The Sun 301220

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TELLING IT AS IT IS INSIDE Govt, meat
RM428m in page suppliers to
discuss guidelines page
Digital Services 2
3
Tax collected

ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30, 2020

No. 7691 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my

FAREWELL PIC ...

A group of women taking a
wefie during a ferry ride in
Penang yesterday before the
service is replaced with a
speedboat shuttle beginning
Jan 1, after which the ferries
would be used to transport
motorcycles and bicycles only.
– MASRY CHE ANI/ THESUN

oVaccines safe

Cautious touse,but
eradication of
Covid-19 may be
still a long way

optimism off:Experts

█ BY HAKEM HASSAN research on related viruses were useful to 19, it will be many months to more than a
[email protected] these investigations.” year before enough people can receive
the vaccine.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are She said the Pfizer/BioNTech and “Malaysia being a slightly less
expected to start getting Moderna vaccines in clinical trials have developed country and being unlikely
vaccinated in the next two to three shown a high efficacy rate of about 95%. to have fast and ready access to
months, but the question on most vaccines, it can be anticipated that the
people’s minds is how safe and reliable it “The clinical trial findings showed that earliest time for ending the Covid-19
is. the safety profiles of the vaccines were pandemic in Malaysia and neighbouring
good since they involved tens of regions would be at the end of 2022,” she page
The uncertainty arises from the speed thousands of volunteers, with very few said.
at which it has been developed. Similar mild side effects reported.” But even when herd immunity has 20
attempts at producing a viable vaccine in been achieved, ongoing monitoring,
the past had taken years. Hence, based on the findings of clinical potential revaccination and treatment of Spot-on in
trials, it can be believed that the vaccines isolated cases will still be needed to creating sex
Virologist Prof Dr Sandy Loh of are safe and reliable. control the risk of Covid-19, she
University Nottingham Malaysia told cautioned. education FEATURE
theSun that it normally takes more than 10 Once the majority of the population get Post-graduate student Sebastian Su awareness
years to roll out a vaccine and that the vaccinated, the next question would be said he believes in the
development of the Covid-19 vaccine is an how long it would take for the vaccine to reliability of the vaccines
astounding process. end the spread of Covid-19. although numerous Turn to
conspiracy theories have
“The push factor is the fact that it is a Loh said achieving herd immunity is —
global emergency. Enormous funding the key factor to end the pandemic since it
from different countries has enabled more would gradually reduce transmissions. emerged on the internet page 4
research on Covid-19, or SARS-CoV2, and regarding its efficacy.
the many years of previous scientific “People can acquire herd immunity via
natural exposure to the virus and/or
receiving a vaccine against it. While there
are now vaccines to protect against Covid-

2 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

BRIEFS CASH AID FOR RUBBER Augment yourselves,
SMALLHOLDERS bumi contractors urged

KOTA KINABALU: The federal o Minister: Firms should expand beyond govt proactive and be prepared under the petroleum and gas, information
government has approved a projects to be competitive in private sector new normal challenges and technology and multimedia.”
monsoon season aid of more changes.”
than RM37 million for 61,762 KUALA LUMPUR: Bumiputra online yesterday. He said as many as 120 industries
rubber smallholders in the state contractors have been told to “Looking at the government’s He said for contractors to survive depend on the construction
affected by the wet spell, Sabah enhance their capacities to make in the business world, they must be industry, and they include
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr themselves more competitive in the allocations for mega projects, able to identify the many production of building materials,
Jeffrey Kitingan said yesterday. private sector. although main contractors are opportunities available, Bernama logistics suppliers, developers and
Jeffrey, who is also Agriculture selected among big players in the reported. facilities management.
and Fisheries minister, said each Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri G7 category (unlimited tendering
smallholder would receive Fadillah Yusof said they should stop capacity), small contractors still Fadillah said contractors should The construction sector is very
RM600 and the payment process depending solely on government have the opportunity to compete for not just focus only on familiar areas important because it employs 15.5%
began on Dec 23. “The Sabah projects. sub-contract work under these or those that are already taken. of the country’s 8.5 million workers,
Rubber Industry Board is projects. Instead, they need to be more he added.
processing the payments by “I believe even small contractors innovative and bold to explore new
electronic funds transfers.” He who have a good work record “I really hope bumiputra areas. “Therefore, the government is
said the year-end rainy season would not have problems securing contractors will continue to work very sensitive to the impact and
affected rubber tapping activities jobs in the private sector,” he said hard, have the initiative and be “Our country now needs more effect on contractors, especially in
which affected the income of when opening the 41st annual competitive in seizing the entrepreneurs with positive relation to the effects of the Covid-19
smallholders, while global rubber general meeting of the Malaysian opportunities available. Bumiputra thinking, and are strategic and pandemic.
prices were low. He said Malay Contractors Association contractors have to be more knowledgeable in business to face
smallholders can check their global competition. “Through the 2021 Budget, the
eligibility for the cash aid using government has allocated a total of
the e-BMT2020 link at “This is where contractors play a RM15 billion to increase the
www.ligs.gov.my. – Bernama role in diversifying their activities in implementation of infrastructure
the fields of agricultural technology, projects.”
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
FOR 1,000 GRADUATES
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000
graduates are expected to gain
exposure in the construction
industry under the
MYJob@Wilayah scheme, that
aims to provide temporary
employment opportunities to
those affected by the Covid-19
economic fallout. Launched in
July under the Wilayah Prihatin
plan, the scheme offers
employment opportunities in
five other fields, namely services,
maintenance, cleaning,
manufacturing and packaging.
– Bernama

‘Lower revenue
when GST axed’

KUALA LUMPUR: The previous ARTICULATE ...
government’s decision to abolish the Entrepreneur and
Goods and Services Tax (GST) has to Cooperatives
some extent affected the country’s Development Minister
revenue, said Deputy Finance Datuk Seri Dr Wan
Minister I Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri. Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
stressing a point while
He said the country faced a speaking in the
revenue shortfall when GST was Dewan Negara
abolished and replaced with the yesterday.
Sales and Service Tax (SST). – BERNAMAPIX

“GST was introduced in 2015 Work together to achieve Sabah plan, says CM
before the government decided to
abolish it in 2018. Judging from data, TUARAN: Sabah Chief Minister will work together as a team and Hajiji said the appointment of state government has allocated
GST collection was RM44 billion a Datuk Hajiji Noor has called on local take the responsibility to ensure that district councillors was aimed at RM25.5 million in its 2021 budget
year and the total during its authorities and district councils to the plans and aspirations of the assisting local authorities in policy- for various public facilities in 24
implementation was RM133.1 billion work with the state government to government can be implemented making, planning and monitoring local authorities throughout Sabah,
while SST collection was just RM21 ensure the success of the state’s transparently and effectively. its development programmes, in addition to the RM4 million
billion annually,” he said when strategic five-year development hence the need for them to allocated to drive and boost the
winding up the debate on the Sales plan, dubbed the Sabah Maju Jaya “Councillors should also be understand their roles as well as to economic growth of new towns.
Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020 in Dewan Plan (SMJ) 2021-2025. proactive, especially in delivering uphold integrity, transparency and
Negara yesterday. services to the people. Equip public accountability. To strengthen the
SMJ, scheduled to be unveiled in yourselves with knowledge and competitiveness of local authorities
He said GST collection was higher January, is a development strategy understanding of your functions, “To bring change in the in terms of working capital, the state
as the taxation system was more to revive the state’s economy and roles and duties to facilitate the administration and management of government has also allocated
comprehensive and charged on all promote the socio-economic well- development planning and local authorities, the duty of district RM36.53 million to local authorities
taxable goods and services at all being of the people. implementation,” he said yesterday councillors is not only to receive in next year’s budget, he said.
stages, compared to SST, which was at the swearing-in ceremony and complaints from the people but also
deemed a single-stage tax and Hajiji said all parties involved presentation of letters of to go to the ground to get a clearer “I hope these allocations will be
imposed only on manufacturers. should be sensitive and proactive in appointment to 20 new Tuaran picture of the problems faced by the put to optimal use by all the local
implementing all initiatives by the district council members for the people in their areas.” authorities in Sabah to provide
Nevertheless, Abd Rahim state government. 2020/2022 term. better service and facilities to the
admitted that there was a weakness On another matter, Hajiji said the people.” – Bernama
in the implementation of GST, which “I hope all district councillors
has indirectly affected the people.

He said the government would
consider the views and acceptance of
all parties, including the people, on
the possible reintroduction of GST.
– Bernama

RM428 million in Digital Services Tax collected

KUALA LUMPUR: The government and games on smartphones. The issue on the digital services efforts to ensure taxpayers pay the proposer to debate the matter for not
collected RM428.07 million from “This is a new source of revenue tax was raised by Senator N. proper amount of taxes and avoid more than 30 minutes and the same
digital service providers since the Balasubramaniam. leaks. time to be allocated to the
enforcement of the Digital Services for the country and will be enhanced government to respond.
Tax this year, said Deputy Finance in future. This collection is imposed On refunds for the Goods and The method also ensures the
Minister I Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri. not only on local digital service Services Tax (GST), Abd Rahim said government collects the actual tax For the matter to be considered by
providers, but we have also started most of the claims have been amount, he added. the Senate, he said the matter raised
He said the tax was imposed on, efforts to impose the tax on foreign reimbursed, with RM1.87 billion not must meet three conditions.
among others, Netflix, Amazon, digital service providers,” he added paid yet as there were some matters Meanwhile, Dewan Negara
advertisements on social media when winding up the debate on the that needed to be resolved. president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said “I have studied the matter. Firstly,
platforms such as Facebook and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020 at the issue of illegal meat cartels will be it is right, the matter is specific.
Instagram, as well as applications the Dewan Negara yesterday. He said the Customs Department debated in the Dewan Negara in Secondly, it is of public interest and in
always carried out field audits in accordance with Rule 17 (1), with the need of urgent action.” – Bernama

3theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

New Year countdown to be a tame affair

o With the number of daily new Covid cases still in four fear of being infected with Covid-19 and would would get together at this time of the year to
digits, many will opt to mark the occasion at home rather celebrate at home. send off the old year and welcome a brand new
one, but with the virus still at large, I would
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI I head out to gather,” he told theSun. “The daily increase in the number of new rather sit this one out,” he said.
[email protected] “To a certain extent, you can call it a cases is not getting any lower, and those who
PETALING JAYA: It is a party few are willing to go out will have to strictly observe the SOP,” he James agreed that a long tradition has been
miss, yet the countdown to the New Year tradition. But we all know that it is just an pointed out. put on hold, no thanks to the virus.
tomorrow night is likely to be a muted affair. excuse to get together to enjoy a drink or two,”
he said. “Unlike the regular Friday night out, This, he said, would discourage people “But I wouldn’t say that it has been ‘erased’
Pubs, traditionally the place for the year- this is special.” from meeting anyone, “and that is a good way altogether,” he said.
end revelry, are still closed, so for those who to reduce the possibility of an upsurge in the
want a night out with the boys (or girls, As Eashwar noted, resto-pubs and number of new cases”. “We still have the alternative of a gathering
whichever applies), it is a choice between restaurants that remain open will subject their at home but I would say things have not been
restaurants and resto-pubs. customers to strict standard operating For this reason, Sri has decided to break the same since the start of the pandemic,” he
procedures (SOP) to avoid a run-in with the with tradition and spend the night at home added.
But many will likely mark the occasion at law. with his loved ones.
home with family members and close friends. James said he is likely to have a few close
For this reason, he expects many people to “Celebrating New Year’s Eve or any other friends join him to usher in 2021.
For Eashwar Dhanesh, going out to the bar stay home. festival will not be the same again unless we
or pub to usher in a new year has been a really bring the pandemic under control,” he At the same time, he will have a video call
tradition and he is determined not to miss the “You can have your friends visit you or meet said. with his girlfriend as she will be away.
last party of the year tomorrow. over Zoom so you can still be ‘together,’” he
pointed out. Another person who has opted to break “I do not plan to head out to my regular pub
“This is the only reason why my friends and with tradition and not party at the pub is for a drink. Much as I would like to have the
Another regular pub-goer, Taufik Sri, Kendrick James. feel of sitting at my usual spot with a drink in
expects most drinkers to still be plagued with one hand, I also have to ensure that those who
“We’ve always got together for the Mother live with me remain safe. I do not want to pick
of All Parties. It was something we all look up the virus and pass it on to them, and
forward to,” he told theSun. contribute to the already rising number of
cases,” he added.
“Everyone - from all races and religions -

Anwar: PH still open
to including Mahathir

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan (PH) is open to
cooperating with any politician, including
former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad, as long as they subscribe to the
coalition’s principles, said its chairman Datuk
Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, said
anyone invited to work with PH should not
bring along his personal agenda or any
baggage.

“It’s up to PH (to invite Mahathir to join the
coalition). We can invite anyone but they must
subscribe to PH’s principles,” he told reporters
after launching the book, 100 Esei Seni dan
Sastera Era Reformasi 2008-2011, here yesterday.

He said this when asked whether PH’s plan
to create a grand opposition coalition would
involve Mahathir and other parties.

Mahathir was formerly PH chairman when
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which
he then headed, was part of the coalition. He is
no longer with Bersatu, which has also left PH.
- Bernama

An employee of Fatric Sdn Bhd, a leading importer and distributor of meat, getting a slab of lamb ready for distribution. Sultan raps Mersing
folk for ‘dirty habit’
Govt to meet meat importers over scandal
JOHOR BARU: Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will meet Seri Sentosa, here, yesterday. several investigation papers over the issue Sultan Iskandar has expressed displeasure over
industry players involved in the import of The meat cartel scandal has become a hot based on reports lodged by several the attitude of some folk in Mersing district who
meat and slaughtering of animals to ensure individuals and non-governmental neglected the aspect of cleanliness and caused
they understand the set guidelines, said topic after the media reported on the organisations. certain public places to be filled with garbage.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department smuggling of frozen meat from China,
(Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina before “This issue is related to trade, so the most If this bad habit continues, it will have a
Mohamad Al-Bakri. repackaging the meat using the halal logo at a relevant (authority) to investigate it is the negative impact on public health, he said.
warehouse in Senai, Johor. ministry, but in the meantime, police will
He said this is also to ensure a high level of investigate reports claiming that there are Sultan Ibrahim said the tourism district is a
compliance with the guidelines and integrity Earlier, Zulkifli said MAIWP had cartels that commit irregularities with regard tourist attraction rich in natural beauty.
of the industry players. channelled a total of RM623.66 million in tithe to imported meat.
to the needy in the federal territories between “I am saddened by what I have seen in
“Besides that, we will identify the January and November this year. “If it is proven that such activities exist and several spots. What is happening to Mersing? It
weaknesses in the SOP (standard operating they cause concern to the public, we will should be a tourist spot but sadly it is full of
procedure) which will be strengthened and Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police enforce the law,” he said at a press conference garbage.
streamlined in January,” he said after handing Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador says police will after the Khazanah integrated operations
over food donations from the Federal assist the Domestic Trade and Consumer meeting here yesterday. “Are we not ashamed to have guests over at
Territories Islamic Religious Council Affairs Ministry with investigations into the our homes that have become an eyesore?
(MAIWP) at Al-Imam Al-Tirmizi Mosque in meat import cartel case. He said no arrests had been made so far in Please change the lackadaisical attitude and
connection with the case. - Bernama drop the dirty habits,” he said in a statement
He said the department had also opened uploaded to his official Facebook page
yesterday.

He urged the local authorities to enforce
regulations effectively to discipline the people.
- Bernama

Asean meeting to focus on strengthening digital ecosystem

KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural Asean Digital However, member states are aware that the The meeting, to be chaired by The flower pistil that appears like a fibre optic
Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN1) to be hosted by cybersecurity and personal data protection Communications and Multimedia Minister cable symbolises sustainable digital
Malaysia next month will focus on aspect has to be realigned in tandem with the Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, will be held via connectivity among member countries.
strengthening member states’ digital ecosystem growth of the digital ecosytem. teleconference on Jan 21 and 22.
in facing the post-Covid-19 era. Mano said Malaysia has experience in
“ADGMIN1 will enable an exchange of views Mano noted that digitalisation is a catalyst hosting telecommunications meetings with the
Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s and policies for telecommunication industries in for growth now and ADGMIN1 will set goals to first held as far back as 2001.
international division undersecretary, Mano the Southeast Asian region to learn new things create smart digitalised citizens in the region.
Verabathran, said the Asean region had in order to move forward,” Mano said when He said besides the 10 Asean member states,
witnessed significant growth in the digital interviewed on RTM TraxxFM by radio Asked on the ADGMIN1 logo, which features ADGMIN1 will also involve Asean dialogue
ecosystem including in e-commerce since the announcer Fairuz Maxson Abdullah during the a five-petal hibiscus, the national flower, he said partners including Japan, China, the European
start of the Covid-19 pandemic early this year. Spectrum slot on ADGMIN1 yesterday. each petal has the flags of two Asean member Union, South Korea and the International
states, representing all the 10 Asean nations. Telecommunication Union. - Bernama

4 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Contrasting impact on Mother Nature

o While good for health, the Covid-19 vaccine her turf. In Chile, a puma was He said the government should Environmentalist Gurmit Singh
may be bad for the environment and this can reportedly spotted wandering the help to nurture a generation that is said it will take some time for things to
lead to ugly consequences, say experts empty streets of its capital Santiago. not only knowledgeable in but also return to normal even after the
committed to strong and positive vaccination exercise is launched.
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI environment, EcoKnights vice- In Malaysia, the rare sight of a values, and who can be motivated
[email protected] president Amlir Ayat told theSun. family of four elephants lumbering towards practising a sustainable “Nonetheless, I agree that we will
PETALING JAYA: As people wait past a petrol kiosk in Terengganu lifestyle. eventually return to the pre-Covid-19
anxiously for the arrival of a vaccine “We can’t help but worry about the went viral on social media. conditions and the well-being of
that promises to turn the tide in the repercussions of a heightened “Otherwise, we will continue to be our environment will again be
Covid-19 war, environmentalists are manufacturing process and the harm Amlir said lifestyle changes to forced to take ad hoc measures. threatened,” he said.
expecting a change too, but for the it will cause to the environment.” meet the demands of a global Education is the only way to achieve
worse. pandemic are not likely to last once sustainability,” Amlir stressed. “Pollution and climate change are
Amlir believes the pressure on the the Covid-19 war has been won. two of the most common problems
Environmental group EcoKnights environment in the post-Covid-19 era Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) we face now, with or without the
expresses fear the gains Mother could be even worse than it was “There may be an increase in president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail presence of a virus. People just don’t
Nature has made through the before the pandemic. awareness (of the benefits to the agreed that rolling back industrial seem to learn from their mistakes and
restrictions on movement may be lost environment) but I don’t expect it to manufacturing processes has helped there is the chance that we will return
quickly with a total return to “A lot of resources will be used to have a significant impact on life post- to improve air quality. to the bad old ways,” he added.
pre-Covid-19 conditions. meet increasing demands, and apart Covid-19.”
from depleting our natural resources, “What’s missing is scientific data to However Gurmit, who is Centre for
For starters, industries are likely to it will also cause the release of more He said a more sustainable support these claims,” he noted. Environment, Technology and
ramp up production to make up for pollutants.” approach is to motivate people into Development Malaysia chairman,
the losses this year, raising the threat adopting environmentally-friendly He said MNS will resume its believes that big businesses could
of increased pollution on the He noted with irony that the practices. activities in educating the public eventually become more eco-friendly
pandemic is actually a blessing of on environmental matters and because their actions and policies
sorts. All over the world, there were Amlir said this can be done by conservation activities. reflect upon them.
reports of Mother Nature taking back disseminating information on the
human-environment relationship “While we already have the full “The challenge is to get consumers
more widely and enhancing support of government agencies, we to adopt eco-friendly ways. We should
knowledge on measures that can be also need corporate backing to make stop being selfish and only care when
taken to achieve a better quality our environmental education efforts it affects us personally.”
of life. more effective,” he said.

Programme to beat ‘No shortcuts in approval process of vaccines’
obesity launched “Big Pharma and governments mandatory, even 70% may be difficult to subsequent quarters.
worldwide will ensure the vaccine is safe for reach. Thus, even with vaccines, life won’t To add to this, Prime Minister Tan Sri
MALACCA: Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka administration since there is a lot at stake go back to normal anytime soon. It is likely
(KUIM) is organising a 50-day weight loss financially and politically,” Su said. that we will be restricting social Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Dec 22
challenge programme to address the problem Malaysian Medical Association interaction and wearing masks that the government has agreed with
of obesity among the people in the state. president Prof Datuk Dr throughout the greater part of 2021,” biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca
Subramaniam Muniandy said there From he added. to secure another 6.4 million doses.
KUIM said in a statement yesterday the have been no shortcuts in the
programme, in collaboration with the Teluk approval process of the vaccines. front It was announced that Malaysia This means that a guaranteed 40% of
Mas Assembly Development and Coordination page has agreed to buy 12.8 million doses vaccines have been secured and the
Committee (Japerun), has attracted 150 people. government is also in negotiations with
“The size of trials and infectivity of the Pfizer vaccine and that the first China’s Sinovac, CanSino and Russia-
It said the weight and height of participants allow the normal process to be completed million will be here in the first quarter of backed Gamaleya Research Centre, which
were recorded during a ceremony launched by more quickly,” he said. 2021, with the other 1.7 million, 5.8 million would help secure vaccines for more than
state Education, Higher Education, Science and “Unless immunisation is made and 4.3 million doses to follow in the 80% of the population.
Technology, Green Technology and Innovation
Committee chairman Noor Effendi Ahmad and
attended by KUIM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk
Dr Mohd Taib Dora on Dec 12.

“The programme has received encouraging
response. It is aimed at nurturing a healthy
lifestyle and raising awareness on the dangers of
obesity.

“Participants are divided into 10 groups.
Each will be guided by a facilitator from KUIM’s
Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences,” it said.

Among the activities are physical activities
such as aerodance, fun ride and fun run as well
as other activities, including online health talks.

A cash prize of RM6,000 awaits the
participant who loses the most weight, KUIM
said.

