the week. – REUTERSPIX
little shards of shattered gravestone
scattered on the ground. absence of space given to Libya’s highly “Women, who a well-known Libyan TV channel. documented numerous attacks on
educated and capable women and the have for years She subsequently received death women, said the lack of female
Al-Barassi was gunned down in dangers faced by those who try to carve spearheaded participation in the current peace
broad daylight in Benghazi’s busy city out an arena anyway. Libya’s civil threats by people who said they knew process will have worrying knock on
centre last week, a day after she had society where she lived. effect as they cannot put forward their
posted on her Facebook page saying she Women, who have for years movements, views on key issues like the drafting of
was going to release a video exposing the spearheaded Libya’s civil society are largely “We are frustrated and disappointed the constitution and how the country
alleged corruption of the family of movements, are largely frozen out of the frozen out of with the international community presses ahead with elections.
east-Libyan renegade commander decision-making process at a potentially the decision facilitating the process, that they are not
General Khalifa Haftar. catastrophic loss to the country. making process gender mainstreaming what is coming,” She feared that instead women will
at a potentially she said. be relegated to positions in less critical
She was startling open and brave in While there are female members of catastrophic ministries like culture and tourism, or
her criticism of the armed factions parliament and a sprinkling of ministers, loss to the She said nothing underscored this family affairs.
which have run rife across Libya in the the internationally recognised country. issue more than the fact that Hanan
war-wracked years since the 2011 presidential council anchored in Tripoli al-Barassi was murdered in the middle “Women are exposed,” she said and
demise of Muammar Gaddafi. is all male and headed up by Faiez Serraj. of the peace talks, and no one has been the space for them to speak is “shrinking
held to account. by the hour”.
And for that she and her daughter The rival administration in the east is
had received numerous death threats, largely male too. “I am calling on (the UN) to make In the interim there is almost
she was eventually silenced, and her sure this agreement incorporates complete impunity for perpetrators of
grave destroyed. All the armed brigades and militias significant measures that protect violence against women. No one has
are staffed by men and play a worryingly women.” been punished for the murders of
But al-Barassi is not an exception. powerful role in the peace negotiations. Bugaighis, Barkawi or Yunis al-Hinaid –
Her murder came just 16 months Civil society activist and lawyer, Hala Sergewa is still missing – there is little
after the disappearance of another Even in the United Nations-brokered Bugaighis, whose is the cousin of hope that anyone will be held to account
prominent Benghazi woman, rights peace negotiations taking place right murdered Salwa Bugaighis, said at the for al-Barassi’s killing.
activist and parliamentarian Siham now, women are woefully heart of the problem was the incorrect
Sergewa, who was kidnapped by armed underrepresented: of the 75 Libyans assumption that women in Libya “People in Libya think that when
men in the middle of the night from her participating in the latest round of talks shouldn’t participate in the political area women dare to participate in political
home, after openly criticising Haftar’s in Tunis, only a touch more than a dozen because it is not their place and they are life, they have broken a moral social code
war on Tripoli. are women. not qualified. and deserve what happened to them,”
No one knows what happened to said Hala Bugaighis, describing how
Sergewa, there are horrific reports she “Exclusion of women has become the She recently volunteered with the UN people blamed her cousin for her own
was potentially raped, tortured and norm,” says Rida al-Tubuly, a on a side-track to the ongoing brutal murder.
murdered. pharmacology professor, peacebuilder negotiations where women penned
Salwa Bugaighis, Fariha Barkawi and and founder of Together We Built It, recommendations for the country. She related the horrific conversations
Salwa Yunis al-Hinaid, all three of them which promotes inclusion of women in Around 120 women, many of them taking place on Libyan social media
prominent outspoken female rights the peace process. lawyers and academics, laid out plans for about what might have happened to
defenders, were murdered in east Libya transitional justice, saving the economy Sergewa as punishment for her activism.
in 2014. She said after addressing the UN and restructuring the military. Echoing al-Tubuly, she said they were all
They are part of a long procession of security council last November about accused of working for foreign agents.
women in Libya, who are usually the violence against women and the need “We are trying to push the UN to use
most vocal human rights defenders and for freedom of expression, she was these recommendations,” she said. “No woman who speaks out is safe.” –
for that have been threatened, assaulted, accused of being a spy for foreign The Independent
raped, kidnapped, disappeared and countries on social media groups and by Hanan Salah, a Human Rights Watch
murdered for speaking out. researcher for Libya who has
Women who, because they are
women, are more vulnerable: they do
not have powerful military brigades and
militias to protect them.
Instead many of them are blamed for
the violence against them because they
dared to step out of the “traditional”
gender roles and speak their mind.
They are not even protected by the
powerful tribes they may hail from
because few are willing to go out on a
limb for a noisy woman.
In the six years that I have closely
covered Libya, one of the most
frustrating and heartbreaking truths of
the messy war-torn country is the

LETTERS [email protected] Use your signal lights

Don’t let our guard down yet PLEASE use your vehicle signal lights from fender bender incidents to fatal
when changing and entering road ones which can be avoided by a
SINCE early this year, the Covid-19 news warrant celebration, but many break the chain of transmission? lanes. timely use of the signal lights.
pandemic has wreaked havoc challenges await. Storage, transportation and
around the world. By I have been a victim of other Please also spare a moment to
mid-November, cases around the Malaysia’s participation in Covax distribution of vaccines will also be drivers who calmly change lanes periodically check that all of your
globe had reached 50 million with facility will allow 10% of the challenging tasks because some without signalling and have also seen vehicle’s signal, brake and tail lights
more than one million deaths. population to gain access to a may need ultra-low temperature drivers who just turn into lanes are working as owners tend to
Covid-19 vaccine. However, storage. without any warning at all. overlook these while maintaining
But there is a glimpse of light at according to World Health their vehicles.
the end of the tunnel when Organisation, at least 60-70% of the Although the good news about These people commit these acts
BioNtech and Pflizer announced population need to be vaccinated in the Covid-19 vaccines has given us without any remorse or appreciation There are countless reminders by
that preliminary results show their order to reach herd immunity and hope for a return to the normal of the danger to others. the authorities to practise safe driving
vaccine is 90% effective in protecting break the chain of Covid-19 pre-pandemic life, it will take time. and riding, but there are still ignorant
against Covid-19 infection. transmission. Put it into current Meanwhile, the best strategy to This irresponsible behaviour must individuals who throw caution to the
Gamaleya Institute Russia revealed figures, 19.6 million to 22.9 million prevent Covid-19 is by practicing stop. Signal lights are in place in your wind.
that preliminary phase 3 clinical Malaysians need to be vaccinated 3W – Wash hand, Wear Mask and vehicle for a reason and it is a way for
trials showed its Sputnik V vaccine before life can revert to the Warn others, and 3C – avoid you to state your intention to other Do not carry this careless act of
to be 92% effective. The good news pre-Covid-19 era. The government Crowded place, Confined space and road users, and not doing so will only not using your signal lights into the
don’t stop there as Moderna’s aims to kick-start Covid-19 Close conversation. Don’t let our increase the risk of an accident taking new year. Reflect on your actions.
Covid-19 vaccine’s interim data vaccination by the first quarter of guard down yet. place. Appreciate life.
shows 94.5% effectiveness in 2021. But how long would it take to
protection against Covid-19. These immunise the numbers required to Dr Gan Rick Kye Why subject yourself and others to There is still time to change your
Rantau Panjang this kind of unnecessary danger? ways and be a safe, responsible and
courteous driver.
The very act of signalling can be
the difference between life and death. Yeap Ming Liong
Subang Jaya
I have seen accidents ranging

10 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
MEDIA & MARKETING

Algorithms of oppression

NEARLY a decade has passed o Big tech urged to combat discrimination Noble has
since Safiya Noble googled written a
“Black girls” and found the might be embedded in large-scale technologies – from predictive harms of their products.” book with the
search results were mostly platforms, or even household brands policing software to facial recognition Noble applauds renewed public same name.
pornographic – a discovery that drove that are used to disenfranchise, tools, or social media platforms that Technology scholars, researchers
her to explore how algorithms can marginalise, and misrepresent.” accelerate disinformation. interest in scrutinising and putting and journalists are making efforts to
perpetuate discrimination and pressure on technology platforms, track how Facebook facilitates the
inequality. That Google’s search engine had These technologies not only tend the so-called “techlash” that set in spread of disinformation and
been built to assume those looking to single out minorities for unfair after the 2016 US election. contributes to a polarised electorate,
Google went on to fix that search for information about Black girls were treatment, but also provide little she said. – Reuters
engine issue, but Noble said the interested in pornography recourse for them to seek redress.
problem is far from solved. Research “reinforced misrepresentations”,
this year found Google’s advertising Noble said. “(These technologies) are
platform linked the search phrases particularly deployed towards
“Black girls”, “Latina girls”, and “Asian Cathy Edwards, vice president of vulnerable people oftentimes
Girls” to adult content ads. engineering at Google Images, said communities of colour, poor people,
that because the company’s systems and people who are the least
“The Black girl search is the thread “are organising information from a empowered to resist,” she said.
on the sweater we are trying to constantly-changing web, our results
unravel. It’s a way into a larger can sometimes show negative Greater diversity in the technology
conversation about the future of stereotypes.” industry would help, she said, but
knowledge,” said Noble, who spoke would not erase the harm technology
on a digital rights panel at the But she added in emailed can do to vulnerable groups.
Thomson Reuters Foundation’s comments that Google was
annual event, Trust Conference, “committed to making diversity, “You can’t see the flaws in your
being held online on Wednesday. equity, and inclusion part of system when you have a fairly
everything we do – from how we homogeneous group of designers,
Noble, a leading technology build our products to how we build who are designing for a diverse set of
scholar at the University of California, our workforce.” societies around the world, and
Los Angeles (UCLA), went on to coin communities,” she said.
the term “algorithms of oppression” Greater diversity
and has written a book with the same “We know that every year Silicon
name. Beyond search engines, Noble said Valley says it’s going to get more
she was also concerned about diverse. But there’s no improvement,
“Algorithms of oppression are algorithms used in a whole suite of even though for 10 years we’ve been
everywhere,” she said. “I’m talking gathering more evidence about the
about computational software that

7-Eleven donates essential food items to
MINDEF

Artist impression of Uniqlo’s roadside store at Bandar Sri Damansara. 7-ELEVEN Malaysia, the country’s (from left) AFFC non-executive chairman Mejar-Jen Datuk Mazelan Kasap, MINDEF
largest standalone convenience store secretary general Datuk Sri Muez Abd Aziz and Tan.
Uniqlo to launch new store concept chain has once again demonstrated
its brand commitment of being during these trying times and we are essentials, from test-kits, personal
JAPANESE global apparel retailer Damansara, surrounded by Always There For You through a grateful to be able to make this protective equipment and groceries
UNIQLO’s next new store in residential townships, schools and corporate social responsibility contribution to MINDEF in to various government bodies and
Malaysia is not going to be in a office buildings. The new roadside programme organised and recognition of the dedication shown non-govermental organisations
shopping mall. Scheduled to open store will have shopping space coordinated alongside the Armed by our Armed Forces in keeping our nationwide through pandemic
in December 2020, the latest store designed to accommodate some of Forces Football Club (AFFC), where a community protected and safe.” related initiatives and remains
will be a roadside, community- the essential needs of the contribution of essential food items committed to doing its part in
based store in Bandar Sri surrounding community. and groceries worth RM60,000 were Since March this year, 7-Eleven supporting the community during
given to the Ministry of Defence Malaysia has collectively contributed these trying times.
Malaysia (MINDEF) in support of the more than RM1,000,000 worth of
ministry’s front-liner efforts in
combatting the spread of COVID-19
and keeping the community safe.

7-Eleven Malaysia executive
director Tan U-Ming said, “This
contribution is one of many
initiatives we have carried out since
the outbreak of the pandemic, to
provide support and alleviate the
burden faced by the less-fortunate as
well as our dedicated front-liners

EDUCATION

The Class of 2021 is here.

PUBLICATION DATE 8 DECEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)

Speak to theSun’s Sales team now for special deals on BOOKING & STORY DEADLINE 24 NOVEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)
digital, video and print advertising.

MATERIAL DEADLINE 3 DECEMBER, 2020 (Thursday)

S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. SunBIZ THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 19, 2020
197201001092 (12738-U)
Editorial: Tel.: 03-7784 6688
A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad Fax: 03-7785 2624/5

A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad Email: [email protected]
Advertising: Tel: 03-7784 8888
Participation Bought Sold Net
% Fax: 03-7784 4424
RM m RM m RM m Email: [email protected]

45.4 Institutions 2281.2 2343.3 -62.1

38.7 Retail 1916.0 2023.5 -107.5

15.9 Foreign 891.2 721.6 169.6

100.0 5088.4 5088.4 0.0 5.40 10.04 129.20 7.41 286.48 180.28 6.49 32.89
KLCI STI HANG SENG SCI NIKKEI TSEC KOSPI S&P/ASX200
Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com 1,604.75 26,544.29 3,347.30 25,728.14 13,773.29 2,545.64
Source: Burs Malaysia 2,788.59 6,531.10

KL MARKET SUMMARY Good time to consider
November 18, 2020 debt-for-sustainability swap

INDICES 11,514.40 CHANGE -41.85
FBMEMAS
FBMKLCI 1,604.75 -5.40
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 590.57 +0.17
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 158.99 +1.25
CONSTRUCTION 169.94 -0.62
FINANCIAL SERVICES 14,364.60 -91.08
ENERGY 749.01 -7.54 PETALING JAYA: As o It could offer businesses seeking important for the government
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 599.79 +4.27 businesses struggle against the corporate restructuring an avenue to to take into consideration of its
HEALTH CARE 3,925.70 +26.13 Covid-19 pandemic, battling address challenges, says AmResearch fiscal space – limitations as well
TRANSPORTATION 749.98 -10.80 revenue losses, rising as debt sustainability concerns
PROPERTY 638.91 -6.11 borrowing costs and declining particularly with the record
PLANTATION 7,355.15 +43.55 cash flows, AmBank Research spending over the past few
FBMSHA 13,168.30 -45.62 (AmResearch) pointed out that months.
FBMACE 11,088.10 -231.10 this is an opportune time for The research house suggested
TECHNOLOGY 63.74 -0.19 businesses seeking corporate burdens should start almost development goals. an alternative approach that
restructuring to embark on a immediately. As such, taking Post-pandemic, it opined would leverage bilateral and
TURNOVER VALUE debt–for-sustainability swap. such measures now will limit that companies need to multilateral development
14.414 BIL RM5.088 BIL the number of bankruptcies implement long-term finance institutions, private
“Focusing on a debt-for- and business closures, sustainability strategies that investors and private equity
sustainability swap may offer translating into a quick recovery allow them to capture new funds, to reduce the strain on the
5 MOST ACTIVES the companies an avenue to from the recession. opportunities, broaden their government’s limited financial
November 18, 2020 address corporate debt horizon and shape their resources.
challenges while at the same The research house laid out future. “In both scenarios, it could be
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) time increasingly focus on that it is essential for companies “Focusing on a debt-for- done through a sustainability-
AT 1,415,998,100 19 -5.5 sustainability,” the research to embed sustainability in their sustainability swap may offer linked loan (with measurable
NETX 1,009,635,900 14 -3.5 house said in a report. long-term recovery and growth the companies an avenue to performance targets), a transition
PHB 999,583,500 3 UNCH plans. Simultaneously, it needs address corporate debt loan (supporting green business
PHB-WB 869,035,000 2 UNCH Despite banks proactively to overcome obstacles to challenges while at the same practices) or other green
MTRONIC 563,644,400 11.5 -4.5 engaging with their customers repurpose assets and capabilities time increasingly focus on instruments (such as green
and working with the for post-pandemic markets.
businesses, concerns remain sustainability,” it said. bonds).”
whether some of the borrowers In the post-pandemic world, “In pursuing the debt-for- Furthermore, in formulating
5 TOP GAINERS will still be able to meet their companies need to reinvent sustainability swap in the the debt-for-sustainability swap
November 18, 2020 obligations. their business models in favour context of corporate debt framework, AmResearch stressed
of more sustainable options – restructuring, an option is to the importance of setting
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM AmResearch opined that an approach that will not only have a government-sponsored objectives to enable a timely
NESTLE 88,100 141.00 2.00 those severely inflicted by the help them weather the current corporate debt restructuring restructuring of debt and access
DLADY 21,600 37.98 0.78 pandemic will embark on a environment, but also provide a fund.” to sustainability financing for
SUPERMX-C87 200 5.77 0.55 financial restructuring route competitive advantage, in order AmResearch elaborated that viable firms.
LIIHEN 2,283,100 4.74 0.34 while others may need to to mitigate risks, capture the fund would buy from the “The government should
KLK 344,200 23.32 0.32 recapitalise their businesses. opportunities and shape their banks all non-performing loans also facilitate the exit of non-
future.
“Coronavirus fears have from viable firms. Subsequently, viable businesses to avoid the
consumed investors as “Companies should rethink the fund and firms would then rise of ‘zombie’ firms.
5 TOP LOSERS warnings over the potential of a their goals in an environment exchange the loans at a Identifying which firms are
November 18, 2020 rising debt load that could push that increasingly values prearranged discount from the viable in the long run is no easy
companies towards collapse are resilience, sustainability and purchase value of the debt with a task, however. The government
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM beginning to be tested,” said inclusiveness.” new loan based on sustainability should work closely with banks
MPI 165,400 23.02 0.56 AmResearch. compliance in the firms’ – which are experienced in
MISC 3,637,000 6.90 0.51 AmResearch said they operations or supply chains. carrying out such assessments –
AYER 1,500 5.24 0.46 Even if policymakers put should use the crisis as an However, with this option it to gather detailed data on firms
HEIM 105,900 21.54 0.46 health concerns as the top opportunity to review how their acknowledges that it is and sectors.”
ALLIANZ-PA 42,900 14.00 0.38 priority, it suggested that plans business models fit in the
on how to deal with broader context of sustainable
unsustainable corporate debt

