The Sun 18072023

INSIDE KUALA LUMPUR: Rape victims have to make a police report first before a medical examination is carried out as the procedure is mandated by law, said lawyer Kokila Vaani Vadiveloo. She was commenting on a statement by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on Sunday, who recommended that the Health Ministry consider permitting victims to undergo a medical examination before making a police report of an alleged rape. Nancy said she was making the recommendation considering the traumatic situation faced by rape victims. “Since the report and rape kit must be administered within 72 hours, our recommendation is that the victim gets a medical examination first and then be left to decide whether to make a police report or not,” she said. However, Kokila said Section 376 of the Penal Code 1952 sets out the procedures for dealing with rape victims. She added that the law states: “No medical officer shall conduct a medical examination on a person who alleges that she has been raped unless a police report has been made in respect of the alleged rape.” She said the law was enacted to ensure the medical examination is conducted in a legal and orderly manner. The police need to be involved in the process to ensure that evidence is properly collected and preserved. “However, there are some exceptions to this. If the victim is under 18 years, she does not need to file a police report before she can have a medical examination. “This is because the law recognises that children are especially vulnerable to abuse, and they need to be able to access the medical help they require without having to go through the trauma of filing a police report.” Kokila said there are additional reasons the law generally requires a police report to be made first by an alleged rape victim. “Apart from complying with Section 376 of the Penal Code, police need to take a written statement from the alleged victim to investigate the crime and build a case. “Police also have to act quickly on the report to detain the perpetrator as medical evidence could be collected from (the suspect’s) clothing and body. “The medical examination of the perpetrator may also provide important evidence, such as DNA samples, which could be used to conclusively identify, charge and prosecute the perpetrator during the trial.” Kokila said police also need to protect the victim from further harm, adding that as the medical examination can be a traumatic experience, they want to ensure the victim is safe and supported. If police believe there is enough evidence, the perpetrator will be charged with rape. The case will be prosecuted in court and the alleged victim called to testify. However, she also said the current procedure presented some challenges. For example, it can be difficult for victims to come forward and report the crime, especially if they are afraid of retaliation or being stigmatised as rape victims. Kokila said the current procedures in Malaysia for handling rape reports are generally fine. “The procedures provide for a victimfriendly approach, which is important to ensure █ BY JULIANNE YAP [email protected] TELLING IT AS IT IS ON TUESDAY JULY 18, 2023 No. 8311 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my ‘It’s the law’ oRape victims required to make police report before medical examination to ensure procedure is legal, proper: Lawyer rape victims feel comfortable coming forward and reporting the crime.” She said the procedures also provide for medical and psychological assistance, which can be essential to help victims cope with the trauma of rape. However, there are some areas where the procedures could be improved, she added. “The training of police officers on how to handle rape reports could be improved. There could also be more support available for victims, such as counselling and even financial assistance. “Overall, the procedures in place for handling rape reports in Malaysia are good, but there needs to be an improvement in the manner in which police officers speak with the victim. Perhaps more compassion is required so the victim does not feel intimidated by the line of questioning.” On the occasion of Maal Hijrah, there will be no publication of theSun tomorrow. Please visit www.thesundaily.my for the latest news. 3 page Shah Alam hub to create 5,000 jobs VINTAGE LIGHT ... A visitor looking at displays featured at the Kerosene Lamps Exhibition at the Malay Ethnographic Museum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN

2 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME King, Queen to grace Maal Hijrah celebration KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah will attend the National Maal Hijrah 1445H celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Islamic Development Depatment of Malaysia (Jakim) Director-General Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff said Al-Sultan Abdullah will deliver a royal address and present the National and International Tokoh Maal Hijrah Awards to recipients. She said the event, themed Perpaduan Teras Malaysia Madani, is also expected to be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and 6,000 guests comprising Cabinet oEvent themed ‘Perpaduan Teras Malaysia Madani’ to stress on unity, in line with Prophet Muhammad’s practices ministers, foreign diplomats, senior government officials, participating agencies and the general public. “The theme manifests the essence of Prophet Muhammad’s practices and manners, with unity being the foundation of a civilised society, not only in material terms but also in terms of ideology and spirituality,” Hakimah said in a statement yesterday. She said this year’s Maal Hijrah celebration at the National Mosque will begin with a prayer ceremony for the end and beginning of a new Hijrah year, which will be led by the Grand Imam Ehsan Mohd Hosni. Jakim Corporate Communications Unit senior assistant director Norzaidan Hamad said unity is the main thrust of this year’s Maal Hijrah celebration in line with the concept of Malaysia Madani mooted by the prime minister. Norzaidan said to achieve unity in Malaysia’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, the people need to commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Madinah and the establishment of an Islamic governance model, Bernama reported. “Prophet Muhammad built a nation where there were both Muslims and non-Muslims who benefited from his leadership. Unity was the foundation of that Islamic nation. “So, that’s the element that we want to instil in our society today, that even the Prophet did not deny space and opportunities for nonMuslims in an Islamic state. “We have managed to do that so far. Every year, non-Muslims can also celebrate their respective religious festivals,” Norzaidan said when featured in Bernama TV’s Apa Khabar Malaysia programme yesterday. PH, BN need solid strategy to win state polls PERMATANG PAUH: Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) must have a solid strategy and consolidate the strength of their grassroots to win all six of the upcoming state elections. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the two coalitions must also mobilise all their party resources to ensure a convincing win. “This is my message. Umno has its base in villages, DAP in urban areas, and PKR has a bit of both. PH and BN must have a solid strategy and consolidate their grassroots. “Nobody can shake us. Trust me, no one can shake us,” he said in his speech at a “Madani Unity” roadshow and the launch of the Penang unity machinery at the Seberang Jaya Expo site on Sunday night. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Penang Chief Minister and state PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow as well PH and BN leaders. Anwar, who is also PKR president, is confident that the PHBN alliance can create history by obtaining an exceptional result in Penang. He said for the first time in history, PH as the ruling party and BN as the former strong opposition will join forces. The prime minister, who ended his packed schedule in Penang last night, said the PH-BN combination is not to retain power but based on the principle of saving the country Anwar presenting party flags to Chow and state Umno liaison committee chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadhir (left) at the event in Butterworth on Sunday. – BERNAMAPIC Personal branding vital to empower women KUALA LUMPUR: Women should create a solid personal brand to enable them to assert their expertise, amplify their voices and establish themselves as leaders in their respective fields. In making the call, Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Saraswathy Kandasami emphasised that personal branding empowers women to challenge stereotypes, break barriers and inspire others to do the same. “Personal branding has emerged as a crucial aspect of our lives in today’s fastpaced and interconnected world. “It is the art of intentionally shaping and presenting our unique identities to the world. This powerful tool can help us stand out, make an impact and achieve success.” Saraswathy was speaking during the recent launch of the book From Individual to Brand: A Step-by-Step Personal Brand Guide for Professionals, authored by Shalini Subramaniam. She highlighted the success story of Datin Vivy Sofinas Yusof, a Malaysian fashion icon and social media-savvy businesswoman with over a million followers on Instagram. Drawing from her legal and media backgrounds, Saraswathy shared her personal experience in creating a brand for herself by advocating various causes through her writing. She said using social media is instrumental in building personal brands, showcasing expertise and connecting with like-minded individuals to exponentially grow one’s business. She also commended Shalini’s book for revealing the secrets to crafting a compelling personal brand that resonates with audiences and creates a lasting impact. “Through her book, Shalini emphasised that personal branding is not just for celebrities or influencers but also individuals from all walks of life,” said Saraswathy. Meanwhile, Shalini said her book stresses the importance of positioning oneself as a thought leader within a niche segment, creating a perception of exclusivity which eventually leads to unforeseen opportunities. Those interested in purchasing the book can visit https://www.shalinis.co/fromindividua ltobrand or contact: 017-580 2027. – Bernama Good response to housing scheme SEKINCHAN: A total of 3,410 units of Rumah Mesra Rakyat will be built throughout the country this year by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd, said Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. He said there has been an increasing response to the Rumah Mesra Rakyat scheme, which is meant for those earning not more than RM5,000 a month. “So far, we have received 6,829 prequalified applications while 87,687 applications are at the registration process stage,” he said after visiting several project sites yesterday. He urged Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd to improve its efficiency in implementing the projects to ensure that as many units as possible could be built soon. – Bernama and protecting its new governance. “By combining both these coalitions, I believe we can achieve an exceptional result in Penang.” He added that PH’s administrative record under Chow was good and that he will remain chief minister if the PHBN alliance wins the state polls. – Bernama PH - Pakatan Harapan BN - Barisan Nasional GS - Gagasan Sejahtera STATE KEDAH 18 3 15 1,585,085 1,411,912 1,234,198 930,894 864,425 3,747,057 0 8 37 37 10 1 0 10 22 20 16 0 51 4 1 KELANTAN PENANG TERENGGANU NEGERI SEMBILAN SELANGOR NO. OF SEATS WON IN 2018 NO. OF VOTES FOR 2023 POLLS PH BN GS

3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam International Logistics Hub (SAILH), a development project in Section 16 with an estimated investment value of about RM2 billion, is expected to create 5,000 new job opportunities by 2028. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the hub, fully owned by Global Vision Logistics Sdn Bhd (GVL), will be built on a 28.73ha site, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2025. “I look at the development of this hub as a way to create more job opportunities for the people of Selangor, with 3,000 jobs offered in the first phase,” he told reporters after officiating the launch of SAILH yesterday. The first phase of SAILH will include a fourstorey warehouse complex, a four-storey car park facility and a single-storey office building, along with additional structures for testing and certification purposes, Bernama reported. It was previously reported that IJM Construction Sdn Bhd had won a contract worth RM653.6 million from GVL to develop the first phase of SAILH, which is the country’s first certified green logistics hub and one of the largest in the Asean region. Meanwhile, Amirudin said the services sector in the state is becoming more attractive and is expected to continue growing over the next four or five years. “The services sector contributes 60% to Selangor’s economic development and its growth has increased by 13% in line with global trends. “Selangor is also moving towards and almost on par with Singapore in terms of the transition from manufacturing to services,” he said. On media reports regarding the stalled Rumah Selangorku housing project in Morib, he said the project has been brought to the attention of the Local Government Development Ministry and it is looking into it. Amirudin added that the issue of stalled housing projects needs to be resolved between the state and federal governments. “It is being examined by the Selangor Housing and Property Board, and we are taking several aggressive actions. “We do not have many projects such as this, and Morib (housing project) is one of the major ones. I will inform the Local Government Development Ministry to prioritise the resolution of this project,” he added. Streetlights bring relief to Felda settlers MERSING: The safety concerns of Felda settlers when going out at night or early morning will be resolved, thanks to the RM7.7 million annual allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This will cover the costs of operating streetlights in the areas and lighting up dark streets, thus reducing the risks of accidents and ensuring the safety of residents. The announcement, made during the recent Felda Settlers’ Day celebration, reflects the unity government’s commitment to improving the well-being of the people. According to second-generation Felda Tenggaroh 2 settler Mera Ali, 31, the announcement proves that the government prioritises the safety of residents. “I hope the lights will effectively illuminate the areas around residents’ houses, especially at night and during heavy rain. “This is because Felda areas tend to get quite dark at night, and the number of lights is insufficient. Additionally, road conditions are poor,” said Mera, who is also the Desa Community Centre manager. Mursina Zainuddin, 36, who lives in Felda Tenggaroh Timur 01, appreciates the government’s initiative to prioritise the safety of settlers. “We hope more lights are installed in the areas where road crashes always occur. Farm animals also roam the streets at night and this may cause road crashes in poorly lit areas,” said the satay seller. Another settler, who wished to be known only as Azemi, 65, expressed his gratitude to the government for providing these facilities and comfort to the Felda community. “It will be helpful to have well-lit areas for early morning and night activities, including walking to work or to the mosque. “Proper lighting can reduce theft and create a livelier atmosphere at night,” said the father of six. – Bernama Shah Alam green hub to create 5,000 jobs Empowering Orang Asli community via TVET GUA MUSANG: The Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme is an ongoing effort by the Orang Asli Development Department to empower the Orang Asli community nationwide. Its director-general Sapiah Mohd Nor said the TVET programmes are not only aimed at honing the community’s skills but also serve to raise their income. Sapiah said this initiative is also one of the pathways in which the department can lift the Orang Asli out of poverty, in addition to helping develop the economy. “Based on the government’s allocation, the Orang Asli Development Department has improved the economic standing of 80% of Orang Asli communities through various programmes. “Under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, we recently added road and housing development to the current programmes. There are also agriculture, entrepreneurship and training assistance,” she said after the closing ceremony of the Kelantan and Terengganu Orang Asli Sports Carnival at Kesedar Gua Musang headquarters here on Sunday night. Sapiah said 80% to 90% of some 213,000 Orang Asli from 835 villages in Malaysia who are registered in the department’s database live below the poverty line. “The poverty line is divided into poor and hardcore-poor categories. We have determined that TVET is not only for students but the community as a whole, and we will focus on providing various skills to them. “Some of the popular TVET programmes among them are hairdressing, decorating, cooking, repairing skills, mechanical, electrical and beautician courses.” She also expressed confidence that the skills programmes can provide Orang Asli with career opportunities within and outside their communities. Sapiah added that the department provided economic and educational assistance to the country’s fragmented Orang Asli population, not just the registered villages. – Bernama 15,000 civil service hires needed yearly JOHOR BAHRU: An estimated 15,000 vacancies for permanent posts in the civil service need to be filled every year, said Public Service Commission (PSA) chairman Tan Sri Zainal Rahim Seman. “The number of vacancies varies according to departments, ministries and agencies. The average estimate is up to 15,000 vacancies for permanent posts every year due to the retirement of civil servants. “A total of 25,000 to 30,000 civil servants retire each year and we fill (vacancies) according to specific needs,” he told reporters after opening the Johor Bahru PSA interview centre at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here yesterday. “For new posts, it will depend on the portfolio of the respective ministries. For example, some ministries need to create new posts due to issues, such as the appointment of contract doctors to permanent posts. This depends on planning.” The Johor Bahru PSA interview centre is the sixth such facility housed at UTC, with the others being in Ipoh, George Town, Kangar, Miri and Kuching. – Bernama Idle wing answer to congestion at clinic JOHOR BAHRU: A building left idle for more than 20 years at Sultanah Aminah Hospital will be reopened as part of efforts to reduce congestion in the polyclinic area. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the building’s reopening will make it more comfortable for hospital staff. Several proposals have also been agreed to. “The proposals include shifting the administrative unit to the ‘Sister Mess’ building and upgrading the existing space at the administrative division into a Cardiothoracic Clinic and Plastic Surgery Unit,” he said in a post on his official Facebook yesterday. – Bernama SURROUNDED BY ART ... A visitor viewing national cultural heritage artefacts being displayed at Shoppes, Four Seasons in Kuala Lumpur. – SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN oRM2b project on 28ha site represents nation’s first certified logistics facility and among largest in Asean region Malaysia committed to MH17 case KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue truth, justice and accountability for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, said the Transport Ministry. Commemorating the ninth anniversary of the downing of Flight MH17, it said the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council had decided to proceed with the hearing on the settlement of differences between the conflicting parties at its 228th session meeting on March 17. “The verdict on the case of the downing of Flight MH17 was delivered by the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands on Nov 17, 2022. “The conclusion marked a significant milestone in uncovering the truth and establishing justice for all 298 victims and their next of kin, including 43 Malaysians who were on board the flight. Nevertheless, the pursuit of justice does not conclude with this development,” it said in a statement yesterday. The ministry also reiterated its condolences to the families of the victims. The Boeing 777 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down in the eastern part of Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew onboard. – Bernama

4 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Socso plan to protect stringers in pipeline KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Digital Ministry is making efforts to ensure the well-being of stringers (part-time journalists) in the media industry as they require protection while on duty, said its minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said on Sunday he would discuss it with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and other relevant parties regarding contributions for stringers. National Press Club president Datuk Ahirudin Attan said most stringers are not protected, except for those who have been reporters for media agencies. “Stringers are part and parcel of the industry as most organisations would not have everyone (journalists) on-site at all times.” Ahirudin proposed that the ministry continue efforts to create an environment for stringers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund, adding that it must also discuss it with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), media representatives, Malaysian Employers Federation and the Human Resources Ministry to standardise their job scope and employment rates. “A deeper discussion is needed to establish standard payment (rates), either by hours or per article,” he added. Astro Awani Perak representative Amirrul Rabbani Rashid said stringers could enjoy benefits such as healthcare coverage, similar to other Socso contributors. “This would lighten their burden, especially in the face of unforeseen situations such as accidents or injuries while on duty.” He also suggested the ministry conduct inter-agency efforts with the Finance Ministry or Bank Negara Malaysia to offer bank loan assistance for house or vehicle purchases. “There are some stringers facing problems in this area, although they earn a monthly income that qualifies them for a bank loan.” Meanwhile, NUJ president Farah Marshita Abdul Patah said the ministry could arrange for stringers to obtain medical insurance or medical cards to cover injuries if they are warded in a hospital due to an accident. – Bernama Standardise prices of all essentials: Group KOTA KINABALU: The Consumers Front of Sabah has proposed the state government establish a mechanism to standardise the prices of subsidised and non-subsidised essential goods to ensure easy monitoring. Its president Nordin Thani said the mechanism was necessary to keep prices under control, as there were differences in basic goods between districts, and rural and urban areas. “Under the current uncertain economic situation, it would be good if the government further expanded the standardisation of prices to non-subsidised products. “Discussions also need to be conducted with selected food industry operators so they would not incur production losses.” He said the prices of computer accessories and parts, canned food, coffee, tea and food flavourings also need to be controlled. “There are still residents, especially in rural areas, who cannot enjoy subsidised prices because the cost of transporting goods from cities or towns is expensive. “I hope retail shop operators there are given subsidies, so consumers could buy goods with the same prices as that in cities.” Nordin said some grocery store operators had to pay between RM400 and RM500 in transportation costs to bring goods to rural areas. Consumer Affairs and Protection Society of Sabah deputy president Datuk A. Nagaraju concurred, adding that standardisation is needed so consumers can buy goods at the same prices statewide. “A packet of instant noodles is about RM6.70 in Lahad Datu and RM5 in Tawau because transportation costs have to be borne by consumers,” he said. – Bernama Road closed due to erosion, slope failure BALIK PULAU: Part of federal road FT006, from Jalan Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang, is completely closed to traffic until further notice due to soil erosion and slope failure. Penang Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said a preliminary investigation by the Public Works Department found that the collapse was due to heavy rainfall since July 1. “The 7.15am slope failure occurred at Section 46.80 in Balik Pulau, and the department took immediate action with canvas installations, traffic management equipment and data collection works. “The route was initially open for light vehicles only. However, the department issued a notice to completely close part of the road following a subsequent slope failure on Section 45.40,” he said in a statement yesterday. Zairil said RM1.7 million was approved for repair works at the two sections, estimated to take between three and four months to complete, adding that users could take alternative roads through Jalan Tun Sardon to Balik Pulau, or Jalan Teluk Kumbar to Jalan Balik Pulau. – Bernama Free glasses for B40 students PARIT: A total of 1,200 schoolchildren will receive free spectacles via a Perak Foundation collaboration with Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Makmur Negeri Perak and district education offices, said state Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah. He added that eye examinations would be carried out at selected schools, involving recipients from families in the B40 group. “The initiative targets 100 students from each of the 12 state districts, comprising the poor, orphans and those with vision problems. “The first phase began in the Central Perak district, with Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Makmur Negeri Perak conducting eye examinations at 20 schools,” Khairudin said during an event at SMK Sultan Muhammad Shah yesterday. – Bernama Boon for rural entrepreneurs KUALA TERENGGANU: Two rural entrepreneurs in Marang, Terengganu, who used to run small home-based businesses, never imagined that an introduction to a Digital Economy Centre would lead to their operations expanding to supermarkets and overseas markets. Siti Juriah Mohammad said she used to accompany her children to the Kampung Binjai Bongkok centre as they required internet access to complete their homework. “Back in 2018, I wanted to get halal certification for a product. I had a computer, but I did not know how to use it. “The centre officers helped me with the application throughout the entire process until I obtained the certificate.” Siti Juriah said she has been selling frozen food such as ketupat, grilled glutinous rice and local kuih for the past 20 years, adding that her business has grown significantly through the centre. “I received business training there. The staff taught me how to edit videos and photos to make them more attractive for Facebook and TikTok. As a result, my products became more popular and are now sold at many supermarkets in the state.” Nur Arinah Mat Yusof is another success story, as she expanded sales of her homemade protein bars to Brunei and Singapore after fully utilising the centre’s Siti Juriah learning photo editing skills from a centre staff to promote her products. – BERNAMAPIC oTwo home-based businesses experience expansion after coaching by digital centre staff e-commerce platform. “I heard about the Alur Limbat centre from a friend and initially thought it was just a place for children to do their homework or photocopy books. “I started seeking guidance there during the movement control order. Before that, I only did business within my circle of friends and acquaintances. I am very grateful for the growth of my business, especially on the centre’s e-commerce platform.” She added that its support on obtaining a halal certification had aided in increasing value to her company, Bernama reported. Meanwhile, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Terengganu director Zahari Ismail said the state has 66 centres and plans to add six more by the end of the year. “Records show that their services were utilised by 97,755 visitors, with 50,172 registered members. “The first quarter saw 2,074 active entrepreneurs registered with the centres this year, of which 1,845 in the state had an online presence on at least one platform (social media, website or e-marketplace).” Zahari said MCMC has been satisfied with the entrepreneur achievements recorded so far, having managed to improve productivity, generate profits, sustain sales and increase employment opportunities.