“This pilot programme will be implemented
on a larger scale in the future.” – Bernama

BRIEFS 4,300 SCREENED
IN TERENGGANU
A prison warden checking barbed wires installed at Jelebu Prison in Negri Sembilan on Monday following the enforcement of an enhanced
KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of 4,308 movement control order at the location. – BERNAMAPIX
individuals from Covid-19 red zones who
visited Terengganu have undergone a risk Daily new cases still in four-figure range
assessment at clinics and hospitals in the
state since the lifting of the restriction on PETALING JAYA: The number of new daily 360 cases,” he said. Meanwhile, an enhanced movement
inter-state and inter-district travel on Dec 7. Covid-19 cases in the country remained in the “Pahang recorded 288 cases, with its control order (EMCO) will be implemented at
Terengganu Health Department director four figures at 1,925 yesterday while total active the Kamunting Correctional Centre (Kemta)
Dr Nor Azimi Yunus said all the individuals cases were 21,443. increase due to the Tembok Mempaga prison in Taiping, Perak, as well as at its staff quarters
came voluntarily. “As a result of the cluster, which reported 282 cases,” he said in a from today until Jan 12.
screening, a total of 21 individuals were Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor statement yesterday.
confirmed positive for Covid-19 and six of Hisham Abdullah said the new cases brought Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail
the 433 close contacts were also found to the overall total in the country to 108,615. The first virus-related death yesterday Sabri Yaakob said the EMCO was to control the
be positive,” she said in a post on her official involved a 65-year-old man from Putrajaya, existing cluster and prevent the spread of
Facebook account. – Bernama He said of the new cases, 10 were imported, who had diabetes, hypertension, chronic Covid-19 to other prisoners, staff, family
while local transmissions accounted for 1,915 kidney disease, as well as heart problems. members and communities outside Kemta.
TABUNG HAJI AWAITING cases.
INFO ON PILGRIMAGE The second fatality was a 68-year-old “As of Dec 24, the MoH (Ministry of Health)
“Selangor reported the highest daily cases woman from Kelantan, who had high blood has screened a total of 1,490 detainees, and of
KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) with 747, and 625 were from Covid-19 clusters pressure, diabetes and kidney problems. the total, 50 were found to be positive for
said yesterday it has yet to receive any and screening of close contacts on the field. Covid-19,” he added.
official information related to next year’s The number of recoveries was 1,123, taking
haj pilgrimage from Saudi Arabian This was followed by Kuala Lumpur with the cumulative recoveries to 86,715.
authorities. TH executive director Datuk Seri
Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman urged the
people not to be influenced by any
information on social media related
to the haj. People who have enquiries
can contact TH’s customer service at
03-6207 919. – Bernama

5theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Cadet officer died of infection, says forensic expert

KUALA LUMPUR: A forensic She was testifying during the Zulfarhan’s body immune system committed in Room 04-10, Noriznan Izzairi Noor Azhar,
consultant at a government hospital defence proceedings for 18 UPNM was weak. accommodation block, Jebat hostel, Muhamad Ashraf Abdullah,
has concluded that naval cadet students who are facing charges of UPNM, between 4.45am and Muhammad Danial Firdaus Azmir,
officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain murder, causing injury and On July 31 last year, the High 5.45am on May 22, 2017. Muhammad Hasif, Muhammad
died of bacterial infection in the abetment in the death of Zulfarhan. Court ordered the 18 students to Adib Iman and Mohamad Syazwan.
chest and major burns. enter their defence on charges of The charges, under Section 302
Ramachelvam: Based on the murdering, conspiring to murder and Section 109 of the Penal Code, The charge was framed under
Head of forensic medicine at autopsy report, photos and and injuring Zulfarhan. carries the mandatory death Section 330 of the Penal Code, read
Sungai Buloh Hospital Dr Rohayu microscopic examination, can Dr sentence. together with Section 34 of the same
Shahar Adnan said the death of the Rohayu conclude the cause of Five of the accused – code, which carries a maximum
cadet at Universiti Pertahanan death? Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, The six are also accused with 12 sentence of seven years’
Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) was not Muhammad Azamuddin Mod Sofi, others of voluntarily causing hurt to imprisonment and a fine.
soley caused by burns. Rohayu: Number one is “chest Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Zulfarhan to force a confession from
infection” because there is bacterial Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat him over the theft of a laptop. The offence was allegedly
“There were also elements of infection in the lungs with and Mohamad Shobirin Sabri are committed at Room 03-05, Jebat
infection earlier, made worse with inflammatory complications on the facing charges of murdering They are Mohd Hafiz Fauzan hostel block, UPNM, between
the loss of skin surface through heart. Zulfarhan, while another student Ismail, Mohamad Lukhmanul 2.30am and 5.30am on May 21, 2017.
scalding,” she said in response to a Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali was Hakim Mohd Zain, Ahmad Shafwan
question from defence counsel She also said there was the charged with abetting the murder. Berdal, Muhammad Amirul Asraff The trial before justice Datuk
Datuk Sri M. Ramachelvam. consequence of major burns, Mala, Luqman Hakim Shamsuri, Azman Abdullah is scheduled to
adding that this proved that The offence was allegedly Muhammad Sufi Mohd Mustapha, continue on Jan 12. – Bernama

Meeting challenges head on Woman denies
committing fraud

o Resilient individuals hit Cobbler Muhamad Johari MALACCA: A single mother, who claimed to be
by Covid-induced economic sometimes survives on an insurance agent, was charged in the sessions
slump defy setbacks and only instant noodles and court yesterday with dishonestly
strive to survive plain rice for lunch and misappropriating property and cheating,
dinner. involving losses amounting to RM719,902.98
█ BY ALISHA NUR MOHD NOOR – ALISHA NUR/THESUN seven years ago.
[email protected]
Loo Mei Lin, 48, who is chairman of a
PETALING JAYA: Year 2020 started out full of up was never an option. JobStreet.com but nothing materialised.” BRIEFSconstruction company, pleaded not guilty
hope for many, but quickly turned into one of Dubbed the “female power duo”, they run a Being the eldest in the family, she also has when the charges were read out before judge
despair for most. Norma Ismail.
food stall selling Indian snacks and desserts in the added responsibility of supporting her
Lives were transformed as jobs vanished. Cheras. Nagaratnam said despite her age, she parents, particularly her mother who is She was charged with deceiving Teh Eet
Many lost their homes as their means to earn continued to help after her son lost his job in bedridden because of a stroke. Meng, 54, by claiming to be an Allianz
an income was taken away from them. A large the hotel industry three months ago. insurance agent registered to buy 16 insurance
number fell below the poverty line. “I had told my father that I would support policies, and in doing so, had caused the victim
“As long as I can walk and talk, I will do my the family so he could care for my mother but to suffer a loss of RM626,402.98.
But among them, a few have refused to let best to contribute to the family,” she said. all that shattered when I lost my job,” she said.
these challenges get the better of them. The charge, under Section 420 of the Penal
“We work from 2pm to 7.30pm daily. All we Wong’s relentless search for a way to make Code for cheating, carries a jail term of up to 10
One is cobbler Muhamad Johari Azlan. For want is to do our best to meet the challenges ends meet finally materialised on the internet. years and whipping, and is liable to a fine.
the 36-year-old, the Covid-19 crisis was just of providing for our family.”
another one in a series of challenges he has She now helps her friend run an online Loo also faces two charges under Section 403
faced. For 27-year-old Min Wong, her world fell business, selling used shirts. of the Penal Code for dishonestly
apart when she lost her job at a hotel in May. misappropriating property involving a Citibank
Muhamad Johari has been mending shoes “It has been a hell of a ride. I truly hope it cheque belonging to the same victim
at a pavement in Kuala Lumpur for 14 years. “I was devastated. I was at a dead end. I will be better next year and we will no longer amounting to RM93,500.
sent out dozens of my resumes through be living under such uncertainties.”
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, he could She faces a jail term of up to two years, or a
make RM200 to RM300 on a good day, but the fine, or both.
hours were long – from 10am to 10pm.
Loo, who has three children, also faces
But after the pandemic hit and lockdowns another charge of falsifying the signature of Yap
were imposed, he considered himself lucky if Soo Hui on a Hayat Allianz insurance
he could take home RM120 a day. application form.

“I am daily paid so what I make every day The charge, made under Section 471/465 of
is important,” Muhamad Johari told theSun. the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to two
With a newborn in tow, his challenges have years, or a fine, or both.
become more formidable.
She is alleged to have committed the
But rather than giving up, he has found offences at the Malacca Central district between
ways to survive by stretching the ringgit as far November 2013 and July 2015.
as he can. “Now, if I make RM50 a day, I try to
make it last up to three days,” he said. “Over The court allowed Loo bail of RM30,000 on
and above that, I also need to put aside some all charges and set Jan 20 for mention.
money for rainy days.”
The prosecution was conducted by deputy
That means instant noodles and plain rice public prosecutors Anis Wahidah Mohamad
only for lunch and dinner. and Mazuin Hashim, while Loo was
represented by lawyers Nizam Bashir, Linda
He said during the first lockdown, he and Phua and Rajsurian Pillai. – Bernama
his wife had to beg for food from their
neighbours. KOREAN PRIEST CHARGED
WITH MOLEST
“The generosity of Malaysians really made
a difference for us.” GEORGE TOWN: A deaf mute Korean priest
was charged in the magistrate’s court
Muhamad Johari said the financial aid yesterday with molesting a man 20 years
from the government was a great help when ago. However, no plea was recorded from
his wife had to deliver their baby. Jee Jon Hoon, 55, as the court had to get a
Korean and an international sign language
To make more money, he also works at a interpreter to make him understand the
pasar malam every night. charge. Jee was charged with molesting the
man, who was then aged 30, in 2000 at a
For 73-year-old K. Nagaratnam and her house at Lorong Delima 3, Gelugor. The
44-year-old daughter-in-law B. Dewagi, giving charge, under Section 354 of the Penal
Code, carries a jail term of up to 10 years, or
Cyber attack on armed forces network detected a fine, or whipping, or any two of the
punishments. – Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The Armed Forces has “As soon as the attack began, both the threat to disrupt the defence communication
confirmed there was a cyber attack on its data division and the centre immediately network can be detected early and handled SYABU SMUGGLING
network on Monday. implemented data traffic segregation for the properly. RING SMASHED
purpose of obscuring the actual location of
Armed Forces Commander Jen Tan Sri the classified data, thus protecting the “The Armed Forces always monitor and KUCHING: Police believe they have
Affendi Buang said the attack was detected by network targeted by hackers,” he added in a enhance the aspects of cyber security from uncovered a syndicate smuggling syabu
the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic statement yesterday. time to time to not only strengthen its and Ecstasy pills from Sarawak to
Division as well as the Cyber Defence communication monitoring and defence Kalimantan in Indonesia, following the
Operations Centre. Affendi said the authorities are also aware network, but to also protect the national arrest of an Indonesian man. Sarawak
of an ongoing attempt to hack the information defence strategic communication network.” deputy police commissioner Datuk Fisol
However, only certain segments that had network owned by the Defence Ministry and Salleh said the 19-year-old suspect was
already been placed out of the network were the Armed Forces. At noon on Monday, indecent pictures nabbed in Sungai Paoh, Serian during Ops
targeted in the attack. began appearing on the portal, and it was Benteng on Saturday. “Syabu fetches
“The cyber security aspect of the Armed believed that “irresponsible parties” were RM50,000 per kilogramme in Sarawak but
“It did not affect the actual operation of the Forces is always on standby to ensure any behind the hack. – Bernama we were told it costs double over there
portal,” Affendi said. (Kalimantan),” Fisol told a press conference
here yesterday. – Bernama

6 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

House of Reps overrides Trump’s veto

o ‘Overwhelming bipartisan’ vote Biden will be sworn in as “The president must end his “The world is watching what we
to push through defence policy bill president on Jan 20. eleventh-hour campaign of chaos do,” the Texas Republican said.
and stop using his final moments in
WASHINGTON: The Democratic-led Senate, where a final vote is expected Trump said he blocked the office to obstruct bipartisan and “I would only ask that as members
US House of Representatives voted this week. legislation because he wanted it to bicameral action to protect our vote, they put the best interests of the
on Monday to override President overturn liability protections for military and defend our security.” country first. There is no other
Donald Trump’s veto of a US$740 If the Senate seconds the House social media companies unrelated to consideration that should matter.”
billion (RM3 trillion) defence policy action, the bill becomes law. national security, and he opposed a Another top Democrat, House
bill, a rebuke that underscored provision to rename military bases Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, said he The legislation, which addresses a
divisions in the Republican Party It would be the first veto override named after generals who fought for believes the Senate will join the host of defence policy issues, has
during Trump’s final weeks in office. of Trump’s presidency. the pro-slavery Confederacy during House in rejecting Trump’s veto. been passed by Congress every year
the Civil War. since 1961.
The 322-87 House vote, in which Trump, who is angry that some Twenty Democrats, including
109 Republicans joined Democrats to Republicans have acknowledged his House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prominent progressive Alexandria The bill had earlier passed both
override Trump’s veto, leaves the loss to Democratic President-elect welcomed what she described as “an Ocasio-Cortez, opposed the override. chambers of Congress with margins
bill’s fate to the Republican-led Joe Biden in the Nov 3 election, overwhelming bipartisan” vote to greater than the two-thirds majorities
vetoed the defense bill last override Trump’s rejection of the bill Representative Mac Thornberry, needed to override the if president’s
Wednesday. and predicted the legislation would the top Republican on the House veto needed.
become law despite the president’s Armed Services Committee, urged
“dangerous sabotage efforts”. Republicans ahead of the vote not to But Trump vetoed it anyway and
side with the president. the bill went back to Congress for a
possible override. – Reuters

Aussie man, son Indian film star Rajinikanth ends political bid
saved after half-day
trek for help NEW DELHI: Indian movie this month that he would be am not going to launch a political “honest, transparent” politics to
superstar Rajinikanth yesterday launching a political party in a bid to party. Tamil Nadu.
SYDNEY: A father and son have cancelled his plans to enter politics, bring “corruption free” government
been rescued in the remote saying a health scare had been “a to his home state of Tamil Nadu. “I will serve the people in The actor proved his political
Australian outback after their car warning from god”. whatever ways I can, without muscle in 1996 when he called on
became bogged in floodwaters, But the bus entering electoral politics,” he wrote. fans to oppose the Tamil Nadu
forcing a 12-hour trek for help. The announcement came a day conductor-turned-actor said he government, which was then voted
after the 70-year-old Tamil action could not go ahead in a long letter Rajinikanth said he did not want out of power.
A 10-year-old boy and his father hero left hospital where he was released on his Twitter account. to start such a major campaign and
were among a group of travellers treated for high blood pressure. then leave it half finished. Rajinikanth has carried on with
whose car became stuck near Rajinikanth, who has had several his film career despite his health
Queensland’s Mount Isa on Sunday Rajinikanth, one of Asia’s best health scares, said his recent worries Rajinikanth said in 2017 that he concerns and had been shooting his
night, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue said. paid actors, set off celebrations by had been a “warning from god”. wanted to enter politics but then left latest movie in Hyderabad when he
his fans when he announced early his fans waiting until this month was taken ill last week. – AFP
After spending the night in their “I am sorry to let you know that I when he said his party would bring
car, the boy and his father stayed
behind while three of the group set
off to get help – walking 50km across
remote country to reach a local
police station on Monday night.

They managed to point out the
pair’s location on the map and a
rescue was launched.

A helicopter found the father and
son sitting on the roof of their car
and both were flown back to Mount
Isa airport without any injuries.

Rescuers said the pair were in
good spirits following the ordeal and
staying by their vehicle had been key
to the rescue. – AFP

BRIEFS RUSSIA-US STING NABS RUBBISH ART ...
DRUG DEALERS A boy walks past an
art installation
MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday it resembling a Tusker,
had dismantled an international built with rubbish
drug smuggling network as part of collected from local
a collaborative operation with the beaches by Sri
US. The Federal Security Service Lankan artist Lalith
(FSB) said it had carried out a Senanayake, on a
multi-stage mission with the US beach at Elakanda
Department of Justice that ended yesterday. – AFPPIX
with the seizure of 330kg of
cocaine. Video released by the FSB Hong Kong teen jailed for China flag insult
showed plainclothes agents
dragging suspects from cars as HONG KONG: A Hong Kong charge of “secession”, which could assembly, and told to serve four across the political spectrum have
well as boxes of confiscated cash teenager was ordered to spend four land him life imprisonment months behind bars. fled Hong Kong since Beijing
and drugs. The FSB said the joint months in prison yesterday for according to the draconian national stepped up its crackdown on the
operation had disrupted a insulting China’s national flag and security law Beijing imposed on He is also facing separate charges city’s protests against China’s rule.
transnational criminal community unlawful assembly as Beijing Hong Kong on June 30. of money laundering and
specialising in smuggling cocaine increasingly targets prominent conspiring to publish seditious Under the security law,
from South America to Russia and activists from the financial hub. Chung is the first public political content. dissenting speech instead of acts
other parts of Europe. – AFP figure prosecuted under the new can be alleged of vague yet severe
Tony Chung, 19, who led a security law, which Beijing Chung was arrested by offences like “subversion” and
50 JOURNALISTS KILLED now-disbanded pro-democracy described as a “sword” to return plainclothes police opposite the US “collusion with foreign forces”.
THIS YEAR group, was convicted earlier this “order and stability” to the financial consulate in late October and had
month for throwing the Chinese flag hub after seven months of massive, been remanded in custody since. The law has also toppled the
PARIS: Fifty journalists and media to the ground during scuffles often violent pro-democracy legal firewall between the city’s
workers were killed in connection outside Hong Kong’s legislature in protests last year. Speculation has swirled that the common law judiciary and the
with their work in 2020, the May last year. authorities moved on Chung opaque, Party-controlled justice
majority in countries that are not He was sentenced to three because he was hoping to ask for system in China by allowing
at war, Reporters Without Borders While serving his sentence, months each for insulting the asylum at the US consulate in Hong extradition of suspects across the
(RSF) said yesterday. The figure Chung will be waiting for trial over a national flag and unlawful Kong. border for trial. – AFP
shows an increase in the targeting
of reporters investigating An increasing number of activists
organised crime, corruption or
environmental issues, the
watchdog said. It highlighted
murders in Mexico, India and
Pakistan. In its annual report, RSF
said 84% of those killed this year
were “deliberately targeted” for
their work, compared to 63% last
year. – AFP

7theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Philippines expands travel ban to keep out new Covid variant

MANILA: The Philippines will ban travellers the Covid-19 virus was first detected in The new variant has not been detected in the Their fellow travellers were being traced.
from 19 countries and territories until England. Philippines. “Their close contacts have also been put
mid-January as a measure to keep out a new under quarantine,” the ministry said.
variant of the coronavirus, its transport ministry The new variant, which British scientists Philippine health officials said the travel ban India had suspended all flights from Britain
said yesterday. have called “VUI - 202012/01” has renewed could be expanded to include more countries until the end of the month over worry about the
fears about the virus that has killed over 1.7 should those report the presence of the new infectious variant of the virus but about 33,000
The regulation will be in effect from today to million people worldwide. variant. passengers had flown in from late November,
Jan 15 and covers Filipinos and foreigners before the ban was enforced, the ministry said.
arriving from the “flagged countries”, the The flagged countries include France, Meanwhile, Indian officials said the country Of those arrivals, 114 people were found
transport ministry told reporters in a group text Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, has found six cases of the new strain in people positive for the coronavirus and their samples
message. Singapore and Japan. arriving from Britain and will likely extend a were being checked for the new variant, which
flight ban to guard against it. has been detected across parts of Europe and
The Philippines previously imposed and With more than 470,000 infections and 9,124 Asia, it said. – Reuters
later extended a flight ban from Britain until deaths, the Philippines has the second highest All six of the infected people had been kept
mid-January as the more contagious variant of number of Covid-19 cases and casualties in in isolation, the health ministry said in a THAILAND OFFERS WORK
Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia. statement PERMITS TO ILLEGALS

Spain to keep registry of BRIEFS BANGKOK: Thailand yesterday said it
people who refuse vaccine would allow undocumented migrant
workers from Cambodia, Laos and
o Minister says document respect for data protection,” he said, noting warned yesterday Britain’s government needs Myanmar to work in the country legally
will not be made public that employers or members of the general to bring in tighter coronavirus lockdown rules for about two years to curb the spread
public would not have access to it. to avert a fresh wave of deaths from a new of Covid-19. Migrants have to sign up
MADRID: Spain will set up a registry of people strain of the disease. online and be registered by an
who refuse to be vaccinated against the new The proportion of Spaniards unwilling to employer before mid-September in
coronavirus and share it with other European take a Covid-19 vaccine has plunged to 28% in Britain reported 41,385 new coronavirus order to receive a work permit until
Union member states, although it will not be December from 47% last month, according to a cases on Monday, the highest number since February 2023, according to a
made public, health minister Salvador Illa said poll published last month. testing became widely available in the middle resolution by the cabinet. They will first
on Monday. of this year, and English hospitals say they have have to undergo health checks at a cost
The survey by the state-funded CIS more Covid-19 patients than during the first of about 7,200 baht (RM972), a Thai
During an interview with La Sexta research institute found 40.5% of respondents wave of the pandemic in April. government spokesman said. The
television, Illa reiterated that vaccination are willing to have the jab while 16.2% would announcement came as Thailand deals
against the virus – which as in most EU nations do so if it is shown to be “reliable”. “We are entering a very dangerous new with its worst Covid-19 outbreak
began in Spain over the weekend – would not phase of the pandemic, and we’re going to to-date, with 1,500 cases since
be mandatory. Spain has been one of Europe’s worst-hit need decisive early national action to prevent a mid-December having been linked to
countries by the pandemic, with the virus catastrophe in January and February,” Andrew migrant workers at a seafood market in
“What will be done is a registry, which will death toll passing the 50,000 mark on Monday, Hayward, professor of infectious disease Samut Sakhon province. – Reuters
be shared with our European partners ... of according to the health ministry. epidemiology at University College London,
those people who have been offered it and said. US ACTRESS LOUGHLIN
have simply rejected it. Nearly 1.9 million people have been RELEASED FROM PRISON
infected. The government expects to have Hayward, who sits on a British government
“It is not a document which will be made between 15 million and 20 million people out advisory body on respiratory diseases, said the LOS ANGELES: US actress Lori Loughlin
public and it will be done with the utmost of its population of 47 million vaccinated new strain that infected people more easily was released from prison on Monday
against the virus by June. meant existing lockdown measures in England after serving a two-month sentence for
were unlikely to be enough to slow the spread her part in a scam to secure spots for
“The way to defeat the virus is to vaccinate of the disease. – Agencies privileged children at prestigious
all of us or the more the better,” Illa said. universities, authorities said. The 56-
year-old, known from her role as Aunt
Meanwhile, a leading epidemiologist Becky in the 1980s-90s hit sitcom Full
House, had entered a low-security
ISLAND EXILE ... federal prison in Dublin, near San
Rohingya refugees sit on a Francisco, on Oct 30. Actress Felicity
Bangladesh navy ship in Huffman of Desperate Housewives fame
Chittagong as they are was released in October 2019 from the
relocated to the same prison after serving 11 days of a
controversial flood-prone two-week sentence for her role in the
island of Bhashan Char in scam. Loughlin and her husband,
the Bay of Bengal.– AFPPIX Mossimo Giannulli, admitted to paying
US$500,000 (RM2 million) to gain
Mourning swan holds up German trains admission for their two daughters to the
University of Southern California as
BERLIN: A swan mourning the death of its One of the birds died, likely after getting swan and its surviving companion away from recruits to the rowing crew team – a
companion on a German railway track held up caught in the overhead power cables, said the the area. sport neither had ever trained in. – AFP
23 trains for almost an hour and had to be statement on the Dec23 incident, which was
removed by firefighters using special made public on Monday. Twenty-three trains were delayed for 50 EXPLOSIVE DEVICE KILLS
equipment, police said. minutes while the rescue operation took place. THREE FRENCH SOLDIERS
Its companion then sat beside the body in
The two birds had strayed onto the track area mourning, resisting attempts by officials to lure The surviving swan was unharmed and later PARIS: Three French soldiers were killed
of the high-speed line between Kassel and it away and temporarily closing the line to traffic. released onto the river Fulda, police said. on Monday in Mali when their
Gottingen in central Germany“during an armoured vehicle struck an explosive
excursion”, according to Kassel police. Firefighters with special equipment were According to Britain’s Royal Society for the device in the Hombori region in the
later called in and managed to lift the dead Protection of Birds, swans try to find a mate for centre of the poor Sahel state. The
life. – AFP deaths brought to 47 the number of
French soldiers killed in Mali since
France first intervened militarily in
January 2013 to help drive back
militants who had overrun parts of the
west African country. French President
Emmanuel Macron“salutes the memory
of these soldiers with the greatest
respect“, the president’s office said in a
statement. He underscored “France’s
determination to continue the fight
against terrorism“, it said. – AFP