EXCHANGE RATES NOVEMBER 18, 2020 UK inflation ticks up as clothing, food prices rise

Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy LONDON: British inflation Pedestrians walking along Oxford Street in central London. The Covid- supporting Britain’s economy
picked up by a little more than 19 pandemic continued to affect the cost of goods in October. – through one of the worst years in
1 US DOLLAR TT/OD TT OD expected in October as the AFPPIX its history.
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 4.1610 4.0340 4.0240 Covid-19 pandemic continued
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.0470 2.9250 2.9090 to affect the cost of goods, with sustained period where inflation Other economists saw The ONS said prices for
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.0970 3.0050 2.9970 clothing and food prices rising is above the 2% target, unless potential for more inflation as clothes rose in October, returning
1 EURO 3.1700 3.0830 3.0710 during the month, official data there is a no-deal Brexit,” he cuts to sales taxes and energy bills to their normal seasonal pattern
1 NEWZEALAND DOLLAR 4.9410 4.7790 4.7590 showed yesterday. added. are likely to be reversed next year. after disruption this year caused
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 2.8760 2.7690 2.7530 by the coronavirus lockdown.
1 STERLING POUND 3.0970 3.0050 2.9970 Consumer prices rose 0.7% In that case, Dales said Earlier this month the BoE
1 SWISS FRANC 5.5210 5.3430 5.3230 in annual terms, after a 0.5% inflation could rise to 3% or 4%, said it expected to hit its 2% Recreation and culture
100 UAE DIRHAM 4.5520 4.4440 4.4290 rise in September, the Office for pushed higher by a fall in the inflation target in two years’ time. represented the biggest drag on
100 BANGLADESHTAKA 114.5900 108.6100 108.4100 National Statistics (ONS) said, value of sterling. Its main focus has been on inflation last month, as prices of
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 5.0230 4.6640 4.4640 still far below the Bank of package holidays and cinema
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR England’s 2% target. outings fell. By contrast, prices of
100 INDIAN RUPEE N/A N/A N/A computer games rose.
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 54.2300 51.5100 51.3100 A Reuters poll of economists
100 JAPANESE YEN 5.6800 5.3300 5.1300 had pointed to a reading of 0.6%. A new energy price cap also
100 NEWTAIWAN DOLLAR 0.0307 0.0277 0.0227 tempered the rise in inflation in
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 3.8750 3.8650 Unlike last year, food prices October.
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 4.0010 rose in October when people
100 QATAR RIYAL N/A N/A N/A stocked up on potatoes and fruit. The ONS said house prices
100 SAUDI RIYAL 2.5000 2.3000 rose by 4.7% in the 12 months to
100THAI BAHT 2.6800 8.2300 8.0300 Previously published shopping September, the biggest increase
8.7500 109.6300 109.4300 surveys had pointed to renewed in nearly three years and the
115.4800 106.4500 106.2500 stockpiling as health restrictions latest evidence of a post-
112.1300 12.7600 12.3600 spread through the United lockdown boom in the housing
14.3900 Kingdom. market. The average price of a
house in the United Kingdom
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama Paul Dale, an economist at hit a record high of £245,000
consultancy Capital Economics, (RM1.33 million) while prices in
said there had been “pockets of London were more than double
pandemic-induced inflation”. that at £496,000, also a record
high. – Reuters
“But we suspect that the
weak economy will prevent a

12 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
SUNBIZ

JAKS Resources BToto posts first-quarter
rights issue net profit of RM67.85 million
oversubscribed
28.7 times oUp 1.3% on higher contributions from on conversion into ringgit terms (the Looking ahead, the group said
SportsToto Malaysia and H.R. Owen reporting currency of the BToto as the pandemic continues to
PETALING JAYA: JAKS Resources Group) in the current quarter under evolve globally, it may be
Bhd’s rights issues with warrants review. challenging to ascertain the full
exercise has been oversubscribed by Its pre-tax profit increased to extent and duration of its impact
28.71%. RM18.4 million from RM4.3 on the group’s main businesses.
PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Sports In spite of the drop in revenue, million, mainly attributed to lower
The corporate exercise entails the Toto Bhd (BToto) posted a net profit its pre-tax profit increased operating expenses incurred “At this juncture, a few
issuance of up to 1.3 billion rights of RM67.85 million for its first by 1.4% attributed as a result of austerity countries have reintroduced
shares together with up to 646.04 quarter ended Sept 30, a marginal mainly to lower measures undertaken various degrees of lockdown and
million warrants on a renounceable 1.3% increase from RM66.96 million prize payout and by the company as restrictive measures, including
basis of eight rights shares together in the previous corresponding lower operating well as certain Malaysia which is facing the third
with four warrants for every five quarter, due to the higher pre-tax expenses governmental wave of the Covid-19 outbreak,
existing JAKS shares. profit contributions from Sports Toto incurred in the reliefs obtained and this would post further
Malaysia Sdn Bhd and H.R. Owen quarter under arising from the challenges to the group’s business
The group will raise about Plc in the quarter. review. lockdown order operations.
RM237.6 million, exceeding the imposed by the
minimum subscription level to be Revenue however, declined 6.3% H.R. Owen UK government. “In spite of that, the directors
raised of RM200 million. to RM1.35 billion, from RM1.44 registered a BToto has are cautiously optimistic that the
billion previously. revenue growth declared a first group’s businesses will gradually
The valid acceptances and valid of 10.8% to interim dividend of 4 recover with the fairly resilient
excess applications totalled 1.4 billion In its Bursa filing, the group said RM667.2 million sen per share, nature of the NFO business as
rights shares, compared with the 1.08 Sports Toto registered a drop in from RM602.4 amounting to a noted in the past economic crises
billion made available for revenue of 18.2% in the current million in the previous distribution of RM53.7 and turbulent periods,” it said.
subscription. Of the total quarter under review mainly due to year’s corresponding million, representing about 79.2% of
oversubscribed rights shares, 1.05 slower than expected economic quarter on higher sales generated the attributable profit of the group BToto is confident it will to
billion or 96.99% are valid recovery and weaker consumer from the new car sector, and the for the quarter. maintain its market share in the
acceptances while the remaining sentiment since the resumption of favourable foreign exchange effect number forecast operator business
342.64 million or 31.72% are valid operations after the lockdown period. for the remaining quarters of the
excess applications. FY2021 ending June 30.

JAKS CEO Andy Ang Lam Poah Asia Poly to acquire 30% stake in competitor GB Plas
said the overwhelming response was
an encouraging vote of confidence in PETALING JAYA: Asia Poly Holdings Asia Poly said the acquisition will enable the two companies to strengthen each other’s presence in their respective key
JAKS’ business fundamentals and Bhd has entered into a heads of markets. – ASIA POLY WEBSITE PIX
future perspectives, despite the agreement with Gooi Chin Hooi to
current economic landscape. acquire a 30% stake in GB Plas Sdn at a utilisation rate of 50-60%. “This and plastic sheets in Asia, the US even more efficiently.
Bhd for RM15 million. boosts our initial plan of doubling and European markets. In fact, Asia “Just like cast acrylic sheets, we
“Given the bright outlook in the up our production capacity to 1,600 Poly is anticipating a large long-term
renewable energy industry, we will GB Plas is a manufacturer and tonnes per month by September contract from a US customer, which have seen a sharp spike in orders
continue to focus on power and exporter of extruded acrylic and plastic 2021,” he said. the group is currently in advanced from new customers this year, thus it
energy sector in Malaysia. We are sheets. For FY19 and FY18, the group discussions with. is important that we capture these
actively exploring viable opportunities posted revenue of RM52.2 million and GB Plas managing director, Gooi market opportunities by having a
to acquire renewable energy power RM65.8 million respectively. Chin Hooi revealed that he has seen With the acquisition, Gooi said, it larger combined presence through
plants, which can enhance our rising demand for extruded acrylic will be able to tap into these markets this corporate exercise.”
earnings visibility,” he said. Upon the completion of the
proposed acquisition, GB Plas will
The bulk of the proceeds raised be an associate company of the
will be used for the subscription of an group.
additional 30 million JAKS Pacific
Power Ltd shares for US$30 million, The proposed acquisition, which
which translates to about RM128.4 is expected to be completed by first-
million. quarter 2021, will be financed via
internally generated funds and it is
Thong Guan’s Q3 expected to contribute to the earnings
earnings rise 13% of Asia Poly from FY21 onwards.

PETALING JAYA: Thong Guan Asia Poly executive chairman,
Industries Bhd posted a 13% increase Datuk Yeo Boon Leong commented
in net profit to RM19.6 million for the that the acquisition will enable the
third quarter ended Sept 30, from two to strengthen each other’s
RM17.34 million a year before, on presence in their respective key
improved earnings in its plastic markets, Southeast Asia where GB
packaging products segment. Plas is active in, and the US and
Europe for Asia Poly.
Revenue, however, dropped to
RM245.79 million, from RM256.55 “The synergistic relationship
million previously. between these two companies will
also be explored in regard to R&D for
For the nine-month period, the the usage of acrylic sheets and
group saw a net profit of RM58.26 plastic sheets in other applications,
million and revenue of RM717.85 such as solar panels,” he said in a
million, compared with RM44.04 press release.
million and RM703.45 million,
respectively, in the previous Yeo also said that with Asia Poly’s
corresponding period. production line already running at
full capacity, the acquisition will
On prospects, the group said it has provide an immediate expansion
managed to maintain its sales growth opportunity as GB Plas is operating
and improved profitability for the
quarter; however, this has slowed down Hup Seng’s third-quarter net profit narrows to RM7.58m
due to travel restrictions which have
delayed the commissioning of new KUALA LUMPUR: Hup Seng with sufficient supply to meet the million compared with the preceding This includes bringing Hup
machinces and overseas sales efforts. Industries Bhd’s net profit in the demand for biscuits, thus contributing year’s corresponding period. Seng’s products to the “online
third quarter (Q3) ended Sept 30, to the positive growth in sales. platform” with extensive marketing
’While the economic headwinds 2020 narrowed to RM7.58 million, Hup Seng said the remainder of to reach out to the market’s younger
may continue to linger, the group has from RM10.08 million a year ago. Domestic sales grew by 16% or the year will be challenging and the generation.
progressively adapted to the new RM8.6 million compared with the group will have to be cautious and
normal business environment and is Revenue, however, rose 14% to previous corresponding period from stay vigilant. Nevertheless, it will continue to
optimistic to continue to build on its RM87.26 million from RM76.65 all trade channels, while the export maintain and improve product
position and to capture growth areas million, it said in a filing with Bursa market grew 9% or RM2.0 million, Recognising and understanding quality, innovating its products
both locally and internationally,” it Malaysia yesterday. mainly from Myanmar. the changing business environment portfolio, reducing costs, and
said in its Bursa filing. and moving into the “new norm” broadening the distributor network
Unperturbed by the recovery For the nine months ended Sept era, the group will continue to to safeguard revenue and addressing
The commissioning of an additional movement control order, the group 30, 2020, revenue rose by 8% to exercise prudence and find new the needs of consumers. – Bernama
premium strecth film line and a new was able to carry on normal operations RM239.58 million from RM221.74 business strategies.
premium blown film line from Europe
originally scheduled for third-quarter
2020 will now be done in the fourth
quarter due to the travel curbs.

The group added that it has
concrete plans for further capacity
expansion in the next few years.

13theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020

* SUNBIZ

PetChem posts weaker results in Q3

o Group says forex loss and lower interest RM12.14 billion registered be stable in line with current and CEO Datuk Sazali Hamzah
income contributed to 14.8% drop in net profit previously. quarter product prices. explained that the decision will
have long strategic benefits to BPC
PETALING JAYA: Petronas disclosure, its olefins and In regard to its outlook, Petchem In a separate filing, the group and its stakeholders, given the shift
Chemical Group Bhd’s (PetChem) derivatives reported a RM26 stated that its result is expected to announced that its board has in business landscape as well as its
net profit contracted 14.8% to million increase in profit after tax in be primarily influenced by global approved the cessation of the unfavourable long term prospect.
RM471 million for the third quarter Q3’20 at RM258 million, while its economic conditions, as Butanediol Complex by BASF
ended Sept 30, from RM553 million fertilisers and methanol business petrochemical products prices Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd “In line with PetChem’s own
reported in the same quarter of the saw a comparable profit after tax of which have a high correlation to (BPC), a joint venture between expansion plans which include
previous year, on a foreign RM323 million for the quarter from crude oil price, utilisation rate of its Petchem and BASF Nederland BV, developing a specialty chemicals
exchange loss on revaluation of RM315 million recorded production facilities and foreign as part of a portfolio realignment. segment, we are looking forward to
shareholder loan to a joint previously. exchange rate movements. producing new high value products
operation company as well as lower The Butanediol plant will cease using advanced technologies,” he
interest income which was offset by For the cumulative three It stated that it has not been operations in March 2021, however, said in a statement.
lower tax expense. quarters of 2020, Petchem’s net spared from the adverse impact the other plants in the facility will
profits tumbled 53% to RM1.16 from the Covid-19 pandemic that not be impacted. “This would enable us to access
Revenue for the quarter came in billion from RM2.47 billion continues to affect the global to new markets and customers,
at RM3.46 billion, a 5.8% reduction reported in the same period of last economy. BASF Intermediates Asia thus further enhancing our growth
from RM3.67 billion reported year. Pacific’s senior vice president, for business sustainability.”
previously. Moving forward, the group said Vasilios Galanos commented that
Revenue, for the period declined it will continue with its operational the measure is part of its strategy to BPC’s managing director Marko
According to the group’s Bursa 13.3% to RM10.53 billion from excellence programme and improve its competitiveness in the Murtonen explained that the
supplier relationship management markets and to add long-term value closure is the result of significant
to sustain plant utilisation level at to both its customers’ businesses overcapacities in the region due to
above industry benchmark. and to BASF, as well as BPC. recent investments into new coal-
based BDO production sites.
It anticipates product prices will PetChem’s managing director

More M’sian firms embrace gender diversity: 30% Club Matrix Concepts’ Q2
earnings rise 27.8%,
KUALA LUMPUR: The 30% Club Malaysia, a However, she said the percentage today “Women representation on the boards of aided by cost savings
global campaign to increase women has dipped slightly to 25.4%, believed to be all the 900+ PLCs has also steadily increased
representation on boards of directors and C- largely attributed to the change in the to 17.2%, an increase of 6.5% from 2015,” she PETALING JAYA: Matrix Concepts Holdings
suites, observes that more organisations in composition of the Top 100 companies, with said. Bhd posted a net profit or RM75.07 million for
Malaysia have embraced gender diversity on several PLCs now in the Top 100 having no its second quarter ended Sept 30, a 27.8%
boards, an integral component of good women on board. “The road to achieving 30% women on increase from RM58.74 million reported in the
corporate governance. board has not been easy. The 30% Club corresponding quarter of the previous year,
The 30% Club hopes this is a temporary Malaysia through its Board Mentoring attributed to a favourable product mix in its
In a statement, co-founding chair Tan Sri setback and will work towards helping to Scheme has helped develop a broader property development segment, as well as
Zarinah Anwar said statistics at the end of address the gap. pipeline of board-ready women candidates to lower expenses and cost savings.
2019 showed women representation on the be considered for board positions,” said PwC
top 100 public listed companies’ (PLCs) Nevertheless, according to Zarinah, Malaysia partner and 30% Club Malaysia Revenue for the quarter fell 7.3% to RM262.01
boards rose to 26.9%, almost double what it Malaysia remains in the lead position among its steering committee member Pauline Ho. – million from RM282.73 million, mainly attributed
was in 2015. peers in Asean; in fact Malaysia ranks second Bernama to slower revenue recognition from its property
only to Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. development segment during the recovery
movement control order.
Group’s plantation segment saw profit rose 52.2% driven by favourable
realised crude palm oil and palm kernel selling prices. - KLK WEBSITE For the first half, its net profit fell 6.4% to
RM106.12 million from RM113.39 million
registered for the same period of the previous year.

Meanwhile, its revenue dropped 20.2% to
RM424.04 million from RM531.23 million
reported previously.

