The Sun 08052023

PETALING JAYA: The government should not declare extra public holidays in addition to those already gazetted as it costs the economy some RM3 billion for each added day, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai. He said according to Wikipedia, Malaysia ranks among the top five of 195 countries with the most public holidays, adding that granting unscheduled holidays puts additional burden on businesses. “The government should just stick to the public holidays that have been gazetted and not declare additional ones. “Unplanned public holidays disrupt production and supply chains, and cause productivity losses to businesses. “Given that most economic sectors are just picking up after the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic uncertainties due to geopolitical tensions, rising prices, climate change and expectations of a global recession, unscheduled holidays such as the recent additional one for Hari Raya add to the cost of doing business,” he said. However, several employers and those who returned to their hometowns during the long break said in the case of Hari Raya, declaring the additional holiday was the right decision as there was uncertainty regarding the start of the celebration period. Also, the additional holiday allowed many to leave for their hometowns earlier, thus reducing traffic congestion. An employer, who wanted to be identified only as Ong, said: “The prime minister made the right decision. Many of my staff could leave for their hometowns earlier and that helped reduce the hours-long traffic congestion on the North-South Expressway”. “Yes, it may be inconvenient for businesses, but it is not every day that such additional holidays are declared,” he added. Nur Nadrah Nadia Mohd Zuki, 24, said the additional holiday provided extra preparation time for the celebration. “Last year’s Hari Raya was hectic with last-minute preparations, and I was hoping to not go through the same experience this year. The additional holiday allowed me just enough time to clean the house and prepare everything necessary for the celebration,” she said. Nurul Atiqah Syafika Nadzri, 24, said she was able to reach her hometown just in time to help her mother with the preparations for Hari Raya. “I come from Besut in Terengganu and I work in Kuala Lumpur. Even with the sudden holiday declaration, it still took slightly longer for me to reach my hometown. “However, compared with going back on the scheduled holiday, my trip home this time was much more pleasant as I could spend more time with my family,” she said, adding that traffic volume was also much lower compared with previous years. However, Soh said not all employees were willing to work overtime to meet their employer’s obligations to customers, adding that unscheduled public holidays contribute to a major loss to the national economy. “It is estimated that RM3 billion in direct and indirect losses are suffered for each day that is declared a public holiday, including the cost of business interruptions and extra pay incurred by employers who are unable to shut their operations. “Employers will be forced to either replace the public holiday on another day or pay their workers the public holiday rate.” He said according to Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951, the prime minister, by notification in the Gazette or in such other manner as he deems fit, can make any day a public holiday. “However, the industry has limited choices on how to accommodate and manage such announcements considering that (holidays declared under) Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 must be observed as a paid holiday,” he said. Soh added that the government should encourage employers to grant such holidays as an add-on to the leave entitlement of employees. oAmount represents cost of unscheduled public holidays on economy: FMM chief █ BYTHARANI NAIR [email protected] 2 page INSIDE Stable govt, strong economy vital to attract investors: PM 4 Heatstroke page warning as El Nino looms TELLING IT AS IT IS ONMONDAY MAY 8, 2023 No. 8262 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my ROYAL GUESTS ... The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah arriving at Westminster Abbey in central London for the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III on Saturday. – AFPPIC RM3b loss a day He also said for holidays falling on weekends and having another day added on was not an issue for employers, as they are already aware of it and can preplan their production processes. “Industries around the world are expecting an uninterrupted flow of components manufactured in the country to meet their supply chains. It is time Malaysia adopts world standards in work-life balance and ensure a predictable business climate,” he said. Report on — page 7

2 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS ‘Stable govt, strong economy vital to attract investors’ SEREMBAN: The unity government needs to demonstrate leadership to ensure that today’s administration is stable and the economy is strong, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said if the government is unstable and the economy weak, the country, especially the people will suffer. “This evening the chairman of Geely, one of the largest automobile companies in the country, will be meeting me to announce an allocation of tens of billions, to Anwar greeting guests at the open house yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC oCountry and people will suffer if administration is weak, says prime minister make Malaysia its automobile headquarters in the region. “Before this, we learnt that Amazon Web Services (AWS) had agreed to make Malaysia a base while several countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia were hoping that they would be chosen.” He was speaking at the Malaysia Madani Raya Open House yesterday, organised by the Negeri Sembilan state government. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun. He said investors are confident in the country’s leadership, stability and future, and as such, particular attention must be given to political stability. “A former minister said it was due to their efforts and I don’t deny that some tried to persuade AWS. But why did the company agree to come here only after the unity government was formed and the political situation stabilised?” Anwar added that two more data centres would be established in the country, creating thousands of job opportunities for the people, Bernama reported. “We have a large world digital system in Johor, another will be established in Cyberjaya, and one more is yet to be decided. It will be announced later.” Meanwhile, Anwar said any party or MP who wished to call for a motion of no confidence to do so at the next Parliament session. “What’s all the commotion, citing 126, 114 here and there. Before, when I wanted to call for a no-confidence motion it was not possible because the then prime minister declared a state of emergency and Parliament was suspended. “As the current prime minister, I am not suspending Parliament or calling for an emergency, fight it out in Parliament, that is the way we govern. Why? We want to stop the complaints about political instability, so that the focus is on protecting the welfare of the people.” The Raya event from 10am to 4.30pm, saw over 20,000 people enjoying 52 dishes, including lemang daun lerek, rendang maman, apam Johol and cendol. Ministry to conduct risk assessment of Covid situation MUAR: The Health Ministry will carry out a risk assessment of the Covid-19 situation in the middle of next month following the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the pandemic is no longer categorised as a global health emergency. Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the assessment is necessary to review the declaration of certain localities as areas of infection. She said it would also help the government to determine the direction to be taken next for protection measures against the disease. She added that although WHO no longer categorised Covid-19 as an international health emergency, the ministry needed to take into account local factors. “We, at the technical committee, have given our views that we will continue the existing standard operating procedures and maintain local areas of infection. “We want to see the development because there are still Covid-19 cases, although they are under control. We will look at the situation in the country first before adopting the WHO’s recommendations.” She said this after attending a town hall session at the Higher Education Hub, Pagoh yesterday on a White Paper on Health for the Southern Zone. Zaliha said the ministry would also review and update the Covid19 guidelines with reference to WHO recommendations regarding the long-term management of the pandemic. Yesterday, foreign news agencies reported that the WHO had lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern status for Covid-19, but insisted that the disease continues to pose a global threat. Meanwhile, commenting on the White Paper on Health, Zaliha said it would be the beginning of a journey of reforming the Malaysian health system, making it more sustainable and competitive. She said the White Paper would be tabled in Parliament next month. Meanwhile, Zaliha said the number of Covid cases increased by 53.1% to 7,596 in the 8th Epidemiology Week from April 30 to May 6, from 4,963 cases in the previous week. “The admission rate of Covid-19 patients (including suspected patients) to public health facilities also showed an increase from 5.8% to 7.2% per 100,000 people.” She added that the infection situation in Malaysia was still under control and did not affect health services in hospitals. – Bernama Avoid outdoor activities during current hot spell, schools told NIBONG TEBAL: The Education Ministry has once again advised all schools not to organise any activity outside the classroom, such as cross-country runs and sports events, to safeguard students, given that the weather is still hot. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry held a session with all state education departments to provide guidance to ensure that schools do not conduct outdoor activities. “The ministry has advised schools not to organise activities outside the classroom during this time due to the hot weather, but the postponement is temporary and depends on (prevailing) weather conditions. “However, there are some states where the weather is improving. So, we will monitor from time to time and give guidance and advice accordingly. “I ask all schools to temporarily postpone (activities outside the classroom) until the weather really returns to normal and students can do outdoor activities safely, as we need to take precautions.” Fadhlina, who is also Nibong Tebal MP, was met by the media at the parliamentary constituency’s Aidilfitri open house at Dewan Dato’ Haji Ahmad Salleh in Kampung Permatang Keling here. The event was also attended by Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali and Penang Education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad. Fadhlina was commenting on parental concerns about the health of school children who are at risk of heatstroke if schools conduct outdoor activities such as cross-country runs and sports activities during the current heatwave. Fadhlina added that so far no school had been closed due to the hot weather, but her ministry is on alert for any eventuality. She said the management of related guidelines and monitoring are strictly carried out by the Health Ministry and the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry to ensure that the situation is under control. Previously, the Education Ministry issued a statement allowing administrators to close schools if the daily temperature is high, at warning level 2, with the highest temperature exceeding 37°C for three consecutive days. – Bernama Selangor Sultan’s advice to pilgrims SHAH ALAM: Malaysian pilgrims, especially those from Selangor, are advised to maintain discipline and obey the rules set by the Saudi Arabian authorities while in the Holy Land, said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. The Selangor Ruler also advised pilgrims to discuss with Tabung Haji officials if there are any problems. “Don’t simply spread inaccurate news on social media because it only complicates matters and won’t solve the problem. “I commend Tabung Haji for its dedication in ensuring that the welfare of our pilgrims is always taken care of,” he said at the statelevel Perdana Haj Course organised by Tabung Haji and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department here yesterday, Bernama reported. Also present was Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin. Sultan Sharafuddin reminded prospective pilgrims to take care of their health from now. “In the Holy Land, if you have any health problems, seek treatment at the Tabung Haji clinics in Makkah or Madinah.” Probe into alleged fire hydrant misuse IPOH: The Local Government Development Ministry will conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that an opposition MP in Kelantan used water from a fire hydrant for distribution to local residents affected by water supply problems. Its minister Nga Kor Ming said legal action would be taken against the MP because it is an irresponsible act. “The water source from the fire hydrant is used to extinguish fires and not for daily consumption. “If everyone uses water from fire hydrants, what will happen if there is a fire? This really should not have occurred,” he said after officiating the “Larian Bersama Bomba” programme organised by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department at the Sultan Azlan Shah roundabout here last night. He was commenting on the action of Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who allegedly used a pump to take water from a fire hydrant for local residents’ use after several areas in the constituency experienced water supply disruption. – Bernama

3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 PUTRAJAYA: The government has garnered RM30 million in potential investments from Australia, including economic multipliers such as job opportunities and export potential to the country. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who led Malaysia’s franchise trade mission to the recently concluded Franchising And Business Opportunities Expo 2023 (FBOE 2023) in Melbourne, said the potential investments were attributable to the lively participation of local franchise industry players at the exhibition. He said the main objective of the trade mission was to drive and encourage the expansion of Malaysian brands in Australia, including working with potential and suitable investors, adding that more established franchise brands from Australia would be introduced in Malaysia and vice-versa. “This will strengthen economic relations between the two countries and Australia is among Malaysia’s top 10 global partners,” he said in a statement yesterday. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Malaysian pavilion at the exhibition, he said it was a good opportunity for Malaysian franchise companies to work with prospective Australian franchises to expand in the Australian market, Bernama reported. “There are many business opportunities to be explored in Australia. Recently, Marrybrown appointed its master franchisee in Australia, while Smart Reader Kids opened a fourth branch in Melbourne. “These are good examples for other companies to penetrate the international market by promoting the Malaysian brand and at the same time improve Malaysia’s reputation in the international export market.” Salahuddin said there are also proposals from several other countries for trade missions, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Turkiye and India, which will run from July to October this year. He also said a total of 68 Malaysian franchise brands have expanded to 75 countries and among those that have penetrated the Australian market are Marrybrown, Tealive, Global Art, Smart Reader Kids and Aloha Mental Arithmetic. In conjunction with the mission, a number of activities were held, including visits to the Australian Business Registry Services, Consulate General of Malaysia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, local franchise companies, agencies, associations and stakeholders. A round table discussion with the Franchise Council of Australia was also held. Salahuddin also took the opportunity to visit Malaysian students at the Malaysia Hall, in addition to meeting local Muslim leaders from the Victoria Islamic Association at Preston Mosque. Space agency clinches geospatial award KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) on Saturday won the Geospatial World Excellence Award 2023 for the usage of geospatial tools and solutions in the field of food security and agriculture. In a statement yesterday, Mosti said the award ceremony was held in conjunction with the Geospatial World Forum 2023 from May 2 to 5 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The victory was through the usage of remote sensing technology in developing and operating the” Padi Geospatial Information System” (MakGeoPadi). The system, which has benefited 192,663 padi farmers, has been continuously used and could help relevant authorities manage and monitor rice crops in 12 granary areas across the country more efficiently and effectively. “The award-winning MakGeoPadi system was developed in 2010 through strategic collaboration with the Agriculture Department, Farmers’ Organisation Authority and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute.” According to the statement, the same award was also given to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2022. “This victory proves that Malaysia also has capabilities comparable to developed countries in creating new innovations through space geospatial technology to solve problems and manage people’s lives and national development. “This recognition also shows that Malaysia’s efforts through Mosti and MYSA in empowering the field of space science and technology are relevant and in line with the objectives of the National Space Policy 2030, especially in the aspects of infrastructure development and space applications that have a positive impact on the country’s security, economy and society.” – Bernama RM30 million potential investments from Australia oSuccess at Melbourne exhibition made possible by active participation of M’sian franchise holders, says minister UITM student takes world number two spot in ACCA exam JERTIH: A Malaysian Quran reciter has been named the world’s second best student in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) examinations for the March 2023 session. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Dungun campus student Safwa Zamri, 19, received the Top ACCA Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) prize for the FA1-Financial Transaction Record paper by obtaining a score of 98%, earning her the spot as the top scorer in Malaysia. She said she had no basic learning in accounting as she took pure science and religious studies when she attended secondary school at Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz in Besut. She memorised 30 chapters of the Quran when she was in Form Two, two years after she started memorising the holy book, and scored 12 As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. “When I wanted to continue my studies at UiTM, my parents suggested that I take a course in accounting because I like Mathematics. “Also, four of my siblings graduated in either medicine or engineering. So, we have to have someone in accountancy,” she said when met at her family home in Kampung Pengkalan Kubur near here. She attributed her excellent results in the ACCA examination to her determination to do well, although she only took it up six months earlier. “It was a challenge when I first studied accounting, but I managed to overcome it by doing a lot of revision and exercises until I finally develop an interest in the subject,” said the youngest of four siblings. Her parents, Zamri Mohd Amin, 56, and Rashidah Ab Rahman, 57, said Safwa has been doing well in her studies since she was in primary school. “She was always at the top of her class and would work hard for anything the she wants, staying up late at night to do her revisions and to study,” said Zamri. – Bernama Tajuddin still keen to serve Umno PASIR SALAK: Former Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has said he has no intention of representing another party in the upcoming six-state elections. However, the former Umno supreme council member said if his suspension as an Umno member is retracted, he would help the party machinery in the polls. “If I am no longer suspended by Umno, of course I will campaign and help work for the party. If possible, I don’t want to be with other parties,” he told the media at his Hari Raya open house yesterday. Earlier, the media reported that Tajuddin submitted an appeal against his six-year suspension to enable him to be active in the party again. The Umno supreme council decided on the suspension in October 2022. Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said the appeal would be referred to the supreme council. Meanwhile, Tajuddin expressed hope that his appeal would be considered by the council soon, adding that he loves the party and wants to settle the issue amicably. “I am confident that if it is brought to the council, the decision would be positive because I have explained in a letter twice before this and once again yesterday.” – Bernama Good start to Labuan Kaamatan festival LABUAN: The Labuan Kaamatan Festival 2023 got off to a rousing start yesterday with the participation of people from all walks of life. Kadazan-Dusuns and other ethnic groups in Sabah and Labuan are currently celebrating the annual harvest festival. Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abd Rahman said the festival brings the multi-racial community on the island closer together. “We will get better cooperation from various corporate bodies and governmentlinked companies to work on improving Kaamatan festival celebrations by taking into account suggestions to increase participation and the crowds,” he said when launching the event. KadazanDusun Cultural Association Labuan chairman Jerome Mijin said several programmes have been lined up, including the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan beauty contest, Magunatip, Sumazau and Sumirid dances by Era Budaya, and a singing performance. The Labuan Kaamatan beauty pageant will feature 12 contestants. – Bernama VINTAGE APPEAL .... Visitors to MAEPS Serdang admiring the automobiles on display at Malaysia Autoshow 2023 yesterday. – SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN

4 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS More than 100% increase in dengue cases in Malacca ALOR GAJAH: The number of dengue fever cases in Malacca increased by 103.8% to 322 cases from Jan 1 to April 29, compared with 158 cases in the corresponding period last year. State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said of the total, Central Malacca recorded the highest number at 241, followed by Jasin with 52 and Alor Gajah, 29. He said 89 cases were reported in January, 61 in February, 85 in March and 87 in April. “A total of 19 cases were recorded in Malacca during the the 17th Epidemiological week from April 23 to 29, an increase of three cases compared with 16 cases in the previous week. “Of the total, 14 cases were recorded in Central Malacca, three in Jasin and two in Alor Gajah,” he said. Ngwe, who is also Machap Jaya assemblyman, said no death from complications due to dengue fever was reported during the period. “Fourteen dengue hotspot localities were identified, with two recorded in Central Malacca and one each in Jasin and Alor Gajah,” he added. The hotspots are Taman Perkota and Jalan Sekolah, Kampung Padang Temu in Central Malacca, Taman Merlimau Baru in Jasin, and Batu 21½ Kampung Solok Dekat in Alor Gajah. Ngwe said the state health department will collaborate with local authorities in the three districts to conduct joint programmes to increase awareness and to curb the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, especially in residential and industrial areas. – Bernama Operation launched to capture wild elephant KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Wildlife and National Parks Department has launched an operation to capture a wild elephant reportedly roaming near a village in the Setiu district. Its director Loo Kean Seong said the department had recently received a report from Kampung Seri Bayas residents who claimed that the wild animal had destroyed their crops. “Previously, the (department) had carried out an operation to drive off a herd of three wild elephants. “Two of them were safely redirected back into the forest reserve area, but one elephant is believed to have separated from the others. So, this operation is launched to capture the elephant,” he said. Meanwhile, Wan Jusih Wan Abdullah, 73, claimed that his 1.8ha oil palm plantation was encroached upon by the wild elephant two weeks ago and earlier this month. “The elephant has destroyed 8ha of crops. I am worried that if action is not taken soon, we will suffer more losses,” he said, adding that such incidents have been occurring for the past few years. – Bernama Treasure hunt for media employees KUALA LUMPUR: A motor treasure hunt for staff of media organisations will be held from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh in conjunction with the National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2023 celebration hosted by the Perak capital city from May 27 to 29. Participation in the Jom ke Ipoh! hunt on May 27 is open to teams of two or four persons, with an entry fee of RM100 per team, Hawana 2023 project director D. Arul Rajoo said. He added that participants will be accommodated on a twin-sharing basis at a hotel in Ipoh and will be given a T-shirt to be worn during the hunt. Prizes will be awarded up to the 10th position, with the first prize being RM4,000, second prize RM2,500 and third prize RM1,500, said Arul Rajoo, who is nead of broadcasting at the Malaysian National News Agency. A briefing will be held for participants on May 24 at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur. The entry form is available at https://forms.gle/PpyTtGmiGuqWozzY6 and the closing date is May 14. For more information, please contact Arul at 012-395 8950 or Mohammad Fikri Ahmad at 012-3269 692. – Bernama Heatstroke concern over looming El Nino effects KUALA LUMPUR: The scorching temperatures prevailing in many countries, including Malaysia, have been confirmed as the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is a threat to people and animals due to the risk of heatstroke. Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said heatwaves can cause a range of health issues such as rashes, cramps, exhaustion, stroke, and damage to internal organs. It can also worsen pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, and the gradual loss of kidney function. “The corporate sector and schools have been urged to refrain from making neckties and jackets compulsory in their dress codes during this period. Schools have been advised to put a halt on all outdoor activities while the heavy labour sector should consider adjusting to the weather changes. “The Health Ministry has also warned the public to pay close attention to daily weather oPublic advised to pay attention to weather updates, avoid outdoor activities and stay hydrated █ BY SIVANISVARRY MORHAN [email protected] Three stranded in Sudan arrive home safely SEPANG: A Malaysian mother and her two children who were trapped in the Al Gaza region for 22 days due to the conflict in Sudan arrived home yesterday. Junaidah Selamat, 49, and her children, Mohamad Ashraf, 18, and Juliana Ashraf, 23, arrived at the KL International Airport via Saudia flight SV842, which landed at 4.15am. However, her husband, Sudanese citizen Ashraf Gasim Elsimd, is still stranded in Port Sudan because he does not have a Saudi Arabian resident pass. “Alhamdulillah, he is safe as he is now out of Khartoum, where the situation is still tense. I hope his passage to Malaysia will be made easy so that we can be reunited,” she said. The family was greeted on arrival by Wisma Putra officials. The armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15 has killed more than 500 people, with more than 5,000 people injured and forced more than 100,000 residents to flee to neighbouring countries. Junaidah thanked the staff at the Malaysian Embassy in Sudan, the Malaysian consulate-general in Jeddah, the government of Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani Embassy in Sudan and all those involved in helping to bring her and her children to safety, Bernama reported. The woman, born at Jeram in Selangor, said her husband came home after picking up their children from school and told her that there was going to be a war. “To me, that is normal because there is always a demonstration. “But on April 16, when we woke up for the Fajr prayer, we heard the sound of gunfire and shots from tanks, with bullets entering our house,” she said. updates, as exposure to abnormally high air temperatures can have serious consequences on physical health. It also advised the public to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest periods of the day and spend most of their time in air-conditioned environments. It is also recommended to wear light clothing, stay hydrated, and get regular medical check-ups if feeling unwell,” he said. Muruga Raj said it is vital that the public stay informed about the situation and follows the Health Ministry’s advice on necessary precautions during a heatwave. “People should recognise the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and seek medical help immediately if needed. It’s especially important to check on elderly individuals who live alone as they can be vulnerable to high temperatures,” he said. “Large cities are particularly impacted due to the urban heat island effect caused by dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. Climate change is expected to result in more extreme weather events like this, and experts have warned that they will become more frequent and severe in the future,” he added. Considering this, Paws Animal Welfare Society shelter manager Edward Lim said: “If you have pets at home, make sure to have fans to improve air circulation and maintain a cool environment. “To ensure the animal’s well-being, avoid exposing them to direct sunlight while playing or exercising. Instead, provide them with a shaded area that has enough ventilation and clean water. It is also important to constantly monitor their physical condition and temperature throughout the day. If your pet seems to be suffering from the heat, immerse them in a tub of water until they feel better. After your pet has recovered, seek a veterinarian’s evaluation of their health. “If your dog or cat’s heartbeat is faster than normal, or they have difficulty moving, seem confused, drool excessively, or have a bluish tongue, and gums, it may indicate a lack of oxygen in their blood. The animal’s body temperature may rise above 42°C, and it may struggle to maintain balance on all fours. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is crucial to stabilise your pet’s temperature and seek veterinary care immediately,” he said. “Each of us has a role to play in mitigating climate change by reducing our carbon footprint, making smarter travel choices, consuming food sustainably, and being mindful of our purchases,” Lim said. AWARENESS ... Visitors trying on goggles that simulate vision experienced by people under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the Parliament Open Day event yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