RUSSIAN POLICE ARREST
RENEGADE PRIEST

MOSCOW: Riot police in Russia arrested
a renegade priest early yesterday in a
raid on a convent he had seized control
of and accused him of driving children
to suicide, according to his lawyer.
Father Sergiy, whose real name is
Nikolai Romanov, gained prominence
earlier this year after denying the
existence of the Covid-19 pandemic,
railing against church closures due to
the lockdown, and criticising the
Russian Orthodox Church. He seized
control of the Sredneuralsky women’s
monastery near Yekaterinburg in the
Urals in June and refused to leave. The
case against him may relate to a
YouTube video in which he called on his
followers to die for Russia. – AFP

8 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
SPEAK UP

Digitalisation’s far-reaching effects

COMMENT businesses and enterprises can save costs and While not exactly part of the digitalisation private sector stakeholders (shipping/logistics,
physical space. Data management and cloud trends, the Nature online journal on Nov 30 traders). Specifically, the TradeLens platform,
by Jason Loh specialist Nutanix defines HCI as the reported that after years of painstaking efforts, as jointly developed by AP Moller-Maersk with
“combination of common datacentre hardware an AI called AlphaFold developed by Google IBM and based on the Collaboration
ANALYSTS and pundits didn’t foresee using locally attached storage resources with offshoot DeepMind achieved a gargantuan leap Application Programming Interface concept,
Covid-19 coming in 2020 and that the intelligent software to create flexible building in computational biology. It determined a ensures that all logistic activities such as
virus would accelerate the blocks that replace legacy infrastructure protein’s 3D shape from its amino-acid haulage, warehousing, shipping and freight
digitalisation trend, a seismic or consisting of separate servers, storage networks, sequence or what is popularly known as forwarding at domestic and international levels
tectonic shift in its own right. and storage arrays”. “protein folding” where “structure is function” can now be wholly integrated.
(an axiom of molecular biology).
It was a result of the fragmentation of International Data Corporation (IDC) has And not least, robotic process automation
physical processes and the emphasis on low predicted that the HCI market will grow As proteins are the building-blocks of life, (RPA) is increasingly used in fintech. In its
touch as part of compliance with standard US$7.64 billion (RM31 billion) in 2021. In unravelling its molecular structure would yield Fintech and Digital Banking 2025 Asia Pacific
operating procedures to break and contain the Malaysia, local logistics and express carrier insights into the mysteries of life so that finding report, IDC said that financial liberalisation,
transmission. giant Gdex has adopted Nutanix Hybrid Cloud treatments and cure for such intractable cost-reduction, intense competition from
to keep up with demands in e-commerce for diseases as Parkinson’s, producing viral drugs counterparts as well as peer-to-peer players
Not all digitalisation trends were scalability and business-to-consumer for Covid-19, and identifying suitable enzymes and wafer-thin net interest margin are
precipitated by the virus though. Some would operations. that biodegrade industrial wastes are basically catalysing banks to further automate through
have been in the works for years and the tied to protein structures. RPA software that enables computers to process
breakthroughs only came this year. And then, we have augmented reality manual workload.
Digitalisation trends for 2021 would also reflect (AR)/virtual reality (VR) which is increasing its Come 2021, we could expect to herald the
similar developments. Let’s take a look at some presence in our tourism industry. Again, Covid- beginning of a new chapter related to many Finally, autonomous driving will soon be an
of the digital lessons from 2020 and for 2021. 19 which has resulted in partial lockdowns, and scientific and industrial applications which in-thing in Malaysia as it is in other parts of the
in Malaysia’s case the movement control order, hopefully extend to agriculture and food world, not least across the Causeway. eMooVit
Covid-19 has encouraged and enhanced the has massively impacted our tourism sector, the production, air pollution control and water Technology Sdn Bhd is a local 2016 start-up
use of cloud services for physical operations third major exporter and foreign exchange treatment, among others. specialising in driverless agnostic vehicle
such as cloud kitchen. What this means is that earner. software for urban environment routes.
cooking and delivery services could be Connected to that AI breakthrough in
centralised rather than from disparate AR/VR is the digital gateway and portal to predicting protein folding is, of course, eMoovit was reported to be the maiden
collection points such as various restaurants the on-site tourism experience. All one needs to quantum computing that represents the leap company to use Malaysia’s first self-driving
although not necessarily. access the virtual experience is a smart phone, from bits (binary – 0 or 1) to qubits (0 & 1 at the vehicle testing route as announced by Futurise
laptop, tablet or personal computer. same time) – based on quantum physics and Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
The underlying purpose is that dining-in mechanics (of the simultaneity-duality of Cyberview Sdn Bhd. The 7km Cyberjaya
areas are removed from the overall business Moving forward, the Artificial Intelligence of supposition and entanglement). Malaysia Autonomous Vehicle Testing Route
process, saving costs. Things (AIoT) which is basically a combination was jointly developed by Futurise and the
of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of For now, quantum computing can be Ministry of Transport under the National
In Malaysia in particular, and the region in Things (IoT) is making rapid headway. deployed for complex tasks such as predicting Regulatory Sandbox initiative for the
general, online food delivery businesses such as the 3D shape of protein folding and structure. development of self-driving vehicles.
GrabFood and FoodPanda have been To quote from Bernard Marr of Forbes
leveraging on the cloud kitchen concept. The magazine, IoT devices such as sensors, As for blockchain or distributed ledger All in all, Malaysia is well-positioned to
trend for cloud kitchen which came to the fore universal remote controllers, and biometric technology, it’s fast making its mark in supply leverage on all of the highlighted digitalisation
in 2020 is expected to expand in the major scanners can be likened to a digital nervous chain management – with the strategic trends, one way or another.
conurbations of the Klang Valley in tandem system while AI is the brain. collaboration between public and private Jason Loh Seong Wei is Head of Social, Law &
with the growth and explosion of e-commerce sectors.
in the country. With the advent of 5G technology and smart Human Rights at EMIR
cities, AIoT is expected to emerge as part of the In Malaysia, the use of blockchain by the Research.Comments:[email protected]
There’s also the trend of hyperconverged new norm in the near future in our cities and Royal Malaysian Customs Department will ease
infrastructure/technology (HCI) whereby homes, too. and facilitate import-export transactions of

15theSUN ON MONDAY | APRIL 27, 2020
ENTERTAINMENT

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WpoashtplboenregdmuonvtiileMay 2021Oofrrc2tieennohR8lserar,IpAWoiaGlllonuslyeI2eenagNr0vsowdA72iefrei,1sLuIlctlnPLsaifahYdripfrnroaetaasiovidrnmncteehgdobtetteoouhydmtneunhwpitliceeonaP.diseittcmptutouoonornlntnaeieglusthonMhtsichnaiahnesgy positivity.”
A weekly column, published every Monday, Mark
featuring popular and on-trend local celebrities Wahlberg and WtMP1ttpo“imdtothtwt5aaIuowriasihc.daw’and,amrgsceamphclpaoinrnioetsaetinhOpnpnogusoeishss“ancunatitheaiaimnketa“srwHnzecennetulnCcprghRsrpittoidsh,nftcogenpaesmetoahpoetetnpaahlgwiwsdtgehisstvrgroIiniIs’enaohtntenmoeatahaeiehbebawnitwnseartnrecvHtioaeet,ftrycdttdateschasfthtinfieieuhohhenilomgoseaae?erlnedbientd,eancahmesrnnvnmlIdsseualeeItgesttadkclsIpsterhwoyIy.ecwinnalqhenKocg.dhrraeRtpanutnetatg.noiolhaheaslasfttlcaaasonwsa2onmh’rt,aHpefeensnblopfhtf0oingrtigrnafeltailroflee2otlo’seaagicesssteetoirwepe0oarnhanetistdqd,homnoetdirtftayeanuionhenehdoTnoafIndoohtF.yiitotne’elawtnlnaVtytbtnvtuuyeoalowrerno’ayIlgseyBberusl What do you wish to
talking about their career, personal life, and what directed by that matters.” see in future
drives them, as well as current and future projects. Antoine wilfalliannwgdstotoidnojttfpcfrussihtthoapjutaatenpwothhshaohbau“pdhrhereohsgtetoBgnlerfieeodi“agmueewewcaf“eyoter“tNettweggmlhIhmrrsttcsraTulahsatdeerdeeieooodaohhneycaguhiasc,rsajmcivtlnn.esloauieyn”tebhtleotetmvnmtesemmylamputldgtylehuebtrrvnvhalwpeatapnsgpstosseareeephespgerln?,ayauaetyveneictosaouseaeyprsts,hgygsbernou,ynheugiteefsesermrahtlvtleevtaatpwiuhasbtroaiacadacuerpynateneepaehnanhitluw,nsrfwlodrtswusxisweanaideotuestseo,ypeluaosers.otrocreipbhnfdfflmoslmbepjtgeoomieioljiuahsncmejnsiorbtrtbativeesvhieh..hemcnolosiaeettnetcneeiapaortneeiahonnelitecsdnvbnrunate,gseseedtg,
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musicians, chefs, models and comedians. Celebrities crisis, which hcPtMasWhheacainegivhaspcryTtehiedhouzhrlruabroasheei.epepreiabesslrshmstgoe.po,r)fefIeasr,onanysnwmratcitrthamleeheeionlvdelraiesCinwenrasoSith.innfobDfloailadsct(iwpcsyFhdunpartohleerwefrdlaoimtfainlteoenCoeyenyanremloeftildmoCindegegenndaogOwhonErooRrtin’jEifmlBkwiuelerovtsropfsvhahifaooibamioeleoaonlnsr,y,rrntfo,,t
previously featured include Tiara Jacquelina, Carmen has led
Soo, Maya Karin, Shalini Balasundram and Haneesya feature in the
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Celebrity Causes Wahlberg. mind?
CELEBRITYCAUSES – AFP “I truly think everyone is beautiful in 15theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | APRIL 15, 2020
This column comes out every Wednesday,
and features a local personality undergoing Sintrtueynssiwveasyoing–sapCitOrreaUdiRntTionEgSoYpineORnFisOJhOhikJaOensaShJT,oRInaUdfYtieaSr. LIFESTYLE
speaking about a social cause, either
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organisation, or as an activist. The column wwhoeeitrlJhlonchaejoelslrSisnktagrnnutodoywshhlefeeeadlplltginpeitgeiwnoapsle
serves to create awareness of the cause,
and to inspire readers to make a change S 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themselves. Causes/organisations that have
been highlighted include a school for refugee
children, teaching people how to live a zero-
waste lifestyle, and helping underprivileged
students stay in school.

Contact theSun's Sales & Marketing team to book your advertising space. aofbomoalflenrordaeytahyeom“alEedlnhvencaidaecinlsttialulppithaztroepebtisndlonlelioecgsrartiv,teesntowi.dh”scd–eoauathsstlucAlu.aeolpOFdstpttePnehabpo-neiReeonpsewrleltuoetlhdauarnreixynsocgn,aiotu-tetoctimhgeewcaehsremsmcrsftehosuhficronteeoogrivtpesaeynt,rroavtdbhtvieutuiianssrrdl,ieionaenngnd

03-7784 6688 [email protected] thheeraaSplhinyegatnuedasicnohgtehsyeorpgeeaxo,epsrloceiussenesdl.f

9theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
SPEAK UP

Let’s listen and learn in 2021

█ BY MICHELLE CHUN opinions similar to ours, The childhood vaccinations I was mine, but I respect that. We can live
FREESPACE shunning those who are given have protected me from the with different viewpoints as long as
SITTING down to write this on different from us. graver effects of contracting some of we are willing to acknowledge, listen
the brink of a new year, I feel a What we are building is these diseases in adulthood. and evolve as we learn and grow. It is
rush of emotion. What a year Where young views rule an altered reality, one where only in an open and safe space that
2020 has been, unexpected To believe in the theory that the we can tackle issues objectively, and
and challenging. It has stretched all of we believe that those who severity of the virus has been work together for something better.
us in many ways and revealed to us think differently from us only overhyped and that it is all part of a
just how fragile we really are. want to cause harm. We find bigger plan for widespread control by Bouncing back from this
of what we want rather than what we it difficult to trust those who have a powerful few would mean that I no pandemic requires more than
We are living in a paradoxical need for a balanced perspective on opinions we don’t necessarily want to longer trust the general scientific physical health. We need inner
world, a society that’s woke yet more issues we care about, we can get lost hear, and because we can’t see the community. strength, and that comes from a
unsettled than ever before. We crave in a sea of extreme emotions. plank in our own eyes, we attack the willingness to learn and grow, as well
truth yet reject its bitter taste, slowly Getting emotional is a tricky thing; speck in theirs. But I do trust doctors, researchers, as the assurance that we will
curating our own bubbles of reality in we can quickly lose a sense of If I’m being honest, I do not know microbiologists, virologists and the always be heard, valued and
which we cannot separate fact from objectivity, feel attacked and in so enough about the vaccine and world vast number who have contributed to respected.
fiction. If we’re not careful, we may doing, push others away. Just scroll affairs to tell you definitively that one the advancement of medicine
find ourselves digging a pit we can’t through any comments section on side is right and the other wrong. throughout history. That’s why I visit As we step into a new year and
climb out of. vaccine news online and you’ll be However, I have researched as best I a clinic when I’m unwell, or take attempt to make up for time lost in
able to feel the friction. Voices of can, listening to both sides of the paracetamol when I’m running a 2020, let’s make it a practice to
The ongoing controversy over reason are quickly drowned out as argument and considering the fever. examine ourselves with humility, and
Covid-19 and its vaccine is a fine people set out to prove that they are evidence presented. welcome differences as an
example. While many believe it is the right. At the end of the day, however, my From a logical perspective, it opportunity for growth.
much-needed hope of regaining our And so, as birds of a feather flock decision came down to an would therefore only be right for me
pre-pandemic way of life, a growing together, we are in danger of forming examination of my own beliefs and to trust the general consensus that Let’s question but lend room for
minority are of the opinion that we’re collective bubbles in which we hear behaviour. I have enjoyed the the vaccine is safe for use and will trust, and listen for the bells of hope
being fed a bunch of lies as powerful and see only what we want. We benefits of scientific and medical help many, especially vulnerable ringing as we enter 2021.
figures plan for world domination. become friends with those who have advancement throughout my life. groups or those with pre-existing
conditions. Comments:
With algorithms feeding us more [email protected]
Your opinion may differ from

UK can play bigger role globally LETTERS [email protected]

█ BY LYNDA CHALKER More updates needed on
Penang ferry service
MORE than 30 years of my life have
been spent working with the political PEDESTRIAN commuters indeed a plan to retain the
leaders, governments and citizens of using the ferry are expressing ticketing booth at the current
developing countries. As minister for concern about the way the location.
overseas development, when the government is disclosing
development and foreign affairs information on a piece-meal It was reported that both
portfolios were merged, my basis about the transformation fibreglass speed boats
department was often referred to as of ferry services from Jan 1. (Kenangan 3 and 6) are 21 and
the “bleeding-hearts division of the As an example, pedestrian 19 years old respectively.
Foreign Office”. commuters are worried that
after buying their speed boat We would like to know who
The UK government’s current tickets at the Sultan Abdul made the decision to purchase
approach to development now risks Halim Ferry Terminal ticketing these aging vessels, at what
being seen to lack both heart and head. booth in Butterworth, they cost, and how the decisions
Effective aid is not about sentiment or have to ascend/descend a were made. Engines of such
posturing, but about impact. steep flight of stairs (now old vessels require more
under construction) to reach expensive maintenance and
I’ve always championed a the speed boat berthing area repairs.
common-sense, pragmatic approach on the ground floor.
to Britain playing its role in the world – The Ferry Terminal is There is concern among
something that is needed now more connected to the Penang commuters about the stability
than ever. Sentral’s third floor and of these speed boats whenever
pedestrian commuters’ they have to pass approaching
For the first time this century, global concern is justifiable. ships. The stability of the speed
poverty is on the rise. Covid-19 will Poverty worldwide is on the rise and the UK can do its part to mitigate suffering Although it was reported boats must be ensured before
push between 88 and 115 million more especially in the wake of the pandemic. – AFP PIX that senior citizens, disabled introducing them.
people into extreme poverty this year persons and pregnant women
alone, according to The World Bank. retain a laser-like focus on poverty lives now, it’s also a worthwhile would be provided free shuttle We reiterate our call to
reduction. This is not to denigrate investment in preparing us all to beat services at the Sultan Abdul Transport Ministry and the
And it is at this critical moment that economic development and trade the next pandemic. Halim Ferry Terminal, there is Penang Port Commission to be
our government has decided to programmes, but our aid goes furthest a likelihood that the number of transparent and forthcoming
balance the books, on the backs of the when providing essential services. Improving access to clean water shuttle vans will be insufficient in providing information and
people struggling most to deal with Covid-19 has hit tax and tourism and hygiene in healthcare facilities during peak hours, and it updates on the matter. It was a
the pandemic. The decision to cut aid revenues and remittances. could save a million pregnant mothers might prove difficult to comedy of sorts when the
from 0.7% to 0.5% of Gross National and new-born babies dying from exercise social distancing. media earlier reported
Income is one that should be reversed Where developing countries also preventable diseases. The Consumers Association conflicting announcements by
at the earliest possible opportunity. face a debt crisis, these services, of Penang calls on the Penang the Finance minister and
especially for women, children and the It would also play a significant role Port Commission to allay the Transport ministry about the
In the meantime, to limit the impact most vulnerable groups, are where in halting the global surge of fears of pedestrian commuters cessation of the ferry service,
on people living on less than US$1.90 scarce resources make the most superbugs. Antimicrobial resistance is of having to take a long route to causing much confusion.
(RM7.70) a day, ministerial decisions difference. After all, good health is the a hugely costly and extremely catch speed boats if there is
on how to spend aid should be foundation of resilient communities, challenging problem to solve, and, Mohideen Abdul Kader
guided by some key principles. who in turn drive economic growth like Covid-19, superbugs can cross President
and greater stability in countries we borders placing us all at risk.
First, we should build on, rather plan to trade with. Consumers Association of
than sideline, the rich expertise within A win-win investment in a global Penang
the former Department for Finally, we should focus on public good can also generate savings
International Development. We have a effective investment in areas that in health expenditure up to 15 times Reader fascinated by articles
strong track record of leadership on create multiplier effects. One such the cost, and ultimately allow health
global health. “best buy” is providing clean water, workers and patients to focus on giving I JUST want to give you my written by William G. Borges in
hygiene and sanitation services. and receiving quality care. feedback on two articles in the Dec 3 issue.)
This country created the concept of your paper that I found
universal health coverage when Estimates released in a report this In the year ahead, the prime excelling anything I have read I admire the intellectual
establishing the National Health week by the World Health Organisation minister, Boris Johnson, has an in any of the three English prowess and the art of
Service, and has honed it since to and the UN’s children’s charity opportunity to act on these principles newspapers in Malaysia during facilitating the complexity of
deliver some of the best healthcare in (Unicef) show that investing just over when the UK hosts the G7 and the 2020. issues in an attractive and
the world. Whether you live in 20p (RM1) per person per year in COP26 (United Nations Climate Both articles were written by exciting style by these two
Mansfield or Mombasa that is what we the poorest nations would ensure that Change Conference) climate crisis professors of HELP university. writers. I would appreciate it if
all want for our families when we are all hospitals and clinics in the world’s talks in Glasgow. Investigative journalism you could pass my honest
sick. least developed countries could have against institutional graft was praise on to these professors at
basic water, sanitation, hygiene, waste These are the moments to continue written by Datuk Seri Akhbar HELP university.
That is why it is crucial we apply the management and cleaning services. our country’s history of being an Satar. Unfortunately I forget the
best of our scientific innovation and ambitious development superpower, name of the other writer who I was the director of the
know-how to deliver vaccination That’s a total additional investment not to turn away from it. summarised the US elections Goethe-Institut (German
programmes, tackle antimicrobial of around £2.7 billion (RM14.8 billion) This starts with playing up to our from a November to early official cultural centre in
resistance, and lead the charge to spread over the next decade. This is strengths, and investing judiciously in December perspective in a Malaysia from 2002 to 2012).
eradicate infectious diseases like not only the right thing to do to save the fundamentals of life. – The brilliant way. (The article was
malaria and Ebola. Independent Dr Hans Volker Wolf
Kuala Lumpur
Second, we should focus on the
poorest countries. There has been
much talk of aligning our aid to
Britain’s economic and strategic
interests, but foreign aid should

10 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
MEDIA & MARKETING

7-Eleven Malaysia empowers young adults with special needs

(from left) NGOhub managing director Chun Wah Hoo, Sarjit and Lee. 7-ELEVEN Malaysia, in collaboration limitless.” play a role to contribute back to the
with its partner NGOhub, has taken “By offering them an opportunity society.”
the initiative to contribute baking
equipment such as a blender and to work, we are giving them a future. “Our goal is to branch out to areas
food processor to a social enterprise, At 7-Eleven Malaysia, we firmly outside of Klang Valley and have
Stand Pie Me that makes and sells believe in uplifting the lives of those kiosks in office buildings where the
fresh pies where most of their who need us, and knowing the public can interact with them. By
employees are young adults with difference we make inspires us to doing this, we can raise more
autism. continue our endeavours of being awareness and promote a positive
Always There For You,” Lee added. perception towards people with
7-Eleven Malaysia’s General special needs based on real-life
Manager of Marketing, Ronan Lee, Expressing his gratitude, experiences,” he added.
said: “We hope that by extending our chairman of Stand Pie Me, Sarjit
support towards this cause, we can Singh, said, “We are ever thankful to Stand Pie Me provides training,
further raise awareness on autism 7-Eleven Malaysia for the generous employment and mentorship for
and prompt the public to do their part contribution. At present, we have young adults with special needs.
in helping the community. These around 10 employees with special Those interested in contributing to
youths need our help more than ever; needs, aged between 21 and 46 years Stand Pie Me can go to their official
the extent of their capabilities is old. We want to recognise their Facebook page at Stand Pie Me or call
capabilities as they, like many of us, +6012 283 8381 for more information.