The group has declared a second interim
single tier dividend of 3 sen per share to be paid
out on Jan 8, 2020.

According to its Bursa disclosure, the group
has expanded its effort to utilise virtual solutions
across its operations to ensure business
continuity against the backdrop of Covid-19.

Moving forward, Matrix will continue to assess
its sales and marketing strategies to maintain
consistent sales performance and to achieve
higher efficiency in its construction operations.

To enhance its long-term sustainability and
brand visibility in the property development
segment, it has diversified its revenue stream
beyond Negri Sembilan and Johor to include
developments in Klang Valley as well as overseas
in Melbourne, Australia, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

KLK’s Q4 net profit up 19% despite bigger investment holdings loss MAA: 5.2% uptick in
October vehicle sales
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd 24.8% higher profit at RM118.9 million from 0.3% uptick to RM15.6 billion from RM15.53
(KLK) saw its net profit improve 19.3% to RM95.3 million recorded previously attributed billion reported previously. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s vehicle sales
RM208.82 million for its fourth quarter ended to an increase in revenue as well as a RM20.1 increased 5.2% year on year to 56,670 units in
Sept 30, on the back of improvement across million higher unrealised gain from fair value The group stated it will recommend the October, according to data by the Malaysian
most segments which was offset by a bigger changes on outstanding derivative contracts. payment of a final payment of dividend for the Automotive Association (MAA).
loss from its investment holdings business. financial year at a later date
Meanwhile, KLK’s property development On a month-to-month basis, sales improved
Revenue for the quarter stood at RM4 segment saw a 63.2% surge in profit for the In regard to its prospects for the next by 0.4% from September on the back of new
billion, a 5.3% increase from RM3.8 billion quarter supported by a higher revenue, while financial year, it expects plantation profits to model launches and the ongoing aggressive
reported previously. its investment holdings/ other segment improve given the buoyant prevailing CPO promotional campaign by car companies.
posted a RM14.7 million equity loss from an prices as palm oil inventories remained tight,
According to its Bursa filing, the group’s overseas associate, Synthomer Plc. supported by higher exports. In the first 10 months of 2020, vehicle sales
plantation segment saw profit rose 52.2% to contracted 19.9% to 398,159 units from 496,855
RM192.4 million from RM126.4 million For the full year, KLK reported net profit The group’s oleochemical division units sold in the same period of the previous year.
reported previously driven by favourable rose 25.1% to RM772.6 million from anticipates a challenging year ahead due to
realised crude palm oil (CPO) and palm RM617.51 million reported for the previous the uncertainties arising from the resurgence Meanwhile, total vehicle production in
kernel selling prices. financial year. of Covid-19 worldwide. October 2020 rose 5.1% to 58,631 units from
55,775 units from the same month of the
Its manufacturing segment reported a Revenue for the period saw a marginal Overall, it expects the profit for financial previous year.
year 2021 to be better.
Year-to-date, total vehicle production slid
22.2% to 374,494 units from 481,428 units in
reported for the same period of the previous year.

The association anticipates sales to be lower in
November compared to October due to the full
month’s impact from the conditional movement
control order introduced on certain states, which
will translate to reduced traffic to showrooms.

14 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
SUNBIZ

China’s oil buying Bank of Thailand keeps
binge to continue

key rate at record lowinto next year
BEIJING: China’s commercial oil
stockpiling sector, which emerged as a
key swing buyer of crude as prices
plunged earlier this year, is setting o Central bank says recovery remains fragile despite But a continued ban on foreign tourists, a
plans to grow again in 2021, economy improving strong baht and escalating political protests are
supporting a further boost in imports. expected to weigh on the tourism-reliant
Private tank farm operators, economy and consumption this year.
refiners and traders pumped an extra The BoT has cut the key rate by 75 basis
310-600 million barrels of oil into points this year and provided soft loans and
storage in China this year, according BANGKOK: Thailand’s central bank left its key support from the continued low policy rate,“ the debt relief programmes to support an economy
to a survey of five analysts, more than interest rate unchanged at a record low for a MPC said in a statement. dependent on exports and tourism. The
a month’s usage in the world’s fourth straight meeting yesterday, saying the “Nonetheless, the economic recovery would government has planned to borrow 1 trillion
second-largest oil consumer. coronavirus-hit economy had improved but remain fragile and highly uncertain.” baht (RM135 billion) to mitigate the
The buying helped prop up global that the recovery remained fragile. Limited policy room should be preserved in coronavirus impact.
oil markets as the coronavirus slashed The Bank of Thailand’s (BoT) Monetary order to act at the most appropriate and With limited policy room left, most analysts
demand, and delivered big profits for Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to effective time, according to the statement. expect the BoT to stay on hold throughout 2021.
operators, traders and refiners who keep the one-day repurchase rate steady at a Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy The BoT reiterated the rapid rise in the baht
were able to stock up cheaply. While record low of 0.5%, as expected by all 15 shrank by less than expected in the third could affect the economic recovery and said
oil prices have partly recovered, they economists in a Reuters poll. quarter, rebounding from its worst slump in 22 that it would consider additional measures as
remain below historical levels. “The Committee assessed that despite the years, as easing coronavirus restrictions needed. It has said it has no baht level targets
Private refiners and storage recent better-than-expected outturn, the Thai boosted domestic demand, while private and will intervene only to smooth out any
operators will put about another 100 economy would recover slowly and need investment also improved. excessive moves in the currency. – Reuters
million barrels of new tanks to use in
2021, according to interviews with six
top storage operators and data from Saudis to host online
company and Chinese media reports.
The planned new tank builds for
2021 compare with expanded tank G20 summit amid
space of about 110 to 140 million
barrels this year, according to SIA pandemic, recession
Energy and Energy Aspects.
The new tank space is
concentrated in China’s eastern RIYADH: Saudi Arabia hosts the G20
refining hubs in Shandong and summit Saturday in a first for an Arab
Zhejiang, and in northeastern nation, but the scaled-down virtual format
Liaoning. – Reuters could limit debate on a resurgent
coronavirus pandemic and crippling
economic crisis.
Foxconn starts The two-day meeting of the world’s
wealthiest nations follows a bitter US
election disputed by President Donald
making display Trump and comes amid criticism over
screens in Vietnam what campaigners call the group’s
inadequate response to the worst
recession in decades.
Held under the shadow of a raging
HANOI: Taiwan-based electronics pandemic, the summit which is usually an
maker Foxconn turned out the first batch opportunity for one-on-one engagements
of display screens this week at its US$26 between world leaders, is reduced to brief
million (RM107 million) factory in Bitcoin is closing in on its previous all-time high of just under US$20,000 reached in late 2017. – REUTERSPIX online sessions on pressing global issues –
Vietnam, the government of the from climate change to growing
southeast Asian nation said yesterday. Bitcoin breaks US$18,000 inequality.

Most of the 20,000 screens to be Discussions are expected to be
produced each year at the plant in the dominated by the “implications of the
northern province of Quang Ninh are with all-time high in sight pandemic” and “steps for reviving the
destined for export, the government said. global economy”, a source close to the
Saudi organisers told AFP.
“Foxconn is preparing to expand the New vaccine breakthroughs have
project and form a production complex,“ it
added, saying the plan would make the LONDON: Bitcoin broke through US$18,000 institutional investors. Investors are using raised hopes of containing the virus,
firm the leading exporter in the province. (RM74,000) yesterday to hit its highest since bitcoin as an inflationary hedge to combat the which has infected 55 million people
The nation of 96 million has become December 2017 extending its blistering 2020 prospect of continued government stimulus.” globally and left 1.3 million dead.
a key production base for firms such as rally driven by demand for its perceived quality The asset’s 12-year history has been The Paris-based OECD projects global
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics to as an inflation hedge and expectations of peppered with vertiginous price rises and economic output will contract by 4.5% this
LG Electronics Inc, after it signed several mainstream acceptance. equally sharp crashes. year.
free trade pacts. The original and biggest cryptocurrency Bitcoin was created in 2008 by the G20 nations have contributed more
Foxconn is to expand the Quang Ninh jumped as high as US$18,483 and was last up pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, and marketed than US$21 billion (RM86 billion) to
factory, which took a year to build, to 2%. It has soared about 160% this year and has as an alternative to traditional currencies. combat the pandemic, including
eventually produce a million display jumped 17% in the last three days alone. Unregulated by any central bank, it was sold production and distribution of vaccines,
screens and televisions, for total export Bitcoin is now close to its all-time high of just as an attractive option for investors with an and injected US$11 trillion to “safeguard”
revenue of about US$250 million next under US$20,000, which it touched at the peak appetite for the exotic – and criminals also the virus-battered world economy,
year, the government said. of its retail investor-fuelled 2017 bubble. appreciate its under-the-radar appeal. organisers said.
That figure is to rise to US$1 billion in “It is not out of the question for the crypto to Bitcoin’s most recent upward trend But the group faces mounting pressure
later years, it added. hit its all-time high of US$20,000 this side of coincided with an announcement by online to help stave off possible credit defaults
Foxconn, the world’s largest contract Christmas,“ said Simon Peters, analyst at payment system Paypal on Oct 21 that it would across developing nations.
electronics maker, set up its first Vietnam investment platform eToro. allow users to buy and sell using bitcoin as well Last week, G20 finance ministers
factory in 2007 in the northern province “The crypto industry has consolidated, as other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum declared a “common framework” for an
of Bac Ninh. – Reuters matured and is seeing real traction with and Litecoin. – Reuters, AFP extended debt restructuring plan for virus-
ravaged countries, but campaign group
Action Aid described the measure as
Opec+ signals readiness to act on oil output cuts “woefully inadequate”.

Mistrust between member states has
hampered coordination, with a US
VIENNA: Members of the Opec+ club of oil meeting that the group “must be ready to tweak current reduction in output of 7.7 million Treasury official accusing China – a top
producers agreed on Tuesday that they had to the terms of our agreement if need be.” barrels per day (bpd) is due to be tapered to 5.8 creditor to poor countries – of a “lack of
be ready to act on output cuts in order to “Flexibility and pro-activeness must continue million bpd as of January 2021. full participation” and transparency.
prevent another slump in prices. to be the guiding principles of our deliberations Despite the lifeline for the market “We are facing the world’s largest
A joint statement issued after the monthly today and in the future,“ Prince Abdulaziz added. represented by encouraging news on several humanitarian crisis and women in
meeting said: “All participating countries need to The alliance is currently sticking to deep cuts coronavirus vaccines, many market watchers developing countries are bearing the
be vigilant, proactive and be prepared to act, when to production agreed in April in order to protect expect the January date to shifted back by three worst impacts of the health and economic
necessary, to the requirements of the market”. prices from a fall similar to that seen when to six months as the world economy and oil fallout,“ said Action Aid’s Katherine Tu.
Earlier Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, energy global demand collapsed in the wake of the first demand remain weak. “Yet the G20 has its head in the sand
minister of Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia, had said wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The delay would be signed off at the next full and is failing to respond to the urgency of
in a live-streamed address ahead of the Opec+ According to the deal currently in force, the meeting of the group on Nov 30 and Dec 1. – AFP the situation.”

15theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
ENTERTAINMENT

█ BY S. INDRA SATHIABALAN faTmheily man Happy together ... Family is important to Nazrudin, seen here with his wife
Sheahnee Iman Lee and their three children (from left) Zakry, Zara and Zayd. –
ACTOR, emcee and popular o NazrudinRahmanlovesspending COURTESY OF NAZRUDIN RAHMAN
intrepid host of Jalan Jalan quality time with his family
Cari Makan, Nazrudin Eat, play and be merry. – COURTESY down career-wise. He has not taken
Habibur Rahman, has Nazrudin is happy with OF NAZRUDIN RAHMAN on any new acting offers lately,
taken viewers on a food journey what he has. – is similar to those who sit hunched preferring to concentrate on his
across all corners of Malaysia to COURTESY OF in front of a computer. emcee and hosting jobs, as well as
showcase the best of our local NAZRUDIN RAHMAN his cafe called Blokke where families
culinary scene for eight seasons. “It is taking some time. The body can sit together, enjoy good food and
when he indulges his wife. doesn’t recover as fast when you are interact over Lego sets that they can
This year Jalan Jalan Cari Makan That joy when he eats on camera in your 40s. My left hand is still a little rent and play together on the
will only feature one season, as weak, but overall there is no pain. No premises.
opposed to the usual two or three is real, by the way. pain is good. Strengthening the arm
seasons produced in a year. The He is happy that many of the will take a bit of time.” Watching families dining at
most recent episodes were shot restaurants with each member glued
three months ago, and only featured restaurants he featured in the show Right now things have quietened to their own mobile device did not
eateries in Selangor and Nilai. are still surviving to this day. sit well with Nazrudin, who is big on
family time.
According to Nazrudin, the “The secret to their longevity is
current situation with the ongoing quality. It really is.” Before the pandemic he balanced
Covid-19 pandemic has affected the various careers, but admits it wasn’t
production schedule, which will When asked if he plans to write a easy.
resume next year. behind-the-scenes book detailing
his food journey, Nazrudin said: “For “In a way, the pandemic was
When I met Nazrudin during a sure. Before this I had planned to good for me. It made me rethink my
press conference, he looked slim and come out with a memoir or priorities in life. I really got to spend
dapper in a beige suit. It was hard o something like that. more time with my family, and I
believe that he makes a living eating really got to know my children.
lots of good food on camera. “I will be compiling all my
adventures after my contract with “Parenting is not easy and
He admitted that he really did the show expires.” hopefully with this I will get to be a
tuck in with gusto when he first better parent for my children. In
started on the show. Outside of his work, Nazrudin has terms of trying to balance it all, my
dealt with a back injury for a long wife is the most understanding
“In the beginning, it was like time. He recently underwent woman.
that. As the show developed, my surgery. The injury was due to a fall
producer kept warning me I was years ago and recently it flared up. “She put aside many of the things
going to get fat. The show isn’t He said the type of problem he faced she wanted to do to take care of the
about living a lifestyle of family full time.”
decadence, it is about supporting
the local industry. It is not about how
much you can eat. It is about quality
not quantity.

“Shots of me shoving
food into my mouth
may be satisfying for
audiences, but I
decided to cut down
on that. So what you
will see in one clip
is me tasting one
dish, and then
putting it aside to
taste another dish.

“It is to
showcase the fact
that I don’t guzzle
everything
down.”

Considering
the show has
many sponsors
that promote
good health,
having an
overweight
host may not
be a good
thing.

He said he
really watches
what he eats off
camera, and
essentially does
not consume sugar
unless on very
social occasions

Kaktus in name, soft by nature

IN LINE with its constant reveal listening to a cover of Jacques woman who works hard to support
of new talents with different Dutronc’s Les Cactus by the Last herself, without needing attention
music genres for Malaysian Shadow Puppets. Cacti are also able from the community as she is content
listeners, New Southern Records to withstand desert conditions for a with her uniqueness and beauty.
Sdn Bhd (NSR) is introducing long time without water.
singer Adam Kaktus, who has just The song was made featuring a
launched a new single, Rama- “I hope I will be able to be a Lo-fi/Bedroom Pop music concept,
Rama. ‘cactus’ in this industry,” said the where the melodies are developed
Addressing his singer, whose interest in music began using cheap instruments and the
unique stage name, at the age of 14. music was produced without a huge
Adam explains studio.
that despite According to A&R manager, Raja
the prickly Muhammad Nazreen Raja Azahar, Before this, Adam, a University
exterior of a Adam’s selection for the Teknologi MARA (UiTM) graduate,
cactus, the collaboration was due to the latter’s release three other singles. The first
plant’s insides vocal character and personality, was the indie pop Sajak Cinta, then a
are soft. which were very unique. Doo Wop/Pop Yeh-Yeh sequel called
“That’s not Sajak Curang, and finally, Dalam
all. I was inspired Furthermore, due to NSR’s intent Tidurku that had an Alternative Pop
[to name myself] to ease its way out from certain theme.
‘Kaktus’ after comfort zones in music, the music
Adam brings allows NSR to move into Through Rama-Rama, Adam
Through Adam a new musical direction. hopes that his music will be accepted
Kaktus’ music, NSR will by mainstream listeners, so that he
branch into a new As a streaming artiste, Adam has might become a respected Malaysian
musical direction. followers and fans of his own, in the singer and composer.
current age of digital music, Adam’s
relevance as an artist is easily Rama-Rama can be heard on all
marketable. music streaming platforms and on
NSR’s Youtube channel. – by Mark
The new single Rama-Rama Mathen Victor
revolves around a Singaporean

16 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
ENTERTAINMENT

South Korean boyband TXT says: ‘We are Gen-Z artistes’. K-pop is reaching a wider global audience Take-away theatre
as Korean bands use more English in their delights Czech fans
Shattered dreams lyrics.
THE coronavirus pandemic may have shut
oK-pop’sTXTsing of pandemic’s toll on the young Korean Boy band BTS, signed to the same Czech theatres for now, but some Prague
label Big Hit Entertainment as TXT, picked up residents hungry for entertainment have
four prizes at the MTV Europe Music Awards found that watching a live performance can
this month, including best song and best be as easy as grabbing a takeaway.
group, capping a year in which they
underlined their status as a major global act. Prague troupe Cirk La Putyka has
opened a “Culture Window” at a Prague
BTS is also the first K-Pop band to have a marketplace building where an audience of
number one in the US charts. up to four outside can watch a five-minute
live show of music, acrobatics and dancing
The young men of TXT say they are inside, while still observing social
delighted to have reached people outside distancing rules.
Korea.
The window, which opened last week
“We can’t express in words how much it for two nights of performances, draws its
means to us that so many people relate to and inspiration from pick-up windows for food
support our music. orders at restaurants that have also been
forced to shut dining spaces due to tighter
“We are Gen-Z artistes and I think that restrictions to curb the spread of the
speaking about subjects that are important to coronavirus.
us, like dreams and youth, has helped us to
reach people of our age.” – Reuters “This performance is for live culture
addicts. They will get a dose of live culture
here,“ Cirk La Putyka director Rostislav
Novak said.