5 * NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 Uphill task in combating fake news KUALA LUMPUR: When the country was fighting the pandemic in 2020, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received 1,837 complaints of fake news involving Covid-19 vaccines. MCMC Network Security Division chief Harme Mohamed said the situation raised fears among the public to the extent that some lost confidence in the government’s efforts to deal with the crisis at the time. “The spread of fake news online will not only cause panic but can also disrupt the stability and security of the country,“ he said, adding that from January to February last year, MCMC received 143 complaints. Of the number, misinformation relating to government administration topped the list at 37%, while criminal cases such as fraud schemes and impersonation accounted for 16% and consumer issues comprised 15%. According to a survey by online media monitoring company Meltwater Malaysia last year, 29.55 million Malaysians (89.6%) spend nine hours a day surfing the internet. MyCheck Malaysia fact-checker Fatin Najmi Mohammad Shah said fact-checking is an evolution in the journalism sector as new techniques and tools are used to produce indepth reports in debunking misinformation. “The input that we include in our report is not just based on statements of denial by the individuals and organisations concerned as we also share the findings of our investigations. “We need to use fact-checking tools and disclose to the public the processes involved.” She said 164 reports were produced by MyCheck Malaysia on consumerism, health, government policy and politics. – Bernama Ray of light for those in the dark PETALING JAYA: A former drug addict who is now helping others kick the habit and also feeding those who are jobless and homeless is calling on employers to give such individuals a second chance. Wan Kamariah Daud, 68, popularly known as Mak Wan, told theSun she had been a drug addict for 40 years and during that time, she went in and out of prison and rehabilitation centres for some 10 years. “I have been clean and not touched drugs for some years now. But as a former drug addict, I know the pain, lack of self-worth and insecurity that drug addicts often feel. “This is why I established Warung Makan Sahabat (WMS) in Jalan Raja Laut during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to help the homeless and drug addicts have access to free food. “During the pandemic, we provided 600 packets of food daily for those in need. Now, we provide 150 packets for breakfast and another 150 for lunch.” She said WMS collaborates with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Selangor Social Welfare Department. “The number of homeless and jobless in Chow Kit is large and most of them do not have a basic income or jobs.” Mak Wan said she was emotionally drained after years of being a drug addict and constantly Mak Wan distributing food at her station in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. – SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN oAfter languishing along alleys and in jail for some 40 years, food programme founder now helps addicts, homeless in Chow Kit area █ BYVEISHNAWI NEHRU [email protected] being locked up in prison, prompting her to admit herself into a rehabilitation centre to be rid of the problem once and for all. “When I got out, I had nowhere to go. So, I started doing odd jobs and later worked as a housekeeper to survive. Then, I volunteered at NGOs to give talks and help addicts get access to clean syringes to prevent them from contracting HIV or AIDS. I even supplied condoms to sex workers,” she said. Mak Wan added that even before setting up WMS, she prepared food for those who had difficulty walking or were curled up in Chow Kit’s alleys due to their drug addiction. “I even dressed some of their wounds and gave them painkillers for their headaches and to ease their withdrawal symptoms.” Today, WMS not only provides food but also upskilling classes under Rumah Didik Sahabat (RDS) for those who are determined to change their life. “RDS provides classes and motivation to all who come to us. We also provide a hearse service for those who pass away without any next of kin or identification documents. “Currently, WMS is funded by Yayasan Amal Malaysia and they are covering the rent, cost of supplies and hostels for addicts who are willing to change their lives.” She said WMS also provides support groups and recovery partners and some recovering addicts are even allowed to do volunteer work for WMS. “I hope WMS will remain at Chow Kit even after I am gone as there are many untold stories there. “Drug addicts should and must be given a second chance. But the sad thing is that society does not easily accept them and continues believing the misconception of ‘once a drug addict, always a drug addict’. I hope this attitude will change.” WMS needs donations and those who are keen to help can make contributions via Yayasan Amal Malaysia via Maybank account number 5642-9432-5904.

6 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS 23,000 flee violence in northeast India NEW DELHI: Some 23,000 people have fled ethnic violence in northeast India that has reportedly killed at least 54, the army said yesterday, although there was no new “major violence” overnight. The unrest in Manipur state erupted after a protest march by a tribal group last week sparked clashes, with vehicles and houses set on fire and authorities firing tear gas. The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state bordering Myanmar, issued “shoot-at-sight” orders in “extreme cases”, imposed curfews and cut the internet. In a statement, the army said no major flare-ups were reported overnight and that a curfew was lifted between 7am and 10am in Churachandpur district, one of the main flashpoint areas. “Total of 23,000 civilians have been rescued until now and were moved to operating bases and military garrisons.” Authorities have not given an official death toll but hospital morgues in the state capital Imphal and Churachandpur had reported a combined total of 54 dead, according to local media. Tribal groups are unhappy about the prospect of the state’s majority Meitei community being recognised under a “scheduled tribe” category. This designation would give them a certain quota of government jobs and college admissions in a form of affirmative action aimed at addressing structural inequality and discrimination. – AFP Vietnam reports record-high temperatures HANOI: Vietnam has reported record-high temperatures, with climate experts warning such extreme weather events would continue. The country’s scientists have warned that global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with Southeast Asia sweltering under a heatwave. A temperature of 44.1°C was measured in Vietnam on Saturday, the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting said, breaking the 2019 record of 43.4°C. Farmer Nguyen Thi Lan told AFP that temperatures in the central city of Danang had been increasingly hot, forcing workers to start earlier than ever. “We have had to finish before 10am to avoid the heat.” She said forecasters had reported that temperatures had risen to nearly 40°C. “But at lunchtime, I think it was much hotter.” Vietnam’s weather varies from north to south, but the entire country is now entering its hottest summer months. The record temperature was measured indoors at Hoi Xuan station in northern Thanh Hoa province. “This is a worrying record in the context of climate change and global warming,” said climate change expert Nguyen Ngoc Huy. Weather experts and authorities had warned the population to remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day. At midday on Saturday, Hanoi city centre was almost empty as many remained indoors to avoid the sun. – AFP B R I E F S MAN LYNCHED AFTER RALLY IN PAKISTAN ISLAMABAD: A man was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of blasphemy at a rally for former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s party, officials said yesterday. The incident took place on Saturday in the Sawal Dher area of northwestern Mardan city. Police said a man identified as Nigar Alam was asked to deliver the concluding prayer at a rally organised by Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party when the crowd took offence to his comments. He managed to flee the scene but a mob tracked him down to a relative’s house. “A group of individuals climbed over the wall, barged inside, and beat him to death with sticks and batons,” said district police chief Najeeb-ur-Rehman. – AFP MYANMAR CRISIS TO DOMINATE ASEAN MEET JAKARTA: The festering crisis in Myanmar will loom over talks between Southeast Asian leaders this week, as they renew calls for an end to the escalating violence. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has been trying to kick-start a five-point plan agreed with Myanmar two years ago after mediation attempts to end violence failed. Diplomats told AFP the crisis would be a key issue during the May 9 to 11 summit on the Indonesian island of Flores. Asean will demand an immediate end to the violence in its end-of-summit statement to be issued by this year’s chair Indonesia, according to a draft seen by AFP. Thai voters cast early ballots BANGKOK: Thais queued under the blistering sun outside temples, shopping centres and schools to cast their early ballots yesterday ahead of a much-anticipated election next week. More than two million Thais nationwide are registered to vote early ahead of the kingdom’s May 14 election, which is shaping up to be a clash between army-backed establishment parties and resurgent opposition movements. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha, who took power in a 2014 coup before cementing oOpposition parties must achieve landslide victory to form next govt control in a controversial 2019 election, has been languishing in opinion polls with voters favouring old-school opposition party Pheu Thai and the more radical Move Forward Party. But with an electoral system heavily stacked in favour of the army-backed parties, challengers must achieve a landslide victory to have any hope of forming the next government. “I hope this election will change the country in a better way,” said shopping mall worker Srisuda Wongsa-ad, 28, after casting her ballot. She was among hundreds queuing quietly at a polling station in Bangkok’s fashionable Ekkamai district to vote at the Wat That Thong temple, overlooked by golden standing Buddhas. “I am voting for a candidate and party that I like, that can answer my needs,” she said, adding that she was voting early as it was more convenient for her. Japan, South Korea seek to deepen cooperation SEOUL: Unresolved historical disputes should not block South Korea and Japan from deepening ties in the face of international crises, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said as he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Seoul yesterday. The pledge by the leaders to boost cooperation has been welcomed by the US as a way to better confront threats from North Korea and competition from China. Kishida’s bilateral visit, the first by a Japanese leader to Seoul in 12 years, returns the trip Yoon made to Tokyo in March, where they sought to close a chapter on the historical disputes that have dominated Japan-South Korea relations for decades. “Cooperation and coordination between South Korea and Japan are essential not only for the common interests of the two countries but also for world peace and prosperity in the face of the current severe international situation,” Yoon said in opening remarks at their meeting. He said unresolved historical issues should not mean that no forward steps can be taken, and that he wants to make ties better than ever. The focus of the summit between the two US allies is expected to revolve around security cooperation in the face of North Korea’s nuclear threats, with a particular eye on American interests in the region, said Seoul-based Korea University professor of international relations Shin-wha Lee. “Their military and economic capabilities are crucial for promoting multilateral regional security cooperation, and a poor relationship between the two countries could obstruct US objectives,” she said. However, the historical differences between the two countries threaten to cast a shadow over the blossoming ties between its two leaders. Yoon is facing criticism at home that he has given more than he has received in his efforts to improve relations with Japan, including by proposing that South Korean businesses – not Japanese companies as ordered by a court – compensate victims of wartime labour during Japan’s 1910 to 1945 colonial occupation. South Korean officials were hopeful that Kishida will make some kind of gesture in return and offer some political support, although few observers expect any further formal apology for historical wrongs. – Reuters Voters lining up at a polling station in Bangkok yesterday. – REUTERSPIC Elsewhere in the capital, the Royal Paragon Hall shopping centre was packed with voters, albeit cooler ones, enjoying the complex’s air conditioning. Shortly before midday outside one of Bangkok’s largest poll sites at Ramkhamhaeng University, machines sprayed a fine mist of water over orderly queues as the day’s heat rose. But crowds were still out in force, with traffic and congestion around busy polling stations. “I am quite excited,” said first-time voter Pasawee Sriarunothai, 20, who will not be in Bangkok on May 14. “I decide to cast my vote based on the party’s policies, and I hope this election will bring the country a better future.” “I want the new generation to be running the country. I want to try something new,” said Nantthapon Phomput, 28, before voting at Wat That Thong. Among the challengers are opposition party Pheu Thai, fielding Paetongtarn Shinawatra – daughter of exiled former leader and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra – as a prime ministerial candidate. While Pheu Thai remains in the lead, Paetongtarn was overtaken as surveyed voters’ preferred prime ministerial candidate by Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the rival opposition Move Forward party. More than 52 million citizens are eligible to vote in this election. – AFP

7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 Russia blames US for attack on writer MOSCOW: Russia on Saturday blamed the US for an attack on a pro-Kremlin writer that killed his assistant and left him wounded. Earlier, investigators said Ukraine was behind the blast that wrecked the car in which Zakhar Prilepin, one of Russia’s best-known novelists, was travelling. It took place at around 11am (4pm in Malaysia) in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, some 400km east of Moscow. The investigative committee published images of a partly destroyed, overturned car and said the writer had been taken to a medical facility. The committee named a suspect who was detained as Alexander Permyakov. Permyakov said he had acted “on the instructions from the Ukrainian special services”, said the committee, which handles major crimes. An Interior Ministry video showed the suspect in handcuffs, wearing a khaki cap and a black hoodie. But Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak appeared to suggest the attack was due to Russian in-fighting, referring to the biblical figure Moloch, a pagan deity who “devours his enemies ... and finally devours his own”. Later, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said: “The responsibility for this terrorist act, and for others, does not lie only with Ukraine, but also with its Western minders, primarily the US.” It denounced the lack of condemnation of the attack from Washington and said that “the silence of the relevant international is unacceptable”. Regional governor Gleb Nikitin said he visited Prilepin in hospital and “the operation was successful”. Prilepin is a vocal supporter of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, where he fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in 2014. His novels draw on his experiences of serving with Russian forces in Chechnya and as a member of a banned radical nationalist group. – AFP Nine dead in Texas mall shooting, including gunman WASHINGTON: A man who went on a rampage at a Texas mall on Saturday shot dead eight people before he was himself killed, authorities said. “We found seven deceased individuals on scene. We transported nine individuals to hospital,” said fire chief Jonathan Boyd of Allen, Texas. “Of those we transported, two have since died.” The shooting sparked panic at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling shopping complex in Allen, 40km north of Dallas, filled with weekend shoppers. A police officer was in the mall on an unrelated call when gunfire broke out at around 3.30pm (4.30am yesterday in Malaysia), said Brian Harvey of Allen Police Department. “He heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralised the suspect. “He then called for ambulances.” The identity of the shooter was not released. His body, sprawled on a sidewalk, was one of the seven deaths at the mall when more police officers arrived. Among the wounded at area hospitals, “three are in critical surgery and four are stable”, said Boyd. Some of the victims were as young as five years old, said a hospital official. Texas governor Greg Abbott called the mass shooting an “unspeakable tragedy”. President Joe Biden “has been briefed on the shooting”, a White House official told reporters. Local officials hailed the actions of the police officer who charged and killed the shooter. “We owe a debt of gratitude to first responders that ran towards the gunfire and acted swiftly to neutralise the threat,” said Keith Self, a Republican congressman whose district includes the city of Allen. With more firearms than inhabitants, the US has the highest rate of gun deaths of any developed country – 49,000 in 2021, up from 45,000 the year before. – AFP B R I E F SMEDIATORS SEEK END TO SUDAN CONFLICT KHARTOUM: Fighting could be heard in south Khartoum yesterday as envoys from Sudan’s warring parties were in Saudi Arabia for talks that international mediators hope will bring an end to a three-week old conflict that has killed hundreds and triggered an exodus. The US-Saudi initiative is the first serious attempt to end fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that has turned parts of the Sudanese capital into war zones and derailed an internationally backed plan to usher in civilian rule following years of unrest and uprisings. Battles since mid-April have killed hundreds of people, disrupted aid supplies and sent 100,000 fleeing abroad. – Reuters MEXICAN AUTHORITIES RESCUE 113 MIGRANTS MEXICO CITY: Authorities in northwest Mexico rescued 113 kidnapped migrants of different nationalities from a building along the border with the US. The discovery in the municipality of San Luis Rio Colorado arose from follow-up investigations by authorities who found on Friday 10 Colombian citizens presumed to have been kidnapped. “This time people from El Salvador, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, US, India, Peru, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil and Afghanistan were brought to safety,” the prosecutor’s office of Sonora state said on its official Facebook page. – AFP 25,000 flee out-of-control wildfires in Canada OTTAWA: Alberta announced a state of emergency on Saturday as wildfires flared across the Canadian province, forcing 25,000 people to flee their homes in what a top official said was an “unprecedented” crisis. Thousands more have been told to be prepared to leave on a moment’s notice, as the number of fires – fanned by strong winds – jumped to 110. One-third of the blazes were listed as out of control. “We’ve declared a provincial state of emergency to protect the safety, health and welfare of Albertans,” the province’s Premier Danielle Smith told a news conference after a meeting of her government’s emergency management committee. Earlier she said the province – one of the world’s largest oil-producing regions – “has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires”. “These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province is facing today.” According to Smith, more than 20 communities have been evacuated and at least 122,000ha have burned so far. The state of emergency declaration gives the government of Alberta “greater powers to respond to extreme situations”, she said, including mobilising additional resources and unlocking emergency funds. – AFP Charles III crowned in ancient British ceremony LONDON: King Charles III was anointed and crowned on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a display of pomp and pageantry that sought to marry 1,000 years of history with a monarchy fit for a new era. In front of a congregation including about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey. During the solemn two-hour service, elements of which date back to the time of King William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles’ King Charles leaving the Abbey after the coronation ceremony through the Great West Door in London. – REUTERSPIC oTens of thousands on streets to witness moment of history second wife Camilla was also crowned queen. A huge military procession followed, gun salutes were fired, thousands of soldiers roared three cheers, and there was a scaled-down flypast by military aircraft as the king and queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to cheering crowds who gathered on The Mall boulevard. While rooted in history, the ceremony – only the second British coronation to be televised – was also an attempt to present a forward-looking institution and to reflect a more diverse country. “I come not to be served but to serve,” Charles said at the start. With Britain struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its global standing, the monarchy’s supporters said the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of keeping it on the world stage. Charles, 74, automatically succeeded his mother as king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Canada and Australia when Queen Elizabeth died last September. Saturday’s event was on a smaller scale than that staged for her in 1953, but still sought to be spectacular. There was an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world’s largest colourless cut diamond. Tens of thousands of people ignored pouring rain to mass on the streets to watch what some saw as a moment of history. “When I was a young girl, I was able to watch (the coronation of) Queen Elizabeth on television in Hartford, Connecticut, at a friend’s house because we had no TV,” said retired US teacher Peggy Jane Laver, 79. “So I’m thrilled to be here for the coronation in person.” Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading “Not My King”. – Reuters