Philanthropy gets sexy
GIVING and helping people in
need has never been o Involvementincausesiscrucial
trendier on social networks for brands to continue to win over
than in 2020. Brands, Generation Z
institutions and celebrities have all
appealed to internet users’ interest in support causes with ease and charities in future will
getting involved. This new language sometimes without having to donate be stronger for having
has become a must when it comes to a single penny. Recently, the LEGO gone through this
a business point of view. A strategy brand launched a charity initiative to challenging time... The
that has gained ground in the midst of help children in need by sharing pandemic ... has
a crisis and that is not totally creations on social media. Even the evoked tremendous
disinterested and therefore actor Michael B. Jordan decided to creativity, with
philanthropic. However, this so- join the sulfurous OnlyFans platform fundraisers, volunteers
called trend will be seen everywhere to raise money to help schools. and charity leadership
in 2021. Language that pays off devising new and
While the crisis has exacerbated the engaging ways of raising
Facebook, Instagram, as well as need to feel useful, many brands have money in the face of
LEGO, Microsoft and even a host of been able to capitalise on this adversity.” According to a networks than in 2020.
celebrities have all organised charity phenomenon, which set the pace French OpinionWay need has never been trendier on social which should reach
initiatives to help people in difficulty throughout 2020 and looks set to survey unveiled at the
this year. With the backdrop of the continue to do so in 2021. In end of November, 56% of Giving and helping people in more than one billion active users per
health and economic crisis with bad particular, Facebook has bet on a
news piling up, internet users around strategy of solidarity by offering a those surveyed said they networks also serves in the month in 2021.
the world have been looking for “feel platform for launching fundraising had made donations to associations, construction of an identity. By giving While 2020 has seen an uptake in
good” content to escape from the campaigns. During its “Year in while 70% expressed their desire to money to a cause or for a person in online public giving, it doesn’t
gloom. Charity actions have Review”, Mark Zuckerberg’s social mobilise more to contribute to having difficulty, we affirm what we are or necessarily mean that true solidarity
increased in number and have network reported that it has raised a beneficial impact on society. what we support through digital has increased: “It is easier to give
become essential to remain relevant, US$87 million (RM352 million) indications. “Social networks are money when you don’t have the
particularly online. As self-promotion through these online fundraisers. Contructing one’s identity and media of expression that help us to person in front of you and it also
is now unacceptable and risks More than 2.6 million internet users image by giving know ourselves, to be seen and requires less ‘involvement’,” says
creating “bad buzz”, many actors have around the world have contributed to It’s a logical reaction in a context of recognised and to get involved,” Michael Dandrieux. “When someone
taken it upon themselves to collect donations in several areas, including crisis and lack of social ties, outlines Laurence Allard, sociologist of digital asks me for money to support a
money for associations throughout the fight against global warming, Michaël Dandrieux, sociologist and behaviours, lecturer, researcher at project or a person, I’m not at all in a
2020. By bringing together cast animal welfare and of course helping co-founder of French consulting firm IRCAV-Paris 3 and teacher at the philanthropic position,” he adds. “In
members from popular series from hospitals in this time of health crisis. Eranos: “Since we are in a very University Lille 3, explained during a the end, what you have is neither
the past such as Malcolm in the According to a British study by Gifted fragmented society, which is TikTok press conference on Dec 3. philanthropy nor involvement in a
Middle, Melrose Place and Parks and Philanthropy published in politically highly polarised, in which Out of 1001 French and Chinese cause but rather participation in
Recreation, the actors managed to December, “If there is one positive people no longer talk to one another, users of the Chinese application, society and the construction of one’s
play on both the mood for nostalgia impact that the Covid-19 pandemic you’re going to want to give. Giving is aged 18 and over, 31% say they use identity.” And that’s how visible
and increased sensitivity among has had on the ... sector it is that a way to create obligation and TikTok to support a cause. An philanthropy is becoming sexy,
internet users and viewers to make therefore to get involved.” important finding for the most especially in the world of social ... –
online donations. A trend that has Giving publicly, on social downloaded application in 2020, AFP-Relaxnews
also spread to social networks such as
Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, which
have enabled people to anonymously

S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. SunBIZ WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 30, 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]

44.8 Institutions 1862.7 1924.1 -61.4

43.3 Retail 1882.0 1777.3 104.7

11.9 Foreign 475.7 519.0 -43.3 8.91 18.25 11.02
KLCI SCI TSEC
100.0 4220.4 4220.4 0.0 1,634.99 8.00 253.86 714.12 4,472.05 11.91 35.50
STI HANG SENG 3,379.04 NIKKEI KOSPI S&P/ASX200
Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com 2,848.14 26,568.49 27,568.15 2,820.51
Source: Burs Malaysia 6,700.30

KL MARKET SUMMARY Mecan Trade – an alternative
DECEMBER 29, 2020 to conventional e-commerce

INDICES 11,806.60 CHANGE -41.31
FBMEMAS
FBMKLCI 1,634.99 -8.91
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 606.76 +0.53
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 176.05 -1.10
CONSTRUCTION 187.73 +2.20
FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,453.40 +25.12
ENERGY 893.45 +6.87
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 654.46 +1.99 o Newly launched platform enables brand owners
HEALTH CARE 3,613.27 -25.22 and sellers to leverage the power of social networks to
TRANSPORTATION 799.05 +13.30 connect directly to consumers
PROPERTY 735.92 +1.49
PLANTATION 7,394.13 -36.88
FBMSHA 13,178.50 -77.21
FBMACE 10,702.30 +22.60
TECHNOLOGY 68.47 +0.23 █ BY AMIR IMRAN HUSAIN SAFRI also invested in a big data company
[email protected] Zanroo, which provides enterprise
TURNOVER VALUE PETALING JAYA: E-commerce has been a solutions to establish brands and large
9.166 BIL RM4.22 BIL vital lifeline for businesses and consumers corporations.
amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as
5 MOST ACTIVES online transactions have managed to Utilising the social listening tools of the
DECEMBER 29, 2020 remain largely unaffected by these difficult big data company, Goh explained this
circumstances. would prove to be useful for product and
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) brand owners to gain insights on their
TECHNAX 552,289,300 17.0 +3.0 Against this backdrop, Old Town Bhd co- market as well as the latest consumer
MESTRON 238,906,300 22.0 +0.5 founder Andy Goh (pix) founded Mecan trends.
IRIS 224,671,700 43.5 -0.5 Trade, a social commerce platform which
YONGTAI 209,375,300 32.5 +5.0 enables brand owners and sellers dubbed “This way, companies could introduce
PUNCAK 185,262,500 47.5 +7.5 ambassadors to leverage the power of social products with a good market fit and know
networks to connect directly to consumers. their consumers better.”
5 TOP GAINERS Goh serves as Mecan Trade CEO and the
DECEMBER 29, 2020 platform went online May this year. For its data analytics offering, the
platform offers tailor-made packages for
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM The impetus to start the platform is from businesses to best suit their needs and
NESTLE 12,600 139.50 0.90 his 27-year experience as an entrepreneur budget.
KESM 50,500 13.54 0.38 and manufacturer, developing the Old Town
CNASIA 5,602,500 0.36 White Coffee and the pain and challenges Despite going online just a little
HEIM 101,300 1.68 0.32 from the business. over a year ago, Mecan Trade
AEONCR 58,400 23.44 0.30 currently supports over 200 brand
12.08 “In the traditional way of doing business, owners and manufacturers with
there are a lot of middlemen involved from over 3,000 products available
5 TOP LOSERS retailers, distributors and resellers before and over 1,000 ambassadors
DECEMBER 29, 2020 reaching the end-consumer, due to these and counting.
layers the end price of a product is much
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM higher,” he told SunBiz. “By the end of next year, we
SUPERMX-C87 2,400 4.17 0.83 hope to have over 5,000
F&N 11,700 31.72 0.76 Under traditional commerce, Goh ambassadors and more than
HARTA 5,297,600 11.94 0.52 pointed out distributors with large networks 20,000 products on the
DKSH 340,200 3.38 0.34 could pressure manufacturers to dictate the platform.”
SUPERMX 27,349,400 6.06 0.33 price for more margins, which lead to
manufacturers not being able to control the As a step towards achieving
EXCHANGE RATES DECEMBER 29, 2020 production and pricing. that goal, he has allocated
RM15.75 million to the
Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy He elaborated that the idea behind the #MeCanBoss program launched in
platform is to give transparency to September. The program coaches its
1 US DOLLAR TT/OD TT OD customers and brand & product owners, ambassadors on how to utilise the social
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 4.1135 3.9875 3.9775 using technology to protect their interest. commerce platform with cash incentives,
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.1390 3.0130 2.9970 This allows the latter to control the pricing. while top performers will be given capital
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.0920 3.0010 2.9930 and guidance to develop their very own
1 EURO 3.2000 3.1130 3.1010 With the transparency of Mecan Trade, product.
1 NEWZEALAND DOLLAR 5.0360 4.8710 4.8510 brand and product owners control the
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 2.9350 2.8270 2.8110 entire system, in terms of market price, In 2021, Goh also hopes to replicate
1 STERLING POUND 3.0920 3.0010 2.9930 selling price and also the margins for the the model in other countries in the
1 SWISS FRANC 5.5460 5.3700 5.3500 ambassadors on the platform. region.
100 UAE DIRHAM 4.6160 4.5090 4.4940
100 BANGLADESHTAKA 113.2600 107.3700 107.1700 On the flipside, ambassadors on the “Right now, we are in the midst of
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 4.9480 4.6180 4.4180 platform are able to start trading without the discussion to establish a franchise of
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 63.0000 60.5000 usual hassle as it takes care of product the system in two countries –
100 INDIAN RUPEE 53.6000 50.9200 N/A sourcing, pricing and marketing as well as Indonesia and Thailand,” he
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 5.6800 5.3400 50.7200 systems integration in terms of payment shared.
100 JAPANESE YEN 0.0301 0.0272 gateway, logistics and even packaging.
100 NEWTAIWAN DOLLAR 3.9680 3.8440 5.1400 In regard to its overseas
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 15.7000 0.0222 “They just need to share their online ambitions, Goh pointed out that the
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 2.6100 N/A 3.8340 shopfront to their social media network and signing of the Regional Comprehensive
100 SAUDI RIYAL 8.6900 2.4400 they can earn commission from every Economic Partnership in November to be
100 SRI LANKA RUPEE 110.7800 8.1800 N/A purchase,” said Goh. a good sign.
100THAI BAHT 2.2500 105.1700 2.2400
14.2600 2.0600 7.9800 To complement Mecan Trade, he has “With the free trade agreement, we
12.6500 104.9700 foresee opportunities for social commerce
1.8600 to facilitate trade in the region.”
12.2500
More than RM400m in digital service tax collected

Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The government has so country and will be enhanced in the future. Abd Rahim said that most of the claims
far collected RM428.07 million from digital This collection is not only imposed on had been reimbursed, with about RM1.87
service providers since enforcement of the local digital service providers, but we have billion not paid yet as there were some
Digital Services Tax early this year, said also started efforts to impose the tax on matters that need to be resolved.
Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Abd foreign digital service providers,” he added.
Rahim Bakri. Apart from that, he said, the Royal
He said this when winding up the Malaysian Customs Department always
He said the tax was imposed on, among debate on the Service Tax (Amendment) carried out field audits in an effort to
others, Netflix, Amazon, advertisements Bill 2020 at the Dewan Negara yesterday. ensure that taxpayers pay the proper
on social media platforms such as amount of taxes and avoid leaks.
Facebook and Instagram, as well as The issue on the Digital Services Tax
applications and games on smartphones. was raised by Senator N. The method also ensures that the
Balasubramaniam. government can collect the actual tax
“This is a new source of revenue for the amount, he added. – Bernama
On the Goods and Services Tax refund,

12 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020 BRIEFS MISC JV FIRMS
SUNBIZ GET FIVE-YEAR
CONTRACT EXTENSION
AirAsia pares down stake PETALING JAYA: Brazilian
in Indian operations Deepwater Production Ltd
(BDPL) and Brazilian
Deepwater Production
Contractors Ltd (BDPC), both
joint-venture companies
between SBM Holding Inc SA
and MISC Bhd’s MISC Offshore
o Group selling 32.67% share to partner Holdings Sdn Bhd (MOHB),
Tata Sons for US$37.66m, left with 16.33% entered into agreements with
Shell Brasil for five years’
extension of the lease,
operation and maintenance
contracts for the FPSO Espirito
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Group “AirAsia group has been reviewing Santo located in the Campos
Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary its forward business strategy Basin for the BC-10 field,
AirAsia Investment Ltd is disposing regularly, including its investment in offshore Brazil. The initial
of a 32.67% stake in AirAsia (India) AAI. This transaction will ensure contracts were entered into
Ltd (AAI) to its joint venture partner strict cost containment for AirAsia by the companies with Shell
Tata Sons Pte Ltd for US$37.66 group in the short term, and Brasil in 2006 with expiry date
million (RM152.58 million). strengthen our presence in Asean of December 2023. With the
while continuing our market extension, the contracts will
According to its Bursa filing, the dominance for travel from Asean to be extended to December
transaction includes a call option for India and North Asia. 2028. SBM owns 51% of
the group’s remaining 16.33% stake equity in BDPL and BDPC
in AAI, exercisable by Tata at any time “India will remain an important respectively, whilst MOHB
after the disposal is completed, for market for AirAsia. Tata Sons has owns 49% of equity in each of
US$18.83 million (RM76.29 million). been an excellent partner and we the companies.
The deal includes a put option look forward to continue working
exercisable by AirAsia in two closely together in other areas of MRCA PARTNERSWITH
tranches, March 1 to May 30, 2022 growth.” VETTONSTO BRING
and Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2022. BUSINESSES ONLINE
Headquartered in Bengaluru, AAI PETALING JAYA: The
The budget airline said the flies to 19 domestic destinations Malaysian Retail Chain
proceeds from the disposal will be using 30 Airbus A320 aircraft. Association (MRCA), which
used as working capital for first- represents over 450 leading
quarter 2021. Meanwhile, international services retail chain store operators
to India from Malaysia and Thailand and franchisors in Malaysia, is
Since the start of the Covid-19 will resume in the future after travel partnering with e-commerce
pandemic, the aviation industry has restrictions are lifted and borders company Vettons to bring
been one of the hardest hit industries with India are reopened. AirAsia retail businesses on to their
and AAI has not been spared. The operates over 100 weekly flights from online shopping platforms.
directors expect further capital Malaysia and Thailand to nine One of the features of the
requirements for AAI. destinations in India. partnership is Vettons’
guarantee to sell only original
“As India is a non-core market for AirAsia Group has transformed brands and products.
AirAsia (being a non-Asean country), itself into a digital travel and lifestyle Vettons is introducing
the company will continue to platform with airasia.com as well as augmented reality to help
regularly reassess its business digital ventures in logistics, e- consumers visualise their
strategies and dispose of non-core commerce, fintech and fast-food Fernandes (left) collecting food from AirAsia Food merchant JoshiJosh purchases in their living
investments to augment its liquidity. chain, among others. AirAsia also spaces, as well as leveraging
This transaction will reduce cash operates a regional technology centre other players are “charging an arm and for the restaurants. technology such as artificial
burn of the company in the short in Bengaluru. a leg” with high commission rates. He elaborated that it has intelligence to assist in the
term and allow AirAsia to shopping experience. The
concentrate on recovery of its key In another development, AirAsia’s “With AirAsia Food, our flat rates changed to an environment where partnership entails monthly
Asean markets in Malaysia, Thailand, food delivery platform Airasia Food are equivalent to only a 10% food delivery is no longer webinar workshops,
Indonesia and the Philippines in the aims to make a difference for commission rate, enabling merchants complementary but is becoming conducted by Vettons, to
long run,” AirAsia said. merchants as it offers the option of to earn more while having full control one of the primary sales channels promote e-marketplace
flat rates and a 10% commission over their menu, pricing and also have for restaurants and home kitchen services and recruit MRCA
AirAsia group president (airlines) model. easy access to data aside from being businesses everywhere. members. Vettons will utilise
Bo Lingam said this transaction is in able to communicate directly with MRCA’s online assets for its
line with its initiatives towards Launched during the movement their customers,” he said in a One of AirAsia Food’s merchants, campaigns and, conversely,
reducing cash utilisation for the control order period in May, it has no statement. JoshiJosh, grew its sales by 500 times Vettons will collaborate with
group and will allow it to use cash to hidden fees to join and has an within three months. MRCA as an e-marketplace
grow market share in its core markets extended delivery range of 60km Fernandes pointed out that its flat partner for offline events.
in Asean, particularly in Malaysia, compared with 15-20km offered by rates are by far the lowest in the food AirAsia Food is slated to be
Thailand, Indonesia and the other food delivery platforms. delivery industry, and hopes this launched in Singapore by end-
Philippines as well as for its future would offer some sort of liberation January 2021 and will be expanding
expansion into Cambodia, Myanmar AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony to other Asean cities next year.
and Vietnam. Fernandes said it wanted to
democratise the food delivery business,
especially for the merchants, as the

Property outlook challenging but bright spots emerge Kim Loong’s Q3 net profit
jumps more than twofold
PETALING JAYA: The outlook for the It also foresee some landbanking situation before deciding to continue
Malaysian property sector in the next activities, especially in small pockets of or defer future launches. PETALING JAYA: Kim Loong sharp increase in the CPO price to
12 months remains challenging land with good location, such as Resources Bhd saw a more than the current level of above
although most developers have proximity to Kuala Lumpur city centre, AmResearch believes consumer twofold increase in net profit to RM3,600 a tonne, it holds the view
achieved their new sales targets, major expressways and the MRT/LRT. sentiment will remain weak for the time RM28.84 million for its third that its plantation operations will
according to AmResearch. being with spending mainly focused on quarter ended Oct 31, 2020 continue to benefit significantly
“We believe high-rise development necessities while big-ticket items such compared to RM13.79 million a from the high CPO prices despite
It noted that in the first nine around these areas provide good as properties will take a back seat. year ago on the back of higher a gradual drop in FFB production
months of 2020 (9M’20) sales fell by an connectivity, hence convenience, for yield as well as increases in expected in the fourth quarter
estimated 22% compared with the home buyers.” On a positive side, it expects the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) prices due to seasonal factors on
previous year on the back of a reintroduction of Home Ownership and crude palm oil (CPO) cropping trend.
lacklustre market and the impact of In the coming year, AmResearch Campaign and full stamp duty prices.
the Covid-19 pandemic. expects the affordable segment to exemptions on both instruments of Given the results in the first
perform well, driven by resilient demand, transfer and loan agreement for the Revenue for the quarter three quarters of the year, Kim
“Instead, developers are more especially from young professionals and purchase of property worth up to jumped 58.9% to RM278.60 Loong foresees its performance
aggressive in clearing unsold units by families. The shift in focus to this RM500,000 to generate buying interest. million from RM175.31 million for FY2021 to be good.
offering discounts with the inventory segment by the majority of local property previously.
level on a declining trend. We believe developers reflects this resilience. On the whole, the research house For the first three quarters of
that this is a positive move to realise cash maintains a neutral view on the sector, On prospects for the the year, the group’s net profit
flow,” the research house said in a report. It pointed out that Mah Sing has as it does not expect to see surprises in remaining quarter, Kim Loong surged 219.3% to RM84.90 million
begun building residential properties earnings over the next 12–18 months. acknowledged that the Covid-19 from RM38.71 million in the
Against such a backdrop, it expects under RM600,000 for more than three pandemic has caused previous corresponding period.
certain segments to outperform in the years, Scientex is offering residential It may upgrade the property sector unprecedented volatility in Revenue for the period stood at
current market condition, particularly properties (landed and high-rise) to overweight, should the banks ease commodity prices. Nevertheless, RM717.94 million, a 44% increase
those with overseas exposures, between RM200,000 and RM350,000 lending policies on properties or the it does not expect the pandemic from RM498.59 million.
especially in China and Singapore, will in the southern region of the peninsula consumer sentiment to improve impact to the group’s operation to
do better in the medium term. and Crest Builder has plans to build significantly. The sector may be be significant based on current Kim Loong declared a special
residential apartments in Klang with downgraded to underweight should observation. dividend of 3 sen per share for the
In this area, AmResearch said starting prices below RM300,000. the bank tighten their lending policies financial year ending Jan 31, 2020
Sunway and IOI Properties are well on properties or consumer sentiment With the recent unexpected to be paid on Feb 22, 2021.
positioned as their property launches Nonetheless, AmResearch noted is to deteriorate further.
have been generally well received both that most developers remain cautious,
locally and overseas. and are still assessing the economic AmResearch’s top picks for the sector
are Sunway, Scientex and Mah Sing.

FGV aims to produce 30,000 13theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
litres of fresh milk daily in H1’21 * SUNBIZ

o Upgrading of dairy farm Greenpro AI raises
in Linggi almost complete RM504,750 via ECF,
168% above target
PETALING JAYA: FGV Holdings Bhd through its milking parlour and a cloud-based daily milk FGV Dairy Farm is
subsidiary FGV Dairy Farm Sdn Bhd is recording system to ensure the quality of our positioned for PETALING JAYA: GreenPro Capital
positioned for strong growth in its venture into dairy products and the productivity of our dairy strong growth in its Village Sdn Bhd (GreenPro AI), a cloud-
fresh milk processing and the dairy farming farm. These efforts are scheduled for venture into fresh based artificial intelligence (AI)
business as it targets to produce 30,000 litres of completion in the first quarter of 2021,” said milk processing accounting solutions provider has
fresh milk a day in first-half 2021. Haris Fadzilah. and the dairy closed its equity crowdfunding (ECF)
farming business. campaign, raising RM504,750 – 168%
This is consistent with the implementation The overall upgrading work for FGV’s Linggi formulations, flavours and packaging are in the above its target, from a total of 33
of a fully integrated dairy farm project in Linggi, dairy farm is almost complete, with pipeline and are now undergoing product and investments.
Negri Sembilan, which has significantly improvements on the farm’s infrastructure, stability tests prior to launch, which is targeted
increased FGV’s focus in the business under the feedstock areas, milking parlour and cattle to take place in April 2021. Bright Cow dairy The campaign was facilitated by Ata
integrated farming sector. barn, while the upgrading work for the calf barn products are now available online. Plus, an ECF platform registered with
is 100% complete. The ongoing enhancements Under the National Dairy Industry Securities Commission Malaysia.
FGV Dairy Farm recently received an will be finalised in the near future together with Development Programme, the government
additional 130 crossbred dairy heifers imported Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and aims to ensure self-sufficiency in domestic fresh GreenPro AI gives the public an
from Australia, which are a hybrid of Jersey and the foundation for Food Safety System milk productions by 2025. This gives an investment opportunity by offering their
Friesian dairy cattle breeds, amounting to a Certification 22000 certifications. opportunity for organisations such as FGV to investors an early exit through their
total of 258 dairy herd size. This shipment of benefit from import substitution and aspire to upcoming acquisition by GreenPro Capital
cattle is to fulfil the higher volume of fresh milk Several new Bright Cow product become a significant industry player for locally Corp, a Nasdaq-listed multinational
production as well as the increase in local produced fresh milk in Malaysia. conglomerate with a portfolio of
demand, especially by the hotel, restaurant and At the same time, FGV’s initiatives are in line businesses in finance and technology.
cafe market segment. with the government’s vision for shared prosperity GreenPro AI is preparing the necessary
by offering contract farming opportunities among documentation for the acquisition.
FGV group CEO Datuk Haris Fadzilah cattle farmers in the country.
Hassan said in less than nine months since the The ECF investors have an
inception of the dairy farm project in March opportunity to realise the value of their
2020, the premium house brand Bright Cow has investment through a redemption of
been processing more than 500,000 litres of their shares in the form of Nasdaq-listed
fresh milk for local consumption, contributed stock issued by GreenPro Capital Corp at
by the fresh milk produced by FGV’s Linggi a value of 120% of their
dairy farm and supplied by external dairy farms. initialinvestment, which is anticipated to
occur within the next 12 months.
“Our fresh milk production in Linggi, will see
the opening of a brand new fresh milk factory Cognisant of the financial constraints
with a processing capacity of 30,000 litres per faced by SMEs which hamper their
day. We have also installed an automated ability to hire proper accounting staff,
GreenPro AI co-founders CK Lee and
Samson Chow have combined their 30
years of experience in the financial and
accounting sector to develop their
unique cloud-based AI accounting
solution which would enable cost
savings of up to 90% for SMEs.

GreenPro AI’s ECF campaign has
enabled the team to shift its operations
to Malaysia.