The show starts after theatre staff lead
the spectators to the window and a gong
sounds to open the curtain.

Tickets for the bite-sized performances –
offered for free, although people are asked
to donate to the group – quickly
disappeared after going up on the group’s
website.

Those lucky to get tickets said it was a
reminder of what people are missing in this
time of lockdown restrictions.

“It is impossible to compare a live
performance to television,“ said one
attendee, Kristyna Fendrychova. “You feel
the difference and a person really misses it.”
– Reuters

K-POP boy band TOMORROW X in these times. It’s a teen narrative on how the
TOGETHER (TXT) describe their pandemic has impacted the world, in our
latest EP, Minisode1: Blue Hour as a relationships with our friends and loved ones,”
teen account of how the pandemic band-member Yeonjun told Reuters.
shattered their world, and they hope it
resonates with young people everywhere. “These are hard times for everyone. We
wanted to share music that people can relate
The EP contains the singles Blue Hour and to and find comfort from,” said Heuningkai.
We Lost the Summer, which both reflect the
impact of the health crisis. The band, whose members are aged
between 18 and 21, made their debut just one
The video for We Lost the Summer was year ago and have won fans around the world.
released just last week.
Their debut single Crown was viewed
“We wanted to tell a story only we could tell online over 15 million times in 24 hours.

Paris Jackson wears heart on her
sleeve in debut solo album

PARIS JACKSON says her musical influences acknowledged and heard, then I’ve done my Members of South Korean boy band BTS.
when growing up with dad Michael ranged job,” she said.
from Motown to classical music, but the style BTS to celebrate New Year with concert
she has embraced for her first album is Jackson, who plays acoustic guitar, has a
alternative and folksy. thriving career as a model and has also worked SOUTH KOREAN boyband sensation BTS The seven-member BTS were forced to
as an actress. will welcome in the New Year with their first call off their much-anticipated tour of nearly
If people do not like it, the 22-year-old live concert since they were forced to call 40 concerts in Asia, Europe and the United
musician is cool with that, saying she has quit But she says creating music has “always been off a world tour because of the novel States, which had been due to begin in
trying to please other people. a really healthy outlet for me.” coronavirus, their management company, April, as the coronavirus spread around the
Growing up she listened to Bit Hit Entertainment, said. world.
“I’ve kind of reached the point where I’ve a wide range of music.
realised that someone is always going to have “There was soul and The concert – 2021 New Year’s Eve Live – They played a virtual concert last month,
something negative to say ... So I might as well R&B and blues and jazz will be on Dec 31 just outside the South drawing more than 990,000 viewers from
be myself,” Jackson told Reuters. and the Motown stuff ... Korean capital, Seoul, and will include other 191 countries, and fetching some 50 billion
My father also played a groups on the Big Hit label including won (RM185.2 million) in ticket sales.
“I hope people like it but if they don’t, lot of classical music NU’EST, GFriend and ENHYPEN.
that’s okay,” she added. around the house, Since their 2013 debut, the band has
movie soundtracks, Limited seating will be available, in line ridden a global K-Pop wave with catchy,
Wilted, released last Friday, marks the even the radio Top 40,” with government coronavirus safety upbeat music along with lyrics and social
first solo album by Paris Jackson, who she said. guidelines, though Big Hit did not specify campaigns aimed at empowering young
was raised by her grandmother “But the vibe I’m numbers. The show will be streamed online. people.
Katherine after the sudden death in 2009 kind of going for now,
of Michael Jackson. along with keeping the “It will be the first concert to feature Big Their latest hit was Dynamite, their first
folk roots, is a little bit Hit artists in one grand event, capped with song entirely in English, which topped the
The album’s 11 tracks, with titles like more alternative and I’m the countdown to welcome in the New Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in
let down, repair and collide, reflect the taking from bands from Year,“ Big Hit said. September. – Reuters
emotional upheaval of her journey the early 2000s,” she said.
from bereaved 11-year-old, through an – Reuters
adolescence marked by various mental
health and drug issues, to young
adulthood.

“Everyone has gone
through heartbreak
and pain in some
form or another.
If my music
makes one
person feel

17theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
LIFESTYLE

Raising We have seen a resurgence in homey bring to the table a tea with ginger
opportunities food, but yet chef-y dishes. We and lemongrass, and a pinch of
created a takeout business called vinegar and lemon to refresh and
Chef Boulud of Restaurant Daniel in o Chef Daniel highlights. Daniel Boulud Kitchen so people disinfect their hands.
New York City. Boulud’s secret Winter is coming to North America. could have the dishes from our menu
ingredient for 2020 What does it mean for indoor and in their home. Guests who come into the
outdoor dining? restaurant have their temperatures
is creativity With 25% occupancy in New York The dishes at our pop-up checked. We also make sure we
City, we had the chance to build restaurant Boulud Sur Mer are very disinfect the cabanas outside.
RE STAU R A N T S outdoor cabanas out of wood, with familiar. They are Provençal, they are What are you optimistic about?
are testing new insulation and Plexiglas. This is soulful – and we want to continue like I’m optimistic that people will get
recipes for the something we’ve never seen before at this. motivated to cook at home, and
nouvelle normal Restaurant Daniel. they’re going to want to go out and
extending through 2021, For New Year’s Eve, we’re celebrate some normalcy.
with ingredients for safe People feel very private, cosy and planning to serve cheese fondue with
dining and comfort vibes. safe in the bungalow and the heated truffle in our outdoor cabanas. We I want to see people go back to
bungalows are protected from snow, like to play the high and low in this work, back to their offices, and back
To discuss the industry’s rain and cold. The menu is also way, where there’s always the option to their favourite destinations in the
future, Lauren Young, an winterizing itself, so that will help to indulge, but also the option to world. I’m optimistic that travel will
editor at Reuters, spoke with chef keep the guests warm. really heal your soul and feel good. start again. We will get more tourists
and restaurateur Daniel Boulud as Can you discuss the safety and business people in New York.
part of the #AskReuters Twitter chat Out of these challenges, we raise measures you’ve put in place?
series. Boulud oversees more than a opportunities. And one of those First and foremost is the staff. They I’m also optimistic that I’m
dozen restaurants around the globe, opportunities is to come to have their temperatures taken every opening a new restaurant in the first
including the flagship Daniel in New Restaurant Daniel and have your own day as soon as they arrive, and we quarter of 2021 – Le Pavillon at One
York City. Here are the edited dining room on the sidewalk. keep a logbook of that. We have a Vanderbilt. It’s a big project that we
Are customers craving particular station for cleaning and washing have been working on for years.
foods and beverages in 2020? What personal protective equipment.
are they avoiding? I’m optimistic for Restaurant
In the back of the house, we really Daniel to reopen fully so I can bring
take measures in making sure that back all my staff. And I’m optimistic
our staff respect social distancing and for our economy to stay strong.
are working in a very careful
environment. We are the economy, in a way, and
so we have to stay strong in our field,
I wanted our front of house staff to and everyone in other fields will stay
feel a little bit more comfortable and strong. I just want to make sure that
confident with their uniform. We’ve people are motivated and people are
kept those sleek and minimalist. ambitious again.

And, of course, for our guests, we We are going to get through it –
have a station for cleaning. We also and we are going to shine through it,
I’m sure. – Reuters

Cook it, dip it or go wild

IN conjunction with the launch of the timeless recipe that has been passed Malaysian former pilot Azrin prepares food at his food stall in Subang Jaya.
Luckin Kopi Salted Egg Yolk sauce, down from one generation to another
Luckin Kopi has embarked on a but with a Salted Egg Yolk twist.
cross-collaboration with signature
homegrown brand Woodang. “The salted egg yolk trend sky-
rocketed, but has stood the test of
The collaboration offers fans a time among Malaysians. Our salted
chance to experiment on pairing egg yolk dishes at Luckin Kopi have
Luckin Kopi’s salted egg yolk sauce consistently received a lot of love and
with prawn crackers . demand from our patrons.

The irresistible Woodang “To reciprocate the love, we have
Salted Egg Yolk Prawn decided to take it up a notch and
make this favourite flavour available
Crackers is made for everyone to enjoy at home or
from a anywhere to satisfy their cravings at
any given point in time.
Woodang Salted Egg Yok Prawn Crackers and Luckin Kopi Salted Egg sauce
combo. “The sauce is so versatile that you
can do anything with it. Use it as a
dip, drip it over like a condiment or
garnish,” said Alwin Chan, co-
founder of Luckin Kopi.

Every package of the Woodang
Salted Egg Yolk Prawn Crackers will
include a (100g) Luckin Kopi Salted
Egg sauce squeeze pouch and will
retail for RM19.90.

Share the gift of good taste 1664 Blanc Grounded pilot’s noodle
Christmas bottles. stall takes off

‘TIS the season to celebrate Christmas with a
twist as France’s premium wheat beer brand
1664 Blanc elevates the festivities with EVERY morning, Malaysian pilot photograph of Azrin wearing his
exclusive limited-edition Christmas bottles Azrin Mohamad Zawawi puts on captain’s uniform with a red apron
available only in Malaysia! his white uniform and black taken by his wife and posted on
Inspired by Christmas ornaments, these captain’s hat before heading to social media went viral.
artistically designed 1664 Blanc Christmas work.
bottles accentuate the iconic blue of the Still, customers say the
brand with an elegant touch of abstract But rather than going to the business, aptly named “Kapten
swirls and sparkles. Take home these airport, as he has done for two Corner” (Captain’s Corner), is
limited-edition 1664 Blanc decades, he heads to a small more than just a gimmick.
Christmas bottles today, while noodle stall he now runs in a
stocks last! suburb just outside the capital, “The main thing is the food
Available for 1664 Blanc Kuala Lumpur. must be good ... I’ve eaten here
purchases at participating twice. The first time I brought my
restaurants, bars, Azrin, 44, is one of thousands of wife and now I bring my friends,”
supermarkets and Shopee staff who have lost their jobs after said customer Azman Yunus.
from now until Dec 31. airlines were grounded by the
coronavirus pandemic. Another customer, Syed
Khadzil, also praised Azrin for
“I need some income because I finding a creative way to run a food
was retrenched by my previous business.
company,” said Azrin, whose most
recent employer, Malindo Air, was “The way he does business is
forced to slash its workforce this also something unique – being
month. creative with his uniform. It’s a
crowd-puller,” said Syed.
Deprived of a regular income,
the father of four decided to start a For his part, Azrin hopes his
food business, selling Malaysian experience can inspire others
dishes such as a curry noodle dish affected by the pandemic to try
made from a family recipe, laksa, new ways to make a living.
and a mixed fruit dish called rojak.
“Embrace the challenge and
His business got a surge of never give up ... It’s like flying the
unexpected publicity when a aircraft, we always move forward,”
he said. – Reuters

Next Gen 18 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
YOUTH

Tugging the heartstrings

M█ BY JASON LIM o Sweden-based singer-songwriter Kit Naga
ALAYSIAN-BORN, Sweden- rises above the storm to find courage and
based singer-songwriter Kit strength through his music
Naga says: “It’s such a cliche
when people say that music unhappiness.” that resonate with people. I hope to Kit released his debut album Son of the
saved their life, but that’s my reality. To take his mind off distressing inspire people the way I was inspired. I Dragon in January this year. – COURTESY
Nothing I did made me feel better, aside want people to know that it’s okay to OF KIT NAGA
from creating music.” sorrows, writing became his method for push boundaries and do the unexpected.
invigorating his struggle with his true self \TRIVIA
He shares: “When I was 17, I started against prevailing insecurities. “We all have experienced people
writing down my feelings and thoughts ostracising others when they don’t fit Favourite artistes:
through poems, and sometimes even After graduating from university, the their standards, I want to change that and “SZA, Doja Cat, Katy Perry, RuPaul,
essays. And I found an immense love for 25-year-old shifted his focus to music, create a world that is less judgemental Kehlani, Lianne La Havas, Moses
music and its ability to take me to and Kit Naga was born. His distinctly and celebrates uniqueness.” Sumney.”
another world, where I can get in touch soulful and emotional sound with pop Tell us more about your writing style. Least favourite music genre:
with my emotions and cope with my distortion paints a whimsical landscape “Sometimes I write my lyrics first and “Screamo.”
drenched in joyful fantasy, in which his then the melodies, sometimes the other Spirit animal:
anxiety and past and present coalesce. way around. There really isn’t one way in “Dolphin.”
What are some of your earlier artistic how I write my songs. Latest obsession:
Kit takes influences? “Ryan Murphy’s filmography.”
inspiration from “I grew up listening to Chinese songs, I “Whenever an idea pops up in my One thing you miss about
stories around was a big fan of Jay Chou. And one day I head, I stop and write it down, even if I’m Malaysia:
him and from was listening to an English top hits CD in out on the street. Those ideas could be “Onde-onde.”
people around the car and it became a huge game- phrases or hooks that could potentially
the world to changer for me. It forever changed what be used in my music. Same goes with with each track telling a personal story:
write music that music came to mean for me, I didn’t melodies. I’ve saved all my ideas in my School talks about my high school
would resonate know music could be so diverse and fun. notes and voice memos.” experiences, Colours is about my
with others. – You entered the music industry in identity, Sheep is about the struggles I
COURTESY OF “In high school, I was very involved in September 2019 with your debut single had growing up.”
KIT NAGA the drama club. I spent most of my time Babe.
acting, writing, and organising activities. “It’s about my long-distance relationship In the increasingly saturated music
I even participated in a musical theatre at the time; I felt as though my partner industry with an overwhelming pool of
production, where we designed wasn’t there and that I had no freedom. talents, what are some of the hurdles
costumes and built stage props and you’re facing?
backdrops from scratch, it was the “The song is about having mutual “As an independent artiste, I have fewer
starting point where I familiarised myself trust in a relationship. In the lyrics I resources than artistes who are signed to
wrote: “I still love you very much, so record labels. I’m trying to achieve my
with different personas, stories and please just let me be happy and I will visual fantasies with the smallest budget
concepts, and later showcased forever be your baby. If you let me be me, possible. I’m slowly learning how to do
that through my music.” I will let you be you.” all that by myself, while staying true to
You were based in Melbourne who I am.
previously, and now live in “However, in the music video, the
Sweden. How important are story is portrayed as an unconditional “Coming back to Malaysia recently, I
locations and cultures as love story between a father and his son. I hope to collaborate with local producers
influences on music? don’t like it when things are too obvious.” to release some new bangers that I’ve
“Moving to Melbourne when I Talk to us about the idea behind your written in the last few months in Sweden.
was 18 was probably the best debut album Son of the Dragon. Although Sweden never had a lockdown,
decision I ever made. Although “My name Kit is a part of my Chinese I was still too anxious to go outside, so I
it was difficult to adapt in the name, and Naga, the Malay word for spent a lot of time indoors writing new
beginning, it was the first time dragon, pays homage to my Chinese- songs.”
that I felt free and that I could Malaysian heritage and my fascination
live openly. with mythology.
“My time in Melbourne
really taught me to love myself “I’ve always been drawn to shows like
and be confident. Musically, Journey to the West and Gods of Honour.
In Chinese mythology, there’s this saying
Sweden has a lot to offer, some of that people are the descendants of
the best current producers are from dragons, hence, I want to retell these
Sweden. I really enjoy their upbeat stories and culture in my own way
songs wrapped up in melancholic through my music.
lyrics and hopeful melodies.”
Why do you write? “Son of the Dragon is about a boy
“I like writing about my experiences who never felt good enough but now he’s
and stories through melodies and lyrics soaring out of his shell. It’s an
emotionally rich and textured album,

CAREERS

Ready for a career change in 2021?

PUBLICATION DATE 15 DECEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)

Speak to theSun’s Sales team now for special deals on BOOKING & STORY DEADLINE 1 DECEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)
digital, video and print advertising.