8 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 SPEAK UP Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ Transforming agriculture T with precision techniques HE agricultural sector in Malaysia is in dire need of transformation in the face of an economic recession. Precision agriculture is one revolutionary strategy that can boost harvests and enhance the country’s economic future. This innovative method uses technology and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to maximise farming practices, resulting in increased production, better resource management and greater environmental sustainability. Precision agriculture is a farming maintenance method that uses technology, observation, measurement and analysis of temporal and spatial variability to increase agricultural sustainability and production. Precision agriculture farmers use GPS, satellite imaging, internet-connected sensors and other technologies to farm more productively. As a subset of IoT, it has the potential to have a huge impact on the industry, which is expected to be valued at US$1.4 trillion (RM6.21 trillion) by 2026. Precision agriculture has various advantages. Farmers may produce more while using fewer inputs, resulting in higher yields. For example, VRA (Variable Rate Application) maps assist farmers in increasing soil fertility by determining the necessary number of fertilisers and applying them precisely where needed. This tailored application not only saves resources but also minimises the environmental impact of agricultural practices. Furthermore, precision agriculture technology can help to achieve the US Agriculture Department’s three sustainability pillars: reduced environmental impact, enhanced production and yield and improved overall economic results. Implementing low-cost IoT solutions in Malaysia’s agricultural sector can be beneficial, especially for small-scale farms that make up a significant part of our agricultural economy. By leveraging on affordable IoT technologies, these farms can enjoy the benefits of precision agriculture without incurring exorbitant expenses. For example, satellite IoT facilitates data interchange with other equipment and systems over the internet or other communication networks, making it a critical component in precision agriculture success. Furthermore, the Covid-19 epidemic has boosted the adoption of IoT in agriculture, with the smart farming marketshare expected to reach US$28.56 billion by 2030. To exploit the full potential of precision agriculture in Malaysia, different ministerial agencies must work together to provide the required assistance, infrastructure and resources. This collaborative approach can include teaching farmers about the benefits of precision agriculture and guiding them through the implementation process. The government can also encourage the use of IoT solutions by providing grants, subsidies and tax breaks to farmers that invest in these technologies. In terms of infrastructure, a strong and dependable internet connection is crucial for the success of precision agriculture, particularly in remote areas. Government agencies should collaborate to improve connectivity in these areas, allowing farmers to access real-time data and make informed agricultural decisions. Another crucial factor is the creation of a qualified workforce capable of enabling the integration of IoT technology in agriculture. Initiatives to teach and upskill farmers in the use of precision agriculture instruments can play an important role in guaranteeing longterm success. To address possible dangers and issues related with precision agriculture, collaboration across several ministerial authorities is also required. Cyberattacks on agricultural targets are becoming more common, as indicated by a ransomware attack on one-fifth of beefprocessing companies in the US in 2021. Government agencies must create robust cybersecurity safeguards and educate farmers on best practices to preserve their digital infrastructure in order to protect Malaysian farmers and secure the nation’s food supply. Finally, precision agriculture has enormous potential in Malaysia. Farmers can reap benefits without breaking the bank by deploying low-cost IoT technologies. However, a joint effort involving different ministerial agencies is required to realise the full potential of this unique strategy. They can give the essential support, infrastructure and resources to ensure the success of precision agriculture in Malaysia. This collaborative effort will not only help ensure the nation’s food supply during uncertain economic times but will also provide the groundwork for a more sustainable and successful future for the agriculture sector and the country. Nor Azhar Ahmad, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang. Comments: [email protected] Keep Ipoh Padang clean and safe BEING consistently green, clean and safe will not only appeal to locals but also tourists. When I visited Geneva three years ago, I was impressed with not only the city’s ecologically beauty, with its lake and greenery, but also by how safe and clean it was as people lounged in the park during their leisure moments. Being an Ipoh resident, my wife I decided to take a walk at Ipoh Padang early morning on May 1. However, to our disappointment the field was littered with rubbish, including plastic bottles, overflowing bins with plastic bags, cans and food waste. To make matters worse, the water in the drain around the field was stagnant and had tadpoles, which could serve as a breeding ground for aedes mosquitoes. It is expected that many people were at the Padang on the eve of May 1 since the following day was a public holiday. However, I assumed that the rubbish would have been cleared the following morning. I am puzzled by the lack of civic consciousness among some Malaysians. Is this how we want to portray Ipoh as a green, clean and safe city for tourists? After all, Ipoh Padang has a rich historical heritage, which should be a significant place of attraction for those who visit Ipoh. While it is true that the authorities bear some responsibility for the cleanliness of the city, there is also a tendency to solely blame them. What about the people who use these public spaces? Where is their sense of ownership and responsibility? It is high time the authorities impose fines on those who litter, and for those who use public spaces to take responsibility for cleaning up after themselves. Coming from the hotel industry, I have had foreign tourists ask me where the best place is to exercise in the morning and I usually recommend the iconic Ipoh Padang. I strongly urge the Ipoh mayor to address these issues to ensure that Ipoh remains green, clean, and safe for every visitor of the city. Ronald Benjamin Secretary Association for Welfare Community and Dialogue Review tinted glass ruling THE decision to relax the degree of tint for vehicle glasses by the Transport Ministry a few years ago requires careful consideration and reflection. Approval to fully tint the rear windshield was given to alleviate the heat, but what is concerning is that when the rear windshield is 100% tinted, it obstructs the view of the driver behind. Usually, drivers rely on the rear windshield of the car in front to see what is happening ahead but if the rear windshield is fully tinted, their view is completely obstructed. Another pressing matter is the issue of motorists violating laws on permissible tinting. A significant number of vehicles have been found to have all their windows excessively tinted, to the point where the driver and passengers are not visible. These are the drivers who commit offences on the road many a time. The authorities should consider the points raised for safer and stress-free driving. Thiagarajan Mathiaparanam Klang LETTERS [email protected] COMMENT by Nor Azhar Ahmad Act within the law, do not threaten unity IN a democratic country, opposition parties play a crucial role in providing checks and balances to the ruling government. The right to criticise and hold the government accountable is a fundamental aspect of democracy. However, it is not appropriate for opposition parties or their leaders to threaten the government, especially with the Anti-Hopping Law in place. Opposition leaders have the right to voice their opinions in matters of national interest. However, these views should not divide the people or harm unity. Political parties should abide by the rules and regulations of the electoral process. National security is of utmost importance, but it should not be used as a tool to silence the voices of the opposition. However, all parties must know their boundaries and should not compromise national security. Papparaidu Veraman Malaysian Indian Voice Founder and Advisor

9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 theSun ONWEDNESDAY | NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSun ON WEDNESDAY | NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS THE OBJECTIVES TO achieve greater unity among Malaysians TO maintain a democratic way of life TO create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared TO ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions TO build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES BELIEF IN GOD LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION THE RULE OF LAW COURTESY AND MORALITY THE OBJECTIVES TO achieve greater unity among Malaysians TO maintain a democratic way of life TO create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared TO ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions TO build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES BELIEF IN GOD LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION THE RULE OF LAW COURTESY AND MORALITY Prevent eateries from exploiting sugar prices I HAVE been following the development on the potential increase in sugar prices, given the surge in global sugar prices recently. According to the International Sugar Organisation, about 80% of the global sugar production comes from sugarcane, while 20% is derived from beets. The upward trend in global prices of raw sugar and the increasing cost of production of refined sugar will mean that sugar prices will have to increase soon. This is simple logic. Sugar is a controlled item in Malaysia and was subsidised by the government but this was terminated in 2013. The reliance on imported processed sugar to meet domestic demand is unwise given that the government is committed to improving food security in the long-run. Imagine an event of geopolitical tension like the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, leading to countries holding up their exports of essential food items, like wheat, to build up national stockpiles, the same could happen in sugar-producing countries. This will mean that whenever there is a global conflict, sugar prices will shoot up or, worse still, we may run out of sugar. It will present a problem as Malaysia is the highest sugar consumer in Southeast Asia. The likelihood of a sugar price increase has led to many retail outlets, especially those involved in the food and beverage industry, to warn of a potential increase in prices. This is worrying for teh tarik lovers like me. I am paying more than RM2 per glass in most mamak restaurants and it is difficult to find any place selling it below RM2. I find this perplexing because although sugar prices have been relatively stable in the past 10 years, prices of beverages have increased significantly. Every time there is a hike in fuel prices or utilities, restaurants will use it as an excuse to increase their prices. As a former restaurant operator, I know that the profit margin for beverages is one of the highest. For example, the profit margin for a glass of teh tarik can range from 100 to 300%. The other issue is the race for restaurants and eateries to offer “cheap meals” under the Menu Rahmah programme, mooted by the government. This goes to show that restaurants can cap prices if they want to. I hope that the imminent increase in sugar prices will not be used as an excuse by restaurant operators to hike up prices. Sibu Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok summed it up well in a recent press conference, where he urged coffee shops not to increase their prices, given that the existing prices of beverages were already high. He was quoted as saying that “a cup of kopi-o peng with sugar is between RM2.20 and RM2.50, which is already high. So, one should not raise prices just because the price of sugar is increased”. The Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry should monitor restaurant operators to ensure that prices are under control and eateries do not take advantage if the sugar price increases. Yee Mun Keong Penang LETTERS [email protected] Future of work in Malaysia AS someone who has worked in the human resources field for close to 20 years, I have seen and experienced first-hand the changes in the job landscape. In the past, the focus was on compliance with labour laws and job security for employees. Employee welfare was often an afterthought. Over time, the economy grew and competition increased, so the job market became more dynamic. This led to a shift in human resources practices, with more attention being paid to issues like fair compensation, work-life balance and career development. Overtime pay and salary hikes Prior to this, the Employment Act 1955 only protected employees who earned RM2,000 and below. With the recent amendments to the Act, all employees, regardless of how much they earn, are covered. However, those earning above RM4,000 per month are exempted from certain provisions, like overtime pay. How are Malaysian organisations managing and responding to this? While the government may have intended to improve the livelihoods of employees through these amendments, the additional cost of managing overtime pay can be a burden to employers, especially those with a large workforce. From the employees’ point of view, overtime pay can provide extra income but it can also result in heavier workloads and lead to longer working hours, which can be harmful to overall mental and physical health in the long run. Employers can explore ways to boost productivity without extending working hours, such as adopting new technologies to enhance their workforce capabilities. With the rapid pace of technological advancements, newer and more advanced productivity tools are regularly being introduced. Employers can invest in these tools to boost productivity. If effectively utilised, these tools can reduce the time and costs spent on business operations, without compromising on quality or employee well-being. Based on the survey, it was found that 31% of the 704 respondents stated that their organisations had not taken any action yet. This may be because the changes have not been implemented yet, or it could be due to poor communication within the organisation. It is possible that the changes have been implemented but have not been effectively communicated to the employees, which could explain the data. According to the results, around 41% said their organisations were now offering overtime pay to eligible employees. Additionally, 15% said their organisations had increased salaries to more than RM4,000, while 13% said their organisations had implemented both measures. New working hours Previously, workers had a statutory limit on the maximum number of working hours in a week, which was 48 hours or around eight hours per day, six days a week. With the amendments, the maximum number had been reduced to 45 hours per week. While reduced working hours can be beneficial, there are also potential implications for both employers and employees. From a business perspective, organisations may see a decrease in output if they adjust their operating hours to account for the shorter workday. Alternatively, employers can choose to pay overtime but this would incur additional costs. Employees may also see a decrease in income. With the enforcement of the new maximum working hours, workload may be distributed to other employees and this may result in changes to wages. We asked respondents how this had affected their organisation, and 80% of the 600 respondents said this has had no effect on them, suggesting that most of the organisations were either complying with the new working hours or had not implemented the changes appropriately. It is important for both employers and employees to communicate their views. To build an effective long-term working relationship, there needs to be transparency to identify the best approach so that productivity is not negatively impacted while the well-being of employees are ensured. Flexible work arrangements The amended Employment Act now includes provisions to safeguard flexible work arrangements (FWAs) by law. This means that workers have the right to request flexible working hours, days, and locations. While this provides opportunities for discussions on FWAs, employers still retain the right to decline such requests if there are valid grounds to do so. A significant challenge of implementing FWAs is effectively managing remote employees. It is essential to ensure that the implementation of FWAs does not lead to decreased productivity or neglect the well-being of employees. Without proper planning in work arrangements, employees may find it difficult to set boundaries between work and personal life, while others may struggle in communicating effectively with colleagues due to location, and sometimes due to time differences. From our polls, 40% of the 337 respondents surveyed said FWA was not applicable to them due to the nature of their jobs while 18% of respondents who applied for FWA were turned down. The remaining 42% had FWAs. To make remote work successful, it is crucial to establish clear guidelines and expectations. Both employers and employees must maintain regular and effective communication to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This can help reduce productivity concerns where employers may doubt that employees are being productive and staying on track when working remotely and without direct supervision. Ultimately, the pandemic had accelerated the shift towards remote work, and employers need to recognise that FWA does not necessarily mean a drop in productivity. If done correctly, it can help to boost morale, enhance efficiency and quality. Extended maternity leave Another change that is welcomed is the increased entitlement of paid maternity leave. Previously, the Act provided 60 days maternity leave but now employees are entitled to 98 days. On the flip side, extended maternity leave may result in increased cost for employers due to the need for temporary replacements or additional resources to cover the workload of absent employees. This may impact productivity of the remaining team members and result in more workload. This may lead to a perception that hiring females will result in increased costs and result in bias in the recruitment process, with employers preferring male candidates over female candidates. We asked respondents what impact this will have on recruiting female employees, and 52% of the 437 respondents opined that fewer females will be hired due to the amendment. This reflects some of the fears people have regarding the amendments as it may impact the recruitment of women and potentially widen the gender gap in the workforce. To address these challenges, employers need to consider a few things. Firstly, employee loyalty, which is a challenge in the employment landscape, and it is no secret that employers that take good care of their employees will earn their loyalty. Employers can also explore alternative work arrangements, such as remote work, job sharing or part-time work for employees on maternity leave. These arrangements can help mitigate the financial burden on employers by allowing them to adjust their staffing needs while providing support for their employees. Most importantly, employers should strive to eliminate bias in the recruitment process by focusing on the skills and qualifications of candidates rather than gender. Finding work-life balance The Act also introduces seven days paid paternity leave for employees. Unfortunately, this may cause a stigma on those taking paternity leave, leading to discrimination, which will discourage employees from utilising their leave entitlement. Here again, employers may struggle with managing the workload of team members covering for an absent employee. In both cases, having a plan in place will be key and leveraging on FWA may be an option that employers can consider to ensure work continues smoothly. When asked about the impact of this amendment, 58% of the 229 respondents replied that this would enable employees to take a break from work and focus on family. This suggests that the introduction of paid paternity leave will have a positive impact on the work-life balance of employees. It must be emphasised that this is ultimately a balancing act. The onus is on the employers, who need to promote a culture of gender equality in the workplace and ensure stigmas do not exist, be it for maternity or paternity leave. There are aspects that need to be addressed to ensure that the Employment (Amendment) Act achieve its intended outcome. Around 36% of respondents said the lack of support from management was one of the main setbacks when it comes to implementing changes. While the amendments to improve the welfare of employees and promote work-life balance are commendable, there must be continuous communication between employers and employees to ensure they are beneficial to both organisations as well as employees. The figures were derived from a sixpart series of LinkedIn polls conducted by the writer and PERSOLKELLY Malaysia. Ku Sim Ling, Director of Corporate Services at PERSOLKELLY Malaysia. Comments: [email protected] “While the amendments to improve the welfare of employees and promote worklife balance are commendable, employers and employees must continue to discuss to identify and align expectations to ensure they are beneficial to both organisations as well as employees. COMMENT by Ku Sim Ling

10 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 MEDIA & MARKETING Get a jump start today on creating a successful tomorrow! For the best in local and international higher education institutions, catch theSun's fortnightly Education Focus. FOCUS 2023 EDUCATION Contact us now for special deals on digital, video and print advertising. BMW Group Malaysia to electrify the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 BMW Group Malaysia will be presenting a range of All-New models as well as one-of-a-kind 20th Year Anniversary special deals at the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2023 in MAEPS. Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said: “As the No.1 premium automaker in Malaysia for three consecutive years, we look forward to presenting our extensive line-up of exceptional vehicles at the annual Malaysia Autoshow – one of the most highly-anticipated automotive events of the year. With rising interest in our electrified portfolio amongst customers new and old, we are thrilled to be delivering on our promise of Sheer Electric Driving Pleasure to more EV enthusiasts at the Autoshow next week, along with other powerful vehicles from across our portfolios that are sure to appeal to the individual BMW or MINI owner.” Diving deeper into their goals for Electrified Mobility, Sustainability and Circularity here, BMW Group Malaysia will also be unveiling a game-changing solution for the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in Malaysia that places Circularity and Responsibility at the forefront – in collaboration with leading charging solutions provider, EV Connection. Visitors are welcomed to experience BMW Group Malaysia’s line-up of exceptional vehicles at Hall A1 (Premium Hall) and Hall D (EV Hall) and enjoy exclusive test drives plus special deals available only at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023. Located at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), doors will be open to the public from 10am to 10pm, from May 4-7, 2023. General admission tickets for Malaysians and Non-Malaysians are priced at RM15 and RM25 per day respectively, with complimentary on-site parking available for visitors. Tickets can be purchased via t2u.asia/e/30200. For more information on the Malaysia Autoshow 2023, visit: autoshow.my. 18 years of excellence I N the blink of an eye, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) is set to turn 18 on May 9, 2023. For those who have yet to step foot into klpac, May is the perfect time as they celebrate their birthday with an exciting array of programmes. Tour klpac & Meet klpac’s Founders It is never too late to get to know your local arts centre. Join klpac’s “Backstage Bites” guided tour experience on May 7, 2023 from 9.30am which brings you through its 121-year-old heritage building. Find out how it all started, where all the magic happens backstage and access areas normally not open to the public. Following the tour, there will be an intimate, no-holds-barred Jom Sembang session with klpac’s CoFounders Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican & Joe Hasham OAM. Get up close and personal with these theatre icons and ask any burning questions you may have. Greatest fear? Craziest thing they have done? While the tour is limited to 25 pax, more can be accommodated for the Jom Sembang session. Supported by Yayasan Sime Darby, register for Backstage Bites via bit.ly/BB2023_RSVP. oJoin klpac as it celebrates its 18th anniversary Birthday Month Shows Another highlight of klpac’s birthday month is the return of Dato’ Dr Faridah Merican to the stage. She will play the lead role in one of Kuo Pao Kun’s most iconic work Mama Looks for Her Cat from May 19 to 21 under the direction of Benjamin Ho. Other shows to watch out for include experimental dance showcase KonTra : Borneo, klpac Orchestra’s Czech Impressions featuring music of Antonín Dvorák and Bedrich Smetana and Theatresauce’s They All Die At The End. Tickets can be purchased via cloudjoi.com/org/klpac. Score Free Tickets & Trial Classes If the line-up above excites you, join klpac’s Birthday Ticket Giveaway where they will be giving out 18 pairs of tickets to 18 different shows. More details can be found on klpac’s Facebook and Instagram. The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac is also offering free trial classes for its Speech & Drama programme on May 14 (10.30am to 11.30am for 7 to 9 year olds, 11.30am to 12.30pm for 10 to 12 year olds). If you are ready to dive right in, then sign up for one of its courses starting in May - Acting Foundations for Adults, 2-Day Malay Gamelan Crash Course with Gangsapura or Jom Menari: Intro to Traditional Malay Dance for Kids. Register for courses via bit.ly/tasa_registration. Show klpac Some Birthday Love It is hard to imagine KL without klpac. A much-loved home for the Malaysian performing arts, this non-profit organisation has been hit hard by the pandemic and growing maintenance costs. Here are some simple ways you can chip in: Buy a POTA (Patron of the Arts) ticket for its shows (which also gives you the best seats in the house), or shop its pre-loved goods or KamWei Fong’s The Furry Thing animal illustrations on Barang Best via bit.ly/barangbestorderform. If you’re an avid theatre-goer and want to do more, sign up for its POTA Annual Packages to enjoy savings with its exclusive discounts, unique passes and experiences at bit.ly/donatetoklpac.

