oBoost private sector activity and not borrow more to stimulate economy, says economist Prices of consumer goods rose as there was low supply but high demand. “Economic activity was poor, but there was a lot of money going around and this led to inflation. Governments worldwide had little choice but to spend. Failure to do so would have caused their economies to tank. “Also, high oil prices played a part, and the unexpected Russian-Ukraine war made matters worse.” Universiti Tun Abdul Razak economist Dr Barjoyai Bardai said the high US interest rate and the strong dollar are having an impact on economies around the world. He said the US has been printing money and beating the “war drums” as it warns of an impending recession in the hope that nations would continue to support the US dollar and not abandon it. “The US economy is suffering, there have been multiple bank failures and the level of productivity in the US remains low. Malaysia should not get caught up in the US rhetoric. Malaysia will have some economic problems as the world’s two biggest economies – the US and China – are hit by high inflation. “It will have an impact on the world economy. However, we do not have to worry too much as Malaysia’s trade is about 10% of imports and 7% of exports. “The bulk of Malaysian trade is with other Asian countries. Being an open economy, there will be some impact from the recession being suffered by other countries too.” Barjoyai said the saving grace is the country’s abundance of natural resources and resilient manufacturing sector, which will help Malaysia get through the global recession. While agreeing with Kuperan not to be entirely reliant on China’s economic revival to boost Malaysia’s fortunes, he said the plus point is the fact that China’s economy has opened up and is slowly recovering. This will help Malaysian exports. He added that China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009. The value of trade between the two countries in 2022 was about 17.1% of Malaysia’s total global trade of RM2.8 trillion. The total trade between the two countries PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must reduce its spending to control inflation, which will take several years to achieve. In the meantime, it is critical to stimulate private sector activity, said Universiti Utara Malaysia economics professor Dr K. Kuperan Viswanathan. He warned against additional borrowings to further stimulate the economy as the money will have to be repaid, forcing the government to make cuts in the long term to finance it. Kuperan was commenting on the Chief Economists Outlook Report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently, which revealed that growth and inflation dynamics will vary widely across regions. WEF said the most buoyant activity is expected in Asia, with China’s reopening expected to drive a significant rebound for the country and bolster activity across the continent. WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi said: “Labour markets are proving resilient for now, but growth remains sluggish, global tensions are deepening and the cost of living remains acute in many countries.” However, Kuperan said hoping for China to be the magic wand to bolster economic activity is not going to happen soon, as it too is facing a host of problems. “China has loaned money to many countries that are unable to repay. While China’s economic growth is in the region of 4% to 5% and its economy is slowly picking up, it will take time before Malaysia benefits from it. “Our country will also benefit from the growing economic activity in India, which is also at about 4% to 5%,” he said, pointing out that China was not the only country of benefit to Malaysia. He said trading with regional economic growth countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, would bode well for Malaysia. Kuperan added that inflation and the high cost of living in Malaysia were caused by the previous government providing money and stimulus packages although there was very low economic activity during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The government spent more money than the tax it collected, leading to a budget deficit. █ BY RAJVINDER SINGH [email protected] Cut spending, curb inflation INSIDE BIG ON MINIATURE ART ... Craftsman Muhammad Izzul Fitri Saharudin cleaning a traditional house replica at his shop in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan. The state chalked up RM3.8 million in handicraft sales last year. – BERNAMAPIC last year was RM487.13 billion, which is an increase of 15.6% compared with 2021. “China is a better economic partner to Malaysia, unlike the US and Europe that try to impose all types of conditions in return for raising bilateral trade.” TELLING IT AS IT IS ON THURSDAY No. 8265 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my MAY 11, 2023 Anwar reiterates call for Asian Monetary Fund page 2 Job potential in hospitality sector page 3
2 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Anwar reiterates call for Asian Monetary Fund LABUAN BAJO (Indonesia): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday attended the opening and plenary session of the 42nd Asean Summit 2023 to discuss a number of issues of common interest to the regional grouping. A total of eight heads of government from 10 Asean member states participated in the summit, except for Myanmar, which was not invited, and Thailand, which faces elections on May 14. Also present were Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn and Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak. At the two-day meeting, the (From left) Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Singapore Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Laos PM Sonexay Siphandone, Brunei Ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Anwar and Timor Leste PM Jose Maria de Vasconcelos (also known as Taur Matan Ruak) at the opening ceremony yesterday. – REUTERSPIC o‘Proposal in line with bloc’s initiative to enhance regional economic independence and safety net’ leaders will discuss several important issues to strengthen economic resilience and face current challenges to pave the way for a stronger region. This is in line with the theme of Indonesia’s regional bloc chairmanship 2023, “Asean Matters: Epicentre of Growth”. Anwar also reiterated his call for the establishment of an Asian Monetary Fund, in line with the grouping’s initiative to enhance regional economic independence and safety net. He said such a regional mechanism would help to better understand the realities and needs of Asean member countries and thus enable more suitable remedial measures. In his intervention at the 42nd Asean Summit 2023 opening and plenary session, Anwar welcomed the Asean Leaders’ Declaration On Advancing Regional Payment Connectivity and Promoting Local Currency Transaction. He said the initiative would enhance the use of local currencies to support cross-border trade and investment in Asean. On the Asean Community Post-2025 Vision, Anwar said Asean must be able to demonstrate greater confidence and readiness to seize the opportunities aimed at bringing favourable changes to its people and region. He added that the region would adopt the Asean Community Post-2025 Vision in the next two years to chart an Asean strategic path for the next two decades. “The Post-2025 Vision, as discussed by the eminent persons group in initial deliberations, must put the needs and well-being of our people at the heart of the regional integration agenda. “It must give greater emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, transformation and responsiveness as well as improve Asean’s capacity and institutional effectiveness.” Anwar said the vision must also strengthen Asean’s geopolitical and geoeconomic footprint and assertiveness and shape a fair, just and ethical international order, Bernama reported. “I think the vision seems to be very consistent with what we refer to in Malaysia as Malaysia Madani,” he said. Sarawak unveils first microalgae production facility KUCHING: Sarawak launched its first industrial microalgae production facility, the Chitose Carbon Capture Central Sarawak (C4 Sarawak) at Sejingkat yesterday. The five-hectare facility uses flue gas waste containing carbon dioxide (CO2) to enhance algae production on an industrial scale. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg, who opened the facility, said the algae biomass generated could be used in highquality products such as food and animal feed, paints, cosmetics, pharmaceutical ingredients and most importantly, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “Based on our preliminary estimation, a 2,000ha commercial plant could produce up to 140,000 tonnes of algae biomass annually.” Abang Johari said depending on the technology used, research has shown that a five-hectare site could generate 350 tonnes of algae biomass per year, which could be processed into 87 tonnes of lipid, capable of producing about 45 tonnes of SAF. He added that some microalgae have been reported to have anticancer properties that can be used in cancer treatment. – Bernama Micro-conference tours launched to boost involvement of local startups CYBERJAYA: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, through Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, yesterday launched a series of micro-conference tours, namely the MYStartup NXT, as part of efforts to generate an inclusive, effective and sustainable startup ecosystem in Malaysia. The ministry said in a statement that the microconferences aim to increase the involvement of local startups in Malaysia, provide wider access to the support and benefits of the startup ecosystem as well as help the growth of companies. It said MYStartup aims to create over 5,000 quality startups by 2030, making Kuala Lumpur one of the world’s 25 developing startup ecosystems. “As such, there is a huge potential for other cities in Malaysia which could be developed to become hubs for startup founders,” said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. He said MYStartup NXT aims to embrace innovation and support the development of startups in the long term, in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Madani concept, namely to build an innovative and high-tech nation. He added that the launch of the MyStartup Annual Report would help the government realise these aspirations through programmes that would produce the best results. According to the ministry, the MYStartup Annual Report launched yesterday records MYStartup’s achievements and impact on the country’s startup ecosystem. The report outlines three main approaches, namely the MYStartup Portal, strategic initiatives and the people’s programme. In addition, a specially designed digital platform, namely MYStartup Dev, has also been introduced to connect digital technology talent with ecosystem partners and upskilling programmes. The MYStartup NXT tour series is a continuation of the previous MYStartup tour initiative and will be expanded nationwide, starting from Cyberjaya, Sarawak and Penang and culminating in Sabah. Further information on MYStartup NXT, the Malaysian startup ecosystem and other initiatives by MYStartup can be accessed at w w w . m y s t a r t u p . g o v . m y . – Bernama Perak Poultry Farming Enactment to be amended IPOH: An amendment to the Perak Poultry Farming Enactment 2005 that seeks to impose higher penalties on farmers in the state who pollute the environment will be tabled at the state assembly meeting from May 22 to 26. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad expressed hope that the amendment would resolve issues involving breeders, including poultry farming in Manjung that has caused a problem of flies. “We will table the amendment to the enactment at the next state legislative assembly session. We hope that we can curb the problem of flies, and enable proper faeces management at chicken farms.” He was speaking after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building yesterday. Residents in Bandar Baru Setia Awan Perdana, Sitiawan, had pleaded for the intervention of the menteri besar following the increased presence of flies in their area, videos of which were widely circulated on TikTok. The problem that is plaguing the area as well as Lumut, Pengkalan Baharu, Beruas and Lekir has been attributed to unlicensed chicken farms at the locations. Saarani said the issue was also caused by oil palm farmers who were using chicken manure as fertiliser. He added that the situation was made worse when manuring was not properly managed, thus attracting flies. The state Poultry Farming Enactment 2005 provides for a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, against offenders. – Bernama Probe on alleged misconduct by police personnel KUANTAN: Police are scrutinising reports of misconduct involving its personnel over which no action was taken, as revealed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani. “A detailed report on the matter has been prepared by the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department. We are also looking into the report, which said that we did not take action against those involved. “There were no reports that we ignored and did not take follow up action on because we view misconduct cases seriously and hold fast to integrity.” He was speaking at the handingover-of-duties ceremony of the Pahang police chief here yesterday. Acryl Sani was commenting on a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that the ministry would look into the report by MACC, saying that 125 cases of misconduct involving police personnel have been ignored. – Bernama Pahang tax collection hit by Covid, floods KUANTAN: The impact of Covid-19 and massive floods have been identified as factors affecting collection of assessment tax in Pahang by local authorities, said State Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun. He said overall, last year’s general assessment tax collection recorded by local authorities in the state, excluding the Rompin district council, was RM183.64 million, an increase of 3.23% from the previous year, while tax arrears collected was RM32.44 million, up 45.08% from RM22.36 million collected in 2021. “Other factors affecting tax collection are economic uncertainties, taxpayers’ financial situation, bankruptcy status of owners of premises and lack of awareness about the importance of paying tax,” he said in reply to Hassanuddin Salim (PN-Kuala Sematan) at the state assembly. Johari said to encourage payment of assessment tax and to ensure higher collection this year, local authorities have taken various initiatives, including organising tax payment campaigns and introducing mobile tax payment counters as well as enabling tax payments through instalments. – Bernama
3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 KUALA LUMPUR: STM Lottery Sdn Bhd and the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletic Association (FTKLAA) recently launched the Go For It!-FTKLAA Cross Country 2023, and invite running enthusiasts to take part in the event. The 2023 edition of the run will be held on July 9 at Padang Merbok, with the route featuring mixed terrain favoured by avid runners, such as hills, tarmac and jungle. There will be several categories – Men 15km, Women 7km, Children 3km and a special 5km Fun Run for participants who wish to join as a family. STM Lottery deputy general manager (Communications and Sustainability) Giam Say Khoon said: “As the title sponsor, we believe in the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle in the local community. We recognise that staying healthy and active is important for physical and mental well-being. “By supporting this event, we hope to help our organiser FTKLAA identify sporting talents and also to inspire more people to embrace a healthy lifestyle and make exercise a part of their daily routine.” In addition to the race, the company will be hosting several other activities that include game booths and lucky draws, with prizes such as electrical appliances, holiday packages as well as a motorcycle as the grand lucky draw prize. Supporting partners for the event include Berjaya Waterfront Hotel @ Johor Bahru, Colmar Tropicale @ Berjaya Hills, ACES Hotel @ Kuala Lumpur, Starbucks Malaysia, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Cosway Malaysia, U Mobile, Marypure, Chek Hup, 100Plus and Milo. For more information or to join the run, visit https://checkpointspot.asia/event/ftkla a-cross-country-23 or https://www.racexasia.com/event/gofor-it-ftklaa-cross-country-2023-cros23. Hospitality sector showing potential as career option KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is witnessing a rebound of the tourism sector, which is vital for economic growth to raise the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), said Malaysian Industrial Relations and Human Resources Association president Prof Dr Balakrishnan Parasuraman. “The hospitality sector has now become another choice for students due to its significantly increased hiring rate. This is a remarkable turn of events as the hospitality and tourism industry was all but wiped out during the Covid-19 outbreak. “But now, we are witnessing its revival and development, even on the global scene. This is vital for Malaysia, which can draw international tourists and increase national revenue from the hospitality industry,” he said. Balakrishnan, who is also a professor at the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Entrepreneurship and Business Faculty, said demand for hospitality graduates in today’s job market has put UMK among the top 10 institutions offering Hospitality Management studies at the national level. foundit Insights Tracker (FIT), which compiles a comprehensive monthly analysis of job posting activity across online recruitment platforms, said the hospitality sector in Malaysia has witnessed a 59% increase in hiring, compared with the same period last year. It also said the job market has displayed remarkable resilience and showed consistent growth in the past year, which reflects a gradual but positive shift in the labour market. FIT CEO Sekhar Garisa said: “The hospitality and travel industry experienced the most significant demand this March, with a year-onyear increase of 210%, followed by sales and business development, which had a 15% increase in hiring. The finance and accounting sector experienced a 13% rise in risk management and compliance responsibilities year-on-year. “However, there are certain industries that have seen a drop in hiring activities, such as information technology, internet service providers such as Telekom Malaysia, business process outsourcing, and information technology enabled services,” he added. “Overall, FIT figures show Malaysia’s employment market is gradually improving, and demand for online jobs will continue to rise in the coming months. While some areas have witnessed a decrease in recruiting activity, others, such as the hospitality industry have seen a rise, making it an excellent time for job seekers to look into the options available in the employment market.” On Malaysia’s job trends, Sekhar said many companies were still actively seeking new talents, particularly individuals with specialised, high-demand skill sets. “It is highly encouraging that job seekers are staying up-to-date with industry demands and focusing on building skills that give them an edge. But although the industry is growing steadily and student enrollment has risen in several public and private colleges over the past year, graduates’ demands for higher salaries may contribute to their unemployment,” he said. “Students should focus on academic excellence and participate in a variety of offcampus and on-campus activities that are widely offered at all learning institutions. Industries and universities should collaborate on syllabus development that potentially helps the industries in the future.” oData from online recruitment platforms indicate increase in hiring activity in tourism-related businesses Do not raise prices indiscriminately during Lima, traders warned KANGAR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has warned industry players not to take advantage of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (Lima) to increase prices excessively. Its deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said the ministry will conduct price monitoring operations around the venue starting May 22, and errant traders will face action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. “I advise industry players such as vehicle rental, hotel and accommodation operators and food sellers not to increase prices unreasonably and take advantage of the arrival of visitors to Langkawi island,” she said after officiating at a bread processing factory owned by HPA Industries Sdn Bhd yesterday. Also present were Indera Kayangan assemblyman Gan Ay Ling, Perlis Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director Norazah Jaapar and HPA Industries owner Ismail Ahmad. Lima is set to run from May 23 to 27 after a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with some 45,000 visitors from all over the world expected to attend the biennial event. – Bernama █ BYSIVANISVARRY MORHAN [email protected] No quit rent hike in Pahang KUANTAN: Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said yesterday the state government does not plan to increase quit rent (land tax) over the next five years, despite targeting an increase in revenue collection every year. He was speaking at the Pahang State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang, and added that the state government has several plans to increase revenue collection, including through recurring sources. “We cannot continue to be in the status quo (in revenue collection) due to various reasons such as salary increases, the increase in the number of civil servants and the cost of living, which (necessitates) the state government to strive to increase revenue collection. “One of the things that can be done is to increase the collection of recurring revenue, as we have approximately 740,000 land titles and if it can be increased up to one million titles, the annual revenue will increase. Likewise, if the process of changing conditions (on land status) is simplified, it will lead to higher income because it will increase land ownership,” he said. Wan Rosdy was replying to a supplementary question from Chan Chun Kuang (PH-Semambu), who wanted to know the state government’s plans to increase revenue collection without increasing land tax. Earlier, Wan Rosdy said the state government collected RM1.288 billion last year, with the largest portion coming from land revenue, with a total of RM754.8 million, followed by other revenue such as entertainment duties and sustainability fees (RM284.15 million), forests ( RM134.18 million) and federal grants (RM91 million). On collections by district, Wan Rosdy said all districts except Cameron Highlands showed an increase last year compared to 2021, with Kuantan recording the highest amount of RM182.25 million followed by Bentong (RM70.68 million), Rompin (RM63.64 million), Jerantut ( RM55.66 million) and Pekan (RM51.28 million). Replying to another supplementary question from Datuk Rodzuan Zaaba (BN-Jenderak) on the sustainability of fee collection introduced last year at a rate of RM3, Wan Rosdy said it contributed RM9 million to state revenue, which was placed under “revenue in other categories”. – Bernama Malaysia to host mental arithmetic competition KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been selected to host the Aloha Mental Arithmetic International Competition 2023, which will be held at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre on July 30. The competition is expected to attract an audience of 3,000, with more than 1,000 students from over 40 countries including China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Panama, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Uzbekistan taking part. Aloha Malaysia said in a statement it will be sending 250 to 300 participants to the competition. Participants are required to solve 70 arithmetic questions involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and other formulae within five minutes. – Bernama ‘Cross Country’ run open for registration Giam (in red) and FTKLAA president Datuk Seri V. Pulainthiran (fifth from left) with representatives of the event’s supporting partners during the launch. – PIC COURTESY OF STM LOTTERY SDN BHD
4 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS MAHB to present full report on Malacca airport MALACCA: A full report on the operation of the Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam, including the status of flights to the state, will be presented to the state government today. State Public Works, Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Transport Committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer said the presentation of the report by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) would also explain the cause of the recent flight service issues. “From there, we will discuss the best measures to take to reactivate the airport. “We need the report because all matters related to airport operations are under MAHB,” he said after inspecting the airport operations. He added that the report will also be used as a reference in the state’s preparations to receive influx of foreign tourists in conjunction with the Visit Melaka Year 2024. “There are demands for inbound and outbound flights, so we must reactivate the airport. “The airport has no big issue related to infrastructure and facilities,” he said. In a related development, Hameed Mytheen said grass maintenance around the airport would be completed in three days. “The grass-cutting and cleaning work at present is focused on the runway section, and it will be done in stages. “The delay is due to the reshuffle of schedule following the unpredictable weather and not due to lack of maintenance by MAHB as claimed by the public,” he said. – Bernama No change in SOP on poisonous animals KAJANG: There will be no change to the standard operating procedure (SOP) in handling poisonous animals as the current one adopted by personnel of the Civil Defence Force is comprehensive. Chief commissioner Aminurrahim Mohamed said its personnel L/Cpl Mohd Idris Abdul Samad was in full attire, including wearing gloves, and had adhered to the correct SOP when handling a cobra. Aminurrahim was commenting on the death of Mohd Idris, 34, who was bitten by a cobra on Sunday. Mohd Idris, who was treated at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, died on Tuesday. “It is not anyone’s fault. The personnel involved was skilful and had more than 10 years of experience handling poisonous animals. “Not everybody can handle a cobra. This is a big loss to the force as he was an expert,” he said. – Bernama Smuggling crackdown to be ramped up KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Customs Department has stepped up monitoring activities to crack down on smugglers living along the porous 103km Golok River on the Malaysia-Thailand border and carrying out smuggling activities for generations. Kelantan director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said as a result of surveillance and intelligence, as well as cases that surfaced, smuggling only occurred on a small scale. However, there is an increase in the frequency of such activities as a means of livelihood. “The number of smuggling cases has reduced due to frequent monitoring by enforcement agencies such as the Malaysian Armed Forces, the General Operations Force and the police. “Customs Kelantan is always carrying out monitoring activities along the border to curb smuggling, including at three legal routes in Rantau Panjang, Bukit Bunga and Pengkalan Kubor,” he said. – Bernama Perak mosques urged to set up cooperatives IPOH: The Perak government is encouraging mosques in the state to set up their own cooperatives to generate income through business activities. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the setting up of cooperatives could benefit congregants, such as through payment of dividends from profits made. “For example, Masjid Nurussalam Batu 4 in Gerik has opened a mini market selling daily necessities. The profits made enabled them to distribute dividends to cooperative members,” he said after officiating at the Perak Cooperative Movement Appreciation Night 2023 on Tuesday. Also present were Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives K. Saraswathy and State Women, Family, Social Welfare, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives committee chairman Salbiah Mohamed. Earlier in his speech, Saarani announced an incentive amounting to RM33,000 to 11 cooperatives listed on the 2022 Profile of Top 100 Malaysian Cooperatives as an appreciation for their contribution to the socioeconomic improvement of members in the state. Meanwhile, Saarani said cooperatives participation in agricultural activities and agro-based industry is highly encouraged to help the state government ensure food supply remains stable and available in the long term. He said the listing of food security as the main agenda in the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan is to ensure that the people are supplied with sufficient food sold at reasonable prices. Saarani added that cooperatives need to be proactive to help the government address current issues such as cost of living, food supply and price manipulation by a third party or middlemen. – Bernama Hospitals ready to treat El Nino victims PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has made preparations at all its facilities in the states and at the federal level to face the effects of the southwest monsoon and the El Nino phenomenon. Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry is equipped with the facilities to provide the best treatment to victims. “El Nino causes significant heat changes in this country. Those who are experiencing symptoms, such as high temperature, are advised to seek immediate treatment at a hospital,” she said at a Hari Raya open house hosted by the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries here. According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, the southwest monsoon is expected to start on May 15 and will continue until September. Lower rainfall will occur at most places during the period. – Bernama Eyesight loss no hindrance in pursuit of passion KUALA LUMPUR: Muhammad Fatah Abu Bakar lived his life as a normal youth who loved combat sport. However, he did not expect his life to change in the blink of an eye when he began to lose his sight at the age of 21. Initially, Muhammad Fatah, who is now 38 years old, only lost sight in his right eye and was able to continue life as usual. However, after a year, the vision in his left eye was also affected. “The doctors said it happened because of genetics, but none of my family members have this vision problem. Soon, I lost almost all of my vision and everything looked blurry. “Doctors suspected there was a problem Muhammad Fatah (second from left) and Mohd Khairul (second from right) practising at a training centre in the MAB Brickfields Complex in Kuala Lumpur. – BERNAMAPIC oVision-impaired combat sport enthusiast finds success in competitive para judo event at Asean games with the optic nerves. “I used to be active in karate, taekwondo, boxing and rugby, and could read and drive, but now I can’t. Even if there are people in front of me, I can only see a shadow, not a face,” he said. Forced to go through life as a vision-impaired individual, Muhammad Fatah’s love and interest for combat sport and martial arts did not diminish. After looking for a way to continue practising martial arts, he came to know about para judo in 2007 that gave opportunities to those with vision problems to fight at various levels. Not long after venturing into the new sport, Muhammad Fatah won a bronze medal in the men’s 66kg category in his debut at the 2008 Asean Para Games (APG) in Thailand. For this year’s APG in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from June 3-9, he hopes to achieve better results after taking part in the APG and the International Blind Sports Federation World Games 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. “I had competed in the 66kg category. However, this time the game organisers changed the category, so I may have to compete in the below 70kg. As the weight is raised, the speed decreases, so I am training in the gym to increase muscle mass,” he said. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s chef de mission to the Cambodian APG, Noor Syahieda Mat Shah, who visited the training and preparation camp, is confident that the team will be able to bring back medals to the country. She said the actual target for the national contingent will be set after a workshop with the National Sports Council and stakeholders next week. “We will set a realistic and relevant target. We don’t want to promise the moon and stars, but we are looking forward to improve from the previous edition (36 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze medals). For now, we can see all the athletes are highly motivated to achieve success.” Apart from Muhammad Fatah, the national judo team will also be represented by Mohd Khairul Azmi Abd Rahaman in the below 60kg category and Lee Chee Hock (below 90kg category).
5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 ‘Datuk Seri’ denies soliciting, accepting RM15m bribe KUALA LUMPUR: A company director with a “Datuk Seri” title pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to charges of soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM15 million to secure projects from the Home Ministry in 2021. Datuk Seri Sim Choo Thiam, 53, entered the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Rozina Ayob. He is facing a charge of soliciting a bribe from Asia Coding Centre Sdn Bhd managing director Hep Kim Hong through Syed Abu Zafran Syed Ahmad. The money was an inducement for then home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to help Asia Coding Centre secure projects under the Home Ministry’s agencies. Sim was also charged with three counts of accepting RM15 million in bribes from the same individual as an inducement for Hamzah to do similar things. The offences were allegedly committed at two different locations, Shaas Holdings office and a parking lot at Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, some time in June and on July 30, 2021. The charges were framed under Section 16 (a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher. DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed bail of RM1 million in one surety, with additional conditions that the accused must surrender his passport and report himself to the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur every month. Lawyer Low Wei Loke, who is representing the accused, agreed to the bail amount and additional terms proposed by the prosecution and told the court that his client would pay the bail. The court set bail at RM1 million in one surety for all four charges and fixed June 14 for case remention. – Bernama Prosecution submits report on ‘RM2m chocolate gift’ in Guan Eng trial KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the corruption case involving former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has handed a forensic report of WhatsApp conversations between two businessmen to the defence team. DPP Farah Yasmin Salleh told Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi, during mention of the case yesterday, that the document was submitted on April 18. Lim’s counsel Haijan Omar confirmed receipt of the document. The report involved WhatsApp exchanges between businessman G. Gnanaraja and Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli regarding the “RM2 million chocolate gift,” which was allegedly given to Lim as a bribe. The exchanges were previously revealed through the testimony of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission forensic investigating officer Asst Supt Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Yusof. Lim, 61, is facing an amended charge of using his position as the chief minister of Penang to accept a bribe of RM3.3 million in helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad to obtain a construction project worth RM6,341,383,702 at the Office of the Chief Minister of Penang, 28th Floor, Komtar in George Town between January 2011 and August 2017. For the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a bribe from Zarul Ahmad, namely 10% of the company’s profits, as an inducement for obtaining the project and is accused of committing the act at The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra in Mid Valley City in March 2011. Lim also faces two charges of causing two plots of land worth RM208.8 million owned by the Penang government to be disposed of to two companies allegedly linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project. He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Penang Land and Mines Office, 21st Floor, Komtar on Feb 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017. The trial continues on July 18. – Bernama Lack of funds puts home for elderly at risk of shutting down PETALING JAYA: Some 20 elderly individuals are facing a bleak future and may lose the only shelter they have as the welfare home they live in is in dire straits and requires urgent funds, and is on the brink of closing down. Wong Seok Fung, 47, founded Ci Ai Welfare (CAW) in 2020, with its objective being to care for the elderly. “We provide shelter and care for them as best we can. Some of the elderly are unable to be accommodated for long-term care in government facilities as they are comatose. Private facilities cost too much and their families cannot afford to bear the expenses. “We are on the verge of closing down as our funds have dried up, while expenses to look after the elderly and maintain the home has gone up too,” she said. Wong added that she used to receive funds from a nun in Johor Bahru, but she has since set up an NGO and is unable to continue assisting CAW. “We are grateful to the nun for her contributions. But after she set up her NGO, she informed us that we would have to find our own funding. This came as shock as we were not expecting the news to come so suddenly, and we panicked.” She said CAW has been facing financial problems for a year and had tried its best to care for the elderly Wong assisting two residents during meal time at the home. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN oEstablishment caring for 20 residents struggling to pay hospital, medical care bills and other expenses █ BYVEISHNAWI NEHRU [email protected] Man jailed 36 years for raping daughters PUTRAJAYA: A former crane operator was sentenced to 36 years’ jail and 20 strokes of the cane by the Court of Appeal yesterday for raping two of his underaged daughters. This followed the decision of the three-member panel comprising Justices Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Lim Chong Fong in allowing the man’s appeal to reduce his jail sentence and whipping to 18 years and 10 strokes of the cane for each charge. The 42-year-old man was initially sentenced to a total of 40 years imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane by the Segamat Sessions Court in Johor on May 20, 2020, after he pleaded guilty to the charges. He then appealed to the Court of Appeal for a reduction of the sentence after he lost his appeal at the Muar High Court on Dec 24. The father of five pleaded guilty to raping his 15-year-old daughter in 2017 and his 13-year-old daughter in January 2020. The Sessions Court sentenced him to 20 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for each charge and ordered the sentences to run consecutively from the date of his arrest on May 19, 2020. – Bernama Six-year-old crashes car into lamp post ALOR SETAR: A six-year-old boy drove a car for about 2.5km before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a lamp post along Jalan Bukit Tangga in Langkawi, on Tuesday. Langkawi police chief ACP Shariman Ashari said the boy only suffered a cut to his chin in the 11pm incident. He said the boy was driving the car with his three-year-old brother, who was unhurt. “The police received a call at 11.15pm regarding the incident,” he said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had driven the car from his home in Kampung Padang Mengkuang without his parents’ knowledge, he said. Shariman added that the boys had sneaked out of their house when their mother was in the bathroom and their father was asleep. He said the case was being investigated under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 as well as Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. – Bernama with funds donated to it from time to time by well-wishers. However, it does not receive regular donations. Currently, the elderly CAW looks after have reduced from the numbers it had before. Wong said she had to reduce the number of people being looked after due to the ever-growing expenses and critical cases being sent to CAW. “We spend about RM1,500 on each of the elderly a month, which comes to RM30,000. This is apart from having to pay utility bills, rental, transport, maintenance and salaries for our four employees. The bills keep piling up. “Some food is donated by people. But hospital bills and medical care, which costs a lot, make it tough for us to manage. Some of the elderly we look after are in critical condition,” she said. Meanwhile, Ang Chye Hoon, 67, who volunteers as a social worker, is always there to help out. “CAW was recently featured in the media and that helped draw some donations. However, that was just for a short while and it helped to pay CAW’s bills for two months. “We need regular donations to run a welfare home as we have elderly who need continuous care. “In one case we took in a comatose patient as his wife and son could not care for him. Now, he is still in a state of coma and has been like that for several years. “I am a Buddhist and I believe in serving society as it creates a better place for the next generation,” she said. Those who are keen to contribute funds can do so directly through its Hong Leong Bank account number 38300026683. Wong can be reached at 012 484 2447.
6 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Pakistan police arrest hundreds of Imran supporters oMobile data services shut while Twitter, YouTube and Facebook disrupted ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan have arrested hundreds of supporters of ousted prime minister Imran Khan for violence after his arrest on corruption charges, authorities said yesterday, deepening a political crisis in the nuclear-armed country. Tuesday’s arrest of the former cricket hero, and Pakistan’s most popular politician according to opinion polls, came at a precarious time for the country that is facing a shortage of foreign exchange and a months-long delay of an IMF bailout. Mobile data services were shut for a second day while Twitter, YouTube and Facebook were Asean ‘deeply concerned’ about Myanmar violence Australia told to shoot kangaroos before they starve CANBERRA: Australia’s kangaroos could die in “catastrophic” numbers if a population boom is left unchecked, ecologists have warned, while backing the culling of the marsupials. To outsiders, the kangaroo is an instantly recognisable symbol of the Australian wilderness, but within the country the native animal poses a major environmental headache. Kangaroos have a “boom and bust” population cycle – when fodder is plentiful on the back of a good wet season their numbers can balloon by tens of millions. Hopping mobs of kangaroos can rapidly strip paddocks bare, but ecologist Katherine Moseby warned they would starve to death in droves when food ran out. “The last drought we estimated that 80% or 90% of the kangaroos in some areas died. “They are starving to death ... going into public toilets and eating toilet paper, or lying on the road starving while their joeys are trying to feed,” she added, referring to events from the last population boom. Moseby said the kindest way to save kangaroos from this fate was to shoot them, and harvest the meat, as a way of keeping numbers in check. “It keeps the numbers down so that when we do get drought we don’t get these welfare issues. If we saw them as a resource and managed them like that, we wouldn’t get the catastrophic deaths that we see.” Kangaroos are protected in Australia but the most common species are not endangered – this means they can be killed in most jurisdictions with government permission. – AFP B R I E F SINVITE TAIWAN TO OBSERVE MAY MEETING, W.H.O. URGED WASHINGTON: The United States is encouraging the World Health Organisation (WHO) to invite Taiwan as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21 to 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday. China began blocking Taiwan’s participation in WHO’s annual assembly from 2017, in a diplomatic campaign to isolate the island. “Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, ‘health for all’ approach to international health cooperation,” Blinken said. In a statement, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked the US for its strong support for participation, adding that the island’s exclusion would be “completely beyond reason” and harm global health cooperation. – Reuters U.S. MAN HELD AFTER BODY FOUND IN WATER DRUM MANILA: A 71-year-old American man has been arrested after the body of his Filipina girlfriend was found in a water drum at the couple’s home near the Philippine capital, police said yesterday. Police in Bacoor city told AFP they arrested the man on Tuesday after discovering the 48-year-old woman’s body inside a blue plastic drum sealed in a garbage bag and duct tape at the house just outside Manila. Officers visited the address hours after the woman’s adult son reported she had been missing for four days. Her son also told authorities he smelled a “foul odour” there, a police report said. Police also recovered three knives and a length of rope and the man was taken into custody on suspicion of murder. An autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. – AFP A woman gesturing next to a burning police vehicle during a protest by supporters of Imran in the city of Karachi. – REUTERSPIC disrupted, as security forces tried to restore order after violence killed one person on Tuesday. The government said supporters of Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had attacked important state buildings and damaged private and public vehicles. Police said 945 of his supporters had been arrested in Punjab province after 25 police vehicles and more than 14 government buildings were set on fire. “This can’t be tolerated, the law will take its course,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told a news conference. “These violent attacks were not the outcome of any public outpouring, they were planned by the PTI rank and file.” Authorities in three of Pakistan’s four provinces have imposed an emergency order banning all gatherings after Imran’s supporters clashed with police. Imran, 70, was arrested from the Islamabad High Court by the anti-corruption agency. JAKARTA: Southeast Asian nations said yesterday they are “deeply concerned” about the violence ravaging Myanmar, and condemned a recent attack on a convoy of diplomats delivering humanitarian aid in the country. Turmoil in junta-ruled Myanmar has dominated talks at this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Indonesia, as the regional bloc faces criticism for its perceived inaction. Asean has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the festering crisis, but its efforts so far have failed to stem the bloodshed unleashed by a military coup in 2021. “We were deeply concerned with ongoing violence in Myanmar and urged the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force to create a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues,” Asean leaders said in a statement. The ruling military junta has ignored international criticism and refused to engage with its opponents, which include ousted lawmakers, anti-coup “People’s Defence Forces” and armed ethnic minority groups. An air strike on a village in a rebel stronghold last month that reportedly killed about 170 people sparked global condemnation and worsened the junta’s isolation. Pressure on the regional bloc increased on Sunday after a convoy of vehicles carrying diplomats and officials coordinating Asean humanitarian relief in Myanmar came under fire. Singapore and Indonesia said earlier that staff from their embassies in Myanmar were in the vehicles that came under fire in eastern Shan State but were unharmed. “We condemned the attack and underlined that the perpetrators must be held accountable,” Asean leaders said in their statement. Addressing the summit yesterday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he was “confident” the 10-member bloc could deal with growing global challenges if its members were united. “With unity, Asean will be able to play a central role in bringing peace and growth,” the president said through a translator as he opened the leaders’ session of the summit on the Indonesian island of Flores. – AFP US returns two stolen antiquities to China WASHINGTON: The United States returned two looted antiquities to China, the latest in a wave of repatriations of artifacts stolen from more than a dozen countries, New York authorities announced on Tuesday. The two 7th-century stone carvings, currently valued at US$3.5 million (RM15.6 million, had been sawn off a tomb by thieves in the early 1990s and smuggled out of China, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. The carvings were among 89 antiquities from 10 different countries purchased by Shelby White, a private art collector in New York. From 1998, they were “loaned” to the Metropolitan Museum of Art until they were seized this year by the district attorney’s office following a criminal investigation. “It is a shame that these two incredible antiquities were stolen and at least one remained largely hidden from the public view for nearly three decades,” Bragg said. “While their total value is more than US$3 million, the incredible detail and beauty of these pieces can never be truly captured by a price tag.” The carvings were handed over during a repatriation ceremony at the Chinese consulate in New York. “We regard the crackdown on crimes against cultural property a sacred mission,” Chinese consul-general Huang Ping was quoted as saying in the statement by the district attorney’s office. – AFP Police said a court hearing would take place at the police guest house where he was being held in the Islamabad police lines area. PTI has called for supporters to gather in the capital and for a “shutdown” across the country of 220 million. His arrest came a day after the powerful military rebuked him for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of trying to engineer his assassination and the former armed forces chief of being behind his removal from power last year. Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said in an editorial that “the nature and locus of the protests that broke out following Imran’s arrest yesterday signal that public anger is also directed at the military”. PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the party’s senior leadership is in Islamabad to meet Imran and would approach the Supreme Court to challenge a High Court order that deemed the arrest legal. – Reuters
7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 Trump found liable in sexual abuse case WASHINGTON: A New York jury found Donald Trump liable on Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming an American former magazine columnist and ordered him to pay her US$5 million (RM22.3 million ) in damages. The nine jurors rejected E. Jean Carroll’s accusation of rape but unanimously upheld her other complaints in the closely watched civil trial, following less than three hours of deliberations. It marks the first time Trump has faced legal consequences over a string of sexual assault allegations dating back decades – and the former president immediately rejected the verdict as a “disgrace.” Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue in 1996. The former columnist for Elle magazine oCourt orders former president to pay columnist US$5mil in damages Health experts ‘must raise alarm on AI threats’ PARIS: Health professionals must warn the world about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), a group of academics wrote yesterday as clamours grow for work on the technology to be halted. The academics wrote in the BMJ Global Health journal that time was running out to take action because corporations, the military and governments were working so fast to develop AI tools. AI exploded into the public consciousness last year with ChatGPT, a bot capable of generating tracts of coherent text from short prompts. The wild popularity of the bot sparked a race between tech giants like Google and Microsoft to embed AI in everything from spreadsheets to search tools, and prompted investors to pour money into AI startups. But the academics pointed to a range of threats, including powerful AI surveillance systems being developed in dozens of countries, killer robots and disinformation. For healthcare, they wrote, people with darker skin were at serious risk of harm or reduced care because the datasets used to “train” AI algorithms were often biased. They argued that “the window of opportunity to avoid serious and potentially existential harms is closing”. The authors, led by Frederik Federspiel of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and David McCoy of the United Nations University in Kuala Lumpur, wrote that global cooperation would be needed. “Healthcare professionals have a key role in raising awareness and sounding the alarm on the risks and threats posed by AI. “If AI is to ever fulfil its promise to benefit humanity and society, we must protect democracy, strengthen our public-interest institutions, and dilute power so that there are effective checks and balances.” Concern about the direction of AI research is prompting alarm even among those at the centre of the field. Earlier this month, computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, often dubbed “the godfather of AI”, quit his job at Google to warn of the “profound risks to society and humanity” of the technology. In March, billionaire Elon Musk – whose Tesla carmaker deploys AI systems – and hundreds of experts called for a pause in AI development to allow time to make sure the technology was safe and properly regulated. – AFP Trudeau slams Facebook over threat to block Canada news OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday slammed Meta after executives said it would block news for Canadian Facebook and Instagram users in response to a proposed law that would require digital giants to pay for local journalism content. In February, Google announced it also tested restricting Canadians’ access to news in preparation for the passing of the Online News Act, which is currently before the Senate. The tech giants have criticised as overbroad the bill meant to help a news sector a government official said “is in crisis” after hundreds of publications closed in the last decade. Their position and news blocking plans were outlined again by a Meta Canada executive in testimony this week at a Commons committee. Trudeau said their arguments against the proposals are “not just flawed, it’s dangerous to our democracy, to our economy”. “(Bob) Woodward and (Carl) Bernstein weren’t influencers,” he said, in reference to the pair of Washington Post journalists who led reporting on the Watergate scandal that saw president Richard Nixon resign in 1974. “Someone reporting on the horrors in Bucha (in Ukraine) is not trying to get likes on their Facebook page. “Rigorous, challenging, independent journalism is essential and the fact that Facebook is still saying that it doesn’t want to pay journalists for the work they do shows how deeply irresponsible and out of touch they are.” The law would require digital giants to make fair commercial deals with Canadian outlets for the news and information that is shared on their platforms, or face binding arbitration. – AFP B R I E F STWITTER CELEBRITY HACKER PLEADS GUILTY WASHINGTON: A British man pleaded guilty on Tuesday for his role in schemes to hack the Twitter accounts of celebrities like Barack Obama and Elon Musk and stealing US$794,000 (RM3.5 million) in cryptocurrency. Joseph James O’Connor, 23, entered his guilty plea in a New York court after being extradited from Spain on April 26. He was arrested nearly two years ago in Spain for the July 2020 hack of over 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Apple, Kanye West, Bill Gates, Joe Biden, Obama and Musk. He and others in his hacking group hijacked the accounts and asked the owners’ followers to send them bitcoin. O’Connor pleaded guilty to multiple counts of computer intrusion, extortion, stalking, wire fraud and money laundering. – AFP SAUDI ARABIA AND SYRIA RESTORE DIPLOMATIC TIES RIYADH: Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad cemented his return to the Arab fold on Tuesday when Saudi Arabia, which long supported Syria’s opposition, said its diplomats would resume work in the country. The restoration of diplomatic ties, later confirmed by Damascus, came more than a decade after Riyadh withdrew its representatives during Syria’s civil war, and two days after the Arab League ended Syria’s years-long suspension. The kingdom “has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria”, Riyadh’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, saying it would seek to “develop joint Arab action”. – AFP also claimed that Trump defamed her when he called her “a complete con job” after she went public with the allegation in 2019. Trump, the 76-year-old frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year’s presidential election, called her case a “hoax” and “a lie”. The jury determined that Carroll had proved sexual abuse – effectively sexual contact without consent – by a preponderance of the evidence and awarded her US$2 million. The six men and three women on the jury also said Trump should pay Carroll nearly US$3 million for defamation. Following the verdict, Carroll left the Manhattan federal court smiling but did not speak to reporters. “We’re very happy,” said her lawyer Roberta Kaplan. Trump slammed the outcome on his social media platform Truth Social. “I have absolutely no idea who this woman is,” he wrote, using all capital letters. “This verdict is a disgrace – a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time.” Trump’s 2024 campaign team said in a statement that the case was a “political endeavour” intended to derail Trump’s bid to regain the White House, and that he would appeal. Carroll told the two-week-long civil trial that the assault had left her feeling “ashamed” and unable to have romantic relationships. She said it took her more than 20 years to go public because she was “frightened” by Trump. Her lawyers called to the witness stand two other women who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Former businesswoman Jessica Leeds said that Trump groped her in the business class section of a flight in the US in the 1970s. Journalist Natasha Stoynoff said Trump kissed her without her consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005. Around a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct ahead of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal case can stem from Carroll’s lawsuit. Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defence team call any witnesses. – AFP Grief book author charged with killing husband WASHINGTON: A US woman who wrote a book on dealing with grief after the death of her husband has been charged with his murder. Kouri Richins penned Are You With Me? in the months after Eric Richins was found dead in their bedroom in Utah in March last year. The woman told police she had mixed her husband a drink and taken it to him in bed. When Kouri came back later she found he was “cold to the touch”, Fox 13 reported. An autopsy revealed he had died from an overdose of fentanyl, with five times the lethal dosage in his body. Investigators found Kouri had asked an acquaintance to get her strong prescription pain medication, specifically “some of the Michael Jackson stuff”. She received up to 30 fentanyl pills. A few days later, Eric “told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him”, investigators’ documents said. Kouri obtained another batch of fentanyl shortly before her husband died. Her book, which was published almost exactly a year after Eric died, is described by its blurb as “heartwarming and reassuring”. “Written by a loving mother who personally faced this challenge, this book is designed to offer comfort and solace to young minds. “Are You With Me follows the story of a child who has lost their father, but who is reminded that his presence still exists all around them, just like an angel watching over them.” The couple, who had been married for nine years, had three children, all boys. Kouri has been charged with aggravated murder and three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. – AFP RED CELEBRATION ... Fireworks exploding over the Moscow State University building on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. – REUTERSPIC
8 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 SPEAK UP Asia’s media leading in anti-China reporting THE analysis by a US newspaper trying to explain the motive behind the mass killing of several Asian and minority groups in Texas completely misses the role that US mainstream media may be playing in stirring up racial hate through their reports of domestic and geopolitical developments relating to the new Cold War by the US against China. Besides his neo-Nazi beliefs, did sinophobia lead the shooter Mauricio Garcia to target his victims based on their appearance? We may never know. But it is no coincidence that anti-Asian hate crimes in the US increased 339% in 2021 and that sinophobia underlies the anti-Asian racism of white supremacism. Incidentally, this racism does not distinguish between Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Chinese or other Asian-looking victims. It is not only the Western media, which is prominent in anti-China reporting and promoting sinophobia, that needs to examine its role and be concerned with the consequential effects of its China coverage. Some of Asia’s media similarly need to reflect on their culpability in making China out as the existential threat to global peace. This leads to not unexpected ripple effects in generating fear, compounded with hate and a search for recourse to some form of retaliation against the new arch-enemy. China as the arch-enemy India and Japan have the most prominent anti-China and sinophobic media in Asia. Slanted and prejudiced coverage of China by Indian media is not unexpected because of their longstanding border dispute. However the negative and adversarial news reporting by Japan’s media stands out today. The Japanese anti-China news reports may not be surprising considering Japan’s wars of aggression against China since the beginning of the 20th century. American political scientist and professor Rudolph Rummel, whose career has been devoted to detailing collective violence and war with a view toward helping their resolution or elimination, has estimated that “the Japanese military regime murdered nearly 3,000,000 to over 10,000,000 people, most probably almost 6,000,000 Chinese, Indonesians, Koreans, Filipinos and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war”. Distinguishing it from “genocide”, he said: “This democide was due to a morally bankrupt political and military strategy, military expediency and custom and national culture.” (https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SO D.CHAP3.HTM#:~:text=From%20the%2 0invasion%20of%20China,including%20 Western%20prisoners%20of%20war) 4. “Xi’s chief of staff Cai Qi is symbol of powerful court” 5. “Heavyweight Xi Jinping gives himself a lightweight Cabinet” 6. “Economic ministers are marginalised as the CCP takes over policymaking” 7. “In his parting words, Li Keqiang warns that ‘heaven is watching’” 8. “Veiled dig comes as Xi neuters State Council to bolster party” 9. “Xi wants China’s security apparatus under his direct grip” 10. “Could the US come to regard China as a state sponsor of terrorism?” 11. “Futuristic Chinese military unit most likely behind balloon campaign” 12. “PLA’s Strategic Support Force blends space, cyber and electronic warfare” 13. “Was object spotted over Japan in 2020 a Chinese spy balloon?” 14. “Efforts to save face for Xi show same traits as abrupt cancellation of zeroCovid policy” 15. “Jack Ma downfall spells end of China’s golden age” 16. “China’s elderly pay ultimate price for Covid missteps” 17. “China’s female protesters break nation free from zero-Covid” 18. “Quash the ‘white paper’ – Xi’s Chinese dream turns into nightmare” According to the news agency, its most-read commentary in 2022 was “Xi no longer described as ‘people’s leader’ in China”. Recruiting foreign anti-China forces The latest anti-China contribution from Nikkei Asia is an interview with former Marine and former US president Donald Trump’s adviser, Matthew Pottinger. Not content with reports provided by Japanese journalists, the agency, with its deep pockets, is also drawing on foreign war hawks to buttress its media propaganda drive against China. In an article with the provocative title of “China ‘Great White Shark’ fed by the West” on May 4, Pottinger is fed several leading questions intended to confirm China, under Xi, as a threat to the US, Japan and other “free countries”. He does this with much enthusiasm and with a call for China to be caged as it has done “a very good job of pretending and fooling foreign interlocutors, particularly policy elites and wealthy businessmen”. No advisory is provided of Pottinger’s background as a US hardline anti-China idealogue, who has worked in developing the Trump administration’s policies against China. Instead, the article refers to Pottinger’s current position as a “distinguished senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution” to give him and the opinion piece an aura of academic independence and legitimacy. An admirer of Pottinger has described Pottinger’s position on China in the following way: “Regarding the varied domains in which the US and China are locked into competition, whether it be over trade or artificial intelligence, Pottinger believes that US-China cooperation must take a backseat to US military might as a form of deterrence, and to trade conflict as a form of economic leverage. “Although Pottinger is not the brazen hawk that Bolton was and prefers to work behind the scenes, he is a core architect of the Cold War-era competition that characterises contemporary US-China relations. The nation and the world can ultimately expect a continuation of the current administration’s policies.” (https://uscnpm.org/2019/10/02/matth ew-pottinger-architect-of-the-chinesecold-war/) If you make China the enemy, China will be your enemy In its China coverage and in disseminating the opinions of anti-China personalities, including US warmongering officials, Nikkei Asia appears ignorant of and oblivious to Japan’s historical crimes against China. It also appears unable to practise truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality, fairness and public accountability in its China reporting, which is unfailingly slanted and hostile. Nikkei Asia appears bent on pushing China to regard Japan as an enemy. China has for now turned the other cheek against Japanese media propagating antiChina reports and working to undermine the development of peaceful relations between the two countries. But for how long can this policy of tolerance to an antagonistic giant media organisation influencing Japanese and global public opinion and policymaking continue? Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments:[email protected] “Some of Asia’s media similarly need to reflect on their culpability in making China out as the existential threat to global peace. This leads to not unexpected ripple effects in generating fear, compounded with hate and a search for recourse to some form of retaliation against the new arch-enemy. ANOTHER TAKE BY LIM TECK GHEE Nikkei Asia’s anti-China coverage Today, Japanese news agency Nikkei Asia is playing a leading role in the region in stirring up criticism, hatred and enmity towards China. This is ostensibly directed at President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China. Reading between the lines, it is aimed at China and the Chinese as a whole. The giant Nikkei Inc., to which the agency belongs, boasts that it is providing unparalleled coverage of Japan’s economy, industries and markets. With its ownership of the Financial Times in London and 37 bases globally and 1,500 journalists, Nikkei claims it is “ideally positioned to provide Asian news and analysis to a global audience”. The Nikkei daily is published twice a day, both in paper and digital form. Some 2.7 million copies of the morning edition are published every day and 1.4 million copies of lighter newspaper come out each afternoon. The online version has 430,000 paying subscribers and offers English versions of some articles. The group owns three other major newspapers: Nikkei Veritas (which reports on stock markets), Nikkei Marketing (on business and services) and Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun (on industries), as well as the online news source Nikkei Telecom, with 1.5 million subscribers, and a dozen other websites. The network has 54 bureaus in Japan providing text and video reporting. It runs a TV channel (Nikkei CNBC, which largely follows stocks), publishes magazines and books, and has a huge bank of business data. It also organises conferences and provides specialist reporting on Asia, notably in Chinese. (https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/nikk ei-japanese-media-giant-140-yearshistory-165823280--finance.html) So, what is the news on China that Nikkei, with its enormous reach and unrivalled journalistic resources, is providing to Japanese and global audiences? The following headlines were downloaded from its website’s front page “China Up Close”, which gives a clear picture of the paper’s unrelenting anti-Xi and anti-China analysis and coverage. 1. “For wolf-warrior envoy in France, it’s mission accomplished” 2. “Xi, not Trump, started on path to decoupling” 3. “Why Xi Jinping did not meet Taiwan’s ex-president?”
9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 THE maritime sector in Southeast Asia (SEA) is facing increasing cyber-security threats, which can have serious consequences for operations, safety and national security. Addressing these threats will require a comprehensive approach that includes standardisation and regulation, training and education, information sharing and collaboration, and building a culture of cybersecurity awareness and responsibility. With these measures in place, the maritime sector can become more secure and resilient against cyber-attacks, helping to ensure the safety and security of ships, ports and logistics systems in the region. The maritime sector in SEA is also at risk from cyber espionage as some countries in the region have territorial disputes and are involved in sensitive military operations. Hackers can use cyberspace to gather intelligence on ship movements, cargo details and military activities, which can be used to gain an advantage in conflicts. Cyber threats generally originate from ships and port facilities, causing negative implications for operations. For example, when cargo-related IT systems, either on the ship or shoreside, malfunction or cease to function. According to a report by the International Maritime Organisation, the number of reported cyber incidents in the maritime industry has been steadily increasing, with a significant rise in incidents reported in recent years. For example, in 2020, there were several high-profile cyber-attacks on shipping companies and ports, including the attack on a Maersk container ship in June, which resulted in significant disruption to the company’s operations and caused losses of over US$300 million (RM1.34 billion). The maritime sector continued to be at risk of cyber-attacks, with shipping companies, ports and logistics companies being targeted by hackers. According to a report by cybersecurity firm Check Point, the maritime sector is at a higher risk of cyber-attacks than other industries due to its reliance on technology and the large number of connected systems that are used in shipping, ports and logistics. The Covid-19 pandemic has further increased the risk of cyberattacks in the maritime sector as many companies have had to shift to remote work and rely on digital tools to manage operations. One of the main concerns in the maritime sector is the vulnerability of ships to cyber-attacks. Ships rely on complex systems, such as navigation, propulsion and communication, that are connected to the internet and can be accessed remotely. Hackers can exploit these connections to gain access to sensitive information, such as ship movements and cargo details or to disrupt navigation and control systems. For example, in 2017, it was reported that a ship’s navigation system was hacked, causing it to deviate from its planned route and sail into the wrong port. Another concern is the vulnerability of port infrastructure and logistics systems to cyber-attacks. Ports rely on technology to manage operations, such as cargo tracking, vessel traffic management and security systems. Logistics companies use technology to manage supply chains and transportation. A cyberattack on these systems can cause significant disruption to operations and result in lost revenue and reputation. In addition, ports and logistics companies often handle sensitive information, such as customs data and trade secrets, that can be valuable to hackers. It can potentially pose a risk to national security as well as the economy. The maritime industry is global, and ships and cargo often cross multiple countries and jurisdictions. This makes it difficult to develop and enforce consistent cybersecurity standards and regulations. Additionally, the maritime sector is facing a shortage of cybersecurity experts as the industry is not traditionally associated with technology, and many professionals do not have the necessary skills and training. For example, South China Morning Post indicated that the world faces a shortage of three million cybersecurity professionals, mostly in Asia-Pacific. To address these challenges, the maritime sector in SEA needs to adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, which includes: 0Developing and enforcing cybersecurity standards and regulations that are consistent across the region. 0Investing in cybersecurity training and education for professionals in the maritime sector, including ship crews, port staff and logistics workers. 0Improving information sharing and collaboration among stakeholders in the maritime sector, including ship owners, port operators, logistics companies and government agencies. 0Building a culture of cybersecurity awareness and responsibility in the maritime sector of the risks, and encouraging everyone to take action to protect themselves and their organisations. 0Developing incident-response plans and procedures to respond to cyber-attacks and minimise the impact on operations and reputation. After a lapse of almost four years, the 16th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima), which will be held from May 23 to 27 in Langkawi, can be a cornerstone and platform for expanding the importance and awareness of cybersecurity among maritime players. The technological advances which will be showcased should also include cybersecurity elements. Thus, Malaysia, being a maritime nation, and other regional players need to take affirmative steps to protect themselves from cyber threats and strategise concrete cybersecurity measures, and create resilient response plans. DrG. Periasamy, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute of Public Administration (Intan). Comments: [email protected] Challenges in promoting tourism in gateway towns ALTHOUGH many Malaysians have not been to Mersing, they would have heard of this coastal town, which is situated in the northeast of Johor, as it is the departure point by ferry to many popular resort islands nearby, with the largest and most well-known being Pulau Tioman. Many people know Mersing as a stopover town or gateway, where they can have a quick meal, before catching a ferry to their island destination. Few holidaymakers spend time exploring the town or staying the night. I recently read a report headlined “Bring tourists to Mersing mainland, not just island”. Tourism in this town is indeed in the doldrums. For example, Pantai Air Papan, which was once a popular beach destination, is now devoid of visitors. Mersing District Council councillor Azhar Zainal Abidin pointed out that there is a need to overhaul the tourism industry in the district as it only benefits those operating on the island. He was reported to have said, “those on the mainland only earn an income during the monsoon season when the islands are closed for activities”. “I believe that the state government has the capability of bringing in international investors, like what was done for Desaru in Kota Tinggi. There was an eco-tourism project dubbed ‘Mersing Laguna’ some time ago but was cancelled in 2012. Perhaps, now would be the right time to consider a similar project.” He added: “We could create a more balanced industry by introducing new tourism products on the mainland through these investors so that it benefits all those living in Mersing. The state government and the local council can introduce investor-friendly policies, such as giving them a three-year tax exemption, so that they can build a strong foundation first.” Azhar disclosed that the district council was planning to introduce a recreational vehicle or motorhomefriendly area in Pantai Air Papan. He elaborated: “This requires a large budget, which I do not think the council is capable of providing. We want to upgrade the current amenities that have been affected by coastal erosion, fix unkempt food courts and provide charging stations and Wi-Fi connectivity. The local community should also play a proactive role by opening stalls to sell quality food and products.” In the same report, Mersing Tourism Association chairman Sheikh Zulkifli Sheikh Abdul Rahim also stated that the tourism industry in Mersing is in dire straits. He lamented, “after the Covid-19 pandemic, people have shifted their focus to spending only on necessities”. “Tourism has become an activity only for those with disposable income. But those who can afford it prefer to go abroad to places like Thailand, which is one of our major competitors as an island and beach destination. Even after international borders were reopened in April last year, industries in Mersing are still struggling.” He added: “Even island hopping is not popular anymore. We are planning to meet with the state government to find ways to bring more traffic into the district. The majority of tourism operators are finding it hard to sustain their day-today operations and pay their workers on time.” The report is informative as it identifies the problems and challenges the town is facing in attracting visitors. But the issues are the same elsewhere as many towns are also trying to draw visitors to spend money and boost the local economy. However, little will change if people are stuck to conventional thinking, such as the need for a big budget or huge investments to turn a town into a popular destination. And describing Mersing Laguna as an ecotourism project is incorrect as it would destroy the ecosystem if implemented. Fortunately, Mersing has passionate people like Azhar and Sheikh Zulkifli. If there are more people like them in Mersing, the residents there can overcome the many challenges they are facing, but they must be willing to seek help from outsiders and be open to new ideas. It is normal for the locals to offer what they have but they should also consider what visitors want. The Mersing District Council or the Mersing Tourism Association can organise a forum or tourism lab and invite speakers to present their ideas on promoting Mersing. YS Chan is a master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course as well as an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a transport and training consultant and writer. Comments: [email protected] COMMENT by YS Chan AS a proud Malaysian from Semenanjung, I have long been fascinated by the enchanting beauty of Sarawak. This magnificent state, with its plethora of diverse ethnicities, cultures and stunning landscapes, never fails to amaze me. The unique blend of traditional and modern elements creates a sense of wonder and curiosity in my heart, leaving me in awe of its sheer beauty. Sarawak truly is a gem that shines bright in the heart of Malaysia, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to admire it from afar. One of the most captivating aspects of Sarawak that never fails to enchant me is the beautiful music that emanates from this diverse state. With each ethnic group boasting its unique musical tradition, Sarawak is a true melting pot of melodies, rhythms and harmonies. The music of Sarawak is like a vibrant tapestry, with each thread weaving together to create a masterpiece of cultural heritage. As a devoted music lover, I was thrilled to learn that the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is making a return. This renowned event celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sarawak and brings together talented musicians from around the world. The festival is a true celebration of diversity, uniting people through the universal language of music. The mere thought of attending this festival fills me with excitement as I know it will be an experience of a lifetime. When artists and music fans converge in one venue to celebrate their shared love for music, there is an undeniable sense of magic in the air. From concerts to gatherings and other types of events, such occasions are incredibly valuable to society as they provide a unique opportunity for people to come together and connect in a truly refreshing way. Bringing together international musicians and local talent is an exceptional way to encourage cultural exchange as it fosters a deep appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures through music. These events have the power to create a transformative experience for all who attend as they transcend language barriers and unite people through the beauty of music. Reading recent news coverage on the events, I am particularly thrilled about this year’s RWMF as its significance is being promoted widely, beyond its world acclaim. It is now recognised as Sarawak’s keystone festival and is being strongly promoted through responsible tourism. The ultimate goal is to transform the festival into one of the world’s most sustainable and eco-friendly events, which is truly inspiring. It is incredibly heartening to see that the festival’s scope is being broadened to encompass not just music but also a powerful and responsible environmental message. By advocating sustainable practices and responsible tourism, the festival has not only become a source of entertainment but also a powerful catalyst for positive change. It is a fine example of how events like this can have a lasting impact on society and music lovers like me. I look forward to attending the RWMF, as it is popularly known. The prospect of immersing myself in the vibrant music scene and connecting with people from all over the world fills me with joy and anticipation. The festival’s commitment to responsible tourism and sustainability further reinforces my belief that it is not just an event but a celebration of culture, music and the beauty of our planet. I cannot wait to be a part of this incredible experience and create memories that will last a lifetime. Adibah Amir Petaling Jaya Celebrating diversity of world music in Kuching LETTERS [email protected] Keeping SEA waters safe from cyber threats COMMENT by Dr G. Periasamy
10 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 IBN, JTA form strategic partnership to boost tourism real estate developments KUALA LUMPUR: IBN Corp welcomes JTA International Holdings as a new shareholder after the latter announced its investment in two major development projects – IBN Highlands City and Green City during the partnership agreement signing ceremony. IBN Corp director of sales and marketing Branden Ng states that JTA International Holdings is a world-renowned financial services and investment solutions provider with established companies based in Qatar and UK. This partnership enables both companies to share technical knowledge and experience of the real estate industry, resulting in better quality homes, higher project efficiency and increased reach in global market. “I would like to thank JTA International Holdings for their trust and support in IBN Corp. Their investment will not only enhance our current development projects – IBN Highlands City and Green City, but also pave way to better future projects,” he said. IBN Highlands City is a mixeduse development in Genting Highlands that integrates over 4,000 units of serviced apartment, IBN Convention Centre (IBNCC) and five-star hotels to form the second largest hotel complex in Genting Highlands. Spanning over 300,000 sq ft, IBNCC is the first large-scale convention centre in Genting Highlands that has the technological capacity to make any event special. Green City is a holiday resort development project that presents an opportunity for one to get close to nature by combining the tropical rainforest, majestic mountain range and beautiful lake of Serendah. The development project celebrates idyllic living within nature’s embrace through a well-designed town planning system that perfectly connects ecology, architecture and landscape. IBN Corp takes another step forward into the international property market. From left: Branden Ng, Chen Guohui, Dr Amir Ali Salemi, and Dr Seyed Nasrolah Golkar. New shareholders will drive IBN Corp and its development projects to new heights of success. IBN Highlands City is an award-winning architectural masterpiece that is suitable for both investment and own stay. During his speech, Ng revealed that IBN Corp made plans to develop tourism real estate projects based in Selangor and Pahang respectively since 2018. This timely investment fund will expedite project development and launch plans. The public can expect more information regarding these new projects within the next two years. IBN Corp is a multinational enterprise that focuses on tourism real estate development and construction investment in Southeast Asia countries. Using its expertise in land development and capital management, the company is able to cover various fields of businesses comprising project development, services, hotel management and utilities. In the past decade, IBN Corp has been upholding its principle as “The Life Builder” to deliver innovative and high-quality development projects with significant economic and social value. To date, IBN Corp has become one of the most influential multinational developers in Malaysia. JTA International Holdings was formed in 2010 with a vision to be the address company in providing unique and innovative financial services and investment solutions to the target businesses lead by brilliant ideas and manage iconic projects around the globe. The company has globally expanded with their subsidiary holdings active in energy, food, sports, health, tourism, technology and infrastructure sector by utilising skillsets within already established majority owned companies in Qatar and UK. With a pedigree in project financing and investments as well as access to a community of inhouse professionals, external subject matter experts and knowledgeable business partners, the company is able to continuously assess and carefully analyse investment opportunities around the globe in order to devise best-fit-custom-made investment solutions to guarantee outcomes that deliver sustainable growth in projects. Moving forward, JTA will continue to invest and keep evolving as a centre of excellence for tailor-made investment solutions via win-win partnerships. For more information regarding our projects, please visit www.ibncorp.com or our social media accounts @IBN Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
KLCI 1,425.68 STI 3,242.29 HANG SENG 19,762.20 SCI 3,319.15 NIKKEI 29,122.18 120.64 TSEC 15,641.76 KOSPI 2,496.51 S&P/ASX200 7,255.70 THURSDAY MAY 11, 2023 Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] Advertising Tel: 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] 5 MOST ACTIVES May 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) BAHVEST 242,753,200 11.5 -2.0 JADEM 156,839,800 27.0 -0.5 HSI-CLQ 92,753,600 14.5 -1.5 TOPGLOV 81,897,000 110.0 +1.0 KNM 60,780,400 6.0 UNCH EXCHANGERATES MAY 10, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.5160 4.3780 4.3720 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0730 2.9480 2.9330 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.4030 3.3010 3.2900 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.3720 3.2790 3.2640 1 EURO 4.9610 4.7960 4.7770 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8750 2.7660 2.7460 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.4030 3.3010 3.2900 1 STERLING POUND 5.7090 5.5260 5.5030 1 SWISS FRANC 5.0590 4.9380 4.9130 100 UAE DIRHAM 124.4300 117.8700 117.5100 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.2610 3.9610 3.7640 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 65.3000 62.8000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 58.2100 55.2700 54.9400 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.5900 5.2500 5.0600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0317 0.0287 0.0237 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3430 3.2350 3.2340 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.8000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.6200 1.5100 1.3100 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.2100 7.7300 7.5800 100 QATAR RIYAL 124.6600 118.3400 118.1500 100 SAUDI RIYAL 121.7000 115.5400 115.1200 100 THAI BAHT 14.0200 12.4200 11.9300 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY May 10, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,444.90 -34.24 FBMKLCI 1,425.68 -6.95 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 576.51 -0.91 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 169.55 -0.10 CONSTRUCTION 162.21 +0.34 FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,597.90 -117.60 ENERGY 833.31 +0.34 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 624.92 +1.74 HEALTH CARE 1,832.74 -0.37 TRANSPORTATION 910.02 -0.82 PROPERTY 699.80 +4.39 PLANTATION 6,838.52 +28.32 FBMSHA 10,797.10 -4.17 FBMACE 5,041.72 -12.88 TECHNOLOGY 59.60 +0.28 TURNOVER VALUE 2.784 BIL RM1.649 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS May 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM MPI 183,200 27.50 +0.60 AYER 2,300 7.27 +0.20 HEXTECH 9,900 23.38 +0.20 PETDAG 92,500 22.80 +0.14 PCHEM 3,547,900 7.31 +0.11 5 TOP LOSERS May 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEIM 180,900 28.20 -0.68 PANAMY 20,300 22.30 -0.38 AJI 143,900 14.56 -0.28 MALPAC 1,900 0.80 -0.19 SNC 42,702,600 0.23 -0.19 6.95 0.66 105.38 38.52 85.94 13.55 8.40 Acronis sets up cyber cloud data centre in KL PETALING JAYA: Acronis has set up a cyber cloud data centre in Kuala Lumpur that provides its partners with access to a range of cyber protection solutions. The solutions empower the cyber security specialist’s partners to create new services and offerings to manage their clients’ data protection needs more efficiently and effectively with faster access, continuous data availability and the added benefit of data sovereignty. This addition to the company’s global network of cyber cloud data centre, including more than 50 locations worldwide, will provides its partners in Malaysia access to a suite of cyber protection solutions and managed cloud solutions via the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform. Acronis senior vice-president for AsiaPacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa sales and global channel Pasha Ershow said, “A local presence is an absolute necessity for modern cloud businesses, and we are proud to deliver the Acronis Cyber Cloud data centre in Malaysia. Every new Acronis Cyber Cloud data centre launch enhances Acronis’ network of availability, enabling our customers to meet regulatory compliance and connectivity demands.” With the new addition, the Acronis Cyber Cloud network consists of 52 data centres and it will continue to expand the chain, he said at an event yesterday to mark the launch of the KL centre. “Acronis has enjoyed tremendous business growth in the past two years, with 60% global growth in 2022 and Apac being the fastest growing region, including 178% yearon-year in Malaysia. Our innovative solutions are designed to increase global availability and cater to the needs of our service providers and their partners,” said Pasha. Chan Kee Siak, founder and group CEO of Exabytes, said: “We are glad that Acronis is investing in a cloud data centre here in Kuala Lumpur. “Acronis’ partners and customers in Malaysia can look forward to locally hosted cyber protection solutions in compliance with Malaysian data protection legislation while also benefiting from the full range of managed cloud solutions and cyber protection solutions available via the Acronis Cyber Cloud Platform.” - by Ranjit Singh KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PetDag) maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook on its performance for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2023 (FY23), and continues to monitor global headwinds, as well as any changes to government policy. Managing director and CEO Azrul Osman Rani said the outlook is supported by anticipation that the crude oil price is expected to average US$89 (RM392) per barrel in 2023, while inflation and gross domestic product are forecast to moderate. “Tourist arrivals, estimated to reach 9.6 million, and higher domestic demand would be the keys to our growth performance this year,” he said at a press conference after the company’s AGM yesterday. Azrul said, “PetDag’s financial performance is a reflection of the robust efforts on our core businesses as well as the hard work and commitment of our people. We made strategic investments and pushed forward with a focused approach. We were able to meet the needs of our customers and deliver shareholder returns despite operating in a challenging market environment. “The business results underscore our commitment in delivering high-quality offerings to make our customers’ everyday lives simpler and better. Whilst we remain From left: CFO Farzlina Ahmad Murad, Azrul, chairman Datuk Anuar Ahmad, and COO Khalil Jaffri Muhammad Muri at a press conference after Petronas Dagangan’s AGM. oCompany says tourist arrivals, domestic demand key to its growth in FY23 █ BY HAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] NCT Group, Socso join hands to strengthen talent development PETALING JAYA: NCT Group of Companies has taken a step forward to promote employment and enhance talent acquisition in Selangor through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Social Security Organisation (Socso). The MoU reflects the company’s dedication to creating more job opportunities and developing a skilled workforce in the state, particularly in relation to its upcoming project, the NCT Smart Industrial Park (NSIP). As part of the MoU, a MYFutureJobs satellite centre will be established at NSIP to provide better access to the job portal for job seekers. To further facilitate the utilisation of MYFutureJobs, Socso will provide technical training for career coordinators and career consultations to job seekers through a series of engagement sessions. NCT Group of Companies founder and Group managing director Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy said: “We are pleased to continue the momentum in preparation for the NSIP project, and the partnership with Socso is a crucial step in achieving our goal of creating more than 50,000 job opportunities at NSIP during the construction and numerous employment opportunities for Malaysians once it is completed.” cautious about the challenges that global headwinds may pose, we are confident and optimistic in our ability to adapt and navigate through them successfully,” he said. For FY22, PetDag’s net profit rose to RM776.60 million compared with RM529.75 million in the year before, mainly contributed by higher gross profit from all segments following an increase in demand. Revenue expanded to RM36.75 billion from RM22.67 billion, the group said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia. PetDag’s Mesra Retail & Cafe, which focuses on the food and beverage (F&B) business. continued to drive and deliver results in the non-fuel business segment with a 24% increase in revenue, exceeding market and sector growth. In FY22, PetDag’s retail business registered its highest sales record, leveraging the strengths of its network and dealers, fuel product offerings and innovative digital solutions. It made further inroads into the non-fuel and green mobility space with the launch of an electric vehicle charging hub at Petronas Station Bandar Baru Ayer Hitam in November 2022. In the same year, its commercial business saw revenue growth of 300% in the aviation segment. This upswing was attributed to the reopening of domestic and international borders as the tourism sector continued to gain momentum. The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business sustained its overall market leadership in the household and commercial segments. PetDag also entered into a joint venture with Petros through the incorporation of PetrosNiaga as part of its plan to expand and grow its market presence in Sarawak. Petronas Dagangan cautiously optimistic Participation 44.6 29.3 26.1 100.0 Institutions Retail Foreign Bought RM m 746.4 490.4 413.1 1649.9 Sold RM m 726.1 475.1 448.7 1649.9 Net RM m 20.3 15.3 -35.6 0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 10/05/2023
12 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Wholesale, retail trade volume expands in Q1 PETALING JAYA: The volume index of wholesale and retail trade registered growth of 9.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023. In a statement yesterday, Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said, “The increase was attributed to retail trade sub-sector which rose 14.7%, followed by motor vehicles and wholesale trade which increased 11.4% and 3.5%, respectively. For quarter-on-quarter comparison, volume index inched up 0.4%, supported by motor vehicles which grew 3.2%.” Moving on to performance across suboIndex registers 9.5% increase year-on-year Alliance Bank targets RM36b retail loan book in next 5 years KUALA LUMPUR: Alliance Bank Bhd has targeted to grow its retail consumer loan book by 1.5 times to RM36 billion in the next five years. Group chief executive officer Kellee Kam said this will be achieved by transforming its retail loan origination system (RLOS) capabilities following the credit transformation project it partnered with CTOS Digital Bhd. He said the project will allow the bank to increase loan approval performance and to evaluate the “unbanked” and “underbanked” segment comprising consumers whose traditional credit history is so limited that they do not have credit scores and easy access to credit. “We do simulations on the approval rate increases, speed to market and how quickly customers can come back again, and we are targeting that underbanked and unbanked market,” he told a press conference after the contract signing here yesterday. “We are about RM24 billion today in terms of retail credit. We want to take it up to about RM36 billion within the next five years,” he said. CTOS Digital Group CEO Erick Hamburger said the five-year contract worth RM14 million, signed between Alliance Bank and CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd, involves digital innovation and automation to enhance existing processes and to transform credit decision process as part of its implementation. This will enable Alliance Bank to provide a fast, convenient and personalised services that are relevant to meet the changing needs of customers, he said. Extensive data analytics and cutting-edge solutions enable the group to provide added value to clients by accelerating growth and enhancing and expanding decision-making capabilities, he said. The new RLOS will feature credit transformation capabilities which will serve as tools to improve productivity and turnaround time. – Bernama Buoyant domestic demand to boost Q1 GDP growth: MIDF Research KUALA LUMPUR: MIDF Research expects the upbeat domestic demand momentum underpinned by a steady labour market, softening inflationary pressure, pick-up in tourism activities and supportive economic policies to boost first quarter (Q1) of 2023’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth and the overall 2023 expansion rate. In a note yesterday, the research house is optimistic that retail trade growth could touch 8.9% for 2023, considering the macroeconomic outlook and improving domestic fundamentals. “We believe the pent-up demand will continue into this year underpinned by improving labour market, stable inflationary pressure, accommodative economic policies and an uptick in the tourism industry. “Even though the overnight policy rate (OPR) is back to its normalised rate of 3%, we believe it would have minimal effect on domestic spending outlook, and we are confident that Bank Negara Malaysia will keep the OPR status quo at least until this year,” it said. On tourism, MIDF Research said the third month of this year saw international passenger movements registered at three million, reaching 66.2% of the February 2019 level and the highest since February 2020. “March 2023 saw a strong pick-up of passenger movements, thanks to long school holidays. “During the pre-pandemic, 50.7% of Malaysia’s airports’ passenger traffic was contributed by international travellers, 25% by Asean and 25.7% by non-Asean destinations,” it said. The research house said it expects airport passenger movements to improve in 2023, underpinned by borders reopening by China and Japan. “The recovery towards the 2019 level is still a long journey despite the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders since last year, and our view is that the earliest for passenger traffic to reach the 2019 level will only be by 2024,” it noted. MIDF Research said the pick-up in tourism activities would be led by China’s tourists, the recovery of the labour market, and the softening inflation rate. “Supportive economic policies will bolster household consumption and retail trade spending to stay upward for this year,” it added. MIDF Research said that on Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade for March 2023, consumer demand would remain robust as retail trade growth remained double-digit for the past 14 months despite inflation concerns and recorded sturdy performances. – Bernama B R I E F SSTANDARD CHARTERED RAISES RATES BY 25 BPS EFFECTIVE TODAY PETALING JAYA: Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd and Standard Chartered Saadiq Bhd has increased their standardised base rate, base rate and base lending rate/base financing rate by 25 basis points to 3.00%, 3.52% and 6.70% respectively effective today. Similarly, the increase of 25 basis points will apply to the bank’s retail term deposit and term deposits-i rates across all tenors on the same effective date. The increase is in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s overnight policy rate increase by 25 basis points to 3.00%. RINGGIT SEEN HITTING 4.11 TO US DOLLAR BY YEAR-END KUALA LUMPUR: Kenanga Research has projected the ringgit to trade at 4.11 against the US dollar by year-end from its current level of above 4.40. It believed the ringgit may gain ground and strengthen to around 4.35 by the end of the second quarter this year, especially if the US Federal Reserve signals that it had done enough in its next meeting in June. Kenanga Research noted that the ringgit-US dollar pair monthly average stood at 4.424. – Bernama sectors, he added that the volume index of retail trade’s positive growth of 14.7% was contributed by retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores with 40.0%. This was followed by retail sales of other goods in specialised stores 22.9% and retail sale in nonspecialised stores 18.8%. Meanwhile, the volume index of the retail trade went down 0.8% compared with the previous quarter. As to the performance of motor vehicles, he said the increase of 11.4% in this sub-sector was attributed to sales of motor vehicles and sales of motor vehicles parts & accessories which grew 13.7% and 12.4%, respectively. Mohd Uzir said that maintenance & repair of motor vehicles registered an increase with a growth of 12.3%. “For quarter-on-quarter performance, the volume index of motor vehicles climbed 3.2% as compared to the previous quarter,” he added. He said the volume index of the wholesale trade sub-sector recorded positive growth of 3.5% in first quarter 2023 compared with the same quarter in 2022. This positive growth was contributed by wholesale of agricultural raw materials & live animals of 11.4%. This was followed by wholesale of household goods 10.3% and wholesale of food, beverages & tobacco 9.1%. For quarter-on-quarter comparison, the volume index of the wholesale trade rose 1.1%. “As for seasonally adjusted volume index, wholesale & retail trade increased 3.6% as against the fourth quarter of 2022. Motor vehicles and wholesale trade sub-sectors recorded positive growth of 7.2% and 5.4%, respectively,” Mohd Uzir said. Porsche Malaysia shifts into high-performance mode in EV charging PETALING JAYA: Porsche Malaysia is doubling up its high-performance charging facility to power up to 350kW within the Porsche centres and introducing a solar carport concept at Porsche Centre Penang. The upgraded charging facilities at all Porsche centres across Malaysia feature twin175kW direct current (DC) chargers, offering up to 350kW charging speeds. This is the first time such charging capabilities are available within a dealership facility, and with these upgraded chargers, Porsche Malaysia aims to redefine EV ownership experiences. Sime Darby Auto Performance CEO Christopher Hunter said, “Since we introduced our first all-electric sports car, the Porsche Taycan, alongside 175kW high performance charging within our dealerships in 2020, we saw a growing demand and a rise in the number of EV sports car fans in Malaysia. To demonstrate our commitment to the future of mobility, it has been our ongoing focus and responsibility to offer a holistic EV ownership experience to our most forwardlooking customers,” Available exclusively for Porsche Taycan owners at Sime Darby Auto Performance, the newly upgraded DC chargers allow two Taycan to be charged simultaneously at up to 175kW each. The high-performance 350kW-capable charging facility is available at Porsche Centre Ara Damansara and Porsche Centre Penang. The upgraded twin-175kW DC chargers will available at Porsche Centre Sungai Besi and Porsche Centre Johor Bahru next month. The volume index of the retail trade recorded positive growth of 14.7% in the first quarter. – BERNAMAPIC
13 * SUNBIZ theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 UOB Malaysia posts total operating income of RM3.9b KUALA LUMPUR: UOB Malaysia recorded RM3.9 billion its total operating income in 2022, a 15.2% increase from the year before. The growth was predominantly driven by stronger non-interest income and net interest income. Net interest income increased by 11.3% to RM2.7 billion due to UOB Malaysia’s proactive balance sheet management, coupled with the favourable movements in interest rates throughout 2022. Meanwhile, non-interest income surged by 28.3% to RM1.1 billion, as the bank continues to leverage of its regional capabilities and network. UOB Malaysia reported a higher-than-usual operating expenses of RM2.3 billion (an increase of 69.7% year-on-year), largely attributed to the one-off cost UOB Malaysia’s higher-than-usual operating expenses of RM2.3b was largely due to its one-off cost of acquiring Citigroup’s consumer banking business in the country. oBank’s growth in 2022 driven by stronger non-interest and net interest earnings of acquiring Citigroup’s consumer banking business in the country. The acquisition was done in a strategic move by UOB to strengthen its franchise in Malaysia. At the same time, the bank continued to invest in technology infrastructure to support future business growth. As a result, the bank reported a profit before tax of RM1.3 billion, 12.9% lower than previous year. Combined with the retail franchise from Citi consumer banking business, UOB Malaysia’s gross loans, advances, and financing, as well as non-bank deposits portfolios grew significantly to RM105.7 billion (2021: RM90 billion) and RM110.9 billion (2021: RM97.1 billion) respectively. The bank’s asset quality remained robust. With the strong post pandemic economic recovery, total allowance for expected credit losses declined by 70.9% or RM340.7 million. This was largely attributable to the write-back of expected credit losses of nonimpaired assets, as well as commitments and contingencies, coupled with lower expected credit loss for impaired assets. UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei said, “2022 was a defining year for UOB Malaysia. We completed the acquisition of Citi consumer banking business in November, and strengthened our retail franchise with an expanded portfolio, touchpoints and partner network. Guided by our threeyear growth strategy, we also continued to transform and scale up our infrastructure, digital capabilities, network, people, and brand. UOB has grown alongside Malaysia for over 70 years and we remain confident of the country’s long term growth potential, as reflected by our continued investment including our new state-of-the-art and green headquarters – UOB Plaza 1 KL.” UOB Malaysia is also focused on supporting small and medium enterprises (SME) on their sustainable journey through partnerships with ecosystem partners including Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Malaysia (SJPP) to launch the U-Green Financing programme. To this end, the bank has allocated RM1 billion for this programme, of which up to 80% of the loans are guaranteed by SJPP under the government’s Pemulih government guarantee scheme. Ng said, “UOB Malaysia will continue to support local businesses to decarbonise by leveraging our sustainable finance frameworks, and to explore regional expansion including capitalising on the growing crossborder trade opportunities. In 2022, we launched two digital solutions for businesses, UOB Infinity and the UOB SME app, which are equipped with supply chain management capabilities. We will continue to invest in our supply chain management platform to drive foreign direct investment and trade, in line with our aspiration to be the top cross-border bank in Asean.” Construction sector keeps up the positive momentum PUTRAJAYA: The construction sector sustained its positive momentum in the first quarter of 2023 with the value of work done expanded by 9.4% to RM32.2 billion, according to the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DoSM)’s Quarterly Construction Statistics, Malaysia, First Quarter 2023 report. According to Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, the expansion of value of work done in the construction sector in the first quarter of 2023 supported by a double-digit increase in civil engineering (17.2%); followed by nonresidential buildings sub-sectors and special trade activities which increased by 9.6% and 9% respectively. Meanwhile, the value of work done in the residential buildings sub-sector declined by 2.2% as against positive growth of 5.3% recorded in the previous quarter. During the first quarter of 2023, the total work done value amounted to RM32.2 billion with civil engineering accounting for RM12.1 billion or 37.6%, while nonresidential premises contributed 30.5% with a value of RM9.8 billion. Additionally, the residential buildings and special trade activities represented 21.7% and 10.2% of the work done value respectively. On the performance of the construction sector by the project owner, Mohd Uzir said, “The private sector remained as the main impetus to the growth in this quarter, with an increase of 10.6% (Q4 2022: 23.5%). The value of work done by the private sector amounted to RM19.8 billion or 61.4% of the total construction work done value.” On the other hand, he added the value of work done owned by the public sector stood at RM12.4 billion or 38.6% of the total value, which rose by 7.4% in this quarter (Q4 2022: 4.7%). Analysing the performance of the construction sector by state, more than one-third of the work done value in the first quarter of 2023 was concentrated in Selangor (RM8.1 billion or 25.1%); and Wilayah Persekutuan (RM4.1 billion or 12.7%). Sarawak and Johor ranked next, with both recording the value of work done at RM3.4 billion (10.6%). Lotte Chemical, Polymateria in biodegradable plastic resin JV KUALA LUMPUR: Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd’s (LCT) subsidiary Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn Bhd (LCTM) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Polymateria Ltd (Polymateria) to jointly develop products incorporating next-generation biodegradable plastic resin. LCT president and CEO Park Hyun Chul said at the MoU signing ceremony yesterday that the collaboration is to develop products with Polymateria’s biotransformation technology and to commercialise the new biodegradable resin. “This innovation can support plastic waste management in Malaysia as the government works towards implementing the Plastic Sustainability Roadmap and the National Action Plan for Marine Litter Management,” he said. Park said LCT is taking an active role to reduce environmental impact by developing and commercialising sustainable technologies like Resin+, a solution incorporating Polymateria’s technology at the point of resin manufacturing to ensure that plastic is able to biodegrade completely. Polymateria CEO Niall Dunne said using biotransformation technology in Lotte’s plastic resin to create an end-toend biodegradable solution would provide unprecedented scalability and is a milestone for the resin industry worldwide. There is “no creation of microplastics” with plastics returning to nature safely and effectively within two years without any ecotoxicity issues. The British Standard Institution’s (BSI) PAS 9017 standard on biodegradable plastic has also been recognised in the Malaysian Plastic Sustainability Roadmap and the National Action Plan for Marine Litter Policy as a standard to govern biodegradable products. LCT is Malaysia’s first standalone polyolefins producer and one of the largest integrated olefin and polyolefin producers in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Polymateria is a British technology company developing biodegradable plastic alternatives. – Bernama Investors in Asia urged to consider tapping private credit market KUALA LUMPUR: Investors in Asia are recommended to consider private credit options as the private credit market may be on the cusp of a further boom in a rising rate and inflationary setting, according to Private Credit Sector Report for Asian Investors yesterday. The report, co-developed by Southeast Asia’s largest digital marketplace for alternative assets Alta and investment advisory firm Aletheia Capital, revealed that private credit offers higher yields compared to traditional fixedincome investments – a yield that is 3-4% above two-year US treasury funds. Aletheia Capital head of consumer and internet Nirgunan Tiruchelvam said in a statement that private credit can provide superior yields, lower volatility and diversification in the current market environment. According to the report, the size of the private credit market has tripled to US$1.2 trillion (RM5.3 trillion) between 2012 and 2022. Meanwhile, venture debt continued to attract attention in Asia with US$12.1 billion disbursed in 2021, four times the 2018 level of US$3.2 billion (RM14.3 billion). – Bernama MYAirline: KL-Bangkok flight takes off June 28 PETALING JAYA: Low-cost carrier MYAirline has announced Thailand as its first international destination and the start of sales for routes to both Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. Starting June 28, the airline will offer daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 to Suvarnabhumi International Airport with an additional daily flight to Don Mueang International Airport to be launched on July 1. Twice daily flights to both airports will commence on Aug 17, bringing up the total to four daily flights to the city. CEO Rayner Teo said that Bangkok is a favoured destination for travelers from Malaysia and the airline is able to provide a reliable, convenient, and cost-effective travel option for passengers. “We are excited to offer tourists and business people departing from Thailand the experience that Malaysians have been receiving aboard MYAirline for the past six months,” he said in a statement. The airline said that it signaled the start of Phase 2 of its expansion plans, which comes at a right time when tourism demand is increasing.
14 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 SUNBIZ READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Chinese firms’ results reveal lopsided economic recovery oWhile spending has resumed, consumer caution over global growth and job prospects has dented confidence and demand OCBC posts record quarterly profit, flags rates peaking SINGAPORE: Singapore’s second-biggest lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) joined bigger rival DBS Group in flagging a peak in interest rates after reporting record quarterly profit yesterday, thanks to higher net interest margins. OCBC Group CEO Helen Wong said the bank believed interest rates had peaked and “will go stable”. “We’re looking at assumption that we do not see interest rate reduction the rest of the year,” she told reporters. OCBC’s January-March net profit rose 39% to S$1.88 billion (RM6.2 billion), beating the mean estimate of S$1.74 billion from five analysts polled by Refinitiv. Its total net interest margin, a key gauge of profitability, rose to 2.3% in the first quarter from 1.55% in the same period a year earlier, but was down from 2.31% in the fourth quarter. OCBC, Southeast Asia’s second-biggest bank by assets, forecast full-year net interest margin would edge up to 2.2% from a previous guidance of 2.1%. Singapore’s banks have been benefiting from strong inflows from wealthy customers amid global economic uncertainty because of the city-state’s status as financial safe haven. OCBC’s earnings performance follows those of its peers, with DBS reporting last week a 43% jump in first-quarter net profit that was also a record. Smaller United Overseas Bank posted last month a 74% surge in core net profit. OCBC’s shares rose 0.7% yesterday in a flat broader market. Jefferies Research said OCBC’s revised net interest margin guidance was broadly in line with expectations and the broker expected “relatively muted share price reaction”. “Our loan portfolio was resilient and our wealth management business continued to attract net new money inflows,” Wong said in a statement. The lender said it was starting to see growth in cross border flows after China’s reopening, but it was also closely monitoring volatility in developed markets and geopolitical tensions. “Looking ahead, we are watchful of tighter financial conditions which may slow global economic growth and elevate overall risks,” she said. OCBC, which counts Singapore, greater China and Malaysia among its key markets, said net interest income rose 56% to S$2.34 billion in the first quarter from a year earlier. Return on equity rose to 14.7% in the first quarter from 10.6% in the same period of 2022. Meanwhile, Wong said OCBC’s clients’ exposure to Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds of Credit Suisse was “very insignificant”. Investors have been rocked by a Swiss authorities’ decision to wipe out US$17 billion (RM76 billion) of Credit Suisse’s AT1 debt under its takeover by UBS Group, in a move that hit AT1 holders harder than shareholders. – Reuters B R I E F SGO FIRST AIRLINE GAINS BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION NEW DELHI: Go Airlines (India) Ltd was granted bankruptcy protection yesterday, bolstering the country’s fourth-largest carrier chances of getting back on its feet, but lessors are expected to mount legal challenges to repossess planes. The lowcost carrier, recently rebranded as Go First, was plunged into financial crisis this year, sparked by what it called “faulty” Pratt & Whitney engines that grounded about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. The US engine maker, part of Raytheon Technologies, has said the claims are without evidence. In granting bankruptcy protection, the National Company Law Tribunal in New Delhi ordered a moratorium on Go First’s assets and leases. It also appointed Abhilash Lal of Alvarez & Marsal as the interim resolution professional to take over management with immediate effect. – Reuters PHILIPPINE AIRLINES TO BUY NINE A350-1000 JETS MANILA: Philippine Airlines will order nine Airbus A350-1000 wide-body aircraft to expand its fleet and route network as air travel recovers from the pandemic, the flag carrier said yesterday. The new aircraft will be operated on nonstop services from Manila to North America, its biggest international market, including the east coast of the US and Canada, the company said. The first of the nine A350-1000s is slated to be delivered by the fourth quarter of 2025, with deliveries continuing until 2027, the airline said. The Philippine flag carrier also secured purchase rights on three additional A350-1000s for future expansion to new long-haul destinations, it added. – Reuters TOYOTA EYES 10% PROFIT INCREASE, ROBUST EV SALES TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp yesterday said it expects operating profit to climb 10% this business year, with a five-fold jump in pure electric vehicle (EV) sales amid an easing in global supply chain disruption from a shortage of chips. The world’s biggest car maker by sales forecast battery EV sales, including those of its luxury Lexus brand, would reach 202,000 worldwide this business year through March 2024 – up more than fivefold from 38,000 units last year. Toyota forecast operating profit would rise to ¥3 trillion (RM99 billion) this business year, in line with an analysts’ average forecast of ¥3.02 trillion. – Reuters INDIA, CANADA AIM TO SEAL TRADE PACT THIS YEAR NEW DELHI: India and Canada aim to seal an initial agreement this year to increase their trade and expand investment while setting out a mechanism to deal with disputes, they said in a statement yesterday. India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met his Canadian counterpart Mary Ng in Ottawa on Monday, along with business leaders. The two countries last year relaunched negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. The proposed pact could boost bilateral trade by up to US$6.5 billion (RM29 billion), according to Indian government estimates. – Reuters earlier, rebounding from a 5.7% drop in the fourth quarter of 2022, BofA Securities estimates. The benefits to companies, however, varied widely even though the economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter. Restaurants and tourism businesses recovered, with travel-related consumer services sector earnings surging 155%, data from China International Capital Corp (CICC) showed. Food-and-beverage sector earnings jumped 18% and automobiles were up a smaller 8%. In contrast, both home furnishings and apparel firms’ earnings declined 9%. Sub-sector results further highlight the divergence in consumer behaviour. Major jewellery brands Lao Feng Xiang and Chow Tai Seng saw double-digit growth in earnings, while leading cosmetics firm Bloomage Biotechnology posted a 17% decline in its net profit due to lukewarm online sales. Norman Villamin, group chief strategist at UBP, said consumer confidence will be restored gradually and over time. Several analysts believe the first quarter will be the low point for 2023 and full-year earnings will reach double digits. Refinitiv data forecasts full-year earnings growth of 26% for companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. “Investors may look past the first-quarter results and focus on the momentum of earnings revision for the second quarter,” said Redmond Wong, Greater China market strategist at Saxo Markets. The benchmark Shanghai Composite has risen 8% so far in 2023, although stocks retreated somewhat in April as corporates delivered a mixed bag of results. The materials sector posted the worst results, with earnings in steel and building materials tumbling more than 60%, respectively. Real estate, healthcare, apparels were notable underperformers, while financials, consumer services and utilities outperformed with positive growth, CICC data showed. Analysts believe earnings have reached a trough and could improve in the coming quarters, after the April Politburo meeting suggested policymakers will dole out forceful fiscal and monetary measures to support recovery. – Reuters SAN FRANCISCO: Google is expected to enrich its popular online services with more artificial intelligence yesterday as it scrambles to catch up with rival Microsoft despite fears that AI poses a threat to society. Leaks ahead of the internet titan’s annual developers conference have revealed that Google will also show off new gadgets, including a foldable smartphone, and reveal additions to its Pixel line of devices. Most attention will focus on Google’s expected release of a more muscular version of its Bard generative AI being put to work across the platform. Microsoft upped the pressure last week by expanding public access to its generative AI programs – including the Bing chatbot – that have put it back on the map as a big tech disruptor. The services have been enhanced with the ability to work with images as well as text, and Microsoft intends to add video to the mix, according to executives. Google is expected to follow suit in AI announcements at its annual “I/O” software developers conference held a short walk from its headquarters in Mountain View. A more powerful large language model built into the heart of Bard will likely be unveiled, along with expanded use of the AI powers in Gmail, work software, search and more, according to media reports. Large language models involve machine learning applied to massive amounts of data harvested from the internet. Generative AI can be prompted to quickly deliver written tasks from poetry and homework to computer code. It can also be prompted to create images or video. Risks from AI include its potential uses for fraud, with voice clones, deep-fake videos and convincing written messages. A prominent computer scientist dubbed “the godfather of artificial intelligence” recently quit his job at Google and spoke out about the dangers of the technology. Geoffrey Hinton said at a recent MIT forum that it makes sense to halt the development of AI, but added that the idea is naive given the intense competition between countries and companies involved in the sector. Hinton, who created some of the technology underlying AI systems, maintained that the existential threat from AI is “serious and close.” A range of experts in March urged a pause in the development of powerful AI systems to allow time to make sure they are safe. The I/O gathering is aimed at software developers who make apps or services that dovetail with Google’s “ecosystem” and should include details about the latest Android operating system for mobile devices. Recent tweaks to Android hint it is being adapted for phones with screens that bend, allowing them to be folded. Google recently posted a brief video clip teasing a foldable phone that it is likely to formally introduce at the conference. Leaked information in recent weeks indicates that Google will also show off a lower-priced version of its Pixel 7 smartphone along with a new Pixel tablet. – AFP HONG KONG: People in China splashed out on dining, travel and luxury goods after emerging from three years of pandemic restrictions but are still not spending freely on routine consumer items, if first quarter corporate results are an indication. There was a broad bounce in earnings after China ended its zero-Covid policy involving city-wide lockdowns and extensive quarantine in December, but consumer caution over global growth and job prospects have dented confidence and overall demand. China A-shares posted 3.2% growth in earnings in the first three months from a year Google is playing catch up with rival Microsoft with the launch of a more powerful Bard generative AI, along with expanded use of AI powers in Gmail, work software, search and more. – AFPPIX Google to show off AI and Pixel gadget innovations
1 1 M A Y 2 0 2 3 T H U R S D A Y A place for everyone oLissette’s Cafe & Bakery is a place to enjoy a great range of not just comfort food, cakes, and pastries but also vegetarian and vegan food I F you are planning to enjoy lunch with friends but worried about how to accommodate the different kinds of food they prefer, visit Lissette’s Cafe & Bakery. Lissette’s Cafe & Bakery opened the doors to its third outlet at 163 Retail Park on July 5, 2022 – its first two outlets are in Bangsar and Subang – and serves delicious comfort food for meat lovers while offering vegetarian and vegan options, and it has been packed with customers ever since. Lissette’s has a very cosy atmosphere, with leafy plants and pretty rattan lights that give a warm and natural rustic feel inside the cafe. At the entrance, guests will be in awe of the strategically placed hanging shelves that reach high up, where bottles and glasses are displayed, and it’s an attractive feature for the cafe. At the front counter, customers get to pick their favourite croissant buns, English scones, crowd-pleasing strawberry tarts, wholesome pies and quiches and many more. The interior is inspired by the rustic feel of an old heritage shop lot building – despite 163 Retail Park being built in 2016 – with exposed brick walls, vintage tiles, and a concrete floor. The cafe has different sets of menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers a wide variety of foods, including fusion, Western, Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, and local dishes. Then, there is a huge selection of cakes and pastries – more than 60 types of cakes and freshly baked pastries to indulge in during breakfast (the chef starts preparing for breakfast at 5.30am every morning) and for afternoon tea. Since the opening, customers have been flocking to the cafe not just for mouth-watering signature dishes like Black Nasi Lemak (using black glutinous rice) and best-sellers Tom Yum Laksa and Lisette’s signature omelette, but also for their tempting vegetarian and vegan dishes that have become a favourite for all. “It’s a place for a group of friends with different food preferences to dine together as we have good options when it comes to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes,” said Lissette’s Group General Manager, Daniel Hackenberg. To date, a total of 30 vegan and vegetarian dishes are available on the menu. In addition to this, the cafe can also replace meat-based ingredients with a fully vegan, vegetarian dish to cater to a specific group. “We are very flexible when it comes to accommodating vegetarians,” said Hackenberg. “Nowdays, more and more people are turning vegetarian and vegan. It’s very important for us to come up with a lot of options, and this is where our Chef Parisa Salarvand’s speciality comes in.” Chef Parisa, originally from Iran, is the brains behind Lisette’s vegan and █ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI Besides the excellent food, the atmosphere of the cafe is also very inviting. (below)You’ll never lack Instra-worthy moments at Lissette’s Cafe & Bakery. Chef Parisa Salarvand presenting some of the cafe’s signature dishes: Pumpkin Salad, Vegan burger, Vegan breakfast and the delightful mushroom stroganoff. vegetarian dishes. At first, she was a regular customer of Lissette’s outlet in Bangsar, and eventually, she found herself in their kitchen. “As a customer, I loved their food concept and style, so I applied for a job, and I got it,” she revealed. Now, Chef Parisa is in charge of cooking and R&D (research and development) for vegan, vegetarian food in the cafe. To date, Lissette’s best-selling vegan breakfasts and vegan burgers are among her recipes. “The sausages in the vegan breakfast are homemade and filled with vegan cheese. The breakfast set has roasted pumpkins, mushrooms, tomatoes, and avocado,” she explained There were two slices of homebaked sourdough bread, baked beans, perfectly roasted pumpkin, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, avocado-coated black and white sesame, homemade sausage and lovely tempeh hash. The portion is big with different vegetables that it could shared with a friend. Meanwhile, the big-size burger had a homemade patty, quinoa, edamame, slices of avocado, onions, tomatoes, cashew nut mayo, and vegan cheese, served with freshly cut fries as a side. Burgers are not usually healthy, but this one has nutrient-packed vegetables and satisfying to eat! Another one of her recipes is the vegan mushroom stroganoff in sour cream and paprika sauce with butter rice. “It’s one of my mother’s recipes that I put on the menu, and it has become one of the best sellers. My mom is a good cook, and she is my inspiration,” added Chef Parisa. The dish came on a big plate with gravy and rice, topped with thin, crispy potatoes and a sprinkle of paprika powder. The dish appeared simple and homely with no exceptional food plating or presentation style but when I took a spoonful of the gravy and rice, it was just surprising because it tasted so good, creamy and flavourful. The mushroom and onion gravy on buttery rice is a must-try, especially if you are vegan or vegetarian. It’s no wonder its one of their best-selling dishes. Apart from this, we were also served a healthy pumpkin salad. Not only did it look appetizing, but the fresh beetroot dressing was bursting with flavours on our tastebuds. The salad is piled high with mesclun leaves, walnuts, butter beans, pomegranate, cous cous, and, at the bottom, seasoned, soft, and tasty pumpkins, drizzled with pomegranate molasses, and garnished with pomegranate seeds. Chef’s favourite Working at a popular restaurant, Chef Parisa constantly explores new recipes, ingredients, and combinations of tastes and keeps herself updated with the latest in the world of culinary. When she came to Malaysia, however, Chef Parisa got a pleasant surprise when she first tasted Malaysian multicultural cuisine. “It was really a surprise, and it was very exciting to try the food,” shared the chef with a cheery smile. She never used to eat spicy food, but now, she has become accustomed to having chilli in her dishes. “I really like how they (local people) play with spices and herbs, and it’s delicious,” she confessed. She loves chicken rendang, laksa, and all types of sambal, and her favourite local ingredient is coconut milk. Coming from Iran, we wondered if she had incorporated any of the abundances of herbs found there into her recipes. Saffron, her favourite choice, is used in some of the dishes on the menu. A place for all kinds of tastes One thing you can be assured of when you walk into Lissette is that you will have a wide variety of dishes to choose from. “We are strong when it comes to consistency in terms of flavours of food,“ said Hackenberg. “We strive to serve better by updating our menu, every two to three months to cope with demands,” he added. The cafe will come up with unique tastes every now and then, Currently, the bakery section is experimenting with calamansi, a favourite local fruit flavour for cakes and tarts. “It’s a place for everyone and for every taste,” concluded Hackenberg. When you enter Lissette’s Cafe & Bakery, customers gets to view all the tempting slices of cakes and pastries – ALL PIX BY ADIB RAWI / THESUN
16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME A spy family drama THE new Korean spy comedy series directed by Jang Jeongdo Family: The Unbreakable Bond centres on Kwon Dohoon (Jang Hyuk), a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent for South Korea who leads a double life as both a spy and a family man in secret. Do-hoon has been able to conceal his profession from everyone, even his devoted wife Kang Yu-ra (Jang Na-ra). The couple put in a lot of effort to maintain their ideal family, but Dohoon is unaware that his homemaker wife also has her own secret. During a recent virtual press conference, director Jang and the cast members shared some behind-thescenes information about the show with theSun. Family: The Unbreakable Bond, according to director Jang, is a tale about a family and also about the faith we place in those who are close to us. The concept for the series was originally inspired by a hypothetical family of three generations living together and asking whether they could still manage to keep the family together after learning each other’s secrets. Describing their characters in the series, Jang Hyuk regarded the character in the series as a new challenge for him because one scene forced him to shave his eyebrows. He remarked that he put a lot of effort into that scene. His persona might first be rather perplexing, and the only way to fully comprehend him is to watch the series. Everyone in her family loves and supports Jang Na-ra’s character completely, and they all have complete faith in her. She remarked: “I think I paid a lot of attention to my character’s facial expressions. She feels okay but always seems a little low on energy.” “We can all maintain our high hopes for Jung-an’s action in the series”, Jang Hyuk reassured everyone while speaking of the action sequences. “The choreography was not easy.” He described a scene from the series where he had to use some big movements within the tight space of an elevator. “And this small space captures the emotions of the character very well,” he said. This series marks Jang Hyuk and Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara become Family in this new action comedy series. – ALL PIX BY DISNEY+ oFamily: The Unbreakable Bond is a spy comedy that focuses on protecting one’s family █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Jang Hyuk lives a double life as a loving man and a NIS agent. Family: The Unbreakable Bond is Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara’s fourth project together. The series has everything from comedy to action and heart-warming drama. Jang Na-ra’s fourth endeavour together since their last project nine years ago. They have long been admirers of director Jang. According to him, the project just so happened to be ideal for them. He added: “I was so grateful and happy that I got to work on this project with the actors that I respect so much. Their chemistry is so great that they didn’t have to say much to each other – simply by looking at each other, they could communicate. “No single take took us more than two hours, and they had so many great ideas, so I didn’t even feel like I had to direct much. I thoroughly enjoyed the process.” The filmmaker claimed that switching between humour and action was not easy. He spoke extensively with the cast and did his best to shoot the family scenes in a way that would allow viewers to unwind and let go of the tension that comes with daily living. Regarding the action scenes, the director preferred to create a continuity for that specific segment of the series rather than something that is realistically accurate. The series, according to director Jang, focuses mainly on whether or not individuals can accept new information about those closest to them and how they respond to it. The mutual trust in a family in the comedy, not the intricate manoeuvres or operations, is what distinguishes the series from others. Aside from the two leads, Chae Jung-an portrays Oh Chun-ryun, a highly competent, high level official who oversees the National Intelligence Service. Oh’s character in this series is very unlike from the roles she has previously done. She said that in this specific role, she had developed into a person who had achieved success on her own. She said: “Whenever we are filming, I always give it my all. My main goal for this [project] was to maintain my strength.” Meanwhile, Kim Nam-hee plays Cho Tae-gu, a mysterious character in the series. It is not surprising that people often question if Kim is portraying a villain whenever they see him on film. He claims that his character Taegu in this series also seems to be sending forth a bad feeling. “No matter what I do, Tae-gu will appear to be a villain,” he remarked. “I thus made the decision to leave the character alone.” The series required a lot of chemistry between the castmembers to work, and there was a fair bit of improvisation on the set. Jang Hyuk responded that the series incorporates a number of different genres, when asked what one thing viewers should be on the lookout for. Although there are explanations for why their relationships became so complicated, the characters are quite complex. “This entails a lot of twists, one after another. After following the twists, the story ends before you know it,” he said. Additionally, Jang Na-ra mentioned how enjoyable and unique the filming for this series was. She had the impression that she was continuously learning more about the world. “It was so challenging to portray all of that, but I’m sure audience will find this story to be like a well, which you keep finding yourself being drawn further into.” Family: The Unbreakable Bond available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar, with new episodes released every Mondays and Tuesdays.
17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 Ma’s character Dae-guk often, with ‘You get what I mean, right?’ So, I’m the one on the receiving end. “Then we end up working together, running a business together and end up squabbling. It was really funny. Also, Ma pointed out this earlier, the lines, instead of calling them ad-libs, were written in a way that it was meant to be spoken really quickly. “So for the tiki taka (back and forth lines), we practised that while having some fun before filming started, and I think that helped to bring those scenes to life even more.” Is Ma part of the reason why you chose this film? Jung Kyung-ho: “Not just in this film, Ma an influence in every part of my life. I really like him a lot. We’ve known each other even before my debut, so it’s been more than 20 years. So being able to work together makes me feel really happy. “It brings up old memories as well. I’m glad I chose this film. Before we started, we were like, ‘Let’s do our best,‘ and he basically set everything up and gave me the chance to work with everyone, as well as meet the director. And I had a fun time filming Men of Plastic, so this was a priceless experience.” Ma, how was it for you, working with Jung? Ma Dong-seok: “I really like Jung. Ever since we were young. We’re really close. I’ve also made a cameo appearance in one of his films before, Rollercoaster. As an actor, I don’t need to explain how good he is. “Jung is the kind of actor who can enhance what’s missing from the script through his acting. He’s really smart, funny and a nice guy. He can hold his liquor well too. He’s an excellent actor and a very nice guy.” Both Jung and also Oh Na-ra mentioned you’ve known each other for more than 20 years. How does it feel when you see them doing well as actors? Ma Dong-seok: “They’re really excellent people, and actors. When I was acting as an extra, a lot of directors and actors I met then are doing well right now. That makes me really happy. “I’m very grateful as well. It’s the same for director Im Jin-sun. We worked together in The Villagers, which was a lowbudget film but we really put in a lot of effort. I hope more people can enjoy working in their respective fields.” Men of Plastic premieres on May 13, 2023 at 10pm on tvN Movies (Astro CH416 & Astro GO | unifi TV CH201 & unifi playTV | tonton). researched on as well. I wanted to portray a new character, so I tried my best.” You had really satisfying action scenes in The Roundup. For this film, is the action more verbal? Ma Dong-seok: “Yes, my character is the kind who uses words to resolve everything, so there’s a lot of ‘mouth action’, and correspondingly, a lot of lines. Also, if you watch our film, there’ll be a lot of scenes that seem like ad-libs, but almost all are lines from the script itself. Almost all the lines in the script are written like adlibs, which is why it might feel like actual ad-libs. After filming this film, I’ve become more talkative.” One aspect of the film to look forward to is also the memorable dialogue. You have a lot of those. Ma Dong-seok: “For this film, I talk so much, so there’s quite a few. Amongst them, the one I say most often is, ‘You get what I mean, right?’ “I say that at the end of every line. ‘You get what I mean, right?’ To get confirmation and get his way, to /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME Beauty & the Beasts THE most glamorous part of Seoul, Apgujeong thrives with new possibilities. Daeguk (Played by Ma Dongseok) a native of the district who rules its ground, is eager to start his own groundbreaking plastic surgery business. He encounters Ji-woo (Jung Kyung-ho), a talented surgeon who lost his medical license due to someone sabotaging his reputation. Dae-guk effortlessly comes up with an idea to make this business happen, and he does everything he can to make Ji-woo his partner. Together, Dae-guk and Ji-woo open a whole new era of Apgujeong. Can their attempt to create a plastic surgery centre that is well-known all over Asia bear fruit? Find out when Men of Plastic premieres on May 13. In this transcript provided by tvN Asia, stars Ma and Jung share their thoughts on this film that teaches you not to judge a book by its cover. For Ma, what do you hope to show through this film? Also, you’re not just an actor, you’re also a producer. Ma Dong-seok: “First, the reason why I wanted to produce Men of Plastic was because I hope to make films from a variety of genres. I wanted to make a film where the audience could enjoy, relieve stress and feel happy about. “To be honest, for The Roundup, there’s a lot of action scenes and comedic scenes as well but the story itself is serious so I wanted to make a film where people can just come and enjoy it. Next … is our film rated for 12 years old and above? Yes, 12 years old. I wanted to make a film where parents and their children can watch together. When I’m the producer … apart from The Roundup franchise and Men of Plastic, I’m also working on a few other films, and I’ve been working on scripts for more than 10 years. Some, like fantasy films, start from a completely blank slate but generally I get my inspirations from true stories or people, then I proceed to flesh out the story. “The character I portray in Men of Plastic is inspired by someone I know. He actually exists. He’s someone who has been unemployed for a long time. And as I observed him, and found out what he’s trying to do, what he wanted to do in Africa, which made me realise he’s a really interesting person. Jiwoo is also inspired by a real person, even though he’s not 100% similar. I’m very intrigued by true stories so I often look around for stories and I think that’s how I work.” You even gave the idea for the title, Men of Plastic. Please tell us more about that. Ma Dong-seok: “Yes, after much discussion with the production team, they used my idea for the title. I started planning for this drama eight years ago. “Using the beauty business in Apgujeong as a theme, I wanted to feature the people there who’re trying to survive, trying to succeed. I even interviewed people from that industry. I also worked on the script with director Im Jin-sun, and luckily it was made into a movie. I’m very happy that it’s being released now.” Jung, what did you think when you first heard the title? Jung Kyung-ho: “I’ve always wondered why there’s so many plastic surgery clinics in Apgujeong. I think our film talks a little about that. There were actually a few choices for the title but once it was confirmed to be Men of Plastic, I thought this was Jung Kyung-ho and Ma Dong-seok play two men who start a plastic surgery centre together. – ALL PIX BY TVN ASIA oTwo men from different backgrounds work together to create a plastic surgery industry in an area of South Korea the most suitable title.” We heard Ma changed more than 30 sets of clothes. Why is that so? Ma Dong-seok: “Yes. I also paid a lot of attention to my looks. I’ve appeared in more than 100 films but this film is the one where I’ve changed my clothes most often. “To change into over 30 sets of clothes over two hours is really… I don’t really like changing clothes, so it was challenging. But I think it suits my character. First of all, not just my looks, how he talks, his ideas behind his business, these were aspects I convince others.” It seems like you’ll have a lot of squabbling scenes with Ma Dongseok. Could you share what your chemistry was like while filming those scenes? Jung Kyung-ho: “There’s squabbling but more than that, it’s more like my character Ji-woo gets convinced by Jung’s plastic surgeon character is the perfect front man for t. The three of them plan on getting rich beyond their wildest dreams. Helping the two in their plan is Oh Na-ra. Ma plays an unscrupulous hustler with big dreams.
18 BEAUTY theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 For your best skin S OTHYS has announced the launch of its new sustainable and ethical skincare package programme, SOTHYS VC Club. The 3-product package is a holistic skincare regime designed to streamline skincare routines, guarantee consistent results, and eliminate the need for constant product experimentation, promising skincare enthusiasts with simplicity and reliability. Members of the Club will receive doorstep delivery of the three products twice a year, letting them save money on SOTHYS’ products every year with the unique programme. The three-step process in the VC Club solution starts off with Noctuelle Renovative Micro Capsules. Each capsule is infused with a perfectly-balanced blend of vitamins, including 20% pure vitamin C, that is effective in reducing sun damage and dark spots to reveal radiant skin with every use. It is followed by The Nutritive Ultra Lipid SOS Serum, a refined concoction of grape flower stem cells, argan oil, and phytosqualane, which deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin, resulting in a tightened appearance of pores. Finally, the skincare routine is completed oSOTHYS launches year-long sustainable skincare programme that offers convenience and comfort with The Noctuelle Renovative Night Cream, a richly-textured moisturiser formulated with a combination of vitamins, seabuckthorn oil, Jania rubens algae and blackcurrant buds. These help strengthen the skin barrier and promote cell renewal, effectively reversing skin ageing. The VC Club offers two packages: Package A which includes four Noctuelle Renovative Micro Capsules and two Nutritive Ultra Lipid SOS Serum. Meanwhile Package B comes with both aforementioned products, with the addition of four Noctuelle Renovative Night Cream. To celebrate the beauty of graceful ageing, SOTHYS’ is offering something special for Mothers’ Day with the purchase of Package B – a complimentary Perfect Shape Youth Serum from now to May 15, 2023. SOTHYS’ simple regimen is designed to address skin concerns for skin of all types and ages, working at a microscopic level to rejuvenate cells. In addition to providing effective skincare, SOTHYS is committed to making conscious choices that are not only beneficial for the skin and body, but also the planet. Their products are dedicated to a cruelty-free approach to skincare, reflecting a commitment to responsible and ethical beauty practices. All products featured in the VC Club are 100% non-animal derived, vegan and formulated with only natural, non-toxic ingredients that work with the skin’s innate healing abilities to combat signs of ageing to promote healthy, glowing complexion. Visit SOTHYS website to learn more about the VC Club. Embrace a new radiance BERNARD Cassiere Paris has launched a newly improved formulation to its existing Blood Orange Detoxifying Care line. The range now uses upcycled citrus extract as part of the brand’s efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainable beauty. The new formulation consists of carefully-selected natural ingredients and a new generation Detox Complex – made from upcycled citrus extracts, blood orange extract and five-flavour berry extract – that contain powerful anti-oxidising properties that will help regain skin’s health, leaving it reenergised, revitalised and with a natural radiance glow. To further boost the natural benefits of the Blood Orange Detoxifying Care line, consumers are encouraged to utilise Bernard Cassiere’s GuaSha Methodology, which combines the added advantages of the ancient eastern art in order to eliminate cutaneous toxins and cellular waste. Among the Blood Orange Detoxifying Care products that feature the new formulation are: Complexion Reviving Detox Moisturising Cream, a pearlescenttextured cream that blends in with your skin tone for a radiant and energised complexion Blood Orange 3-in-1 Detox Mask, which leaves the complexion looking brighter and reenergised Radiance Booster Detox Serum, enriched with a Vitamin C derivative and hyaluronic acird to boost tired and dull skin in only seven days Tying everything together is the Detox Night Concentrate, a dry oil with more than 99% natural resources, and active ingredients including rose hip, macadamia and jojoba oil, a cocktail of citrusy essential oils and carrot extract, all of which gradually improves your skin’s natural radiance. Bernard Cassiere is also offering a Blood Orange Detox GuaSha Set, comprising the Detox Night Concentrate and a jade GuaSha, so that beauty enthusiasts can experience its benefits in the comfort of their own home. For more information, and to locate your nearest Bernard Cassiere dealer salons, visit Bernard Cassiere Malaysia’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Shine on with Shiseido suncare ONE should never leave home without sun protection. That’s because we are constantly exposed to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and artificial sources. Generally, the UVI in Malaysia hovers between 9 to 11+ most of the time all year round (as given by WHO), and is usually at its peak between noon and 2pm. As such, we need to take extra care, especially when spending a lot of time doing outdoors activities such as sun-bathing, sports or even just walking. Daily Use Designed for everyday application, Shiseido Urban Environment Triple Beauty Suncare Emulsion SPF 50+ PA++++ has a light oil-free texture, and contains antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, leaving your skin feeling moisturised and looking vibrant. Its innovative Urban Environment Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen with Sun Dual Care helps shield the skin against air pollution and other elements that can lead to dull or dry skin, while converting a portion of sunlight into beneficial light to boost your skin’s beauty. The product has a moisturising effect and silky texture, and can even work like a primer. At the heart of the Sun Dual Care is the Spirulina Energy Essence containing unique photosynthetic properties beneficial for skincare, while the exclusive SuperVeil-UV 360 technology enables UV skin protection from all directional angles. For Sports and Outdoor use The Shiseido Perfect Protector SPF50+/PA++++ is a 360° multi-protective sunscreen lotion that defends the future of the skin against ravages of UV radiation. It offers protection against UVA and UVB rays, external pollution and dryness. The gentle formula has a light texture and is enriched with skincare ingredients including Triple Block Formula that helps to suppress visible damage caused by UV rays, preventing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and unevenness. Waterproof and sweatresistant, the Perfect Protector utilises Shiseido’s exclusive SynchroShield Technology that creates a UV protective veil when activated by heat, water and perspiration. This helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and rejuvenate the skin. It also has Shiseido’s unique WetForce Technology formula that becomes even more effective when in contact with water or sweat. Sunkissing with Shiseido Beauty Truck Shiseido will be driving its ‘Sunkissing With Shiseido Beauty Truck’ to several locations around the Klang Valley from May 20 to June 16, 2023. Be on the look out for the truck, which will bring you good news on how to have fun in the sun, while ensuring your skin protected! For more information, visit Shiseido Malaysia’s Facebook page.
19 FASHION theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 A-LISTERS from the worlds of fashion, film, politics and sports celebrated the late king of couture, Karl Lagerfeld, at the annual Met Gala last Monday, bringing their top style game to New York, oozing glamour – and delivering serious baby news. Pop superstar Rihanna showed up late as usual but shut down the red carpet all the same, tennis legend Serena Williams and supermodel Karlie Kloss debuted their baby bumps with flair – and two celebs dressed up as Lagerfeld’s cat. Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Michelle Yeoh, singers Cardi B and Bad Bunny, WNBA superstar Brittney Griner and supermodels Gisele Bundchen and Kate Moss were also among the hundreds of invitees at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The guest list is tightly curated by Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue who took over the charity gala in the 1990s and transformed it into one of the world’s buzziest fetes. This year, the extravaganza – which always falls on the first Monday of May, save for a pandemicera schedule change – celebrates Lagerfeld, and ushers in the opening of a Costume Institute exhibition dedicated to the iconic designer, who died in 2019. Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty pays homage to his decades in the industry at the helm of Chanel, Fendi, Chloe and his own line, all the while moulding the future of fashion. And the celebs in attendance understood the style assignment, most of them sporting vintage looks from the elegant German-born designer – or silhouettes that reflected his aesthetic. Rihanna was cloaked in white Valentino, with airy camellias – the flower synonymous with Chanel – adorning the hood of her cape. Her white fingerless gloves mirrored those favoured by Lagerfeld. Underneath? A sexy fitted Rihanna arrives for the 2023 Met Gala in New York. – ALL PIX BY AFP oStars shine bright in New York as the Met Gala honours the late Karl Lagerfeld Actress Viola Davis. Datuk Michelle Yeoh looking stunning as usual. Gigi Hadid. Rocky, when asked about the impending arrival of their new child. Williams timed the announcement of her second pregnancy with the event, writing on Instagram: “Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala” – meaning her, her husband Alexis Ohanian and their new child. Diamonds and cats Kidman sported a blush Chanel gown that cascaded to the floor in feathers – a dress she first wore in an ad for the house’s iconic No. 5 perfume nearly 20 years ago. “I’m so glad I’m still able to wear it,” she told AFP on the red carpet. Singer Dua Lipa wore a creamcoloured Chanel bridal gown from the 1990s, accented with black stitches and accessorized with a stunning Tiffany diamond necklace she said was taken from the jeweller’s vault. Actress Olivia Wilde reached into another archive, wearing a Chloe “violin” gown designed by Lagerfeld in the 1980s. Many attendees wore shades of black, white and cream, though a few pops of colour emerged (and a bit of silver body paint on Lil Nas X). And two guests showed up as Lagerfeld’s beloved cat Choupette – singer Doja Cat in full makeup, and actor Jared Leto in a full furry costume. Immense talent Of course, Lagerfeld is not controversy-proof – despite his own public struggle with his weight, he criticized curvy women. And late in life, he derided the #MeToo movement and those who came forward with claims of sexual misconduct. “The show is really focusing on Karl the designer, his works rather than his words,” said Costume Institute head curator Andrew Bolton. “We haven’t included any of his more controversial or offensive comments.” Carla Bruni, a former model and once the first lady of France, told AFP before the event that she remembered Lagerfeld for his “immense talent”, “creative power” and “bewitching charm.” This year, Wintour invited actresses Penelope Cruz and Michaela Coel, retired tennis legend Roger Federer and Dua Lipa to cochair the gala. The guest list was shrouded in secrecy until the main event. The ball is invitation-only, with single tickets costing US$50,000 (RM221,840) and tables starting at US$300,000 (RM1.3 million). Oozing glitz & glamour Feel good with Skechers Foamies collection TO help you kick back and relax in style, Skechers launches an extension of its p o p u l a r F o a m i e s collection, with new styles to be progressively launched instores and online. The collection, for both men and women, comprises a variety of water-friendly styles, including clogs and slides that are comfortable, versatile and stylish. This new range of the Skechers Foamies collection is perfect for lounging by the pool, hanging out at the beach or riding your bike through town. Skechers has incorporated its wellknown comfort technologies into various styles and designs in this latest line, and each one has been carefully crafted so that you can confidently walk in style and comfort. S k e c h e r s F o a m i e s GOwalk 5 Enjoy easy-wearing comfort with the Skechers Foamies GOwalk 5 casual clog that features a lightweight, perforated EVA upper with a contoured footbed and Comfort Pillar Technology for added support and a convertible h e e l s t r a p . T h e clogs are m a c h i n e washable, have a convertible heel strap and a duald e n s i t y t r a c t i o n ou t s o l e f o r stability, and are perfect for our hot, humid weather. The key features include: 0 Sculpted and perforated Foamies EVA upper 0 Comfort Pillar Technology for added support 0 Crafted with 1 0 0 % v e g a n materials S k e c h e r s Foamies Arch Fit Horizon Slide into supportive comfort with the Skechers Foamies Arch Fit Horizon. This sculpted slide sandal features the Arch Fit contoured footbed, that is a patented insole system with podiatrist-certified arch support, with a band strap and a dual-density outsole. These slides are also machine washable, and crafted with 100% vegan materials. The key features include: 0 Sculpted Foamies EVA lightweight upper with a band strap 0 Flexible traction outsole 0 Footbed will mold to your foot to reduce shock and increase weight dispersion Skechers Foamies Top Level Sandals Experience trendy, casual comfort while wearing the Skechers F o a m i e s Top Level. These chunky sandals, which come in black and a range of candy colours, feature a flexible EVA u p p e r w i t h singleb a n d p u f f c o n t o u r i n g and a cushioned comfort footbed. The key features include: 0 Sculpted flexible Foamies EVA upper 0 Durable dual-density traction outsole for stability The Skechers Foamies collection is available on Skechers.com.my, Lazada, Shopee, and selected Skechers stores. white gown with spaghetti straps. The singer, who is pregnant with her second child, told reporters on the red carpet she was “feeling good” as she entered the venue hours later than most guests. “It feels amazing. I’m happy to be a dad,“ said her partner, rapper ASAP Skechers Foamies: (top row) GOwalk 5; (right) Arch Fit Horizon; and (far right) Top Level Sandals.
20 FEATURE theSun LYFE ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 THE next time NASA goes to the Moon, it intends to stay. Under the Artemis programme, the US space agency plans to maintain a human presence, for the very first time, on a celestial body other than Earth. But building a lunar base is no small feat. It will need power generators, vehicles and habitats, and the space industry is racing to meet the technological challenges. “It’s the Super Bowl of engineering,” Neal Davis, lead systems engineer for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle at space company Dynetics, told AFP. Dynetics revealed its prototype design for a Moon rover last month at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. But it probably won’t be until later Artemis missions – seven onwards – “where we’re starting to look at adding permanent habitations on the surface,” said NASA associate administrator Jim Free. Artemis 3, the first planned landing, won’t happen until later this decade, so habitat building wouldn’t start before the 2030s. The base would likely comprise multiple sites, he added, to diversify the targets of scientific exploration and to offer more flexibility for the landings. Power and communications Despite this distant timeline, companies are already chomping at the bit. “Step zero is communications,” Joe Landon, CEO of Crescent Space, a new subsidiary of Lockheed Martin dedicated to lunar services, told AFP. “Think about when you move into a new apartment, you’ve got to hook up your phone and your internet first.” Starting out with a pair of satellites, the company wants to become the Moon’s internet and GPS provider. This would relieve the strain on NASA’s Deep Space Network, which threatens to overheat in the face of all the upcoming missions. Landon estimates the value of the lunar market will be “US$100 billion (RM443.7 billion) over the next 10 years.” Next up: switching on the lights. Astrobotic, with 220 employees, is one of three companies selected by NASA to develop solar panels. They need to be placed vertically because at the Moon’s south pole – the intended destination because it has water in the form of ice – the Sun barely peeps above the horizon. About 18 metres high, the Astrobotic panels will be connected by cables running several kilometres, said Mike Provenzano, the company’s director of lunar surface systems. The solar arrays will be fixed to vehicles that can run them out to different locations. Vehicles For its scientific expeditions, NASA has tasked industry with developing an unpressurised – that is to say, open-top – rover for two people, ready by 2028. Unlike the Apollo missions’ rovers, it will also have to operate To the moon and beyond oLet’s take a look at what will the Artemis Moon base will look like An artist’s rendering of astronauts working near NASA’s Artemis base camp, complete with a rover and RV. – NASA An artist’s illustration of a conceptual lunar base with 3-D printed infrastructure. – ICON / SEARCH+ autonomously for outings without an astronaut. This means surviving frigid lunar nights, which can last two weeks, with temperatures dropping to around -170 Celsius. Many companies have made a start. Lockheed Martin has partnered with General Motors, leaning on the auto giant’s expertise in electric and off-road vehicles. Dynetics, a subsidiary of engineering behemoth Leidos, has joined forces with Nascar. Its prototype, which will achieve a top speed of nine miles per hour (15km per hour), includes a robotic arm and metal wheels that are braided like textiles to maximize traction on the sandy surface and deal with any rocks they encounter. “But at the same time, they actually have a lot of openings to the outside so that they don’t collect that sand and carry it with us,” Davis said. Moondust, or regolith, poses a major challenge because, lacking erosion by water or wind, it is almost as abrasive as glass. NASA has yet to announce the selected company or companies. In the longer term, NASA is working with the Japanese space agency JAXA on a pressurised vehicle, in which astronauts won’t need to keep their suits on. Habitats Finally, the crew will need a place to hang up their helmets and call home. NASA has awarded a US$57.2 million (RM253.8 million) contract to the Texas-based company Icon, which specializes in 3D printing, to develop the technology needed to build roads, landing strips on the Moon, and ultimately, dwellings. The idea is to use lunar soil as a material. Other companies, such as Lockheed Martin, are developing inflatable habitat concepts. “The beautiful thing is you can land it on the moon and inflate it and now there’s a much larger volume for the crew to live in and work in,” Kirk Shireman, vice president for the Lockheed Martin Lunar Exploration Campaign, told AFP. Inside would be bedrooms, a kitchen, a space for scientific instruments, etc. – all mounte d on a frame, so the habitat can be mobile. The basic concept behind returning to the Moon under Artemis is to help NASA prepare for much more distant missions to Mars. “Whatever money we have to spend to go develop these systems on the moon, we want those same systems to be applicable to go to Mars,” Infographic showing the evolution of lunar activities on the surface and in orbit. – NASA said Shireman. – ETX Studio Members of the media stand next to a Moon rover prototype for future Artemis missions. – NASA
21 * SPORTS theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 Cummins wants to play on AUSTRALIA captain Pat Cummins wants to play international cricket for another five years but has already experienced one period of burnout which forced him to reassess the balance in his life. The 30-year-old paceman played his first Test as a teenager in South Africa in 2011 but did not play his second until six years later as he was nursed through a series of injuries. Once he did return to Australia’s colours, however, he quickly discovered the almost unrelenting demands on the top modern players. “Cricket’s basically 12 months of the year,” he told former England footballer Rio Ferdinand on the Get Real with Rio vodcast. “There’s always a cricket game going on somewhere, and I played non-stop for a year or two. “And I was just spent, like burnt out, and I just remember thinking, ‘Jeez, I’m 25 here but I want to do this until I’m 35. I’ve got to find a way to balance all these different things’.” Next up for Cummins and Australia is the World Test Championship final against India in London next month followed quickly by the five-Test Ashes series against England. Boult eyes World Cup SEAMER Trent Boult still wants to play for New Zealand at this year’s World Cup and Tests next year despite giving up his central contract to allow him to spend more time with his family. The 33-year-old, who with Tim Southee has made up one of the world’s most feared pace attacks over the last decade, has not played international cricket since negotiating a “significantly reduced role” with the Black Caps in August. “I’ve still got that big desire to play for New Zealand,” Boult told Cricinfo in Jaipur, where he is playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “It is what it is: I’ve made my decision. I’ve been lucky enough to have a 13-year career in the Black Cap and hey, I’ve still got a big desire to play in the World Cup as well. “It’s such a great tournament…100%, I’ve got that desire to be out there.” Suryakumar lifts Mumbai to third in IPL SURYAKUMAR YADAV hammered 83 off 35 balls as Mumbai Indians thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets yesterday to jump from eighth to third in the IPL table. Chasing 200 to win, Suryakumar put on a blistering stand of 140 with Nehal Wadhera, who made an unbeaten 52, as Mumbai romped home with 21 balls to spare at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai’s sixth win in 11 matches revived their faltering campaign as the five-time champions target a top-four finish to qualify for a playoff berth. Suryakumar’s blitz laced with six sixes was his IPL best and made Bangalore’s 199-6 look a small total after skipper Faf du Plessis (65) and Glenn Maxwell (68) lit up the first innings. “He is one of the best isn’t he?” Du Plessis, who leads the tournament batting chart with 576 runs, said of Suryakumar. “When he gets going he’s really difficult to bowl to. So many options you can’t shut him down. One of the greats of the game at the moment.” Suryakumar, who had a bad start to the season before hitting form, said: “Much needed from team’s point of view. I am very happy to win a home game like this.” Kenin moves on, Fernandez out SOFIA KENIN was made to work hard by Cristina Bucsa at the Italian Open yesterday, before the former Australian Open champion prevailed 6-3, 6-7(8), 7-5 to set up a second round meeting with world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. American Kenin, who was once ranked No. 4 but has slipped to 134 in the world following her 2020 Melbourne Park triumph due to illness and injuries, was far from her best but managed to get past Bucsa in a little over three hours. “It was obviously tough, but I was able to somehow get through. I didn’t feel a 100% but it doesn’t matter, a win is a win and I’m going to take it,” said Kenin, who converted seven of her 21 breakpoints. “It could have gone either way and it was a matter of who could be mentally strong. I felt tired and… after three hours I’d imagine that she was too, so I just had to battle it out.” Former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez was beaten 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 by Aliaksandra Sasnovich, while 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova overcame Kaia Kanepi 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 in other first round matches. Proteas qualify for Cricket WC SOUTH AFRICA secured direct qualification yesterday for the 50-over Cricket World Cup in India later this year after the first one-day international between Ireland and Bangladesh ended in a no-result washout. Ireland had to win all three matches in a series against Bangladesh taking place in Essex, if they were to move up from 11th place in the points table. Even if Ireland now take the series 2-0, they cannot surpass South Africa in eighth place in the World Cup Super League (WCSL) standings. Ireland will now have to compete in the June 18-July 9 qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, that also includes former champions West Indies and Sri Lanka. The Irish were 65-3 in the 17th over, chasing Bangladesh’s 246- 9, made from a full 50 overs, when bad light and rain halted play. PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-103-02/2023 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0704SC2009003358 ( bertarikh 24/11/2009) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah GM 2489/ M4/14/304, 10032, Mukim 13, Daerah Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA Public Bank Berhad (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) .. PLAINTIF DAN Terence Lim Teck Hai (No. Kad Pengenalan : 821109085297) Ting Lee Yiew (No. Kad Pengenalan : 840617135848) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 27 April 2022 dan 4 April 2023, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Selasa, 23 Mei 2023, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan agar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanggungan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum juaIan lelongan dijaIankan. Sila layari https://eIeIong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : GM 2489/M4/14/304 No. Lot : 10032 Mukim/Daerah/Negeri : 13 / Timur Laut / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Kekal No. Petak/No. Tingkat/No. : 304 / 14 / M4 Bangunan : Keluasan Tanah : 721.000000 kaki persegi : 67.000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Terence Lim Teck Hai, Ting Lee Yiew Syarat Nyata : Petak ini hendaklah digunakan untuk tujuan rumah pangsa sahaja Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah Hakmilik Strata No. Geran Mukim 2489/M4/14/304, Lot No. 10032, Petak No. 304, Tingkat No. 14, Bangunan no. M4, Mukim 13, Daerah Timur Laut, Negeri Pulau Pinang yang beralamat pos di 308-13-08, Jalan Bukit Gambir, Mukim 13, 11700 Glugor, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 243,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: DUA RATUS EMPAT PULUH TIGA RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syarat-syarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir-butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2022-044/TLTH(RS/j) IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BENGKEL C.W SDN. BHD. Registration No. 200901007498 (850471-H) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act, 2016 a Final Meeting of the abovenamed Company will be held at 110B-1, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, 30250 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan on the 12th. day of June, 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- 1. To receive an account from the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding-up has been conducted and property of the Company disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. 2. To determine pursuant to Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator thereof, shall be disposed of. Dated this 11th. day of May, 2023 NG SENG @ NG KIN SIN Liquidator 110B-1, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, 30250 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan IN THE MATTER OF COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF ACCFIELD CORPORATE OUTSOURCING SDN. BHD. (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) (Company No. 201401047313 (1123502-P)) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Final Meeting of the member of the abovenamed Company will be held at Level 6, Wisma Penang Garden, 42, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang on the 30th day of June, 2023 at 10.00 a.m. to consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions:- ORDINARY RESOLUTION – To receive the accounts of the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted to date and to dissolve the Company. SPECIAL RESOLUTION - “RESOLVED that the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator, shall be kept for a period of three months from the 30th day of June, 2023 to the 30th day of September, 2023 and thereafter such books, accounts and documents be destroyed.” Dated this 11th day of May, 2023 Eddy Chan Wai Hun Liquidator 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR GUAMAN SIVIL NO. WA-A72NCvC-1221-03/2023 ANTARA TEO SOOK MAE (No.K/P: 600514-10-6646) …PLAINTIF DAN LEE CHIN WAH (No. K/P: 810331-06-5533) [berniaga sebagai pemilik tunggal di atas nama dan gaya ‘R&C Star Renovation & Construction’] …DEFENDAN NOTIS Kepada : LEE CHIN WAH [berniaga sebagai pemilik tunggal di atas nama dan gaya ‘R&C Star Renovation & Construction’] C2-15-06, OUG Parklane, Jalan Puchong 58200 Kuala Lumpur AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa Writ ini ditetapkan untuk pengurusan kes pada 30 Mei 2023 jam 9.00 pagi di Mahkamah Tinggi, Kuala Lumpur secara e-review dan Mahkamah memerintahkan bahawa penyerahan Writ termeterai bertarikh 13 Mac 2023 dan Pernyataan Tuntutan bertarikh 13 Mac 2023 ke atas kamu dibuat melalui pengiklan dalam surat khabar tempatan Malaysia sehari dan pengiklanan tersebut dianggap penyampaian yang baik dan sempurna ke atas kamu. Bertarikh pada 19 April 2023. t.t. ........................................... Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Mahkamah Rendah Kuala Lumpur NOTIS ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Teoh Pek Wei dengan alamat penyampaiannya di 29.2, Tingkat 2, The Boulevard, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang dinamakan di atas. Tel, No: 03-2282 8228 Faks No: 03-2282 6629 Ruj. No: TPW.L.7521.23/PN IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT SHAH ALAM IN THE STATE OF SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) COMPANIES (WINDING UP) PETITION NO. BA-28NCC-272-04/2022 IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 465(1)(e) OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF SERI MUTIARA DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD (COMPANY NO. 200901022786/ 865885-D) AND IN THE MATTER OF COMPANIES (WINDING UP) RULES 1972 AND RULES OF COURT 2012 BETWEEN ZICO CAPITAL SDN BHD (COMPANY NO.: 201601030444 / 1201385-D) …PETITIONER AND SERI MUTIARA DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD (COMPANY NO.: 200901022786 / 865885-D) …RESPONDENT NOTICE OF WINDING-UP ORDER (Form 12) In the matter of SERI MUTIARA DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD (Company No.: 200901022786 / 865885-D). Winding-up Order made on 12th day of April 2023. Name and address of the Liquidator: - (1) Datuk Ng Seing Liong (NRIC: 540720-10-5677) (Approval No: 00906/05/2023 P) Messrs S. L. Ng Corporate Solutions PLT 41, Jalan Goh Hock Huat, 41400 Klang Selangor Darul Ehsan And/Or (2) Ng Choon Jin (NRIC No. 820226-14-5055) (Approval No: 02953/03/2024 P) Messrs S. L. Ng Corporate Solutions PLT Suite 8-1, 8th Floor, Oval Damansara No. 685, Jalan Damansara 60000 Kuala Lumpur Dated this 12th day of April 2023. SGD. .............................. Messrs PW Tan & Associates Solicitors for the Petitioner 13A-5, Menara 1 Mont Kiara No. 1, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara 50480 Kuala Lumpur [Ref : 1567/ZCSB/LIT/D/FLDT/20] This Notice of Winding-Up Order (Form 12) is filed by Messrs PW Tan & Associates, Solicitors for the Petitioner abovenamed bearing address for service at 13A-5 Menara 1 Mont Kiara, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6211 1126 / 017-666 2721 Fax: 03-6211 1124 Email: [email protected] [Ref No.: 1567/ZCSB/LIT/D/FLDT/20] 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS MS. SHOBA T 03 7784 8888 F 03 7784 4424 SHORTS Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav plays a shot during his team’s IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium. – AFPPIX
22 theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 SPORTS S ERGIO PEREZ wants answers on how Max Verstappen ended up being much “stronger” than him at the Miami Grand Prix and wants an investigation into the matter at Red Bull. It’s been a close battle all year between Perez and Verstappen so far. The Red Bull teammates headed into Miami with just a few points separating them at the top of the championship having won two races apiece. But Perez struggled to match Verstappen throughout the entire weekend in Miami, even after benefitting from Charles Leclerc’s crash in qualifying. Verstappen had to make do with ninth on the grid for Sunday’s race while Perez started on pole. Despite that huge advantage from the start, Perez was unable to build a lead over Verstappen. The Dutchman made light work of closing the gap and eventually took control of the race after both drivers pitted. It ended up being a comfortable victory for Verstappen in a race Perez should have been able to dominate. And the Mexican has been left with several questions he wants to ask Red Bull before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix next week. “All in all, Verstappen was stronger than me this Sunday. We have to investigate why that was the case and during the race weekend in Imola we have to get back to our normal level,” Perez said. “The performance that Verstappen showed was unattainable for me. We need to understand why that was. The tyre story didn’t help, but overall he was the better driver. “I’ve been stronger on other weekends but this Sunday Max was the better one. He did a good job, but we need to understand what went wrong on our end.” The Red Bull drivers were on different strategies for the race with Perez starting on the medium compound and Verstappen the hards. 468 011 + DOG 925 000 + OX 187 261 + RAT Draw Date: 10/05/23 (Wed) Draw No: 5581/23 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB 8011 5000 7261 8276 + 9970 1036 + 6912 2167 + 3852 9325 + 7251 8037 + 5127 6227 + 4098 5960 + 5210 2282 + 7276 3312 + 7304 4442 + 3714 RM5,868,135.10 8011 + 5000 5000 + 8011 8011 + 7261 7261 + 8011 5000 + 7261 7261 + 5000 RM355,406.80 RM2,158,335.70 RM1,316,527.70 RM2,226,754.20 758 276 249 970 471 036 326 912 372 167 483 852 559 325 987 251 548 037 055 127 616 227 564 098 095 960 885 210 002 282 157 276 743 312 467 304 514 442 663 714 011 000 261 RM673,720.90 011 + 000 + 261 000 + 261 + 011 011 + 261 + 000 261 + 011 + 000 000 + 011 + 261 261 + 000 + 011 dmcGO: All you need is at your fingertips! Checo taking bull by the horns But Christian Horner feels Verstappen still would have come out on top if his drivers were on the same strategy. “I think if he’d been on the other strategy as well the performance would have been very similar today,” he said. “I think he was obviously frustrated with himself after qualifying, that he made a mistake, and then obviously didn’t get the chance to rectify that. “And I think he was confident coming into the race today, and just wanted to do something slightly different.” Verstappen was given a hostile welcome in Miami and it continued as he discussed the race with his engineers. Caught on camera were several fans chanting abuse and swearing at the Dutchman, who appeared unaware of what was going on behind him but his engineers instead laughed and blew kisses back to those in the stands as preparation continued before Verstappen took the chequered flag. – Express Newspapers Joy in silat, redemption for shuttlers THE pencak silat camp brought much cheer to the national contingent when they won three gold medals at the 2023 SEA Games at the Chroy Changvar Convention Centre in Phnom Penh yesterday. Taking to the court as Malaysia’s first silat exponent in the finals yesterday morning, Norsyakirah Muksin did not disappoint when she won the first gold in the Putri (women’s) under 45kg category after defeating Suci Wulandari of Indonesia 36- 33. The squad won their second gold through Nor Farah Mazlan after her opponent from Singapore, Nadhrah Sahrin, was disqualified for breaking the rules of the competition when the Sabahborn national silat exponent was leading 23-16 in the Putri 45-50kg category. Muhammad Izzul Irfan Marzuki managed to win Malaysia’s third gold medal after defeating Indonesia’s Kadek Andrey Nova Prayada 39-33 in the Putra (men’s) 60-65kg category. In the meantime, two Malaysian exponents had to settle for the silver medal after losing to their respective opponents in the finals. Mohd Shahrul Zeckry Sulaiman had to accept that he was no match for Iqbal Candra Pratama of Indonesia when he lost 9-53 in the Putra 70-75kg category. Meanwhile, Siti Shazwana Ajak was defeated by Atifa Fismawati from Indonesia 35-38 in the Putri 60-65kg category. In badminton, the men’s badminton squad eliminated defending champions Thailand 3-2 in the semifinals of the men’s team event, all thanks to a heroic performance from Jacky Kok. Malaysia, who won silver in the men’s team event in the 2021 SEA Games, got off to a flying start in the Morodok Techo Badminton Hall after world No. 64, Leong Jun Hao, stunned world No. 34 shuttler Sitthikom Thammasin, 21-13, 18-21, 21- 10. National men’s doubles, Beh Chung Meng-Goh Boon Zhe doubled the lead for Malaysia as they survived a rubber set tie against Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-16, 14-21, 21-15. However, several errors on net play particularly in the second set, proved costly for Malaysia’s second singles, Ong Ken Yon, who lost to Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul , 17-21, 15-21 in 37 minutes. Thailand drew level in the fourth match after Ruttanapak OupthongNanthakarn Yordphaisong subdued Chia Weijie-Liew Xun, 21-16, 21-14. Jacky did not disappoint as the 21- year-old shuttler was truly in his element to outperform Thailand’s last hope, Saran Jamsri, 21-12, 21-13 and send Malaysia to their fourth straight final since the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur. Yesterday’s result means Malaysia will go for gold today against their arch-rival Indonesia, who saw off Singapore, 3-1. – Bernama Perez demands ‘investigation’ into Verstappen’s pace in Miami 5634/2023 10/05/2023 (WED) 7491 6763 5598 6216 9939 4702 1370 4742 2474 5829 5602 8162 4585 3527 0789 6033 4886 8381 0490 4939 4933 4074 1540 4,235,202.75 7491 7491 7491 5598 5598 6763 5598 5598 6763 6763 7491 6763 265,416.36 7491 6763 5598 RABBIT 56842 63036 3036 036 49811 3 6 0 5 023905 23905 3905 905 02390 0239 023 0 2 5,922,590.45 3,327,170.77 1513 31 40 44 46 100,000.00 22 40 43 49 50 55 2 14 21 25 31 34 11,247,501.44 22 Perez Country Gold Silver Bronze Vietnam 44 42 53 Thailand 42 33 48 Cambodia 41 40 50 Indonesia 32 30 56 Philippines 26 43 52 Singapore 21 19 22 Malaysia 20 18 39 Myanmar 12 9 34 Laos 5 8 32 Brunei 0 1 4 Timor-Leste 0 0 2 2023 SEA GAMES MEDAL TALLY Jacky Kok. – REUTERSPIX
23 * SPORTS @thesundaily theSUN ON THURSDAY | MAY 11, 2023 FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Protege vs mentor Alonso out to shed ‘Neverkusen’ tag against former boss Mourinho WHEN Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso takes on Jose Mourinho’s Roma tomorrow (3am Malaysian time), he will face not only his former mentor, but the man who predicted his future coaching success. Alonso played 151 games under Mourinho at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning several titles before the Portuguese returned to Chelsea. Asked in 2019 about which of his former players could make a successful transition to coaching, Mourinho, who started his management career working with youngsters in the late 1980s, gave a clear answer. “I would say Xabi Alonso,” Mourinho told a Top Eleven conference. “He grew up with a father who was a player and a manager. Then he became a player; of course much better than I was. “Then he became a player, a top player, his position on the pitch and his knowledge of the game (was) very high. “He was coached by (Pep) Guardiola at Bayern, by myself at Real Madrid, by (Carlo) Ancelotti at Real Madrid, by (Rafael) Benitez at Liverpool. “I think if you put all of this together, I think Xabi has the conditions to be a very good coach.” Despite Mourinho’s predictions coming true, it is unlikely he forecast such a crucial meeting with his former protege would come around so soon. After retiring in 2017, Alonso took over as a youth coach at Real Madrid, before moving back to his home town to manage the Real Sociedad reserves. Since his appointment as Leverkusen manager in October, Alonso has lifted the side out of the relegation spots and into the European placings. Tomorrow’s game is Leverkusen’s biggest match on the European stage since the 2002 Champions League final defeat by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid. Leverkusen’s 2-1 loss in Glasgow, along with their German Cup final defeat by Schalke that year and finishing second by one point in the Bundesliga after blowing a four-point lead with three games to play, cemented the side’s “Neverkusen” nickname. The club have never won a German league title, but have finished second five times, four of which came between 1997 and 2002. Almost a year after taking Roma to a Europa Conference League title in his first season in the Eternal City, Mourinho could rectify a slide in the league by winning a Europa League title. Winless in four, Roma have dropped from fourth to seventh and are now five points outside of the Champions League spots. Unlike Mourinho’s stuttering Roma, Alonso has Leverkusen firing, with the German side going 14 games unbeaten before a surprise 2-1 home loss to derby rivals Cologne on Friday. Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last nine away fixtures in all competitions and Alonso said he wanted his side to make the most of the rare opportunity. “For the team and the club, it will be very nice,” Alonso said. “To be in the semifinals in Europe has not happened often in the club’s history. We want to make it as good as possible.” – AFP Messi’s father breaks silence over Saudi mega deal LIONEL MESSI’S father has denied speculation that the PSG star has agreed to sign for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal or any other club after reports of an eye-watering £522 million (RM2.8 billion) deal circulated. The Argentinian superstar is expected to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer and seal a lucrative switch to the Middle East, but Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, has issued a statement confirming that there is no agreement to decide his son’s future. Reports had claimed Al-Hilal had offered Messi a deal worth a massive £522m, which would eclipse the £175m-a-year (RM945m) deal Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr in November, to play in the Saudi Pro League next season. An anonymous source close to the negotiation claimed it was a “done deal” for Messi to move to Saudi, according to AFP, with Messi poised to reignite his rivalry with Ronaldo. But in a strongly-worded rebuttal of those reports, Messi Sr revealed that the 35-yearold is yet to make a decision on whether his future lies and will only do so once the current campaign has finished. The statement read: “There’s absolutely not any club for next year. The decision would never be taken before Lionel finishes the season with PSG. “At a time when the season has finished, there will be a moment to analyse and look what is there, and then take a decision. “There are always rumours and they use the name of Lionel to gain notoriety, but the only truth that we can assure is there is (no agreement) with anyone. Not verbal, not signed, not agreed, and there won’t be until the season is finished.” In addition to clarifying his current contractual situation, Messi Sr also attacked the French media for “deliberating deceiving” people, accusing reporters of twisting the truth to fit their own narrative. “I think it is disrespectful from the media how they report, that there are those who consciously and deliberately deceive, without providing any proof of their claims, and wanting to transform any malicious rumour into news or is directed by someone in favour of their interests,” he added. “They would have to explain why they don’t contest the information… they don’t want the truth to ruin their “news”. – Express Newspapers Pochettino’s demand bad news for Chelsea trio MAURICIO POCHETTINO has reportedly arrived at Chelsea with three transfer demands, with a busy summer imminent at Stamford Bridge. The former Tottenham boss is expected to be well-backed when the campaign concludes, with a clear out of fringe stars also on the horizon. The Blues have underperformed markedly this season, with Graham Potter failing to get a tune out of his oversized squad and struggling to show true signs of promise. Interim boss Frank Lampard has failed to steady the ship in the dugout either, showcasing the size of the project to Pochettino. The Argentine is likely to be named as Chelsea’s new manager following weeks of negotiations that have seen several candidates interviewed but Todd Boehly’s long-term admiration of Pochettino has led the search to be almost concluded. The ex-Spurs boss is said to have reviewed what he believes the squad needs, with Football.London reporting that the soon-to-be Blues manager is “demanding” a goalkeeper, midfielder and striker is signed at the end of the season. Given that Chelsea already have an oversized squad, the news of signings in several departments could prove to be bad news for some fringe stars. Pochettino does not want to acquire players until his squad size is reduced, meaning that Edouard Mendy could be one of the first departures of the summer to create space for a new No. 1 at the club. Despite almighty midfield investment over the past few windows, Pochettino is not content with the quality he has on offer in that area of the pitch. Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante could be set to stay at Stamford Bridge regardless, which may mean that Mateo Kovacic is sold given that he only has two years left of his contract. But Chelsea may struggle to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the end of the season given that the Gabonese forward is the likeliest candidate to be moved on in favour of a new striker. The ex-Arsenal star’s bumper wages make him unattainable to numerous clubs, with Barcelona hopeful of re-signing the versatile attacker, but on the condition that they are able to balance their Financial Fair Play situation and convince Aubameyang to reduce his salary to a lower rate to facilitate the move. – Express Newspapers Source: UEFA Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS UEFA Europa Semifinals 2022-23 1ST LEG – MAY 12 (Both matches @ 3am in M’sia) European form W D L Form Goals for / against Passes Corners Possession 18 / 15 16 / 17 JUVENTUS vs SEVILLA Juventus Stadium Head-to-head Won 2 Drawn 1 Won 1 ROMA vs LEVERKUSEN Stadio Olimpico Head-to-head Won 1 Drawn 2 Won 1 61 47 5008 47 49.7% 165 Total shots / Shots on target 4469 55 49.2% 139 Team statistics (12 matches) UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE Fiorentina ITA Best: European Cup Winners’ Cup 1961 UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE Basel SUI Second European semifinal West Ham United ENG European Cup Winners’ Cup 1965 AZ Alkmaar NED UEFA Cup final 1981 Youssef En-Nesyri Sevilla Form 19 / 10 Goals for / against 18 / 15 HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE Juventus, targeting their first European trophy since 1996, must overcome six-time champions Sevilla
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] or download app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my FREE access Interactive THURSDAY • MAY 11, 2023 Qatari tipped as Glazers’ preferred bidder for Red Devils SHEIKH Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Qatari bid to complete a Manchester United takeover has been backed to be the Glazers’ preferred option. The process has entered the business end, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos posing as Sheikh Jassim’s main rivals to take control at Old Trafford. The Qatari banker’s proposal is for a full takeover and would eclipse the £4.8 billion (RM26b) deal to sell NFL outfit Washington Commanders. But his third and final offer reportedly fell short of the Glazer family’s valuation, said to be around £6b (RM32.5b). And Ratcliffe’s Ineos bid involves him buying just over 50% of United’s shares, therefore inheriting control, while allowing Joel and Avram Glazer to keep a 20% stake in the club. However, sports finance expert Dr Dan Plumley believes that the American owners, widely unpopular among the Red Devils fanbase, will still be tempted to accept Sheikh Jassim’s deal. He said: “I think the decisive factor is always simply money when it comes down to it. If not the best offer on the table, it’ll be the one that is slightly preferred based on the finances behind it. “If that is the price (£5-6b/RM27- 32.5b) that the Glazers are wanting or at least are willing to sell at for a full takeover, let’s say, my gut feeling on it, and you know you’re always speculating slightly, but I just think the Qatar bid is probably slightly preferred at the minute because it’s a full takeover. “Also, through the connections of that owner, you know that you could get access to funds further down the line to build the club because you’ve got to look at infrastructure, you’ve got to look at squad development, etc. “It’s not just the takeover price, it’s all the other stuff that comes with it, so it does feel like that’s the one that has the most clout.” Initial reports after the Glazers announced their intention to seek investment in November claimed the timeline for a takeover was before the summer transfer window. And despite delays throughout the process, Plumley still believes a takeover is on track to be completed on time for United’s new owners to arrive and make a splash in the market. “I think that’s always been the marker with this one (before the summer transfer window). You have to look at that in the context of the November deadline in the first instance,” Plumley explained. “It’s not unusual for these things to go that long, and actually, you will probably argue when you’ve got a £5- 6b takeover in place that it does need to take time. “You should be doing the full background checks all the way around. That’s the kind of time element to it, it might feel like it’s dragged on from fan’s point of view, but it was always likely to play out that way. “It all seemed to be pointing towards a deal being done before the start of the next window so that the new owners potentially or investors could have plans in place for the summer and moving forward. “I think we’re still on that timeline. I know it probably feels like we’ve been talking about it forever, but it seems to be that we’re moving towards that time scale still.” United are under increased pressure to qualify for next season’s Champions League but if the worst case occurs and United drop out of the top four at the final hurdle, the club’s takeover bids would be unaffected, according to The Athletic. Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim want to take control at Old Trafford regardless of the Red Devils’ European status next term. – Express Newspapers J ACK GREALISH is confident of reaching the Champions League final after Manchester City fought back to claim a draw in the first leg of their semifinal against Real Madrid. Kevin De Bruyne struck a stunning equaliser at the Bernabeu yesterday as City came from behind to draw 1-1 after an equally brilliant opener from Real’s Vinicius Junior. The result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of next week’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium. City are seeking revenge for their loss to Real at the same stage last season and Grealish feels the Premier League side’s home record gives them the edge. The England midfielder told BT Sport: “We have a new team this year, different players. “We’ve learned so much since last year. Now we have the perfect balance of experience and a few youngsters who are just world-class. “I think we just have quality and I’ve never felt so confident going on to the pitch and having these players around me. “Within ourselves at the Etihad, we feel unstoppable there. We came here to try and win, but it shows our character to go a goal down – it’s always difficult to play at a place like this. “In the end I think it was a fair result. They had their chances, we had a few as well.” City controlled a lot of the early play but Real soaked up pressure and hit them with a fine counter-attacking goal. City manager Pep Guardiola praised his side for the way they fought back when under severe pressure. “It was a really tight game. Congratulations to the team because this team (Real) are always so difficult for their history and also their quality,” Guardiola said. “We started really well and when we were better they made an incredible transition (and scored). “When they were better than us in the second half, we scored. It’s open to Manchester, it will be a final for our people and we look forward to it.” Madrid managed to completely shackle lethal striker Erling Haaland with central defenders David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger not giving the Norwegian any room to breathe. “We have to see if we can attack (better), Alaba and Rudiger were so close on Erling,” Guardiola told reporters. “It was not easy to find the spaces. We’ll try to adjust something in the second leg to be more fluid and play with a bit more rhythm.” City midfielder Rodri admitted he was happy to see his side come through the game against Madrid without suffering defeat. “It is very tough when you come here,” said the Spain international. “I think the lads were incredible. “The effort was there. Sometimes it is difficult against this team because they have a lot of quality. “In the first 25-30 minutes we controlled the game and then first chance they have, they score an incredible goal. “But we kept in the game even though it was difficult to get in with the way they defend. Kevin (De Bruyne) found the goal and then in the last minutes we tried to keep the ball. “He (Kevin de Bruyne) is a massive player for us. Always he has been great and he helped us in the moment we most needed it.” Real manager Carlo Ancelotti was booked amid commotion on the touchline as De Bruyne celebrated his 67th-minute equaliser. The Italian revealed afterwards he had been complaining the ball went out of play in the build-up to the City goal. He also claimed he had seen proof he was correct. Ancelotti said: “The ball was off the pitch. Technology said it and I don’t understand why VAR didn’t check it. The referee didn’t pay attention to many things tonight.” Ancelotti, however, was happy enough with his side’s performance and the state of the tie. He said: “We have to play like this again next week. Our strategy was good, we weren’t worried when they had possession. “Then the second half was completely different. We had the ball and created opportunities. We are very satisfied.” – The Independent/Express Newspapers Confident Citizens Grealish says City unstoppable at the Etihad after first leg draw in Madrid Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne (front) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. – AFPPIX