MATERIAL DEADLINE 10 DECEMBER, 2020 (Thursday)

19theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
FEATURE

IN popular culture they’re People dressed as
depicted as ruthless warriors Vikings throw
who pillaged and plundered. flaming torches
That reputation is not totally into their
undeserved, but is only part of the reconstructed
picture. Here are five things to know longobat at a
about Vikings. festival in the
Shetland Islands.
Where does their name come
from? A model Viking longship in the
Shetland Islands.
Like many things about them, the
etymology of the word “viking” is Glamorous and worldly Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History.
uncertain. “Far from the drab style in which
o Some things you should know about Vikings and/or sails, were known for their
In Old Norse, an old Scandinavian speed and flexibility, capable of they’re portrayed, they spent a lot of
language, the word appears as crossing oceans and, thanks to their time on their appearance. They
“vikingr”, which designates a person, shallow draught, sailing upriver. washed and brushed their hair and
while “viking” designates a practice. The anti-Hagar beards regularly,” she says.
The famous American comic strip
“The Scandinavians never spoke Hagar the Horrible depicts a heavy And the horned helmet?
of themselves as Vikings, as an red-bearded Viking with a horned “A modern invention from the
identity for anybody Scandinavian. helmet and shaggy tunic. Romantic period,” Jan Bill says
The word rather meant an activity, to dismissively.
go raiding, or a person who was doing But according to experts, the “None of the few helmets found
that,” explains Jan Bill, a professor of Vikings were more glamorous than from the Viking Age, or the preceding
Viking archaeology and curator of that. centuries, have horns.”
Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum. The “mistake” is attributed to
“Their clothing was very colourful. costume designer Carl Emil Doepler,
“But today, the practice is to use They loved jewellery and who in 1876 added horns to the
‘Viking’ to describe anybody bling,” says archaeologist warriors’ helmets in a performance of
Scandinavian from the Viking Camilla Cecilie Wenn Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle opera,
period,” he adds, referring to the of the University of inspired by Nordic mythology.
period from around the mid-eighth to Clinking to toast?
mid-11th centuries. Urban legend also attributes the
Exposed to cannabis and Buddha modern act of clinking drinking
Apart from their pillaging, the Vikings glasses to the Vikings.
were big tradesmen who forged a vast They purportedly clinked their
network of contacts from the Caspian mugs so violently that some of their
Sea to Greenland. beer or mead would slosh into the
other person’s mug, thereby ensuring
It has been debated for years, but it that their drink wasn’t poisoned.
is very likely that Vikings landed in But there’s no evidence to support
America around the year 1,000, or five that theory.
centuries before Christopher And contrary to popular belief,
Columbus. Vikings did not drink out of their
enemies’ skulls either. – AFP-
Some objects recovered from ship Relaxnews
graves – three such ships are on display
in very good condition at the Oslo A scene from the popular TV series Vikings, which revived interest in the culture.
museum – bear witness to the rich and
varied nature of their contacts. purported to be a Viking-era word for exactly the same, as the word used in The horned Viking
a longship, which occasionally Old Norse. helmet is a modern
Among the numerous objects is a featured an ornamental dragon on invention, experts say.
small leather bag containing the bow. “There are actually seven
cannabis, found on one of the two instances of ships being called ‘dreki,’
women buried with the longship dug But some historians insist that the or ‘drekar’ in plural, in poems from
up at Oseberg. term is as recent as the 19th century, the Viking Age,” says Jan Bill.
inspired by the modern Swedish
“The seeds may have been for word for dragon, “drake” in singular “It was not a technical term,
recreational or medicinal purposes, and “drakar” in plural. though, rather poetic.”
or to grow hemp plants whose fibres
were used for textiles and rope,” says That word is similar, but not Historians do however agree that
Jan Bill. light longships, powered by oars

Other finds at various Viking sites
include textiles and beads from the
Orient, as well as coins from the Arab
world – often broken into pieces as
the Vikings didn’t use them for
currency but rather for their weight in
silver and other precious metals.

A bronze Buddha dating back to
this period was also found on the
Swedish island of Helgo.
‘Drakkar’ or not ‘drakkar’?
The word “drakkar” is sometimes

Bethlehem Corona Sandwich eases bite of tourism loss

WHEN the coronavirus pandemic mostly closed. The Corona Sandwich restaurant in the occupied West Bank town of work non-stop, but here it is dead.”
left Bethlehem without its hordes of ‘Genius’ vs ‘stupidity’ Bethlehem, owned by a former Palestinian tourist guide. Bethlehem mayor Anton Salman
visitors, tour guide Raed Bannura While tourism revenue was
needed a new source of income. evaporating, Bannura said he had a “A philosopher once said that for Bethlehem businesses, but told AFP he was “not expecting
brain-flash one day at “six o’clock in there is a hair’s breadth between many have lost hope of the anything” this Christmas season.
His plan, a sandwich shop, was the morning.” genius and stupidity ... I still don’t traditional holiday boost.
hardly revolutionary and the know on which side I am.” “We have never known anything
ingredients of his signature dish – “I woke up my wife; I told her Quiet Christmas? Ashraf Kawazba, frying falafel at like this,” he said, including the
meat with onions and spices listen, I know what I’m gonna call Christmas is typically peak season the Abu Daoud restaurant, said that Palestinian uprisings, or intifadas,
wrapped in a tortilla – were this restaurant ... Corona.” normally during Christmas of 1987-93 and 2000-2005.
certainly not groundbreaking. holidays “everything is full and we
Her first response was to call him “During the First and the Second
But, when it came to marketing, crazy. Intifada it was difficult, but there
Bannura has grabbed attention. were still tourism opportunities,” he
“I told her, ‘this name will spread added.
“I have a special sandwich,” he as fast as the virus,’” Bannura said.
told AFP. “I call it ‘Corona “This year there is no tourism,
sandwich.’” Located in the shadow of the no transportation, everything is
basilica, the small cafeteria is easily frozen.”
Bethlehem, in the Israeli- spotted by its huge red and yellow
occupied West Bank, hosts the “Corona Sandwich” sign. Salman said that since the
majestic Church of the Nativity, outbreak of coronavirus,
built on the site where Christians Also on the menu is the “Covid- unemployment in his city of around
believe Jesus was born. 19 hot-dog”, with a beef and lamb 30,000 people had more than
sausage. doubled – to 37% from around 15%.
Before the pandemic, dozens of
buses carrying pilgrims and other As to whether the name lacks Bannura dreams of holding out
visitors would converge on the city sensitivity towards the devastation until the tourists return, but does
each day from nearby Jerusalem coronavirus has wrought, Bannura not intend to rename his restaurant
through the towering Israeli-built said: “I know that people die, that even then.
grey concrete wall that encircles the corona is a disease.
West Bank. “I will keep the name,” he said.
“But there are people who also “Because people will come here,
Now Bethlehem guides chase die from sugar or tobacco and we do they will say, ‘I survived. I am
after the few remaining visitors, not ban those words from our proud, I am eating – and I am
while craft stores and hotels have vocabulary,” he said. burying that ‘corona’.” – AFP-
Relaxnews

20 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
FEATURE

█ BY BISSME S.

KUCHING-BORN sculptor
Anniketyni Madian has
found fame internationally.
Her sculptures are exhibited
in various parts of the world, from the
United States to Egypt. She even has a
handful of global clients, and is also
pursuing a master in fine art.

Recently, she was kind enough to
give us a tour of her art studio, where
she creates her masterpieces.

Her art studio looks more like a
hardware shop, filled to the brim with
machinery. It is a very industrial
environment, but the pieces she
creates are very evocative and
poignant. Her art is full of emotion,
and never fails to affect the deepest
corners of the heart.

In this interview, she spoke about
her relationship with her art, and her
newborn baby girl.

Who was the first person who Anniketyni is learning to balance her time between her work and motherhood. – ASYRAF RASID /THESUN (from top, and below) Some of the
influenced you to be a sculptor? sculptures she has created. –
“My dad. He was a contractor. I was A world class act COURTESY OF ANNIKETYNI MADIAN
surrounded by machinery since I was
young. I have seen him using o Anniketyni Madian is creating waves around the Your works are made of
machines to create things.” world with her eye-catching wooden sculptures various materials. What is
Did your dad approve of your your favourite material to
ambition to be a sculptor? balance my time between old. I learned it from my cousin. I work with?
“My dad wanted me to take up civil my work and my baby thought it would be interesting to
engineering. At that time, I was girl Mia. explore this culture of mine within “Wood. When I work with
working as a draughtswoman in an “I can’t bring her my art work. wood, I feel calmer and
engineering firm. I did not want to to my art studio. It less tense. Wood is
waste the four years of my life doing is not a safe place “You can find a lot of Pua connected to nature.”
something I was not passionate for a child. Kumbu elements in my Why do you think
about. “I leave her sculptures. I wanted to bring there are more male
under the care of something personal into my
“There were tense moments my sister-in-law. work.” sculptors compared to
between me and my dad. It was like But whenever I What is one piece of female sculptors?
going to war. Now, the situation is am in the studio, I advice you can give to “I think people do not expect
totally different. I have proven that I am constantly young artists out there? nor encourage women to be
can stand on my own feet, and thinking about her.” “You need to be confident sculptors. Perhaps this factor is
my dad is proud of my in whatever you are doing. what discourages females from
achievement. What are some themes you Only when you are confident pursuing sculpting.”
explore in your sculptures? in whatever you are doing, can
“I do not blame my “I grew up in Kuching, and have some you talk to your clients
dad. He came from an Iban blood in me. In the Iban culture, confidently.
era where you are we have a traditional weaving
made to believe an method called Pua Kumbu. “Some artists are shy, quiet and
artist cannot earn a have difficulty communicating with
decent living.” “My first experience with Pua others. Good communication skills
You recently had a Kumbu was when I was eight years are important.”
baby (Mia, now two
months old). Has
motherhood changed
you?
“Before I became a mother, I
was a workaholic. You would see me
in my studio for seven days a week,
from morning to midnight.

“My husband (a professional
photographer) never complained. He
is also a workaholic, just like me.

“Now, I am trying very hard to

Nigeria to build new museum for looted art

NIGERIA intends to build a new objects taken during the colonial hopes that the building in Nigeria Two statues from the Benin bronzes, among thousands of works of art looted by
museum over the next four years that period. will have “a place on the world stage.” British soldiers in the 19th century have been returned to Nigeria.
could exhibit looted Benin bronzes
currently displayed in European and Even in well-documented cases of “It is not just enough to give back
American museums, officials said pillaging, very often the law often objects that were taken but to also
recently. prevents holding countries from collaborate and make this a world
giving them back – as is the case with class centre.”
Many Benin bronzes – a group of the British museum, which could
more than a thousand prized metal however loan the Benin bronzes to In addition to the museum, an
plaques and sculptures looted in the new Edo museum. It is a archaeological excavation project
1897 by British troops from the royal technicality that may not suit will begin in 2021, at a site adjacent to
palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in activists, but should suffice. the palace of the Oba, Benin’s
modern-day Nigeria – are at the traditional ruler.
British Museum and the “This project will help us
Ethnological Museum of Berlin. reconnect our past glory to our The British Museum and the
present realities,” Edo state’s Legacy Restoration Trust have
The possibility of having the governor Godwin Obaseki said, already secured the equivalent of
objects returned to Benin City in announcing the project at an event US$4 million (RM16.35 million) of
Nigeria’s southern Edo state and last week. initial funding, according to a
shown at the future Edo Museum of statement from the London
West African Art has long been a He said he hopes the overall museum.
dream for many. project “should be far developed if
not totally completed” by the end of Hartwig Fischer, director of the
“I am elated,” Theophilus 2024. British Museum, said that the new
Umogbai, curator of the existing Nigeria museum “will surely become
National Museum in Benin, told AFP. The 10,000-square foot (930- one of the most significant museum
square metre) museum is being initiatives in the coming decades.”
“The museum will serve as an designed by David Adjaye, the
identity symbol of the rich cultural award-winning architect behind the Last month, French lawmakers
arts traditions of Benin people.” Smithsonian National Museum of voted to return artefacts to Benin and
African American History and Senegal, although it’s a small
Museums in Europe and America Culture, in Washington. number compared to the estimated
have wrestled with a tangle of legal 90,000 artefacts the country holds
and ethical problems concerning The Ghanaian-British architect from all over Africa. – AFP-Relaxnews

21theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
* SPORTS

Pulev vows to ‘expose’ AJ and end unification plans

226600 OBOBupupspspioionnrreettusussnsniittiieess ANTHONY JOSHUA has no mental in order to put himself in a position to do whatever it takes to inflict Joshua “I will expose him to the world for a
toughness, and will be exposed on Dec unify against Tyson Fury next year. with his second professional defeat. second time. I have been watching his
12, claims Kubrat Pulev. Joshua will fights carefully.
defend his three major world title belts The WBC and Ring Magazine belt Speaking to Marc Gatford via the
against Pulev in London. holder won’t fight in December after Betway Insider blog, he insisted Joshua “He has a good style and he is a
having had his prospective bout with doesn’t have the mental strength to beat good specimen, but he has not shown
Joshua is set to make the first Agit Kabayel scrapped. him. any mental toughness. Yes, he has skills,
defence of his WBA, WBO and IBF world but he hasn’t shown the mental
heavyweight titles against Pulev since Instead, he is waiting for the chance Pulev said: “This is going to be a mind strength.
regaining them last December. to either fight Joshua – should he beat game and a chess game for as long as it
Pulev – or a trilogy bout with Deontay lasts – a master chess game – but the “This is something from within, in the
The Briton defeated Andy Ruiz Jr in a Wilder. only difference is the end is going to blood of a man, and he does not have it.
rematch of their May 1st bout and won come like lightning. Whatever mental toughness he’s got, I
his belts back via unanimous decision. The latter of those two outcomes will know I’m the harder person. This is the
only happen if Pulev upsets the apple “I can tell the fans that I will expose difference – my toughness will prevail.” –
He is hoping to come through his cart and dethrones AJ. AJ again and prove they have been Express Newspapers
defence against Pulev with his belt intact idolising the wrong guy.
And the Bulgarian insists he’s ready to