MIBA announces Matrade outlines 2021 programmes
launch of due to help companies boost exports
diligence guides
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia External Trade companies, particularly SMEs and mid-tier businesses,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Development Corp (Matrade) aims to engage companies (MTCs). This will be carried out Its EP programme includes participation in
Investment Banking Association (MIBA) 13,000 companies through its exporter through strategic engagements with the public
has announced the launch of the development (ED) and export promotion (EP) and private sector in Malaysia and abroad to international trade fairs and trade missions,
Malaysia Equity Capital Markets and Debt programmes in 2021, to build up the domestic identify new export opportunities in both international sourcing programme and business
Capital Markets Due Diligence Guides, resilience of local companies in the post- conventional and emerging sectors,” he said in a matching programme. Physical participation in
which will take effect on Jan 1, 2021, in pandemic recovery period. statement yesterday. the programmes will be dependent upon the
line with the Securities Commission latest developments on health and safety
Malaysia’s (SC) new enhanced initial The agency has outlined 334 programmes for the For the coming year, Matrade is set to expand regulations throughout the year.
public offering (IPO) framework. year, with 277 aimed at ED and 54 for EP, to create its ED programmes with eTrade 2.0; Bumiputera,
more export champions in high-value sectors. Women and Youth Exporters Development The 2021 EP programmes will focus on
The guides seek to enhance and clarify Programme; Mid-Tier Companies Development Malaysia’s key export sectors such as food &
the standards of due diligence and Its new CEO, Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, said Programme and X-Seed. beverages, services, building materials, lifestyle, oil
disclosure in the preparation and it will focus on helping Malaysian companies to & gas, aerospace, machinery & equipment, medical
submission of corporate proposals and penetrate international markets during these The CEO said its engagement will focus on & pharmaceutical products, among others.
offering documents to the SC. challenging times, virtually linking them with driving Malaysian SMEs and MTCs to be more
foreign buyers through its overseas office and prepared in areas such as sustainability, digital Of the 57 promotion programmes, 32 of them
They are also intended to align and sharing knowledge, market intelligence. transformation, Internet of Things, industrial will be held in the Regional Comprehensive
complement the SC’s regulatory revolution 4.0 and artificial intelligence. Economic Partnership economies, namely
enhancements to take into account the “The year 2021 will see Matrade doubling its Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan,
evolving capital market landscape. They efforts in engaging with digital tools to provide “All of these play significant roles in ensuring Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
encompass different aspects, which more business opportunities for Malaysian the companies’ success in international Vietnam and Malaysia.
include setting the scope and extent of
due diligence in a corporate proposal, roles Managing risks in the digital age
of the participants involved and
highlighting the appropriate verification DIGITAL technology is well recognised as an reported to be less than 12 months, with an the business environment. Organisations should
process and relevant steps to be adopted important enabler for innovation. Digital average 20% of full-time equivalent capacity thus focus on managing risks, to ensure
throughout the preparation and transformation brings forth unmatched provided by robots. It’s also found that 78% of sustainability.
submission process of corporate proposals. opportunities and capabilities for growth and those who have already implemented RPA
value creation. Chief experience officers are expect to significantly increase investment in RPA RPA brings its own inherent risks as well the
Besides IPOs, the guides may also be consistently launching new products and over the next three years. ones, resulting from the business environment it
applicable in the conduct of due services by leveraging new-wave digital automates in. The Deloitte RPA Risk framework
diligence for submissions or applications technologies such as robotics, chatbots, In 2020 alone, the Malaysian government had provides effective risk management and
in respect of other corporate proposals to cognitive, blockchain and cloud. allocated over RM550 million to provide smart monitoring of six key risk domains. Each of these
the SC and Bursa Malaysia Securities. automation matching grants to 1,000 domains would help strengthen security and
Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 manufacturing and 1,000 services companies, to controls in an RFP environment.
The guides benefit from close pandemic, one such enabler, which has seen a automate their business processes. To encourage
consultation and collaboration with key proliferation of adoption across numerous the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to It is essential for an organisation to build a
industry stakeholders and associations, industries, is Robotics Process Automation (RPA). further embrace e-commerce, the government secure BOT strategy prior to embarking on its
including Malaysian Institute of This can be in its native form as well as coupled has also set aside another RM150 million for robotics journey and have the necessary controls
Accountants, Malaysian Institute of with AI and cognitive solutions (RCA). Robots Budget 2021 for finance SMEs’ automation embedded to manage risks throughout the
Certified Public Accountants, Malaysian allow businesses to be more responsive, cost initiatives under the SME Digitalization Grant implementation lifecycle. With constantly
Bar Council, Malaysian Institute of effective, compliant and efficient. We are already Scheme and Automation Grants. evolving risk and threat to the technology
Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, entering an era where BOTs are doing intelligent environment, this becomes more crucial.
Association of Valuers, Property Managers, work while building efficiencies. While the investments and adoption rate for
Estate Agents & Property Consultants in RPA is encouraging and it is clear that the This article was contributed by
the Private Sector Malaysia, Federation of In the most recent Deloitte’s Annual Global technology greatly simplifies and make our lives Deloitte Malaysia risk advisory executive
Public Listed Companies and RPA Survey, payback of RPA adoption was more efficient, RPA also opens up new risks to
independent market researchers. director Shahariz Abdul Aziz.

14 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
SUNBIZ

LONDON: Europe will see its biggest Brexit ‘big bang’ to trigger
transfer of share trading in more than tectonic trading rift in Europe
two decades when stock exchanges
open for business in 2021, with Brexit o Market players hope transition of euro- its customers expect to shift all their absolutely had to.
shifting its centre of gravity away from denominated assets out of the UK will be trading in European shares to EU “We may leave some existing
London. smooth though long-term impact is unclear venues.
positions in the UK and we might
While market players hope that and derivatives markets into two overnight. Another of London’s top money choose not to do business with those
years of preparations since Britain separate trading pools, raising The last time there was such a spinners is its trade in trillions of euros UK counterparties in future,“ van Dijk
voted to leave the European Union concerns that investors will get less in derivatives. This anomaly, which said.
(EU) means the transition of most competitive prices. rapid shift in volumes was in 1998 dates back to 1999 when Britain opted
euro-denominated assets like shares when trading in 10-year German out of the euro’s launch, has seen a Bank of England Governor Andrew
and derivatives out of the country will EU banks must trade euro- Bund futures by dealers in stripy dominant share of trading in euro- Bailey has said he will have all its
be relatively smooth, the long-term denominated shares inside the bloc jackets on the LIFFE exchange floor in denominated swaps take place in the “armoury” at hand, although so far
impact is unclear. from Jan 4, forcing them to switch London was lured by cheaper capital. regulators say they do not expect any
from platforms run by the likes of electronic screens to Frankfurt. threats to financial stability.
“This is a big bang event and that is Cboe Europe, Aquis Exchange, The Bank of England has warned
one of the things that the market London Stock Exchange’s Turquoise “It’s the biggest single share trading that trade in interest rate swaps worth “You can’t rule out that there will
hasn’t truly understood yet,“ Alasdair and Goldman Sachs in London, to EU shift in the last two decades at least,“ around US$200 billion (RM810 be some particular disruption given
Haynes, CEO of London-based share hubs they have opened in Amsterdam Howson said. billion) could be disrupted, because the scale of change, but overall we are
trading platform Aquis Exchange, told or Paris. banks operating in Britain and the EU satisfied there has been good
Reuters. For Aquis, more than half of its must trade inside their own proactive management of the risks
Most shares are still traded on their business will in future be in the EU jurisdiction, or on approved platforms across the system,“ Nikhil Rathi, CEO
“This is literally everything moves home exchange, but between them rather than all in London, while Cboe in New York. of Britain’s Financial Conduct
on a specific day and we have got to London platforms account for nearly is hopeful that clearing in share trades Authority, told Reuters.
pray to God that we don’t have some all cross-border trading in shares in could move from rivals in London to It may force Britain at the last
extraordinary event happen in the the remaining 27 EU states. its own clearing house in Amsterdam minute to ease its restrictions on The first day of trading in January
market that creates high volumes,“ over time. swaps trading to minimise disruption. may even be a quiet one as volumes
Haynes said. That amounted to €8.6 billion could suffer if some market
(RM42 billion) a day collectively in Goldman Sachs expects half the Erik-Jan van Dijk, Achmea participants sit on the sidelines to see
While the landmark trade deal October, or a quarter of all European daily trading in shares on its Sigma-X Investment Management’s head of how the dust settles, Cboe and Aquis
agreed last week set rules for trading, Cboe data shows. Europe trading platform to shift over treasury and derivatives, said said.
industries such as fishing and time to its new Paris hub from regulators have already taken steps to
agriculture, it did not cover Britain’s David Howson, president of Cboe London. mitigate some of the risks by allowing In the longer term, the focus will be
much larger finance sector, meaning Europe, said almost all cross-border EU banks to continue clearing their on just how much the volumes build
automatic access to the EU’s financial European stock trading will switch Cboe held a simulation exercise on derivatives in London temporarily. up inside the EU and fall further in
markets comes to an end on Dec 31. Dec 5 and Howson said this revealed Britain.
But trading will have to move, and
The following days will provide a some counterparties with existing “It’s not the start of the end of
first taste of the effects of the shift and swaps contracts in Britain were London, but it’s pretty bloody
regulators on both sides of the English reluctant to shift them before they embarrassing and a huge own goal for
Channel will be on alert for market Britain,“ said Aquis’ Haynes.
dislocations on Jan 4, the first trading
day of the new year.

The EU wants to reduce reliance on
the City of London for financial
services and see more euro-based
trading in Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam
and other financial centres in the bloc.

That will split Europe’s stock, bond

Tech’s reign over US stock market to be tested in 2021 Vietnam Airlines
issues shares to
NEW YORK: Investors are weighing account for about 37% of the “Big Four” tech giants Q3 earnings support recovery
how big to go on US technology market-cap weighted S&P 500, The combined revenue of the “Big Four” tech companies came in at
stocks in the coming year, as pricier giving them outsized influence on $228.24 billion last quarter, but has done little to please investors HANOI: Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines
valuations, regulatory risks and a the index’s gyrations and investors’ said yesterday it would issue nearly
revival of the market’s beaten-down portfolios. Fund managers polled by Amazon Apple Alphabet Facebook US$346 million (RM1.4 billion) worth
names threaten to dim their allure. BofA Global Research named “long revenue: revenue: revenue: revenue: of shares for existing stakeholders to
tech” as the market’s most crowded $96.15bn $64.70bn $46.17bn $21.22bn boost its recovery from the impacts of
A surge in technology and trade for the eighth straight month. Pandemic- Shares fell Shares up only Strong growth the coronavirus pandemic and return
internet-related shares helped lift And while tech, which trades at 26 fuelled buying on news that 16% in 2020, in Q3, but firm to profitability by 2023.
US indexes to record highs this year. times forward earnings estimates, is leads to greater iPhone sales compared to is cautious
Gains in Apple, Amazon and one of the few sectors expected to sales, but in China have average of 56% of impending The issuance will be completed by
Microsoft alone accounted for more post profit growth in 2020, increased costs – slumped by 29% for other three regulatory June next year after the carrier
than half of the S&P 500’s 16.6% total according to IBES data from up $2.5bn in third quarter tech giants hurdles received approval from the
return as of Dec 16, according to Refinitiv, earnings are projected to authorities. All capital raised would
Howard Silverblatt, senior index grow by 14.2% next year, slower than Q3 Total: $228.24 Picture: Daria Shevtsova (Pexels) pay off outstanding debts, its
analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. the 23.2% clip seen for S&P 500 Q2 chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said at a
companies overall on a potential 2020 Q1 250 regular shareholder meeting.
Tech took a back seat in recent bounce in growth. “We continue to Q4 © GRAPHIC NEWS
weeks, as hopes of a vaccine-led believe that this value rotation we Q3 The national flag carrier, 86%
economic recovery fueled a rally in started to see over the last few weeks Q2 owned by the government, expected
energy, financials, small caps and does have legs into 2021 as well,“ 2019 Q1 to make losses of 14.445 trillion dong
other less-loved parts of the market. said Mona Mahajan, US investment Q4 (RM2.5 billion), about 2.4 trillion
The Russell 1000 value index strategist at Allianz Global Investors. Q3 dong less than previously expected.
climbed 10% since breakthrough Q2
vaccine data was announced in Efforts by US and European 2018Q1 To support the airline, the
early November, compared to a 4% regulators to curtail the market Q4 Vietnamese government last month
gain in the Russell growth index, dominance of companies such as Q3 approved a plan to buy new shares
which is broadly populated by tech Alphabet and Facebook are another Q2 from the flag carrier through its State
stocks. pressure point for the industry. 2017 Q1 Capital Investment Corp. – Reuters
Q4
Though it is unclear how long the But plenty of investors are happy Q3 Ant weighs forming
change in market leadership will to retain holdings in businesses that Q2 holding company
last, the shift highlights a dilemma have proven durable amid slow 2016 Q1
that has confronted investors economic growth, trade conflicts Q4 BEIJING: Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co is
throughout the last decade. Limiting and the global pandemic. Indeed, Q3 planning to fold its financial operations
tech exposure has mostly been a spikes in uncertainty have tended to Q2 into a holding company that could be
losing bet for years and the send investors into tech stocks in 2015 Q1 regulated more like a bank, Bloomberg
coronavirus pandemic accelerated recent months. News reported yesterday.
trends that stand to benefit the $0bn 50 100 150 200
group. “There are very few sectors Note: Calendar Q3 is Q4 in Apple’s fiscal year The Chinese payment giant is
where you can get as predictable ... Source: Wall Street Journal planning to move any unit that would
But valuations near 16-year growth as you can from technology,“ require a financial licence into the
highs are raising concerns about the said Mark Stoeckle, chief executive return to slower growth rates after to “market weight” for 2021 but holding company, pending
sector’s vulnerability, especially if a officer of the Adams Funds, whose recovering in 2021. urged investors to maintain regulatory approval, the report said.
US economic reopening creates a diversified equity fund’s top positions rather than sell.
sustainable trade in value stocks. holdings are Microsoft, Apple and “That suggests you want to own In November, Chinese regulators
Amazon. companies (that have) high organic “I don’t think we are just going to suspended the Shanghai-Hong Kong
“I think that people are going to growth rates and can compound move away from tech,“ said Esty dual-listing by Ant, just days before
stick with their tech exposure but I Assets in the Invesco QQQ Trust, cash flow better than others,“ Arone Dwek, head of global market what would have been the world’s
don’t think there is going to be a lot which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq said. strategy at Natixis Investment largest stock market debut.
of fresh money put into tech in the 100 index, this month hit their Managers. “These businesses have
new year,“ said Lindsey Bell, chief highest amount on record, Lipper Even some strategists who like become integral parts of our lives.” – On Sunday, China’s central bank
investment strategist at Ally Invest. data showed. other stocks aren’t straying far from Reuters said it had asked Ant to shake up its
tech. BMO Capital Markets cut tech lending and other consumer finance
The technology sector along with Michael Arone, chief investment operations. – Reuters
shares of big tech-related strategist at State Street Global
companies – Amazon, Google- Advisors, expects the economy to
parent Alphabet and Facebook –

15theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
LIFESTYLE

CELEBRITY CAUSES From socialite to volunteer

█ BY AZIZUL RAHMAN ISMAIL o Not wanting to just sit around during the pandemic, Angela Carto and
her friends joined Caremongers
ANGELA KARTO is a
housewife, a mother of On her way to Sunway to meet Hope
three, and is the wife of Selangor to help three families living in
Erwin Azizi, and hails from a small flat. – PICTURE COURTESY OF
Indonesia. She is also well known ANGELA CARTO
for being a socialite, but during the
pandemic, Angela decided to reach Angela with volunteers from Hope Selangor. “Most of our days are spent of need.
out to communities in need. – PICTURE COURTESY OF ANGELA CARTO vetting the people because we need “Malaysians are just amazing in
to talk to them to find out what they
“Before Covid-19, my family and To stay sane and connected, need. Because there is no point in that way,” said Angela.
I contributed, we sponsored a Angela kept in touch with her giving them something they don’t She shares how the government,
‘Rumah Tahfiz’ for Rohingya friends through Zoom and need.
orphans. Back then, I donated funds FaceTime. One day, the group of through the Ministry of Defence and
to organisations and whatnot. When friends came across an article about “For example, when we sent care the Royal Malaysian Air Force, has
Covid-19 came, we were on a foreign worker who ate a rat to packs to Sabah recently through been helping out with their efforts.
lockdown,” said Angela. survive because he was starving. Kembara Kitchen, I asked the
volunteers why there was no rice in “When we first sent help to
During the first lockdown, her “I shared it with one of my the care packs. They said it was Sabah, we used an air cargo service
daily routine changed. Her three groups, it was really sad. Because we because the people that they are and it was expensive. We tried to
sons began to ask her a lot of are cooped up inside, we have no helping are paddy workers, so they look for another solution and that is
questions about why they could not idea what is happening outside. don’t need rice. So it would be when someone suggested that we
go to school or go out and play and What people are going through. pointless if we give them rice.” try and ask for help from the Royal
her husband was stressed because Malaysian Air Force. So we did. And
he could not go to work. “We felt that we should help but Together with her friends Yasmin they helped us a lot.
we didn’t know how or what was the Yusuff and Tan Wan Jia, Angela is
“On top of that, my father has a first step. Thankfully, I spoke to a actively helping those in need via “Together with the Ministry of
tumour that was scheduled to be few friends and they told me of Caremongers Ampang. Defence, not only did they provide
removed in Singapore and I could Caremongers. It is actually a us a way to deliver the Kembara
not go and see him or be with him. It movement that started in Canada, As someone from Indonesia, she Kitchen supplies by air, but also
was a lot. A lot of things were with the aim of helping your is amazed at the number of non- provided manpower, creating
happening. neighbours or people who live in governmental organisations in human chains during a downpour
your area.” Malaysia that have stepped up to to move the boxes from the
“I’m usually very private when it help those in need, especially aeroplane to the transport,” said
comes to my family on social media. It was a learning experience for during the pandemic. She Angela.
Hardly anyone knew what I was her and her friends. They began by experienced first hand how a
going through except my husband, helping day workers. coalition of these organisations was Her drive to help others did not
his family, and a few of my closest established and how they help one go unnoticed by her three sons. She
friends. “From there we learned. We used another to help others during a time showed them who they were
social media to help spread helping, showed them that not all
“In the first month, it felt like we awareness. We share what is going children have what they have, and
didn’t even change out of our on and welcome those who want to slowly, they began to help their
pyjamas. You wake up, you do join us to help them. mother with simple things like
breakfast, whatever (else) and take a carrying boxes, packing the care
shower and you literally change into packages and labelling ... except her
another pair of pyjamas. After a youngest, who is only three years
while, I felt like I was living in limbo.” old.

Angela with volunteers
distributing bags of
care packages. –
PICTURE COURTESY
OF ANGELA CARTO

Women suffered more from lockdown than men

THE effects of lockdown were during lockdown, and more than level of empathy among women,
different for men and women. A 39% reported an increase in noting that it was primarily about
study conducted by Canadian symptoms related to insomnia, the ability to understand
researchers found that women while anxiety and feelings of emotions and care for others.
suffered more from the period of distress increased in the overall These high levels of empathy,
social distancing associated with sample. Last but not least, however, were associated with
Covid-19, particularly in terms of symptoms related to sleep, high levels of anxiety, depression
sleep, anxiety, depression, and depression, and anxiety were and trauma.
trauma. more common among women. “I was not surprised by the
findings; women are the ones
Researchers at the University “Generally, the study found who carry the additional load.
of Calgary, in collaboration with women reporting more anxiety Taking care of family and critical
the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and depression. Their symptoms situations has always been a huge
looked at the sleep, state of mind, worsened over time and with load on women and females,”
and mental health disorders of greater length of the isolation says Dr Giuseppe Iaria, co-author
men and women during the period. There was a progressive of the survey.
months of lockdown, looking increase in anxiety, depression, Researchers now want to look
specifically at gender differences. poor sleep quality and trauma for more closely at these gender
An online survey was conducted males and females. But it was differences in order to develop
among 573 Canadians – 112 men greater for females over time,” targeted psychological
and 459 women – with an average says Dr. Veronica Guadagni of the interventions to help men and
age of 25.9 years between March Global Women’s Health, their two-thirds of participants Cumming School of Medicine at women cope with the pandemic.
23 and June 7, 2020. work revealed that more than reported poor sleep quality the University of Calgary. – AFP-Relaxnews

Published in Frontiers in The study also shows a higher

16 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020 A new
beginning
FASHION
o Fashion will be inclusive
IN recent years, inclusiveness has become a or it will go extinct in 2021
watchword in the world of fashion and
luxury. Under the pressure of a generation Natasha Polis asked her
for whom awareness is essential, a Instagram friends to pose
generation who expects socially responsible as Disney heroines
brands to be representative of humanity in all its (#PlusSizePrincessProject).
diversity, the sector is shaking up its own codes
and coming up with daring new salvos.

American Vogue has just released its January
2021 issue. There are four covers to choose
from, including one that is making a buzz: it
features Paloma Elsesser, a “plus-size”
American model in a sensual, confident pose.
The previous month, the cover showed singer
Harry Styles, dressed in a Gucci ball gown, the
first time the title has featured a cover man on
his own. The fact that the world’s most powerful
fashion magazine ends 2020 and begins 2021
with these kinds of covers shows that fashion is
more than ever, doing some real soul-searcing
this year, and looking towards a more
exemplary new start. “New year, new world,” US
Vogue titles the issue – and in this “new world,”
issues of diversity and inclusiveness will
certainly be central.