KLCI 1,431.04 5.05 STI 3,266.63 HANG SENG 20,049.31 100.58 SCI 3,334.50 NIKKEI 2.55 TSEC 15,626.07 17.04 KOSPI CLOSED S&P/ASX200 7,220.00 26.90 MONDAY MAY 8, 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 5, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) JADEM 129,604,700 27.0 -1.0 FITTERS-WC 124,726,600 1.0 UNCH REVENUE 92,012,000 34.0 -1.0 HSI-CLQ 77,483,900 22.5 +4.5 VINVEST 67,954,700 20.0 -1.0 EXCHANGERATES MAY 5, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.5060 4.3700 4.3820 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0350 2.9130 2.8940 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.3930 3.2930 3.2840 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.3270 3.2360 3.2170 1 EURO 4.9730 4.8100 4.8100 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8460 2.7400 2.7060 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.3930 3.2930 3.2840 1 STERLING POUND 5.6750 5.4930 5.4670 1 SWISS FRANC 5.0730 4.9550 4.9380 100 UAE DIRHAM 124.1400 117.6500 118.0300 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.3030 4.0350 3.8700 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 65.3000 62.7000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 58.0300 55.1200 55.1800 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.6100 5.2600 5.0800 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0318 0.0287 0.0238 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3620 3.2550 3.2220 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.8000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.6200 1.5100 1.3200 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.2500 7.7700 7.6200 100 QATAR RIYAL 125.0400 118.7100 119.0800 100 SAUDI RIYAL 121.4500 115.3000 115.6500 100 THAI BAHT 13.9400 12.3500 11.9100 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY May 5, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,458.20 +10.13 FBMKLCI 1,431.04 +5.05 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 577.94 -0.77 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 169.49 -1.96 CONSTRUCTION 162.06 +0.89 FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,708.70 +119.90 ENERGY 828.24 -5.24 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 626.03 -6.41 HEALTH CARE 1,755.31 -6.61 TRANSPORTATION 914.22 +0.77 PROPERTY 696.12 -4.28 PLANTATION 6,833.79 +7.18 FBMSHA 10,758.70 -27.70 FBMACE 5,213.00 -0.30 TECHNOLOGY 60.25 -0.77 TURNOVER VALUE 2.566 BIL RM1.420 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS May 5, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM PETDAG 155,700 22.80 +0.44 HARISON 65,100 9.78 +0.43 BKAWAN 9,300 21.66 +0.36 HEXTECH 415,600 23.28 +0.28 FAREAST 12,000 3.82 +0.22 5 TOP LOSERS May 5, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM MPI 310,000 27.00 -1.14 KLK 325,900 21.50 -0.46 AJI 70,300 15.50 -0.32 NESTLE 32,100 134.60 -0.30 OPPSTAR 6,613,500 1.75 -0.24 Participation 43.6 33.0 23.4 100.0 Institutions Retail Foreign Bought RM m 611.5 462.8 346.1 1420.4 Sold RM m 627.1 475.7 317.6 1420.4 Net RM m -15.6 -12.9 28.5 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 SECUR ITIES S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 5/05/2023 CLOSED 15.96 F&N’s fresh milk project to begin next year PETALING JAYA: Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) anticipates that the initial milking for its fresh milk project at the integrated dairy farm in Ladang Permai Damai will begin in December 2024, with the products set to be available in the market early 2025. In regard to this development, F&N CEO Lim Yew Hoe announced that the group has submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment as part of the process to appoint strategic partners. “Now we are engaging stakeholders including federal and state government agencies to complete this project,” he said in a press conference when announcing its first half FY2023 financial results on Friday. Lim added that the group is expected to become the largest fresh milk producer in Malaysia, with an annual production capacity of 100 million liters, utilising 20,000 dairy cows for both domestic and international markets. He said that the move into the fresh milk industry will strengthen the brand’s position as a leading food and beverage (F&B) company in Malaysia. One of the key growth segments in which the group has invested substantial resources is its halal packaged food, representing its fourth pillar of growth. Lim (left), and F&N Holdings Bhd director, group finance Tiong Yean Yau at the briefing. oProducts to be available in market early 2025, move will strengthen brand’s position as a leading F&B company in Malaysia █ BY HAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] MCMC, telcos to discuss 5G issues today KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as well as telecommunication companies (telcos) will meet today following the Cabinet’s decision to implement a dual 5G network once the current rollout under Digital Nasional Bhd has reached 80% of populated areas. Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he would explain the government’s decision on the matter, which will involve several entities and telcos working together to build adequate telecommunication towers to ensure there is more than one network available after the 5G coverage target under the single network is achieved. “This is to ensure that if there is any problem with one network, there is still a backup,” he told reporters at the Raya + Influencer 2023 event at the Telekom Museum on Saturday. Fahmi said the plan is hoped to be a winwin situation for all while prioritising the people’s rights and, at the same time, resolving the monopoly issue. On the 4G coverage, Fahmi said that even though it had reached 96.92%, the situation was not yet ideal because the figure was only an aggregate or composite percentage of coverage of all telecommunications firms. He said this often caused consumers to have to use two sim cards or more than one service provider. “For instance, when they return to their hometown, there is no coverage for Telco A, and in turn, consumers have to spend more for Telco B. I have instructed for this matter to be resolved starting in June,” he said. – Bernama ‘Target of coverage for 80% of population by year-end achievable’ KUALA LUMPUR: Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and mobile network operators (MNO) could use 4G existing sites to meet the 80% 5G population coverage target by year-end, say analysts. University Teknologi Malaysia faculty of engineering senior lecturer Prof Dr Tharek Abdul Rahman said the 5G rollout in the country has reached 57.8% so far while the nation’s 4G network coverage encompasses 96.92% of populated areas as of March this year. “Therefore, DNB and MNOs should consider using existing sites for 4G networks to meet the remaining 22.2% target for 5G coverage. These 4G sites can speed up the coverage target which is better than rolling out new sites, where we need approval and so on. “In addition, the frequency used for 5G is no different from the 4G frequency,” he told Bernama. Malaysia aims to expedite the 5G rollout to achieve 80% 5G population coverage by the end of 2023, which is one year ahead of DNB’s schedule. Tharek said the current target is achievable due to the successful commercial availability of 5G services in parts of Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur. “The 22.2% can be achieved and it is possible considering what has been implemented until now,” he said. Lim said, “Cocoaland has contributed positively to the group, and we see a promising future in this acquisition. Integration of the businesses is ongoing.” F&N completed the acquisition of confectionery and snack brand Cocoaland Holdings Bhd for RM489.2 million on Nov 4, 2022, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of the group. Lim also expressed confidence in the group’s financial strength and strong cash flow. He noted that the group was able to deliver a higher bottom line despite the RM15.5 million increase in interest costs due to the recent strategic acquisitions, demonstrating F&N’s capacity to shoulder the additional financial commitments. He further added that once some of the capex projects become operational, the resulting savings and earnings would help offset the increased interest commitments. “We are cautiously optimistic going into the second half of the fiscal year as markets continue to recover. Our strategic decisions have placed us on a firm footing to defend our margins, strengthen our brands and enable future growth,” said Lim. While some commodity prices have begun to stabilise, prices of tin plates/cans, milk, palm oil and sugar are expected to remain high in 2023. To address the economic uncertainties, the group will enhance its forecasting capabilities and implement effective hedging strategies. F&N’s net profit increased over 8% to RM101.18 million in the second quarter ended March 31, 2023, up from RM93.87 million a year ago, largely due to its strategic acquisitions, mainly Cocoaland Holdings Bhd. Revenue for the quarter under review rose 9% to RM1.21 billion compared with RM1.11 billion a year before, driven by festive sales for its Malaysian food & beverage division and contribution from Cocoaland. The group has declared an interim singletier dividend of 27 sen per share in Q2’23, the same amount as in Q2’22, totalling RM99 million. The dividend is scheduled to be paid on June 1, 2023.

12 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Keep EPF account active after 55, members told PETALING JAYA: Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is encouraging its members to keep their EPF account active to continue earning income after 55 until 100 from its competitive annual dividend payouts. Sharing with Sunbiz how a normal working class Malaysian can save and grow his money with EPF, chief strategy officer Nurhisham Hussein disclosed that some of its members are still keeping a partial amount of funds in their account to keep it active after 55, in order to receive the yearly dividends. After 55, he said members can withdraw whatever amount they want from the EPF account, just like a savings account and keep the balance so that they can continue benefiting from the annual payout dividends until they turn 100 years old. EPF’s aim is not only to stay relevant but also create a better retirement savings for all its members. “We continue to provide the same level of returns, regardless of what age you are and what your (employment) status is. We actually have quite a few members who continue to save actively after 60 and there’s a handful who are over 80 and still contributing,” said Nurhisham. He said that the biggest difference between a normal savings account and an EPF account post-55, is “you earn little dividend on your savings”. Nurhisham says a fixed deposit would have a return of less than 3%, while, a savings account would give a dividend payout of about 1% or less, compared to EPF which will continuously earn you 5% plus annually. oThey can continue to earn more income via annual dividend payouts compared to keeping their money in a conventional savings account █ BY GLORIA HARRY BEATTY [email protected] mechanism” and can be regarded as general savings which is conveniently accessible as well as it has capital-preservation, while earning dividends and bonuses. However, he opined that ASB is entirely equity based and is highly dependent on the performance of the domestic equity market. Nurhisham reckoned that if the domestic equity market doesn’t perform well, it will affect the returns. He explained that EPF has shifted to a strategic asset location approach since 15 years ago to “a mixed assets type of fund”. “Close to 50% of our investments are in fixed income. We have 40% in equities, 10% in alternative investments. We are geographically diverse, we have something like 36% of our assets overseas, where the returns have been much higher than they have been in Malaysia. So, you get the benefits of very high diversification, just by keeping your savings in EPF,” he explained. He clarified that it is not a choice between EPF or ASB. In terms of savings strategy, he advised for individual to not put their “eggs all in one basket” and to have a holistic perspective by keeping their savings in different types of investments. In addition, Nurhisham said that as of this year, their voluntary selfcontribution has been increased to RM100,000 from RM60,000, up until the age of 75. “We actually have a lot of interest from people over 60 years old who want to contribute and they have been after us about the RM60,000 limit. (They) said not enough,” he shared. He reckoned that a fixed deposit would have a return of less than 3%, which also depends on the duration. While, a savings account would give a dividend payout of about 1% or less. “If you keep it with EPF, you will still continue to earn 5% plus, at least that’s our track record over the last 10 years, which is an enormous factor, you continue to preserve your savings because it continues to grow. He said that its 55 and above members’ active funds will continue to increase, despite being withdrawn on a monthly basis. “We actually encourage that, you only take out what you need, rather than the whole thing. A lot people take out a lump sum first to pay off some of the debts, but if you want to continue to grow the savings, keep it with EPF,” he added. On the difference between EPF and ASB, he noted that the latter has a “slightly different savings How do you resolve disputes with the IRB? MALAYSIA practises a selfassessment system for income tax purposes – which effectively means that the taxpayer is responsible for filing tax returns which should comply with the tax laws and regulations. Generally, a taxpayer who understands the law and regulations should not have any disputes with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). However, in practice, when the IRB selects taxpayers for tax audits, there is a high probability that they will find errors either in the application of the law, or documentation supporting the claims for deduction, timing of taxation, taxability of income, or the classification of income or capital, etc. could lead to the IRB imposing additional assessments. The first stage Whenever there are additional assessments, the taxpayers in many instances may disagree with the position taken by the IRB. The normal process before an assessment is issued will be for the IRB to engage the taxpayer requesting information through correspondence or through meetings. The IRB normally will give an opportunity for the taxpayer to provide his views and his right to be heard before an assessment is issued. It is extremely important at this stage for the taxpayer to substantiate his position with written evidence, or in the absence, to provide other corroborative evidence such as statements from the recipients or third parties to support his position. It is extremely important to defer an assessment as long as possible and try to come to a settlement or convince the IRB that the position taken is correct in law, because once an additional assessment is issued, the tax must be paid within 30 days of the issue of the additional assessment. Subsequent stages There are still avenues available to the taxpayer to resolve the dispute. The immediate action the taxpayer should take to protect his rights is to appeal using Form Q to the Special Commissioners which will be submitted through the IRB. Simultaneously, the taxpayer can still engage the respective assessment branch by providing further information or entering into discussions to try and convince the officials that the taxpayer’s position is correct in law and factually and come to a settlement with the IRB which is acceptable to both parties. Usually there is a period of 30 to 60 days where this discussion can take place at the branch level. Thereafter, if the matter remains unresolved, the taxpayer can take the matter to the dispute resolution panel (DRP) which comprises senior IRB officials who will independently review the dispute. At the DRP, the taxpayer will be given an opportunity again to present his side of the case, and the DRP will also separately engage the assessment team for their views. The DRP will try and bring both parties to a negotiated settlement. Where such settlements cannot be achieved, the matter will be passed on to the legal section of the IRB for them to take the matter to the Special Commissioners. Even if the matter has been escalated to the legal department to be taken to the Special Commissioners, the taxpayer can continue to communicate with the legal department to explore avenues for settlement with the IRB without going to the courts. Generally, at this final stage, it becomes more difficult to attain settlements although it cannot be ruled out. The general experience is that the IRB is not against listening to taxpayers at any stage of the tax dispute. There is a willingness on their part to bring matters to an end without resorting to the courts. Advice to taxpayers Do not give up on attempting to resolve disputes; the IRB cannot close its ears when a taxpayer is willing to come forward and resolve disputes. It is extremely important to avoid disputes at an early stage before assessments are issued. This article is contributed by Thannees Tax Consulting Services Sdn Bhd managing director SM Thanneermalai. Ringgit likely to strengthen, all eyes on GDP data KUALA LUMPUR: The expected pause in the US Fed funds rate is projected to lead to a weaker US dollar in the near term, thus continuing to boost the ringgit’s appeal this week. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist and social finance head Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid believes the ringgit will be able to traverse its immediate support level of 4.4254 and would linger around 4.4100 to 4.4200 this week. “In addition, all eyes would be looking at Malaysia’s first-quarter (Q1) economic data, which will be announced on May 12. “Our preliminary estimates showed that Q1 gross domestic product could come in at around 5% to 5.5% with domestic demand being the key driver for growth,’’ he told Bernama. He said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) remained sanguine about the domestic economic outlook. During the week, BNM’s monetary policy committee unexpectedly increased the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 3%. The central bank said at that level, the benchmark interest rate would be back to pre-crisis levels and would be more aligned with the stronger state of the economy. “We will ensure that our OPR supports sustainable growth while keeping inflation in check,” it said in its May 2023 monetary policy statement snapshot. The US Federal Reserve also appears to be reaching its terminal rate after a smaller 25 basis points rate rise on Wednesday, pressuring the greenback against a basket of major currencies. On Friday, the ringgit traded stronger against the US dollar at a two-week high of 4.4350/4400 against Friday’s close of 4.4600/4645 a week earlier. Meanwhile, the local note traded mostly lower against a basket of major currencies compared to a week earlier except for the euro, where it rose to 4.8900/8955 from 4.9011/9060 last week. The ringgit weakened against the British pound at 5.5908/5971 from 5.5558/5614 and went down vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.3050/3090 from 3.2770/2805 a week earlier. The ringgit also traded mixed against its Asean counterparts. The local note appreciated against the Indonesian rupiah to 302.1/302.6 from 303.9/304.3 previously and increased vis-a-vis the Philippine peso to 8.02/8.03 from 8.05/8.06. It slipped against the Thai baht to 13.1446/1661 from 13.0612/0801 and was lower versus the Singapore dollar at 3.3464/3507 from 3.3351/3387 the previous week. Strong bilateral ties, investment links boon for Malaysia’s trade KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can continue to bank on its strong bilateral trade and investment linkages, especially within Asean, to boost its trade as well as take advantage of various trade pacts such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP). Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, chairman of CIMB Asean Research Institute Asean Research and Advocacy, said the country must also not be afraid of opportunities such as those offered by the CPTPP. He said the greater intra-regional trade and investment is already happening as a result of the trade and tech war the US has declared against China, as well as the result of regional and other free trade groupings such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and CPTPP. “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants to up the ante. It could be improved (intra-Asean trade remains at just around 25%). The International Monetary Fund estimates the decoupling between the US and China could cause a contraction in world GDP by as much as 7% in the most extreme case,” he told Bernama. Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said Malaysia has done a great job so far towards strengthening bilateral trade and investment linkages with regional trade partners including China during the series of visits by Anwar.

13 * SUNBIZ theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Salary budgets projected to increase this year KUALA LUMPUR: Companies in Malaysia are expected to allocate higher salary budgets in 2023, influenced mainly by the competitive labour market conditions and inflationary pressures driven by the rising cost of living, said global advisory, broking and solutions company, WTW. Based on its Salary Budget Planning Report 2022, WTW said organisations in Malaysia are projected to increase their budgets for employee salaries by 5% this year. Managing director and head of work rewards business for South Asia, Asean and Malaysia Tan Juan Jim said Malaysian companies have responded positively to global salary budget trends by increasing their salary budgets through various methods, such as optimising total rewards and adjusting prices. “Companies are taking multiple actions, which include enhancing employee experience and modifying their compensation programme, to address the labour shortages issue in Malaysia. “Some companies are also making more frequent salary increase adjustments (and) in fact, 40% of organisations are even considering biannual salary increases to attract and retain talent,” he told Bernama. Tan said that compounding economic conditions, such as the current high inflation oMalaysian businesses taking action to attract, reward and retain talent: WTW report Importance of cultivating a partner ecosystem AS THE world rapidly digitises and becomes more complex, the challenges of sustainability, climate change and energy transition are too big for any one business to tackle alone. New solutions are constantly appearing and being implemented to improve our ways of working. Not too long ago, we travelled to deposit paycheques, made purchases in person, and arrived at a physical office location to work each day. Technological advances have created new and innovative solutions, enabling us to do most things from mobile apps and websites right at our fingertips. Today, innovation is everything. The newly tabled Budget 2023 is timely as Malaysia aims to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (SME) by allocating RM1 billion from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to facilitate their digitalisation through process automation. However, businesses need all the help they can get. While businesses would ideally source internally to develop modern solutions to meet the changing needs in an increasingly digital world, the phrase “it takes a village” has never been more relevant. To achieve top-of-the-line service and keep up with the rapid change in the IT industry, collaboration is pivotal. That’s why forwardthinking organisations are increasingly looking to combine forces for innovation and co-creation, especially as the market moves to open, interoperable, digital and simplified systems and business operations. The IT “village” is stronger together. An overwhelming 96% of companies have already adopted, or are considering adopting, an eco-system approach to business, allowing co-creation with vendors to develop new digital products and services for enhanced sustainability and efficiency. Through an ecosystem method, companies can leverage innovation capacity, which Schneider Electric describes as a combination of skills, capabilities, and resources, to innovate and transform. The wide range of benefits provided by a partner ecosystem include: Increased access to diversified talent, education and recruitment tools. Robert Walters’ Salary Survey found that 60% of Malaysian employers may struggle to retain their top talent, and 95% are concerned about a talent shortage due to high salary and benefits expectations. Stifling talent gaps are limiting innovation capacity and putting pressure on companies to revamp recruitment and retention efforts across industries. With the demand for IT talent and the hurdles businesses need to jump over to find and keep high performers remaining a huge pain point in today’s “War for Talent”, a collaborative ecosystem provides access to additional resources and diversity of thought that increases a company’s ability (and capacity) to innovate. The ability to anticipate uncertainty and navigate market volatility with widespread knowledge and expertise. More than half (61%) of partners believe that Covid-19 was a key driver for their customers’ choice to adopt digital solutions and embrace new technology. By partnering with an ecosystem of players, companies across the globe can make themselves more resilient and prepared for the all-electric world. Further, with different partners in the IT “village” specialising in a number of niche areas, the result is a unique, high-impact, dependable solution that derives the highest possible level of value to customers, no matter what is happening in the world. Enhanced capability to deliver new and emerging technologies. Through an ecosystem, companies can implement new technology in ways that are too complicated or unmanageable on their own. Working together, organisations can create, deploy, operate, and execute improved information technology solutions. There is exponential value in building a village comprised of partners across the ecosystem that is much greater than the sum of its parts. For most companies in the IT industry, operating alone simply isn’t feasible or worth the overwhelming cost. To avoid burning out employees by attempting to do it all, companies need to accept that collaborating with external partners can make just as significant of an impact on their business as internal teamwork. Not only does cultivating your own IT “village” ease the burden placed on employees to overwork, it also protects your business from the unknown of the future by forming key relationships with other players to create a wider span of expertise and resources. Last, but certainly not least, the importance of the ability to formulate, distribute and execute innovative technologies faster and more effectively than before cannot be understated. Customers won’t wait for companies to catch up. So, now is the time to begin or continue in the journey to a comprehensive partner ecosystem to provide your business with the collaborative ecosystem it needs to be successful. This article is contributed by Adrian Koh (pic), the head of Secure Power Division Malaysia & Brunei Managing seasonal water demand EVERY festive season we will come across news regarding the poor treated water supply situation in suburban and rural areas. In 1970, the urban population was 28.4 % (2,962,795) and this increased to 75.1% (24,354,046) in 2020, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. The urban population has increased 8.2 times. During this period, the rural population was maintained between 7.48 million and 8.66 million. In 2020, the rural population was recorded at 8.09 million. While more infrastructure was developed in urban areas between 1970 and 2020, rural water services infrastructure development may have reached a plateau. Based on national water statistics for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, treated water consumption for the domestic sector stood at 65.1% in 2021 and states like Kedah, Kelantan, Perak and Perlis had more than 70% domestic consumption. Generally, developers are mandated by law to build service reservoirs for new developments. Oneday storage is also made available within premises. However, old settlements in some urban, suburban and most rural areas do not have service reservoirs as these settlements did not have law mandating such storage capacity previously. As a result, settlements at high elevation or faraway locations from the main reservoir will face low water pressure or no water supply at peak hour demand during normal operation. During the dry season, demand for treated water increases above normal demand and the festive season balik kampung practice also increases demand for treated water. Due to poor water services infrastructure, these areas will face low pressure or no water supply during peak hour demand for a longer period. Another factor that aggravates the situation is the limited capacity of water treatment plants catering to these zones. A water treatment facility that is not able to cater to a surge in demand for treated water will only prolong the situation. Many states are still having very low or no treated water reserve margin. Reserve margin is additional treated water capacity available after meeting existing demand. This reserve margin is vital to cater for sudden increase in demand or speed up water supply recovery after water supply disruption. Kedah, Kelantan and Perlis had no reserve margin by 2021. Water-stressed Malacca had only 7.5% reserve margin by 2021. The National Water Services Industry Restructuring (NWSIR) initiative was designed to improve water services infrastructure and finance improvements with a more affordable mechanism. Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) was formed under the Ministry of Finance to handle the financing portion of the infrastructure development. The Water Services Commission or Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (commonly known as SPAN) was formed as a regulator to regulate service, technical and economic aspects of water services industry provided under the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA). If all states follow NWSIR and used PAAB financing effectively, many infrastructure developments can be done to upgrade and improve the situation plaguing old and rural settlements. Similarly, static tanks can be placed at strategic locations to be supplied with water tank lorries to ease treated water stress at affected zones. Technology advancement allows the supervisory control and data acquisition system to assist in monitoring drops in water level and water pressure in the treated water distribution system. Basic mechanisms like this can be deployed to ensure rural water services infrastructure operate seamlessly to cater to seasonal spikes in water demand. These systems must be accompanied with interconnections between water treatment plants’ different supply regime to counter a rural demand spike. Unfortunately, poor treated water supply in old settlements and rural areas still persists in a more aggravated scenario. We are also subjected to questionable reasons being given for the failure to follow NWSIR properly that is resulting in such a situation. Solutions are available. Are they being deployed to solve water services problems? This article is contributed by Piarapakaran S, president of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, a non-government organisation involved in research and development in the fields of water, energy and environment. THE GREEN EQUILIBRIUM rates and the uncertainty of how long it would last, would also force companies to re-evaluate their people strategies. Many organisations have taken or plan to take, non-monetary actions to improve employee experience and these will include prioritising employee well-being by introducing new well-being benefits such as telehealth services, he said. “With significant risks in the local economy, continued high inflation and employers grappling with talent supply challenges, organisations must be more creative to address attraction and retention challenges. “For instance, information technology skills are one of the most sought after by companies now with 71% of the organisations reported experiencing problems to retain and attract digital talents” he said. Therefore, Tan noted that it might be more effective for companies to use differentiating factors like higher-order thinking (HOT) skills and pay-for-performance models to address the market challenges. Commenting further on the survey, WTW Malaysia’s associate director of rewards and data intelligence Michael Ng Tze Kang said as the economy is likely grow moderately in 2023, companies are projected to take extra steps in their retention and attraction strategies based on the discussions of the median salary increase expectations. He noted that employees in the country will only experience a real wage increase of 1%, based on the expectation of a 5% overall increase and an inflation rate of 4%, fuelling the sentiment that wages could be increased further. Based on the latest compensation data, he said, two-thirds of organisations are experiencing the problem of attracting and retaining employees, especially in the digital, production and engineering fields. “Since three years ago, employers find that it is getting harder to retain employees in anticipation of 2023, and learning from the pandemic and various uncertainties surrounding the market, employers had learned new ways of attracting and retaining employees,” he said. Ng said many companies will improve their employee compensation packages by offering alternative or new well-being programmes to help keep them engaged and motivated. “Other than salary increases, more than 60% of companies are taking non-financial measures offering more workplace flexibility to address the competitive labour market and inflation pressures.” Ng noted that technology-related roles, namely information technology development, digital and cybersecurity, are the top jobs in demand across various industries. “The top 10 jobs in demand include business analyst, data engineer, data scientist, data analyst, machine learning engineer, business intelligence engineer, database engineer, business intelligence analyst, product analyst, and customer intelligence analyst. “As for the top 10 skills in demand, they are SQL, Python, technical reporting, machine learning, Apache Spark, documentation and records management, big data processing, extract, transform and load (data integration process), cloud computing and tableau,” he said. Ng said this trend will likely continue into 2023 as Malaysia’s digital economy expands despite the labour market remaining tight.

14 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 SUNBIZ READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Saudi Q1 GDP growth estimated at 3.9% DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s economy grew by 3.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, according to initial government estimates of real gross domestic product (GDP) published yesterday. Non-oil activities grew by 5.8% in the first quarter from a year prior, the General Authority for Statistics said, citing flash estimates, while oil activities grew by 1.3%. Government services activities grew by 4.9%, it said. However, growth slowed compared with the fourth quarter of 2022, when GDP grew 5.5% year-on-year. Seasonally adjusted real GDP decreased by 1.3% in the first quarter of this year, compared with the previous quarter as a result of a decline in oil activities by 4.8%, the report said. The International Monetary Fund says the Saudi economy grew 8.7% last year, but projects that Saudi GDP growth will more than halve to 3.1%, this year. Saudi Arabia last month said it would cut oil output by 500,000 barrels per day from May, part of further cuts by Opec+ oil producers of around 1.16 million bpd. – Reuters Australian Treasurer urges parliament to back petroleum tax changes SYDNEY: Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers yesterday urged minor political parties to back proposed changes to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) paid by the offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, whose lobby group welcomed the move. The government estimates the changes, which would increase tax paid by the industry, will lift revenue by A$2.4 billion (RM7.17 billion) over the next four fiscal years. Asked about potential opposition to the PRRT changes from minor party senators, Chalmers told Sky News television: “I’d encourage the parliament to support this”. The Labour government will need the support of minor parties in the Senate, where it is in a minority, to push the reform through. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s 2023/24 federal budget release, Chalmers said the changes balanced getting “more revenue sooner to fund our cost of living package” while protecting “investment, and supply, and our international relationships”. Under the changes, the government will adopt most recommendations of a Treasury review - initiated by the previous conservative government – of gas transfer pricing rules, including limiting how much PRRT assessable income on LNG projects can be offset by deductions to 90%, from July 1. It also plans to equalise treatment of notional upstream and downstream entities so losses will be split evenly rather that attributed entirely to the upstream entity. Australia’s gas industry lobby group, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, said in a statement that the proposals accounted for the “undeniable need” for a strong gas sector and “a more sustainable national budget”. – Reuters What happens if the US fails to raise its debt ceiling? WASHINGTON: Time is running short as US policymakers remain at an impasse on lifting the debt ceiling, while the Treasury warns that the country could run out of cash to pay its bills as early as June 1. With President Joe Biden set to meet Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other leaders tomorrow, here is what could happen if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit in time: What happens after June 1? The United States could run out of funds to meet all its financial obligations by June 1, or in the weeks after then, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. If that happened, it is likely the Treasury would follow the contours of a contingency plan it had in 2011, when the country faced a similar situation, said Wendy Edelberg, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution. Under this plan, there would be no default on Treasury securities, and the Treasury would continue to pay interest on those securities as they come due. “As securities mature, Treasury would pay that principal by auctioning new securities for the same amount”, thus not increasing the overall stock of debt held by the public, she added. But other payments – such as to agencies, Social Security beneficiaries, or Medicare providers – would likely be delayed unless Treasury could meet all such obligations due on a given day. A government shutdown is unlikely, although federal workers’ paycheques could be delayed. Are there further consequences? Even without a debt default, such a situation “would be very disruptive to markets and the economy”, said economist Nancy Vanden Houten at Oxford Economics. Moody’s Analytics economist Bernard Yaros drew parallels to the 2008 financial crisis, when Congress failed to pass a major bailout plan for banks – the failure sparked a selloff in stock markets that pressured lawmakers. And interest rates would spike, especially Treasury yields and mortgage rates, Yaros told AFP. “That would lead to higher borrowing costs for consumers, for corporations,” he said. “Long-term interest rates would just be permanently higher, especially Treasury yields, because investors would demand compensation for the risk of another future breach,” he added. In the long haul, the value of the dollar could be lower too. Households or businesses who fail to receive federal payments owed would likely pull back on near-term spending due to their loss of income, while consumer confidence may worsen, hurting the economy, Yaros said. On Wednesday, the Council of Economic Advisers warned that if the US government stops meeting its financial obligations, resulting economic shocks could cause over eight million job losses this summer and around a 6% drop in gross domestic product. A country is considered in a payment default when it does not meet its financial obligations oTreasury Secretary has warned that the world’s largest economy could run out of funds to meet financial obligations by June 1 or in the weeks after such as to another country, or to investors who bought its bonds. A default is considered partial when a country fails to repay just a portion of its debt, and a government can declare itself in default by announcing it will not repay its debt. A rating agency can also announce a default, after the end of an automatic 30-day grace period following the payment due date. Or, a private borrower can say publicly that a country has not paid up. While foreign holdings of US federal debt draw the most attention, they only comprise about a quarter of the total. The path towards a potential default will be well-telegraphed, said Yaros of Moody’s Analytics. “They need to do that because if they don’t provide any concrete guidance about when the X-date or the default date is, then lawmakers aren’t going to feel the pressure to come to a compromise,” he said. What happens after a default? An outright default on Treasury securities would “very likely result in severe disruption to the Treasury securities market with acute spillovers to other financial markets,” Edelberg said. It would also impact the cost and availability of credit to households and businesses. “Those developments could undermine the reputation of the Treasury market as the safest and most liquid in the world,” she added. For now, it is hard to see how both sides would compromise. – AFP Buffett faults handling of bank failures, upbeat on US OMAHA/NEW YORK: Warren Buffett (pic) on Saturday criticised the handling of recent tumult in the banking sector and said a debt ceiling showdown could bring “turmoil” to the financial system, even as he offered a vote of confidence in the United States and his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Speaking at Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting, Buffett criticised how politicians, regulators and the press have handled the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, saying their “very poor” messaging has unnecessarily frightened depositors. “Fear is contagious,” he said, adding that “you can’t run an economy” when people worry if their money is safe in banks. Buffett also warned of a growing “tribalism” in Washington where partisanship causes people to talk past each other. Buffett spoke hours after Berkshire posted a US$35.5 billion (RM157.5 billion) quarterly profit and said it bought back US$4.4 billion of its own stock, a sign it considered the shares undervalued. In contrast, it sold US$13.3 billion of other companies’ stocks, in a quarter where the S&P 500 Index rose 7%. The world’s sixth-richest person, Buffett has since 1965 run Berkshire, whose dozens of businesses include Geico car insurance, the BNSF railroad and consumer names such as Dairy Queen and Fruit of the Loom. Berkshire also owns US$328 billion of stocks, close to half in Apple Inc. The meeting featured Buffett, 92, who is Berkshire’s chairman and chief executive, and vice chairman Charlie Munger, 99, answering five hours of shareholder questions. vice chairmen Greg Abel, 60, and Ajit Jain, 71, joined in the morning. Buffett said regulators were right to guarantee depositors of Silicon Valley Bank, saying that not doing so “would have been catastrophic”. He also said bank shareholders and executives should bear the risks of mismanagement, with Munger criticising executives concerned more with getting rich than with customers. “A lighted match can be turned into a conflagration or can be blown out,” Buffett said. “You have to have punishment for people who do the wrong thing.” Buffett said Berkshire is cautious about banks and sold some bank stocks in the past six months. Saturday’s meeting was the centrepiece of a weekend Buffett calls “Woodstock for Capitalists” that draws tens of thousands of people to Omaha, its hometown. In discussing Berkshire’s performance, Buffett said perhaps a majority of its operating businesses may fare worse in 2023 than in 2022 as economic activity slows. But he said Berkshire can offset this with more income from investments, including US$7 billion of Treasury bills bought in April. – Reuters Jan 19, 2023: Debt limit hits $31.4 trillion – Treasury begins “extraordinary measures” to avoid default Jan 2021: Joe Biden takes office, U.S. national debt at $27.7 trillion U.S. teetering on edge of fiscal cliff The U.S. may run out of cash by June 1 if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns Sources: U.S. Treasury, Reuters, BBC Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, $ trillions* Debt – Democrats Debt – Republicans Debt ceiling *1 trillion = 1,000,000,000,000 Joe Biden 2021- 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 20 22 24 26 28 32 30 18 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Bill Clinton 1993-2001 George H.W. Bush 1989-93 Ronald Reagan 1981-89 George W. Bush 2001-09 Barack Obama 2009-17 Donald Trump 2017-21 Debt limit suspended for most of 2014-16 and 2018-20 China forex reserves rise to US$3.2 trillion in April BEIJING: China’s foreign exchange reserves rose more than expected in April, official data showed yesterday, as the dollar fell against other major currencies. The country’s foreign exchange reserves – the world’s largest – rose US$21 billion to US$3.205 trillion (RM14.22 trillion) last month, compared with US$3.192 trillion tipped by a Reuters poll of analysts and US$3.184 trillion in March. The yuan fell 0.63% against the dollar in April, while the dollar last month fell 0.94% against a basket of other major currencies. China held 66.76 million fine troy ounces of gold at the end of April, rising from 66.50 million ounces at end-March. The value of China’s gold reserves rose to US$132.35 billion at the end of April from $131.65 billion at the end-March. – Reuters

8 M A Y 2 0 2 3 M O N D A Y Scientists solve mystery of Mayan calendar A profound mystery surrounding the ancient Mayan calendar might finally have been solved. Previous research, on historic inscriptions, has found that the ancient Mayans used a calendar system known as the 819-day count. It has puzzled experts ever since. The 819-day count appears to have been some kind of calendar. But it is not clear exactly how it would work, or how it would fit with the civilisation’s more regular calendar system. Some research had suggested that it was used in relation to the “synodic period”, or the time over which a specific planet will appear in a specific part of the sky. Mercury, for instance, has a synod period of 117 days – and seven of those makes up 819. But that did not fully solve the problem. The same calculations did not work with other planets and researchers were unable to match them with the 819-day calendar. A new paper suggests that those researchers might not have been thinking long-term enough. By extending the timeframe of the calendar vastly, they found that the numbers were able to line up. The 819-day calendar may not be based on just one set of 819, by 20 of them. By using that vast multiple of the 819-day period, researchers John Linden and Victoria Bricker found that the calendar does in fact line up with astronomical observations. Over 20 sets of 819 days – about 45 years – it lines up with all the synodic periods of all the planets the Mayans would have been able to see. Through that period of 20 cycles, each planet goes through its synodic period a round number of times. For Mercury, it is each time – but Venus does it ever five times, Saturn every six, Jupiter every 19 and Mars every 20. By combining all of those long periods, researchers were able to find that the planets do in fact fit with that 819-day period, even though Mercury is the only one that fits entirely within one of the cycles. Combining them may have allowed the Mayans not only to predict where the planets would appear, but also to use those predictions for important celebrations. “Rather than limit their focus to any one planet, the Maya astronomers who created the 819- day count envisioned it as a larger calendar system that could be used for predictions of all the visible planet’s synodic periods,” the authors write. – The Independent The magpie memoir FRIEDA Hughes’s memoir, George, is a love story about bringing up a baby magpie. But it does, of course, mention her parents – English poet Ted Hughes and American author Sylvia Plath. Frieda was not yet three years old when her mother, who had been treated for depression throughout her life, died by suicide in 1963 at the age of 30. Plath had separated from Hughes six months earlier, following his affair with Assia Wevill, and taken Frieda and her younger brother Nicholas to live with her, in a flat once owned by WB Yeats on Fitzroy Road in north London. After her death, Frieda and Nicholas were raised by their father. Frieda loves her parents; is proud of what they achieved. But “it’s really strange, on a personal level, to be reminded of your perpetually dead parents. Sorry, I shouldn’t joke, but” – this she says very bluntly – “once your family is dead, they’re not coming back.” Although George briefly refers to Frieda’s parents, really it’s a beguiling – sometimes frenzied, sometimes bittersweet – character study of the bird that flew into her life. For the five months during which she reared him, having found him as a chick in her garden, she soaked up each second. “I was transfixed,” she writes of watching him grow, “and felt that if I left the room for a moment, I’d miss a whole other stage.” Later, George sits atop her head, or perches on her shoulder as she paints. Conscious that he is a wild bird, Frieda lets him fly away, but he keeps returning to her kitchen, where he builds piles of treasure. Magpies “have a tangible sense of humour”, Frieda writes. Frieda Hughes with one of her owls, Eddie. – THE INDEPENDENT oFrieda Hughes, poet, painter and daughter of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, talks about her opus on her family life This was all over 10 years ago, and there were plans to publish the book, written as a diary, at the time – but then Frieda’s brother Nicholas took his own life. “So that just made me put everything back in a box. I had to go off and deal with his death, and that took a year. By the time I got out of that year, I was a different person.” George’s presence, too, seems marked by the shadow of his own eventual loss from the start – she knew one day he’d fly away for good. “This sounds really strange, but I feel quite homesick for George,” she says. Having built him an aviary, she told people she could rehome other birds in need – a crow called Oscar followed, before the 14 owls she now lives with. “If you ask enough people, they’re going to give you enough birds. That’s what happened. People realised I had ‘mad bird lady’ on my forehead. Print it backwards so they can see me in their wing mirrors.” Animals certainly seem to like Frieda, who also has two huskies and a ferret among her menagerie. In the introduction to George, she describes her longing for “plants, pets and a home of my own that I would never have to move from”. As a child, she was never in the same place for long. “My dad moved around so much, the car was the one constant because we were always in it, shunted with piles and piles of books.” After living in Australia, she returned to the UK when her father, who died in 1 9 9 8 , b e c a m e unwell; she’s been in her c u r r e n t home for 19 years. “I don’t want to move again, ever.” That absolute commitment applies to many things in Frieda’s life, from her love of motorbikes to her writing and painting. When she first began to compose her own poems, it was compulsive. Aged 14, while having dinner with her American grandmother in a restaurant, she couldn’t stop the torrent of words. “I had to borrow a pen from a waitress,” she says. Writing, she said in the preface to her collected poems, Out of the Ashes, is “like dragging splinters out of skin”. “I feel I get clogged,” she explains. Her poems often emerge from “intense emotions” – like the time recently when “I got a bit annoyed with Prince Harry and Meghan, and I wrote a poem.” George is Frieda’s most personal book so far, stepping out of the allegory she hid behind in early poems. From a young age, she’d been “schooled very sternly: ‘Don’t tell anybody anything. Don’t speak.’” She would go to school and “feel completely struck dumb, because everybody’s talking about their weekend with their family, and I’d think ‘Oh, I mustn’t do that.’” Who enforced this, she doesn’t say (although it wasn’t her father, she adds). When Frieda accepted the 1999 Whitbread Prize on his behalf after his death, she read a remarkable letter in which he declared: “How strange that we have to make these public declarations of our secrets. But we do. If only I had done the equivalent 30 years ago, I might have had a more fruitful career – certainly a freer psychological life.” Alongside her own creative life, Frieda has also been the careful custodian of her mother’s literary legacy (Hughes’s estate is managed by his widow, Carol Orchard, whom he married in 1970). “In my mother’s work, my attitude is very firmly: it was of an age. I think, in editing something out, how can the future learn what the past was, and what they did differently?” It is, she thinks, “a disservice. I think it’s also very patronising to readers.” Does it worry her that it could happen when she’s no longer around? “Well. I don’t know until it does. Do you think it should worry me?” To some, her father is a controversial figure, owing to the role of his infidelity in the break-up of the couple’s marriage, plus Plath’s explosive claims, in letters written to her psychiatrist and published in 2017, that he had beaten her; Plath’s grave has repeatedly been defaced to remove his surname. But in a 2015 BBC documentary about her father, Frieda condemned the “outsiders” who “make judgements that affect somebody in their life, for all of their life”, which she said is “a sort of horrible form of theft... It’s an abuse”. In a foreword to the second volume of her mother’s letters, Frieda wrestled with Plath’s allegations of abuse, noting that Plath had once ripped up Hughes’s manuscripts, and concluding: “While my father does not come out of them as a saint, neither does my mother. In my view, they are both flawed and impassioned human beings and I love them more for this.” In George, Hughes is simply a doting dad, who stood for “stability, and a sense of permanence”. “If my father was in the room, then he represented warmth and safety just in his very being,” she writes. – The Independent

16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Digging up the past LONG overshadowed by World War II and the Holocaust, a colonial-era genocide committed by Germany in Namibia has been brought to the big screen, shining a light on the country’s neglected crimes. Lars Kraume’s Measures of Men tells the story of a German ethnologist who travels to what was German South West Africa in the early 1900s to study the country’s indigenous peoples and harvest their skulls. The film was released in German cinemas on March 23 and has also been the subject of special screenings, including in schools and the Bundestag lower house of parliament. “The colonial era was long repressed by Germany, which lost all its colonies in 1919,” Kraume, 50, told AFP. “This film is a contribution to making Germans aware of their responsibilities,” he said. Germany is well known for its efforts to remember and atone for the atrocities committed during World War II.Children are taught about the Holocaust in schools, a memorial to The film was released in German cinemas on March 23 and has also been the subject of special screenings. – ETX STUDIO/STUDIO CANAL oGermany’s colonial crimes in Namibia are tackled on screen the murdered Jews occupies a prominent place in Berlin, and countless films and documentaries have been made about the Nazis. But only one other film, Morenga by German director Egon Guenther, based on the novel of the same name by Uwe Timm, has been made in Germany about the country’s role in Namibia. Racist experiments Though smaller than those of France and Britain, Germany’s colonial empire encompassed parts of several African countries, including presentday Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Namibia and Cameroon. In Namibia, Germany was responsible for mass killings of indigenous Herero and Nama people that many historians refer to as the first genocide of the 20th century. Over the past 20 years, Germany has been gradually starting to talk more about the massacre, in which at least 60,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama were killed between 1904 and 1908. Germany has returned skulls and other human remains to Namibia that it had sent to Berlin during the period for “scientific” experiments. And in May 2021, the country officially acknowledged that it had committed genocide in Namibia and promised a billion euros in financial aid to descendants of the victims. “Since the centenary of the genocide in 2004, historians and activists have done a lot of work on the subject,” said Joel Glasman, a professor of African history at the University of Bayreuth. In Measures of Men, an ethnologist from Berlin, Alexander Hoffmann (Leonard Scheicher), is sent to Namibia to conduct experiments on the population and collect their bones for research. At the beginning of the film, Hoffmann believes no race is superior to any other. But he is ambitious and, in order to further his career, ends up going along with the prevailing scientific wisdom – which went on to pave the way for the racist ideology of the Nazis. The story is told mainly from the German perspective, though Hoffmann’s friend Kezia Kambazembi (Girley Charlene Jazama), a Herero translator, also plays a prominent role. ‘Very emotional’ Israel Kaunatjike, a Herero rights activist based in Berlin, said Measures of Men had “moved me deeply”. “It motivated me to continue to fight for our cause,” said the 76-yearold, who was an anti-apartheid resistance fighter when Namibia was still under South African control. When Measures of Men was shown in some Herero villages, “it was very emotional, people thought Lars Kraume was brave to show such a film to the descendants of the victims”, Kaunatjike said. A film showing the perspective of the Herero and Nama on the same events would be welcome, Kaunatjike said. “But unfortunately they don’t have the money to make a film.” When the film was shown in schools, “the students understood the ambivalence of the hero and wanted to discuss it”, Kraume said. Both Kaunatjike and Kraume believe Germany still has some way to go to reckon with its colonial past. “We need an official request for forgiveness from the German president in Namibia and the return of all the Herero and Nama skulls and bones still in German collections for burial,” said Kraume. For Kaunatjike, “development aid is no substitute for reparations”. – ETX Studio Mario movie posted on Twitter WHILE The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a hit in theaters and on social networks, a Twitter user posted the whole movie on his account last week, racking up more than 9 million views. This practice gets used quite regularly on Twitter. Certain accounts post entire TV show episodes or even movies divided into several parts on the social network. In this case, the user or users behind the account “vids that go hard” decided to share the film in two parts for viewers to watch free of charge. With more than 1.1 million followers on the “vids that go hard” Twitter account, the video quickly became a buzz, with several reposts. This illegal posting of a highquality video of the animated film was obviously not to the liking of Universal Pictures, Nintendo and Illumination. The post, which violates Twitter’s community rules, did not immediately set off an alert to moderators, who took some time – several hours – before suspending the video and the account in question. Indeed, Elon Musk’s decision to reduce the size of the social network’s moderation teams has had inevitable, albeit expected, consequences. From the outset of the announcement, several onlookers warned of the risks of a lack of moderation on the platform. With the launch of Twitter Blue, other issues have been added to the equation, as users with a paid subscription can publish videos up to 60 minutes long and of better quality. It’s being seen by pirates as a perfect solution for posting movies and TV shows illegally. It remains to be seen whether Elon Musk will address this misuse and crack down on such cases or whether the phenomenon continues on the social network. – ETX Studio The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been a huge hit. – UNIVERSAL PICTURES Paramount+ boosts its Korean content SOUTH KOREAN series proving are a hit. While Netflix has opted to boost Asian content on its platform, Paramount+ also intends to capitalize on this new craze. Two new shows will join the streaming platform’s catalog as part of a global partnership between Paramount and the Korean entertainment giant, CJ ENM. The series are called A Bloody Lucky Day and Queen Woo. A Bloody Lucky Day is billed as an action-thriller series. The story follows Taek, an ordinary cab driver confronted with an unusual client who turns out to be a serial killer. The South Korean actress Lee Jung-eun, known for her roles in Parasite and Yonder, will be on the cast. Queen Woo, meanwhile, is a period drama series, and will focus on the journey of Woo Hee, the first woman in history to become queen twice. Both new releases will be available in France, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. “We are incredibly proud of our Korean content that is finally taking the global stage, engaging viewers and fans on Paramount+ and beyond,” said Paramount’s Catherine Park, in a statement. “The addition of A Bloody Lucky Day and Queen Woo strengthens our global content offering, and we look forward to bringing more original Korean content to our viewers worldwide.” “Recently, colourful TVING original series in different genres such as fantasy action, thriller and historical drama have entered the global awards ceremony competition both domestically and abroad. We will continue to expand the global competitiveness of K-content with well-made original series that feature a large scale and a unique Bargain is coming to Paramount+ this year. – PARAMOUNT+ worldview,” said Hye-jung Hwang of the Korean streaming service, TVING, which will also carry the shows. Korean content appears to have found a global audience, and the hype doesn’t seem to be fading. Recently, Lee Joon-ik’s drama/sci-fi series Yonder became the most watched international series on Paramount+ in the US. The plot takes place in 2032, and tells the story of a man who receives a message from his deceased wife, asking him to come to Yonder, a place where the dead are able to live on by downloading their memories. And this success is not confined to US borders. At France’s Cannes International Series Festival, Canneseries, the drama show Bargain won the Best Screenplay award. The action takes place in a hotel where shady characters have gathered for an auction of human organs. But when an earthquake strikes and traps everyone inside the building, the unscathed find themselves facing a battle for survival. – ETX Studio

17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 To de Cruz, Jaki-Brashga and OUR WORLDS represent the next step in his musical evolution, one that he has been preparing for since he first began his career as an independent musician. “It’s hard work to be a full-time independent artist, and to get five people on the same schedule, while everyone juggles their own projects and fulltime jobs – I knew it would require a massive investment of love and passion. And I’m proud to say that’s exactly what we have here with Jaki-Brashga.” Jaki-Brashga is also working with multidisciplinary artist Vuevossa, known for exploring the science of geometry and fractals in his visual work, to curate the visual dimension of the show. His artwork will be designed to blend with the new age sounds and flavours of the band to create an all-round memorable rock concert experience. OUR WORLDS: A Live Experience will span two hours, showcasing new tracks written and arranged by JakiBrashga along with re-explored tunes from de Cruz’s extensive discography. “When I first started, I didn’t know it was possible to make it as an independent artist in the local music scene. It was fellow indie musicians who pushed me to write original music and even produce my own albums to get my music out there,” shares de Cruz. “There are a lucky few Malaysians who have reached great heights on the world stage, but I wanted to showcase the homegrown talent available right here, right now. This is a celebration of the resilience of Malaysians artists who have kept the local music industry alive despite all odds.” “OUR WORLDS: A Live Experience will be a tribute to the human experience and a rocking good concert,” says de Cruz, “but what we really hope our audience leaves with is a newfound appreciation of the original artistry Malaysia is home to.” OUR WORLDS: A Live Experience will be held on May 12 at the Nero Space, PJPAC, 1 Utama. Tickets to the show are priced at RM98 and are now on sale at onetix.com.my/events/jaki-brashgapresents-our-worlds/152. As the showcase is entirely self-funded, Jaki-Brashga welcomes sponsorships and collaboration opportunities for those interested in connecting with audiences of the local independent music scene in Malaysia. @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Welcome to their world MALAYSIAN indie supergroup Jaki-Brashga is set to ignite the music scene this May with their debut concert, OUR WORLDS: A Live Experience. Comprising some of the best musicians in the independent music scene, JakiBrashga is bringing their electric blend of exper imental folk-rock music to the stage for a night of musical e x p l o r a t i o n designed to give audiences a c l o s e r , introspective look at the human experience. New to the scene, Jaki-Brashga has been sneaking up around town in exclusive performances since October 2022. Founded by folk-pop singer-songwriter, Brendan de Cruz, the band’s sound is characterised by its heartfelt message of love, connection and honesty, blending the powerful vocals of de Cruz with the electric magnetism of a band that, together, boasts decades of expert musical experience. Jaki-Brashga comprises bassist, Jaime Gunter, of indie-rock outfit, Volatile, virtuoso lead-guitarist, Kieran Jumawan of J-Rock outfit, Brightburn, multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Januarius on keyboard and synths, who has performed with renowned names Jaclyn Victor, Jose Thomas, and Juwita Suwito, and lastly, Ashwin Gobinath of indie cultural-rock fusion ensemble, Nadir, providing rhythmic mastery on drums. “Each of us has been in the music industry for at least 15 years now, but when we get together to create music, it’s like a clean slate for everyone,” shares Ashwin Gobinath, who also co-produces JakiBrashga’s sound with de Cruz. “The studio has become a space for us to experiment and create music that r e a l l y showcases the full range of our a r t i s t i c a b i l i t i e s . T h e chemistry in our sessions ends up being really electric with all of us pushing each other to redefine our creative limits.” With OUR WORLDS, explains frontman and founder Brendan de Cruz, the band intends to draw the audience into JakiBrashga’s universe in an experimental audio-visual exploration of the human experience. The theme of OUR WORLDS is centred around the idea that every individual’s experience is unique, with much to celebrate in the diversity of human experience. “We will be using projection-mapped visuals and atmospheric soundscapes to support the production and nudge the audience along the musical journey,” shares Ashwin, founder of cultural collective, Nadir, who will be playing at the Rainforest World Music Festival this year. “The concert set list is curated to take our audience on a journey through different emotions, from intense and visceral to reflective and introspective.” oIndie supergroup Jaki-Brashga is set to take KL by storm with debut concert this May 12 A haunting in Venice THE chilling teaser trailer and poster for Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice, which just screened for convention attendees at the 2023 CinemaCon Convention in Las Vegas, is available now. The unsettling supernatural thriller based upon the novel Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie and directed by and starring Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh as famed detective Hercule Poirot, will open in cinemas nationwide on Sept 14, 2023. A Haunting in Venice is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets. Chinese mythology with a twist DISNEY+ Hotstar recently revealed the official trailer for the upcoming Original series American Born Chinese. The genrehopping actioncomedy series premieres with all eight episodes airing on May 24. The series is produced by 20th Television. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese chronicles the trials and tribulations of a regular American teenager whose life is forever changed when he befriends a Taiwanese echange studen who is the son of a mythological god. This is the story of a young man’s battle for his own identity, told through family, comedy, and action-packed kung-fu martial arts scenes. The show takes viewers on a journey of self-discovery, as the young man, named Jin, learns to navigate the complexities of his cultural background and the expectations of those around him. The coming-of-age adventure features an all-star international cast, including this year’s Academy Award winners Datuk Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, Ben Wang, international Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, one-time Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu and Sydney Taylor. Lauv announces KL concert date MULTI-PLATINUM certified singer, songwriter, producer, and pop visionary Lauv has announced his return to Asia, with The Between Albums Tour arriving this August and running through September. Special guest Alexander23 will support on all Lauv headline dates. Lauv is set to perform on Sept 7 at the Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre. In what will be a series of shows for beloved Asian fans, Lauv will kick off the headline tour in Hong Kong on Aug 23. Following dates in Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Cebu City and Manila will run from Aug 26 and conclude on Sept 11. Tickets to public in Malaysia will go on sale May 5, 2023 from 11am onwards. Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the exclusive Live Nation pre-sale beginning May 4, 2023 from 11am until 11:59pm. Visit livenation.my to register for presale access and details. Scan the QR code to watch the trailer

18 BEAUTY theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 Florence Pugh: a genuine DI.VA FLORENCE Pugh is the new Valentino DI.VA. Her eclectic personality shines in the new Advertising Campaign shot by renowned Steven Meisel in New York. Florence enters the world of values of oFlorence Pugh has been revealed to be the new face of luxury brand Maison Valentino Maison Valentino and Pierpaolo Piccioli who perceives identity as an essential element of his creative process that portrays an imaginary made of selfexpression. The actress reveals her body with an insouciant attitude and fierceness, that makes her unique. She steps into Valentino designs making them become alive, aware that a moment represents a time, a place, a feeling. Despite her impressive talent, the actress brings new relevance to the contemporary scenario with her vitality and humanity. Florence has been embraced across the globe for her extraordinary talent in conveying complex characters on screen as well as an outspoken advocate for being your authentic self and embracing non-conformity. The new Valentino Advertising Campaign is an Encyclopedia of Feelings. Florence has the power to express a character maintaining her identity. The range of emotions she is able to represent through her body language and facial expressions makes her presence both personal and universal. She has been photographed by Steven Meisel in an authentic way: from crying, to screaming and laughing – a series of portraits that amplify different emotions that are relatable and compelling. The storyboard of the campaign continues with a series of shots featuring also new talents. Florence takes on the role as the leading actress in the images that depict a group of individuals engaging in a lively conversation, with animated expressions and gestures. The white photographic background conveys a timeless scene that portrays a snapshot of everyday life. The subjects could be scenarios to socialize and connect, such as friends catching up over coffee, colleagues chatting during a break at work. The images capture the energy and warmth of human interaction and emotions that Florence magnifies and embodies into a character. She is convincing no matter what persona she embodies with the kaleidoscope of emotions, characteristics, personalities and essence of each individual brought to life in such an extraordinarily real way. Florence acts with the new Valentino Garavani Rockstud23 bag within the campaign. Trademark of the Maison, the iconic pyramid-shaped stud – inspired by Roman palace doors – are daringly reinterpreted through new and bold refined designs of the Valentino Garavani Rockstud Accessories. The values that they celebrate are even stronger: identity and nonconformist attitude shift towards an aristo-punk vibe. The heritage is not just a glorious past, it is also the Valentino recent past. I mean …it’s Rockstud! Pierpaolo Piccioli continues his process of resignification of the iconic codes of the Maison, where reality and dream, high and low, punk and aristocracy, couture and street cohabit. Wheat, flax, rye to combat ageing LONG abandoned, long forgotten, some natural ingredients resurfaced with the Covid-19 pandemic as consumers started to shun endless ingredient lists. As a result, natural beauty routines and age-old concoctions have replaced certain chemical substances, bringing back to the forefront products that are healthier for the skin and the environment, such as coffee grounds as an exfoliant, aloe vera as a moisturiser, or even carrots as a radiance booster. But natural cosmetics brands have also been focusing on the virtues of certain grains, which have all kinds of benefits for mature skin. Known for their nutritional qualities, wheat, flax and rye can also be major beauty allies. From wrinkles and fine lines to firmness, these three grains are gradually making their way into the bathroom to fight the signs of ageing. Rye for firming properties A grain closely related to wheat, rye is mainly known as brownish flour, but it is now becoming a go-to ingredient in cosmetics. Many brands include it in their product formulas for its firming properties, which are ideal for skin that is losing tone and firmness, but also to remedy the loss of elasticity and improve healing. All of these benefits make this a grain of the future in the beauty industry, adding to the list of its many health virtues. Flax to hydrate and soothe Often dehydrated, mature skin needs to be deeply nourished to reduce the risk of wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of ageing. That’s where flax comes in, and more precisely flaxseed oil, known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. Rich in fatty acids, cold-pressed flaxseed oil not only nourishes the skin, but also helps to soothe it and to prevent future external aggression and skin ageing. It’s a prime anti-ageing partner for mature skin, as well as for dry or dehydrated skin. Wheat is a great all-rounder Along with rice, wheat is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive grains in the field of beauty, targeting many skin problems. Also, highly nourishing, wheat germ oil helps prevent the signs of ageing while protecting the skin from external aggression and repairing past damage. This is mainly due to its regenerative properties. In addition, it acts on skin elasticity, providing a whole heap of active ingredients that help promote a smoother complexion and firmer skin. – ETX Studio When used in cosmetics, wheat, like flax and rye, can help fight the signs of ageing. – GETTY The perfect pairing JAPANESE beauty leader Shiseido recently announced the appointment of superstar Dee Hsu as the ambassador of its ultra-luxurious anti-ageing skincare line, Future Solution LX. Fondly known as Xiao S, Hsu will be the face of Future Solution LX in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Created using the rarest ingredients, Future Solution LX harnesses the most innovative skincare science to give your skin a superstar glow with all-around youth and protection! As a television host, actress and singer, Hsu is well-known in the Asian entertainment industry. Loved by the Chinese community, she has also won multiple awards and accolades for her work. Befitting Hsu’s celebrity status, Shiseido Future Solution LX is an exclusive skin-awakening ritual that combines innovative research from some of Japan’s top scientists with carefully-chosen, unique ingredients. Harvested from the sacred slopes of Mt. Koya in Osaka, the Enmei herb helps to activate the skin’s revitalizing force. Another star ingredient, Green Treasured Silk, repairs and regenerates skin every night so that you wake up to radiant perfection. Spun by Japanese oak moths, these rare silk pods account for less than 0.001% of the world’s silk production, and are prized for the ultra-soft, weightless fibre. On her social media platforms, Hsu often shares unfiltered photographs of herself – even bare-faced, she is not afraid to show off her exceptional complexion and natural glow. How does she do it? “I have very sensitive skin, so I have to be very careful about what I apply on my face. Upon trying Shiseido’s Future Solution LX line, I think the Japanese are incredibly talented in creating skincare products that work. I mean, who doesn’t want to look like their children’s ‘elder sister’? Future Solution LX has really helped to improve my skin quality and texture, and I look better day after day. This is the superstar glow that I want!” expresses Hsu.

19 FEATURE theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 RARE diseases often occur in childhood but when it strikes in adulthood, life takes a different course. For Merpati, a schoolteacher, husband and father, the burden of Fabry disease was a heavy blow but one he chooses to bear with grace and acceptance. A warm, sunny climate and an abundance of delicious food sounds like paradise to many. However, when hot weather leads to muscle cramps or fainting spells and kidney failure limits what you can eat, the picture becomes far less idyllic. This is what Merpati Ahmad, a 48- year-old schoolteacher, faces due to a rare disease known as Fabry disease. It is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-galactosidase-A, which plays a role in breaking down fat. Without it, fat builds up in the body’s cells, leading to complications like kidney failure, heart failure, and stroke. It is more common in men and symptoms include burning pain in the arms and legs which gets worse in hot weather, poor blood circulation, problems with the gastrointestinal system, progressive kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure and enlargement of the heart that can lead to complications like heart failure and stroke. Rare diseases are often difficult to detect as there are over 6,000 types and medical knowledge, expertise and care in these conditions is lacking - in Malaysia, there are only 13 rare disease specialists and 12 doctors in genetic clinics to care for patients across the country. As most doctors and nurses are unlikely to encounter a rare disease patient in their lifetime, it may take months or even years for patients to receive a diagnosis. This can further delay treatment and, as most rare diseases are degenerative, the patient’s condition may worsen, leading to a negative impact on their well-being and quality of life. For Merpati, the journey to a diagnosis took several years. While blood tests in 2008 revealed that he had high protein content in the urine, a sign of kidney disease likely caused by Fabry disease, he was only diagnosed with Fabry disease in June 2016 and received his first treatment in December 2018. “By this time, I had symptoms like water retention with swollen feet. I often felt tired and I would get sick easily with high fever,” explained Merpati. “When the doctor told me I had something called Fabry disease, I had never heard of it before. In fact, I was quite shocked. There were so many questions in my mind – how did I contract this disease? How am I going face it? Can I afford it? As a husband and father, it also made me wonder, would I be able to live to a ripe old age and see my children grow up?” Naturally, the first person he shared this news with was his wife, and the news was a heavy blow. However, despite her sorrow, she urged Merpati to be strong. “I find it difficult to bear it when the weather is hot – I am easily tired and I may experience muscle cramps or even faint,” he explained. “This makes it a challenge for me but my colleagues have been understanding and I can continue to teach physical education by requesting lessons before 11am, before it gets really hot. And when we go for family holidays, I have to let my family carry on with their activities when it gets hot while I find shelter. It is not ideal but it is what we need to do. We try to view this whole experience as part of life’s test for our family.” To treat Fabry disease, Merpati receives weekly enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) which provides the enzyme his body needs, helping to reduce the build-up of fat, reduce pain and prevent further organ damage. He finds that, since beginning treatment, he doesn’t fall sick as easily as before. Administered intravenously, each session takes around three hours. Together with dialysis, which he now receives twice a week, he has to spend around 30 hours at the hospital every month. Despite all these adjustments to his life, his greatest concern is being able to pay for treatment as treatment for rare diseases are not commercially viable and often too costly for private individuals to bear without financial assistance. “Treatment for my condition is very expensive and costs around RM100,000 a year. Even as a working adult, I couldn’t afford that myself but I have been fortunate to receive aid from the Ministry of Education, although I do not know how long this will be available to me,” said Merpati. “The doctor tells me that, with consistent treatment, the dosage will be gradually reduced. I feel some improvement after each therapy and I hope this will continue so I can live a normal life.” A different path oMeet Merpati Ahmad, a schoolteacher living with the rare Fabry disease Merpati Ahmad was diagnosed with Fabry in 2016. He has to undergo dialysis twice a week. Merpati receives important support from his wife and daughters. Hope for patients with rare diseases To help other patients with rare diseases, experts and patient groups are advocates for measures such as newborn screening to help with identifying patients at an earlier stage, improved allocation of funds to make treatment more affordable and training of more healthcare experts to recognise and treat rare diseases. Such measures would help to ease the burden on parents or caretakers, as many patients presently face a long road to diagnosis, during which time they undergo emotional stress and uncertainty while bearing the cost of seeing multiple specialists and undergoing numerous tests in search of an answer, not to mention the continued worsening of the patient’s condition. For Merpati, he is grateful that he is able to receive treatment as well as support and understanding from family, friends and colleagues. However, he believes much more needs to be done for rare disease patients. “I think family support is very important for someone like me who suffers from a rare disease. Without it, we would become easily depressed and just give up. However, with family support, we will feel more positive and not dwell on negative thoughts. This can be a good example for our friends and extended family, so this is my advice to anyone who finds themselves in my position – to be strong and positive so that we do not become a burden to others, even as we work towards goodness and find more ways to support others with rare diseases.” If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of Fabry disease, speak to a health expert. You can also find more information and support through organizations such as the Malaysia Lysosomal Diseases Association (MLDA, mymlda.com) and the Malaysian Rare Disorders Society (MRDS, mrds.org.my).

20 ENVIRONMENT theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 or greening job – is on the rise, increasing to 13.3% in 2021 from 9.6% in 2015. But green talent is growing at a slower rate than job postings that require green skills, it adds. Experts are calling for urgent action by governments, companies and educational institutions to train both older and younger generations for the green workforce the world will need. “The opportunities can include being a more competitive, resilient business in the market, as well as supporting employees to be happier and more productive,“ explains Nicole Sherwin, senior vice president for executive customer advisory and strategy with sustainable business ratings agency EcoVadis. Which green jobs and skills are growing fastest - and where? The top five fastest-growing green jobs from 2016 to 2021, according to LinkedIn, were sustainability manager – with 30% annual growth – followed by wind turbine technician, solar consultant, ecologist, and GERMANY is launching a new flatrate public transport ticket valid across the country, but the €49 (RM240) price point has raised doubts about the pass’s potential impact. Touting the monthly pass as a “revolution”, policymakers hope it will bring some relief for consumers amid soaring inflation, and encourage people to favour mass transit in the name of the environment. The “Deutschlandticket” offers unlimited access to Germany’s bus and metro systems, as well as local and regional trains – with only longdistance high-speed services not included. Transport Minister Volker Wissing was quick to call the new initiative “the biggest public transport reform in German history”, but the pass’s success is far from assured. The association of German transport companies (VDV) expects 16 million of the country’s 84 million inhabitants to take up the offer. Roughly 750,000 tickets have been sold already, without counting people who will switch over from their current transport subscriptions. How to finance the new policy was the subject of months of debate, delaying the roll-out of the ticket. An agreement was reached between the federal government and Germany’s states, which will both contribute €1.5 billion (RM7.35 billion) towards the ticket’s financing to avoid adding to the national rail operator’s debt pile. The expenditure has come in for heavy criticism from the opposition, who argue the money could have been used to “improve and renovate rail infrastructure”, in the words of conservative (CDU) parliamentarian Michael Donth. Germany’s rail network is indeed creaking, with investment needs totalling around €8.6 billion (RM42.1 billion) a year for the next 10 years, according to official estimates. The issues on Germany’s rail system were put on full display last summer when the government first experimented with a heavily discounted flat-rate ticket. Between June and August, locals were able to travel the length and breadth of the country for just €9 (RM44.72) a month. “The solution is certainly not reducing the cost of subscriptions,” Christian Boettger, a rail expert from the Technical University Berlin, told AFP. Transport Minister Wissing has not ruled out an increase to the price of the new-model ticket in future to ensure it remains financially viable. According to the federal statistics agency Destatis, the introduction of the €9 offer saw road traffic “stagnate” compared with 2019, instead of rising. Overall, road vehicles emitted 0.8 million additional tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2022, compared with the year before, according to the federal environment agency. Germany is not alone in its efforts to boost rail use in order to reduce emissions from transport. In Spain, free passes for local and regional trains were launched in September to try and get residents to leave their cars at home and ease the pressure from inflation. According to Spanish operator Renfe, 2.1 million tickets were handed out in the first quarter of 2023. In Austria, a “climate ticket” gives users the chance to use virtually all the alpine nation’s public transport network, including high-speed trains, for just over €1,000 (RM4,903) a year. The success of the ticket has led to a “boom” in rail traffic, the Austrian operator OBB said. But not everyone is keen on the idea. “It costs too much and there is very little switching from car to train travel,“ France’s Transport Minister Clement Beaune told the National Assembly. – AFP AS scientists increasingly sound the alarm about the impacts of accelerating climate change and nature loss on our lives, the need to transform the global economy to run on clean energy, cut waste and reuse natural resources is becoming more urgent. To make that happen, we will have to change the way we work. Economists say there are huge opportunities in acting fast to phase down the use of fossil fuels, reduce planet-heating emissions, protect forests and wildlife, and recycle materials. Putting in place the policies and investments to move businesses and consumers onto a more sustainable path could create tens of millions of green jobs this decade, studies say. But one key factor holding back the green economy, according to labour market experts, is a global lack of the skills required to build it, which are poorly understood and promoted. What is a green job? Common perceptions of green jobs include installers of solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps or conservationists working in nature reserves. But, in fact, the field is much broader. The fast-expanding electric vehicle sector, for example, requires miners to provide the metals, assembly-line workers and engineers to make the cars and scooters, mechanics to maintain them, and urban planners to design green transport systems. According to professional networking platform LinkedIn, green jobs demand extensive knowledge of green skills, such as solar consultant and sustainability manager, but accounted for only 1% of global hires in 2021. In a 2022 report, LinkedIn also talked about “greening jobs” (9% of hires) and “greening potential jobs” (40% of hires), which it defines as those that can be performed without green skills but typically require some level of them. Of the two, “greening job” workers have a higher intensity of green skills. Examples include heating and airconditioning technicians, logistics managers and construction workers. There is a growing awareness among governments and businesses that adopting less-polluting and healthier lifestyles will require major changes to nearly every economic sector – from food to fashion and forestry to finance. Germany hopes to help climate with discount travel card oHow can the green jobs boom avoid leaving workers behind? “Right now, we’re thinking about this really specific set of things that are called green jobs – and really what we should be thinking about is how can we make every job something that is partially green,“ says Nick Pesta, a senior strategy associate at RMI, a U.S.-based energy transition think tank. That will require a huge boost in green skills which enable the environmental sustainability of economic activities and can be deployed across a wide range of existing and new professions. Examples include pollution mitigation and waste prevention, environmental restoration, sustainable procurement, energy generation and management, and carbon emissions accounting. Some experts cast the net wider to add softer skills such as systems thinking, creative abilities and risk management. LinkedIn says the share of “green talent” – meaning members that have explicitly added green skills to their profile and/or are working in a green environmental health and safety specialist. For green skills, sustainable fashion was the fastest-growing globally – from designers and stylists to merchandisers – rising at an average of 90% per year in the same period. Other examples are expertise in cleaning up oil spills, environmental services, water management and climate. While green jobs and people with such skills are spread across the world, they tend to be concentrated in richer countries, such as the United States, Britain and Australia. However, jobs in big emerging economies, such as India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia, also rely more on green skills than the global average. A 2023 study of 10 economies by the World Economic Forum calculated that to meet their environmental objectives, those countries – Australia, Brazil, Britain, China, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, Spain and the United States – require at least 12 million more green jobs - or a 66% increase. The greatest unmet need is in agriculture and forestry at 11 million jobs, it said, with other key sectors including infrastructure at 480,000 jobs, government at 160,000 and energy at 50,000. There is also a global gender gap – with men more likely to have green skills than women, something that has barely changed in recent years. In 2021 there were only 62 women for every 100 men considered as green talent, according to LinkedIn. Other concerns include the fact that there is often a mismatch between areas where fossil fuel mines or power plants are closing and new clean energy industries are springing up, as that makes it harder for workers to transition between roles. And the quality of some jobs has been questioned, especially in developing countries with high levels of informal employment. For example, in India, construction work on solar power plants is often temporary, leaving locals with few longer-term opportunities. – Reuters Working for the green The green skills revolution has the potential to transform our working lives.

21 * SPORTS theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 WORLD NO. 2 Aryna Sabalenka played a superb attacking game to beat Iga Swiatek in the Madrid Open final yesterday for her first win on clay against her top-ranked rival. The Belarusian prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to capture the title in the Spanish capital for the second time. Before the final, the 25-year-old had lost all of her three previous meetings with the Pole on clay without even winning a set. “It’s something unbelievable. I’m really happy that I’m able to fight against her and I’m able to get this win so it’s not like so super boring for people to watch our matches,” said the champion. “I really enjoy playing on clay, because I have extra time. It’s not super fast, so I can go for my powerful shots. There are longer rallies. It’s like not just bomb, bomb.” The big-hitting Belarusian gained revenge for defeat by her Polish rival in the Stuttgart final a fortnight ago with a thrilling triumph to end Swiatek’s ninematch winning streak ahead of her French Open defence. Two-time Roland Garros winner Swiatek fought her way back into the match after an explosive start by Sabalenka, but the second seed came back strongly in the third set to win the first WTA 1000 final featuring the top two ranked players since 2014. Sabalenka earned her 13th career title, and only her second on clay in two hours and 25 minutes, clinching victory on her fourth championship point with a forehand cross-court winner. “I’m just super happy with this win, especially against Iga on the clay, it’s always tough matches against her,” added Sabalenka. The Australian Open champion started with great intensity in her serve and forehand, given some extra zip because of the altitude – Madrid is the second highest European capital city. Sabalenka earned two break points but sought a winner too keenly to convert and Swiatek held for 3-3. She did the same again on Swiatek’s next service but this time earned the break for a 5-3 lead when the top seed sent a backhand long. The 2021 Madrid victor consolidated to clinch the first set, her first ever against Swiatek on the dirt, having lost in straight sets in their three previous clay clashes. Swiatek, who failed to earn a single break point in the opening set to Sabalenka’s four, converted her first for a 2-0 lead in the second set as her opponent pushed a return into the net. The world No. 1 consolidated it to love, showing a flash of her usual prowess on clay. However at 3-1 down, the relentless Sabalenka earned four break points, getting back on serve with a beefy backhand winner down the line. The Belarusian consolidated and again put Swiatek under the cosh on her serve, but the Pole dug deep and saved two break points to hold. Swiatek showed her fine defensive game as she broke again for 5-3 and served it out to force the decisive third set. Sabalenka broke for a 2-0 advantage as Swiatek went a fraction long, and saved a break point with a vicious forehand and another after that to consolidate. Swiatek broke back but Sabalenka did it again for a 5-3 lead and, after missing three championship points as the 21-year-old battled until the end, eventually triumphed. “Sometimes it’s tougher; sometimes it’s easier. That’s why we have variety in tennis, and that’s why sometimes players are playing better on some surfaces and some on different,” said Swiatek. The world No. 1 aimed a jab at the tournament organisers for some of the late nights over the past week, with matches regularly finishing in the early hours. “It’s not fun to play at 1am though,” she added. “I’m happy anyway I was able to get past this experience and survive and be in the final.” – AFP DALAM MAHKAMAH SESYEN DI SEREMBAN DALAM NEGERI SEMBILAN DARUL KHUSUS SAMAN NO: NA-B52NCVC-38-11/2022 ANTARA BALACHANDRAN A/L LAKSHMANAN (NO. K/P: 550327-08-6093) ….PLAINTIF DAN RAMANAN A/L DORARAJ (NO. K/P: 790316-05-5577) ….DEFENDAN PERTAMA VASANTHAN A/L GOPALAN (NO. K/P: 701028-01-5901) (Beramal atas gaya dan nama TETUAN VAS & CO) …. DEFENDAN KEDUA TETUAN VAS & CO …. DEFENDAN KETIGA IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI Berkenaan dengan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan yang bertarikh 30 November 2022 kepada:- RAMANAN A/L DORARAJ (NO. K/P: 790316-05-5577) No. 18, Jalan Adda 1/22, Legend Brown Adda Heights, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim. Ambil perhatian bahawa suatu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan telah difailkan terhadap kamu di dalam Mahkamah Sesyen Seremban dalam Guaman Sivil No: NA-B52NCVC-38-11/2022 oleh BALACHANDRAN A/L LAKSHMANAN. Plaintif yang dinamakan diatas telah mendapat suatu Perintah bahawa Mahkamah telah memerintahkan bahawa Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan dan segala suratcara-suratcara dan dokumen-dokumen yang perlu diserahkan dalam prosiding tersebut disampaikan ke atas kamu secara penyampaian ganti iaitu dengan penampalan sesalinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut dan sesalinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti di alamat terakhir Defendan Pertama serta mengiklankan Iklan Penyampaian Ganti di dalam akhbar tempatan harian The Sun dan dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut dan sesalinan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti di papan kenyataan Mahkamah Sesyen Seremban dan penyampaian tersebut dianggap sebagai sempurna dan mencukupi kepada kamu empat belas hari selepas penyempurnaan penyerahan ganti. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu bolehlah hadir sendiri atau melalui Peguam kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Sesyen Seremban pada 08 Mei 2023 jam 9.00 pagi. Jika kamu ingkar hadir sedemikian, Perintah Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan boleh diberikan kepada Plaintif. Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan memohon kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh pada 02.05.2023 ..…………tt………..... Peguamcara Plaintif IKLAN PENYAMPAIAN GANTI ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Karthig Shan, Peguamcara bagi pihak plaintif dan alamat penyampaian adalah di No. 103-3, Jalan Haruan 5/4, Oakland Commerce Square, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. [Tel: 06-6307441] [Fax: 06-6317441] [Ruj:KS/L/961/22] 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF LGI TECHNOLOGY MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. [REGISTRATION NO. 200601012531 (732281-K)] (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 439(2) of the Companies Act, 2016 that the Special Resolution set out below was duly passed by the members of the Company on 29 April 2023. “THAT the Company be wound up voluntarily and that Ms. Lim Yong Chiat and Mr. Koay Wen Jian, both of 9-1, 9th Floor, Wisma Penang Garden, 42, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang having consented to act, be and are hereby appointed as Liquidators for the purposes of such winding up. LIM YONG CHIAT (f) KOAY WEN JIAN Liquidators Penang Date: 8 May 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF LGI TECHNOLOGY MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. [REGISTRATION NO. 200601012531 (732281-K)] (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Creditors of abovenamed Company which is being wound up voluntarily are required on or before 28 May 2023 to send their names and addresses with particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned, the Liquidators of the said Company at 9-1, 9th Floor, Wisma Penang Garden, 42, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang and if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidators, are by their solicitors or personally to come and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefits of any distributions made before such debts or claims are proved. LIM YONG CHIAT (f) KOAY WEN JIAN Liquidators Penang Date: 8 May 2023 322 Notices Sharma need IPL break before WTC final: Gavaskar BATTING great Sunil Gavaskar has advised India captain Rohit Sharma to take a break from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) to keep himself fit and fresh for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia next month. Mumbai Indians captain Rohit fell for his 16th duck in IPL, most by any batters in the tournament’s history, in Saturday’s defeat by Chennai Super Kings and now has five runs from four innings. The off-colour opener demoted himself to number three against Chennai but fell for his second successive duck after attempting an ill-fated scoop shot against Deepak Chahar. Rohit will lead India’s bid for the WTC title at the Oval on June 7 and Gavaskar felt a break could do wonders to the opener’s fitness and confidence. “I would say that Rohit should maybe take a break for the time being and keep himself fit for the World Test Championship final,” the former India captain told Star Sports channel. “He can come back again for the last few matches, but right now (he should) take a little bit of a breather himself.” New Zealand beat India in the final of the inaugural WTC in 2021 and Rohit would have to lead by example if they are to prevail this time around despite mounting injury woes. India will be without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, recovering from a back surgery, and first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who remains sidelined after a horrific car crash in December. Batters KL Rahul (thigh) and Shreyas Iyer (back) have also been ruled out of the contest at the Oval with injuries. Five-time champions Mumbai, the most successful IPL team, are sixth in the points table having won five of their 10 league matches so far. They host Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next match at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. – Reuters WYNDHAM CLARK fired an eightunder par 63 to seize a one-stroke lead over hot-closing Xander Schauffele after Saturday’s third round of the PGA Wells Fargo Championship. The 29-year-old American, chasing his first PGA title, had eight birdies in a bogey-free round to stand on 16-under 197 after 54 holes at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I felt like I was really mentally strong,” Clark said. “It’s a high pressure, tough golf course and early on guys were making birdies. “I just stayed really patient and I was as they say kind of in the zone and really focused out there. Felt good about it.” US playing partner Schauffele, the reigning Olympic champion, went four-under over the last five holes to shoot 64 and grab second on 199. “Monkey see, monkey do is definitely a thing that happens out here,” said Schauffele. “Fortunately it was the guy next to me (playing well).” Australia’s Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion and a former world No. 1, shot 67 and shared third on 202 with England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who had 68. World No. 80 Clark, seeking his first PGA title, has had three top-six finishes in his past five starts. His only other top-five showing came at the 2020 Bermuda Championship, when he lost a playoff to Brian Gay. Clark attributes some of this year’s success to work on his mental approach. “I meditate every day if I can, read a lot of books and then I’ve been setting mental goals versus outcome goals,” he said. “I’m trying to get myself in the right mindset for the day. If I can do that I’m hoping the scores take care of itself and thus far it has.” Clark reached the first 17 greens in regulation and was just into the fringe at the 18th. “I missed the green,” Clark said. “I’ll take anywhere on green grass. I’m happy it wasn’t wet.” US rival Max Homa said: “It’s a tough golf course but he’s making it look pretty easy. I imagine he’s quite confident.” – AFP Clark fires 63 for PGA Wells Fargo lead as Schauffele lurks USA claims last semis berth THE United States claimed the last semifinal berth at the LPGA International Crown on Saturday to book a clash with Thailand, the only team to emerge from four-balls pool play with a maximum six wins. The United States, already closing in on a semifinal spot after Friday’s matches, lost one match and halved another against Sweden, but that was more than enough as China split their two with England – unable to get the two victories they needed to have a chance of advancing. Meanwhile, Thailand completed a perfect pool play performance as Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul beat Australia’s Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou 1-up and Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn beat Hannah Green and Sarah Kemp 3&2. Tavatanakit and Thitikul were 3-up through 13 holes when Lee and Kyriacou won two straight holes with birdies. “I think it woke me up a little bit when they started making putts,” Tavatanakit said. “Steph was really clutch coming down the end. You’ve got to give that to her. “But we did what we had to do, and we ended up finishing, winning.” They’ll be up against a US team featuring world No. 1 Nelly Korda, newly minted major winner Lilia Vu, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang. Kvitova withdraws from Italian Open PETRA KVITOVA has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open with an injury to her right foot, she said on social media yesterday. The Czech world No. 10, who won the Miami Open last month, added that she hopes to recover in time for the second Grand Slam of the year at the French Open. “I will miss the beautiful site, the Italian fans and wish the tournament a great week,” the twotime Wimbledon champion wrote on Twitter. The Italian Open in Rome starts tomorrow and ends on May 20, while Roland Garros begins on May 28. SHORTS ‘Not super boring’ Sabalenka earns Swiatek revenge to win Madrid title Aryna Sabalenka poses with the winner’s trophy after beating Iga Swiatek during the Madrid Open final. – AFPPIX

22 theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 SPORTS /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME 5633/2023 07/05/2023 (SUN) 4897 9351 1348 0512 7117 7020 0182 2391 2687 8145 9588 6403 7692 9791 8070 2626 2807 3112 1727 8736 4273 0940 2331 3,517,908.70 4897 4897 4897 1348 1348 9351 1348 1348 9351 9351 4897 9351 134,999.26 4897 9351 1348 DRAGON 96372 34930 4930 930 48248 3 0 8 7 174187 74187 4187 187 17418 1741 174 1 7 5,860,088.72 3,289,013.09 5 27 36 39 41 46 100,000.00 19 34 37 45 46 49 1 6 9 17 38 41 20 11,002,161.34 RM138,114 RM2,870 won on 06/05/2023 ! 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Real win Spanish Cup Rodrygo and Vinicius inspire Madrid Copa del Rey triumph over Osasuna RODRYGO fired Real Madrid to Copa del Rey glory with a clinical double in a 2-1 victory over Osasuna in Seville yesterday, with Brazilian compatriot Vinicius Junior playing a part in both goals. Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid earned their 20th Spanish Cup at La Cartuja in their 40th final, ending a nine-year wait to lift the trophy again. Osasuna, who have never won a major trophy, fought well but ultimately fell short against the reigning Spanish and European champions, who face Manchester City on Wednesday (3am in Malaysia) in the Champions League semifinals. Madrid have now won all six of the trophies available to them during Ancelotti’s second reign at the club, after the Italian returned in 2021. Rodrygo fired Madrid ahead inside two minutes after Vinicius’ run down the left, and Ancelotti’s team had the better chances in the first half. However, Lucas Torro levelled for Osasuna in the 58th minute to give them hope of an upset in their first cup final since 2005, and second ever. Rodrygo whisked it away, firing home after a rebound fell his way following another Vinicius charge, ensuring Madrid would take the trophy back to the capital. “They made the difference, Vini unbalanced them and Rodrygo scored the two goals,” said Ancelotti of his Brazilian wingers. Madrid beat both Atletico Madrid and then rivals Barcelona to reach the final and Ancelotti said it was time to celebrate, but not too heavily ahead of the clash with City. “This Copa arrived at an important moment, we came through very tricky ties, it’s a deserved prize against strong opponents,” added the coach. “This night we will celebrate, a little bit, not too much, and then we will get back to work for Tuesday.” Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate deployed midfielder Jon Moncayola at rightback to try and stop Madrid winger Vinicius. It didn’t work. Vinicius broke in down the left in the second minute and his dangerous cut-back was missed by Fede Valverde but slammed home by Rodrygo. Madrid continued to push for their second goal. Vinicius was booked just before halftime for complaining, and exchanged heated words with Osasuna substitute Chimy Avila as the players walked in at halftime. Torro drilled Osasuna level from the edge of the box when Abde’s deflected cross fell into his path. Osasuna’s joy did not last long, with Vinicius making another dangerous burst in down the left – fed Toni Kroos, whose shot was blocked, but Rodrygo was in the right place at the right time to finish with aplomb. “I’m really happy, we were talking about this in the week, that it was a long time since Madrid had won this competition,” Rodrygo told Spanish television broadcaster La 1. – AFP Milan clubs win ahead of CL showdown AC MILAN and Inter Milan secured matching 2-0 victories over Roman clubs as they briefly swopped places in Serie A ahead of their Champions League semifinal clash. Milan briefly jumped from sixth to fourth, leapfrogging Inter, with a home victory over second-place Lazio in the early game. “We played a great game. Now there is plenty of time to recover ahead of the semifinal against Inter,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli. “Now let’s think about the Champions League.” Inter then jumped back to fourth when they won away at Roma, keeping Jose Mourinho’s team outside the European places. Inter coach, Simone Inzaghi said the Champions League semifinal would be “a showdown played over 180 minutes.” “We know what we have to do,” he added. The two Milan clubs meet in the first leg of a Champions League semifinal on Thursday (3am in Malaysia) and both seemed to have an eye on that match. Roma also have an eye on Europe. They stayed seventh, five points behind Inter in the last Champions League place, but have another route into that competition if they win the Europa League. Roma host Leverkusen in the first leg of a semifinal on Friday. Their neighbours, Lazio stayed second behind newly-crowned champions Napoli. Earlier on Saturday, Genoa ensured an immediate return to the top flight when they beat visiting Ascoli 2-1 in Serie B. With two rounds of games left, Genoa moved eight points clear of third-place Bari who drew 1-1 at Modena. Leaders Frosinone, who had secured promotion the previous week, won 3-1 at Pisa. The third promotion place will be determined in a playoff involving six teams. Genoa could replace neighbours Sampdoria who are bottom of Serie A and 10 points from safety. – AFP Messi reacts after PSG suspension LIONEL MESSI has apologised to his Paris Saint-Germain teammates after being suspended by the club for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. The Argentina forward was banned for two weeks after leaving for the Middle East after the French club were beaten by Lorient on Sunday. The 35-year-old will not play for or train with the club during his suspension, and has also been fined. Messi, who is an ambassador for tourism in Saudi Arabia, has now revealed that he “couldn’t cancel” a trip that had been arranged before a change in PSG’s training schedule. “I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always,” Messi explained in a video posted on social media. “I had this trip organized and I couldn’t cancel it. I had already canceled it before. “I apologize to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me.” Messi is expected to leave the French capital this summer at the expiry of his contract with the Qatari-owned club, and has been linked with a return to Barcelona. Christophe Galtier, the club’s manager, has said that he had “nothing to do with” Messi’s suspension, but admitted it had complicated an already difficult period. “Leo’s suspension has added to poor performances, we can’t hide behind that,” Galtier said. “The decision was nothing to do with me. I was informed of the decision. I can’t say it has been a pleasant period.” – The Independent █ HARRY LATHAM-COYLE Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (right), Carlo Ancelotti (centre) and teammates celebrate after winning the Copa del Rey. – AFPPIX

23 * SPORTS theSUN ON MONDAY | MAY 8, 2023 Instead of urging Chelsea fans against booing their own players, Lampard hailed the visitors’ following as “fantastic.” He told reporters at the Vitality Stadium: “Our fans were fantastic today. I appreciate their support. “And we had a meeting at the end of the game on the pitch where everyone felt good for a day. It’s important to feel that connection. “In terms of the subs, they made an impact. Raheem was involved in a goal. Hakim gave us an assist. Opinions can always change, but they are two players that want to do well. “There has been a lot of underperformance this year, but that’s temporary. Their class is permanent, and they showed it.” Lampard has learned to celebrate the small successes during his woeful second stint in the Stamford Bridge dugout. “Absolutely, they should enjoy tonight – and have a beer or a glass of wine for do whatever they do,” Lampard added. “I’ll be having a beer, for sure. I am ordering them to the coach now, but not too many. “Now, we cannot take our foot off the pedal in terms of taking steps forward until the end of the season.” Chelsea have a good opportunity to make it two wins in two when they host relegation-battling Nottingham Forest on May 13. – The Independent/Express Newspapers FRANK LAMPARD marked his 100th game in Premier League management by picking up his first points since returning to Chelsea thanks to two late goals in a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth. Strikes from Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix in the final eight minutes at Vitality Stadium earned the Blues a first success in almost two months to halt their six-game losing streak under interim boss Lampard. The west London club looked like they would have to settle for a draw on the south coast after Cherries defender Matias Vina cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s early header. Bournemouth also had the better of the chances before the late drama, with Dango Ouattara squandering a golden opening by heading over from inside the sixyard box. Yet Badiashile and Felix punished that profligacy, leaving visiting fans to salute the overdue triumph with ironic chants of “we are staying up”. Victory in Dorset moved the two-time European champions on to 42 points, three ahead of their hosts, albeit they remain in the bottom half of the table. For Lampard personally, it was a first victory in 17 matches including his Everton days and his first with Chelsea in 832 days dating back to a 3-1 FA Cup success over Luton in January 2021 during his initial spell as manager. The former Blues and England midfielder opted for five changes following Tuesday’s tame 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling among those dropped, while the Cherries were unchanged from the 4-1 thrashing of Leeds. Tensions were high before kickoff when travelling supporters booed Sterling and Hakim Ziyech when their names were read out. ‘We are staying up!’ Wolves gets major boost RESILIENT Wolves edged derby rivals Aston Villa 1-0 to end any lingering fears of relegation from the Premier League. Toti Gomes’ first Wolves goal secured a fourth straight home win and leave them 10 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. It would now take a staggering set of results to send Wolves, who are 13th, down on 40 points. Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui says guiding the Midlands club to 40 Premier League points is his “most important achievement” as a manager – even more so than winning the Europa League with Sevilla. Wolves were joint bottom of the Premier League when Lopetegui replaced the sacked Bruno Lage late last year, but have won seven of their nine home games in 2023 to climb to 13th. “It has been my most difficult achievement as a coach, much more difficult than [winning] the Europa League and putting Sevilla in the Champions League,” Lopetegui said. “It was a very bad situation [when I arrived]. We arrived here in December with 10 points at the bottom. A lot of people called me, ‘you are crazy, why do you go there?’ “To arrive at 40 points, it’s not mathematic but we are very close to our aim.” Villa have been enjoying a new lease of life under Unai Emery but were wasteful in front of goal at Molineux, enabling Wolves to hold out for a precious victory. “We have played against the best team in the second half of the season and we deserved to win,” Lopetegui told BBC Match of the Day. “We’re happy for the players.” Wolves suffered their heaviest league defeat since 2007 at Brighton last weekend, but Lopetegui’s team delivered the perfect response to register their fourth consecutive home clean sheet and fourth successive topflight win at Molineux – a feat they last achieved in April 1975. “We tried to be honest with the players to tell them they are not this team [that lost at Brighton],” Lopetegui continued. “Maybe they can have a bad day, but they are not this team. “In football, you can win or lose but the most important thing is to say we put it all on the pitch. That’s my only demand and they did it today.” – The Independent/Agencies Kane has Premier League record in his sights HARRY KANE’S first half header helped Tottenham earn a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace that keeps alive their faint Europa League hopes. Kane’s 28th goal of the season in all competitions settled a drab contest and also moved him ahead of Wayne Rooney into outright second on the Premier League’s alltime leading scorer list with 209 goals. It was enough for Ryan Mason to secure a first victory in his second spell in charge of Spurs, who have jumped up to sixth but seventh-placed Brighton have three games in hand and are only two points off the London club. Kane has reached that tally in just 317 appearances – 174 fewer games than it took Rooney to score 208. Alan Shearer’s long-standing record of 260 goals, which has gone untouched since his retirement in 2006, is now in the 29-year-old England captain’s sights. Indeed, Palace manager Roy Hodgson, Kane’s former England boss, said Shearer needs to be “concerned”. “What he has done for Tottenham has been enormous,” Hodgson said of Kane, following his side’s narrow defeat in north London. “He is still a young man, he still has a lot of football in front of him and I’m pretty certain that Alan [Shearer] needs to be concerned about his goal record because Harry will be breathing down his neck.” Hodgson added: “I think the only thing that could stand between him and the record will be whether he can avoid serious injury. “Is he going to be able to get 20, 30 matches a year? Is he going to get help from his teammates and play in a good team – which is what he has been playing in? “If all those things take place I expect him to break the record, absolutely.” Former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers forward Shearer amassed his leading total over 441 games – a rate of 0.59 goals per match. Kane, having played 124 fewer games, has so far averaged slightly higher at 0.66 goals per game in the Premier League. “I want to keep scoring goals so to pass someone like Wayne Rooney, one of the best players in this country, is a special feeling,” Kane said. – The Independent/Agencies RESULTS & STANDINGS ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth 1 (Vina 21) Chelsea 3 (Gallagher 9, Badiashile 82, Felix 86), Manchester City 2 (Gundogan 19, 27) Leeds 1 (Rodrigo 85), Tottenham 1 (Kane 45) Crystal Palace 0, Wolves 1 (Gomes 9) Aston Villa 0, Liverpool 1 (Salah 13) Brentford 0. P W D L F A PTS Man City 34 26 4 4 89 31 82 Arsenal 34 24 6 4 81 39 78 Newcastle 33 18 11 4 61 27 65 Man United 33 19 6 8 49 40 63 Liverpool 34 17 8 9 66 42 59 Tottenham 35 17 6 12 64 57 57 Brighton 32 16 7 9 62 40 55 Aston Villa 35 16 6 13 46 43 54 Brentford 34 12 14 8 52 44 50 Fulham 34 13 6 15 45 46 45 Chelsea 34 11 9 14 34 39 42 Crystal Palace 35 10 10 15 35 46 40 Wolves 35 11 7 17 30 50 40 Bournemouth 35 11 6 18 37 67 39 West Ham 34 9 7 18 37 50 34 Leicester 34 8 6 20 46 59 30 Leeds 35 7 9 19 44 69 30 Nottm Forest 34 7 9 18 30 62 30 Everton 34 6 11 17 27 52 29 Southampton 34 6 6 22 28 60 24 COPA DEL REY FINAL: Real Madrid 2 (Rodrygo 2,70) Osasuna 1 (Torro 58). SERIE A: AC Milan 2 (Bennacer 17, Hernandez 29) Lazio 0, Roma 0 Inter Milan 2 (Dimarco 33, Lukaku 74), Cremonese 2 (Ciofani 41, Vasquez 77) Spezia 0. TOP 7 P W D L F A PTS Napoli 33 25 5 3 69 23 80 Lazio 34 19 7 8 52 26 64 Juventus 33 19 6 8 50 28 63 Inter Milan 34 20 3 11 62 35 63 AC Milan 34 17 10 7 55 39 61 Atalanta 33 17 7 9 56 39 58 Roma 34 17 7 10 45 33 58 BUNDESLIGA: Werder Bremen 1 Bayern Munich 2, Freiburg 0 RB Leipzig 1, Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 Bochum 0, Hoffenheim 3 Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Hertha Berlin 2 Stuttgart 1, Augsburg 1 Union Berlin 0, Bayer Leverkusen 1 Cologne 2, Mainz 2 Schalke 3. TOP 7 P W D L F A PTS B. Munich 31 19 8 4 83 34 65 Dortmund 30 19 4 7 67 40 61 RB Leipzig 31 17 6 8 55 37 57 Union Berlin 31 16 8 7 44 32 56 Freiburg 31 16 8 7 46 38 56 Leverkusen 31 14 6 11 54 43 48 Wolfsburg 30 12 10 8 54 37 46 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Nice 2 Rennes 1, Reims 1 Lille 0, Lens 2 Marseille 1. TOP 7 P W D L F A PTS Paris SG 33 24 3 6 76 34 75 Lens 34 21 9 4 57 26 72 Marseille 34 21 7 6 62 34 70 Monaco 33 18 7 8 66 50 61 Lille 34 17 8 9 60 41 59 Rennes 34 17 5 12 56 38 56 Lyon 33 15 8 10 52 37 53 CHAMPIONS Chelsea win ends Lampard’s miserable run Chelsea manager Frank Lampard (right) and Enzo Fernandez celebrate after the match against Bournemouth on Saturday. – REUTERSPIX

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] PEP GUARDIOLA told Erling Haaland not to be so “generous” after the Norwegian handed over penalty duties to Ilkay Gundogan in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday. City appeared to be cruising to victory, that took them four points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to Gundogan’s first half double. But the German hit the post when handed the chance to seal his hattrick and within a minute Rodrigo pulled a goal back to set up a nervy finale for the defending champions. “The game is not over. It shows how nice and generous Erling is. If it is 4-0 with 10 minutes left, OK. But at 2-0? Erling is the best penalty taker right now so he has to take it,” said Guardiola. “If Gundo scores everyone is ‘OK, hattrick, well done’. But a taker is a taker. At 2-0, this is a business, not a situation where we can forget it.” The decision to hand off responsibility rounded off a rare poor day for Haaland, who missed a number of chances to add to his 51 goals in all competitions this season. City’s far superior goal difference over Arsenal means Guardiola’s men now likely need a maximum of eight points from their last four games to claim a fifth league title in six seasons. Sam Allardyce’s return to the dugout had no immediate impact in reviving Leeds’ fortunes as they remain outside the relegation zone only on goal difference. The former England boss was quickly teased with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” as the visitors failed to offer any resistance to wave upon wave of City attack early on. But he took heart by the manner in which his side finished the game. “Second half we sorted it out, and we got on the front foot to try and challenge them,” said Allardyce. After the national anthem was played just prior to kickoff to mark the coronation of King Charles III, the game quickly turned into a procession. Guardiola could even afford the luxury of making seven changes with one eye on Wednesday’s trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals. Gundogan was one of those brought back into the side and showed Haaland how it is done as twice the German midfielder received passes from Riyad Mahrez and picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Kevin De Bruyne’s return from injury was another timely boost for City’s quest for a treble of trophies and the Belgian’s brilliant lay-off should have been buried by Haaland, who fired wide. Haaland set a new Premier League record of 35 goals in a single season against West Ham on Wednesday. And the 22-year-old will think he should have had a seventh hattrick of his first season in English football let alone walk away emptyhanded. Haaland powered a header too close to Joel Robles and then fired against the post with just the goalkeeper to beat. City were able to take their foot off the gas in the second half in seemingly perfect preparation for their revenge mission in Madrid. But the mood changed drastically in 60 seconds as Gundogan’s penalty hit the post after Phil Foden was upended. Guardiola was seen bellowing at Haaland “you have to take it” even before Rodrigo then pounced on an error by Manuel Akanji. Gundogan was given a frosty reception by his manager when he was replaced in stoppage time, but City comfortably saw the game out to extend their lead at the top of the table. “First he showed to Erling that he was quite mad about that and then also he had a go at me,” said Gundogan. “The moment Erling grabbed the ball, I was sure he was going to take it but he looked out for me. I checked with him a few times to make sure he was sure.” – AFP or download app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my FREE access Interactive MONDAY • MAY 8, 2023 ‘All-time great’ Salah keeps Liverpool in top four hunt MOHAMED SALAH’S landmark goal sealed Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Brentford to keep their Premier League top four hopes alive yesterday. The Egypt forward’s first half finish made him the first player in Liverpool history to net in nine successive games at Anfield, with his strike taking him to 100 career goals at the stadium. He also moved level with Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool tally of 186 goals, sitting in joint fifth place in the club’s all-time scoring list. For the third season in a row, Salah has reached 30 goals in all competitions. “Mohamed Salah is special. A lot of people don’t appreciate players when they are still playing. For us, it’s clear. He is an all-time great,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said. “I can’t see him stopping, that’s just his nature. You need to have this desire to score goals. “He works hard to close players down. We all know some world class players don’t do that, but he does. I’m really proud of him.” Klopp’s fifth placed team climbed within one point of fourth placed Manchester United after their sixth successive league victory. United’s defeat at Brighton in midweek has given Liverpool renewed hope of qualifying for the Champions League via a top four berth. But United have a game in hand after their match against West Ham and remain favourites to finish above their bitter rivals. “If Manchester United win their games in hand, then they are seven points away and it is pretty much done. We know that,” Klopp said. “It’s an interesting period. We have to make sure we keep the teams behind us, behind us because they are coming. Nothing is decided and that’s good.” Salah’s memorable evening was partially overshadowed by the Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem just hours after the coronation ceremony for King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. Once the focus switched from the dissenters in the stands to the action on the pitch, Liverpool showed why Klopp says coaching “is a joy again” after their recent revival. Klopp has warned that Liverpool will not be held to ransom in their summer search for midfielders and will walk away from deals for overpriced players rather than pay over the odds. Klopp has pronounced himself confident that Liverpool will secure targets they want but are compiling shortlists with several names on them so they can switch focus if clubs try to charge them too much. But Klopp told selling clubs not to try and ask for too much, saying: “We cannot buy the player then. If they are overpriced we cannot do it. “We will bring in players, I am pretty sure we will bring in the players we want and those who will help us. I am pretty confident of that. You never know 100 per cent until they are signed, but that is not new that some clubs might try that. “Let me say it like this: you identify a position and you have not only one option on the position. “That means they should all be good – to be honest, really good – and you might have a favourite but if the other club doesn’t want to sell or someone else will pay the price that we cannot go with it. but usually we got the players we wanted. “The one thing is can we afford them and then they are here.” – AFP/The Independent Unhappy Pep Man City spoil Allardyce’s return despite penalty drama Man City’s Ilkay Gundogan (front) in action with Leeds United’s Weston McKennie during the English Premier League match at the Etihad on Saturday. – REUTERSPIX Man City boss Pep Guardiola. – AFPPIX