332222 NNoottiicceess Thiem overpowers Rafa

HHDPDPii(ofu(ofuoCoCmrVmrVnponpooaoiSomaiScomlcilsdiunsdunApeAnpennnCua.Cuat.Pt((Pdon((aBdo1n2aBr12rimiroim8h8oiro8h8eoyepy8d2pp8d2sp&s&e1.0Leu1.0Luri3(2iritH3(2nittH2qnet2q72ie72iie9irue9--M-ru--M-s1FKVsi1F&KVi&d8ied))8iSe))SaS5SmaS5Smddt-dot-dnoinDbiDbnfonf.ot.e)t.en)w.BnwBrBr)Bh)sahsahhd’rd’rded.e... Nadal faces Tsitsipas showdown after loss at ATP Finals
NNOOTTIICCEE OOFF FFIINNAALL MMEEEETTIINNGG RAFAEL NADAL insisted he can
pN1SoCstMMNt1sopCShhhn1ueohOn1ueoeOeeea:rmra:rrmTe4sTae4l2sapl2pIt5uplmIt5up3mCiu3CiunaanaarEprEagpnnbpagnnDbpaDnatienotieoIeenIeoednSosdSsscgtsfcgetfoee,oe1,hH1thHmotAmo2hAe2hE8eSfE8cSf:elbc:elb0R0de:0Rt0de:tee00cE00acErar5t2B5bt2Bbir0iao0r02aoYo02eoYetn1t0vn1s0vseJ62GpeJ62Gpo,042oe,0I42eIchV5chc8V5c8otooatE9toAahE9tAhmirmitNrvteNveepoepo1B1lBJfaTlJyfaT1Fy1aFaanHanH:ih:itln3hitfln3AiahfeAahroea0roa0nuTesnuTersl,rl, still win the ATP Finals for the chances, said Nadal, who had beaten “I think even if I never won here, I Gonna be another tough one.
LcwthmHLHhtmcwhhioeaioeqhaeeqheenavnauvieuiedcridcriiCtniiCtnhdiunihdunigongonacgacgmgmtgtttatthoeahoepnpardensardesanahnahnaWnyoWycaoycaywcnwicnineondedoiddidnxudnxiuisipgsnipgnnntpltptlhgathgaotoetnlhenlsahsaUaeeUaieeidtpddptpdipiomromrbbonohonoheaepfaapfafnfensoebsoabnarnrryrnyteentbeeybydrderettttehhehhooiooinneenneeffff first time despite a damaging 7-6 Rublev in straight sets in his first don’t want to pretend to be “I hope to be ready. I think playing like
DDaatteedd tthhiiss 1188 NNoovveemmbbeerr 22002200 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4) defeat against match.
TTeeoohh LLyyee HHuuaatt,, LLiiqquuiiddaattoorr arrogant at all, because I am this I am confident that I can have my
“I’m happy with the way I not. But I really don’t need to chances in the tournament.”
332222 NNoottiicceess Austria’s Dominic Thiem yesterday. played. I think my chances show even to myself or to no
Thiem overpowered Nadal behind are bigger to have a very good one that if I am playing my World No. 3 Thiem, who defeated
NNOODD.M.MAPAPALAALALA-LA-A2MAS2MSY4YA4AAANMMNMMCDCDAAAVAIVIHNHCNPCPKK-UP-UAPA6LE6LMEAM1MA1M3UA3UAUUH-HPL-PL00IATIATN9N9IINANA//GNGN22GGG0G0I2I200 closed doors at London’s O2 Arena to put result now than five days ago best tennis I think I can win in Tsitsipas in his opening match, has won
9D9D/a/a88lla/a/1m1m9977P8P8eerdrdkkaaaanrnraa11P2P2e/e/1r1rj2j2aa/n/1n1j9ji9ia7a7n8n8JJ((uPuPalaloollttBB1e1e3l3li)i);;bbeerrttaarriikkhh a dent in the Spanish star’s bid to finally because the level of tennis, every surface and against any his first two matches in this year’s
DDaann;; lift the one major prize missing from his even if I lost today, for me is player,” he said. tournament as he looks to go one better
DDaallaamm PPeerrkkaarraa mmeennggeennaaii 77,,443322//229911,,663300 packed trophy cabinet. much higher.” “I never won in the World than last year’s runner-up finish.
bbaahhaaggiiaann bbeelluumm ddiippeeccaahhkkaann ddaann hheerreeddiittaammeenn Thiem became the first player to Potentially facing
6yP16yP1a91ua91un4,ln4,laga,g,uDuTDTdedaPeaiPmiekimekinrenrepaapnaanahnaahnatgtlgliBiSB(Ss(usPeuPeeeklbkblobboieitatetatrTg1rTag1eaa3ena3nni)ngi);ggG;gGaeaePhrPhrea,ea,rnPrnPa.a.WMiWMi .u.TuTCkeCkeeineinmnmgngtatra8r8haha99,l,l,,,,NMNNMNoeuoeu.g.kgkLeLieimomorrtiti qualify for the semifinals a few hours later a n o t h e r Tour Finals. That’s the real thing “It’s definitely one of the better
DDaann;; when reigning champion Stefanos disappointment in at the same time. I have a matches I’ve played so far in my career,”
DDaallaammPPeerrkkaarraaSSeekkssyyeenn3388AAkkttaaKKoonnttrraakk11995500;; Tsitsipas beat Russian seventh seed London, Nadal said match against Thiem said.
DDaann;; Andrey Rublev 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). he couldn’t explain Tsitsipas
DSSDpapaelelaassmimiffiikkPPReReererklkliaifafr1r1aa9955SS00ee;;kkssyyeenn 1111((11))((cc)),, 1111((22)) AAkkttaa Nadal, who lost the 2010 and 2013 his problems at the in two “I think that today I played a little bit
DDaann;; finals of the event, has to beat Tsitsipas in event. days. higher level than at the US Open. It was
DDaallaamm PPeerrkkaarraa mmeennggeennaaii SSeekkssyyeenn 441177,, KKaannuunn maybe the best match from me since the
TTaannaahhNNeeggaarraa11996655;; his last group match to reach restart of the tour and that makes me
DDaann;; super happy.” – AFP
DkkDaaaaeleladadmamahhPMPMeeararkhkhakakraraamamamamhhee2n2n0g0g1e1e2n2n;a;aii AAttuurraann 77 KKaaeeddaahh--
the semifinals of the
AAnnttaarraa prestigious season-
CCHHOOOOKKOOKKSSEENNGG ending tournament.
((NNoo..KK//PP:: 447700112211--0077--55221177//33779977000099)) --PPllaaiinnttiiff Despite his perilous
position, Nadal goes
DDaann;; into the showdown
11..TTAANNSSAAYYLLAAEEKK against Tsitsipas, with
the winner
((NNoo..KK//PP::335500442222--0077--55008899//11223366001155)) guaranteed to
22..AAMMAANNAAHH RRAAYYAA BBEERRHHAADD ((sseebbaaggaaii PPeennttaaddbbiirr progress to the last
four, in confident Dominic Thiem
kkeeppaaddaaeesstteettTTAANNHHOOCCKK--LDLDIIMeMeff,e,esnsnididmamanana-t-tdidi))eeffeennddaann celebrates winning his
NNOOTTIISS((PPeennyyaammppaaiiaannGGaannttii)) mood after battling group stage match
hard against the
KKeeppaaddaa:: inspired Thiem. against Rafael Nadal in
TTAANNSSAAYYLLAAEEKK “He played I think the ATP Finals at the
2200,,LLoorroonnggBBiinnjjaaiiTTiiggaa,, an amazing match,
P1TP1Ta4ua4um0lm0laa0a0uau0n0nPPBSBiSinunruraikaiknRinRitgtagaM.Mm.meebbrratataiai,j,jaamm,, and I played well too. O2 Arena in London
PAPAeMeMmmBBuuIIlLlLaa PbPbEeEeRrRrttHaHarArAiikTkThIhIAANN1100b/b/9a9a/h/2h2a0a0w2w20a0a sdsdaaaatntnuu AASSffaiaidmdmaaavavinintt yesterday.
SSookkoonnggaann bbeerrttaarriikkhh 99//99//22002200 ((sseelleeppaass iinnii So my feeling is not – REUTERSPIX
ddiikkeennaallii sseebbaaggaaii ““SSaammaann PPeemmuullaa ddaann AAffiiddaavviitt negative. I lost, but I
SSookkoonnggaann tteerrsseebbuutt””)) tteellaahh ddiikkeelluuaarrkkaann had plenty of
BtSC6tStB6Cteeee4aHu4aHurrrr6mkshO6mkshO6eia6OeitaaOta,bd,bdnnuaMCuaMCtKptKhpehOeiOrPiprPKptkKtkeaeaaamJjdmJmjadmaoSioSumisumouEsoulEalaa,Na,NmEmGEdPGdsPpsapuatudatladallaayliaaaytiaakmtaeknumaenuan,an,ngngBPMBPMAuiAuinanbkfabkfaihaeiidheitndkktnrakkrgaaeagTaveaTvlameilaameitatdntmtdnaamaaagagshashnaanaStShthoio,bin,bkndkadi1oai1iokhik4nh4naoaa0ogaN0mglwNml0wea0eaoou0hnau0hna..
sseeccaarraa ppeennyyaammppaaiiaann ggaannttii,, iiaaiittuu ddeennggaann 332222 NNoottiicceess 332222 NNoottiicceess BRIEFS safety cars, according to media reports
mmeennaammppaallkkaann ssaattuu ssaalliinnaann SSaammaann PPeemmuullaa Spaniard wants line yesterday. Racefans.net reported that Aston
dymtdiadydmtianenakeaaakaairenihrennanhnnnagnbdkgbdakAaaahAAaamdhAfmrdnifrfiniirfidiiprpdipdptdaeajtaeeaajueavruklvmrvklkgoimvkagoitiaatlaitapmlaetpmneSnaShahuSomtuiSomtiaksoaksioeninaoeknnaoknytninyotni,ouay,“uagyn“gnidnTidnaagTaagigHsrignaHsrnakpaEknpaEnaaltaalitdeninpdennpSirtSaairktesaakUesnnsUeernnseerNestNbestbnake”naukeS”uhoSabhoatbattualudtuliuimdiiidsmtaidstaasanaMsanMnadndnadndjaiijaaiaiPaahPhPkePkpkepkNhedrNhedrarraiimaoeiimnramoenrml.nmlta.nmu2tau2aayaamyl0iml0hhaaishhaas,, ((IInnOO[MN[M2N2ETe0ETe0Hm1HmG1GE6EA6bAbII0CII0eLNNCeLNN1AOr1AOr0sTT0sXMTTXM’4HH’4HHYYVP1EEVP1EEAo7CAo7CMMAlMMN3AAluN3AuN2AAIPNn2AAIPEnEDTTItDTT(IStT(aSTT1TaTT1ArEEA2ArEE2AyLRRyL1CRR1CWS2TWS2OOTOOD6D6iFF2iFFn27Nn7N0d04.d41.i1-Bi-nB6Un6UHgH)g)D]D]UU..pp)) PPEERRIISSYYTTIIHHAARRAANN JJUUAALLAANN judges to stay Martin would supply safety and medical cars at
LLoorroonngg BBiinnjjaaii TTiiggaa,, TTaammaann SSrrii RRaammbbaaii,, 1144000000 f5cAMfM5Acooo9to9telnell2nl2onaovn0avw0aewa0e0rnirGaninGaKneKeegeugd3und3nasAaesAelpa,larpa,areaneanKLKcldLcldLuiLuiaMamMhmlEhlEeerpceerpceleoeuledousdtsrtioriCnoCnoaloagliungtiutnttytyti,1iBoo,1Boo5Nnf05Nnf0s3oNs3oNt.-twh.-owhBoB3ev3eev-e,-e1r,e1rmeCJ3meCJ3ao-dbao-db1lm1uleamuea,,lrnplrynpyL2aL2apBe0pnBe0nava2ayva2yesn0esn0slgsl,dge,dset1usdt1huadh3al:3elyr:eyr,,,, 12 of the 23 scheduled races in key markets,
BBuukkiitt MMeerrttaajjaamm,, PPuullaauu PPiinnaanngg ddaann ccaarraa R1R1.E.EPhfopCTSChpPfoToSfHoeueoOfHueeorOrrrtmAr4rtmLAaets4LaetsThV6TulbphV6ulibpeE2inayaeE2tnayaDtAhgnnpDAhgnnpa:e,taiu:e,-tJieup-JeprJasrpJCpaspCapyaotyoooAltooaoAliaaosmiancsm,ncn,entetSpttSepeoea25Sodea25Sdfln0/felan0/e4awly14wcnlyi1cn6iq6t6igq6tinbig,unbio,ouodeoaiTdneariTdniradninanaDwnmadDwgmdtgatooaa4oortua4urrtuhun3urhpun3npafl9nafl9odoPtEo(doPtE(r1fehr1fNehu)Nttuts)(ttthsghap(bhgahapbaele)enlei)HnvinHvnCCoCbegCobegoloon,eoluon,eomummgf4mngfa4nap6tpnp6tHpnaaH0aada0tradontr0honni0hnoiily0oeilsyyy0e.syyi.i PPEERRMMOOHHDDOAOANLNLAAAANMNMUUMMNNATATHUHUKKKKAAPPMMEERARALHLHAATTKKIINSNSAGAGNGNGAIAIMAMANANALNLNAAOOYY..AAMMDADAI-I-M3M388EE--L1L1A1A1K7K7A-A-0088//22002200 RAFA NADAL (below) believes some aspects of with the existing Mercedes cars used at the
ppkpSpppkSeeeeaeeeeannnmnnnmayyyayyyataaaataaaanmmmanmmmssPpppPpppekaaaekaaamaiiimaiiiaaamaaamunnnunnnlulauyyasy,ys,aadeaadetnnadtnnuaduggneggjnejumuasAmahsAhkefkiefikihmkihdm(di(i7iaiar7paar.p)n.v)unvuihrithrthnhanSaSeareaornioni,kd,dkddoasaoasanneknnekgllgleclaaecaauphnuphnkakatusmtusemeprpertestasanaeanerkjrbkjiabiaakuakdudnhnhtiti 22..tTSttTStooHoocHchAehSAeSeTxeTxeededeccrutruttchtlichlieoieeoisesnneoeolflif4itq4tqtht5huh5uhe6eie6ieddpaCpoaCootooftoowfowmmrtrethephrpberbaseaseennlCliaCiaeaoeaioisudmsudmtAthdAphdpcoocaootarwtnrwin2is2insie0nee0es1dis1din6n6A.ApE.pEcuclutletrersvsv22ueue00nana11ntnth6h6tt tennis should not change. Other than the rest. It said Aston Martin’s new DBX SUV, which
JJiikkaa kkaammuu bbeerrhhaassrraatt uunnttuukk mmeemmbbeellaa ttiinnddaakkaann 33..eawctTtcaewThoisHhosiHtietsitnheAstnhhrAehtreTeeterTetrritisritbinstbnhhihhu.ionu.ieonisetfstofcoltclirtaihqryahqryrseueseuehioshidosC,dCpf,pafoaseosettmptctomhpcohetrepetriepcivbacvbaieCenieeCeneoyoyaoamormuarruiarigtspgtsphihhainhanhothontnsreksreyikyisistinethnieahidnadidndninnndtakadtaokaonscnscydcydcifiniofiniosistsrtsttrtuedtturedtrorriaorribapebpentnulstuhlsuchuctttteeesseeess DDaallaammppeerrkkaarraammeennggeennaaiiSSeekkssyyeenn225566ddaann225577KKaannuunnTTaannaahhNNeeggaarraa,,11996655 absence of fans, changes forced by the Covid- uses a Mercedes-AMG V8 engine, would be
tteerrsseebbuutt,,kkaammuu mmeessttiillaahh hhaaddiirr ssaammaaddaa sseeccaarraa DTTDhahaeteteeBdBdootathahrirdisds1o1o9f9ftDtDhhiirdredeacacytytooororfsfsNNoovveemmbbeerr22002200 DDaann 19 pandemic also include the absence of line used as a medical car. There was no official
sseennddiirrii aattaauu mmeellaalluuii ppeegguuaammbbeellaa kkaammuu ddii judges – with Hawkeye line-calling technology confirmation from Aston Martin or Mercedes.
kphbkphbaaaoaaaomddlmddleeaaaahuhupp1da1idaininnDinbDgbgeikeisMksrMareiaeiarmatrmthehehbkrhbkrhaeahaeadarmdarmdidi2r2araaa0h0sphsp2e2e0kdT0kdTa,iea,inempnmmpmguguugiukgikk.ki.uiiuialadldnn9i9i,,::0Pp0Pp0ue0uelnlpnapaguaguahghgaiaPi.Pk.kiininimJmaJainiaknakgnagna ((IInnOO[MN[M2N2ETe0ETe0Hm1HmG1GE6EA6bAbII0CII0eLNNCeLNN1AOr1AOr0sTT0sXMTTXM’4HH’4HHYYVP1EEVP1EEAo7CAo7CAMMlAMMN3AluN3ANu2NAAIPn2AAIPEnDETTDItTT(IStT(aSTT1TaTT1ArEEA2ArEE2AyLRRyL1CRR1CWS2TWS2OOTOOD6D6iFF2iFFn27Nn7N0d04.d41.i1-Bi-nB6Un6UHgH)g)D]D]UU..pp)) DDaallaamm ppeerrkkaarraa mmeennggeennaaii GGaaddaaiiaann PPeerrsseerraahhaann NNoo.. 00440022SSCC22000055000044335533 bbeerrttaarriikkhh 2222//1122//22000055 kkee aattaass automatically deciding whether a ball is in or Sources indicated to Reuters that the report
bSbSoaoalmlemehahannddiPiPppeeeemrmriikukuslslaaaaddooaallenenhhAAfkfkiiadadmamavvuiuittaSaStotaoaksksoopnpnegegrarammnniitntneettrarasasaeennbbududtiti NwsotoDNDotswohofrheOofroeeOolectcliuTctihcicuTlirhcelnaIreeinaICeitmiCdtnmoimdnaEomaEarbabrubssbmussImeopIeoSa(pSrvae(irvenifensfve2Hsvda2Hmdoam0oEn0aEtlnaetlu2hRyneu2hRynnn)0endEn)0edEttit,tBtiirta,oBioraowaorwnYa:nrnY:-idn-iaidleiatlydetyGmhddGmhrdrIeaIepVeaCepVCsrsasrEoesasEoersamNretamNetrnisrnicpescdpeTudTqauqaoHlaoHnulaanunaAdnyiAdryirrdTsredTsweowrodroedtrohetr,hhfs,hfiseicsbttecsbttohehoheehCeesCefsisfrioissrirooeseroerefdbrdnfedbdnetieedtiehtedhtiob1inoeb1neritri9gitnssi9grnssr sseemmuuaabbaahhaaggiiaannttaannaahhyyaannggddiippeeggaannggddiibbaawwaahhPPMM663311 out. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic said at the was accurate, however. Mercedes has been the
MMaahhkkaammaahhiinnii.. NNoo.B.B3030,O3,O3J[NJ-[2N-a2BaBE0lE0-la-1a1G11nG6n3A63A0B-0LB-L11a1A1TaAT,0n,0XhnXLh4gL4eYgeeYE1esE1svcL7CvacL7Caeioe3rAioq3rAl,ql,2PCu215PCu15Iii39(IiidTt39(1dTty,12Aay,2A2a,M20,LtM0Lt1o10oe0S2reS2rnKD6nKD6au7aNu7Nra4r.aa4.al-Bl-aBU3aU3HH)AL)ALD]D]u,u,.m.KmKLLppuurr French Open that line judges should be official provider of the cars since 1996 but that
dtapstaaadpatstahhprnnhhieprnnieseeeserddeeeetrddystcryspcrpoicsioibircsifwbinfrlafwoinfulaaoieuaaieviaitidsvildtlidmselildllmoeilolyoodybdns,iLbns,i.nLe.nriertmieqatmeqoasoqtuesqtuaeuauixusuciddxcscddcicuociraeuhoraelhecmlutecmutbodhdbodnhdenreeere,oet,ofbtdiftbodiimtoioyimniocyrncrrefeerefreenra,onsa,oboasnbmoauonmytuondytnricdriccdcdhthetitpehtihnpphhndprederleoeielaoidneiadnvirbbcvrebbceeteeeftwesefswasnsanotaruaoteahruaielhslitnlifselttnifciietcidnitisdnitirstitgrththgoochhoocaedrlfaedrlfafslraefslrlreiaerloibmaeobmbnoombntoomtefssyrefssy,r, DDaann scrapped altogether, but Nadal would prefer deal runs out at the end of this year.
BBeerrttaarriikkhhppaaddaa44NNoovveemmbbeerr22002200.. LNDDNLiaGiqaGqtuteuHeHididEddEaNtaNththGtoGioisrsrHH1O1O99OOtthIhI ddaayyooffNNoovveemmbbeerr22002200 DDaallaammppeerrkkaarraammeennggeennaaiiAAttuurraann8833KKaaeeddaahh--kkaaeeddaahhMMaahhkkaammaahh,,22001122 them to remain stationed on the court. “I don’t
---------------P-P-e-e--g-g--u-u-a--a-m-m---c-c-t-at-.a-.tr-t-ra-a---P-P--l-la--a-i-in-n--t-t-i-if-f-------------- want to create controversy, but I think the England’s Pakistan tour
NNOOTTIISS((PPeennyyaammppaaiiaann GGaannttii))iinniiddiiffaaiillkkaannoolleehh AANNTTAARRAA traditional court with line judges looks called off
TTeettuuaann OOooiiWWeennggHHooooii&&CCoommppaannyy,,PPeegguuaammbbeellaa BBaannkkSSiimmppaannaannNNaassiioonnaall((NNoo..SSyyaarriikkaatt::--)) much nicer,” Nadal said yesterday.
ddaann PPeegguuaammccaarraa bbeerraallaammaatt ddii NNoo.. 22669922,,JJaallaann “Novak said line judges were not ENGLAND’S first cricket tour of
RRoozzhhaann,,TTaammaann HHwwaa SSeenngg,,AAllmmaa,, 1144000000 BBuukkiitt ……………………..PPLLAAIINNTTIIFF needed. All opinions are Pakistan in over 15 years, due to
PMPMllaeaeirirntntatatijifjafaymymaa,n,nggPPududliliananuauammPaPaikinknaaaannnngdgd.i.,ia,attPaPaeses.g.guuaammccaarraa bbaaggii DDAANN respected. There are different take place early in 2021, will not
SSEELLVVAAKKUUMMAARRIIAA//PPRRAAMMAAKKRRIISSHHNNAANN((NNoo..KKaaddPPeennggeennaallaann::668800551188004455220066)) visions of the sport, but for go ahead, according to British
SSEELLVVAARRAAJJAA//LLSSAANNGGAARRAANN((NNoo..KKaaddPPeennggeennaallaann::667711110077005555442211)) me I like it less without line media reports. The BBC and
judges It’s true the sport the Press Association (PA)
……..…………..DDEEFFEENNDDAANN has not changed many reported that England
things in the last 50 years, would not be able to send a
MMeennuurruuttPPeerriinnttaahhMMaahhkkaammaahhTTiinnggggiiMMaallaayyaaddiiMMEELLAAKKAAmmeennggeennaaiiPPeerriinnttaahhJJuuaallaannddaannPPeerriinnttaahhbbeerrttaarriikkhh compared with the majority strong enough squad.
1100 DDiisseemmbbeerr 22001100 ddaann 1122 OOkkttoobbeerr 22002200,, aaddaallaahh ddeennggaann iinnii ddiiiissyyttiihhaarrkkaann bbaahhaawwaa TTiimmbbaallaann PPeennddaaffttaarr // of sports, but I don’t think England are already
PPeennoolloonnggKKaannaannPPeennddaaffttaarrPPuussaattOOppeerraassiiee--LLeelloonnggddiiKKuuaannttaann this is a way to improve the committed to playing Sri
spectacle of our sport. The Lanka and India in early 2021
LLEEAALLKKOAOANNNNMMGEGENNAJAJUUNNAALLASASEEWCWCAARRAAAAMM human side gives some more value so a second-string squad would
somehow to the sport.”
SSEECCAARRKAKAPOPOEaEMaMLdLdEPEaPaTLTLHREHREaKOaKOrSNrSNiiIRMIKRMKaaADAbDbHIHuIuKL,KL,AA2AA2hMMhMMbbAAAADHNDHNiisKWsKWeUeUEmEmAABBbNbNeeTeeT-rA-rALL2N2NEE0,0L,L2P2OPO0A0AN,NH,HGPGPAAa,a,NPdNPdGUaGUaSDSJDJAaAAaATmTRmROUOU1P1LPL11EEM.M.R0R0A0AA0AKSpKSpMIaMIaegeUgU-i-RiL,RL,E.E.LLOONNGG,, have had to be selected for the
Aston Martin, Mercedes to Pakistan series. The England and Wales
TNTNaOaOnnTTaAaAhh::BBddaaaakknnaamlmlppeeememmmeebrbreieikkllisisaaaaddssaaeelmlamahhuuadaditintnaaaannssggiihghgauautntnkkggaaaannnna,a,bgbgeaeabrbramamnneaeamnmnbsbsueuearartttataccmamarereiiananngngehehnnaaaakkllmmppaiaillsisiktktiissddeeeeccnnaagrgraaaannrratatesespmpmaaiittddhhiiaaPPrerettjajaaannbbaaaahhtt share safety car duties Cricket Board (ECB) announced in October that
tteerrsseebbuuttsseebbeelluummjjuuaallaannlleelloonnggaannddiijjaallaannkkaann.. talks over a short, limited-overs tour were
ASTON MARTIN is set to join Mercedes next taking place which would be their first on
SSiillaallaayyaarriihhttttppss::////eelleelloonngg..kkeehhaakkiimmaann..ggoovv..mmyy//bbiiddddeerrwweebb season as a provider of Formula One’s official Pakistani soil since 2005. The possibility of a
series in the autumn, in preparation for the
BBUUTTIIRR--BBUUTTIIRRHHAAKKMMIILLIIKK ::PPMM663311 Twenty20 World Cup, is now being explored.
NNNNoooo....LHHLoaoatktkmmiilliikk ::22119933
MMuukkiimm//DDaaeerraahh//NNeeggeerrii ::BBAATTAANNGGMMAALLAAKKAA//JJAASSIINN//MMeellaakkaa
PNPNeoeog.g.aPaPnenegtgtaaaaknkn//NNoo..TTiinnggkkaatt//NNoo..BBaanngguunnaann ::HHaakkmmiilliikkPPaajjaakkaann
KKeelluuaassaannTTaannaahh ::
PPeemmiilliikkBBeerrddaaffttaarr ::11009988kkaakkiippeerrsseeggii
SSSSeyeyakakraraaatttatanNnNyKyKaaeettpapaeennttiinnggaann ::110022mmeetteerrppeerrsseeggii
::SSEELLVVAAKKUUMMAARRIIAA//PPRRAAMMAAKKRRIISSHHNNAANN,,
BBeebbaannaann//LLaaiinn--LLaaiinn SSEELLVVAARRAAJJAA//LLSSAANNGGAARRAANN
::RRuummaahhTTeerreess
::KKOODDBB““TTAANNAAHHIINNIITTIIDDAAKKDDIIBBEENNAARRKKAANNDDIIPPIINNDDAAHHMMIILLIIKKAATTAAUU
DDIIPPAAJJAAKK KKEECCUUAALLII DDEENNGGAANN KKEEBBEENNAARRAANN PPIIHHAAKK BBEERRKKUUAASSAA
NNEEGGEERRII.. SSEEKKAATTAANN KKEEPPEENNTTIINNGGAANN IINNII DDIIKKEECCUUAALLIIKKAANN BBAAGGII
PPIINNDDAAHHMMIILLIIKKAATTAAUUPPAAJJAAKKAANNYYAANNGGPPEERRTTAAMMAA””
::