Inclusivity, not just a matter of visibility And this evolution marks the beginning of a problems, such as model Winnie Harlow who Yse, H&M to Fendi. They could be our sisters,
Inclusivity is about considering everyone in the journey towards the acceptance of human has vitiligo, or, more recently “plus size” our neighbors, our colleagues ... There’s a
same way, and giving everyone a very real diversity in the broadest sense; women with skin women, are good examples. change underway and it has definitely taken
visibility. And in the fashion industry, everyone hold. Consumers can no longer consider a
knows that this has not always been the case. But inclusiveness is not just about brand and its products without really taking
Thin – and we could add white – models, are choosing a black or mixed-race woman as a into account whether it represents us and the
still the majority in the sector. The concern for muse. It is also about her discourse: world we live in.
more inclusiveness does not date back to 2020, understanding her skin texture or hair type in
but goes back much further. Jean-Paul Gaultier order to give her the best advice. It is also Some influencers are even pushing the
and John Galliano proclaimed way back in about making sure that her salary is equal to concept a little further, like the American
several of their iconic shows that “fashion that of her white colleagues. With this in mind, Natasha Polis who asked her Instagram
comes from the street.” In the last two years, this past October an organisation saw the light friends to pose as Disney heroines
black models have become more numerous on of day in the United Kingdom: called the (#PlusSizePrincessProject) for Halloween
the catwalks and increasingly in demand as ‘it Fashion Minority Alliance, it aims to represent 2020, precisely in order to show the lack of
girls’ for brands – a kind of new beginning ... and defend all minorities in the fashion diversity in several fields, such as cinema.
industry. Its manifesto is clear: “to promote Beyond notions of gender and standard
and secure the advancement of Black and beauty
Minority creatives and ensure that the Even in the big luxury houses, things are
intersectionality of all our differences are changing, maybe a little bit more than usual
accountably transformed into positive, this year, such as Louis Vuitton which cast
sustainable, long term industry change.” ‘ambiguous’ models, combining femininity
Rihanna leading the charge and masculinity, more than ever in its fashion
Back in 2016, it was Rihanna who really got shows, and Gucci, which chose androgynous-
things rolling, nearly single-handedly, with figured artist Silvia Calderoni as the main
her Fenty brand (which has since been character in its mini-series co-directed with
acquired by the LVMH group) offering Gus Van Sant, unveiled in November. For
makeup for all skin types, for example 50 others, it’s about asking their entourage to
shades of foundation, and a line of lingerie for walk the runway, as at Xuly Bet and Koche, in
all body types, with a range of women posing order to present “real people” in “real clothes”.
and walking in the garments in live shows.
Meanwhile, as the Fenty lingerie show drew As for models, Jill Kortleve and Paloma
headlines, that other famous lingerie show, Elsesser are the top models of the year. They
Victoria’s Secret, did not take place. Sign of the are curvy and confident, they above all
times? Are the Victoria’s Secret angels too represent the image of the “positive body.” The
disconnected from reality? It would appear Chanel summer 2021 look that stands out is
so, as the upheaval of 2020 has only the pink baggy pants with the black bra, worn
accelerated such movements. Feeling like you by Jill. We also saw Jill in headline looks at
belong to a group, a community, like there’s a Valentino, Fendi, Alexander McQueen and
fashion brand that “gets you” and, more than Coperni. Same for Paloma Elsesser, with her
anything else, being able to see yourself in femme fatale look at Fendi and Versace. And
such representations ... these are the new of course the cover of Vogue US in January
expectations of consumers. In beauty, MAC, 2021.
Sephora and even Dior have followed in Fenty
Beauty’s footsteps, creating wider ranges of And this is also due to momentum
makeup adapted to different skin types. building. These models have good agents who
put them in the right places. But it can’t be
For the new campaigns for the denied that the basic movement has started.
summer of 2021, which will begin Having a fashion show these days without
to soon hit magazines, both being “inclusive” is risky, detrimental,
the ready-to-wear and opening oneself up for criticism. For a brand
lingerie worlds will offer or a large company which targets young
more diverse women than people aged 20-25, who are becoming highly
ever before, from Etam to
aware of the challenges of the future and
Paloma Elsesser societal changes as future consumers, being
appears on the inclusive has become a necessity.
cover of Vogue US
in January 2021. And it will no longer be possible to go
backwards. Models with 1.2-meter-long legs
will have as much space on the catwalks as
‘anybodies,’ women or men, of all skin types,

bodies, shapes and genders. Taking into
account their differences at all levels
and offering the same type of
service, clothing or salary is the
next step. Is inclusiveness on the
march, or is it simply about
reconnecting with our
humanity? – AFP-Relaxnews

17theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
BEAUTY

Beauty is getting back
to its roots

o 2021 is going to be all about embracing a more
down-to-earth approach to beauty with
confidence

2020 was the year beauty went decided to go with the gray. Would women have embraced their grey hair in the same way this year without Covid-19?
natural, with makeup giving Like Helen Mirren, Isabel Marant
way to minimalist beauty natural, healthy kind of glow, platforms. And, as it happens, they and other countries.
looks. Out went foundation, and Demi Moore, many women preferring to take care of their skin weren’t entirely wrong. In terms of And while maskne should
lipstick and assorted highlighters, as chose not to rush back to the salon rather than try to hide imperfections. skincare, solid, natural, vegan and
lockdown gave many people the when lockdown ended, transforming organic products gained further logically disappear with the
chance to give their skin a break, to let what the collective imagination once And with Covid-19 putting us all in popularity this year. But in terms of disappearance of face masks – unless
it breathe, and to pamper it with self- considered a “flaw” into a stylish face masks, facial and lip makeup trends, these were outstripped by we’re destined to spend the rest of
care rituals. And it seems that we feature. After making tentative took a backseat while eyes moved maskne. our lives hidden away behind facial
developed a taste for that – so much inroads for a few seasons, the trend – center stage as the focus of attention. protection – this perceived need to
so that it feels like there’s no going which is in tune with the wider “body So while 2020 was supposed to big up Maskne (or mascne) – aka mask take care of our skin has nevertheless
back. So while 2020 thrust natural positive” movement – looks like it’s bushy brows, women ultimately acne – burst onto the beauty scene in given rise to another new trend,
beauty upon us, 2021 will be the year here to stay. So show off your roots, opted for perfectly groomed lines – a 2020 as a new term to describe the dubbed “skip-care.”
we embrace it with confidence. flaunt that grey, and let’s smash the surprise trend that became (virtually) irritation, spots and other blemishes
Neon streaks vs grey hair diktats in 2021. inevitable when face masks were caused by wearing face masks. Straight from South Korea, “skip-
Tendrils of neon yellow, blue, pink or Glowy makeup vs minimalism made mandatory in public places in Without the global public health care” is all about “skinimalism,”
orange hair was supposed to be the Makeup is the (beauty) segment many global locations. crisis, products for treating acne stripping back beauty routines to the
major incoming hair trend of the year, that’s been hit the hardest by Covid- Clean beauty vs maskne wouldn’t have had such a bumper bare essentials to avoid endless layers
seen over and again on the runways 19. While lipstick, in various forms Anti-pollution, anti-waste and year. Internet searches about of product. Put simply, it comes down
of fashion’s four capitals, and and evolving textures, remained natural personal care products were “maskne” saw a huge surge in June, to doing things better, differently and
adopted in advance by various popular in many regions in 2019, this destined to be big news in 2020, up by as much as 811% and interest in with less, letting skin breathe and
models and influencers. But that was year, consumers in many countries according to the various predictions premium solutions, including tools, getting back in touch with a more
before Covid-19 hit and the have completely turned away from it. of industry players and search among men and women has been natural, more authentic kind of
pandemic turned everything upside- With the mask a daily reality, lipstick registered in the US, India, France beauty. Make that your mantra as we
down. seems to no longer be a beauty head into 2021. – AFP-Relaxnews
essential, with sales plummeting by
When hair salons were forced to as much as 50% year on year by mid-
close in the springtime, people year in the US, down 49% between
weren’t panicking about a lack of August and October in the UK, and
neon hair dye, but simply the lip makeup products plunging in the
prospect of facing the dreaded spring in Japan (down 22% in March).
“badger stripe” of grey roots that were
sure to grow back during lockdown. That proved a tough blow for
brands, which had gone all out on
From Europe to the USA, people dark shades and bold brights – from
flocked to the internet to seek advice raspberry pink to deep plum and
on dealing with hair at home. In fact, browns – as well as matte textures this
Google’s top trending “beauty how- year. It turned out to be a total flop
to” searches in the US this year that no-one saw coming, and looks
include “How to cut men’s hair at set to change the game for 2021.
home” and “How to colour your hair
at home.” With tutorials, video calls The same goes for facial makeup.
and over-the-phone appointments, In 2020, it was supposed to be all
hairstylists went out of their way to about glow, but, in the end,
help as many people as possible get everything went minimalist. The
stuck into home colouration. But, in multiple layers of foundation,
the end, many people ultimately highlighter and powder are gone –
over – as people now look for a

Herbal remedies for hair loss

IN this day and age, people face remedies has revealed answers that in which multiple structures of the Neeta attending to a customer. Jalan Maarof, Bangsar Baru, 59100
immense pressure to look good. We may finally help solve hair maladies. hair follicle are mistakenly and other skin disorders. Hair wigs, Kuala Lumpur or call our hotline
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glamorous personalities who disorders it is important to first hence resulting in improper hair or 012-6384 823), Damansara Utama
epitomise physical perfection. understand the various aspects of development. Approximately 20 Whether you are suffering from a (03-7728 6751), Klang (03- 33181 412)
each disorder. Amongst the percent of Areata sufferers have a hair disorder or simply wish to or visit www.neetasherbal.com or
However, for many stars and commonly known conditions is family history of alopecia whilst in maintain a healthy scalp, we strongly email us at [email protected].
starlets, these attributes are achieved Alopecia which exists in a plethora of others, the disorder may be triggered urge you to visit the Neeta’s Herbal
as a result of delicate care and, in forms, all of which act to terrorise the by a major life event such as an International headquarters at 101,
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and skin. Here at Neeta’s Herbal, we overproduction of hormones, threaten our scalp, there are a variety
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using traditional herb-based metabolite dihydrotestosterone. prevent and cure. Modern medicine
products in order to optimise the suggests the use of a cocktail of drugs
health of your hair and skin. In the These hormones are present in all such as minoxidil, finasteride and a
25-year history of this organisation, a of us as they play an important role in variety of corticosteroids. However, in
vast array of hair and skin conditions the development of various most cases what they fail to mention
have been identified and successfully biological characteristics in men and is the side effects of these drugs.
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non-synthetic products. amounts these androgens can prove At Neeta’s Herbal we prefer the
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present hair problems. Nita Gosalia, front of the scalp whilst in the female countermeasures that are safe and
the founder of this enterprise, has pattern hair is lost primarily over the free of debilitating side effects.
analysed and tested every viable crown (middle of the scalp) with the
treatment technique known to man. sparing of the frontal hair. Apart from hair care, Neeta’s
A journey from cutting edge methods Herbal also administers treatment for
such as laser and radiation therapy to Another common form of skin problems such as acne, black
a variety of ancient cures and folk alopecia is alopecia areata. This is heads, white heads, scars, wrinkles,
considered an autoimmune disease under eye dark circles, pigmentation

18 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
THE RIGHT READ

MANY among us have Anyone can be
toyed with the idea of an author
becoming a published
author. Until recently o Self-publishing continues to attract aspiring writers
however, you had to be accepted by
a publishing house. But now you Self-publishing or not, it’s not easy to make a place for yourself in a literary world centred on big-name bestsellers.
can self-publish on a digital
platform, and many people are figures and the creation of Attracting readers in an ultra- platforms are offering to help choice is to turn to a professional
taking the plunge, upending the mammoth enterprises in the sector, competitive environment aspiring authors get their foot in the publisher to get there, but the
traditional model. Could self- following takeovers and mergers. In It’s a winning formula and one that door of the self-publishing world. selection process is extremely long
publishing, a kind of the face of these structural encourages many of readers of such Librinova, Edilivre, Iggybook, Kobo, and risky. But in the end, the most
disintermediation, cutting out the problems, self-publishing is novels to follow in these writers’ Monbestseller, Youscribe, Bookelis important thing is to be read. That’s
middleman in the field of literature, constantly gaining new adherents, footsteps. But being a wordsmith are some platforms working with why so many of us make this choice,
lead to the emergence of new thanks to the direct monetisation and having a captivating story is not French authors. It’s hard to keep which is not to our advantage to
authors, new styles, with more and creative freedom it offers them. enough to make a self-published track of start-ups aiming to take the make our creations known in a
diverse subjects? It is these advantages that have book a success. That’s why Lebailly place of traditional publishing plethoric offer. Being visible is really
convinced Christelle Lebailly to decided to launch her own author- houses, even though they offer the keystone of self-publishing. The
We all have an aspiring novelist give self-publishing a chance, from entrepreneur training programme services quite similar to theirs. only place where we can get there is
in our circle, who is often to be December 2018 onwards. The to teach her peers how to sell their Some have even created their own Amazon,” he says.
found scribbling a few lines in a author has published four novels literary works and build a literary prizes to lend credence to a
little notebook, in the hope of herself, the last of which, Un detour readership. “Self-publishing is very market that is still underdeveloped Self-publishing or not, it’s not
turning out the next winner of the pour l’enfer, was released last appealing. I get a lot of messages in France, like Amazon’s Les Plumes easy to make a place for yourself in a
Prix Goncourt. If you think that May. from authors who, like me, want to Francophones prize, whose latest literary world centered on big-name
none of your loved ones secretly do everything on their own. That winners are Marie-Pierre Garnier bestsellers. But all is not lost if we
harbor this ambition, you may not “I’m a bit of a control freak, and wasn’t really the case before (Collision) and Guy Morant (Le sang believe Naïm. “Self-publishing can
know them all that well. According it shows in my work as a writer. In because self-published writers were de nos peres). be a virtuous circle. The interest that
to a study by Librinova and LIRE, addition to writing my stories, I like often looked down upon. Even we spark in readers can spark the
more than half of French people to think about the cover, do the though this has changed, many are Many independent writers are interest of publishers. These first
would like to write a book, or have artwork, handle the distribution ... I still worried about having to turning to the American e- readers do, in a way, the work of
already done so. This suggests that do 14,000 jobs at once. It’s not easy promote themselves on social commerce giant to publish their certain professional publishers, who
more than 5 million unpublished to manage everything at once, but networks and sales platforms. It’s books on its Kindle Direct are snowed under with thousands of
manuscripts may be tucked away in it’s always seemed natural to me. not always easy given the thousands Publishing (KDP) platform. David manuscripts to read. This is also
drawers throughout the nation. A And it has its advantages. We have of books that come out every year,” Naïm chose to do so for his first very useful for us authors. This
situation that might change with great visibility on our sales and the she says. novel, Allotropismes, after having immediate feedback allows us to
the advent of self-publishing. revenues they generate. It’s one of been turned down several times by make any necessary corrections or
the major advantages of self- While there is stiff competition publishing houses. “Everyone wants changes. It helps our work grow.”
Once fairly peripheral, self- publishing,” explains Lebailly. for readers’ attention, some to be a writer in France. The ideal – AFP-Relaxnews
publishing has been particularly
popular in recent years, and
comprises 19.8% of the legal
deposits of printed titles released in
France in 2019, according to a
report by the Bibliotheque
nationale de France – compared to
only 10% in 2010.

The phenomenon is gaining
ground thanks to the recent success
of writers like John Locke and
Agnes Martin-Lugand, who first
published their books on digital
platforms before achieving
popularity in bookstores. Sixty-
nine-year-old American writer
Locke entered the pantheon of self-
published novelists by surpassing
the symbolic threshold of one
million e-books sold on Amazon.

Martin-Lugand experienced a
similar fairy-tale ending with
Happy People Read and Drink
Coffee, a book published in 2012,
which eventually caught the
attention of publisher Michel
Lafon. And they lived happily ever
after and went on to sell 500,000
copies in bookstores. And of course
there’s Marco Koskas, whose novel
Bande de Francais earned him
entry into the very select club of
authors honoured by a nomination
for the Prix Renaudot.

Accolades like these are a dream
come true for aspiring writers as
well as professional publishers,
who deplore eroding book sales

POSTGRAD
The key to success is to
first start somewhere.

PUBLICATION DATE 23 FEBRUARY, 2021 (Tuesday)

Speak to theSun’s Sales team now for special deals on BOOKING & STORY DEADLINE 9 FEBRUARY, 2021 (Tuesday)
digital, video and print advertising.

MATERIAL DEADLINE 19 FEBRUARY, 2021 (Friday)

19theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
* FEATURE

China’s Gen Z spent money on clothes to bring joy and
government has positivity to their lives in 2020.
called for a
nationwide push How fashion
to strengthen brought positivity
the ability of the to Gen Z during
elderly to use the pandemic
digital tech,
urging
communities to
hold training
sessions.

Never too old to learn GENERATION Z sought solace in shopping – no
doubt online – as a means to bring a touch of
oChina looks to tap digital ‘silver dollar’ positivity to their lives in 2020, preferring to
invest in fashion over entertainment and even
LI CHANGMING just purchased a new Most retirees in China are social media.
Huawei smartphone and the 70-year- keen to adopt new tech and tap
old retiree is still a bit puzzled by a into a growing range of mobile Despite stores being shut, young people
high-tech device that China services catering to them. around the age of 20 turned to fashion to bring
policymakers hope will help unlock spending A report by banking group joy to their lives in 2020. According to photo
by millions of older Chinese. UBS this year said older editing app VSCO’s 2020 Year in Review report,
consumers were “already catching focusing specifically on Generation Z, 59% of
Undeterred, he’s enrolled in a training up” with the younger generation. those polled said that they spent money on
session – sort of a “mobile phones 101” – that “We can’t live without clothes to find more joy or positivity in this year
is part of China’s plans to help its legions of smartphones,” says Meng Li, 61, like no other.
pensioners keep up in a fast-developing who also joined the Chengdu A woman uCsheesnhgedrum, Cohbiinlea.phone to pay for products at a
digital economy. course and only recently learned market in venues in China require Clothing comes just behind food in the list
how to make mobile payments. (65%), and ahead of skincare products (57%) –
“I don’t understand all the functions yet citizens to show a health app that rates their the top three most popular choices. Next come
but I want to learn,” Li said, tapping gingerly “I only knew how to make a call entertainment or streaming services (44%), tech
at the screen. at first, but after my daughter gadgets (42%), day trips with friends (36%),
showed me more and I joined training coronavirus threat level based on recent activities at home (34%) and social media apps
“You’re never too old to learn.” sessions like today, I can handle it now.” travel and other habits. (30%).
He and his elderly classmates in the Another push is China’s ongoing 10-year
southwestern city of Chengdu sat and Covid boost census that, for the first time, Beijing wants Creativity helped keep Gen Z going this year
listened as an instructor expounded on the In November the government called for a most residents to respond to online. too. In fact, 34% of those polled said that
use of popular Chinese apps, navigation with nationwide push to “strengthen the ability of Still, nearly a third of the country’s 1.4 finding ways to be creative was most important
map programmes and how to change phone the elderly” to use digital tech, urging billion people are still offline. in helping them get through 2020. Social
settings. communities to hold training sessions and Li and his classmates, however, have connections were significant for this generation
Demonstrating how to shut down developers to create elderly-friendly apps. graduated to the digital world. too, with almost a third of those polled (32%)
background apps, the teacher tried to use This has become even more imperative in After class, he used his digital wallet to buy saying that finding ways to stay connected with
terms the greying students could grasp. the era of the coronavirus, which emerged in chilli peppers from a market, essential family and friends was important during this
“It’s like the room has become too the Chinese city of Wuhan. ingredients in Chengdu’s famously spicy difficult year. To a lesser extent, self-care (19%)
crowded, and you need to clean it up,” he Resulting Chinese pandemic lockdowns Sichuan cuisine. and being politically active (14%) also helped.
said. forced masses of consumers into online He is also excited about being able to Fenty strikes a chord with Gen Z
China is pushing a years-long effort to shopping and home delivery. check restaurant ratings before going out to Rihanna’s Fenty brand topped the list of fashion
boost domestic consumption to bring More than 36 million more people got eat, and using map apps to get there. and beauty brands Gen Z thinks are the most
balance to an economy traditionally over- online for the first time between March and Looking at his new purchase through his inclusive and representative (44%), followed by
reliant on manufacturing and government June this year, official figures show, a raft of reading glasses, the silver-haired retiree still the singer’s lingerie brand, Savage x Fenty (29%)
investment. potential new online spenders. has plenty of plans. and Aerie (28%). Rihanna’s Fenty also takes third
E-commerce is a central pillar. Just getting around during the pandemic “There are still many things I have to learn. place in the fashion labels and beauty brands Gen
Vast and growing amounts of Chinese requires digital fluency. Mastering photos on my mobile is my goal for Z considers the most sustainable or good for the
economic activity are now handled through Public transportation and many other the next 10 years,” Li said. – AFP-Relaxnews environment (8%), behind Milk Beauty (9%) and
digital apps that have become part of the Glossier (11%).
fabric of life in modern China, led by
Tencent’s WeChat Pay and its rival Alipay, run When asked which beauty and fashion items
by Alibaba spin-off Ant Group. they couldn’t live without in 2020, the top
Together they dominate the huge Chinese answers were moisturiser (44%), face wash
online payments industry, typified by (43%) and face masks (23%).
shoppers scanning QR codes to make
purchases rather than use physical cash, Taken from the VSCO 2020 Year in Review
which has become old-fashioned in China. report, the poll surveyed over 1,000
respondents aged between 14 and 25
worldwide in November 2020. – AFP-Relaxnews

‘Can’t live without it’ China is aiming to boost spending among the elderly. China has plans to help its legions of pensioners keep up with a fast-developing
Brands worldwide are chasing the so-called digital economy.
“silver dollar” and governments are also keen
to get elderly savings flowing into economies
to boost growth.

But China’s ageing population offers a
particularly rich opportunity.

Chinese retirees are expected to number
300 million by 2025, and Daxue Consulting
now estimates the size of the country’s elderly
economy at around 4.9 trillion yuan (US$750
billion).

And Beijing says 98% of rural areas are
now connected to 4G internet networks.

20 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
FEATURE

Removing taboos to empower youths

o Malaysia’s best comprehensive sexuality education
provider SPOT goes digital amid the pandemic

█ BY JASON LIM problems. And certainly not because of a
female child’s behavioural issues.”
AISHAH HOO founded Soroptimist
Puberty Organising Toolkit (SPOT) in SPOT, Aishah explains, is a movement
2015 to help parents and teachers created “for girls, by girls” to develop a positive
initiate respectful conversations attitude towards sexual and reproductive
health. Its recent online event, SPOT Goes
around the topics of sex and sexuality to Online (SGO), introduced a series of talks in
children in order to help prevent child sexual conjunction with World Children’s Day.
abuse, reduce unsafe sex practices among It included topics that were in dire need of
children and prevent child marriages. addressing as they were not being taught
She shares: “I first realised the extent of comprehensively in the Malaysian
the issues surrounding children’s formal education system, and
sexuality education here in parents were apprehensive to
Malaysia when I was a student discuss such topics. There
in University Malaya, were so many factors to
volunteering as an consider when
enumerator.” covering these topics
As she was collecting at length, which in
information for medical many cultures in
researchers about the Malaysia seemed
health status and diseases like an unspoken
among urban stigma rarely
communities, she realised discussed at all.
that children in urban SPOT is empowering one community at a time by providing safe spaces for conversations to happen
housing are extremely How do you build and to be initiated. – PICTURE COURTESY OF AISHAH HOO
vulnerable to predators and a curriculum
abusers, as they are left that is both everyone involved. In SGO, two of our youngest stigma around these topics, so you’re
unsupervised for long culturally speakers are four and six years old, and we also empowering them with knowledge and values
periods of time when parents sensitive and work with everyone, from schoolchildren to to become resilient and confident in advocating
go out to work to put food on receptive? parents and industry experts that include for themselves.
the table. By literally psychologist and gynaecologist, as well as our Scotland became the first country in the
There was a lack of getting partners, United Nations agencies, world to provide sanitary pads and tampons
awareness on the outlook of governmental agencies and ministries. for free. Can Malaysia can follow suit?
families on the topic of sex Possible. But I sincerely believe that we need to
and sexuality, which has I created the SPOT modules after work on our long-term strategy in addressing
unfortunately helped researching best practices, sex education the pain points we women and girls are truly
perpetuate the practice modules and the International Technical experiencing. The last time we charted this out
of child marriage as a was during YB Hannah Yeoh’s time with the
legitimate solution to Guidance on Sexuality Education 2008, and National Roadmap. It’s a work in progress, and
sexual impropriety, as updated it accordingly when I joined a although a lot has been done in the past 30
well as baby dumping Regional Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on years, we still have a long way to go.
and infanticide. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) What is the biggest challenge that SPOT is still
“I soon realised in Bangkok in 2018. facing since its inception?
that there was a At what age should sexuality education Removing shame, stigma and bias, normalising
direct correlation be introduced to children? conversations around the topics of sex and
between what we For most of us, it’s difficult to talk about sex sexuality, and reproductive health. Getting
were seeing in our with anyone, let alone children. support and buy-in from parents, to allow
communities and themselves to be uncomfortable, to enable
what we were not CSE is a life-long conversation which open and respectful conversations around
teaching our starts with simple concepts and builds over these topics.
children,” Aishah time as the individual’s capacity to How has the pandemic affected your work?
adds. understand increases. It begins with laying Our pitch in 2019 as a grassroots initiative was
“The tragedies of the foundations with young children by to work towards becoming Malaysia’s best CSE
underage pregnancies, teaching them about bodily autonomy, provider in our effort to empower 20,000 girls by
child sexual abuse, STI saying no to things that make them 2020. Then 2020 came and hit us with triple
(sexual transmitted Aishah graduated with a diploma uncomfortable, how to differentiate safe whammies – political instability, economic
infections) among in Theatre in Education from the touches from unsafe ones, what’s healthy instability and the pandemic.
children, unsafe National Academy for Arts, Culture behaviour and what’s toxic for them.
abortions, gender-based and Heritage. – PICTURE We’re currently redesigning and digitising all
violence, dating violence, COURTESY OF AISHAH HOO Talking about sex in a comprehensive content, complete with necessary tools and
manner has many positive effects, including support which took us nine months, and our
forced intercourse, delayed initiation of sexual intercourse, programmes will be ready to roll out in 11
bullying, psychological reduced risk-taking behaviour and increased weeks’ time.
abuse that leads to poor use of condoms and other forms of
mental and emotional contraception. When the going gets tough, my volunteers
health, and potential We’re all born as sensual creatures and we always remind me of the lives and potential
death from HPV and HIV need to educate our children before it turns future we’re helping to improve. So I’m blessed
related complications sexual. So start when they’re still babies, use to have them and their support, commitment
are the direct result from daily conversations around routine, privacy and and ownership in growing SPOT.
lack of sexual health to initiate sexuality education.
education, not social But you need to prepare yourself first in
order to educate your children. You need to

first remove your own bias, shame and

PPE art brings a smile to Moscow’s Covid patients

WITH medics and helpers covered in “This is to boost your mood and brushing their teeth and shaving. Krasner who is wearing a painted protective suit gives a massage to a patient in
masks, medical glasses and your immune system,” he told an old A former businessman, Krasner the City Clinical Hospital No. 52 in Moscow, Russia on Dec 16.
protective suits, it is sometimes hard lady with an oxygen mask, charmed
to convey festive cheer to the patients by the Christmas tree daubed on his was one of dozens of Muscovites with
on Moscow’s Covid-19 wards. back. no prior medical experience who
volunteered to help at coronavirus
But Leonid Krasner, who has been During the outbreak’s second hospital number 52 in spring when
volunteering at a hospital since the wave, Moscow has registered around the outbreak hit the Russian capital.
first wave, has found a way with the 6,000-7,000 new infections every day,
colourful pictures he draws on the about a quarter of Russia’s He ended up catching the virus
back of his overalls to help patients nationwide caseload, and it has had himself shortly after his first shifts
recognise him and bring a smile to to open several temporary hospitals, and it took him two weeks to recover
those being treated. including one on an ice rink. at home before he could get back to
his patients.
Krasner, 59, decorates his single- Krasner and some of his fellow
use suits before entering the wards volunteers are tasked with looking “Even if a person is in a bad way
every time he is in the hospital. He after the weak patients discharged and is sick, they still need emotions ...
once drew a cartoonish plane for a from intensive care units to regular This cheers people up,” said Krasner
sick pilot and a congratulations card wards. They help them with every day outside a ward where he had been
for a mother on Mother’s Day. things like combing their hair, massaging the legs of a recovering
patient. – Reuters

FI22T-00((OI00InnU07CTM00MA((11DeCeCWSW00mIomoS13iAmimnbnC6b0DdedpO4e2piriarV7S7nanssn0E7Dng’g’yR((y-NV-V57UYUNo.No18ppBlolS0o8u)u)H..9D3n:n:D70Ntta.a73.rr--ByyPKH)))D. 21theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NNOOTTIICCEE OOFF FFIINNAALL MMEEEETTIINNGG
* SPORTS
Fptba3SapNFttp3aFtbFapNShhhhtti,reuueOitt,ueruenOeenieerrliNrrTdla1aNMdspTa1aMhsphCIalao0tCuaolaIo0CtueoaeebCaMo.ey.baMo.sy.Eals3ntl3o,nmdtE3eno,mdr3neer0,e0vo,2sv1to2s1tep5eep5ae:a-9:t-ta9at7t-aa7to3I-iCto3itCSnI.nnt0.nnn0S,mhe,mhiSeagi0iSagit0eJtneJnsme.0sme.o0saootsaotcrcfflfreHfKflfreKeHatAoreatAoediteEudiJ,tnourJ,EcnhorchqqRaanataRenCtBeiCTt,BiTlt,nsElnshaEahoaa4aomta24mBu2teuBsemens5emLn05L0YaiearYiedr9ukd91ukpe1frpemfrmaoma6omyad6y(adS(rSl1r,bl1nb,lnplpeotGe)otGeo)ye2ohy2u(Thlu(wTlwIarafIraafa0aVra0aVrsfwsf)wti)itstiE2istEn2oaconacooioioiNi1Nnngaekl1nngaeklfflffl
11..LtTTtLhohioiqeqeuuiidrdfrfeiaeiannctctaoaeoelrliri.v.veeaaccccaoaonunudndnttss ccoooonfnfssiidtdthheeeerr India level series
322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices 22..2dTdp4o42Tpoddof05aeaof05eaaspt19stp19tetethe6(the(6r5rr5rro,rorro,oe)ese)esfyfyseseeotteoottohhohhdfodfl(la(evfa3evf3tteattea)hf)hfftiftienthmenthmteteaehaehurouCrolCelennnontmotmCdhCtdhmtmhoeheeoebeebsmpresmpreooeeatatoopfixpfixnnrnknrkapSaopSiogisgesnienmeime.r.rsysaycacttattataiitaiinoobhnobhoccnndeendneett AREJUVENATED India shorn of Virat 11.
3DLYLLD3LYEi0EaEi0EqaqEtEtEtEuthuehei(di(ddfoSdfoS)a)fatHftHhthtDODoOoiisersOerOccKKeemmMMbbUeUeNrNr,,22@0@02200LLEEEE YYUUEE Kohli turned the tables on Australia Fittingly, he struck the winning run off
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES IN THE HIGH COURT OF CAS AD SDN. BHD. napClANTtCptnTlCCNAaeieinhermooOnhermoosOosodeemmdeeTsmmmeTsxmexddEyEppyppvfevtfetiiaa:hoiiaanm:nxhomnmnxmnntannoetsaoeesbyyeunbyytdtuntdt.’re.s’resssuifbuirtnfb4rtno4moemrer8br8ebreeheeheetgetganiahnhnihnshisistdetsotdetoimitmtetutseeumslemlpetrpeeartrearesedoesedmoepempaasdesdeppdbbidbtbittottoit.oeeie.ooeeneoniiffnrdffnrAgdAfgofotit.i.rciaorciaoanaenpeeptfetfttgtgrtreeottntotnttnhhhnxhhhxoodeaeeydaeeeytt to claim the second Test within four
ACT, 2016 MALAYA AT JOHOR BAHRU (Company No.: days in Melbourne yesterday, a spinner Nathan Lyon before tea, sending
AND IN THE MATTER OF rousing eight-wicket victory that breathed life Indian fans into raptures in the sunbathed
COMPANIES 200001016470(510977-P)) THE COMPANIES ACT,2OI6 into the series. crowd of 13,021. India finished 70 for two.
IN THE MATTER OF 31 KITCHEN & (WINDING UP) NO: (In Members’ Voluntary
PARTNERS SDN. BHD. JA - 28NCC – 284 - 12/2019 Winding-Up) AND Needing only 70 runs for victory after “Really proud of all the players, they played
In the Matter of Section IN THE MATTER OF bowling Australia out for 200 by lunch, opener really well,” Rahane said at the post-match
(Registration No. 201601041064 464(1)(b), Section 465(1) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING Shubman Gill (35 not out) and stand-in presentation.
[1212005-H]) (e) and/or Section 465(1)(h) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN RESTORAN captain Ajinkya Rahane (27 not out) guided
and Section 466(1)(a) of the pursuant to Section 459 (1)(a) of NISHAIN SDN. BHD. India home in a blaze of shot-making to “Coming after Adelaide, the way they
(In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) Companies Act 2016 the Companies Act, 2016 that a square the series 1-1 ahead of the third test. showed their characters, that was really
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Final Meeting of the members of Registration No. important.
Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, And the above-named Company will 200401031641 Having bowled India out for 36 in the
2016 that the following resolutions set out In the Matter of be held at its reqistered office crushing eight-wicket win in Adelaide, “The talk was all about showing that
below were duly passed by the members PETROVIETNAM at No. 31-3, Jalan Tasik Selatan (670149 -X) Australia’s pacemen steamed in with their attitude on the field, showing that intent on
of the Company at the Members’ Meeting ENGINEERING (MALAYSIA) 3, Metro Centre, Bandar Tasik (In Liquidation) usual vigour but were repelled by a belligerent the field and character, that matters a lot.”
of the Company duly convened and held on SDN BHD [Registration No: Selatan, 57000 Kuala Lumpur on (Members’ Voluntary Gill, who enjoyed a fine Test debut.
Monday, 28 December 2020 at 10.00 a.m. 201501022240 (1147568-D)] Friday, 29th of January, 2021 Australia captain Tim Paine pulled no
SPECIAL RESOLUTION NO. 1 at 10.30 a.m. for the following Winding-Up) The match belonged to Rahane, however, punches in assessing his team’s performance
- WINDING UP Between purposes: At an Extra Ordinary General who took over the captaincy after the and lamented their poor batting displays.
That 31 KITCHEN & PARTNERS SDN. MALAYSIA MARINE AND 1. To receive and consider Meeting of the Members of wreckage in Adelaide, with regular skipper
BHD. be wound up by way of members’ HEAVY ENGINEERING SDN. Restoran Nishain Sdn. Bhd. Kohli returning to India for the birth of his first “Obviously we’re very disappointed,
voluntary winding up pursuant to Section BHD. [Registration No: the final accounts of the duly convened at Lot B.6, child. played pretty poor cricket, pretty sloppy
439(1) of the Companies Act, 2016. 197301001012) (14558-P)] Liquidator. Basement Floor, Bangunan cricket for the majority of the test match,” he
SPECIAL RESOLUTION NO. 2 2. To resolve under Section Yee Seng, 15, Jalan Raja Named man of the match, Rahane scored a said.
- POWER OF LIQUIDATOR …Petitioner 459(5) of the Companies act Chulan, 50200 Kuala brilliant 112 in India’s first innings 326 and
That the Liquidator be authorised to And 2016, that the books and Lumpur on Wednesday, 30th superbly marshalled a rejigged side featuring “You’ve got to give the India attack credit,
exercise any of the powers set out PETROVIETNAM papers of the Company be December, 2020 the following four changes from the demoralised Adelaide they bowled beautifully to us.
in Section 456 of the Companies Act, ENGINEERING (MALAYSIA) destroyed after the expiration Special Resolution was duly
2016 and to distribute to the members’ SDN BHD [Registration No: of three (3) months from the passed: “As a batting group we are very
any surplus assets of the Company in 201501022240 (1147568-D)] date of the final meeting. That the Company be wound disappointed with what we’ve put up in the
accordance with their existing rights and LEE SHOOK MUN @ LEE YUE up voluntarily pursuant to first two test matches.” – Reuters
interest in specie or otherwise. …Respondent YEE (f) Section 432(1)(b) of the
ORDINARY RESOLUTION NOTICE OF Liquidator Companies Act, 2016, and India’s paceman Jasprit Bumrah (centre) celebrates his wicket of Australia’s Pat
- APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATOR WINDING-UP ORDER Dated this that Mr. G. Arumugam of G. Cummins (not in picture) with teammates on the fourth day of the second
That pursuant to Section 445(1) of the In the matter of 30th of December, 2020 Arumugam & Co., Chartered cricket Test match at the MCG yesterday. – AFPPIX
Companies Act, 2016, Mr. Yeong Mun PETROVIETNAM NOTE : Accountants, Lot B.6,
Fung, NRIC No. 830703-14-5701, of Suite ENGINEERING (MALAYSIA) A member entitled to attend Basement Floor, Bangunan Paine backs Smith to find form
4.33A, Level 4, Pertama Office Tower, SDN BHD [Registration No: and vote in his stead. A proxy Yee Seng, 15, Jalan Raja
Pertama Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul 201501022240 (1147568-D)] need not be a member of the Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur AUSTRALIA captain Tim Paine has backed India have attacked Smith’s stumps and set
Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur be and is Winding-Up Order made this 9th Company. be and is hereby appointed as Steve Smith to find form and lead the team’s heavy leg-side fields, and Paine paid their
hereby appointed as the Liquidator for day of December, 2020. The instrument appointing a Liquidator of the Company for batsmen out of their funk after the former bowlers credit for not allowing the master
the purpose of winding up the affairs and Name and address of liquidator, proxy must be deposited at the the purpose of such winding skipper’s twin failures in Melbourne hastened batsman to get settled at the crease.
distributing the assets of the Company in Official Receiver, Jabatan Company’s registered office not up. the hosts’ slide to a resounding eight-wicket
specie or otherwise. Insolvensi Malaysia, Cawangan less than 48 hours before the defeat yesterday. “From what I’ve seen watching, say, Marnus
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Johor Bahru, Tingkat 12, Menara time fixed for the meeting. Dated this (Labuschagne) and Steve Smith in their Test
TOO WAI HOONG Tabung Haji, Jalan Ayer Molek, 30th day of December, 2020. Smith, the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, career, it’s not the first time teams have
DIRECTOR 80720 Johor Bahru, Johor. 322 Notices was out for his first duck in four years in the targeted their stumps,” Paine told reporters.
Dated : 30 December 2020 Dated this Jahir Hussain Bin Jamal first innings and was bowled around his legs
21st day of December, 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA Mohamed by paceman Jasprit Bumrah for eight in the “That happens every single Test match.
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES SGD: Messrs Shim & Co. AT SEREMBAN Chairman second as India levelled the series 1-1 at the Except these (India) guys are executing it
ACT, 2016 Solicitors for the Petitioner Melbourne Cricket Ground. better.
AND This Notice Of Winding-Up COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO: Kuala Lumpur
Order is issued by Messrs NA-28NCC-34-12/2020 Having scored one and one not out in “Someone like Steve just hasn’t been able
IN THE MATTER OF 31 KITCHEN & Shim & Co. of Unit 20-02B, IN THE MATTER OF THE Australia’s dominant win in the Adelaide to get in yet. Once he does, he’ll find a way as
PARTNERS SDN. BHD. Level 20, Menara Zurich, No. In the Matter of Section 465(1)(e) COMPANIES ACT, 2016 opener, Smith is mired in the worst run of Test he always has. The rest of us will follow suit. We
15, Jalan Dato’ Abdullah Tahir, read with Section 466 (1)(a) of the scores of his career. need to improve, no doubt about that.” –
(Registration No. 201601041064 80300 Johor Bahru, solicitors Companies Act, 2016 and Reuters
[1212005-H]) for the Petitioner. [ref: SHIM/ IN THE MATTER OF
(In Members’ LIT/227/1019/zz] And INSIDE EDGE Chandimal is also carrying an injury. “We’re
In the Matter of ESPRIT PARTNERS SYARIKAT Proteas punish injury-hit Sri Lanka maybe six down with a groin injury to Chandi,”
Voluntary Winding-Up) IN THE MATTER OF SDN. BHD. LAKSAMANA SDN. BHD. said Flower.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the THE COMPANIES ACT, [Company No. 200501022967 Registration No. 198401005162 SRI LANKA lost two early second innings
creditors of 31 KITCHEN & PARTNERS (705098-D)] wickets after taking a pounding from South Pakistan on the ropes
SDN. BHD. which is being wound up 2016 (117680-X) Africa’s batsmen on the third day of the first
voluntarily are required on or before 30 AND IN THE MATTER Between (In Member’s Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion – but SWING king Tim Southee snared his milestone
January 2021 to send in their names and KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS Voluntary Winding-Up) batting coach Grant Flower said they were 300th wicket as New Zealand sensed victory
addresses and particulars of their debts, OF SOLUTIONS (M) SDN BHD NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that effectively five or six wickets down. Former over Pakistan at stumps on day four of the first
claims and the names and addresses of HULS ENGINEERING [Company No. 198101006526 pursuant to Section 459(2) of the captain Faf du Plessis led the batting assault, Test in Mount Maunganui yesterday. New
their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned (72640-P)] Companies Act, 2016, the Final hitting 199 as South Africa took a Zealand declared their second innings at 180
liquidator and if so required by notice SDN. BHD. Meeting of the contributories of the commanding 225-run first innings lead. Then for five and Pakistan, set an unlikely target of
in writing from the liquidator or by their Registration No: …Petitioner abovenamed Company will be held fast bowler Lungi Ngidi struck twice at the 373, will go into the final day at 71 for three.
solicitors or personally required to write in 200101002308 And at the Liquidators’ office at Wisma start of Sri Lanka's second innings to leave the Azhar Ali will resume on 34 with Fawad Alam
and prove their said debts and claims at ESPRIT PARTNERS SDN. BHD. Goshen, 2nd Floor, 60, 62 & 64 tourists on 65 for two, still 160 runs behind, on on 21. In New Zealand’s second innings, the
such time and place as shall be specified (538064-A) [Company No. 200501022967 Jalan SS 22/21, Damansara Jaya, a pitch of increasingly unpredictable bounce. Pakistan quicks struggled to get any assistance
in such notice, or in default thereof, they (Incorporated (705098-D)] 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Flower said batsman Dhananjaya de Silva was from the fourth-day wicket, but Southee and
will be excluded from the benefit of any in Malaysia) Darul Ehsan on Monday, 1st day of out of the series after suffering a torn thigh Boult immediately had the ball dancing to
distribution made before such debts and NOTICE OF REDUCTION …Respondent February, 2021 at 10.00 a.m. for the muscle on the first day, while fast bowlers their tune. Southee has two for 15, and Boult
claims are proved. OF PAID UP SHARE ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION following purposes:- Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara were unlikely one for 24. For Pakistan, Naseem Shah was the
Dated : 30 December 2020 NOTICE is hereby given that a 1. To lay before the meeting to bat after suffering groin injuries while most effective bowler with three for 55.
CAPITAL petition for the winding-up of the the Liquidators’ statement of bowling. First innings top scorer Dinesh
YEONG MUN FUNG NOTICE TO CREDITORS abovenamed company by the High account and to give explanations
Liquidator NOTICE IS HEREBY court was on 15.12.2020 presented thereof.
GIVEN THAT under by the said company and that 2. To decide under Section 518(3)
Suite 4.33A, Level 4, Section 117 (10) the said petition is directed to be (b) of the Companies Act, 2016,
Pertama Office Tower, Companies Act 2016, A heard before the Court sitting at the manner in which the books,
Special Resolution has Seremban at 9.00 o’clock in the accounts and documents of the
Pertama Complex, been passed on 28TH morning, on the 10.2.2021, and any Company may be destroyed.
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, DECEMBER 2020 to creditor or contributor of the said Dated this
reduce the paid up Share company desiring to support or 30th day of December, 2020.
50100 Kuala Lumpur Capital of the Company oppose the making of an order on Tan Kee Huat
from RM 8,000,000.00 the said petition may appear at the Lam Lee San(f)
322 Notices to RM 2,000,000.00. time of hearing by himself or his Liquidators
Creditors are requested counsel for that purpose, and a copy NOTE:
NOTICE OF THE SHARE to send their names, of the petition will be furnished to A contributory entitled to attend
CAPITAL REDUCTION addresses and particulars any creditor or contributory of the and vote at the abovementioned
IN THE MATTER OF of their objections to the said company requiring the same meeting is entitled to appoint a
COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN undersigned on or before by the undersigned on payment of proxy who need not be a member
2ND FEBRUARY 2021. the regulated charge for the same. of the Company to attend and
THE MATTER OF Any objections received The Petitioner’s address is at No. 8 vote in his stead. The instrument
U-CHONG SDN. BHD. after this date will not be & 10, Jalan Kota Laksamana 3/14, appointing a proxy must be duly
(Co No: 197701002653 entertained. Taman Kota Laksamana, Seksyen deposited at the Liquidators’ office,
Kuala Lumpur 3, 75200 Melaka. not less than 48 hours before the
(33718-U) ) Date: 28-12-2020 The Petitioner’s solicitors is Messrs time of the meeting.
(Incorporated in Malaysia) PARAMESWARAN RAM Chua & Partners, Advocates &
NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED A/L SATCHITHANANDAM Solicitors of 46-01, Jalan Molek
CAPITAL REDUCTION AND Company Secretary 1/28, Taman Molek 81100 Johor
REPAYMENT EXERCISE OF TIS MANAGEMENT SDN. Bahru, Johor.
U-CHONG SDN. BHD. UNDER BHD. (199701033270
(448769-M) Sgd
SECTION 117 OF THE No. 43-2A, Jalan …………………………
COMPANIES ACT, 2016. Thambapillai, Brickfields, Solicitors for the Petitioners
Notice is hereby given that 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Messrs Chua & Partners
pursuant to Section 117(10) Tel: 03-2272 4640 Fax: NOTE:- Any person who intends to
of the Companies Act, 2016 in 03-2273 4640 appear on the hearing of the said
regard to the followings:- petition must serve on or send by
a. The Company on the 18th day post to the abovenamed Messrs
of December, 2020 passed a Chua & Partners, notice in writing
special resolution whereas its of his intention so to do. This notice
share capital was approved to must state the name and address
be reduced from RM500,000 of the person, or, if a firm, or his or
divided into 500,000 ordinary their solicitor (if any) and must be
shares to RM20,000 divided served, or, if posted, must be sent
into 20,000 ordinary shares by post in sufficient time to reach
representing a capital the abovenamed not later than
reduction of RM0.96 for every 12:00 o’clock noon of the 9.2.2021.
existing ordinary shares. This Advertisement of Petition
b. The said special resolution is prepared by Messrs Chua &
together with the Company’s Partners, Advocates & Solicitors
solvency statement as made of 46-01, Jalan Molek 1/28, Taman
pursuant to section 117(3) Molek 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor,
of the Companies Act, 2016 solicitors for the Petitioners.
shall be available for public
inspection at No. 29 (1st
Floor), Jalan Utama 2/4,Taman
Utama, 85000 Segamat, Johor.
c. A creditor of the Company
may, within six (6) weeks
after the date of the special
resolution, apply to the Court
under Section 118(2) of the
Companies Act, 2016 for
cancellation of the special
resolution.
Dated this
23rd day of December, 2020.
Koh Kheng Hwa
(Company Secretary)
29 (1st Flr), Jalan Utama 2/4,
Tmn. Utama,
85000 Segamat, Johor.

22 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020 SIDENETTING
SPORTS Haaland all praise
for Ramos
Real chase on
Madrid resume Atletico pursuit as Messi absent for Barca ERLING HAALAND is one of
REAL MADRID will attempt European football’s most
to sign off the year with a we should be pleased with what Lionel Messi after the Argentine here,” Messi said in an fashionable forwards in 2020, and
sixth win on the bounce as we’re doing,” said Zidane. was granted an extended break as interview with Spanish the Norwegian sensation has been
Zinedine Zidane’s in-form he recovers from an ankle knock. TV channel La Sexta linked with a move from Borussia
side continue their pursuit of La Liga “We’re going to lose games again, broadcast on Dortmund to Real Madrid among
leaders and city rivals Atletico Madrid but we’re going to try to win as many The six-time Ballon d’Or winner Monday. other clubs already. The forward has
on Wednesday. as possible. From time to time it’s admitted his aborted departure in “I feel good right already come up against a number
inevitable.” the summer had affected him at the now, ready to fight of high level centrebacks since
Defending champions Real are start of the season, but stressed he felt for everything.” bursting onto the scene in Europe
level on 32 points with Atletico but Atletico have responded well to “excited” to play under Koeman. Celta Vigo with RB Salzburg before clinching
have played two games more than the 2-0 defeat by Real earlier this forward Iago Aspas his move to Dortmund, and he has
Diego Simeone’s men ahead of their month that snapped their 26-match “Barca is my life, has inspired a been taking the time to talk up
trip to Elche. unbeaten league run. I’m in love with turnaround at some of the best in the game. “The
Balaidos after the best (centrebacks) are Sergio
Karim Benzema has been the However, the loss of Kieran the club. And team won just one of Ramos, (Virgil) Van Dijk and
driving force behind Real’s excellent Trippier is a substantial blow the city, my their first 10 matches. (Kalidou) Koulibaly,” Haaland told
December run, claiming key goals in to a defence that has children The 33-year-old Norwegian outlet VG. “All three are
wins over Athletic Bilbao, Eibar and conceded just five goals in were very physical, but also very
Granada after securing the club a 13 matches, easily the born intelligent on the pitch.”The exciting
spot in the Champions League fewest in the division. youngster also praised compatriot
knockout phase. Aspas, who in and Real Madrid midfielder Martin
The England November became the Odegaard during the same
Eden Hazard is also in line to defender, an ever-present club’s all-time leading interview. Haaland has recently
feature after recovering from his for Atletico in La Liga and scorer in the top flight, suffered an injury setback, but he is
latest injury setback. The Belgian was Europe this term, was has netted eight times in expected to return for Dortmund
an unused substitute in last week’s recently hit with a 10- 15 appearances this term against Wolfsburg this weekend.
victory over Granada and has made week ban for breaching and led Celta back into
just three league starts this campaign. betting rules and will be the top half following four Laporta takes dig
unavailable until March. wins in five games before at Los Blancos
Real coach Zinedine Zidane The club is said to be Christmas.
hopes the short festive break afforded considering an appeal. Much like with Real and JOAN LAPORTA has continued his
to his players over Christmas will not Benzema, who is level at the teasing of Real Madrid as he ups his
interrupt the momentum built over a Barcelona will bid to end top of the scoring charts with bid to become Barcelona president
domestic five-game winning streak. a turbulent 2020 on a Aspas, Celta’s success in 2021 for a second time. He will run for the
winning note at home to could heavily rely on the former top office in January’s elections at
“We’re going to keep working Eibar, but Ronald Liverpool attacker. – AFP the Catalan club. As part of his
hard. We have an awful lot of games, Koeman’s side will presidential campaign, Laporta
be without unfurled a massive canvas of
himself next to the Santiago
Time to say adios to Leo Bernabe statdium which read
“Looking forward to seeing you
THE future of Lionel Messi remains unclear, and have spent a lot of time with during the last few again”. Laporta was Barcelona
that is what was repeated in an interview with years,” Messi said. president between 2003 and 2010,
La Sexta on Monday. heading up a rebirth of the club
”There are teammates from other cultures, we that culminated with 6-2 and 5-0
From Jan 1, Barcelona’s talisman will be able are different. defeats of Real Madrid. “The poster
to speak to other clubs in order to negotiate a is like saying: ‘Looking forward to
contract for the 2021/22 campaign, but the ”It’s going to be difficult to bring in quality scoring six against you’,” Laporta told
Argentine has decided that he will wait until players because there’s no money,” Messi added. Marca. “That poster signifies
the end of the current season before making a mischief, preparation, experience…
decision on his future. ”We have to bring in several big players to that I’m looking forward to going
fight for everything, but you have to pay for them. through that rivalry again with
Everyone at Barcelona knows just how How would we pay PSG? Bringing Neymar would respect, between the two teams. We
difficult it will be to retain their best player of have to turn around the club’s
all time and according to Marca’s M. Carmen be very expensive.” economic situation in order to do
Torres, the main reasons why Messi wants to The Barcelona captain openly acknowledged so.” One way of boosting the club’s
leave are all still prevalent. financial position, according to
that he would like to play for another club in a Laporta, is via Lionel Messi, whose
Barcelona are undoubtedly in the middle of different league in the future but insisted that contract expires at the end of the
a squad overhaul and when a project is just there are no concrete plans just yet. season. “Messi is a way of
starting out, it is always difficult to challenge generating income,” Laporta added.
for trophies. Despite being clear about this, he repeated
on many occasions an expression that may Costa’s future in doubt
”I knew it is a year of transition, of young have been perceived as pessimistic towards
players coming through, but I wanted to ATLETICO MADRID striker Diego
continue to fight for titles, for the Champions the idea of staying at the Nou Camp. Costa missed training yesterday
League, for La Liga,” Messi stated back in August. ”If I leave, I would like to return to the because he is considering his future
club,” Messi said during the interview. with the La Liga leaders, a club
As the Spanish league enters the halfway stage ”If I leave, I’ll come back to live in source said. Costa, who helped
of the season, it is becoming more and more Barcelona. If I leave, I’ll do it in the Atletico win their last La Liga title in
apparent that Barcelona will find it difficult to win best way.” 2014, has struggled to make an
any trophies this term. There are just six months impact since returning to the club
left before Messi has to from Chelsea in 2018. The 32-year-
With the arrival of Ronald Koeman and his make a decision old has six months left on his
backroom staff, and the departure of key players regarding his contract. The Spain international's
such as Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic, Messi has second spell with Atletico has been
found it difficult to adapt to his new surroundings future, but repeatedly disrupted by injuries and
during the course of the season. most of the he has recently returned from a
arguments he used to spell out due to deep-vein
His closest teammates have left and have been explain his need to leave in thrombosis. Costa converted a
replaced by new ones, who possibly don’t have as August very much still remain. penalty in a 3-1 win over Elche on
much in common with him. – Agencies Dec 19 and he came off the bench
late in the 2-0 victory over Real
”I have found it difficult to adapt because Sociedad three days later. But he
there are a lot of new faces in the dressing room, was absent yesterday from Atletico's
I had more affinity towards the players who I first training session after the
Christmas break, ahead of
Neymar in the doghouse over New Year party rumours tomorrow’s game at home to
Getafe. Spanish newspaper AS
BRAZIL’S star footballer Neymar is controversies over his parties, largest number of Covid-19 related the football star. reported that Costa had asked to
at the centre of a new controversy allegedly even installed deaths in the world with more than “No! This is a Fabrica event. It is rescind his contract immediately for
after several Brazilian media soundproofing equipment to try to 191,000, while 7.4 million people family reasons. Costa has started 43
reported that he’s organising a huge avoid bothering his neighbors. have contracted the virus. not related to Neymar,” they told La Liga matches since returning to
New Year’s Eve party despite the AFP. Atletico for a reported €60m
coronavirus pandemic, a claim his Leo Dias, a columnist for the A specialist events agency, (RM288m) from Chelsea, scoring 12
lawyers denied. Metropoles website who is Agencia Fabrica, released a Neymar’s villa is in Mangaratiba, a goals.
renowned for his scoops on statement confirming it had been small town in an area of luxury
Acelmo Goes, a columnist for the celebrities, even named the artists contracted for a New Year’s event in seaside resorts in Rio de Janeiro
O Globo newspaper, wrote that the due to perform at Neymar’s party, the Costa Verde region where state.
Paris Saint-Germain forward is such as Ludmilla and Wesley Neymar’s villa is located “that will
hosting 500 people for a week-long Safadao. host around 150 people… while The local town hall has pleaded
party at his luxury beachside respecting all the health rules with its 41,000 inhabitants not to
mansion near Rio de Janeiro that Guests’ mobile phones are determined by the public bodies.” hold end of year parties and has
started on Saturday and will last allegedly due to be confiscated at erected barriers to prevent people
until New Year’s Day. the door to prevent any evidence But Neymar’s lawyers denied a congregating.
finding its way onto social media. party had been planned or that the
Neymar, who is no stranger to Agencia Fabrica event was related to “We don’t have any information
Brazil has suffered the second- about this party,” the town hall said
in a statement sent to AFP.

23theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 30, 2020

Window of opportunity LEICESTER CITY moved up to * SPORTS
for Lampard second in the Premier League but
dropped points in their pursuit of Barnes rescues
CHELSEA may have splashed out in the summer but leaders Liverpool after a 1-1 draw at Foxes again
Frank Lampard is not done yet. Crystal Palace. Midfielder strikes for second time in two days
to spare Leicester’s blushes against Palace
The Blues signed the likes of Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz Kelechi Iheanacho had a first-half penalty
and Timo Werner in the transfer window with over £200 saved by Vicente Guaita and when Wilfried Leicester’s fantastic. He’s been a real threat for us this
million (RM1.06b) spent. Zaha fired the hosts ahead, Brendan Harvey Barnes season.”
Rodgers’ decision to make seven changes game.
Lampard was given a huge transfer kitty after a year from the draw with Manchester United “You can’t Palace manager Roy Hodgson said it took
where the club could not spend after a ban. looked to have backfired. play Jamie Vardy an “apoplectic” half-time team talk from
and some of these
But they are making up for lost time as the Stamford However, Harvey Barnes’ eighth goal of guys every single assistant boss Ray Lewington to spark his
Bridge outfit chase a first Premier League title since 2017. the season in the 83rd minute salvaged a minute. Harvey team into life.
draw as the hosts bounced back from heavy Barnes is developing
Declan Rice is top of the wish list while David Alaba is defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa with a really well, it’s a great “We were dumbfounded that we
also wanted but the Blues may have to let some go to point. finish, the strike was were as passive as we were,” Hodgson
pay for them. told BBC’s Match of the Day.
Leicester, who made seven alterations to
Below is a list of who Chelsea should sell or keep this the team that drew with Manchester United “We were not at all happy with our
January transfer window. at the weekend, registered 17 attempts but first half. They were more aggressive
failed to test Guaita from open play until than us and we were being pressured
Goalkeepers Barnes’ late goal. into mistakes.”
Hodgson will be frustrated at his
Edouard Mendy: The Senegal international was signed in The visitors’ only other effort on team’s inability to hold on to their slender
the summer and has markedly improved Chelsea’s target was from Ayoze Perez, whose lead, but following those heavy defeats
defence. KEEP first-half free-kick was easily held against Liverpool and Aston Villa, this
Kepa Arrizabalaga: It has not worked out for Kepa, the by the Spanish goalkeeper.
world’s most expensive goalkeeper. Finding a suitor might was certainly a step in the right
be tough but the club should cut ties. SELL Leicester boss Brendan direction.
Willy Caballero: A useful back-up option who is doing no Rodgers said his team “We were much happier
harm by hanging around. Contract is up in the summer so showed the personality of with the second half and
might as well keep him. KEEP a “huge club” against we got our reward with
Manchester United, but the goal. Barnes’ strike
Defenders he will be disappointed was a good goal and
with his team’s profligacy then the last 10 minutes
Kurt Zouma: Could potentially be the most important in south-east London. were tough for us but we
defender at the club due to his age. Lampard’s preferred saw it through.” – The
Thiago Silva partner. KEEP “If you get the goal from Independent/Agencies
Thiago Silva: With talks over extending his contract, the penalty, it gives you a foothold
Chelsea will be doing all they can to keep him a little in the game but we had good control
longer. KEEP and then we didn’t start the second half
Andreas Christensen: There is no doubting the Dane’s at all well,” Rodgers told BBC Sport after the
ability but it does not appear that his long-term future is at game.
Chelsea, though he may prove useful as a back-up option.
KEEP “Palace were aggressive and we give away
Antonio Rudiger: Was on the brink of leaving on deadline a bad goal from our point of view. But the
day and first-team chances have been limited. SELL reaction is what really pleases, some of our
FikayoTomori: After breaking into the first-team last year, play and the speed of our game was really
has been oddly left out this campaign. Still has potential. good. We end up frustrated not to win the
KEEP BUT LOAN
Marcos Alonso: Another close to leaving but stayed and Cavani fast becoming United’s new Ibra
has been ostracised from the squad. SELL █ MARK CRITCHLEY
Ben Chilwell: Signed in the summer and has become a WHEN Edinson Cavani arrived at Manchester whether he was still capable of meeting Fernandes to give United the lead.
vital part of Lampard’s team. KEEP United a few months ago, the expectation expectations at this level and still worthy of Even though his side ultimately failed to
Emerson Palmieri: Has been linked with a return to Italy among Old Trafford officials was that a striker the substantial salary which players of his
but is a decent back-up option to Chilwell. KEEP with a proven track record at the highest calibre command. take all three points, Solskjaer spoke in
Reece James:The future at rightback and has arguably level would help to set an example for his glowing terms of his newest signing after the
been Chelsea’s best player this season. KEEP new teammates on and off-the-pitch. A severe lack of match practice was less final whistle, even revealing that Cavani had
Cesar Azpilicueta: May have been dropped from the first- than ideal. Cavani’s requirement to self- asked to wear the No. 7 shirt in their very first
team but remains a vitally important player due to his Cavani was signed to be a leader in the isolate on arrival and miss a potential debut conversation.
mentality. KEEP dressing room, to inspire and mentor the away to Newcastle left United open to
young attacking talent around him and to accusations of panic-buying and short-term The number of George Best, Eric Cantona
Midfielders turn in match-winning performances in the thinking. and Cristiano Ronaldo – among others – has
same way Zlatan Ibrahimovic did four years intimidated players in the past. Not Cavani.
Jorginho: His importance to the squad has slowly eroded ago. But all those doubts are quickly being
the longer Maurizio Sarri has been away, a return to Italy erased by the growing sense that United “When you think of the history of his
would be best suited. SELL The parallels with Ibrahimovic were have found another Ibrahimovic-esque career and the experience he has had, his
N’Golo Kante: Murmurs grew over his future in the obvious – with both having made the same match-winner. personality from the chat I had with him and
summer but is probably Chelsea’s most important player. journey as free agents from Paris Saint- when I watched him before, it wasn’t in
KEEP Germain to Old Trafford – but then so were Cavani is having some Christmas. First, he doubt that he could handle the No. 7 shirt,”
Mateo Kovacic: Chelsea’s player of the year last season and less flattering parallels with Radamel Falcao. made the late breakthrough at Goodison Solskjaer said.
is the club’s most press-resistant midfielder. KEEP Park last Wednesday which sent Solskjaer’s
Mason Mount: Quickly becoming Chelsea’s poster boy Like Falcao, Cavani had spent much of the side past Everton and into the EFL Cup “He is so meticulous and professional, his
and a player the club should build around in the centre of previous campaign on the treatment table semifinals. habits and everything about him, shows why
the pitch. KEEP which sparked legitimate doubts over he has had the career he has.
Billy Gilmour: Injuries kept him out of the team but has Then, on Boxing Day away at Leicester
immense potential, no chance he should leave. KEEP City, his disguised pass after being “Even at the age he is now he is one of
Kai Havertz: Has had a rocky start to life in the Premier introduced as a substitute set up Bruno the fittest players we have got.” – The
League but deserves time after just recovering from Covid- Independent
19. KEEP
RESULTS & STANDINGS Everton want ‘full disclosure’
Forwards after City match cancelled
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Crystal
Christian Pulisic: Had his injury woes but remains one of Palace 1 (Zaha 58) Leicester 1 (Barnes EVERTON have requested “full disclosure” the world.
Chelsea’s best players when fit. KEEP 83), Chelsea 1 (Giroud 34) Aston Villa from the Premier League after their fixture “Our players were prepared for the
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Another with huge potential but 1 (El Ghazi 50), Everton vs Manchester against Manchester City was cancelled at
has not had the game-time yet, could be worth sending City (postponed due to coronvirus late notice due to an outbreak of Covid-19 game, as were both the team staff and
out on loan to develop. KEEP BUT LOAN infections). in Pep Guardiola’s squad. everyone at Goodison. Matchday is the
Hakim Ziyech: When Ziyech does not play, it is very notice- most important date in our calendar. And
able.The only player who can change the entire game with P W D L F A Pts The match was postponed just a few this was a big one.
one pass. KEEP Liverpool 14 9 5 1 37 20 32 hours before kickoff after it was discovered
TimoWerner: Had his struggles but his explosive pace has Leicester 16 9 2 5 29 20 29 that further members of City’s first-team “Whilst Everton will always have public
proved vital during the season, only just arrived as well. Everton 15 9 2 4 26 19 29 squad had tested positive for the virus. safety uppermost, we will be requesting full
KEEP Man Utd 14 8 3 3 30 23 27 disclosure of all the information that
Olivier Giroud: Too important to the team and Lampard Aston Villa 14 8 2 4 28 14 26 Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and two Manchester City provided to the Premier
will hope to convince him he should stay until the end of Chelsea 16 7 5 4 31 18 26 members of City’s staff had tested positive League so the Club can be clear on why this
the season. KEEP Tottenham 15 7 5 3 26 15 26 last week and missed the club’s Boxing Day decision was taken.”
Tammy Abraham: Still looking to find his feet as Chelsea’s Man City 14 7 5 2 21 12 26 win over Newcastle.
most reliable No. 9 but deserves the chance to prove him- Southampton 15 7 4 4 25 19 25 Yesterday’s match was the second
self. KEEP West Ham 15 6 4 5 23 21 22 City have now closed their training Premier League match to be called off
Wolves 15 6 3 6 15 20 21 ground for an “indeterminate period, with because of coronavirus since the top flight’s
Daily Star Leeds 15 6 2 7 25 30 20 the squad and associated bubble resumption in June. Newcastle’s match at
Crystal Palace 16 5 4 7 20 29 19 undergoing testing before any decision is Aston Villa, scheduled for early December,
Newcastle 14 5 3 6 17 24 18 made for training to resume” and their was also called off.
Arsenal 15 5 2 8 15 19 17 upcoming fixture against Chelsea is also in
Brighton 15 2 7 6 18 24 13 doubt. A City statement said: “After the latest
Burnley 14 3 4 7 8 20 13 round of Covid-19 testing, the club returned
Fulham 15 2 5 8 13 23 11 A statement released on Everton’s official a number of positive cases, in addition to
West Brom 15 1 5 9 11 30 8 website read: “Everton Football Club regret the four already reported on Christmas Day.
Sheff Utd 15 0 2 13 8 26 2 the postponement of tonight’s match
against Manchester City – not only for the “Based on strong medical advice the
2,000 fans who would have been attending, Premier League, in consultation with both
but for supporters on Merseyside and across clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture.”
– The Independent

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 30, 2020 QUOTE OF THE DAY

Chelsea’s Olivier He is so meticulous and professional,
Giroud (centre) vies his habits and everything about him, shows
with Aston Villa’s why he has had the career he has. Even at the
Douglas Luiz (left) age he is now he is one of the fittest players
and Kortney Hause we have got.”
during their English
Premier League Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Edinson Cavani
match at Stamford
Bridge yesterday. Blues fail to lift
– REUTERSPIX pressure on Lampard

Raging CHELSEA failed to ease the changes anyway, because we have a
mounting pressure on manager squad of players ready to play. The
Frank Lampard as Aston Villa came changes were to try and keep a bit
from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at of balance in the team, and to try to
Stamford Bridge yesterday. freshen up.

Lampard’s men have now won “I was pleased, I’m not
just one of their last five League disappointed with anything tonight
games to fall six points behind other than the fact we conceded
leaders Liverpool in sixth and having that goal, and didn’t score another.
played a game more than the
champions. “I was pleased with the players
that came in and pleased with the
Chelsea also trail Villa on goal attitude.”
difference, despite Dean Smith’s men
having two games in hand, and the He also told Amazon.com: “It’s a
visitors were well worthy of a point. tough little moment, and we have to
fight through it, but I can’t ask for
By contrast, Smith made just one more from what the players gave,
enforced change from the team that the way they worked here.”
played for 45 minutes with 10 men
in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Villa’s leveller prompted
Palace. complaints from Chelsea; the players
initially called for a foul on Andreas
But Villa showed no signs of Christensen from Jack Grealish in the
fatigue in the second-half and build-up, but after the game
levelled when Anwar El Ghazi turned Lampard said there was a handball
home his fifth goal in as many from Matt Targett near the dugout
games from Matty Cash’s cross five before the goal.
minutes into the second-half.
“I think there was a handball, and
“I’m still yet to see a player carried the fourth official was very close to
off the pitch with exhaustion,” said us. I’m not sure (why) it wasn’t given,
Smith. “I’m a big believer in you want it should have been handball.
to play every game and if they are
doing well keep playing them.” “I haven’t seen the Christensen-
Grealish incident. I didn’t think there
Despite dropping points, was much in it at the time, I’m not
Lampard said he was happy with sure it was a foul or not. I haven’t
what he saw from his side. reviewed that referee-wise.”

“It’s a draw against a good team, Lampard also said it is no
the performance was good, we coincidence that Chelsea’s drop in
deserved to win the game but we form has aligned with Hakim
don’t,” he told skysport.com. Ziyech’s absence through injury,
having picked up a hamstring
“We’ve come through a difficult problem against Leeds in early
patch, that we want to improve. We December.
saw a lot of signs of good attitude in
the team, without quite having it in “I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
the final third. You can’t rely completely on it. But
with Hakim, the way he was playing,
“It leaves us having to do more of he was very effective in terms of
the same, because the season is assists, chance creation, and we
tight. We’ve had a little difficult time, were very fluid at the time when he
and today I saw some really good got injured against Leeds.” –
signs that I liked. AFP/Agencies

“I had some ideas to make

to hit back

Klopp expects response from ‘angry’ Liverpool players after reminder they ‘don’t live in dreamland’

█ CARL MARKHAM for it and we have to play for it and we the Reds, Allardyce told talkSPORT a four-match winless run. was forced off with a groin problem.
have to finish the situations off,” he he relishes the challenge of pitting his And he is confident they will move Nineteen-year-old Rhys Williams,
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen said. game plan against the bigger teams.
Klopp expects to see a on quickly from their West Brom who did so well deputising during the
response from his players after “These kind of things, what the “I’ve been able to master that over frustration. central defensive crisis of October and
reminding them they “don’t boys are able to do. That’s it. many years and that’s why I’ve been November, replaced him against the
live in dreamland”. doing it so long,” Allardyce said. “I am not the first day in the job,” he Baggies and looks set to retain his
“In the end, we just drew a Premier added after seeing his side fail to win place at St James’ Park.
The Reds boss admitted the squad League game, that can happen. It can “You can challenge the best in your in the Premier League for the sixth
was angry after failing to dispatch happen against West Brom, they had a League and you can challenge your time this season, as many times as in With James Milner and Xherdan
struggling West Bromwich Albion as new manager (Sam Allardyce) and tactics against theirs as, more often the whole of last-term’s title-winning Shaqiri returning to the squad after
they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at they played in the first half a system I than not, recently, my players are seen campaign. several weeks out injured and Alex
Anfield despite dominating didn’t see a lot in my life, a 6-4-0 or as not as good as the opposition. Oxlade-Chamberlain getting more
possession. whatever. “We should have won the game, or minutes as a late second-half
“We have to set out a tactical we wanted to win the game and we substitute, Klopp has options at his
Despite having the majority of the “That’s completely fine, they have situation to nullify their strengths didn’t, and now we are all ‘depressed’ disposal.
ball, their opponents had more shots challenges to stay this kind of really and see what we can do by or whatever.
on target – three to two – and Klopp disciplined for the rest of the season. capitalising on what possession we “Joel is injured and it’s not the first
felt that was partly due to his side get.” “The boys are more angry than time that a centrehalf is injured,” said
failing to reach their usual high “We have to be disciplined as well, anything else because they know that the manager.
standards. in a different way. We have to do both, Klopp said he was not concerned it was not perfect, but that’s it and
being offensive, active, creative and about his team’s lack of penetration now, of course, we have to play the “It’s of course not good, especially
“We don’t live in dreamland and defend. and believes the Reds can put things next game in three days.” now as he was in a really good shape
just win football matches because we right tomorrow (4am Malaysian time) again, but we cannot change that.
want to win them – we have to work “That’s what we have to do and we against Newcastle United, another Klopp is expected to make changes
could have done that better. That’s it.” team who are struggling for results on for the Newcastle game, with the first “We just have to accept it and carry
coming at centreback after Joel Matip on.” – The Independent/Agencies
After the hard-fought draw against

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