5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Cops score RM14 million drug bust KUALA LUMPUR: Police scored a major drug bust with the arrest of three men in raids carried out by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department in Cheras and Klang last Thursday. Its director Datuk Seri Mohd Kamarudin Md Zin said the three suspects, aged between 32 and 61, were arrested between 1.40am and 12.30pm on suspicion of being involved in drug trafficking. He said the suspects are believed to have acted as coordinators, suppliers and shopkeepers in an operation to store drugs at different locations before distributing them locally. “In the raids, 56kg of methamphetamine, 20kg of ketamine and 154.3kg of ecstasy, estimated to be worth RM14.4 million, were seized. “For the Sabah and Sarawak markets, the drugs were wrapped in laundry detergent packages before being sent using courier services,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters yesterday. In addition to the seizures, Mohd Kamarudin said police also confiscated four luxury vehicles as well as jewellery and cash estimated to be worth almost RM400,000. “All the suspects have been remanded for seven days from July 14 to 20 to assist investigations under Mohd Kamarudin (left) showing some of the drugs packed as detergent. – BERNAMAPIC Court rejects bid to transfer CBT, money laundering case PUTRAJAYA: A company director yesterday failed in her second bid in the Court of Appeal to transfer her money-laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) trial from the Sessions Court to the High Court. A three-member bench comprising judges Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Azmi Ariffin struck out Tan Hoo Eng’s appeal after ruling that it was incompetent. Hadhariah said the court allowed a preliminary objection raised by the prosecution against Tan’s appeal. “We agree with the deputy public prosecutor that the decision of the High Court is not appealable because it is not a final decision,” she said. Tan, 66, was slapped with 30 CBT charges involving more than RM17 million from her company, Blue Star Moulding Sdn Bhd, from 2009 to 2013 and 54 moneylaundering charges involving more than RM25 million from 2008 to 2014. The CBT offences are alleged to have been committed at the company’s premises in Taman Ipoh in Perak while the money laundering charges were allegedly committed at the CIMB branch in Taman Tasik Jaya in Ipoh. In 2020, the High Court dismissed Tan’s first application for transfer of her trial from the Sessions Court to the High Court. She lost her appeal in the Court of Appeal. She then filed an appeal to the Federal Court but later withdrew the appeal. She then filed a second application following new evidence, which she claimed was favourable to her, but that application was dismissed by another High Court judge in 2022, prompting her to take her case to the Court of Appeal. Following yesterday’s court decision, Tan’s trial will be heard before the Sessions Court. – Bernama Navigating the treacherous online scam minefield KUALA LUMPUR: Fuelled by a global pandemic and social media, online fraud and scams are increasing and show no signs of abating, even as governments and communities step up efforts to increase public awareness. The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department said Malaysians reported losses of RM650,329,897 involving sale, loan, investment, phone and love scams in 2022 – an increase from RM509,881,921 in 2021 and RM503,883,501 in 2020. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Salim Fateh Din said the number of cases remain high, with 12,000 reported between January and April. A recent survey by Southeast Asian market research and data analytics firm Milieu Insight involving 2,500 respondents in five countries, including Malaysia, found almost half have been scammed. The July 6 survey found the most common scams Malaysians fall victim to were buying and selling scams at 39%, investment scams at o‘It will never happen to me’ mindset makes internet users careless and vulnerable, say experts Four seeking to quash cheating charges KUALA LUMPUR: Actor and producer Boy Iman and a company manager, who have been charged with cheating a woman in connection with the sale of exhibition booth space, will submit a representation to drop the charge. During case mention before Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim yesterday, lawyer Johan Ariff Salim Khan, representing Boy Iman, 43, and Nor Azmi Jantan, 49, informed the court that the defence would file the representation soon. Meanwhile, lawyer Muhamad Izhar Azmi representing Norazah Sahud and Norzana Rapie @ Rafie, both 51, who are also facing the same charge, said the defence had submitted a representation to the prosecution on July 13 regarding the charge. On April 25, Boy Iman, whose real name is Noruliman A. Rahman, and the three individuals pleaded not guilty to the charge of cheating Siti Wardina Basir by inducing her to hand over RM1,500 for the sale or rental of a booth at the Hooray X Fest Raya event at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur at 2.34am on April 19. The charge, under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34 of the same law, provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine. – Bernama Police probe apartment fight seen in video JOHOR BAHRU: Police are conducting an investigation relating to a video of a fight involving some residents of an apartment in Tampoi last Friday. Johor Bahru North District police chief ACP Balveer Singh said checks found the case was related to two reports received from the individuals involved. “Statements from those involved and independent witnesses who are residents of the apartment have been taken and the cause of the fight is under investigation,” he said in a statement yesterday. The case is being investigated under sections 324, 160 and 427 of the Penal Code. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact investigating office Insp Shazril Salim at 016-342 5316. A two-minute video was earlier uploaded by a social media user showing the incident involving several residents of the apartment. – Bernama 36% and phishing scams (35%), where unsolicited messages are received via email or other platforms disguised as communication coming from a legitimate source. The survey also found victims shared a common belief on scams. “The thought of ‘it will not happen to me’ is one of the greatest challenges. We often underestimate the risk of falling victim to scams,” said Milieu Insight assistant marketing director Sonia Elicia. Experts said such a mindset, that only stupid, greedy and naive people would fall for a scam, makes it difficult for people to develop and practise good and safe habits online. Scams are now very sophisticated and intricate, so it is not surprising if one falls for it, Bernama reported. Online safety experts said there are many common mistakes people make that could leave them vulnerable. They cited three main areas that people are careless about when online – photos, locations and personal security. The experts said people must be careful when using the check-in feature on social media or enabling location-sharing in their social media settings when they post something. Security Matters (SecM) director of operations Ivan Lai said many social media users, especially the younger generation, like to share locations when travelling or trying out a new restaurant or hanging out. “If they want to post their location, they can do it after they leave the place (to be safe),” he said. He advised users to turn off location-sharing for the app or to use a virtual private network to mask the location. Elicia said in Malaysia, a lot of scams happen by luring victims into phoney websites that take their money and sell them nothing. They are also lured into providing personal information that is used for identity theft or tricked into clicking on links and downloading malware. “Chief among these are surveys or contests that request personal information and ‘catfishing’, in which the scammer poses as someone else and befriends the victim, intending to take money, personal information or other valuables.” She added that the top platforms or ways Malaysians get scammed are through social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok, usually involving identity theft. To identify scam calls, online safety experts recommend using caller ID apps such as Whoscall and Truecaller. The free versions of both apps collect phone numbers that have been identified as scam numbers. Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. “Preliminary screening of the suspects found all three were negative for drug use and a background check found one has a record related to criminal and drug cases,” he said, adding that police will continue investigations to trace the remaining members of the syndicate. “We hope the public will continue to channel information related to drug trafficking activities happening around them by contacting the our hotline at 012-208 7222.” – Bernama

6 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Singapore speaker, MP resign over affair SINGAPORE: The parliamentary speaker and a woman MP resigned yesterday over an “inappropriate” affair, plunging the city-state’s ruling party into further turmoil following a rare high-level corruption probe involving a Cabinet minister. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he accepted the resignations of speaker Tan Chuan Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui to “maintain the high standards of propriety and personal oMost severe political crisis to hit PAP since 1986, says analyst conduct” of the People’s Action Party (PAP). He said they were in an “inappropriate relationship” that continued even after he had told them to stop in February. Last week, Transport Minister S. Iswaran was arrested by the powerful Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in a rare probe into high-level corruption. He is out on bail and is helping Yoon vows to overhaul approach to extreme weather SEOUL: South Korea’s president vowed yesterday to “completely overhaul” the country’s approach to extreme weather from climate change, after at least 40 people were killed by recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains. Rescue workers waded through thick mud as they drained a flooded underpass in central Cheongju, searching for more victims after vehicles were trapped in the tunnel by flash floods. South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, and days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides, with rivers bursting their banks, and reservoirs and dams overflowing. “This kind of extreme weather event will become commonplace, we must accept climate change is happening, and deal with it,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during an emergency response meeting. The idea that extreme weather linked to climate change “is an anomaly and can’t be helped needs to be completely overhauled”, he said, calling for “extraordinary determination” to improve the country’s preparedness and response. South Korea will “mobilise all available resources” including the military and police to help with rescue efforts, he said. Following the meeting, Yoon, who returned from an overseas trip early yesterday, travelled to Yecheon in North Gyeongsang province – one of the hardest hit villages, where more than a third of houses were damaged in landslides and two people remain missing. Yoon was briefed by officials as he walked past piles of fallen trees and relief workers shovelling mud. “I’ve never seen something like this in my life, hundreds of tonnes of rocks rolling down from the mountain,” Yoon told the villagers. “I’ll do everything I can to restore the village.” The majority of the casualties – including 19 of the dead and eight of the nine missing – were from North Gyeongsang province, and were largely due to massive landslides in the mountainous area that engulfed houses with people inside. – AFP the bureau with its investigation. Before that, two senior ministers were probed for alleged irregularities in their rental of sprawling housing properties in the land-scarce nation, but both were subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing. “Taken together, I would say that this is the most severe political crisis to hit the ruling party since 1986 when the minister for national development was investigated for corruption,” said political analyst Eugene Tan. “I think public trust and confidence in the ruling party would be significantly affected. And that puts the ruling party very much on the defensive,” said the Singapore Indonesia replaces minister held in corruption probe JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo named a new communications minister in a Cabinet shake-up yesterday after the previous minister was detained in a corruption probe linked to a project that cost the country eight trillion rupiah in losses. Budi Arie Setiadi succeeds Johnny G Plate, who was arrested in May over accusations he demanded kickbacks related to a government telecommunications project to expand internet access. Plate, who denies the allegations, is the fifth member of Widodo’s two administrations to be arrested in a graft scandal since 2014. Investigators have said the telco project in question incurred eight trillion rupiah (RM2.4 billion) in state losses. Plate faces life in prison if found guilty of multiple charges under Indonesia’s anti-corruption law. Investigators have named seven other suspects in the case, including an employee of a local subsidiary of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Jokowi removed Plate from his post yesterday and tapped Deputy Villages Minister Setiadi for the role, where he will carry on the project’s work building base transceiver stations (BTS) to bolster internet access across the archipelago nation. “We respect the legal process, but the BTS (construction) should continue because it relates to public service, particularly for residents in remote regions,” he told reporters. Budi was chairman of a volunteer group that supported Jokowi’s presidential campaign in 2014. – AFP Management University associate professor of law. Elections must be called no later than November 2025, with a younger generation of leaders expected to take the lead. Lee had earlier said he would hand over leadership to his deputy Lawrence Wong, although no timing was given. Lee told reporters that the 54-year-old speaker, who is married with two children, offered to resign earlier this year when he spoke to him about the affair. Lee accepted his resignation but it was to take effect when arrangements for his replacement for his district were made. The prime minister also said he told the speaker to end the affair. “But very recently, I came across information that strongly suggested that the relationship had continued.” Tan, in a letter to the premier, said he needed to step down from politics to focus on his family. “I have let them down ... I need to take responsibility for them and help heal my family.” – AFP FATAL PLUNGE ... A rescue ship lifting a water bus that sank in Buriganga River in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka yesterday. An unknown number of people were missing after the vehicle, carrying up to 40 passengers, sank. – AFPPIC ‘Lonely’ woman accused of making 2,761 emergency calls TOKYO: A 51-year-old woman was arrested in Japan for allegedly making 2,761 false emergency calls over a period of nearly three years. Hiroko Hatagami, an unemployed woman from Matsudo in Japan’s Chiba prefecture, located east of the capital Tokyo, was arrested last week on suspicion of obstructing the operations of a local fire department. The Chiba Prefectural Police alleged that the woman had made emergency calls repeatedly from her mobile phone and other means for the past two years and nine months. The calls were reportedly made both from her home and other locations in her neighbourhood. The suspect admitted to making the calls because she was “lonely and wanted someone to listen to me and give me attention”, The Mainichi newspaper reported. Between August 2020 and May this year, she repeatedly made calls asking the Matsudo fire department to dispatch ambulances, complaining of stomach ache, drug overdose and aching legs among other symptoms. When the ambulances arrived, she reportedly refused to be taken to hospital, claiming: “I don’t want to take an ambulance ... I didn’t make the call.” Despite receiving warnings from the fire department and the police, the woman continued to make emergency calls. Eventually, the fire department filed a complaint with the police on June 20, which led to her arrest. – The Independent B R I E F STYPHOON NEARS CHINA, VIETNAM BEIJING: Tens of thousands of people were being evacuated in southern China and Vietnam yesterday, and dozens of flights cancelled as a typhoon barrelled towards land. Powerful winds, storm surges and lashing rains were forecast to hammer the southern coastline from Guangdong to Hainan provinces when Typhoon Talim makes landfall early today, the China Meteorological Administration said. The forecaster has issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning in a four-tier colourcoded system. Authorities in Vietnam said they were preparing to evacuate about 30,000 people from the areas forecast to be hardest hit in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces. – AFP STOP ‘FOOLISH ACT’, KIM’S SISTER TELLS U.S. PYONGYANG: North Korea’s Kim Yo-Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said yesterday that the United States should avoid what she called a “foolish act” that could put its security at risk, state media KCNA reported. Kim made her comments after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US remains concerned that North Korea would move forward with another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, after it last week fired an ICBM off its east coast. “The United States should stop a foolish act that could put its security at risk by provoking us,” Kim was quoted saying. – Reuters

7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Solomons PM slams ‘unneighbourly’ questions from West HONIARA: Solomon Islands’ leader Manasseh Sogavare yesterday attacked foreign questions about a new police deal with China as “unneighbourly” interference. During a July 9 to 15 visit to China, the prime minister signed a raft of deals including an agreement allowing Beijing to maintain a police presence in the Pacific island country until 2025. The United States, Australia and New Zealand have expressed unease about the policing “implementation plan”, urging Beijing to soothe concerns by releasing more details. “Australia and United States should not fear China’s police support to Royal Solomons Police Force,” Sogavare told reporters after his arrival back in Honiara. “The narrow, coercive diplomatic approach of targeting China-Solomon Islands relations is – and I want to use this word – unneighbourly,” the Solomons leader said. “This is nothing but interference by foreign states into the internal affairs of Solomon Islands. “China has not invaded – it has not invaded or colonised any other foreign state.” China gave a warm welcome to the visiting Solomons leader, who severed diplomatic ties with self-ruling Taiwan in 2019 in favour of official relations with Beijing. The Solomons was rewarded with large sums of aid and investment in the country by China. Sogavare said some foreign donor countries had delayed assistance to the Solomons, leaving it “struggling” to finance the 2023 budget. “I am really delighted to announce that the People’s Republic of China stepped up and committed itself to meeting this shortfall by providing the budgetary support that is needed for 2023. The Chinese budgetary support will be provided in the form of projects, the prime minister said, without giving precise financial details. – AFP Kenyan court acquits ‘miracle baby’ pastor NAIROBI: A Kenyan court yesterday acquitted a controversial self-styled preacher who claimed he could help infertile couples conceive “miracle babies” through prayer, citing insufficient evidence from prosecutors. Gilbert Deya, a former stonemason who moved to London from Kenya in the mid-1990s, was accused of stealing five children between 1999 and 2004 to buttress his claims. Senior principal magistrate Robison Ondieki found the 86-year-old not guilty, ruling that the prosecution had not produced enough evidence to link Deya to the charges. The preacher, whose Gilbert Deya Ministries had churches in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester, was extradited from Britain to Kenya in 2017 following a decade-long legal battle to remain in the UK. Deya and his wife Mary claimed their prayers could see infertile and post-menopausal women become pregnant in four months, and without intercourse. However, prosecutors said the “miracle babies” were stolen, mainly from Nairobi’s poor neighbourhoods. “The charges were trumped up and could not stand in a court of law,” said Deya’s lawyer John Swaka. Deya’s claims first came to light in a 2004 case, when a British coroner found that a baby called Sarah, who had died aged three weeks, was not related to either of her supposed parents. The mother had been told she was infertile, and travelled to Nairobi where she claimed to have given birth, but DNA tests proved otherwise. The case was the first time in eight centuries that an English coroner had to come to an official view on whether a miracle had taken place. – AFP B R I E F SEU HOSTS LATIN AMERICA AMID RIFTS OVER WAR, TRADE BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) hosts Latin American and Caribbean leaders at a summit yesterday, hoping to revive strained ties despite divisions over trade and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The summit is the third between Brussels and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), but only the first since 2015, with several issues undermining closer ties. As EU and Celac leaders gathered in Brussels, diplomats were struggling to agree on the wording of the final communique – with Europe pushing for a strong stance against Moscow. However, the 33 nations of Latin America and the Caribbean have no agreed position on the Ukraine war and some would like to protect ties with Russia or seek a compromise peace deal. – AFP ITALY SHUTS MAIN SICILY AIRPORT DUE TO FIRE ROME: The airport in the Sicilian city of Catania, close to some of the main tourist hot spots in eastern Sicily, has been shut down until tomorrow due to a fire, its management company wrote on Twitter. The fire broke out on Sunday and there were no injuries, the airport said. Firefighters said they managed to contain the blaze about 90 minutes after it was called in, but provided no details on possible causes or any link to current high temperatures in the region. Catania was among several Italian cities that imposed a hot weather red alert on Sunday, along with the Sicilian capital of Palermo and the third island’s largest city of Messina, as the country braced for record high temperatures in the coming days. – Reuters Aussie sailor, dog rescued after two months at sea CANBERRA: An Australian sailor and his dog have been rescued after two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean, surviving the ordeal by drinking rainwater and snacking on raw fish. Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella set off in a catamaran from Mexico’s seaside city of La Paz in April, and planned to sail about 6,000km before dropping anchor in tropical French Polynesia. But they soon found themselves stranded in the vast Pacific Ocean after rough seas damaged the vessel and knocked out its electronics. In an unlikely rescue reminiscent of the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away, the bedraggled amateur yachtsman was plucked from the water two months later by a Mexican tuna trawler. “I’ve just got fishing gear,” he told one of his rescuers, in a video obtained by Australia’s Nine News. Sporting a shaggy beard, 51-year-old Shaddock was visibly gaunt after surviving on the spartan seafood diet – but said he otherwise felt “in very good health”. “I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea,” he said in a separate video. “I’m just needing rest and good food because I’ve been alone at sea a long time.” Shaddock and Bella would soon be ferried to Mexico, according to Nine News. – AFP Russia halts grain deal MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday that it had halted participation in a landmark United Nations-brokered deal which allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea just hours after Moscow said Ukraine had attacked the Crimean Bridge. Two people were killed and their daughter was wounded in what Russia cast as a terrorist attack on a major artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project personally opened by President Vladimir Putin. Blasts were reported before dawn on the 19km road and rail bridge linking Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin said the halting of the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by UN and Turkiye to combat a global food crisis worsened by Teenagers attending military training conducted by members of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps in Lviv region. – REUTERSPIC oKremlin says no link to Crimean Bridge attack it blames on Ukraine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had nothing to do with the bridge attack. “In fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. “Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated.” Russia has notified Turkiye, Ukraine and UN that Moscow is against extending the deal, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova. Russia and Ukraine are two of the world’s top agricultural producers, and major players in the wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed and sunflower oil markets. Russia is also dominant in the fertiliser market. Putin said last week that the parts of the deal relating to Russia had not been implemented. The president said he was thinking of suspending Russia’s participation to focus minds and that his country would return to the deal once its conditions were met. To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea deal, a three-year deal was also struck in July last year under which UN officials agreed to help Russia get its food and fertiliser exports to foreign markets. While Russian exports of food and fertiliser are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion, Moscow has said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments. Russia also has complained that not enough grain has reached poor countries. The halting of the grain deal came just hours after what Russia said a terrorist attack on a bridge linking Russia to Russia-annexed Crimea. Unverified imagery showed a section of road on the bridge had split and was listing to one side with metal barriers buckled. Dash cam footage showed drivers braking sharply shortly after the incident. Traffic was halted. The Ukraine military suggested the attack could be some kind of provocation by Russia itself but Ukrainian media cited unidentified sources as saying that Ukraine’s Security Service was behind the incident. – Reuters

8 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 SPEAK UP /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Nato summit, not Zelensky’s hoped-for triumph WHEN they met for their summit in Vilnius, Lithuania this week, Nato leaders appeared to have just one item left on their agenda – how, when and even whether to admit Ukraine. Advance discussions have ensured that before anyone even arrived in the Lithuanian capital, the US had agreed to supply F-16 warplanes to Turkiye. The country had lifted its block on Sweden’s membership and everyone had agreed to keep the current secretary-general for another year. Ukraine would be front and central, and President Volodymyr Zelensky was there in person, with his wife, to claim the honours. Except that Ukraine was not, in fact, the only or even the main item on Nato’s agenda. The bigger but unstated question was how to stand by Ukraine while avoiding a war between Nato and Russia. So much was admitted by the US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who told CNN afterwards that if Ukraine were admitted to the alliance now, Nato’s famous mutual defence clause would oblige members to join a direct war with Russia. Now this might be a slight exaggeration. Article 5, which stipulates that an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, requires allies to take the action they deem necessary, rather than embark at once on an all-out war. But the fact is there was no consensus in favour of fast-tracked membership for Ukraine at Vilnius and Russia’s possible response may have been one reason why. Zelensky left Lithuania a disappointed man. Nato drafters did their best to find reassuring formulations, but Zelensky had to be content with an assurance that Ukraine would indeed join the alliance at some unspecified time in the future, with the customary Membership Action Plan waived. In almost every other respect, the promises fell far short of what Ukraine had hoped for. After listing all sorts of requirements, the Vilnius communique said only: “We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.” There was no definite timescale, certainly no fast track and above all no invitation. that runs through the Vilnius proceedings, to which alliance support for Ukraine – Zelensky will be unhappy to know – comes second. Until this point in the war, this consideration has rather lurked in the background, with some blurring of the lines. No longer. Moscow has long been of the view that the war in Ukraine is essentially a proxy war between Russia and Nato. And it would not be completely wrong. Nato members are supplying Ukraine with military assistance, intelligence and training in many cases to Nato standards. But there is a big difference between a proxy war and a direct war and, while some Nato countries have seemed almost to welcome the prospect of a conflict between the alliance and Russia, the US in particular has been at pains to ensure that the one does not become the other. Since the 2022 Russian invasion, Western military and other help for Ukraine has been supplied on a strictly bilateral, country-to-country basis. One of the reasons why the US rebuffed Ukraine’s early pleas for a no-fly zone was that it would imply alliance involvement. Contrary to the impression often given, the US has also kept communications channels open and acted quickly to pre-empt certain misunderstandings. In November last year, it earned Moscow’s thanks by confirming that a missile landing in Poland was not Russian, but a misfired anti-aircraft rocket from Ukraine. Last month, as speculation swirled about Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny, the CIA director called his Russian counterpart to assure him that the US was not involved. And reports recently emerged of at least one – maybe more – secret meeting between veteran US Russiawatchers, Russians with links to the Kremlin and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. This was the first hint that any socalled “track-2” diplomatic activity might be in train. It angered Ukraine, as it suggested talks were taking place behind its back, but fostered hope elsewhere that diplomacy was not dead. Efforts to maintain a rigorous separation between Nato and any increased help for Ukraine were also apparent at Vilnius in the somewhat unusual structure of the meetings and participation. The Nato summit was supplemented by something akin to a G7 mini-summit and it was the G7 – although not a security grouping – that provided the security guarantees and other assistance for Ukraine. There are only two possible reasons for this: to signal that support for Ukraine goes beyond the US-Europe alliance (although the only addition here was Japan), more particularly, though, to keep Nato, as a military alliance, formally at arm’s length from the defence of Ukraine. Support from the G7, as an economic and civilian grouping, could not be seen by Russia as increasing any risk of war. For Nato to co-opt the G7 in this way, however, has a downside. The G7 is the club of the world’s richest nations. If there has been any failure of the West in mustering support for Ukraine and isolating Russia, it has been in the so-called “global South”. Despite efforts to broaden support by, for instance, presenting the conflict as a war for national liberation against an imperial power, there is scant evidence this is having much effect. Geography and economics are more persuasive arguments. The consolation, if there is any, from the Vilnius summit should be that Nato – steered perhaps by a US president seeking re-election – is at least trying to avoid the Ukraine conflict spiralling into a wider war. This may not provide much reassurance to an already warravaged Ukraine, but it could offer a sliver of hope to the rest of Europe and the wider world that the war can be contained. – The Independent “Nato drafters did their best to find reassuring formulations, but Zelensky had to be content with an assurance that Ukraine would indeed join the alliance at some unspecified time in the future, with the customary Membership Action Plan waived. █ BY MARY DEJEVSKY A new forum was set up, called the Nato-Ukraine Council, which sounded unnervingly similar to the doomed Nato-Russia Council of 2002, which Russia always complained was an institution of unequals. Ukraine received promises of more military supplies, more training and other types of support, all of which was helpful, of course, but not what Kyiv had set its sights on. Indeed, Zelensky’s first glimpse of the communique had elicited some very un-Zelensky-like fury – he called the lack of a timeframe “absurd” and lambasted the alliance for “uncertainty”, which he said amounted to “weakness”. By the end of the summit, he appeared to have been mollified somewhat, thanks in part to a oneon-one meeting with the US president that went on far longer than planned. But discord remained, with remarks from US officials and the UK defence secretary about a supposed lack of gratitude on Ukraine’s part. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak tried to spin the remarks away, but the residue lingered. It was hard not to imagine Zelensky pining for the days of Boris Johnson. Nor was the explanation for what Kyiv will have seen as an unsatisfactory outcome hard to divine. For all the visual and verbal focus on Ukraine at Vilnius, the communique tells a rather different story. For every mention of Ukraine, there are many more mentions of Russia, with the opening to paragraph 19, perhaps key: “We seek stability and predictability in the Euro-Atlantic area and between Nato and Russia. Nato does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. We remain willing to keep open channels of communication with Moscow to manage and mitigate risks, prevent escalation and increase transparency.” The imperative to avoid a war between Nato and Russia is a thread

9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Black Sea Grain Initiative hits a snag THE United Nations is scrambling to extend an agreement that allows Ukrainian grain to be shipped via the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, helping to ease a global food crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine war more than a year ago. If Russia does not sign the extension of this Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) then an increase in global food inflation is in the offing, which means every country should get ready and be prepared for this emerging whammy by taking care of their food security. The BSGI, which the UN and Turkiye brokered, also came with a separate agreement to facilitate the delivery of Russian food and fertiliser, which Moscow insists has not been given the same zeal that the signatories of the initiative applied with regards to Ukrainian grain. On July 4, the Russian foreign ministry issued a statement in which it said it sees “no grounds” to prolong the Ukrainian grain initiative past its deadline, which was yesterday. The ministry claimed that the agreement has failed to meet its original goals of steering grain towards poor nations experiencing food insecurity. Instead, it has become a “purely commercial” scheme that ships produce to wealthy countries, while Russian food and fertiliser exports remain blocked. About 81% of produce shipped from Ukraine under the initiative in the past year ended up in countries with “high and upper middle-income levels”, it said, adding that the world’s poorest countries, including Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia, accounted for only 2.6%. Meanwhile, the situation regarding blocked Russian food and fertiliser exports “continues to degrade”, the ministry noted. The five “system” goals envisioned by the Russia-UN memorandum remain unmet. They include allowing Russia’s major agricultural lender, Rosslekhozbank, back onto the SWIFT payments system, enabling deliveries of spare parts for agriculture machinery, the resumption of the TolyattiOdessa ammonia pipeline’s operation, sorting out insurance and logistics, as well as “unfreezing” Russian assets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that Moscow sees no grounds to agree to an extension of the grain initiative, insisting that promises made to Russia remain unfulfilled. The BSGI was first signed on July 22, 2022, for 120 days, which expired on Nov 19 and was due to roll over unless there were objections. But three weeks before its expiry, Moscow had pulled out of the deal, saying it could not guarantee the safety of civilian ships crossing the Black Sea because of a drone attack on its fleet there. Four days later on Nov 2, following a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and consultations between their defence ministers, Russia ended its four days of noncooperation with the initiative. In a statement, Russia’s defence ministry said with the help of the UN and Turkiye, it had obtained sufficient written guarantees from Ukraine that it would not use the secure shipping corridor or its designated Ukrainian ports for strikes against Russia. Putin affirmed the receipt of those commitments and said if Russia withdrew once more because of Ukrainian breaches, it would substitute the entire volume of grain destined for the “poorest countries” for free from its stocks. The BSGI was renewed for the first time on Nov 19, 2022, for another 120 days until March 18. On March 18, the UN and Erdogan announced the extension of the BSGI for a second time, but neither confirmed how long it would last. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov tweeted the initiative would remain in effect for the longer, fourmonth period. But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian news agency TASS that Moscow “agreed to extend the initiative for 60 days”. In this second extension, Russia, not Ukraine, was in the right that the initiative would be renewed for 60 days until May 18. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the UN Security Council that the UN has to recognise it has “no leverage to exempt Russian agricultural export operations from Western sanctions”, and therefore Russia would only extend the initiative until May 18. “If Brussels, Washington and London are genuinely interested to continue the export of food from Ukraine through the maritime humanitarian corridor, then they have two months to exempt from their sanctions the entire chain of operations which accompany the Russian agricultural sector,” Nebenzia said. “Otherwise, we fail to understand how the package concept by the UN secretary-general will work through these simple agreements.” In all extensions of the initiative, Erdogan played a pivotal role via phone diplomacy to convince the Russian leader to continue Russia’s participation in the initiative. When the first extension was made, Erdogan reportedly said, “He (Putin) doesn’t agree to open this grain corridor through others. But with me, when I call, straight away he opened the grain corridor.” Erdogan’s skill in diplomacy was once again up in the air when in March, Moscow agreed to extend the Black Sea pact for a further 60 days until May 18 instead of 120 days unless a list of demands regarding its agricultural exports was met. As May 18 approached, the world was on edge to see whether Russia will extend the initiative beyond May 18. Again, Erdogan stepped in with a phone diplomacy with Putin and announced on May 17 that the BSGI has been extended for two more months until yesterday. We are now in the same predicament as in May when days before the initiative is to expire, Russia has already said it sees “no grounds” to prolong the Ukrainian grain initiative beyond its deadline. This time round it would be a tough call for Ergodan to convince Putin to agree to a renewal. His diplomacy skill seems to be “compromised” from the Russian perspective when Erdogan decided to release five previously imprisoned Azov battalion commanders on July 8 to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his recent trip to Türkiye. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Türkiye was supposed to keep the prisoners in the country until the end of the conflict, according to an agreement forged among Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye. Meanwhile, Russian Senator Viktor Bondarev who is also a member of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament and chair of the body’s defence and security committee, said Turkiye’s latest statements and actions show that it is sliding towards the group of nations that Moscow considers unfriendly. Speaking to TASS news agency on July 10, Bondarev suggested Erdogan is caving to pressure from the West. He cited Ankara’s stated support for Ukraine’s bid to join Nato and the subsequent decision to release five commanders of the notorious Azov regiment from custody as moves that have undermined Turkish neutrality. “Certainly, national security and national interest have the priority. But even under serious Western pressure, one should preserve their face, as Hungarian leader Viktor Orban demonstrated repeatedly,” the senator said. He also has harsh words for Erdogan when he accused him of stabbing Russia in the back and described the handover of Azov commanders as one in a series of “stupid and impulsive decisions” by Erdogan. In releasing the Azov commanders to Zelensky, the Turkish president may have been partially reacting to the deterioration of the BSGI, the senator added. Jamari Mohtar is the Editor of Let’s Talk!, an enewsletter on current affairs. Comments: [email protected] COMMENT by Jamari Mohtar Good move to rebrand Form Six colleges I WOULD like to congratulate the Education Minister on her recent move to rebrand all Form Six colleges to preuniversity colleges. The move is something many students have been waiting for and not only will it give Form Six students a new image, but it also opens up more opportunities for eligible students. Many good students were overlooked as previously the admission process for Form Six students was only via an offer from the ministry. However, with the recent announcement by the minister, it is good to hear that with the autonomous power given to the principals to relax admission conditions, more students will have an opportunity to enter Form Six. This move will surely help reduce the number of dropouts because prior to this many students who completed their Form Five were left with limited options. Not everyone could afford to send their students to private colleges to pursue their A-Levels or other courses, while some could not make it into public universities. However, now there are much more opportunities with these relaxed conditions. Also, the move to rebrand Form Six colleges as preuniversity colleges also provides these students with much-needed respect and distinction. After all, making it to Form Six is an achievement and it is only right that students and teachers alike be given due recognition. I also want to commend the minister on her efforts to enhance the quality and professionalism of Form Six teachers. These teachers not only play the role of educators but have a huge influence on the lives of these mature students, who are being groomed to enter the working world. It is imperative that these teachers are equipped with a high level of professionalism to effectively carry out their roles in shaping the future generation. Christopher Nathan Subang Jaya Authorities must walk the talk IN many places in the Klang Valley, big yellow plastic bags are being used to hold twigs, leaves and other garden refuse before they are collected for disposal. What baffles me and, I’m sure, many citizens, is the fact that these plastic bags are actually being used by contractors who have been given the task of clearing roadsides, dividers and public places of such debris. Every time I see these plastic bags, I wonder why they are being used when single-use plastic bags have already been banned. I believe that it sends the wrong message to the public that it is still all right to use such plastic bags although there are various biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives. The authorities must walk the talk when dealing with single-use plastic bags. This is important since the government is working to educate the public and raise awareness of the danger of plastic pollution. The Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change Ministry recently announced a plan to eliminate the usage of plastic bags for retail purposes across all business sectors nationwide by 2025. According to the minister concerned, the campaign will be carried out in stages. It will start with businesses in fixed locations such as supermarkets and retail stores, and later in wet markets, including roadside stalls. Having such a plan is most welcome but I believe that implementation is the key to ensuring its impact and effectiveness. The widespread use of yellow plastic bags by garbage concessionary companies is certainly not setting the right example in light of the government’s plan to phase out and reduce single-use plastic. Furthermore, improved waste management and responsible production and consumption of plastics should also be looked into. The rampant use of plastic bags by landscaping and garbage collecting firms until today reflects the attitude of Malaysians who want everything to be easy instead of finding a better solution, such as using bamboo baskets that can be reused many times apart from also being biodegradable. The federal government’s “Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018 to 2030” announced in October 2018 revealed that Malaysia is a global player in the plastics industry, with about 1,300 plastics manufacturers currently. Plastic pollution is now a global problem and must be addressed in a sustainable manner by balancing economic growth with environmental protection in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which Malaysia subscribes to. We must support the government’s plans to address single-use plastics by encouraging the plastics industry to produce eco-friendly products. It will ensure the industry will adopt green technologies while safeguarding the environment. The roadmap prepared by the government should be used as a guide towards zero single-use plastics in Malaysia in a holistic manner. Under the roadmap, Malaysia will eliminate single-use plastics by 2030. Although some quarters have expressed concerns that the 12-year timeline is simply too long to be effective, it covers all aspects, including offering suggestions to plastics manufacturers on transitioning to alternatives and preparing them to produce more eco-friendly products. The success of this comprehensive roadmap depends on the support from all stakeholders, namely the state governments, manufacturers, suppliers, business operators, non-governmental organisations and the public. I hope all government agencies and their contractors, at the very least, from now on will find a better alternative to single-use plastic bags. We must look for environmentally friendly products to help us achieve the target sooner than expected. Government agencies and local authorities must lead by example to help reduce plastic pollution, including banning the use of plastic bags at all levels, including by their own contractors, and not only among shoppers. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Chairman Alliance For A Safe Community [email protected]

10 HEALTH & WELLNESS theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ Sleep in the deep OCTOPUSES are fascinating because of their tentacular intelligence, which brings them so close to human beings. But that’s not all they have in common with us. According to a new Japanese-American study, these sea creatures are also capable of dreaming. Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the University of Washington examined the brain activity and skin colour changes of 29 octopuses belonging to the nocturnal Octopus aqueous species. They found that, during the day, the octopuses closed their eyes and adopted a resting posture akin to sleep. Every hour or so, these animals also underwent rapid changes in skin colour lasting about a minute, as well as changes in respiratory rate and body and eye movements. These observations enabled the scientists to deduce that octopuses go through two different sleep stages: quiet sleep and active sleep. It is in the latter phase that contractions of different parts of the octopus’s body and rapid changes in the texture and pattern of its skin occur, as the researchers describe in their paper, recently published in the journal Nature. To test this hypothesis, the biologists verified whether the octopuses were really asleep in the active sleep stage by subjecting them to various external stimuli. In particular, they tapped on the tanks in which the animals were resting to observe their reactions. The sea creatures reacted differently when they were awake or in a quiet or active sleep phase. The research team also found that, if the octopuses were deprived of sleep for two days, they subsequently entered the active sleep stage earlier and more frequently. This finding suggests the Octopuses transition between two sleep stages - a quiet stage and an active stage that resembles REM sleep in mammals. oDo octopuses dream like humans? existence of a homeostatic process, which is one of the key criteria for sleep. Reliving past experiences In addition, probes recording the neuronal activity of octopuses revealed the existence of brain waves resembling sleep spindles. Sleep spindles are a set of waves thought to protect sleep by inhibiting sensory input. Although their exact function is still a mystery, even in humans, scientists believe that these spindles contribute to the consolidation of memories. Biologists have noted that, in octopuses, these waves occur in brain regions associated with learning and memory, suggesting that they potentially have a function similar to that in humans. These sleep spindles could explain the changes in octopus skin patterns observed by scientists. Indeed, octopuses can imitate their environment by modifying the texture and appearance of their epidermis instantly and in a variety of ways, thanks to thousands of pigmented cells called chromatophores. This defence mechanism enables them to hide from potential predators. During the active sleep stage, the scientists observed that octopuses alternated the same skin patterns. This phenomenon could be explained by the fact that the animals use their sleep to train their camouflage skills or simply to ensure that their chromatophores are working properly. But another hypothesis put forward is that octopuses could be reliving and learning from past experiences, such as hunting or hiding from a predator, and reactivating the skin pattern associated with each memory. In other words, they could be dreaming. “In this sense, while humans can verbally report what kind of dreams they had only once they wake, the octopuses’ skin pattern acts as a visual readout of their brain activity during sleep,“ said Dr Sam Reiter, associate professor and head of the Computational Neuroethology Unit at OIST, quoted in a news release. He added: “We currently don’t know which of these explanations, if any, could be correct. We are very interested in investigating further.” – ETX STUDIO Hurt felines: Japanese app aims to detect cat pain CATS are considered lucky in Japan, and pet owners spend a lot of money on their maintenance. But how do you tell if they’re sick? A Tokyo-based software company and university have collaborated to create an app trained on hundreds of cat photographs that can detect whether a cat is in discomfort. “Cat Pain Detector” has 43,000 users, largely in Japan but also in Europe and South America, according to Go Sakioka, CEO of developer Carelogy. The software is part of a growing array of technology for pet owners worried about the well-being of their animal pets, including similar mood and pain trackers produced in Canada and Israel. Carelogy teamed up with Nihon University’s College of Bioresource Sciences to gather 6,000 cat photos, in which they carefully studied the positions of the animals’ ears, noses, whiskers, and eyelids. They then used a scoring system designed by the University of Montreal to measure minute differences between healthy cats and those suffering pain due to hard-to-spot illnesses. Following that, the app developers entered the data into an AI recognition system, which has been refined thanks to about 600,000 photos provided by users, according to Sakioka. He told AFP that the app now “has an accuracy level of more than 90%”. According to the Japan Pet Food Association, 60% of owners take their cat to a veterinarian at most once a year. “We want to help cat owners judge more easily at home whether to see a vet or not,“ Sakioka said. “Cat Pain Detector” is already being used by some vets in Japan, the land of Hello Kitty, where tourists flock to cat cafes and some small islands are overrun by stray felines. But “the AI system still needs to be more precise before it’s used as a standardised tool”, he cautioned. – ETX STUDIO According to the Japan Pet Food Association, 60% of owners take their cat to a veterinarian at most once a year. – 123RF

KLCI 1,406.10 STI 3,254.43 5.80 HANG SENG SCI 3,209.63 NIKKEI 32,391.26 28.04 TSEC 17,334.29 50.58 KOSPI 2,619.00 S&P/ASX200 7,298.50 TUESDAY JULY 18, 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 July 17, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) CLASSITA-WC 301,043,000 4.5 -2.5 DCHCARE 262,546,100 45.0 +20.0 CLASSITA 186,418,500 22.5 +1.0 ASB 111,010,700 16.5 +1.0 MYEG 58,965,800 75.0 +2.0 EXCHANGERATES JULY 17, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.6135 4.4795 4.4510 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.1650 3.0390 3.0340 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.4940 3.3940 3.3790 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.4790 3.3850 3.3910 1 EURO 5.1950 5.0280 4.9730 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.9410 2.8310 2.8340 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.4940 3.3940 3.3790 1 STERLING POUND 6.0570 5.8690 5.8170 1 SWISS FRANC 5.3510 5.2280 5.1930 100 UAE DIRHAM 126.8700 120.2500 120.2600 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.3000 4.0310 3.8460 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 64.6000 62.1000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 59.5700 56.5800 56.4400 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.7100 5.3500 5.1600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0319 0.0288 0.0238 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3360 3.2300 3.2110 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 16.0000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.7300 1.6000 1.3800 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.6000 8.1000 7.9100 100 QATAR RIYAL 127.7300 121.2600 121.2600 100 SAUDI RIYAL 124.1400 117.8500 117.8200 100 THAI BAHT 13.9300 12.3500 11.9600 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY July 17, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,415.00 -17.00 FBMKLCI 1,406.10 -5.99 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 553.54 -2.11 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 161.56 -1.26 CONSTRUCTION 169.28 +0.09 FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,753.60 +18.38 ENERGY 812.49 -10.70 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 579.49 -2.23 HEALTH CARE 1,716.41 +34.23 TRANSPORTATION 906.52 -2.80 PROPERTY 727.76 +6.62 PLANTATION 6,878.82 -19.30 FBMSHA 10,686.40 -22.80 FBMACE 5,334.64 +54.87 TECHNOLOGY 66.83 +1.07 TURNOVER VALUE 3.600 BIL RM2.177 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS July 17, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM VITROX 2,630,500 8.51 +0.49 RAPID 32,100 22.18 +0.40 AEONCR 613,500 11.70 +0.36 QUALITY 228,200 1.50 +0.30 DCHCARE 262,546,100 0.45 +0.20 5 TOP LOSERS July 17, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM ALLIANZ-PA 12,200 14.60 -0.20 AYER 30,000 6.91 -0.19 HLFG 61,300 17.58 -0.18 PCHEM 4,360,500 6.24 -0.15 AJI 33,800 15.86 -0.14 5.99 28.07 9.30 4.60 BCorp sells BEnviro to Naza for RM700m KUALA LUMPUR: Berjaya Corp Bhd’s (BCorp) subsidiary, Berjaya Group Bhd (BGroup) has entered into a Share Sale Agreement with Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd to dispose of 100% equity interest in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) for RM700 million. The agreement was signed by Berjaya Corp joint group CEO Vivienne Cheng and Naza Corp group MD Tan Sri Ismee Ismail yesterday. Commenting on the proposed disposal, Cheng said that the selling of BEnviro will generate substantial financial returns from Berjaya’s investments in BEnviro where the gains will enhance the net assets and the utilisation of the proceeds is expected to contribute positively to the future earnings of the BCorp. “The proposed disposal provides an opportunity for the BCorp to monetise its investment in BEnviro with an estimated gain of approximately RM490.74 million,” she told a press conference after the signing ceremony. She stated that the proposed disposal is expected to improve the earnings, net assets and the gearing of the BCorp significantly. “If you look at how we are going to spend the RM490 million, it is to reduce our gearing. In this current market, with interest rates going up substantially, having this cost-saving is a positive move for Berjaya going forward. It actually translates to about a 30% saving for the group,” she said. Upon the completion of the proposed disposal, both BGroup and BEnviro will set up a joint venture company to collaborate in all new projects including but not limited to sanitary landfills, environmental and waste management in Malaysia and overseas, in From left: Naza Corp deputy group chairman SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin, SM Nasarudin, Ismee Ismail, Cheng, Berjaya Corp founder and adviser Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun and executive director Chryseis Tan Sheik Ling at the signing ceremony. – ADIB RAWI/THE SUN oBerjaya Corp unlocks value, monetises its investment in waste management company █ BYHAYATUN RAZAK [email protected] Malaysia’s AHTV can be hub for Asia-Pacific EV market KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) offers tremendous commercial and supply chain opportunities for automotive investors, and could potentially be a hub for Asia Pacific’s estimated US$778 billion (RM3.5 trillion) electric vehicle (EV) market. Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the AHTV is set to be a hub where automotive industry professionals can live, work and develop new technologies that will be used in next-generation vehicles (NxGV), EV and energy-efficient vehicles (EEV). The AHTV is the only automotive cluster in Malaysia to be officially recognised as an NxGV and EEV hub. As such, the government is offering an attractive incentive package, including tax exemptions for land development and the manufacturing of parts and components, as well as the establishment of research centres and educational institutions. “We see the AHTV as a key driver for automotive investors who are considering to further secure their regional or global supply chains. “We also see it as a major player in increasing the automotive sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product from RM64.5 billion in 2022 to RM104.2 billion by 2030,” he said at the Proton Global Investors and Vendors Convention 2023 yesterday. Tengku Zafrul said the Asia-Pacific EV market is valued at almost US$230 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach roughly US$778 billion in 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate of 19.1% between 2022 and 2027. He also pointed out that Malaysia is already a major electrical and electronics manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia. “As such, automakers and automotive investors can seamlessly leverage this capacity to secure their supply chains in boosting their production of NxGVs. “The components sub-sector can be capitalised on to service the whole automotive value chain from semiconductors, sensors, automotive electronics, transceivers, batteries and vehicle assembly,” he said. The minister said Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, which is expected to be launched in August, would support the automotive sector’s further growth, including the promotion of NxGV, EEV and EV. He highlighted that the government has set up the National EV Steering Committee led by Miti comprising representatives from various ministries, government agencies and relevant industry parties. – Bernama which, BGroup and BEnviro shall own 49% and 51% respectively. “The decision to divest BEnviro was made after careful consideration and analysis of the current market conditions and strategic goals of the BCorp,” Cheng said. In a separate statement, Naza’s group executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin said that through this proposed acquisition, Naza aims to benefit from the extensive operational infrastructure, technological advancements, and talented workforce of BEnviro and its seven subsidiaries. He said that Naza is targeting to retain the management and talent of these entities for business continuity. “This acquisition reinforces Naza’s dedication towards strategic growth of its business reach (by) venturing into the provision of comprehensive waste management solutions and promoting environmental sustainability. “The group has been exploring new sectors that align with its vision of sustainable development, resource efficiency, and upholding the highest standards of environmental stewardship,” he said. He said that waste management, a crucial aspect of the green economy with sizeable growth potential, perfectly aligns with the company’s vision. “Waste management businesses have predictable, steady income streams and the industry is non-cyclical in nature, both of which are key considerations for this acquisition,“ he added. The BEnviro Group is involved in the environmental business segments of solid waste management with engineered sanitary landfill, landfill gas management via renewable energy generation from landfill gas, as well as scheduled waste management through recycling, treatment and disposal. BEnviro’s waste management projects include the Bukit Tagar Sanitary landfill in Selangor. CLOSED Participation 28.3 45.3 26.4 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 583.4 990.6 603.6 2177.6 Sold RM m 649.5 980.8 547.3 2177.6 Net RM m -66.1 9.8 56.3 0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 17/7/2023

12 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 SUNBIZ @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME IJM in logistics hubs joint venture PETALING JAYA: IJM RE Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of IJM Corporation Bhd (IJM), has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with FMM Elmina Sdn Bhd (FMM). The JV will develop two state-ofthe-art logistics hubs in The City of Elmina, Shah Alam. In a signing ceremony yesterday, both IJM and FMM entered into a subscription and shareholders agreement (SHA) to establish Exio Logistics Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) responsible for the construction and development of the logistics hubs. IJM will hold a 50% stake in the SPV, while the other 50% will be held by FMM, a company owned by Tan Sri Teo Chiang Hong, Mettiz Capital Sdn Bhd and Minlon Sdn Bhd. With a floor space of 500,000 sq ft and a capacity of 110,000 pallet positions, the hubs will deliver efficient industrial and logistics solutions with world-class expertise and sustainable green features. Constructed on a 22-acre freehold land in the City of Elmina, a prime location with excellent connectivity and proximity to major transportation networks, the two hubs Storio Hub 1 and Storio Hub 2, have already generated substantial interest. The logistics hubs are fully leased to Storio Sdn Bhd, which will be the Teo (left) and Lee at the signing of ceremony between IJM and FMM. oEnters into partnership with FMM Elmina to build two state-of-the-art facilities in The City of Elmina in Shah Alam operator and master tenant. Storio is owned by the shareholders of FMM. IJM Group CEO and managing director Lee Chun Fai said: “This partnership offers a strategic opportunity for the JV to capitalise on the strong market demands of the logistics sector, fuelled by the thriving e-commerce market and supply chain diversification. The development of these logistics hubs will be transformative, meeting the growing needs of businesses and shaping the logistics sector. Our expansion into the industrial property sector further strengthens our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions across industries. Additionally, it provides IJM with the opportunity to invest in a prime asset class, securing premium logistics properties that generate recurring lease income.” The Storio logistics hubs will provide fully-automated solutions for businesses seeking streamlined warehousing and logistics services. “We are excited to embark into this JV with IJM and our capital partners to develop the Storio logistics hubs,” said Teo. “By combining the respective strengths and expertise of each partner, we are poised to create a new benchmark in the logistics industry, which will see us deliver a state-ofthe-art logistics solution for the Malaysian market. “Our shared goal is to deliver exceptional solutions and value to our customers, while driving operational efficiency, costeffectiveness and sustainability. Together, we are excited to propel the industry forward.” This development is envisioned to be the first of a series of logistics hubs to meet the increasing demand for efficient supply chain management and logistics services. The partnership includes the potential for Exio Logistics to explore the development of additional facilities across various locations, including IJM’s property land bank portfolio and other suitable areas. Design and development work for the logistics hub is currently under way and construction scheduled to commence in early 2024. UMW’s first-half automotive sales increase 12% year-on-year KUALA LUMPUR: The UMW Group recorded automotive sales for June 2023 with the registration of 31,222 vehicles as both UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) and UMW’s associate company Perodua continue to deliver its outstanding orders. The group’s automotive sales increased by 12% to 193,349 units for the first half of 2023, from the 173,254 units registered in the same period of 2022. UMWT registered 8,669 units in June 2023, 8% higher than the 8,004 units delivered in May 2023. Year-to-date June 2023, UMWT registered 48,659 units, recording a 6% growth compared with the 45,911 units registered in the corresponding period of 2022. The all-new Toyota Vios, which was launched in March this year, followed by the Corolla Cross and Hilux were the topselling models in the first half of 2023. UMWT unveiled the allnew Toyota Innova Zenix on June 21, which has received encouraging orders. On top of the internal combustion engine (ICE) offering, the model is also available as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), expanding its product offering into the electrified vehicle space. It has also started order taking for the all-new Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire recently. To further strengthen its order book, UMWT is offering special promotions for the purchase of selected Toyota models in July 2023. Perodua registered 22,553 units in June 2023, 9% lower compared with the 24,699 units delivered in May 2023 as its manufacturing plant was closed for one week for the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. Year-todate June 2023, Perodua’s sales surged to 144,690 units, 14% higher than the 127,343 units delivered in the same period of 2022. For the first half of 2023, Perodua’s top selling models were the Bezza, followed by the Myvi and Axia. The all-new Axia was launched on Feb 14. With the improving supply chain and sustained demand, Perodua expects both production and sales to continue the uptrend in the second half of 2023. UMW Holdings Bhd president and group CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said, “We are pleased with the encouraging sales registered by both UMWT and Perodua in June 2023. For the first six months of 2023, both companies have also registered higher sales compared with the same period of 2022. The introduction of competitive and exciting new models helped to drive sales in the first half of 2023. “We are confident that both companies will achieve their sales targets for 2023 based on the outstanding bookings. We would like to thank our customers for their unwavering support of our products and services.” Genesys Reserve unveils first EV methodology for carbon credits creation KUALA LUMPUR: Genesys Reserve has launched 1st Electric Vehicle (EV) Methodology for the creation of carbon credits. The standard will be used to measure, monitor, report and verify carbon emissions reductions associated with the use of EV. The methodology developed by Karbon Hero has undergone extensive research and development to ensure localised feasibility in the issuance of Genesys Carbon Certificates. The methodology is aimed to incentivise fuel switching from carbon intensive vehicles to EV, reducing overall carbon emissions. It will primarily quantify emission reductions from the process of charging an EV at a charging station or battery swapping station and issue carbon credits for the verified reductions. The methodology can be adapted and deployed globally according to a country’s energy mix for optimal carbon emissions reduction quantification. “As we move closer towards our climate goals, we will begin seeing more electric vehicles on the road and following the need for better infrastructure. “Today we provide a way for EV businesses across the spectrum to further monetise their efforts through the trading of carbon credits,” said Karbon Hero founder and CEO Dr Sarah Shahril. The methodology adapts and integrates existing standards such as the CDM methodology on electric and hybrid vehicles; the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Market Core Carbon Principles; and intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, the exclusive Quality Assessment and Verification Framework (QAVF) released by Karbon Hero during the launch of Genesys Reserve is the main underpinning framework used in the development of this methodology, to guarantee impactful offset activities and creation of high quality carbon credits. Genesys Reserve invites potential project developers to collaborate. The EV Methodology integrates a simple and practical approach, thus anybody can embark in the development of an EV related offset project. DC Healthcare debuts on ACE Market with 60% premium KUALA LUMPUR: Aesthetic medical services provider DC Healthcare Holdings Bhd made its debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities yesterday at 40 sen a share, a 60% premium over the initial public offering (IPO) price of 25 sen per share. Managing director Dr Chong Tze Sheng, speaking at a virtual press conference following the listing ceremony, said the company plans to open eight new medical aesthetic clinics within the next 18 months, bringing the number of clinics to 21. “The expansion will focus primarily on Peninsular Malaysia, specifically in areas such as Penang, Ipoh (Perak), Sungai Petani (Kedah), and Johor,” he said. Its 13 current clinics are located in the central and southern regions. Dr Chong said that setting up a new clinic involves an estimated expenditure of about RM1.5 million to RM2 million for renovation costs and the purchase of medical machines, and the new clinics are expected to break even within six to nine months. “Facial sculpting, body contouring, and facial skin treatments contribute the most to the gross profit margin. Despite the opening of new branches, the company remains optimistic about maintaining its gross profit margin in the short term,” he said. The IPO exercise raised gross proceeds of RM49.81 million, of which RM9.44 million has been allocated for establishing the eight new clinics, RM13.12 million for the purchase of medical machinery and equipment, RM6.24 million for debt repayment, and RM17.01 million for working capital purposes. The remaining RM4 million has been earmarked for listing expenses. – Bernama India imports 155,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in June NEW DELHI: India imported 155,058 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in June. The volumes comprised 139,932 tonnes of crude palm oil and 15,126 tonnes of RBD palm olein, data released by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) yesterday showed. India’s total palm oil imports in June were 683,133 tonnes compared with 439,173 tonnes in May. Its overall edible oil imports last month were about 1.3 million tonnes, representing an increase of 24.5% from May. A sharp reduction in domestic edible oil prices has improved demand, leading to higher imports last month, the Indian trade body said. Besides India, Malaysia also exports palm oil to over 170 countries, including China, the European Union and the Middle East. – Bernama

13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 MST Golf tees off with RM8.79m net profit in Q1 PETALING JAYA: MST Golf Group Bhd, the largest specialty retailer of golf equipment in Malaysia, recorded profit after tax of RM8.79 million on the back of RM86.29 million in revenue, with 10.19% in profit after tax margin, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 (Q1’23). There are no comparative figures for the preceding corresponding period as this is the first interim financial report announced by the company ahead of its listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities. During the quarter under review, MST Golf and its subsidiaries’ retail segment continued to drive group revenue, generating RM61.59 million or 71.37% of the total. The wholesale segment posted revenue of RM21.03 million MST Golf plans to expand its golf retail business and is eyeing new markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. – MST GOLF WEBSITE PIC oSpecialty retailer excited about prospects for its regional expansion plans Bursa rolls out ETF trading incentive programme PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia Bhd has launched the ETF Power Players Incentive Programme 2023, an initiative aimed at bolstering trading value, volume and number of investors and traders in exchange traded funds (ETF). The programme, which runs until Dec 29, offers attractive cash incentives to investors and traders who actively engage in trading one or multiple Bursa Malaysia-listed ETF during the designated period. “As part of our overall drive to foster a more vibrant retail market, the ETF Power Players Incentive Programme 2023 is one of the many initiatives Bursa Malaysia has introduced to cultivate a vibrant ETF ecosystem. We believe the addition of the Power Players Incentive Programme will continue to impart a positive impact on our market dynamics, while creating more opportunities for investors and traders,” said Bursa Malaysia Origination & Listing director Azhar Mohd Zabidi. The programme encompasses two distinct groups – Group A comprises retail investors with direct or nominee Central Depository System (CDS) accounts, excluding Discretionary Trading (DT) accounts, as well as Registered Representatives (RRs) or traders operating a DT account; Group B includes all investment account traders with CDS accounts. Eligible participants from both groups will have the opportunity to earn monthly cash incentives based on their Total Traded Value (TTV) in ETF for each trading month. The monthly cash incentives range from RM200 to RM1,500 for Group A and RM600 to RM4,800 for Group B, depending on the category achieved based on TTV. Plytec gets Bursa approval for ACE Market listing PETALING JAYA: Plytec Holding Bhd, a construction engineering solutions, services, trading and distribution of building materials company, has received approval from Bursa Malaysia Securities to list on the ACE Market. Plytec’s initial public offering (IPO) will comprise a public issue of 106,060,600 new shares, representing about 17.5% of its enlarged issued share capital upon listing. Of the new shares, 30,303,100 will be made available for application by the Malaysian public while the remaining 75,757,500 will be made available via private placement to bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. The IPO also entails an offer for sale of 51,515,100 existing shares, equivalent to about 8.5% of the enlarged issued share capital of the company. Some 21,212,100 shares will be made available for application by eligible directors, employees and persons who have contributed to the success of Plytec. The remaining 30,303,000 shares will be made available via private placement to selected investors. Plytec’s group managing director, Yang Kian Lock, said the approval of its listing on the ACE Market is a significant milestone for the group and serves as validation of its growth trajectory. “While the journey towards listing continues, our unwavering dedication to excellence remains steadfast as we diligently pursue our ongoing projects, ensuring they are executed to the utmost standards of quality and innovation.” KAF Investment Bank Bhd is the principal adviser, sponsor, underwriter and placement agent for Plytec’s IPO. Puncak Niaga clinches RM47m deal for Kelantan project KUALA LUMPUR: Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd’s (PNHB) wholly owned subsidiary, Puncak Niaga Construction Sdn Bhd, has been appointed as the principal subcontractor by Pembinaan Era Dinamik Sdn Bhd for a project worth RM47.21 million in Kelantan. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia recently, PNHB said the scope of works includes, among others, the construction and completion of the raw water intake station and low weir, raw water intake station with a capacity of 12 minimal liquid discharge water extraction from Sungai Ketil. The project commenced on July 3, 2023, and is to be completed on May 28, 2024, with a defect liability period of 24 months. The sub-contract agreement is expected to contribute to the earnings per share, net assets per share or gearing of the group for the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2023, until the completion of the works under the sub-contract agreement. – Bernama TNG Digital launches online remittance service GOremit PETALING JAYA: TNG Digital Sdn Bhd has launched its digital remittance services, GOremit, in the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, as part of its commitment to innovate and drive inclusivity across products and services. With GOremit, users can send money securely to five Southeast Asian countries namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries in the Asian region including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. TNG Digital CEO Alan Ni said, “With GOremit in the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, users and merchants can remit money to 10 countries from a convenient and safe platform. We are providing an inclusive solution with competitive exchange rates that meet the needs of millions of foreign workers that are here in Malaysia. Users who have the need to transfer money conveniently to their children studying abroad or transfer on behalf of their domestic helpers can do so via GOremit.” As part of the company’s comprehensive financial inclusion agenda, the launch of GOremit has expanded the efforts to promote accessible financial services to the masses. GOremit caters to underserved communities, foreign workers, international students, and expats, providing them a safe and convenient solution to send money back to their home country or to their loved ones. Senders are required to complete their verification via eKYC to use GOremit services and can choose to transfer to the recipient’s bank account, local eWallet or to cash pick-up points. As of today, there are three supporting ewallets which include bKash in Bangladesh, GCash and PayMaya in Philippines. Recipients will receive their funds within 15 minutes depending on their method of collection. “With the introduction of GOremit to our financial services portfolio, we are closer to becoming the go-to alternative to traditional banking solutions. We have plans to introduce more partners and expand this service to more countries in the future,” added Ni. In addition to sending money internationally through GOremit, users can also receive funds from overseas in their eWallet real-time from Wise and Panda Remit. This service will benefit international students completing their studies in Malaysia and anyone who needs to receive money from overseas directly in their eWallet. or 24.37% of the total. The golf-related services and indoor golf segment contributed RM2.44 million or 2.83% and RM1.23 million or 1.43% respectively. Overall, the company registered a gross profit of RM37.20 million with a gross profit margin of 43.11% for Q1’23. MST Golf executive director and group CEO Ng Yap (pic) said, “We were fortunate to be in the golf industry during Covid-19 period which had resulted a global golf boom and attracted a significant influx of new golfers, especially from the younger generation and lady golfers. We remain optimistic about our prospects post Covid-19, given the current state of golfing activities including the growing landscape of corporate golf tournaments in the market.” He added that their innovative 3-in-1 store concept, which combines their specialty store, golf academy and indoor golf facilities, offers a total golf retail experience for consumers and continues to capture the interest of malls. “With available of locations and favourable rental terms, including major shopping malls, we see growth opportunities for our group in Malaysia and Singapore aligning with our expansion plans,” he said, adding that they have opened two stores in Penang and Seremban this month, with a third store set to open in Shah Alam in August. Ng said the group is excited about the prospects of its regional expansion plan with its experienced management team and proven business model and management system. In line with its initial public offering, MST Golf plans to expand its golf retail business and is eyeing new markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, which present tremendous growth opportunities for the group. MST Golf will be listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities on Thursday.

14 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 SUNBIZ @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME China’s economy shows further weakness in Q2 BEIJING: China’s economy showed further signs of weakness in the second quarter as data yesterday revealed growth missed expectations and consumers remained cautious, adding pressure on leaders to unveil further stimulus. The disappointing figures follow a string of below-par readings in recent months indicating the postCovid recovery was already going off the rails and highlighting the tough work authorities face reviving momentum. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the world’s number two economy grew 6.3% on-year in April-June, faster than the previous three months but much weaker than the 7.1% predicted in an AFP survey of analysts. That came despite having a very low base of comparison with last year when the country was hit by a series of Covid lockdowns in major cities. In quarter-on-quarter terms – considered a more realistic basis for comparison – growth came in at 0.8%, well down from the 2.2% seen in January-March, the first full period after the removal of zeroCovid restrictions. More timely June data, which was released alongside the gross domestic product (GDP) numbers, showed China’s retail sales grew 3.1%, slowing sharply from a 12.7% jump in May. Analysts had expected growth of 3.2%. Industrial production growth oQuarter-on-quarter GDP growth of 0.8% raises urgency to unveil more stimulus measures unexpectedly quickened to 4.4% last month from 3.5% seen in May, but demand remains lukewarm. Private fixed-asset investment shrank 0.2% in the first six months, a sharp contrast to the 8.1% growth in investment by state entities, suggesting weak private business confidence. NBS spokesman Fu Linghui said in a statement that the economy “showed a good momentum of recovery”. He added that market demand gradually recovered, production supply continued to increase, employment and price were generally stable, and residents income grew steadily. But Fu admitted at a news conference the Chinese economy faces “a complex and difficult Macro hedge funds lead gains in Asia, Japan shines HONG KONG: Asia’s macro hedge funds, which trade on economic trends, have outperformed other strategies so far this year even as they manoeuvred wild moves in global bond markets, while Japanfocused funds also thrived on a domestic stocks rally. Asia-focused macro hedge funds, which typically trade a wide range of assets from a top-down economic viewpoint, were up 6.1% on average by June, Eurekahedge data shows, compared with a 1.1% gain for all Asian hedge funds. Analysts expect policy and inflation divergence between Asia and western economies to help create such profitable opportunities for macro funds for the rest of the year. Benjamin Low, a senior investment director at global investment advisory firm Cambridge Associates, says most macro funds did well but the performance of long-short equity funds, which bet on stock prices rising and falling, was mixed. “Those focused on Japan have done better on a relative basis than those that are more China focused,” he said. Unlike global peers that struggled in the first half, most Asia macro funds escaped the turmoil in US rates amid the banking crisis, and also managed to bet profitably on themes such as a weak yen and China’s reopening, Low said. Investors said performance was also helped by carry trades betting on the variance in policy cycles. Hong Kong-based macro hedge fund Hong Investment Advisors, for example, saw its flagship HCM Rapier Fund generate a 7.6% net return through May 2023, profiting from trading interest rates. In contrast to the US Federal Reserve and European central banks, most central banks in Asia are dovish or even easing policy. “Asian macro managers expect the varying rates dynamics across the region against the US to be important return drivers,” said Gunther Jost, head investment specialists & hedge funds for Greater China, UBS Global Wealth Management. Among equity funds, hedge funds that specialised in Japanese equities gained 5.5%, Eurekahedge data shows. PanView Capital, a long-short equity fund based in Hong Kong, saw its main fund gain 12.8% in the six months to June, helped by its wager on Japan. PanView did not respond to a request for comment. – Reuters international situation, and arduous tasks for reform, development and ensuring stability”. Unemployment among Chinese youth also jumped to a record 21.3% in June, up from 20.8% in May, the NBS said. The general unemployment figure stayed at 5.2%, but only takes into account the big cities. The run of poor readings over recent months has ramped up calls for officials to unveil support measures. Chinese authorities face a daunting task in trying to keep the economic recovery on track and putting a lid on unemployment, as any aggressive stimulus could fuel debt risks and structural distortions. While the People’s Bank of China last month cut interest rates and authorities pledged to help the troubled property sector, there has been very little concrete action out of Beijing. Low demand means companies are hesitating to hire, taking a “waitand-see” attitude before expanding operations, said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at rating agency Moody’s. “Unfortunately ... a revival in business activity is needed for broader demand to lift,” he added. “That stalemate is keeping business activity weak.” Last year, gross domestic product expanded 3%, well below the official target of 5.5%. China is aiming for about 5% growth this year. – AFP, Reuters Global rules leave crypto firms with no place to hide: G20 watchdog LONDON: Globally agreed rules leave crypto firms with no option but to introduce basic safeguards to prevent the blow-ups seen at FTX exchange and other crypto casualties, the G20’s Financial Stability Board (FSB) said yesterday. The FSB published final recommendations requested by the G20 on supervising firms that trade cryptoassets such as bitcoin. The watchdog also revised its existing recommendations for stablecoins in light of the demise of TerraUSD/Luna. Both borrow universal guard rails from mainstream finance before the sector grows big enough to pose a threat to financial stability by focusing on robust governance to avoid conflicts of interest, and proper risk management and disclosures to ensure that customer money is segregated from company cash. “As recent events have illustrated, if linkages to traditional finance were to grow further, spillovers from cryptoasset markets into the broader financial system could increase,” the FSB said. The collapse of FTX in November 2022 highlighted vulnerabilities from crypto firms and the FSB said that all countries should apply the recommendations, even those that are not members of the watchdog. FTX was based in the Bahamas, not an FSB member. “Therefore, cryptoasset players need to stop operating outside the regulatory perimeter or in noncompliance with existing rules,” FSB secretary general John Schindler told reporters. “These players can no longer argue there is a lack of regulatory clarity, as our framework makes clear the standards that should apply,” Schindler said. – Reuters A job fair in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing attracts a big crowd. Unemployment among Chinese youths jumped to a record 21.3% in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. – AFPPIC Indonesia surprises with large trade surplus in June B R I E F SBELGIUM’S PROXIMUS TO BUY 58% STAKE IN INDIA’S ROUTE MOBILE BENGALURU: Belgium’s Proximus Opal, which provides cloudbased telecom platforms for enterprises, said yesterday it would buy a near-58% stake in Route Mobile for about 59.22 billion rupees (RM3.32 billion), at par with its Indian peer’s current market value. Proximus Opal will pay 1,626.40 rupees per Route Mobile share for the 57.56% stake held by Route Mobile’s promoters. Clear Bridge Ventures, an affiliate of some Route Mobile promoters, will buy a minority stake of up to 14.5% in Proximus Opal for about €299.6 million (RM1.5 billion). Proximus Opal will also have to make an offer to buy an additional stake of up to 26% in Route Mobile at the same price from retail shareholders. – Reuters HDFC BANK Q1 PROFIT UP 30% ON-YEAR, BEATS FORECASTS MUMBAI: HDFC Bank, India’s largest private lender, yesterday reported a bigger-than-expected 30% jump in first-quarter profit, helped by higher net interest income and strong loan growth. The lender’s standalone net profit was at 119.52 billion rupees (RM6.6 billion), up from 91.96 billion rupees a year ago. Analysts had expected a profit of 114.97 billion rupees, as per Refinitiv data. The standalone numbers do not include the business of the bank’s subsidiaries. The results come weeks after the bank completed a merger with parent Housing Development Finance Corp. HDFC Bank’s net interest income, or core lending income, rose 21.1% to 235.99 billion rupees. Net interest margin was at 4.1%, the bank said in a press release. Shares of the lender rose as much as 1% after the results. – Reuters JAKARTA: Indonesia recorded a surprisingly large trade surplus of US$3.46 billion (RM15.7 billion) in June, as imports plunged more than expected and exports also remained weak, official data showed yesterday, adding to the case for possible rate cuts before year-end. A Reuters poll of economists had expected a surplus of US$1.35 billion last month. The country recorded a surplus of around US$440 million in May. However, the resource-rich country’s overall trade surplus in the first half of 2023 remained some US$5 billion below last year’s. Indonesia’s January-June trade surplus stood at US$19.93 billion, data from the statistics bureau showed. Exports slumped 21.18% on a yearly basis to US$20.61 billion in June, deeper than the 18.85% fall expected in the poll. Shipments of coal and palm oil suffered the biggest drop. Imports were down 18.35% on a yearly basis to US$17.15 billion, compared with the poll’s forecast of 7.75% contraction with purchases of raw materials falling the most. The data suggest the central bank has room to cut interest rates before the end of the year, said Fakhrul Fulvian, economist with Trimegah Securities. – Reuters

1 8 J U L Y 2 0 2 3 T U E S D A Y For the first time in Malaysia, players will be able to become real-life detectives as they collect clues, explore, and solve a compelling criminal mystery right within the mall’s walls. Prepare to be immersed in an interactive and thrilling adventure to help the damsel in distress. Fantastic prizes are to be won This year, Any Games Con will also have a Family Games Zone, featuring g a m e publishers Swan Panasia from Taiwan and HABA from Germany. This section will allow you to learn about gamified education and other topics. Furthermore, children under the age of 12 are admitted free of charge, giving parents and their children a great opportunity to play together. However, no gaming event would be complete without some friendly rivalry and enticing incentives. Any Games Con 2023 takes pleasure in providing thrilling tournament prizes such as PS5, Nintendo Switch, and a variety of other unexpected surprises. You can participate in competitions such as Magic: The Gathering, Grand Archive TCG, and WoW Mini War, whether you are a seasoned player or a newbie. The goal is to have fun, connect with other players, and experience the excitement of competing and conquering in a competitive yet pleasurable environment. The event will include a variety of exciting stage activities hosted by the dynamic emcee, Benjamin Leow, the founder of Singapore’s #laiplayleow. There will be something for everyone, from mascots and cosplay appearances to fascinating seminars and panels with tabletop game designers. Attendees can also take part in workshops and other fascinating activities that promise to keep them entertained throughout the event. When you need a break from gaming and want to unwind, go to the stage area and watch the current events. Any Games Con 2023 is intended to be an unforgettable event for all enthusiasts, with a LOOK forward to an intense immersion in a large world of unlimited fun tabletop gaming at the Biggest Tabletop Games Convention in Malaysia, Any Games Con 2023, on July 29 and 30, at Jaya Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya. Tabletop gaming enthusiasts from all across Malaysia are encouraged to attend this exciting event, which will feature a wide variety of worldwide games. Any Games Con 2023 will have approximately 70 exhibitor booths throughout the two days. Be ready to be engrossed in the enrapturing world of tabletop gaming, as they are offering unique opportunities for players to come in to socialise, interact, and engage in riveting gameplay with fellow Malaysians. With so many on-site activities, there is bound to be something for everyone to be engaged in. Any Games Con 2023 is presenting wonderful opportunities for everyone who has always dreamed of trying Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing games. Guided by the multi-talented Game Masters, you will be able to join the game sessions that have been scheduled throughout the entire weekend. Filled with years of experience, these game masters are here to fulfil every whim of everyone’s fantasies in order to be able to embark on countless epic adventures in the world of D&D and other captivating r o l e - p l a y i n g games. With over 20 local game makers together under one roof, this event is a treasure trove of invention and ingenuity. Nobody should pass up this fantastic opportunity to explore, play, and connect with game designers as they display their outstanding inventions. Prepare to enter the lively and innovative world of Malaysian game makers. If you enjoy detective fiction and crimesolving escapades, this convention will be your next fix. Any Games Con 2023 is back Tabletop gaming enthusiasts from all across Malaysia are invited. – PICS BY ANY GAMES CON 2023 A role-playing game in session. A family game to be played with your children. A Game Master in action. █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ The emcee of the event. oJaya Shopping Centre hosts incredible 2-day tournaments varied choice of attractions and activities and an abundance of enjoyment. Whether you are a casual player looking for laughs with friends or a competitive player driven by the urge to win, this tournament caters to all interests and inclinations. Tickets for Any Games Con 2023 can be purchased at anygame.fun/ticket. Follow their official Facebook page: facebook.com/anygames.fun. Follow their official Instagram account: instagram.com/anygames.fun. Don’t pass up this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in tabletop gaming, interact with other fans, and make memories that will last a lifetime. The introduction to local games.

16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Jessica Simpson may sing again PE R F O R M E R J e s s i c a Simpson finds the music industry “irresistible” and is contemplating a return to her roots as a singer. During her cover story interview with Bustle, the 42-year-old opened up about her aspirations to embrace the various The singer-turnedentrepreneur misses being a recording artist. – INSTAGRAM oFormer country star keen on comeback █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL endeavours from her past, but with a fresh perspective. Alongside her successful ventures as a fashion designer, beauty mogul, and entrepreneur, she is contemplating the prospect of adding “singer” back to her impressive resume, which she had largely set aside since 2010. “ I t b o g g l e s my mind that I’ve s t a y e d relevant and that people are curious,” she explained. “Because I have not entertained. I have not entertained at all.” The interview began with an unexpected discussion about a health scare that landed Simpson in the SRK’s Jawan September release SHA Rukh Khan’s next movie, Jawan, which means soldier in Hindi, is set to be released on Sept 7. The recent trailer that dropped last week had fans loving every second of it! The story centres around a soldier rectifying a specific wrongdoing with the help of a group of women. Khan appears with a whole new look in Jawan. – IMDB █ BYS. TAMARAI CHELVI Wizards’s exclusive: Ohran Frostfang GET ready for the hype of your lifetime as Wizards of the Coast (SEA) is proudly presenting Ohran Frostfang, a dazzling upcoming card from Magic: the Gathering’s Commander Masters launch. Excitedly, Wizards generously provided us at theSun this preview card for further enjoyment and immersion in the established Magic: the Gathering universe. It is without doubt that a card this powerful and menacing will surely add heaps of gameplay to the already highly-acclaimed card game. To share your excitement with us, be sure to use the hashtag #MTGCMM on all social media platforms and tag @MagicTheGathering.apac on Facebook. Wizards of the Coast (SEA) proudly presents Ohran Frostfang. – TORSTEIN NORDSTRAND/WIZARDS OF THE COAST █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ Britney tells all AT long last, Britney Spears’ side of the story will be released. Spears’ much-anticipated memoir, The Woman in Me, will be released on October 24, PEOPLE has exclusively revealed. This follows a high-profile bidding war involving multiple publishing houses that saw Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, come out on top and acquire the iconic popstar’s memoir. The book will function as the first time fans will know the singer’s journey and strength, as The Woman in Me will illuminate the enduring power of music and love and the importance of a woman telling her story on her own terms. “[It] is an astonishly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope,” the flowery press release claimed. Spears’ memoir comes after her successful fight against a court-ordered conservatorship that had been in place for over 13 years. After the pop star’s public testimony two years ago to a Los Angeles judge to dissolve the arrangement, the conservatorship was finally terminated Spears’ memoir will be released in October. – GETTY █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Anaya Pandey’s new beau RUMOURS have it that Ananya is dating Aditya Roy Japur. The two have been spotted together since they attended Kriti Sanon’s party in 2020. Since then, the celebrity couple has been stepping out of restaurants and attending awards. They have even walked the runway and posed together at Lakme Fashion Week 2023. Aditya’s close friend Ranbir Kapoor has added to the rumours claiming that Aditya is dating someone whose name starts with A. Recently, they posted separate photos of an Arctic Monkeys concert in Spain, but fans were quick to notice that they were at the same event. To date, the two have not openly admitted that they are in a relationship in the possible hopes of enjoying a bit more privacy. Meanwhile, Ananya will next be seen in a cameo role in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ke Prem Kahani. Actress keeps mum about relationship status. – INSTAGRAM █ BYS. TAMARAI CHELVI five months later, in November 2021. “Britney’s compelling testimony in open court shook the world, changed laws, and showed her inspiring strength and bravery,” Gallery Books Senior Vice President and Publisher Jennifer Bergstrom told PEOPLE. “I have no doubt her memoir will have a similar impact and will be the publishing event of the year. We couldn’t be more proud to help her share her story at last.” In 2012, Spears claimed she “just wanted her life back.” With The Woman in Me, the global pop superstar will take a significant step towards that goal. In the two-minute trailer, Shah Rukh appears bald, which is a shocking new look from the superstar. The trailer also included several different highimpact action scenes, along with explosions and physical combat. This is the first time Shah Rukh is working with Atlee, a Tamil movie director who has made three consecutive hits with South Superstar Thalapathy Vijay, titled Theri (2016), Mersal (2017), and Bigil (2019). The movie also stars popular South Indian actors like Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara, with a special appearance by Deepika Padukone. The music for the movie is composed by Anirudh, who also created the music for actor Kamalahassan’s movie Vikram, released in 2022. emergency room at the beginning of June. It turned out that her intense stomach pain was caused by nothing more than constipation. The designer acknowledged that her frequent travels, particularly her recent visits to Nashville, may have played a significant part in her diagnosis. She disclosed her consideration of permanently relocating to Music City, expressing her desire to rejuvenate her music career after being away from it for over a decade. Even though she has reinvented herself in the past, the Newlyweds alum stated that the path she is currently taking is unfamiliar. “I’m doing this as a mother now, as a wife. I was a wife last time, but this is a very different marriage. And they’ve never seen me perform,” she said, referring to her children. She went on to tell a story that made her realise how much she could benefit from performing again. “I have my daughter taking a private plane with North West to go see Katy Perry in Vegas. And inside I’m like, ‘She was supposed to see me first.’ Then I’m like, ‘This is not competitive, Jessica. Let your daughter enjoy Katy Perry.’ But there are moments that make me want to do it – for them to see that colour of me.” Simpson continued to ride the waves of her successful music career, releasing seven studio albums before tapering off around 2010. Her 2008 country album, Do You Know, was a success, but her record label decided to drop her. Her last album, Happy Christmas, was released at the beginning of the decade. During that time, she also met former NFL player Eric Johnson, and they have been together ever since. It boggles my mind that I’ve stayed relevant and that people are curious,

17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 oPopstar all set to electrify Stadium Malawati POPULAR singer Anuar Zain, widely recognised as the reigning king of Malaysian pop, will celebrate his remarkable 40-year journey as a musician with a grand concert held at Shah Alam’s Stadium Malawati on Oct 28. This highly anticipated event, dubbed AZ40, promises to be an unforgettable evening for his devoted fans. At the age of 53, Anuar Zain will mesmerise his audience by delivering an enthralling performance, showcasing not only his chart-topping hits but also additional surprises in the repertoire of his 40th anniversary concert. Organised by JioBuddy, the concert serves as a tribute to Anuar’s remarkable musical legacy. His career, which began in 1983 as a child duo known as Anuar and Ellina, has spanned four decades and led him to become a prominent male solo artist, earning a number of awards and producing a string of smash hits. S e a n Ng, head of JioBuddy, stated during the p r e s s conference: “We at JioBuddy are honoured to organise the Anuar Zain 40th Anniversary Concert because it is not just an ordinary concert but a biography to celebrate his long artistic journey with all his fans and music lovers. “This concert is also very important for us as organisers to support the local music industry and give the best to the audience according to our expertise,” he said. As the countdown to the Anuar Zain 40th Anniversary Concert begins, Anuar holds great anticipation that both those who attended the Anuar Zain 3 Decades Concert in 2013 and those who have yet to experience his live performance should seize the opportunity to be a part of this milestone event. “I dream that this AZ40 concert will be the most beautiful memory of all of us that night. It will also be a sweet memory for all the workforce and the big production team involved in making this AZ40 concert a success,” Anuar said. Following his Three Decades Concert held at the same venue back in 2013, Anuar also claims that this upcoming 4 0 - y e a r anniversary concert will be the grand sequel. The Lelaki Ini singer will perform a repertoire of 20 songs during the concert, which includes captivating medleys. There is also a possibility of guest artists making special appearances to enhance the show. J e n n i f e r Thompson is appointed as the director for this concert, while Sze Wan takes on the role of music d i r e c t o r a l o n g s i d e approximately 25 other talented musicians from around the country. As a result, the eagerly anticipated AZ40 concert has brought great joy to music lovers not only in Malaysia but also in neighbouring nations such as Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and many other countries across the region. Tickets for the concert will be available for purchase starting at 10 AM on July 12, 2023, at www.jiotix.asia. Ticket prices are as follows: RM1188 for VIP 1, RM888 for VIP 2, RM488 for Diamond, RM388 for Platinum, and RM188 for Gold. For those purchasing tickets on the first day of sale, July 12, there was a chance to win a FreeYond brand mobile phone. Additionally, VIP 1 and VIP 2 ticket buyers will receive a special souvenir in the form of an AZ40 Premium Gift Box sponsored by Arombay, exclusively for this concert. █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL Succession and strikes CAN any TV show topple Succession at the Emmys? Will Amazon’s lavish Lord of the Rings prequel rule them all? And, with ongoing Hollywood strikes, will television’s finest even be honoured this year? Nominations for television’s equivalent of the Oscars were announced in a live-streamed ceremony on June 12, after which final-round voting began for the 75th Emmy Awards, tentatively set for Sept 18. Here are five things to look out for: Will protests strike the Emmys? In normal years, TV pundits argue over which shows will be nominated, not whether the Emmys will even take place. But this year’s ceremony is already jeopardised by a writers’ strike, now in its 13th week. Nominations are to be announced on the same day that Hollywood actors will decide whether to walk off the job too, over pay and other conditions. A Screen Actors Guild (SAG) shutdown would mean a boycott by stars and, therefore, a likely delay of the Emmys. “If there is a strike, that’s going to really affect the Emmys going forward,“ said Deadline Awards columnist Pete Hammond. “Because the TV Academy is going to have to decide, ‘How long is this going to go on?’ and ‘What’s our drop-dead date to move the show?’” Succession to steamroll? Emmy voters love Succession. The HBO drama about the warring family behind a sinister media empire has already earned 48 nods and 13 wins, including the best drama prize twice. The series concluded this year with a critically adored final season, and voters are expected to shower nominations on its cast. The best actor in a drama alone could feature three Succession stars – Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, and Kieran Culkin – among its six nominees. “I would say with all the acting they have, they’re looking at 20 nominations or more, easily,“ said Hammond. Much of the competition will come from within HBO, which also boasts popular dramas like The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. School, soccer, and sandwiches The comedy categories look like they will feature a more open and varied field. Feel-good soccer show Ted Lasso from Apple TV+ has thrashed its rivals in recent years, but its third and possibly final season was not well received. ABC’s Abbott Elementary, a rare non-streaming show set at a struggling Philadelphia school, won three out of seven Emmys in a breakthrough debut last year and will now be seeking even higher grades. And then there is The Bear. Taking viewers inside the astonishingly stressful, frantic, and occasionally violent kitchen of a run-down Chicago sandwich shop, it is not your typical comedy, but became a cultural phenomenon last summer. Limited appeal In recent years, the Emmys’ “limited series” category – for shows that end after a single season – has arguably been the most competitive, stuffed with high-budget, star-studded shows. But this has been a quiet and notably dark season for prestige oneoffs, with serial-killer and crime shows Dahmer: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Black Bird out in front. Netflix’s popular Beef offers a (slightly) lighter alternative, despite being premised on a road-rage encounter that spirals into a bitter feud. Can lavish Rings woo voters? With an overall US$1 billion (RM4.66 billion) budget, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel, The Rings of Power, has been dubbed the most expensive television show ever made. While its first season earned weak reviews, even the toughest critics were impressed by the show’s luxurious production values. So Rings should perform strongly across technical categories, from special effects to makeup. But few fantasy genre productions – with the notable exception of Game of Thrones or the Lord of the Rings movies at the Oscars – have been big winners at awards shows. – AFP Anuar’s star power remains strong after 40 years. – PICS BY JIOBUDDY Performing at the press conference for his upcoming concert. The star’s unique style sets him apart. Nominations were announced on the same day of the actor strike. – GETTY Anuar Zain to perform at 40th anniversary concert Melodious vocals, a captivating smile, a powerful presence, and undeniable charm.

18 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Big names headline epic music festival KFC Malaysia cherishes its customers, who have been visiting its restaurants over the past fifty years since the opening of its first outlet in 1973. Now, it want to give back by doing something special. The popular franchise is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a music festival featuring 40 musicians who are some of the country’s biggest legends and emerging talents, promising an extraordinary experience with an epic musical concert. Additionally, there will be a day of activities, games, and cultural performances before the concert. The big names appearing centre stage include Malaysia’s sweetheart, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Amy Search, Ellla, and Misha Omar. The line-up does not end here. Next-generation talents such as Bunkface, Bunga, COEX, DOLLA, Dalia Farhana, Estranged, Evelyn Feroza, Forceparkbois, Insomniacks, Luqman Podolski, Masdo, MK (KClique), SOG, and Yonnyboi will perform as well. The KEPCI Music Fest 2023 will take place at three venues: Stadium Malawati on Aug 23, Stadium Larkin, Johor, on Oct 21, and KDCA in Sabah on Oct 6, 2023. On July 11, the stars ‘descended’ and gathered at Orange Concourse, Sunway Pyramid, for the announcement and launch of the upcoming concert, surprising shoppers and onlookers. Artists were invited to sign under KEPSI Music Fest’s poster wall featuring their name, take photographs, and share with the media what the fans can look forward to about their performances. At the event, QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd CEO and Managing Director Nehchal Khanna said: “We want to show our gratitude to the true heroes of KFC – our customers. They are the ones who have taken us into their homes and hearts and propelled the franchise to where we are today.” Said Nehchal. During his speech, Nehchal recalled a time when eating the famous fried chicken as a child was a special event with family while taking photographs (for memories). “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it is with immense pride that we present to you the KEPSI Music Fest 2023. This event will feature a remarkable showcase of homegrown talents and captivating acts, promising an unforgettable experience for all who attend. “The festival, which will be open to everyone, will take place across three locations – Shah Alam, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu – offering a unique experience that culminates Siti signing her name. – KFC oLegends collaborate with the next generation of musical stars █ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI QSR Brands Chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim with Misha Omar, Ella, Siti, Amy and Nehchal. – KFC in a concert featuring jaw-dropping musical performances by some of Malaysia’s most beloved artists. “It will be a unique experience, and we will touch all of our customers. We want to make this special, and it’s a tribute to everyone,” added Nehchal. QSR Brands Chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim also attended the event. The Orange Concourse was turned “red” as per the restaurant’s logo colours, red and white. KFCthemed fun games were set up for the public to take part in, and the iconic mascot, Colonel Sanders, also made a special appearance. The stars spent some time speaking to the various media and bloggers who flocked to the event. “I have just released a mini album. You have to come to the event, as I will ensure it will be entertaining for my fans,” said legend Siti, who is expected to perform at Larkin, Johor Bahru, on Oct 21. Siti has released her mini album, titled Sitism, with eight tracks. It was released digitally, and fans can expect brand new tracks from the album featuring her remarkable voice. One of Malaysia’s original rockstars, Amy Search, captured everyone’s attention as he appeared in a long red trench coat and sunglasses. He also shared his excitement about his concert. “I am always very excited to be on Colonel Sanders made a special appearance. – KFC Ella smiling for the cameras. – S. TAMARAI/ THESUN Ella, Siti, Amy and Nehchal having a conversation. – S. TAMARAI/THESUN Bunga posing for photographers. – S. TAMARAI/ THESUN stage. I would be performing at all three venues,” said Amy Search. Echoing a similar feeling, Ella said, “I feel great, and I can’t wait. I will perform for 20 minutes, and I am still in the process of deciding on the list of songs.” Singer Bunga said she will be performing three songs: Buai, Intan Payung, and another song that has not been confirmed yet. “I will be performing in KL and Sabah,” added Bunga. “We are very excited. We can’t believe that we are sharing a stage with so many big artists. We are honoured. It’s a huge honour. We are performing our first single,” said members of the girl band COEX. For tickets, all you have to do is purchase any KEPCI Music Fest Combo Set from KFC via the KFC app and submit the receipt at www.kepomusicfest.com or visit KFC’s Facebook page at https://rb.gy/zyyee. The franchise opened its first outlet 50 years ago at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and the brand has become a firm favourite during special occasions and celebrations for many people until it grew into 770 branches nationwide with thousands of employees.

19 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Alps to Atlas SPORTING a white cap and apron, Rachid Ibersiene bustles around vats at his dairy farm in Algeria’s Atlas Mountains, where he has brought the tradition of artisanal cheesemaking back from Switzerland. “We started with a butane gas bottle and stove,” the cheesemonger said, alluding to the growth of his factory since it opened. In a matter of 15 years, Ibersiene’s Tamgout cheese, a blend of Swiss Gruyere and Dutch Gouda styles, has become a source of honour for the north African country. Both Algerians and foreigners have taken a keen interest in the product, which has a unique taste as it draws on age-old European traditions but is made from Algerian milk. “We were inspired by Vacherin Fribourgeois, adapting the entire tradition to Algerian milk, which is different from Swiss milk,” Ibersiene said, referring to a semi-hard Swiss cheese. “Algerian milk is less uniform and somewhat more organic because the farms are smaller and more diversified. In Switzerland, you don’t Cheesemonger Rachid stacks fresh wheels of his Tamgout cheese. – ETX STUDIO find farmers with only two or three dairy cows. “Our cheese has a more nuanced taste,” the 57-year-old added, describing it as “typically Algerian”. Born into a working-class family in Algiers, Ibersiene studied petroleum engineering but struggled to find a job. After moving to Italy, he tried his luck at filmmaking before relocating again to Switzerland, where he spent 16 years working as a computer consultant. “That’s where the idea of the cheese factory came from,” he recalled. “To relax on weekends, I would go up to the mountain chalets in Gruyere, where many cheesemakers are located.” Source of pride In 2003, he moved to the area to learn the basics of Swiss cheese production. Three years later, he returned home to set up his own dairy factory in Tamassit, at the foot of Mount Tamgout, from which his cheese takes its name. Unable to secure financial backing, Ibersiene used his life savings to fund the project, which required over US$73,000 (RM340,000) in equipment. Aided by five employees, Ibersiene spends his days inspecting the cellars where the wheels of cheese, which need to be regularly rubbed and turned, are stored. “The maturation period of Tamgout varies from one month to two years, depending on the taste of the customers,“ he said. “Our cheese is made from raw cow’s milk, without any food additives. It is untreated. We use natural lactic ferments.” He receives deliveries of up to 1,000 litres of cow’s milk that produce nearly 50 kg of cheese daily. The factory began turning a profit in 2018. Initially, Tamgout cheese, featuring the slogan “a Swiss idea, an Algerian cheese,” – was sold nationally in supermarkets, but payment issues halted deliveries. Now, it is available at specialty and gourmet shops and even draws Western expatriates as clients and visitors to his factory. Ibersiene said that although he made a better living in Switzerland, his delight at the success of his cheese is priceless. “It’s a source of pride because we started from nothing,“ he added. – ETX STUDIO Three surprising ways to BBQ TYPICALLY used for grilling steak or burgers, this warm weather cooking essential has more than one trick up its sleeve. French chef Charley Breuvart, who is in charge of the kitchens at Paris’s Ardent restaurant and has made that flame cooked flavour his signature, shares how we can use it as a tool in the preparation of some unique, gourmet dishes. For creating a smoky flavour Anyone who’s watched a reality cooking show has likely seen a celebrity chef use a blowtorch as they smoke chocolate, poultry, or even butter. Except that at home, this manoeuver, while effective, can be dangerous and requires a very large hood to absorb as much smoke as possible. However, with a barbecue, you can get that delicious summer flavour with less risk (provided you use the barbecue properly). Simply throw some herbs into the embers. “Thyme, rosemary, vine shoots - you name it, as long as it’s dried,” explains chef Breuvart. For best results, use an appliance equipped with a lid. “You have to cover it right away to smother the flame; otherwise, the food will burn,” he warns. And what are the best types of foods to use to create a smoky taste? The chef says everything can work, but it’s best to choose products with high fat content. “The higher the fat content, the better to capture a smoky flavour.” It’s no coincidence that salmon is often smoked. You can try it with this fatty fish or with mackerel, tuna, swordfish, and sardines. It makes a change from the classic grilled fish! “You place the fish directly on the grill and cook it for about 20 minutes, depending on the size of the fish,” explains the chef. And since the presence of fats is a good indicator for deciding which foods to smoke, a similar operation can be carried out with butter, olive oil, or cream. “I smoke cream before assembling my sabayon,” says the chef, who uses it in a starter with hazelnuts and lentils. Simply choose a container suitable for high heat and pour in the butter or cream of your choice before closing the barbecue lid. These smoked fats can then be used in a whole host of recipes: as a sauce for pasta, to drizzle over BBQs are for more than grilling steak. – ETX STUDIO oDiversifying irresistible smoky flavours vegetables, or as an accompaniment to meat. For bringing out the flavour of vegetables Zucchinis, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants - it’s common practise to cook meat mains and side dishes together on the grill to optimise the preparation of a BBQ meal. But when it comes to vegetables, the skin often sticks to the grill and sometimes burns, resulting in an unrecognisable blob of colour on the plate. And yet, barbecuing can be an interesting way of giving vegetables that distinctive grilling flavour. But there’s one condition: you’ve got to let them drain! “By using salt in the same proportion as when seasoning meat, a film of water forms, resulting in more uniform coloration. Above all, the vegetable doesn’t stick to the grill,” outlines Breuvart. And to bring out the flavour of the vegetables, the chef at Ardent has another trick: mix the salt with spices or herbs. “By flushing out the liquid content, there’s an exchange that takes place, and the spices and herbs will get into the flesh,” notes the chef, who also uses dried citrus fruit and pepper for this type of dry marinade, which needs no more than 20 minutes to seep in. For concocting unique desserts Barbecuing is not just about searing meat or fish. It can also be used to prepare seared fruit for dessert. “The only condition is to marinate them in a syrup to caramelise them and prevent them from drying out when cooked,” explains the chef. He concludes: “For apricots, I use a vanilla syrup, whereas to marinate melon or watermelon, I prefer to add vinegar to the syrup to add a little hint of acidity.” – ETX STUDIO

20 EDUCATION theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 I T was indeed an outstanding achievement when Management and Science University (MSU) student Shaveena Mei Vejayan bagged two silver medals at the Higher Education Institution (IPT) and National Invitation 10m Shooting Championship 2023. A full-time weekend student of the Diploma in Management at the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies (FBMP), Shaveena secured the two medals in both the IPT and the National Invitation categories of her 10m Air Rifle women’s event. Prior to this, Shaveena, an aspirant for the Paris Olympics 2024, bagged a gold medal at the 20th Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle. It was a bittersweet win for the Penangite, who collected 243.7 points for her state, because this was the last SUKMA appearance for the 20-year-old. Shaveena recalls a walk in the park that inspired her to take up the sport of shooting, “I saw this game in the Penang Botanical Gardens, where I used to go for exercise when I was 9 years old, but being an only child meant it was no walk in the park convincing my parents to let me pick up firearms. After learning more about the sport, however, they became my avid supporters. I am thankful for the Full Time Weekend (FTW) learning mode at MSU, which has been tremendous help throughout, where practise sessions and competitions are concerned.” MSU’s national Accreditation as a Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) Centre offers breakthrough ways for working adults wishing to further their studies. Currently, a wide range of programmes are offered, taking the student’s convenience as well as their educational and professional backgrounds into account. With ten locations, including Sabah and Sarawak, for potential candidates to take the APEL Aptitude Test as the non-conventional prequalification for entry into higher studies, MSU currently offers APEL (A) and APEL (C) at T-3 (Certificate), T-4 (Diploma), T-6 (Bachelor’s degree), and T-7 (Master’s degree) levels. With the Malaysian Qualification Agency’s (MQA) approval, APEL was introduced, and it widens access to higher education for adult learners who are highly work-experienced yet lacking in academic qualifications. Another flexible option for adult learners is to pursue their education in a micro-credential programme, as it offers industry-in-demand programmes that provide flexible and easy learning assessments. This provides for comprehensive education in preferred areas of study. These stackable programmes will allow for exemptions from academic programmes at MSU. MSU’s APEL Centre, managed by the MSU Continuing and Extended Education Centre (CEdEC), was established with the aim of excelling at providing continuing education in tandem with society’s current needs. While promoting lifelong education, CEdEC offers programmes that suit those in need of flexibility in the scheduling and overall conduct of the teaching and learning experiences at MSU. Among the best in the region, the University’s programmes of study are meticulously crafted to enhance graduate potential, producing successful graduates that are a popular pick among employers. MSU comprises the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies, the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, the International Medical School, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Education and Social Sciences, the School of Hospitality and Creative Arts, the School of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School of Management. For a full range of information on flexible programmes offered at MSU, please call 03-5521 6868, email [email protected], or visit msu.edu.my. oStudent bags silver medals at shooting championships Shaveena’s an aspirant for the Paris Olympics 2024. – MSU Clinched silver medals at the Higher Education Institution (IPT) and National Invitation 10m Shooting Championship 2023. – MSU MSU wins big

21 * SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Top golfers for Maybank Championship TWO-TIME Olympic medallist Lydia Ko, two-time LPGA Tour winner Lilia Vu, Chinese sensation Ruoning Yin, and recently-crowned US Open champion Allisen Corpuz will be teeing off at the Maybank Championship 2023, sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, from Oct 26-29. Joining these top guns, Olympian Kelly Tan, who has been instrumental in paving the road for women’s golf in the country, will fly the Malaysian flag during the competition. These world-class players will battle it out at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) with 64 other golfers, with 10 more spots reserved for Malaysian and Asean players, for the coveted Tiger trophy and a prize pool of US$3 million (RM13.5m). Vingegaard retains Tour lead DEFENDING champion Jonas Vingegaard kept the overall lead of the Tour de France yesterday crossing the finish line in the second of four Alpine tests wheel to wheel with Tadej Pogacar. Dutch climber Wout Poels won the 15th stage, raced in the shadow of Mont Blanc and dedicated his win to the memory of recently deceased teammate Gino Maeder. In the long-term duel for the overall title between the two top riders, Vingegaard remains 10 seconds ahead of Pogacar. MERCULA SDN. BHD. (In Members’ Voluntary Liquidation) [Registration No. 200501030149 (712286-W)] (Incorporated in Malaysia) (“the Company”) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the members of the Company will be convened and held at 1st Floor, No. 26, Jalan Uranus AH U5/AH, Subang Pelangi, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan on Monday, 21 August 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- A G E N D A 1) To receive the Liquidator’s Final Statement of Accounts showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to receive any explanations thereon. 2) To resolve under Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 that all books, records and papers of the Company shall be destroyed after three (3) months from the date of dissolution of the Company. 3) To receive the resignation of Liquidator. PAN SENG WEE Liquidator Date: 18 July 2023 Notes: (i) Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any c lass of shares, at meetings of members or classes of members each member entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy or by attorney and on a show of hands every person present who is member or a representative of a member shall have one vote, and on a poll every member present in person or by proxy or by attorney or other duly authorized representative shall have one vote for each share he holds. (ii) The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certifi ed copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the registered offi ce of the company, or at such other place within Malaysia as is specifi c for that purpose in notice convening the meeting, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote, or, in the case of a poll, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. 322 Notices 322 Notices NOTIS JUALAN SECARA LELONG AWAM Akta Pemegang Pajak-Gadai (81) 1972 Sandaran-sandaran yang tidak ditebus Pemegang Pajak Gadai yang tersebut dibawah ini Akan Di-jual Dengan Lelong Umum Di-12 Tingkat 1 Lorong 1 Taman Ria Pada Hari 02hb OGOS 2023, 08000 Sungai Petani Waktu 9.30 Pagi NEGERI KEDAH NAMA PAJAK GADAI ALAMAT PAJAK GADAI Pajak Gadai EMJ Sdn Bhd 12 Lorong 1 Taman Ria 08000 Sungai Petani Pajak Gadai Kah Yuit Sdn Bhd 15 Taman Cenderawasih Jalan Kelang Lama 09000 Kulim Min Seng Pawnshop 7 Jalan Raya 09300 Kuala Ketil Pajak Gadai San Heng Loong Sdn Bhd LC 1203 Jalan Baling 09400 Padang Serai Pajak Gadai Sin Yit Foh Sdn Bhd 23-B Main Road 06300 Kuala Nerang Pajak Gadai Sing Lee Seng Sdn Bhd 5 Jalan Semiling 08100 Bedong Pajak Gadai Sin Seng Huat Sdn Bhd 57 Jalan Sungai Emas 08500 Kota Kuala Muda Sandaran-sandaran tersebut boleh diperiksa dengan Pemegang Pajak Gadai berkenaan diatas 19hb JULAI 2023 sehingga 21hb JULAI 2023, pukul 10.00 pagi sehingga 4.00 petang sebelum tarikh jualan lelong itu. Iklan Bertarikh 18-07-2023 CHONG KIAN CHONG Pelelong Berlesen 04-5792628 322 Notices OPEN TENDER FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY Perbadanan Pengurusan Pusat Komersial Setapak would like to invite all potential tenderers to submit the tender for the PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES at our premises. Interested company is required to submit their quotation, proposal and company profile for the services. Site visit will be conducted as below: Site Visit Date : 18 -25 JULY 2023 Time : 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm Venue : Starparc Point Note: The Committee reserves the rights to reject any proposal which is non-compliance to the requirements, terms and conditions. Only shortlisted serviced provider will be notified for further discussion/ interview. For any enquiries / site visit, please contact the Management Office for further enquiry. MANAGEMENT OFFICE STARPARC POINT, E-LG-1, Management Office, Pusat Komersial Starparc Point, 53300 Kuala Lumpur. Office Tel: 03-4144 3836 Email: [email protected] Documents Submission: Date: 18-25 JULY 2023 (Tuesday) at 4.00 pm 1. All tender documents (e.g. company profile, proposal, quotation, job scope, project reference list, tools/equipment’s and etc) must be strictly submitted in Sealed Envelope only. 2. The envelope must indicate “PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY” 3. Deliver by Hand to the Management Office or drop into Management Office Open Tender Box 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI SHAH ALAM DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA WRIT NO.: BA-A72NCVC-522-05/2023 ANTARA TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD [No. Syarikat : 199001009294 (200866-W)] …PLAINTIF DAN HARIRAH BINTI OSMAN [NO. K. P.: 670809-08-5428/A0773599] …DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTI-BENTUK IKLAN Kepada, HARIRAH BINTI OSMAN [NO. K. P.: 670809-08-5428/A0773599] No. 105, Jalan Zuhrah U5/151 Taman Subang Murni Bandar Pinggiran Subang 40150 Shah Alam Selangor Darul Ehsan Dalam perkara Writ yang dikeluarkan pada 5 haribulan Mei 2023. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan Writ telah dikeluarkan terhadap Defendan dalam Mahkamah Majistret di Shah Alam dalam Guaman No. BA-A72NCVC-522-05/2023 oleh Tenaga Nasional Berhad [No. Syarikat: 199001009294] (200866-W)] di mana tuntutan Plaintif ialah untuk jumlah RM17,156.93, faedah ke atas jumlah RM17,156.93 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh pemfailan saman sehingga tarikh penghakiman, faedah ke atas jumlah RM17,156.93 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh penghakiman sehingga tarikh penyelesaian penuh dan kos dan adalah diperintahkan bahawa sesalinan Writ bertarikh 5/5/2023 dan Penyata Tuntutan bertarikh 5/5/2023 disampaikan kepada kamu melalui Penyampaian Ganti iaitu dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ dan Penyata Tuntutan tersebut di Papan Notis Mahkamah Shah Alam, ditinggalkan di alamat terakhir Defendan di No. 105, Jalan Zuhrah U5/151, Taman Subang Murni, Bandar Pinggiran Subang, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan juga mengiklankannya sekali (1) dalam surat khabar tempatan ‘The Sun’ dan saya percaya bahawa penyampaian itu menjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup ke atas Defendan tersebut tujuh (7) hari selepas dari tarikh pengiklanan atau penampalan tersebut. Sekiranya kamu berhajat untuk membuat pembelaan terhadap tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah diwakili oleh Peguambela kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Majistret Shah Alam pada 2/8/2023 (secara E-Review), jam 9.00 pagi. Sekiranya kamu gagal berbuat demikian maka Penghakiman Ingkar boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 18 haribulan Julai 2023 …..….………tt…….…….. Tetuan Sandosh Anandan Peguamcara bagi Plaintif Notis Penyampaian Ganti Bentuk Iklan ini dikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Sandosh Anandan, Peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di Unit A502, Blok A, Kelana Square, No. 17, Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-78065819 / 03-7804607 Fax: 03-78807409 (Ruj: SA/L/TNB/HARIRAH/1907/2023/SA) 322 Notices DHARMA TEACHER / MONK from Sri Lanka required for TI-RATANA BUDDHIST SOCIETY KL & SEL. Age : 30 - 45 yrs old and able to converse in English. Possessed excellent skills in Buddhism teaching and scripturesKindly contact : [email protected] NOTIS JUALAN SECARA LELONG AWAM Akta Pemegang Pajak-Gadai (81) 1972 Sandaran-sandaran yang tidak ditebus Pemegang Pajak Gadai yang tersebut dibawah ini Akan Di-jual Dengan Lelong Umum Di-59 Tingkat 1 Jln Kendi Kawasan Perniagaan Pada Hari 01hb OGOS 2023, Tmn Merak 14100 Simpang Ampat Waktu 3.30 Petang NEGERI PULAU PINANG NAMA PAJAK GADAI ALAMAT PAJAK GADAI Pajak Gadai Emas Jaya Sdn Bhd 29 Jalan Usahawan 4 13200 Kepala Batas Pajak Gadai YS Sdn Bhd 442 Jalan Penang 10000 Penang Pajak Gadai Kah Hin Sdn Bhd 6688 Jalan Bagan Ajam 13000 Butterworth YMC Capital Sdn Bhd 47 Jalan Permatang Rawa Bandar Perda 14000 Bukit Mertajam Shun Chang Sdn Bhd 228 Jalan Pasar 14000 Bukit Mertajam Sing Tai Foh Sdn Bhd 716 Jalan Raya 14200 Sungai Bakap Pajak Gadai Lian Hin Sdn Bhd 1078 Jalan Che Ahmad 14300 Nibong Tebal Pajak Gadai Sun Heng 16 Jalan Keruing Kawasan Perniagaan Simpang Ampat Yong Chang Dang Sdn Bhd 293 Jalan Burmah 10350 Penang Pajak Gadai MVJ Sdn Bhd 6679 Jalan Juru 14100 Simpang Ampat Sing Yee Li Sdn Bhd 46 Jalan Todak 2 Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya 13700 Perai Sandaran-sandaran tersebut boleh diperiksa dengan Pemegang Pajak Gadai berkenaan diatas pada 19hb JULAI 2023 sehingga 21hb JULAI 2023, pukul 10.00 pagi sehingga 4.00 petang , sebelum tarikh jualan lelong itu. Iklan Bertarikh 18-7-2023 CHONG KIAN CHONG Pelelong Berlesen 04-5792628 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF ST UNITED SDN. BHD. (Company No. 200201021487 (589150-H) (In Members’ Voluntary Liquidation) At a General Meeting of the Members of the abovenamed Company, duly convened and held at #01-25, Jalan Austin Perdana 2/22, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor at 11.00 am, the following Special Resolution was duly passed :- “That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1) (b) of the Companies Act, 2016 and that Mr. Yong Fei Horng of c/o #01-25, Jalan Austin Perdana 2/22, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator for the purpose of such winding up with all powers given by Section 456 of the Companies Act, 2016. And that the Liquidator be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred in or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties as Liquidator and in relation thereto.” YONG FEI HORNG Director Dated this 18th July 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF ST UNITED SDN. BHD. (Company No. 200201021487 (589150-H) (In Members’ Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovenamed Company, which is being voluntarily wound up, are required on or before 21st August 2023 to send in their names and addresses with particulars of their debts and claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned liquidator at #01-25, Jalan Austin Perdana 2/22, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor and if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, are, by their solicitors or personally, required to come in and prove their debts and claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. YONG FEI HORNG Liquidator Dated this 18th July 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF CONTENT LIFE SDN BHD (200801036965) (838306-T) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) At a General Meeting of the abovenamed Company held on 13th July, 2023 the following resolutions were passed as special resolutions:- i) That the company will be liquidated by way of members’ voluntary winding up. ii) That Mr. Yapp Hock Hoe and Madam Phoon Lee Meng of No. 25-4-05, Level 4, Plaza Prima, Batu 4 ½, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur be appointed joint liquidators to act for the purpose of winding-up of the company’s affairs and distributing its assets. iii) That the liquidators be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred in or sustained by them in the execution and discharge of their duties as liquidators and in relation thereto. SOH BONG EYO Director Date: 18th July 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF CONTENT LIFE SDN BHD (200801036965) (838306-T) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) Notice is hereby given that the creditors of the abovenamed Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required on or before 21st August 2023 to send in their names and addresses with particulars of their debts or claims and their names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned liquidator at No. 25-4-05, Level 4, Plaza Prima, Batu 4 ½, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, and, if so required by notice in writing from the said liquidator, are by their solicitors or personally, to come in and prove the said 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 benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved. YAPP HOCK HOE Liquidator Date: 18th July 2023 302 Jobs 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices Perfect Open preparation McIlroy hopes stunning Scottish win sets him up for Hoylake success RORY MCILROY completed the ideal preparation for the 151st Open as he produced a stunning finish to deny home favourite Robert MacIntyre in dramatic circumstances in the Genesis Scottish Open. MacIntyre had set a daunting target of 14-under thanks to a sensational birdie on the 18th at the Renaissance Club as strong winds made for testing scoring conditions. However, overnight leader McIlroy birdied the par-three 17th to get on level terms and then hit a stunning 2-iron approach into the last before holing from 10 feet to complete a closing 68 and win his second Rolex Series title of the year. McIlroy will head into this week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, scene of his 2014 triumph, on the back of his first win on Scottish soil. “That was such a tough day, especially the back nine. To play that in 4-under to win the tournament I’m really proud of how I stuck in there,” McIlroy said. “Hit some amazing shots down the stretch and was able to finish it off. It feels incredible. It’s been a sort of long six months I feel since I won in Dubai. “It’s a great shot of confidence and helps having something fresh in my memory. If I hopefully find myself in a similar position next (this) week where I have a chance to win with nine holes to go, I can certainly draw on what I did here.” MacIntyre walked off the 18th green contemplating what looked like being a third DP World Tour title and a two-year PGA Tour exemption. “I thought it might be enough, but that’s what happens when you are playing against the best in the world,” MacIntyre said. “I’ve grown up watching Scottish Opens and my dream was always to win one. “I thought today might have been the day, but it wasn’t to be. I’m absolutely gutted just now, but I take my hat off to Rory. What a finish.” South Korea’s Ben An and Sweden’s David Lingmerth secured places in the Open after finishing in a tie for third with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard taking the last berth thanks to a closing 67. – The Independent SWEDEN’S Linn Grant captured her first LPGA title yesterday, following up her stunning thirdround 62 with a 3-under 68 to win the Dana Open by three strokes from US Open champion Allisen Corpuz. Grant had entered the final round at Highland Meadows with a sixshot lead, having flirted with the second-ever 59 in LPGA history on the way to her nineunder third round. “I think I could be a bit more relaxed,” she said of the big lead. “But I knew this course was very scoreable. So in my mind I was just thinking someone was going to shoot the same score I did yesterday.” That didn’t happen, and four birdies with one bogey was more than enough to secure the win with a 21-under total of 263. Corpuz, fresh from capturing her first major title at Pebble Beach, admitted that going into the final round six adrift she never really expected to be challenging for the trophy. “Linn’s such a solid player,” she said. “And a six-shot lead is tough to overcome. I really just tried to come out and just give it my best shot.” American Lindy Duncan matched Corpuz’s 65 to finish alone in third on 269. Australian Stephanie Kyriacou and China’s Lin Xiyu shared fourth on 270. – AFP/Reuters Grant grabs first LPGA title █ PHIL CASEY BRIEFS Linn Grant. – AFPPIX

22 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 SPORTS Alcaraz captures the impossible Wimbledon will never be the same again after young Spaniard’s heroics WIMBLEDON has a new champion, and a new hero. To break new ground and end Novak Djokovic’s dominance at the All England Club, Carlos Alcaraz had to go to a place no one else had dared to reach, dragging the most successful men’s player of all time into a battle that saw this final live up to its hype and will be remembered as one of the greatest ever staged here. In overturning history, Alcaraz played with a spirit of infectious belief and carried Centre Court with him. The 20-year-old Spaniard met Djokovic head on, denying the Serbian a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, refusing to go down against the game’s most formidable force and a legend of the sport who had won 104 matches in a row from a set up at the grand slams. A titanic, 26-minute game midway through the third set captured Alcaraz’s stunning resilience and tenacity to believe in the miracle he was trying to accomplish. Already up a break, Alcaraz hunted for another, not once letting Djokovic off the hook. The 36-year-old Djokovic, who had controlled his young opponent magnificently to race to the opening set, was suddenly stressed, rushed, and in danger. He knew what Alcaraz threatened to do. Djokovic had won 34 matches in a row at Wimbledon. He had not lost on Centre Court in 10 years but he had also not faced an opponent like Alcaraz, a 20-year-old who lives every moment and approaches every shot like he has the chance to make the impossible possible. The second-set tiebreak was another turning point: Djokovic had won 15 tiebreaks in a row coming into the final, Alcaraz, who faced the brink then, barely blinked. Tiebreaks are Djokovic’s realm, his palace where he shows his mental fortitude, and a place Alcaraz’s peers dare to tread. Alcaraz ended Djokovic’s reign with his powerful forehand, his dazzling speed and his wondrous creativity. Even as Djokovic forced a fifth, Alcaraz never once lost sight of what he was fighting for. He roared back, and now Wimbledon will never be the same again. He is the new people’s champion: after 21 years of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, there is a new name on the illustrious board of winners. And how he deserves it, not only to beat Djokovic in the manner he did, but to close it by staying true to what he wants to bring every time he steps out onto a tennis court. Serving it out, Alcaraz put his signature drop shot into the net on the opening point, only to go for the drop shot again, and then spin the lob over Djokovic’s head. From there, the serve, and a remarkable transition onto grass was complete. This, after all, should not be happening, on what is Alcaraz’s fourth tournament on grass. He arrived in London four weeks ago looking to learn and, at first, having to survive on the surface. Just reaching the final was a dream, but what followed will become legend. And like all legendary duels on this hallowed court, the details soon faded among the dizzying rallies, the stupefying shots, amid games that lasted an eternity. This was Alcaraz’s dream and after his stunning rise through the sport, a grand slam champion at 19, the youngest world No 1 of all time, this was a moment to stand above the rest. – The Independent Marketa took inspiration from sponsor snub MARKETA VONDROUSOVA cited being dumped by sponsor Nike as a driving factor behind her surprise Wimbledon victory. The Czech emerged as one of the most unlikely champions at the All England Club and the first unseeded women’s winner with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against favourite Ons Jabeur. Vondrousova’s success was all the more surprising given her lack of pedigree on grass and a long injury absence last year following wrist surgery, and her failure to build on her run to the 2019 French Open final meant her clothing contract with Nike was not renewed. “The contract ended last year and I didn’t play for six months,” she said. “I was a bit sad when it finished but I was like, ‘We’re going to try to find something else, just show them I’m going to be good, I’m going to play good and we’ll see what happens now’. But I also feel like maybe that’s a good thing that drove me here.” Vondrousova joins Petra Kvitova and Barbora Krejcikova as active grand slam champions while she will made her top-10 debut yesterday as one of seven Czech women in the top 35. Vondrousova grew up in the small town of Sokolov, with her grandfather driving her to Prague for training every week before she moved to the capital by herself at 15 to develop her tennis. One of Vondrousova’s first acts after she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish was to call her mother and her grandparents back home. She said of her grandfather: “He is my biggest fan. To see them so happy, I’m really grateful for it because there is so much hard work and he was really the most important person in my tennis career when I was young.” – The Independent NOVAK DJOKOVIC broke down in tears addressing his son in the stands after losing the men’s Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz. After the game, it was all too much for Djokovic, who had not lost on Centre Court since losing to Andy Murray in the 2013 final. “It’s nice to see my son still there still smiling (breaks down slightly in tears as his son applauded),” Djokovic said in the oncourt interview. “I love you, thank you for supporting me, I will give you a big hug and we can all… love each other.” The final was far from easy for Djokovic as he vented his frustrations at the umpire after a time violation in the second set. He then smashed his racket on the net post after losing his serve in the fifth which proved to be crucial in handing Alcaraz the title. “There’s not much to talk about that. It was frustration,” said Djokovic, who left a sizeable dent in the net post. Djokovic was also criticised by the Wimbledon crowd taking too long to serve – the Serbian repeatedly running down the clock, then throwing the ball up and not serving on several occasions, adding to the already lengthy time between points. In the second set tie-break, Djokovic finally received a penalty for a time violation, having pushed the limit throughout the match until that point. The decision from umpire Fergus Murphy was cheered by the crowd, with someone shouting “finally”. Todd Woodbridge on commentary said: “Djokovic is very good at trying to halt momentum. When he is 30-0 or 40-0 down he takes a lot longer on his serve. “If the clock is not being officiated to the degree we would expect then it is an advantage to Novak.” New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey tweeted: “Alcaraz breaks to take the early lead in set two. Doing damage with his forehand now and cracking a smile or two, which he has plenty of time to do as he waits (and waits) for Djokovic to serve” Metro UK’s editor Ross McAfferty joked on Twitter: “Managed to squeeze in watching a cool video while Djokovic was preparing to serve there. “Of course, by “cool we video” I mean the Godfather trilogy”. – The Independent █ JAMIE BRAIDWOOD █ ELEANOR CROOKS █ SONIA TWIGG Wimbledon highlights WIMBLEDON saw Carlos Alcaraz dethrone Novak Djokovic, Marketa Vondrousova take a surprise women’s title while there was also rain, records and royals. AFP Sport looks at 10 highlights from this year’s Grand Slam tournament which wrapped up yesterday: Dry hard! Djokovic mops up Heavy rain brought havoc to the schedule on the second day with just an hour’s play possible on the outside courts, which meant 69 of the planned 77 matches were unable to be completed. Novak Djokovic helped dry Wimbledon’s Centre Court with his towel on the first day, appealing to fans to “blow” on the court during a lengthy delay. ‘Just Stop Oil’ stops play Climate activists interrupted matches on the third day, scattering orange confetti and jigsaw pieces on Court 18. Two men and a woman, all wearing T-shirts with “Just Stop Oil” printed on them, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage. One fan shouted “Get off the court” as spectators booed and jeered. Longest-ever tiebreaker Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko reached the fourth round after triumphing in the longest-ever tiebreak in a Grand Slam women’s singles match. The deciding breaker stretched to a record 38 points as the 34-year-old defeated Ana Bogdan of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (20-18) to make the last 16. Tsurenko took victory on a seventh match point after saving five match points herself in a three-hour 40-minute epic on Court 14. Murray faces the end Andy Murray admitted he didn’t know if he will be back at Wimbledon next year after a heartbreaking second round loss to world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas. Two-time champion Murray went down 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (2-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 after a gruelling four-hour 40-minute match-up. “I don’t know,” said Murray when asked if he would be back at the All England Club next year. Down and out after underarm serve Alejandro Davidovich Fokina insisted he had no regrets after his decision to serve underarm when just two points from a place in the last 16 spectacularly backfired. The Spaniard opted for the unorthodox tactic at 8/8 in the fifth set tiebreaker against sixth seed Holger Rune before losing in five sets. “It was just another serve. I don’t regret anything,” said Davidovich Fokina who also squandered two match points. Azarenka and ‘unfair’ boos Victoria Azarenka blasted the Wimbledon crowd as “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Centre Court following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash. Ukraine’s Svitolina came through in three sets and opted not shake hands with Belarusian Azarenka in protest over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “It wasn’t fair. It is what it is. What can I do?” said Azarenka. Eubanks’ winning feeling in defeat Having described grass as the “stupidest” surface, big-serving Chris Eubanks left Wimbledon as a shock quarterfinalist and record-breaker. As well as being the only man to hit over 100 aces at the tournament, he unleashed 321 winners, beating Andre Agassi’s record of 317 from 1992. Hugs welcome, Jabeur tells princess Ons Jabeur was so disconsolate after her shock Wimbledon final defeat to Marketa Vondrousova that she told Kate, the Princess of Wales, that “hugs are always welcome”. In a moving moment on Centre Court, the wife of the heir to the British throne, gave the tearful Tunisian a warm embrace as she handed her the runners-up trophy. “She didn’t know if she wants to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me. That was a very nice moment and she’s always nice to me.” AFP Djokovic breaks down in tears after defeat Novak Djokovic with the runners up trophy after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon men’s final. – REUTERSPIX

23 SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 18, 2023 Arteta gets Wenger backing Former manager says Gunners will win Premier League and backs Rice price FORMER Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his old club will win the coming Premier League campaign after winning the race for Declan Rice. The Gunners broke their transfer record to sign Rice from West Ham for an initial £100 million (RM590m), with another £5m (RM29.5m) to potentially follow in add-ons. It makes the England midfielder just the eighth footballer to be bought for nine figures, representing a fresh departure from Arsenal’s former spending habits. But Wenger – who ended his 22-year spell at the club in 2018 – thinks Rice is still a valuable signing at that price and is expecting his signature won’t take long to start paying off. “I think it is a good investment,” he told Eurosport. “Overall, personally I think they have made good buys as they are players who are now mature, 23, 24, and still young so can stay together for a few years. “They will be under more pressure after last year, but they have learned a lot and they can show they can deal with that pressure now.” Wenger said he would have made similar moves in the transfer market towards the end of his time at the club, but that he did not have money at his disposal. “I had to cope with no money at all, so you have to find a different way,” Wenger said. “Arsenal is now in a good financial situation and bought who they think will win them the championship.” If only those at the Emirates Stadium were so full of confidence after leading the Premier League for so much of last season, only to fall late in the campaign as Manchester City completed a historic treble. That being said, Mikel Arteta has been hard at work this summer attempting to close the gap on Pep Guardiola’s kings of Europe. The Gunners also concluded a £65m (RM384m) deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea, while rightback Jurrien Timber has arrived from Ajax for around £38.5m (RM227m). Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale heaped praise on Havertz, explaining what the German international will bringing to the Emirates Stadium. Speaking about Havertz to German outlet Kicker, Ramsdale said: “A very good commitment. Havertz already has a lot of experience, was captain in Leverkusen when he was very young. “He is a national player, has won the Champions League and scored in important games. He can play in different positions, which helps the team. “He’s also a tall boy, so he can also help with standard situations, including defensively, which shouldn’t be underestimated in modern football. Above all, it is striking how different he can play. “He’s so good with the ball at his feet but at the same time he can be a target player. You can never really rest against him because he is constantly looking for free space. “In addition, he is very altruistic and likes to use the wingers or players who move up from midfield. We want to bring these qualities to bear in our game.” – Express Newspapers/Agencies THE first 32-team Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, with the United States favourites to win an unprecedented third consecutive title in a landmark month for women’s football. It has been a rapid expansion for a tournament that started in 1991 and featured only 16 teams as recently as 2011, then 24 in France four years ago when the USA retained the trophy. That reflects a dramatic rise in interest in women’s football over the last decade beyond its traditional heartland of the United States, and a swarm of European sides will be aiming to snatch their title. Australia, led by the prolific Chelsea forward Sam Kerr, will hope to make the most of home advantage and go all the way to the final in Sydney on Aug 20. This World Cup is not just bigger in terms of the number of competing nations. FIFA has tripled the prize money compared with 2019 and the total pot, which also covers compensation for clubs releasing players, is up from US$50 million (RM225m) four years ago to US$152m (RM684m). Big crowds at club and international matches, particularly in Europe, are more evidence that the game is at an all-time high. Together with Australia, European sides will be the chief threat to a US team bidding to become the first to win three Women’s World Cups in a row. European champions England lead the charge, together with Spain, Germany, Sweden and 2019 runners-up the Netherlands. “The expectations are really high and yes, we have a dream,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman. England play their first game against Haiti – one of a raft of World Cup debutants – in Brisbane on July 22, while the USA begin their trophy defence the same day against another debutant in Vietnam. The tournament kicks off with New Zealand facing the Norway of 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg in Auckland, and Australia playing Ireland in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 80,000 in Sydney. – AFP DECLAN RICE has become the most expensive British footballer in history with his long-awaited transfer from West Ham to Arsenal finally being completed. Here is a closer look at the eyewatering numbers involved. Record sum Arsenal are paying £105 million (RM624m) for Rice to make the five-mile switch from the London Stadium to the Emirates Stadium, surpassing the £100m (RM594m) Manchester City paid Aston Villa for their captain Jack Grealish and setting a new record for a British player. City played their part here, though: they fought for Rice’s signature and the ensuing bidding war forced Arsenal to come up with a huge, unrejectable offer. Clearly Arteta had made Rice his top priority to lead another title challenge this season, and after falling short to Pep Guardiola’s City in the League, he wasn’t going to be beaten in the transfer market too. Giant pay rise Rice will be getting a chunky bump in salary too. He was paid only £60,000 (RM354,000) per week at West Ham, a generous annual salary for most but a small paycheque compared to many of his England peers, like Tottenham’s Harry Kane (£200,000/RM1.18m per week), Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (£200,000), Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling (£350,000/RM2.05m) and Grealish (£300,000/RM1.77m). Rice turned down a new contract reportedly worth around £100,000 (RM590,000) per week to stay at West Ham and is now set to earn £250,000 (RM1.5m) per week at Arsenal. That will see him vastly increase his annual salary from around £3m (RM17.7m) to £13m (RM76.7m), and that is before endorsements and other earnings. He will be Arsenal’s secondhighest earner behind only Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus (£265,000/RM1.56m). Hourly rate Rice’s new £250,000-a-week salary works out at £36,000 (RM212,400) per day, and £1,488 (RM8,800) per hour. That’s not just during the working day but every hour round the clock, even when he’s asleep. And presumably, he sleeps well. Top earners For all Rice’s riches, he remains some way short of the best-paid Premier League stars. Manchester United’s Casemiro earns £350,000 per week, and even he is eclipsed by Manchester City’s star duo, Erling Haaland (£375,000/RM2.2m) and top dog Kevin De Bruyne (£400,000/RM2.36m). And yet De Bruyne seems thoroughly mistreated when you compare his pay packet to the three global superstars taking home far more. Kylian Mbappe is paid £1.6m (RM9.5m) per week by Paris Saint-Germain, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both take home around £3.5m (RM21m) each week, at Inter Miami and Al-Nassr respectively. Rice has some catching up to do. The Independent Eye-watering sums behind Declan deal █ LAWRENCE OSTLER Messi expects ‘great things’ at Miami NOT EVEN the pouring rain could spoil Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami welcome party yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the new face of Major League Soccer (MLS) was introduced to a packed stadium of adoring fans. Messi, seven months removed from leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, was presented to fans during a glitzy event called “The Unveil” at Miami’s home stadium. After being introduced, the seven-times Ballon d’Or winner walked toward midfield along a spotlight-lined catwalk wearing a T-shirt and jeans and was presented with his No. 10 shirt before addressing the crowd with a few brief remarks in Spanish. “I am very happy to have chosen to come to this city with my family, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it very much,” said Messi. “We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen. Thank you very much, thank you all for this day. I can’t wait to start training to compete. I feel the same desire I’ve always had to compete, to really want to win and to help it (Miami) continue to grow.” …as Busquets gets wrong-picture welcome MLS made an error when welcoming Sergio Busquets to the league. Twenty-four hours after Lionel Messi signed for Inter Miami, the Spaniard also sealed a move to the States – two significant signings made by club co-owner David Beckham. America is very excited to see another of Europe’s finest players join the league, but the MLS Twitter account mistakenly used a photo of Alvaro Arbeloa after Spain won the 2010 World Cup when tweeting about the former Barcelona midfielder. “All he does is win”, the tweet read, alongside a graphic stating all of Busquets’ accomplishments, but a photo of the former Real Madrid defender Arbeloa. The account later deleted the post and uploaded the same graphic with a photo of the 35-year-old Busquets instead. Making light of the situation, the account posted a separate tweet with photos of both players which read: “Why do Arbeloa and Busquets look so similar in these? Admin needs new glasses.” Mexico win Gold Cup SECOND HALF substitute Santiago Gimenez scored with two minutes left to give Mexico a 1- 0 win over Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final yesterday and secure a record-extending ninth title for El Tri. Edson Alvarez found Gimenez near midfield before the 22-year-old raced past two defenders and slotted home with his left foot for an 88th-minute winner that sent the sold-out crowd at SoFi Stadium into a frenzy. “It is indescribable,” Argentina-born Gimenez said after the match. “The only thing I feel is love and passion for those who are always there. God, my family and the people who came today, 75,000 people. We had to give them this Cup.” The victory was a welcome one for Mexico, who had failed to make it beyond the group stage at last year’s World Cup. Women’s football World Cup set for lift-off SIDENETTING Argentine football star Lionel Messi (2nd left) is presented by owners of Inter Miami David Beckham (right) and Jose R. Mas (2nd right) and Jorge Mas (left) as the newest player for the club at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida yesterday. – AFPPIX

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] HARRY MAGUIRE has detailed his sadness after being stripped of the Manchester United captaincy by head coach Erik ten Hag. The £80 million (RM472m) central defender was handed the armband by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2020 following Ashley Young’s departure to Inter Milan but now he has been informed he will no longer be leading the side heading into the 2023/24 campaign. Although United are yet to announce who will be appointed as Maguire’s successor, Bruno Fernandes is expected to step up into the role following his prolonged stint as vice-captain. Fernandes donned the armband for the crux of last season due to Maguire’s lack of playing time and the pair lifted the Carabao Cup together back in February following the 2-0 triumph over Newcastle at Wembley. Maguire said via an emotional statement on his social media channels: “After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. “He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt. “So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing the armband. “Since the day I took on the role, three and half years ago, it’s been a huge privilege to lead Manchester United and one of the proudest moments of my career to date. “It’s one of the greatest honours in club football. I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful – on and off the field. “I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support.” The ruthless call plunges Maguire’s Old Trafford future into further doubt although initially, the centreback is understood to have reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for his place at United despite falling out of favour last term. West Ham have now shown interest in signing the 30-year-old and the Hammers have plenty of cash to hand following the £105m (RM620m) clubrecord sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal which was finally completed on Saturday. David Moyes is thought to be a big fan of Maguire but it remains to be seen whether he can entice the England international into the move. Speaking back in May, England boss Gareth Southgate warned Maguire among others that he could not continue picking them at international level should they not be featuring for their respective club sides. “Inevitably it’s not a situation that can continue for ever,” Southgate said. Tottenham had also been credited with an interest earlier in the window but Spurs are yet to make a move and remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg over the signings of Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are expected to remain United’s first-choice central defensive pairing next term while Victor Lindelof finished the 2022/23 campaign strongly following the Argentine’s metatarsal injury that required surgery. United have also monitored the transfer market for another centreback but it’s understood Maguire must be sold first before a deal in that department can be struck. Since then, target Kim Min-jae has undergone a medical at Bayern and Newcastle are lurking for Monaco’s Axel Disasi, another player admired by Ten Hag. United must sell this summer in order to finance further incomings to bolster Ten Hag’s squad. There are plenty of fringe players set for exits and could provide a welcome financial boost if buyers can be found. The likes of Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Fred, Dean Henderson, Anthony Elanga, Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams and Eric Bailly could all depart Old Trafford and transfermarkt.com have estimated their combined value at £120m (RM708m). – Express Newspapers or download app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my FREE access Interactive TUESDAY • JULY 18, 2023 Prince of Wimbledon Alcaraz ends Djokovic’s decade of dominance on Centre Court Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz kisses the winner’s trophy after beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their men’s singles final of 2023 Wimbledon Championships yesterday. – AFPPIX Devils strip Maguire of captaincy CARLOS ALCARAZ celebrated a generational shift in tennis after dethroning Novak Djokovic in one of the great Wimbledon finals. The young Spaniard looked to be on his way to victory when he recovered from a nervous start to take a two-sets-to-one lead only for Djokovic to show once again his remarkable powers of resilience. It was he who appeared in the ascendancy at the start of the fifth set but back came 20-year-old Alcaraz to claim a 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory after four hours and 42 minutes, finally landing a meaningful blow for the young guns against the man 16 years his senior. Alcaraz was not even born when Lleyton Hewitt in 2002 became the last man apart from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray or Djokovic to win the title here, and he is the youngest men’s champion since Boris Becker in 1986. Alcaraz won his maiden slam title at the US Open last summer but, having beaten Casper Ruud on that occasion with Djokovic barred from entering the country, there is no question this is a far bigger, and potentially seismic, moment in the men’s game. “I did it for myself, not for the tennis generation,” said Alcaraz. “(But) beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, is amazing for me. “It’s something that I will never forget. It’s great for the new generation, as well, I think, to see me beating him and making them think that they are capable to do it as well. “It’s the happiest moment of my life. I think it’s not going to change for a long time. Beating Novak, winning the Wimbledon championship, is something that I dream about since I started playing tennis.” In their first slam meeting in the semifinals of the French Open last month, Alcaraz had been stricken by cramp after a similar first two sets, but here he looked far the better physically. “Probably before this match I thought that I wasn’t ready to beat Djokovic in five sets, an epic match like this,” said Alcaraz. “I stayed good physically and good mentally about five hours against a legend.” On learning from what happened in Paris, he added: “I am a totally different player than French Open. I grew up a lot since that moment. I learned a lot from that moment.” Djokovic admitted Alcaraz’s remarkably quick progression on grass had taken him by surprise and thought back to the close finals where he has come out on the other side. “I’ve won some epic finals that I was very close to losing,” he said. “Maybe this is kind of a fairand-square deal, I guess, to lose a match like this for me here. Even though it hurts. “Credit to Carlos. Amazing poise in the important moments. For someone of his age to handle the nerves like this, be playing attacking tennis, and to close out the match the way he did. “I thought I returned very well that last game, but he was just coming up with some amazing, amazing shots. “Some regrets. I had my chances. I think I could have closed out that second-set tiebreaker better. “But credit to him for fighting and showing some incredible defensive skills, passing shots that got him the break in the fifth. He was a deserved winner today. “I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa and myself. “I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically the best of all three worlds. “He’s got this Spanish bull mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defence. “I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest. Roger and Rafa have their own strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. “Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.” – The Independent █ ELEANOR CROOKS Maguire