LLOOKKAASSIIDDAANNPPEERRIIHHAALLHHAARRTTAANNAAHH::
HHaarrttaannaahh tteerrsseebbuutt aaddaallaahh UUNNIITT TTEENNGGAAHH RRUUMMAAHH TTEERREESS KKOOSS RREENNDDAAHH SSAATTUU TTIINNGGKKAATT yyaanngg bbeerraallaammaatt
pHpHoAoAssRRdGdGiiAAJJBRBRI4IZ4Z3A3A22BB22,,JJAALLAANNSSEERRIIHHIILLIIRR88,,TTAAMMAANNSSRRIIHHIILLIIRR,,7777550000SSEELLAANNDDAARR,,MMeellaakkaa..
HHaarrttaannaahh tteerrsseebbuutt aakkaann ddiijjuuaall aattaass ““sseeppeerrttiimmaannaa sseeddiiaa aaddaa”” tteerrttaakklluukk kkeeppaaddaa ssaattuu hhaarrggaa rriizzaabb
sseebbaannyyaakkRRMM4400,,000000..0000[[RRIINNGGGGIITTMMAALLAAYYSSIIAA::EEMMPPAATTPPUULLUUHHRRIIBBUUSSAAHHAAJJAA))ddaannkkeeppaaddaassyyaarraatt--ssyyaarraatt
jjuuaallaann yyaanngg ddiillaammppiirrkkaann..PPeemmbbiiddaa yyaanngg bbeerrmmiinnaatt hheennddaakkllaahh mmeennddeeppoossiittkkaann 1100%% ddaarriippaaddaa hhaarrggaa rriizzaabb
ddaallaamm bbeennttuukk BBaannkk DDrraaff ddii aattaass nnaammaa BBAANNKK SSIIMMPPAANNAANN NNAASSIIOONNAALL 11 HHAARRII BBEEKKEERRJJAA sseebbeelluumm ttaarriikkhh
lNNleeAlAlooSnSnIgIOgOaNaNwAwAaLaLmmdd.a.aBlBlaaaammkkiithteheamamrrgpgpaoaohbhbeseslelieiararnanathtuhuesesnndddduauakakallapaphuhuldlduuiibhbhaa(y(1y1aa2r2r00oo))llehehhhaarprpieiedmdmaabrbriiiidtdtaaaarryiyikakahnhngjgjuubabaelelaarrnjnja.a.yyaakkeeppaaddaaBBAANNKKSSIIMMPPAANNAANN

UFUFinirnrtmtmuukakabGbGuuuuttaiairr-m-mbbauauntntiirr:s:sGeGelOlaOannTTjjuIuIOtOtnNnNyyGaGa,S,SssIiIEilElaWaWbbe&e&rrhAhAuuSSbbSuSuOnOnCgCgIIdAdAeTeTnEnEgSgSaann::--
AAllaammaatt ::NNOO..11--11JJAALLAANNKKLL33//1111,,TTAAMMAANNKKOOTTAALLAAKKSSAAMMAANNAASSEEKKSSYYEENN33,,7755220000MMEELLAAKKAA..
NNNNoooo....FTTFeaealxlexeffoonn ::::00006666----2222888866662222222200002112
NNoo..RRuujjuukkaann ::GGTTSS((MM))//BBSSNN//SSKKRR//88--88669966//2200//ll

22 theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020 ‘Leo must stay’ KeepingMessicriticaltoBarcafuture,
says presidential candidate Font
SPORTS
team, you need to retain that Messi could contribute plenty of ideas.” credibility and know how about football is the
LIONEL MESSI must stay at Barcelona so he talent,” Font, a 48-year-old Font has been planning a run at the presidency right one to convince someone like Messi. They
can lead the team for the remainder of his telecommunications are friends, they know each other, they trust each
career and play a strategic role when he entrepreneur, told Reuters in an for seven years and has chosen Barca midfield other and that’s going to be key.”
retires, the club’s presidential candidate interview yesterday. great Xavi Hernandez to lead the team as a general
Victor Font told Reuters. “If Messi goes to a manager in the long term as well as being a coach. If he wins the election, Font will take charge of
competitor we will not find a club with the highest wage bill in world football.
The six-times World Player of the Year and an alternative easily as Xavi, whose intricate passing fuelled the However, the club is in deep financial crisis,
Barca’s all-time top scorer came close to there is no alternative to Argentine’s incredible goal hauls for 11 years and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has
leaving the Catalans in August after his Messi. So that’s why helped the pair win seven La Liga titles and four obliterated revenue from ticketing, merchandising
relationship with then president Josep retaining him in the Champions Leagues with
Maria Bartomeu turned sour. short term is critical. Barca, is part of Font’s and tourism.
“But for us the strategy to ensure And Font believes Messi’s love for
But the Argentine can leave the association between Messi Messi remains.
club, where he has spent his entire and Barca is a strategic Barcelona, who he joined aged 13, is so deep
career, for free at the end of this relationship and we want “Messi needs to that he could lower his salary demands in
season unless he pens a new contract to make sure we be convinced we order to stay.
before the end of June. create the right have a “The good thing with Messi is he loves the
conditions competitive and club… and I’m sure he is ready to take a long
Font, who formed part of a for Messi winning project term perspective and make a contribution so
campaign against Bartomeu which led to play a and Xavi can play a the club can manage the short term in the best
to him resigning in October, is the front- role in decisive role in us possible way.
runner to win the Jan 24 election and the club doing that,” Font “When you have someone like Messi who
believes the world’s best paid player can even said. loves the club and who the club wants to retain
be convinced to stay at the Nou Camp . after he for many years, you have the framework to
retires. “ X a v i ’s regenerate and build a winning team.” – Reuters
“When you are lucky enough to have
the best player in the world in your

5199/2020 18/11/2020 (WED)

SPORTS TOTO MALAYSIA SDN BHD (8420 - D)

TOTO 4D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL 435/20 18/11/2020

1st Prize 8290 2423
2nd Prize 5534 7700
4800
3rd Prize 0910

Special Consolation Font

6507 8805 1619 4316 Mali, Tunisia qualify for
8283 5763 2051 6677 Africa Cup of Nations
3622 8529 6548 3777
3176 9168 9192 6239
4535 8133 6744 2085

2,673,809.68 4516 3474 1289 6682
4925 5134 4180 5432
8290 5534 5534 8290 MALI and Tunisia qualified for the 2021 romped to a 3-0 Group G win over Togo 7342 3191 7160 7605
8290 0910 0910 8290 Africa Cup of Nations finals yesterday to in Lome, with Mohamed “Afsha” Magdy 4879 6798 2078 3909
5534 0910 0910 5534 follow in the footsteps of title holders and Mohamed Sherif also on the 1093 6681 5093 3911
Algeria, Senegal and hosts Cameroon. scoresheet.
122,510.85
Another 19 places will be up for grabs Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech scored the first
Winning combination of any 1 of Top 3 & any 1 of Special prizes. during the final two matchdays between goal and created the second as Group E
March 22 and 30 with record seven-time leaders Morocco won 2-0 against the
8290 champions Egypt among those close to Central African Republic, who had to RM 22,278,328.36
5534 securing places. stage the match in Cameroon because of
1st Prize 0910 + security concerns. 2423 + 7700 2423 + 4800
2nd Prize Sekou Koita and Moussa Doumbia 7700 + 2423 7700 + 4800
3rd Prize Special Prize + scored in Mali’s 2-1 win over Namibia in After the dramatic four-goal 4800 + 2423 4800 + 7700
4th Prize Windhoek, which clinched an eighth comeback by Sierra Leone to force a 4-4
+ RAT consecutive appearance at the African Group L draw in Nigeria last week, the RM 403,772.71
football showcase. reverse fixture provided little drama and
+ ended 0-0 in Freetown.
Tunisia will be going to the finals for a
5th Prize Consolation Prize + record-extending 15th consecutive time A stoppage-time goal from Mohamed
after drawing 1-1 with Tanzania in Dar es Abdelrahman gave Sudan a surprise 1-0
6th Prize Any 4D drawn number Salaam, where Saifeddine Khaoui gave victory over Group C leaders Ghana, who
them an early lead. were captained for the first time by
TOTO 5D & 6D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL Jordan Ayew, the Crystal Palace forward.
Neither Group A frontrunners Mali nor
60181 Group J pacesetters Tunisia are assured of Madagascar and the Ivory Coast
winning their four-nation groups, but remain joint Group K leaders after
55665 0181 both are certain of top-two finishes and drawing 1-1 in Toamasina with a brilliant 01 03 06 20 22 30 31 34
47624 181 qualification. goal from Ibrahima Amada cancelling out 07 19
81 a Franck Kessie penalty.
Senegal clinched a place Sunday,
615784 Algeria did likewise on Monday and Ethiopia are just one point behind
Cameroon fill the slot automatically thanks to a 3-0 hammering of Niger in
61578 15784 reserved for the host nation. Addis Ababa with Amanuel
6157 5784 Gebremichael, Mesud Mohammed and
615 784 Aston Villa forward Mahmoud Getaneh Kebede the scorers. – AFP
61 84 Trezeguet scored the final goal as Egypt

TOTO GAMES GIVES YOU MORE WINNING CHANCES! Club World Cup moved to February

14 24 33 34 36 46 QATAR will host the coronavirus- It is the second successive Club 230000
delayed Club World Cup, an important World Cup to be held in Qatar. Liverpool
35,135,685.64 test event ahead of the 2022 World Cup, lifted the trophy in 2019 after beating 23000
in February, FIFA said yesterday. Brazil’s Flamengo in the final in Doha. 2300
2 3 13 27 32 48 230 30000
8,521,832.86 The competition, which had been European champions Bayern Munich 23 0000
due to be played in Doha in December and Qatari side Al-Duhail, who qualify 000
1 2 11 12 15 34 30 of this year, sees club champions from through being hosts, are the only teams 00 00
the six regional confederations and the yet confirmed for the competition with
Jackpot 1 1,694,270.24 champions of the host nation, Qatar’s other continental tournaments around 04
Al-Duhail, brought together for the the world delayed by the coronavirus.
Jackpot 2 130,906.17 annual contest.
“We’re looking forward to the
Toto 4D Jackpot 1 “The FIFA Club World Cup 2020 will tournament,” said Bayern coach Hansi RM 7,713,836.68
now be held from Feb 1 to 11 2021, Flick.
RM17,531,807 taking place in Qatar,” FIFA said in a RM 181,898.99
statement. “We want to compete at the Club
Toto 4D Jackpot 2 World Cup and we want to win it.”
“FIFA and the host country will
RM222,575 provide the required safeguards for the A revamped 24-team Club World
health and safety of all involved.” Cup, including eight sides from Europe,
Toto 4D Jackpot 2 (i-System) was due to be played in China in 2021,
Local officials have not yet stated but is set to be rescheduled for a later
R M 3 6 , 9 5 0 won on 15/11/2020! which venues will be used for the date after the delayed Euro 2020 and
tournament or what social distancing the Copa America were pencilled in for
Visit www.sportstoto.com.my for e-Results and more info. measures will be applied. next June and July. – AFP

Sun

23theSUN ON THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
* SPORTS

SIDENETTING Vive Les Bleus Giroudscorestwice,Deschampspraises
Hammer blow without fans Pogba as France beat Sweden

WEST HAM UNITED are losing £2m OLIVIER GIROUD continued his “I am used to being heckled and jeered. That Solskjaer doesn’t know Pogba very well and
(RM10.8m) a match with spectators barred remarkable scoring record for France has just been part of my experience, of therefore can’t get the best out of him.
from attending games amid the Covid-19 with a brace as the World Cup holders my career, but it only makes me
pandemic, the Premier League club’s vice- came from behind to beat Sweden 4-2 in stronger,” Giroud told television Deschamps added that he hopes that
chair Karren Brady has said. “It’s fatal for the UEFA Nations League yesterday. station M6. Pogba’s performances for France will help him
everybody. West Ham is losing £2 million a Viktor Claesson’s deflected early strike gave the cement a place in United’s starting XI.
match in lost ticket revenue and corporate away side the lead behind closed doors at the After the match, Deschamps
revenue. Some clubs are losing as much as Stade de France, but Giroud soon equalised and appeared to wade into the current “Just see what he was able to do in Portugal
£10 million (RM54m) a match,”Brady told the Benjamin Pavard put France ahead before half- debate on why France midfielder and what he did. I know him, I know how he
BBC. “You talk about the pyramid of football time. Paul Pogba has not been a works. He has pride and above all he has talent.
but there is also a pyramid within the Giroud then headed in a Kylian
Premier League. Right at the top you have Mbappe cross to make it 3-1 before the regular starter for “When you have to defend, he can defend.
clubs owned by sovereign states and right at hour mark, taking him to 44 goals in 105 Manchester United. When he has the opportunity to express himself,
the bottom you have those who are not. appearances for his country. He said Red
Everyone is suffering but just like smaller Kingsley Coman scored France’s final Devils’ manager he is able to do so,” Goal.com quoted
businesses, whether football or non-football, Ole Gunnar Deschamps as saying.
they don't have many cash reserves and that
is what is happening to the smaller football goal after Robin Quaison netted Sweden’s “Paul is a top-level player and I hope what
clubs.” second of the night. he did with us will be useful to him when he
Having recently overtaken Michel gets back to his club.”
Wijnaldum just happy to score Platini’s tally of 41 goals for Les Bleus,
Giroud is now closing in on Thierry France had already secured top spot in
NEW NETHERLANDS captain Georginio Henry’s overall record mark of 51. League A, Group 3 ahead of holders Portugal,
Wijnaldum said yesterday he was not The 34-year-old has not thereby qualifying for the Nations League
particularly bothered about what position he always been a popular member finals in October next year.
played in the team despite returning to a of the France side but
role behind the strikers that produced two Sweden, meanwhile, finish bottom of the
goals for him at the weekend. Wijnaldum group behind Croatia and will be relegated to the
was used in the traditional No. 10 role for the second-tier League B for the next edition. –
Nations League game against Bosnia in AFP/Agencies
Amsterdam on Sunday when he took his
tally of international goals to 20 to move remains a key player for
behind Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der coach Didier
Vaart on the list of all-time scoring Deschamps despite
midfielders for the Netherlands. “Of course being on the
everyone has their favorite position, but I’m periphery with his
not that concerned with it,”he told a news club Chelsea, for
conference yesterday. “I think that is more whom he has DrawDate:18/11/20(Wed) DrawNo:5146/20 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB
something for the media. I was happy that I
was able to score again and that we as a started just
team were able to win the match… I’m not one game
really a natural finisher.” this season, 9248
in the
RESULTS League 4804
Cup.
NATIONS LEAGUE 4851
LEAGUE A Sweden’s Sebastian Larsson 4134 + 4111
Group 3: Croatia 2 (Kovacic 29, 65) Portugal 3 (left) fights for the ball with 2783 + 1809 1163 + 4351
(Ruben Dias 52, 90, Joao Felix 60), France 4 6029 + 7202 2452 + 1689
(Giroud 16, 59, Pavard 36, Coman 90+5) Sweden France’s Olivier Giroud 8799 + 2210 8710 + 6241
2 (Claesson 5, Quaison 88). during their UEFA Nations 7955 + 2983 5690 + 9554
Group 4: Spain 6 (Morata 17, Ferran Torres 33, League A Group 3 match at 4329 + 0891
55, 71, Rodri 38, Oyarzabal 89) Germany 0,
Switzerland vs Ukraine (cancelled). the Stade de France RM4,624,324.20
LEAGUE C yesterday. – AFPPIX
Group 1: Luxembourg 0 Azerbaijan 0,
Montenegro 4 (Jovetic 14, Boljevic 25, 28, Dias strikes twice as 9248 + 4804 4804 + 9248
Mugosa 60) Cyprus 0. Portugal down Croatia 9248 + 4851 4851 + 9248
LEAGUE D 4804 + 4851 4851 + 4804
Group 1: Malta 1 (Guillaumier 54) Faroe
Islands 1 (Jonsson 70), Andorra 0 Latvia 5 RM100,000.00
(Cernomordijs 6, J. Ikaunieks 57, 60, Gutkovskis
70-pen, Krollis 90-pen). PORTUGAL’S Ruben Dias scored his first two Diogo Jota. 999 248 + DRAGON RM110,000.00
Group 2: Gibraltar 1 (Brandle 17-og) international goals to help the European Croatia appeared to be on the verge of
Liechtenstein 1 (Frick 44). champions to a 3-2 win at 10-man Croatia in 634 804 + HORSE RM2,593,749.00
SOUTH AMERICAN WORLD CUP QUALIFI- their Nations League clash yesterday, earning a draw after Kovacic levelled midway
ERS: Ecuador 6 (Arboleda 7, Mena Delgado 9, stretching their unbeaten run against the through the second half but they were 774 851 + GOAT RM1,673,207.60
Estrada Martinez 32, Arreaga 39, Plata 78, hosts to seven games. undone by a late howler from Livakovic.
Estupinan 90+1) Colombia 1 (Rodriguez 45+1- 164 134 554 111 691 163 964 351
pen), Venezuela 2 (Mago 9, Rondon 81) Chile 1 The Manchester City defender capped a Chelsea’s Kovacic rued Croatia’s defensive 502 783 551 809 552 452 671 689
(Vidal 15), Paraguay 2 (A. Romero 19-pen, Kaku fine individual performance with a 90th- lapses. 936 029 277 202 818 710 106 241
72) Bolivia 2 (Moreno 41, B. Cespedes 45), minute winner after Croatia goalkeeper 458 799 852 210 685 690 839 554
Uruguay 0 Brazil 2 (Arthur 33, Richarlison 45), Dominik Livakovic spilled a corner, settling an “We conceded three silly goals and gave 397 955 532 983 054 329 670 891
Peru 0 Argentina 2 (Gonzalez 17, Martinez 28). entertaining contest in Poljud stadium. away a red card but at least we stayed up in
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS: Ethiopia 3 Niger the Nations League’s top tier,” he told 248 804 851
0, Lesotho 0 Benin 0, Madagascar 1 Ivory Mateo Kovacic fired Croatia into a 32nd- reporters.
Coast 1, Rwanda 0 Cape Verde 0, Sudan 1 minute lead but the home side suffered a RM726,074.30
Ghana 0, Central African Republic 0 Morocco double blow early in the second half as Dias “I am happy to have grabbed two goals as 248 + 804 + 851 804 + 851 + 248
2, Angola 0 Democratic Republic of Congo 1, levelled straight after Marko Rog was sent off I haven’t scored too many for Croatia, but it’s 248 + 851 + 804 851 + 248 + 804
Sierra Leone 0 Nigeria 0, Togo 1 Egypt 3, for two yellow cards. all about the team. We have to improve and 804 + 248 + 851 851 + 804 + 248
Namibia 1 Mali 2, Tanzania 1 Tunisia 1. get back to winning ways.”
The second was brandished for a 1+3D Jackpot 2 RM236,250.80 won
crunching foul on Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Zlatko Dalic was relieved Croatia avoided on 15/11/2020!
viciously swerving freekick was parried by the group’s wooden spoon.
Livakovic to Ruben Semedo who set up Dias
to tap the ball in from close range in the 51st “We’ve managed to avoid the drop but not
minute. thanks to good performances,” said the 54-
year old coach who steered the Croatians to a
Joao Felix turned the tide on the hour runners-up finish in the 2018 World Cup.
when he scrambled the ball home past two
defenders on the line after good work by “I am glad this year’s international season
is over, though a bit sad the lads were unable
to avoid defeat against the European
champions after a sterling effort.” – Reuters

Lions pressured by clubs over national duty: Southgate

ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has said his situation” with their clubs. the title race any more, we’re looking at six or
players are being pressured by their clubs to “They are under huge pressure from their seven clubs in England and there is huge
regulate their playing time with the national pressure on every result,” he added.
team to avoid the risk of injuries amid a tight clubs. That is going on in the background, for
schedule. sure,” Southgate told reporters. “Everybody is looking to try and gain an
advantage and if they feel someone else is
With the Covid-19 pandemic tightening the “That is the landscape, whether it is made getting an advantage, they want to make sure
season’s match schedule, player fatigue has public or not. That is the reality. It manifests their voice is heard as well.
become a major issue, exacerbated by the itself in different ways but that is what
international break, with England playing three happens.” “In terms of the managers, there’s a power
times in a seven days. game the whole time whether that is phone
However, Southgate said he empathised calls, messages, press conferences – we know
Southgate said players are keen to play for with club managers as the Premier League title everything that goes on. Everybody is inevitably
their country but find themselves in a “difficult race is more open than before. going to fight their own corner.” – Reuters

“We do not just have two or three clubs in

THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 19, 2020 QUOTE OF THE DAY

Just see what he was able to do in Portugal
and what he did. I know him, I know how he
works. He has pride and above all he has talent…
Paul (Pogba) is a top-level player and I hope what he
did with us will be useful to him when he gets back to
his club.”

France coach Didier Deschamps

South American giants win as Uruguay’s Cavani sees red

BRAZIL continued their perfect turf in high-altitude Quito, Cavani’s sending off with 20 sometimes we’ve been playing well. win because we went after it more
start to the qualifiers for the 2022 hammered Colombia 6-1. Paraguay minutes to go capped a miserable “We are on the right path, we than they did.”
World Cup with a 2-0 win over and Bolivia fought out a 2-2 draw night for his side, despite having
Uruguay while rivals Argentina while Venezuela – the only South the better of things for much of the have total faith in the coaches and Argentina scored twice in the
stayed in touch with an easy win in American team never to qualify for first half. they have faith in us and so we’ll first half and were unfortunate not
Peru. a World Cup finals – picked up their keep looking to achieve our to score more in a dominant
first points in a 2-1 victory over While the five-times world objective, which is to qualify for the second half display against The
First-half goals from Arthur and Chile in Caracas. champions maintained their 100% World Cup finals.” Incas.
Richarlison helped Brazil to a 2-0 record in the race to reach Qatar
win over Uruguay, who had Five-time world champions 2022, goalscorer Arthur said they Although Uruguay will consider “From the very start we played a
Manchester United striker Edinson Brazil were fortunate to be two must not get cocky. themselves unfortunate after they great game, the goals came and we
Cavani sent off. goals up at half time in Montevideo hit the woodwork twice and had a created lots of chances,” said
after Uruguay had hit the “There is always room for goal disallowed, Arthur said Brazil captain Messi.
Argentina, with Lionel Messi woodwork twice at either end of improvement,” he said. “We are not deserved their win.
pulling the strings, brushed aside a the half. getting arrogant because we’re “Happy with the victory, we
limited Peru 2-0 in Lima, with goals unbeaten.” “I think we looked more to go needed it after the game we played
from Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez The win also extended Brazil’s forward,” he told reporters. the other day,” he added in
and Nicholas Gonzalez in a game in long reign of dominance over the “We know that every game is reference to their 1-1 draw at home
which they were never troubled. Celeste, who have not beaten their difficult and every game different “We worked the ball more. Our to Paraguay last week.
fierce rivals since 2001. but we are on the right path. Not forward passes were better, they
Ecuador, playing on their home because we’ve won but because looked more to play long balls. I “This is the path we have to keep
think we were rewarded with the on going down.” – AFP/Reuters

HcaonwyoLouegwo?
Shellshocked Germany boss unable to
explain historic defeat to Spain

GERMANY coach Joachim couldn’t control them, they have to Germany coach
Loew was at a loss to deserved to beat us as they did. think and Joachim Loew.
explain his side’s analyse from
humiliating 6-0 loss to “Spain did everything well and tournament to
Spain in yesterday’s UEFA Nations we did nothing right. We don’t tournament. We
League which caused them to know what level we’re at right now. want to achieve
miss out on a place in the It’s not normal to lose a match by the maximum at
competition’s final four. so many goals.” next year’s Euros.”

“I really don’t know what Alvaro Morata headed Spain in Spain coach Luis
happened to the team,” Loew told front in the 17th minute before Enrique paid tribute
reporters after Germany’s heaviest Ferran Torres crashed in the to every player in his
defeat in 89 years and their worst second on 33 minutes after Dani squad and said the
in competitive football. Olmo’s header hit the bar. win was just what they
deserved for their
“We had hardly any chances His City teammate Rodri efforts over the
and we didn’t win a single headed in another to make it 3-0 campaign.
individual battle out on the pitch.” for Spain before the end of a first
half in which they lost Sergio “This victory belongs
Germany have been on a Canales and skipper Sergio Ramos to every player, even
downward path since crashing out to injury, with the latter coming off those who didn’t play,”
in the group stage at the 2018 feeling his hamstring. Enrique told reporters.
World Cup and have won only
three of their last eight Germany’s defence was “It would be unfair to
internationals. missing as Jose Gaya burst single anyone out because
through and squared for Torres to to do what we did, to press
They went into yesterday’s get the fourth on 55 minutes, and a team like Germany all
decisive game top of League A4 Fabian Ruiz teed up the 20-year- over the pitch, you need
after beating Ukraine 3-1 and a old Torres to complete his hattrick. every player from defence
draw would have booked their to attack to work hard.
place in the final four, but they fell Gnabry hit the bar for Germany
three goals down by half-time and before substitute Mikel Oyarzabal “This was one of those
performed even worse in the completed the rout. nights that happen very
second half. rarely, when everything goes
Asked if his job was under exactly as planned.
“In the second half we tried to threat after yesterday’s
press them high up the pitch to hammering, Loew said: “I trust the “The players went out all fired
score and get back into the game players. They are a young t0eam. I up and did everything right. This
but Spain played far better than us, am not worried about my job.” is what you get when you combine
they were much faster and played quality and attitude,” Enrique
with more precision,” Loew added. National team director Oliver added.
Bierhoff also said Loew would
“We said before the game that remain in charge at least until the “We feel that we didn’t deserve
we trusted in the players in our Euros next year. to lose a single game in this
squad and that we were on the campaign. We scored 13 goals and
right track, but today we saw that When asked if Loew would only conceded three, the numbers
we are not progressing as well as remain the coach until next year’s speak for themselves.
we had thought after our last few Euros, Bierhoff told ARD TV:
games.” “Absolutely, yes. This game “We feel immensely happy, this
changes nothing. We still trust is a real boost for the players and
Midfielder Serge Gnabry added: Joachim Loew, no doubt about we’re going to enjoy this moment.”
“Nothing worked for us tonight. We that. – AFP/Reuters

“With the national team, you

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 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected]