The Star - 01 Nov 2021

Nation

Maskless
‘Karen’ fined
Caucasian woman
issued two compounds
worth RM3,000 for
violating Covid-19 SOP
Small can be goodatmalls.>3
Monday 1 noveMber 2021 • PP19652/12/2020 (035234) (No. 22691) RM1.60 • 1300-88-7827 (Customer Service)

Travelling is back but not in the way you remember. In the post-Covid-19 world, travelling will be more private and take
place within smaller groups with greater focus on quality and experience. According to the tour groups, that’s a good
thing. > See reports on page 4 by ARNOLD LOH, MARTIN CARVALHO, RSN MURALI, ALLISON LAI and RENA LIM

CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

Personal attention: Tour guide Joann Khaw sharing the history of heritage houses with tourists in Armenian Street, George Town.

2 Nation THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

King and Queen convey condolences to Masing’s family

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Masing, who was Baleh assembly- “The late Masing was a leader tenure in the current state Cabinet. community and Sarawakians as a
Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah man, died at the Normah Sarawak who had the people’s interests at “He played an instrumental role whole,” he said in a statement.
Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Medical Centre (NSMC) in Petra Jaya, heart, far-sighted and authoritative.
Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Kuching, at 7.05am. He was 72. His services and sacrifices will be in the rural development of Sarawak, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee
Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah remembered forever,” Ismail Sabri especially for the Dayak community. Ka Siong also offered his condo-
Maimunah Iskandariah have The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) said in a statement. lences.
expressed condolences to the fami- president was admitted to the inten- “Masing was a leader close to the
ly of Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister sive care unit of the Sarawak Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk people and who was very serious “His passing is a great loss to the
Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing who General Hospital in September after Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg about championing their well- community and nation. Masing’s
passed away yesterday. he tested positive for Covid-19 and meanwhile said the passing of being,” he added. contributions and sacrifices for the
was later transferred to NSMC for Masing had a big impact on him. community especially in Sarawak
Their Majesties expressed sad- follow-up treatment. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk will surely be remembered. May his
ness over the demise of Masing and “He was a partner who contribu- Amar Douglas Eggah Embas said soul be showered with grace,” said
hoped his family would be patient Masing is survived by his wife ted a lot to the state administration. Masing had been the undisputed Dr Wee in a Facebook post.
and resilient during this difficult Puan Sri Corrine Masing and five voice of the rural people, especially
time. children. “I am deeply saddened. It’s a big for the betterment of the Dayak Tourism, Arts and Culture
loss to me as a friend. community. Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri,
Their Majesties also described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail who is Sarawak’s Batang Sadong
Masing’s passing as a great loss. Sabri Yaakob also expressed his “My condolences to his family,” “A strong and loud Dayak leader MP, said the state had lost a great
condolences. said Abang Johari, who was visibly who always advocated for their leader.
“Their Majesties greatly appreci- choked with emotion after launch- meaningful participation in the
ate the devotion, service and sacri- “On behalf of the government and ing Sarawak Linking Urban, Rural government to empower the com- Senior Minister Datuk Seri
fice of the late Masing to the state of all Malaysians, I hope Masing’s fam- and Nation initiative in Kampung munity. A longhouse boy from the Hishammuddin Hussein and
Sarawak,” according to a statement ily would be given the strength and Tengah in Trusan, Lawas. interior of Baleh, who through edu- Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin
from Istana Negara posted on patience to face this bereavement. cation had made it to the top by Abdullah hoped that Masing’s fami-
Facebook. The demise of Masing is a great loss Abang Johari said Masing had sheer determination, dedication ly would be patient and remain
to Sarawak and the country. made immense contributions to and sense of service to the rural strong during this difficult time.
Sarawak, including during his
Passer-by
Masing, a man of his word dies while
helping
Heartfelt tributes pour in over death of S’wak deputy CM motorcyclist

By ANDY CHUA GEORGE TOWN: A woman who
andychua@thestar.com.my tried to help an injured motorcyclist
was killed – along with the victim –
SIBU: The late Tan Sri Dr James community which included the Beloved leader: Masing’s body being carried out of the normah when an oncoming car crashed into
Jemut Masing (pic) was a man who Iban, Kayan, Kenyah and other eth- Sarawak Medical Centre in Petra Jaya. — ZulaZHar SHeblee/The them.
walked the talk and did what he nic groups, as we, the Chinese, also Star
pledged to do, says Anyie Kumbong. received assistance from him. Suhaila Zainal Abidin, 45, and
him as his personal ceremonial was very concerned with was edu- motorcyclist Faizal Abu Bakar, 33,
A resident of Rumah Melitang “In other words, Masing did not suits, along with a longsword and a cation and had wanted Sarawak to were hit by the car in Jalan Tun Dr
Tukau, a longhouse in Sungai Gaat, choose who he should help,” said traditional Iban fighting blade the produce more intellectuals,” he Awang, Bayan Lepas, at 11.15pm on
Kapit, Anyie said Masing was a lead- Wong, 71. nyabor. added. Saturday.
er whom the people trusted.
Masing, according to Wong, was The costume also comprised a Meanwhile, a ceremony will be Another female pedestrian, who
“He was really a good person. He also very concerned with the elder- headgear decorated with the head held for the public to pay their last was also trying to help, suffered
was liked by many people because ly and had constantly provided of kenyalang (rhinoceros hornbill) respects to Masing, who was also serious injuries.
he was a leader who walked the them with financial grants from his and the feathers of enggang (anoth- Sarawak deputy chief minister, on
talk. If he said he was going to do it minor rural project funds. er hornbill species), boar tusk neck- Wednesday. Eyewitness Abdul Rahman
and he was going to help us, he laces and sword decorated with Naina, 58, said he cheated death
would keep his word. “Although he might be seen help- human hair, silver belt and necklac- The ceremony will take place at after dodging the oncoming car.
ing the youths, he never neglected es and bamboo container for carry- the Association of Churches in
“Masing had been helping long- the elderly. Whether one is young ing blowpipe darts. Sarawak at Jalan Stampin here. He said the two women – both
house folks to either rebuild or or old, he was there to help. pedestrians – had gone over to help
repair their longhouses in Kapit Masing had even donned a full “The session for dignitaries is the motorcyclist who had fallen off
Division. “We have lost a very wonderful Iban ceremonial suit during the Niti from 8.30am to 9.30am, followed by his machine.
person and we will really miss Daun or parade in conjunction with the session for the public from
“He had helped us find a new site him,” said Wong, who is a penghu- the Gawai Dayak celebration in 9.30am to 2pm. Abdul Rahman, who was driving
for our longhouse as the old one lu, a community leader post which June 2018. home then, said he pulled over to
was in a dilapidated condition and was recommended by Masing. “The public is advised to wear give a helping hand.
he helped us with the materials and Sammy said he first met Masing proper attire and take the Covid-19
cost,” said the 56-year-old. Meanwhile, Kelab Gagung in Long Singut in Kapit when Parti RTK tests,” read a Sarawak Public “Shortly after, a car could be seen
Sarawak (KGS), a club promoting Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) was Communications Unit statement. coming by and I tried to signal to
Anyie said their longhouse was the Iban costume, said Masing was at its height of political strength, the driver to slow down. He applied
located about five hours by boat a strong proponent of Iban cultural where Masing then was the right- Ukas added that Masing died of his emergency brake but it was to
from Kapit. The 31-door longhouse heritage. hand man of PBDS president Tan heart complications and his last no avail ... the car crashed into the
has some 1,000 residents. Sri Leo Moggie. Covid-19 test came back negative. group.”
KGS founder Sammy Ngelambai
“We are moving into the new said Masing was very interested in Masing first contested and won “His remains will be taken to the I managed to run to safety. The
longhouse soon and are very thank- the costume and wanted it to be the Baleh state seat in the 1983 elec- Kuching Nirvana Memorial Park next thing I knew, the motorcyclist
ful to Masing,” he said. revived as it reflected the identity of tion and had represented the con- after the ceremony,” it said. was sprawled on the ground while
the Ibans, a major ethnic group in stituency since. another woman was flung some 5m
Bakat Gira, a resident of another Sarawak known for their fighting ThWeaStctahrtThVe .vcidoemo away from the accident scene.
longhouse, Rumah Nyamok Nanga spirit. “I will remember Masing as a
Serau in Baleh, said his new 31-door gentle, straightforward person who “Another woman was seen gri-
longhouse was about 70% complet- “He had assisted KGS the most in talked his mind. The thing that he macing in pain. She had leg inju-
ed. many ways, thus his passing was a ries,” he said.
great loss to us,” he told Bernama.
“It was Masing who, due to his The 25-year-old car driver also
concern for our well-being, helped Sammy said Masing had bought sustained serious injuries.
us build a new longhouse. two sets of gagung or animal skin
vests and two sets of headgear from Other onlookers helped to
“He also built infrastructure facil- remove the driver from the car
ities such as roads,” said Bakat, 50, which had turned turtle.
and recalled that rural folk also
benefited from Masing’s tireless Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue
efforts in ensuring their children Department operations officer
received an education. Helmirizal Che Morad said the sta-
tion received a distress call at
“When people were sick, they 11.26pm.
would also approach him and he
would definitely help them. “We came to the scene, only to
find that the public had already
“His passing is a huge loss to the removed the driver from his car.
Dayak community here,” added
Bakat. “He and another woman had
serious injuries and were sent to
Kapit Chinese Women Association the Penang Hospital. The motorcy-
chairman Wong Kie Ing said Masing clist and woman were pronounced
was a leader for all ages and races. dead at the scene,” he said.

“He did not only help the Dayak

WEATHER PRAYER TIMES

GEORGE TOWN K. LUMPUR JOHOR BARU KOTA BARU K. KINABALU KUCHING ALOR SETAR PENANG K. LUMPUR JOHOR BARU KUANTAN KOTA BARU
Subuh 5:55 Subuh 5:55 Subuh 5:48 Subuh 5:37 Subuh 5:48
No rain No rain Rain No rain Isolated rain Zohor 1:04 Zohor 1:04 Zohor 1:00 Zohor 12:51 Subuh 5:42 Zohor 12:57
Isolated Asar 4:25 Asar 4:24 Asar 4:20 Asar 4:10 Asar 4:17
AM No rain thunderstorms Maghrib 7:00 Maghrib 7:01 Maghrib 6:58 Maghrib 6:52 Zohor 12:54 Maghrib 6:53
Isyak 8:11 Isyak 8:12 Isyak 8:09 Isyak 8:03 Isyak 8:00
Asar 4:14

PM Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms No rain Maghrib 6:53

Isyak 8:04

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Nation 3

Maskless ‘Karen’ fined Couple held,
drug
Police slap two rM1,500 compound notices on woman trafficking
ring busted
By AUSTIN CAMOENS Anti-masker: ‘Karen’ causing a scene at a luxury retail store in Kuala fied the woman and opened an
austin@thestar.com.my Lumpur. — Photo sourced from social media investigation into the case. By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
KUALA LUMPUR: The woman farhaan@thestar.com.my
who caused a stir at a luxury retail the Caucasian woman in the viral mall without wearing a mask. Police detected a 20-second video JOHOR BARU: A drug trafficking
store here for refusing to wear a video at a retail store in Kuala Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm clip circulating on Twitter of the and smuggling syndicate has been
mask has been handed two RM1,500 Lumpur was the same person who woman in the Bangsar mall. busted with the arrest of seven peo-
compound notices by the police. tried to enter a Bangsar shopping Amihizam Abdul Shukor was quo- ple including a Malaysian and his
ted as saying the police had identi- He confirmed that she was the Chinese national wife.
She was also seen maskless when same person who had caused a
she attempted to enter another scene at the first retail store in the More than RM4mil worth of
shopping mall in Bangsar a few city. drugs have been seized.
days later.
In the video, a maskless Caucasian Federal Narcotic Crime Investiga-
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm woman is seen complaining to the tion Department (NCID) director
Noor Dellhan Yahaya said after the shopping centre staff that the bou- Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain
authorities had completed their tique worker had put his hands on said this came about after a series of
investigations, issued two com- her to prevent her from entering, raids at four houses here between
pounds worth RM1,500 each to the which was denied by the employee Oct 21 and Oct 28.
woman yesterday for breaching concerned.
Covid-19 standard operating proce- Those arrested were between the
dure. The woman in the video netizens ages of 39 and 48, he said, adding
dubbed “Karen” – the generic name that the syndicate had been supply-
“The first compound was issued used for self-entitled white women ing drugs around Johor since the
for her failure to scan using the – went viral and became a top middle of this year.
MySejahtera app before entering trending topic on social media on
the premises. Wednesday. “Police seized 115.1kg of syabu,
528gm of ketamine, 52.8gm of ecsta-
“The second was for failure to Watch the video sy, 91.8gm of mushroom, 10.5gm of
wear a face mask,” he said in a Erimine 5 and 9.17gm of Yaba pills
statement. TheStarTV. worth RM4.2mil,” he told a press
conference yesterday.
The police also confirmed that
Besides the drugs, he said police
Dazzling performance by nine-year-old also seized a gold chain, five cars,
and RM6,870 in cash.
KUALA LUMPUR: Young national me,” she said, with a beaming smile, Little dynamite: a file picture of Sree celebrating her win at the ISIasia
figure-skater C. Sree Abiraame put in a short video shared with the Skate Shenzhen championship in China. Comm Razarudin said the 11
on a dazzling performance to finish media yesterday. bank accounts belonging to the syn-
runner-up in the Cubs B girls’ dicate had been frozen, adding that
free-skating category of the Narva Sree said she would continue to the total seizure was valued at
Cup 2021 in Estonia. train hard and try to dance her way RM689,601.
to another success when she com-
The nine-year-old amassed 26.55 petes in the Thomas Cup in Lithua- He said the syndicate was
points to finish second out of 16 nia on Nov 11. believed to have received the drug
skaters, with home skater Arina supply from a neighbouring coun-
Voevodina clinching the title in the Her father B. Chendren expressed try.
seventh edition of the competition his gratitude to all Malaysians for
on Saturday with 29.10 points. their support for his daughter and The amount could ‘feed’ 587,222
hoped they would continue to do so addicts, he said.
Arina’s compatriot, Elizaveta when Sree competes in Lithuania
Martjukova, came in third with next week. “We believe this syndicate did not
26.52 points. only traffic drugs for the local mar-
Having won more than 50 gold ket but also international ones.
A jubilant Sree, who has been medals at various levels, Sree has
training in Latvia since March last carved her name in the Asia Book of “The four houses that police raid-
year, was elated with her second- Records as the Youngest to Win ed were used as places to repack the
place finish in Estonia and thanked Medals in International Figure drugs. Each package weighed about
Malaysians who have been support- Skating in 2019 and in the Malaysia one kilo,” Comm Razarudin said.
ing her. Book of Records as the Youngest to
Win “Skate Asia” Figure Skating He said all the suspects had pre-
“Thank you to all Malaysians for Competition (Female) in 2017. vious records for drugs and crime
(your) blessings and for supporting while six of them, including the
couple, tested positive for drugs.

They would be remanded until
today to help with investigations
under Section 39B of the Dangerous
Drugs Act, he said.

4 Nation THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Benefits of small group travel
Tourists enjoy higher quality of holiday experience with customised tours

By ARNOLD LOH and RENA LIM Although such tours would be a little cost- before Covid-19 struck, all that was lost, he living in Kuala Lumpur on a walking tour of
newsdesk@thestar.com.my lier, small groups, said Liang, allowed for said. George Town’s heritage enclave and before
GEORGE TOWN: Deeply affected by the greater flexibility and a tailor-made experi- that, a large family from Kuala Lumpur who
Covid-19 pandemic, tourism is slowly inching ence. “People went in big groups, rushed through wanted to go on a “foodie” trip.
back to life but with smaller groups of visitors places, took a few photos to prove they were
enjoying a higher quality of holiday experi- “It is a customised tour package and long there and left. It was touch and go, and the Khaw described leading a small group as
ence. ago, this was how it was done. Because of the real purpose of tourism was lost. “joyous” because it gave her the chance to
pandemic, this old way is returning,” he said, thoroughly explain the little details, such as
While in the past, a busload of 40 tourists advising travellers to rely on reputable travel “But because of the pandemic, big groups the ones on Penang’s heritage buildings.
might have been the norm, travellers in the agents registered with the Tourism, Arts and won’t be happening. So, although the tourism
new norm now prefer quality over quantity Culture Ministry. industry has suffered greatly, it looks like the “I could help them appreciate the progres-
in smaller private groups of 20 friends or essence of travel is now coming back,” he sion of the architecture of our pre-war houses
family members, or even less. Also expressing his happiness with the said. over the centuries,” she added.
growing trend of private tours is Malaysian
With smaller groups on private tours, they Association of Tour and Travel Agents Tan said the MATTA Fair on Nov 20 to 21 PTGA president P.C. Chin said Penang’s
could expect to be taken to places not “cov- (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang. would be aimed at kick-starting the tourism licensed guides would soon be given special
ered in the guide books”, said Penang Tourist industry with the added value of an immer- training on maintaining strict Covid-19 pre-
Guides Association (PTGA) vice-president “That was the essence of travel. You go to sive experience for travellers. cautions during guided tours.
Clement Liang. another place for no other reason than to
immerse yourself in a different culture. You “As we reset, I call on all tour operators to “Tour guides must lead in helping travel-
“We have time to show our tourists the taste their food and see how they make and be aware that travellers are price-sensitive lers stay safe from the virus. Sometimes, in
nooks and corners, our little old shops in the sell things. now. Let’s make sure we meet the customers’ the excitement of visiting new places, they
back lanes that outsiders don’t know about,” budgets,” he added. might forget themselves.
he said, adding that this would afford them “Then, when you go home, you mix all
an experience previously not enjoyed. those new insights with your daily life and Among the local guides getting back into “So it is the job of the guides to make sure
create something new,” said Tan. action in Penang is Joann Khaw, a full-time that basic rules like physical distancing and
licensed guide since 1993. constant sanitising are always practised,” said
Somehow, at the height of mass tourism Chin.
Khaw recently brought a French family

Guided tours are the latest in-thing MKHA hopes
conditions for
By ALLISON LAI “Now, the trend is to experience more Attracting matching grants
allison@thestar.com.my depth at a destination, the attraction or what buyers: will be relaxed
PETALING JAYA: Visual artist Mohd Fitri the experience has to offer. They tend to Licensed tour
Fauzi does not want to just rely on online spend more time in a particular area and they guide Kenny Say KUALA LUMPUR: Homestay owners are
recommendations when he goes travelling demand more in terms of stories and the (second from hoping for more flexibility and relaxation in
and prefers to have a guide. whole experience behind it,” he said. right) selling the eligibility requirements for applications
fast-moving under Budget 2022’s RM30mil matching grant
The outdoor enthusiast and his two friends Tour and travel agents, he said, needed to consumer goods for repairs.
recently joined another friend, who is also a take advantage of this emerging trend – not dressed up in the
tour guide, on a hike to the BMC Blue Lake in only because the millennials were coming out traditional Han Malaysia Kampungstay and Homestay
Bandar Mahkota Cheras. as key drivers of the tourism market but also costume with his Association (MKHA) president Zohaime
that post-Covid-19, people realised there was friend, Kessie Muhamad Sori said the current restrictive
“It was good to have a guide because we much more to a tour. Huen, in a conditions had caused some homestay
were not familiar with the route and the Spiderman outfit owners to forgo applying.
place. “We see the trend is starting to move at Lorong
towards experiential touring and agents Panggung, “For example, in our previous grants, we
“After enjoying the stunning view, our tour offering such services are expected to Chinatown in had to go through bureaucracy that was too
guide friend also brought us to a few other increase. Kuala Lumpur. rigid and burdensome. So, we hope that the
places to enjoy some nice local food. — yaP CHee eligibility requirements can be relaxed this
“Agents should cater to this new market. HonG/The Star time. However, we really appreciate the gov-
“Then, the next day, we were given a narra- They need to be more creative in their pack- ernment’s concern in helping homestay own-
tive trip about the older quarters of the city ages and refocus their offering for the smaller groups, with quality and depth of experience. ers provide better services to tourists, espe-
centre, strolling down the streets with the old “Storytelling will play a big role in this cially after almost two years of not being able
buildings while listening to the stories. to operate due to the pandemic,” he said.
new trend,” Wong said, adding that these
“I think such an interactive trip is not some- tourists also tended to pay more for their Under Budget 2022, Finance Minister
thing that we can achieve by checking into experience. Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz
places according to online recommenda- announced that a total allocation of RM1.6bil
tions,” he said. However, the new trend would not be was to be channelled through seven major
replacing traditional tours overnight, he said, initiatives to help the tourism sector which
The 35-year-old from Seremban, Negri adding that Malaysians now had a greater had been badly affected by the Covid-19 pan-
Sembilan, is now looking forward to joining appreciation of travelling within their own demic.
similar trips in the near future. country.
The RM30mil matching grant is for the pur-
He is not the only one, according to Malay- MATTA, said Wong, had recently come pose of repairs for homestay owners and the
sian Association of Tour and Travel Agents together with the Malaysian Association of 738 budget hotels registered under the
(MATTA) secretary-general Nigel Wong, who Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
said “experiential touring” was now the “new Suppliers, the Malaysian Association of Hotels
black” in the tourism industry, especially and airlines under the Malaysia Aviation Malaysia Budget Hotel and Business
among millennials who emphasised more on Group to launch the Travel Safe Alliance Association deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh
the depth of their experience. Malaysia to ensure that appropriate health Michiel said he hoped that the government
and safety procedures and processes were in would be more concerned about the industry
Based on a United Nations World Tourism place. as it would take a long time to recover despite
Organisation report, Wong said future travel the pandemic being currently under control
would be driven by millennials born between in the country. — Bernama
1981 and 1996, who tended to go for
“experiential tours”.

“It is no longer popular for them to go in
large groups as what the previous genera-
tions used to, hopping on buses with 40 peo-
ple and going to as many places as you can.

Tourists tipping towards personalised holidays, say industry players

By MARTIN CARVALHO and RSN MURALI Uzaidi, who is also Malaysian Inbound and itineraries,” she said. nue generating revenue. This concept reduces
newsdesk@thestar.com.my Tourism Association (Mita) president, said Smaller tour groups, she added, would also infection risks and is more focused on provid-
PETALING JAYA: Besides using it as a this was because travelling in smaller groups ing quality vacations,” he said.
time-saving measure, more Malaysians are would save more time, especially for those be better exposed to the finer details or histo-
veering towards personalised holidays to seeking to go on brief weekend holidays. ry of a particular attraction. Goh said private tours were designed to
keep their families safe and secure in small match the needs of a tourist, namely, his or
tour groups, said travel groups. “Also, travelling in a smaller tour group or Kuah cited the heritage walkabout and the her own itinerary with specialised guides and
with family gives a better sense of safety. This “Melaka At Night” tours as examples of per- destinations of choice.
Malaysian Tourism Council president is because of the lower risk of exposure to sonalised packages for small groups.
Uzaidi Udanis said tourists were now seeking infections compared to being in close contact “Most importantly, travellers can move on
to travel in smaller groups following the lift- with strangers in a large group,” he said. Both Uzaidi and Kuah also urged the their own and have the flexibility of selecting
ing of the interstate travel ban. Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry to pro- the right accommodation,” he said, adding
Malacca Tourism Association president mote tour packages for small groups. that many tour companies here had moved to
“There are fewer large tour groups and Madelina Kuah said there were those who ecotourism to promote private tours, espe-
tour buses at attractions. There is a trend wanted to enjoy a more personalised holiday Chairman of the Melaka chapter of the cially at recreational sites in Kuala Linggi and
nowadays of families or small groups of peo- experience in small tour groups. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Jasin.
ple travelling together instead of large Agents (MATTA), Goh Hock Gin, said private
groups,” he said in an interview. “One will have more free time in a smaller tours were gradually turning popular follow- “These sites were less known in the past,”
group compared to travelling in a large group ing the impact of Covid-19. he said, adding that these tours were popular
during which one is bound by fixed schedules with families.
“Tour agents have ventured into travel
bubble trips since last year in order to conti-

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 5

6 Nation THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Covid-19 New cases 2,471,642Total cases Category 1, 2 Category 3, 4 & 5 Total recovered VACCINATED TOTAL DOSES FULLY
IN MALAYSIA ADMINISTERED VACCINATED
Current situation 4,979 4,894 85 2,374,761
As at 11:59pm Oct 30 50,012,681 24,411,588
(98.3%) (1.7%) (+6,127 cases) (Daily figures in brackets) (75,874) (49,192)

Covid-19 infectivity rate or R-naught (Rt) by state as at Oct 30

Perlis Kedah Penang Perak Selangor Kelantan Terengganu Pahang SeNmebgirlian Melaka Johor Sabah Sarawak K. LuFmT pur PutFraTjaya LaFbTuan

0.92 0.94 0.86 0.89 0.95 0.86 0.87 0.94 1.02 0.97 0.87 0.95 0.83 1.02 0.97 0

Striking big with guavas Covid-19 daily
cases dip
below 5,000
mark, second
time in a week

Sweet return: PETALING JAYA: The number of Covid-19
abdul Halim daily cases in the country has dipped below
checking the the 5,000 mark for a second time in a week,
quality of a says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor
guava at his Hisham Abdullah.
farm in
Kampung He added that a total of 4,979 new Covid-19
Tengah, Pulau cases were recorded yesterday.
Gadong in
Melaka. A total of 4,782 cases were reported nation-
— bernama wide on Oct 25, marking the first time cases
had dipped below the 5,000 mark since a
Farmer hits jackpot with fruit after switching from veggies surge in more 20,000 daily cases nationwide
in early August this year.
MELAKA: After facing difficulties in selling two tonnes of fruits to enable me to generate aim is to produce at least 10 tonnes of guava
vegetables and losing thousands of ringgit an income of RM10,000 a week,” Abdul Halim a week by the end of next year,” said Abdul Of the new cases, he said 85 cases were
each day following the movement control told Bernama at his farm in Pulau Gadong Halim, who comes from a family of farmers. under Categories Three, Four and Five, which
order last year, Abdul Halim Abdullah deci- here. required admission and treatment at hospi-
ded to turn to Lohan guava (GU16) farming. He now has four full-time employees, tals, while 4,894 cases were under Categories
Apart from supplying them to Fama in including a person with disabilities, to assist One and Two which required home quaran-
Abdul Halim, 45, who has been cultivating Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and him in the three farms. tine.
vegetables such as chillies and eggplants for Melaka, he also supplies his farm produce to
the past 13 years, said he made the decision about 50 small traders and a wholesaler in Abdul Halim said he initiated the group Dr Noor Hisham said that the new infec-
after income from his telecommunications the state. farming project to share his experience and tions has brought the total number of infec-
contractor job also suffered during the MCO help his friends generate good income equi- tions to 2,471,642 cases since the outbreak
period. According to Abdul Halim, the eight-tonne valent to that of professional workers. began last year.
monthly supply was at times not sufficient for
He now concentrates fully on Lohan guava markets outside Melaka, so he was currently “Growing vegetables and growing Lohan “A total of 6,127 patients had recovered
or jambu batu cultivation. working on a GU16 pilot project with six guava is different especially in terms of capi- yesterday, bringing the total number of reco-
friends for the cultivation of 2,000 trees on a tal, workload and burden of risk,” he said, veries to 2,374,761 cases or 96.1%,” he said in
Today, he has three farms over a 2.83ha 3.24ha site in Jalan Setulang Daeng, Bukit adding that he has never regretted switching a statement.
area around Kampung Tengah, Pulau Gadong Rambai. to guava cultivation.
here, which are planted with about 1,000 Of those seeking treatment, he said 562
trees. “The group project took off in early October He has received encouraging responses on patients were now in the intensive care unit,
and the trees are being planted in stages and the quality of the Lohan guava from buyers with 326 requiring respiratory assistance.
“In the beginning, there were endless prob- will be fully completed by December. who have now become his regular customers
lems including issues over marketing which as the fruits are sweet, crunchy and juicy. “A total of 326 cases required breathing
resulted in the fruits going to waste until I “This would be followed by another project assistance; 220 cases are confirmed to be
began to collaborate with the Melaka Federal on a 6.47ha site in Bukit Katil early next year,” In terms of pricing, Abdul Halim said the Covid-19 while 106 cases are still under inves-
Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama). he said. guavas were sold directly from the farms at tigations,” he added.
RM5 per kilogramme for A-grade fruits, while
“Alhamdulillah, the guava trees that I plant- “The projects are implemented to meet the B-grade ones were sold at RM4 and C-grade, at Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said that six
ed have reached maturity and can produce growing demand for Lohan guava and my RM3. new Covid-19 clusters were detected as of
yesterday, bringing the total of active clusters
Booster shots for cops on duty for polls to 428.

KOTA BARU: More than 10,000 police per- “Currently, we are still waiting for a decision Of the new clusters, he said eight cases
sonnel, who will be on duty in the Melaka from the MOH on the vaccine, and will wait to were detected at a workplace in Batu Pahat,
election and the Sarawak polls expected to be see if there are further instructions.” 11 community cases in Ulu Selangor and 16
held soon, will be given priority to receive community cases in Kota Baru.
Covid-19 vaccine booster shots, says Deputy datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan The other clusters were 24 cases from the
Lazim. He added that there were about 3,700 per- various contingents nationwide, at a cost of education sector in Seberang Prai Utara and
sonnel in Melaka and 7,000 in Sarawak at RM62,784,600, which included training. Kulim, and 33 cases from institutions of high-
He said although there had been no direc- present. er learning clusters in Seremban, Kuala Pilah
tives on the matter, police had made an appli- Also present during the event were and Kuantan.
cation to the Health Ministry (MOH) for the “Nationwide, there are more than 120,000 Kelantan police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat
purpose on Oct 26. personnel. Currently, we are still waiting for a and his deputy Datuk Muhammad Zaki ‘Yo-yo’ trend of
decision from the MOH on the vaccine, and Harun, GO Auto Group executive director daily cases
“For this booster dose, we will focus on will wait to see if there are further instruc- Datuk SM Azli Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin and continues,
personnel in contingents where state elec- tions,” he said. Bukit Aman Logistics Department principal says Masidi
tions are expected to be held,” he told report- assistant director of transport SAC Adnan
ers after the handover ceremony of 23 Toyota On the handing over of vehicles, Mazlan Ahmad. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s daily cases
Hilux GS Cargo vehicles and 11 Go Auto Higer said 400 such vehicles were handed over to dipped to 447 cases after an increase of 61
Ace vans at the Kelantan police headquarters infections the day before.
here yesterday.
“The ‘yo-yo’ trend of daily Covid-19 num-
According to Bernama, Mazlan said the bers continues,” said Sabah Covid-19 spokes-
dose was important for personnel working in person Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
the field as they would have to face various
situations while on duty. It went up by 61 cases on Saturday to 650,
but then the daily number plunged to 447
cases yesterday, down by 203.

“Based on the current trend, this huge
decline is temporary and the numbers will
go up and down from time to time,” said
Masidi.

“Categories Three, Four and Five (serious)
cases remain low, two in Category Three,
three in Category Four and two in Category
Five,” he added.

No new clusters were reported yesterday.
He said apart from Kota Kinabalu, which
registered 84 cases, other districts in the state
recorded new cases below 50.
However, Masidi added that 78 out of the
84 cases in Kota Kinabalu were those that
registered late at two days or more.

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 7

8 Nation | Golden Hearts Award 2021 | THE STAR, MOndAy 1 nOveMber 2021

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Practise new norms in campaigns, urges Wee ‘Grassroots
intact despite
By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH Mohammadin’s
farhaan@thestar.com.my defection’

BATU PAHAT: Political parties con- Generous gesture: dr Wee (right) handing out aid to SMK yong Peng representatives at dewan Komuniti KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan
testing in the Melaka election Ayer Hitam in Johor. Sabah’s strength at the grassroots
should practise the new norms in level remains intact despite losing
their campaigns as the Covid-19 be campaigning would be different “We still have eight days before election-related gatherings would Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohammadin
pandemic is far from over, says from previous elections. the nomination date. The discus- take effect until Nov 27. Ketapi who has defected, says party
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee sions have yet to be finalised but I information chief Datuk Awang
Ka Siong. “We have to change how we cam- am confident that the process will The ban is made under the Ahmad Sah.
paign. It will not be like the old days run smoothly. Prevention and Control of Infectious
He said there would have to be of having mass gatherings. Diseases Act, which states that there He acknowledged that party
changes that need to be done in “Whatever the final decision is, it should not be any mass gathering of members were disappointed with
view of the pandemic. “There would be some restric- will be based upon Barisan’s high- people under any phase of the Mohammadin for leaving the party
tions in place,” he added. est leadership and be made collec- National Recovery Plan. to become an Independent, friendly
“I do not want to make any pre- tively,” he said. to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state
diction as I have yet to see the stand- On Barisan Nasional’s prepara- Nomination day for the Melaka government.
ard operating procedure agreed to tions, Dr Wee said discussions on Last Monday, Health Minister election will be on Nov 8.
by the National Security Council seat allocation among component Khairy Jamaluddin said the ban on However, he said the party would
that will be issued by the Election parties were ongoing. Polling day is set for Nov 20. remain focused on its struggles.
Commission for the Melaka election.
Its grassroots support was still
“It is not good for me to make any strong despite losing three assem-
kind of speculation but as we are blymen who switched their support
still facing the pandemic, it requires to the GRS-led state government, he
us to adapt to the new norms,” Dr said.
Wee, who is Transport Minister and
Ayer Hitam MP, told reporters after The two-year-old Warisan-led
presenting aid to 33 schools within state government was toppled by
his constituency at Dewan Komuniti the 10-party GRS coalition in last
Ayer Hitam here yesterday. year’s snap state election.

The aid included giving sanitisers Awang Ahmad urged party mem-
to the schools to help with their bers to continue working with the
preparations in welcoming back people to ensure the party strength-
their students. ened itself for the general election
expected early next year.
Dr Wee, who was asked about the
Health Ministry’s ban on political On Saturday, Mohammadin who
gatherings in the state until Nov 27 is Segama assemblyman said he
over Covid-19 concerns, said it would become an Independent,
would be a new norm for MCA. friendly to the GRS at the state level.

He said the way the party would His exit from Warisan did not
come as surprise as speculation
Police: Appeal to Health Dept about him quitting the party had
Chief maintains cops had grounds to issue fines on parties been circulating since last year.

By RSN MURALI MELAKA their duties in accordance with the ers from a lorry which was turned Warisan, led by former chief
murali@thestar.com.my Health Ministry’s ban on any into a makeshift stage. minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie
MELAKA: Political parties can sub- ELECTION 2021 election-related activities, gather- Apdal, holds 19 seats in the 78-mem-
mit appeals to the Melaka Health ings or social gatherings until Nov “This ceramah concept is not con- ber assembly.
Department if they are unhappy Nomination: Nov 8 Polling: Nov 20 27. sidered a social event as there was
with the compound notices issued “Political parties can either no large gathering that poses a risk Opposition Pakatan Harapan has
to them for violating the standard DCP Abdul Majid was responding of triggering a new Covid-19 clus- nine seats.
operating procedure related to the appeal to the health authorities or to a statement by PKR information ter,” he said, adding that those who
Melaka election, says state police seek legal redress if they feel that chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin listened to the ceramah were at PAS Youth:
chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira the compound notices issued were that his party’s election team was home, either following the speeches Field young
Abdul Majid Mohd Ali. unfair,” he said in an interview yes- slapped with a RM10,000 compound via live stream or from the porches candidates
terday. for an attempt to hold a “mobile” of their homes.
He said the force would carry out political ceramah at Paya Rumput PORT DICKSON: Newly-elected
its responsibility in accordance He reminded the public that here on Saturday. To this, DCP Abdul Majid main- PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli
with the Prevention and Control of gatherings and rallies related to the tained that the policemen at the Shaari hopes at least half the candi-
Infectious Diseases (Measures with- election were not permitted, adding During an online press confe- scene had grounds to issue the com- dates that are to be fielded by the
in Infected Local Areas) (National that the police would remain apoli- rence yesterday, Shamsul Iskandar, pound notice. party in the coming general election
Recovery Plan) 2021. tical in the enforcement of the law. who is Hang Tuah Jaya MP, said no will comprise young individuals.
crowd had gathered at the ceramah “PKR can appeal against the com-
He said his men would execute and speakers were using loudspeak- pound notice to the relevant autho- This would enable the party to
rities,” he added. get more support from young
voters, said Ahmad, who is Pasir
PH top leadership to decide on assemblymen Mas MP and previous deputy chief
of the youth wing.
By SARBAN SINGH cuss the matter with Melaka Pakatan Deepavali goodies in Kg India, Bukit Anwar said Pakatan would only
sarbans@thestar.com.my and then take it to the top leadership Pelandok, near here. decide on Idris, Nor Azman and “We have at least 10 youth clubs
PORT DICKSON: Pakatan Harapan for a final decision on whether the Noor Effandi as Norhizam had been in the wing and they will be used to
has yet to decide on accepting three trio could contest under its ticket for On Oct 4, Sungai Udang assembly- sacked by DAP. get more support from the young
of the four assemblymen who with- the Nov 20 state polls. man Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Pantai voters,” he said, adding that the
drew their support for former Kundor assemblyman Datuk Nor DAP had earlier stated that it candidates might not necessarily be
Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri “I am aware of the comments on Azman Hassan (both from Umno), would not accept Norhizam back from the wing but should include
Sulaiman Md Ali. social media likening what they did Telok Mas assemblyman Noor into the party. women and other professionals.
to the Sheraton Move which caused Effandi Ahmad from Parti Pribumi
This decision to withdraw sup- the collapse of the Federal Govern- Bersatu Malaysia and Independent Anwar said the three had already In the wing’s election, Ahmad
port led to the collapse of the state ment. lawmaker Datuk Norhizam Hassan expected to be sacked by their par- Fadhli defeated Kubu Gajah assem-
government. Baktee declared that they had lost ties for withdrawing support for the blyman Khalil Yahya in a straight
“I actually disagree with that confidence in Sulaiman’s leadership. previous state government. fight.
Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri because what they did was to give
Anwar Ibrahim said he would dis- the people’s mandate back to This led to the dissolution of the Despite the comments made Former Youth chief Senator
Pakatan,” he said after distributing state assembly. against them, he said “we can’t just Khairil Nizam Khirudin did not
push them away”. seek re-election.

Its former vice-chief Afnan Hami-
mi Taib Azamuddin was elected
deputy. He had edged out Farkhan
Md Zain.

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Nation 9

Penang firemen ready for floods
Personnel at all stations have been training hard for monsoon season

By LIEW JIA XIAN Be prepared: Saadon (right) and his men checking rescue equipment ings and documents at a safe place Penang Hill Corporation general
jiaxian@thestar.com.my at the Perak road fire station in George Town. in preparation for flash floods,” he manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng
GEORGE TOWN: Firemen in added. said hill maintenance staff were
Penang have been busy carrying five districts and 116 flood evacua- “It can save our time if people monitoring closely for fallen trees.
out exercises in anticipation of the tion centres had been identified. adhere to instructions and evacuate There are about 800 firefighters
coming monsoon season. immediately so that we can save and officers in Penang’s 20 fire sta- “If the wind speed is too high and
Saadon urged the public to follow more lives. tions. The department has 27 fire if the rain is too heavy and affects
They have also mapped out instructions from the authorities if engines, seven water tankers, 32 visibility, the funicular train will be
potential “dead roads” (jalan putus) they were asked to evacuate their “Those living in flood-prone areas boats and other emergency and suspended or train speed will be
which they believe may be cut off homes. should keep their important belong- rescue assets. lowered.
during floods.
State public works committee “We also need to look out for
State Fire and Rescue Department chairman Zairil Khir Johari urged debris or fallen branches at the rail-
director Saadon Moktar said his those living in low-lying areas and way tracks. We take extra caution
men had been undergoing fitness flood-prone areas to exercise extra and monitor the railway to ensure it
training every day. caution during the monsoon sea- is clear before we move the
son. coaches,” he said.
“We have been repeatedly carry-
ing out simulation training in flood- “The state spent RM150mil over Cheok said a weather station at
prone areas to be ready to adapt to the last three years to implement the upper railway station was con-
diverse emergency situations. some big flood mitigation projects nected to the corporation’s com-
such as in Butterworth, Juru and puter servers.
“Our latest simulation training Bukit Mertajam on the mainland
was on Oct 15, in which firefighters and Bayan Baru on the island,” he “When heavy rain and strong
from all 20 fire stations in Penang said, adding that many of these pro- winds are detected, the server will
were involved. jects were near completion. send alerts to our staff to check the
area for fallen trees or branches.
“During the training, our men However, Zairil said that even
sharpened their skills on how to with flood mitigation projects, the “We have noticed a wind speed of
lower boats at flood-prone areas people must play their part to pre- over 30kph for the past few days,
besides learning how to brave vent floods by not throwing rubbish which is considered quite strong,”
strong tides,” he said yesterday. indiscriminately as this would lead he said, adding that staff would
to clogged drains. check for soil erosion on the slopes
He said 63 hotspots in the state’s after a downpour.

10 Nation THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

FLASHBACK #50

The name that struck fear in many
Mona remains a fascinating figure to Malaysians even 20 years after her execution

EVEN to this day, two decades Gripping news: The front page of ‘The Star’ on Feb 10, 1995, on the High Court passing a sentence that Mona be hanged (left) and a focus
after she was hanged at the age of piece on how Mona had captivated Malaysians.
45, Mona Fandey remains both a
fascinating and frightening figure was very nice to the press. – the house where the murder was Mona, who was handcuffed to listed out the jewellery that Mona
to Malaysians. “She was friendly, always executed – in Ulu Dong, Raub. the back, looked happy to see her- and husband had supposedly
self in the papers, Ng said. bought using Mazlan’s money,
Tomorrow marks the 20th anni- smiling at us.” The incomplete, windowless after he paid them for some mysti-
versary of her death. In fact, Ng had also spent one house was almost enveloped by One day, Mona came into the cal items.
tall grass. court, looking very grouchy.
Shortly after she was executed month in Raub, Pahang, to cover According to Ng, Mona shouted
on Nov 2, 2001, The Star ran an the 1993 preliminary inquiry into It was the place where decom- The ever-inquisitive court at the top of her voice at the wit-
article with the heading the death of state assemblyman posing body parts were dug up reporters were curious, so they ness in Hokkien: “Gua chai lu kong
“Bewitched by mystery of Mona” Datuk Mazlan Idris who had been two months earlier. enlisted the help of a policewoman ha mi. You cakap tipu.” (I know
that captured why the entire coun- chopped into 18 parts. to find out why. what you are saying. You’re lying.)
try was so transfixed on the story (Ng recalled a crime reporter
of a bomoh who had murdered a So when the trial proper began telling her that the recovery of the “Since we couldn’t approach the But there was a side to Mona
politician. the following year in Temerloh, body was so stomach-churning dock, the cop helped us to relay that had not been written about
Mona recognised Ng and several that even several veteran police- our question to her,” Ng said. much.
It was written by Star Media other pressmen when she was men threw up at the sight of it.)
Group chief content officer Esther brought to the courthouse in a As it turned out, Mona had got- Ng recalled an occasion when
Ng, who had covered the five- Black Maria. The stench was still lingering ten up late and had no time to put Mona’s four-year-old daughter
month murder trial in 1994 and when the court team and press on her makeup. was brought to the courtroom
1995 in Temerloh, Pahang; miss- She nodded towards the corp visited that day. during the trial.
ing not one day of the sensational reporters and said hello. “So I don’t feel pretty today,”
courtroom drama as it unfolded. “There were pressmen, police- said Mona, who had often attend- “She immediately called out to
“I kenal you,” Mona said, while men and officials, and three mil- ed her trial in flashy clothes. her ‘Diana, Diana!’”
To this day, she gets asked about pointing at Ng. lion flies!” she recalled.
the bomoh whose real name was Without her makeup on, she did The girl was the light of her life.
Maznah Ismail. “And you and you,” she added, At the courthouse, the security not want any pictures taken of her She sobbed at the witness stand at
gesturing to two other journalists. guards were often accommodat- that day. the mere mention of her little girl,
Was she as scary as she looked ing to the press people, allowing Ng said.
in real life? Was all the supernatu- “She even called out my name. them to talk to the accused. In many ways, people were
ral stuff real? Is it true she was She was approachable,” said Ng. very much afraid of Mona. Was Mona a cold-blooded mur-
evil? Were you scared, being so On one occasion during the pre- derer? Yes.
close to her for five months? One day during the preliminary liminary inquiry, Ng showed Ng, in her write-up about Mona,
inquiry, a “delegation” from the Mona a news clipping in The Star described how a prosecution wit- A witch? Who knows?
“And all these questions were court, including the three accused that had been written about her. ness was thoroughly shaken after But like any other mother, she
asked in hushed voices, as though (Mona, her husband and their he was admonished by Mona. loved her child deeply.
fearing that Mona could hear us. assistant), revisited the crime scene “Kak Mona, tengok,” Ng told her.
That’s what I found more amus- This took place after the witness
ing!” Ng said.

In fact, some of those who
attended the court proceedings
kept an amulet with them through-
out the trial or recited verses to
themselves.

Ng was often given unsolicited
advice on ways to keep safe from
any curses from “the witch”.

“Well-meaning people would
tell me to say my prayers. Others
kept telling me to bring an amulet,
until I had to remind them that I
am a rosary-carrying Catholic,”
she said.

Recently, Ng went looking for
the stacks of notebooks and news
clippings that she had used during
Mona’s trial.

She found them stored together
with pictures of the Sacred Heart,
Divine Mercy and Virgin Mary.

It amused her that her 26-year-
old self had the notion of keeping
those notebooks and articles in
that manner!

Looking back, Ng said Mona

1,000 PEDi centres by 2023 Festival of

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,000 he said on RTM’s Selamat Pagi Nov 4, 2021
Malaysian Family Digital Economy Malaysia @Ketereh, Kelantan pro-
Centres (PEDi) will be set up gramme. Spoilt for choice
throughout the country by the end
of next year, says Communications He also launched #SayaDigital, U. Jayamalar, 28, choosing
and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri which will feature experts in a decoration for her house
Annuar Musa. e-commerce yesterday. for the upcoming deepavali
celebration at a shop in
Apart from this, the existing 600 “This will allow kampung folk, Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.
to 800 PEDi throughout the country single mothers, petty traders, — aZHar MaHFoF/
will be upgraded. hawkers and youths an early intro- The Star
duction to the use of broadband
PEDi, rebranded from existing facilities to increase their income,”
community Internet centres, is he said, adding that previously, the
expected to be launched this month broadband network was only used
in Bera, Pahang, reported Bernama. for communication.

“We will build new ones through- He hoped it would be able to
out the country in areas which do transform lives, including increas-
not have the facility yet, but the ing people’s income through online
most important thing is content,” marketing.

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 11

12 Views THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Not your average nosy neighbours

Local community in beijing helping the authorities reduce crime rate and illegal activities.

THEY could be cleaners, delivery BEH Caught out: (Left) Li and Jaycee (elderly women of the West City
riders, street vendors, profession- YuEn Hui are among the high-profile cases district) has ganged up to form
als, servicemen, corporate execu- the Chaoyang qunzhong were another “secret agency” (Beijing has
tives or retirees but they share one n@etwhessdteasrk.com.my involved in. 16 districts).
common goal – maintaining public
order and safety of their homes. Colours of China It was reported that Chaoyang became a common opening line of Although not as famous as their
qunzhong channel more than police when announcing their Chaoyang counterparts, members
These ordinary citizens living in to the variety show Call Me by Fire, 20,000 tip-offs to the authorities crime battling successes. of the group are mostly elderly
Beijing’s Chaoyang district keep a which features a list of Hong Kong yearly and one-third of them were aunties.
watch on suspicious characters and stars such as Jordan Chan, Julian useful. One member of the community,
illegal activities and report their Cheung Chi-lam, Paul Wong Koon- a 71-year-old woman, known only The Xicheng dama has a strong
findings to the enforcement teams. chung, Michael Tse Tin-wah and MC The term became a household as Wang, helped police bust a pros- presence of nearly 100,000 regis-
Jin, Chinese kungfu actor Vincent word after the community helped titution den. tered volunteers.
Known as the Chaoyang qun- Zhao Wenzhuo as well as Taiwanese police crack down on a list of
zhong (Chaoyang masses), these singer Terry Lin and actor Jerry high-profile cases involving popu- It was reported that the dama Wearing a red cap, red jacket and
anonymous citizens have provided Yan. lar figures including the arrest of (elderly woman) spotted a young a red armband, they patrol car
thousands of tip-offs to the authori- international kungfu star Jackie man, who had just moved into her parks, bus stops, residential and
ties over the years. The production team of the pro- Chan’s son Jaycee over drugs in apartment, often wandering in the commercial areas, and are on the
gramme had to blur out his face in 2014. compound and interacting with look out for suspicious characters
The Beijingers have jokingly a pre-recorded episode when it was male strangers who would then pay and vehicles.
referred them as “the world’s fifth aired. Their “popularity” shot up in a short visit to his unit.
largest intelligence force” after the 2017 after police named a whistle- Xicheng dama became known to
United States’ Central Intelligence They had done the same to blower mobile app after the group She also noticed that the neigh- the public after they reported the
Agency (CIA), the former Soviet Chinese singer Huo Zun, who was – a tribute to these mysterious spies. bour, who lived alone, ordered food whereabouts of a wanted man
Union’s KGB, Israel’s Mossad and blacklisted for “improper beha- enough for several people at every involved in a series of thefts to
the M16 secret intelligence service viour” after he was accused of dat- In 2018, police cracked 370 cases, meal. police and tracked down dozens of
of the United Kingdom. ing several women at the same including theft, drugs and sexual clues involving violent attacks in
time. activities, following the arrest of The dama alerted the police, who 2015.
Chaoyang qunzhong’s latest 250 suspects based on the over later confirmed the apartment unit
achievement is the arrest of Chaoyang, a south-central district 8,300 tip-offs from the community. was being used as a prostitution In Haidian district – the cyberhub
renowned Chinese pianist Li Yundi of Beijing, covers an area of 470 sq den housing six female sex work- of Beijing – Haidian netizens have
recently. km and has an estimated popula- After that, “The Chaoyang branch ers. also chipped in their efforts in bat-
tion of 3.5 million. received reports from the public ...” tling crime.
Police said they picked up a In the west, the Xicheng dama
39-year-old man and a 29-year-old It houses the central business Hiding behind their computers or
woman at 9pm following a public zone, the iconic CCTV building and cellphones, these spies have kept an
tip-off on alleged prostitution activi- the Bird’s Nest National Stadium, eye on online information and mes-
ty at a residence in the district. that made it the most prosperous sages with their expertise in the
and happening region in the cyberworld.
Although the duo’s identities Chinese capital.
were not revealed, it was later con- Together with the Fengtai per-
firmed the man nabbed was that of The district is also a popular site suaders in the southern Fengtai dis-
China’s Prince of Piano – an honour for studios and film production trict, they are known as the Four
Li gained for being the first Chinese houses and many artistes live in the Mysterious Organisations of Beijing
and the youngest winner of the area. that have contributed in making the
International Chopin Piano compe- Chinese capital one of the safest
tition. places on Earth.

He was just 18 then. If you stroll down the alleys of
Under Chinese law, those engaged Beijing one day, do not be surprised
in prostitution can be detained for if an aunty or uncle came asking
10 to 15 days, plus a fine of up to where are you heading to and who
5,000 yuan (RM3,250). you are meeting with, they mean no
Li’s arrest has caused an impact harm but just doing what they could
to safeguard their homes.

Other news & views

Compiled by CHoW HoW ban and raZaK aHMad

First roaming elephants, now swimming boars are a viral hit

A VIRAL video that showed a herd cle for the local people. the country could be contained a vaccination rate of more than 80% her epic laughter.
of wild boars crossing a lake in Anhui Normal University ecology within a month. by year-end. “Suddenly, we are flooded with
China’s Anhui province recently has
caused a stir on social media, Sin and environment faculty lecturer Dr Zhong, a recipient of the The country recorded 78 new memories of Lydia Shum,” one
Chew Daily reported. Wu Hailong said wild boars usually Republic Medal in 2020, the highest cases on Saturday, the highest since social media comment read.
travel on land and would not ven- accolade given to a Chinese nation- Sept 16.
The “adventure” at Taiping Lake ture into water. al, said in a medical conference on Eng posted a short clip of her
near Longmenxiang in Huangshan Saturday that China was now going > China Press reported that cameo appearance in the TV drama
city left many lost for words. He said the incident could possi- through a period which saw the Malaysian actress Beauty Eng stole on her Instagram last Friday.
bly be due to some “great excite- coronavirus at an active stage. the spotlight in the Malaysia/
Some villagers said they had seen ment” which forced the animals to Singapore TV drama The Ferryman: “I have always received com-
wild boars wandering around the plunge into the lake and travel in Although the virus was spreading Legends of Nanyang, with her por- ments that my laugh is similar to
lake before but they had never seen that manner. in some communities and there trayal of the late Hong Kong actress that of Lydia Shum.
a herd crossing in such a manner. were local transmissions, he Lydia Shum.
> Kwong Wah Yit Poh quoted believed the situation would be “I’m really happy to have had the
The video filmed by fishermen in China’s well-known pulmonologist under control soon. Many praised Eng for bringing opportunity to play her.
the area showed the animals swim- Dr Zhong Nanshan as saying that the Hong Kong comedian alive,
ming in two rows, and was a specta- the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in He also expects China to achieve especially in the way Eng mimicked “She not only brought joy to a lot
of people in Hong Kong but also to
many around the world,” she said.

Search ongoing for elderly man missing after boating mishap

AN elderly man was swept away by managed to save themselves, an Terengganu’s Pulau Perhentian was to Kelantan to visit my in-laws so I neighbouring Indonesia as well,
strong river currents after the boat elderly man is missing, believed to abuzz with visitors again following decided to make a stop at Perhentian Berita Harian reported.
he was travelling in capsized near have been swept away by the strong its reopening to tourism on Sept 20. along the way for a holiday,” he
Giam in Song, Sarawak, Berita currents,” said the department. said. The 24-year-old, who recently
Harian reported. Many local tourists were seen made the list of top five most popu-
During the incident, the group making a beeline for the island – Tour boat operator Raja Zulkar- lar actresses in the Anugerah
A spokesman from the Sarawak had been travelling by boat from either for day trips or to spend a nain Raja Mansor, 24, said it was a Bintang Popular BH based on public
Fire and Rescue Department said the Inggang longhouse in Tapang few nights there. relief to see tourists at the island votes, said that most of the support
the incident occurred on Saturday towards Song. again. came from Indonesia.
morning. Visitor Azizan Khamis, 53, said he
The department said a rescue and 18 other family members took > Actress Sweet Qismina, who is “The support is very unexpected,
“According to a witness, 10 peo- operation to find the missing man a day trip to the island to enjoy its known for her role in Hikayat with many sending me messages
ple were travelling in the boat when was ongoing. beautiful scenery. Putera Syazlan, has built up a fan saying that they would continue to
it capsized. While the other nine base not just in Malaysia but in vote for me,” said Sweet.
> Harian Metro reported that “I live in Kedah and wanted to go

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 13

14 Views Mental healthcare THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021
RESEARCH conducted during the
If you want to have your say immediately, Covid-19 pandemic has revealed EMAIL editor@thestar.com.my or
use your cellphone. SMS your comments that mental health issues among MAIL The Editor, Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11,
to The Star on topics and issues related Malaysians increased by two-fold Section 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya.
to general news, business and sports compared with baseline data from Letters must carry the sender’s full name, address
(include name/ pseudonym): Type STAR the National Health and Morbidity and telephone number.
NW (or BZ or SP) followed by the message Survey 2019. The outcome of this is A pseudonym may be included.
and send to 39993. This is a free service. a soaring figure of 2,800 suicide
However, normal mobile operators’ cases throughout the pandemic thus online
network charges apply. far. We are concerned by the likeli- help-seeking behaviour. Research
hood that members of low-income of researchers from Universiti Photo: 123rf.com done by social scientists shows that
> Safety is the priority groups especially will develop men- Malaya, showed a positive uptake and strategic plan. human belief systems could defy
To all the politicians who are tal health issues as they have experi- from people in the low-income evidence-based intervention and
campaigning for votes in Melaka, enced double the financial hardship. group and reduced mental health 2) Leverage on non-professional persuade adherents to go for less
please follow the SOP. The authorities issues through a positive psychology workers to implement less struc- scientific options. Such behaviour
should not excuse any of them from Increasing mental health issues is approach (bit.ly/tool_mental). This tured mental health intervention may explain vaccination hesitancy
adhering to the rules. While votes a reflection of gaps in accessing health promotion tool was devel- that promotes positive psychology in in the community despite adequate
might be important to the political mental healthcare. Poor help- oped and used during the pandemic. a community setting. Such an health education.
parties, safety is more important to seeking behaviour stems from high approach is culturally appropriate,
the rakyat. – NV Subbarow, Penang mental health stigma, and low men- Digital mental health services less stigmatised, less labour- Digitalising mental healthcare can
> No deterrent to animal cruelty tal health literacy hinders people have the advantage of being able to intensive and can strengthen a limit- help destigmatise public health
It is most unfortunate that animal from getting the needed treatment. reach out to underserved groups ed mental healthcare workforce. measures to resolve unmet needs
cruelty is still prevalent in our so- with low budgets; they are also less and allow the vulnerable to access
called modern society, as reported by By realising stigma is a threat to stigmatised and use minimal profes- 3) Improve network coverage to quality healthcare through sound
the Department of Veterinary Services successful prevention and treatment sional assistants. The drawback is give better Internet access in areas technology. Optimising digitalisation
(DVS). A DVS director said animal of mental health issues, high-income high dropout rates but this is offset like rural enclaves in Sabah and can help to close the gaps in mental
abuse occurs because of a low level countries like Britain have adopted by the massive outreach. Hence, we Sarawak, and help people in low- healthcare in Malaysia.
of awareness of animal welfare online, low-intensity psychosocial offer a few policy recommendations cost housing neighbourhoods go
among the public. This statement is therapy as one of the mainstays in for mental health digitalisation: online with more subsidised DR WONG MIN FUI
not quite accurate, as it is simply dealing with mild common mental charges. Reducing network inequity @ ESTHER WONG
basic human decency to treat animals, health issues (research published in 1) Anti-stigmatisation mental among the poor can help to enable
pets or otherwise, with care and 2009 and 2021 by Britain’s National health promotion intervention for access to quality online mental Department of Social and
kindness. One does not have to be Institute for Health and Care vulnerable communities should be a healthcare. Preventive Medicine,
aware to be kind, it should come Excellence). Their research has policy priority and made explicit in Universiti Malaya
naturally. It certainly doesn’t help that shown that online therapy reduces the national mental health policy 4) Invest in online research relat-
prosecution of abusers is quite stigma and promotes the uptake of ed to social behaviour in a real- ASSOC PROF DR MAS AYU SAID
lacking. A case in point: What has treatment (British Journal of world setting to understand poor Public Health Medicine
happened since a police report was Psychiatry at bit.ly/mental_stigma).
made about people wearing Kulim Specialist, Department of Social
Municipal Council vests filmed killing An online, culturally sensitive and Preventive Medicine,
a dog in Kedah in July? I believe they health promotion tool called Universiti Malaya
have not been punished. No point ReSHApe (Recognise, Self-help and
having big fines or long jail sentences Help-seeking), developed by a group ASSOC PROF DR HAZREEN
if prosecution is lacking. – MH ABDUL MAJID
> Realising Budget 2022
The national budget announced on Nutrition and Dietetics, Centre
Friday is a good budget – every for Population Health, and
budget is. But until it is translated into Department of Social and
the reality which solely depends on Preventive Medicine,
our economic situation, the budget Universiti Malaya
remains ringgit on paper and likely will PROF DR ROZMI ISMAIL
remain so till real efforts are made to
improve our economy. – William Ong Deputy Dean of Postgraduate,
> Parliamentary reforms Psychology and Human
In line with societal changes in this
modern age, the time has come for us Wellbeing Research Centre,
to revamp the Dewan Negara and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
empower the Upper House to be more
constructive rather than be a mere Applying a gender lens to Budget 2022
rubber stamp for legislation passed by IT is important, now more than ing allocations that would benefit realities and needs of women, girls ty and that budgetary implications
the Lower House, i.e. the Dewan ever, that Malaysia’s national budget women, children and other vulnera- and vulnerable groups. for women are not regarded seri-
Rakyat. For starters, we could adopt presents a gender-focused response, ble groups in Malaysia. ously.
the Australian or US model of equal particularly in the economic recov- This is disappointing as it was a
representation of senators from the ery from Covid-19. A gender-sensi- While we are appreciative of the good opportunity to address deep- Promises made in Budget 2022
13 states and three federal territories tive budget is critical in ensuring government’s efforts to address rooted inequalities that affect the must be viewed through a gender
who would be elected by the people that gender equality considerations some areas affecting women well-being of women and their lens, scrutinised and monitored in a
as opposed to the current practice. are taken into account in tax and through allocations for single families and could positively impact transparent manner and must show
This exercise would entail spending decisions, and must fea- mothers, childcare, women their participation in the economy. accountability to the public. Women
Constitutional amendments, a ture in fiscal policy moving forward. re-entering the workforce as well as Furthermore, there was very little make up half the population, there-
process that will probably drag on for gender-based violence, it must be information on the implementation fore the budgetary needs of women,
years judging from previous attempts As such, the Gender Budget Group noted these fall under the limited and impact of allocations made pre- families and vulnerable communi-
at reform – but we have to start (GBG), a coalition of 20 organisations purview of select ministries – pri- viously in Budget 2021. This lack of ties must be viewed in an inclusive,
somewhere. So would the honourable calling for gender responsive marily the Women, Community and transparency in a time of urgent cross-cutting manner. Only then can
de facto law minister kindly consider budgeting, closely followed the Family Development Ministry. economic recovery leaves us con- we be certain that gender equality is
this suggestion? Budget 2022 announcement by cerned about the efficacy of policies truly on the agenda of Malaysia’s fis-
> Confusing the issues Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri For example, targeted policies for intended to improve the well-being cal policy.
Malaysia seems to be obsessed by Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on Friday. the industrial sectors and supply of all in Malaysia.
the case of cosmetics entrepreneur chains in the fishing, agriculture GENDER BUDGET GROUP (GBG)
Nur Sajat and the Timah whiskey The government presented its and manufacturing industries failed The GBG also hopes the govern- The Gender Budget Group is a
issue. Is this a deliberate ploy to divert largest national budget yet with an to account for the women in their ment will improve its surface-level coalition of 20 civil society
public attention from much more allocation of RM332.1bil – however, labour force. There was also little to understanding of gender inequality
important bread-and-butter issues? the GBG is concerned by the lack of no gender focus in budgetary which was apparent in the visuals organisations and 16 academics
> Why test after vaccination? gender-focused policies and suffi- measures under education (the and language used throughout the spearheaded by the Engender
My son attends a government school cient gender analysis across various largest budget of all ministries), speech. The use of stereotyped
in an area that is in Phase Four of the sectors and ministries. Despite sports and mental healthcare nor in images of women and references to Consultancy and the Women’s Aid
NRP (National Recovery Plan). He many consultations with stake- improving economic opportunities childcare primarily being the Organisation, who focus on ensuring
recently received the second dose of holders, there is still a need for gen- impacting women in binational mother’s responsibility is a clear
the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. However, der-disaggregated data in determin- families, or minimising the lived sign of the need for gender sensitivi- different needs are effectively
the school’s administration has catered to in the budget.
requested permission to carry out
Covid-19 tests on all students. I Consider arranging quarantine-free travel with Australia
thought life should be less difficult for
the vaccinated? – Confused Father I READ with interest your article borders through dedicated travel high and still increasing vaccination remains impractical, as it means tak-
titled “Quarantine requirements dis- lanes is undoubtedly a welcome rates across the country, and the rel- ing a good seven days off one’s limit-
courage Malaysian and global move for citizens on both sides of ative success of public health meas- ed annual leave to essentially not be
tourists from travelling” dated Oct the Causeway. ures in keeping case numbers low able to do much outside one’s home.
28 (StarLifestyle; online at bit.ly/star_ throughout the pandemic. Australia
borders). It comes as no surprise In light of this, may I also suggest is also set to begin providing booster While I’m still not entirely sure
that quarantine requirements that the Malaysian government con- shots very soon. If anything, Austra- whether the reopening of borders
remain a major deterrent to inter- sider initiating quarantine-free lia is probably one of the lowest risk between Malaysia and Singapore
national travel for everyone. travel for travellers from Australia countries in the world from an epi- would entail quarantine-free travel,
soon? After Singapore, Australia is demiological perspective. I would just like to reiterate my
Malaysia’s upcoming plan to open where the second most number of request to the Malaysian govern-
quarantine-free travel for inter- Malaysians living abroad currently For many Malaysians here, includ- ment to consider Australia next. And
national tourists to Langkawi from reside, and many, including myself, ing myself, Malaysia’s seven-day I believe I’m also speaking on behalf
mid-November onwards is certainly also have families back home whom quarantine requirement remains of the thousands of Malaysians
a step forward towards “living with we have not seen for more than a the last major hurdle to hopping on living here.
the virus”. Moreover, recent discus- year now. the next flight back home. Even if
sions between the Malaysian and the quarantine period could be HOMESICK MALAYSIAN
Singaporean governments to reopen Australia is in a good position for served at home, this requirement Melbourne, Australia
Malaysia to consider this, given the

THE STAR, MondAy 1 novEMbER 2021 15

Vietnam Singapore Myanmar Philippines China

Many dreading the Some nurses unable Military junta Journalist slain by Xi urges G20 to
return to office as to cope with mental accuses anti-coup gunman in own develop rules for
firms welcome stress while working fighters of fires in apartment in latest digital governance.
back staff. >16 in ICU. >16 restive town. >17 media attack. >17 >18

Thailand

Island
vibes

Tourists taking photos
in front of James Bond
Island in Phang Nga
Bay northeast of
Phuket as the country
welcomes visitors fully
vaccinated against
Covid-19 without
quarantine from today.
— AFP

Knock on wood, just in case
Indonesians still holding on to generations worth of superstitious beliefs

Indonesia IN some west- not thousands, of superstitions “I think it’s like jinxing it, you “People would Toetik Koesbardiati, a Doctor of
ern cultures, commonly believed by Indonesians, know? Since then, we have never rather play it safe, Philosophy and lecturer in the facul-
black cats and broken mirrors are which is no surprise since the coun- had anyone’s romantic partner take it’s not about ty of social and political sciences of
considered bad luck, while four-leaf try is the home of more than 1,300 a picture with the family.” superstition Airlangga University said. “These
clovers are believed to offer magi- ethnic groups with diverse cultural anymore, but it’s beliefs and superstitions are passed
cal protection and bring good luck. backgrounds that gave birth to the Site marking about being safe.” down for generations.”
In some parts of Africa, people country’s wide array of folklores,
worship pythons because they legends, myths, taboos and even Harnia Agustin, a 24-year-old Toetik Koesbardiati While some of these superstitions
believe the snakes bring rainfall witchcraft. who lives in Batang regency in become no longer relevant over
and those who violate this are sup- Central Java, said her family would the Cirebon kraton (palace). While it time, those which are associated
posed to give the reptile an expen- Cursed family photograph always leave personal objects at a is not confirmed, it is widely known with negative consequences will
sive funeral ceremony. place they had stayed that they that many Javanese connected to not go away anytime soon.
In Indonesia, men have to ask for After a stream of bad luck fell would not like to come back to. the kraton practice kejawen, a
permission by literally saying upon his family, Edy “Khemod” Javanese religious tradition com- “Who wants to take the risk of
phrases such as “excuse me” when Susanto – known as the drummer of “When I was in the 11th grade in bining metaphysics, mysticism and getting into accidents or having
urinating in public spaces such as heavy metal band Seringai and also 2014, I was hospitalised for two other esoteric doctrines. unfortunate things happen for not
on a tree, in a bush or next to an creative director of a film produc- nights due to typhus. And when we abiding by some of these beliefs?”
empty building; otherwise the resi- tion house – believes that one sim- were about to leave, my mother Belief in the supernatural has Toetik said. “People would rather
dent supernatural forces of the site ply should not invite a romantic purposely left my towel and a piece always been strong in South-East play it safe, it’s not about superstition
would “bother” them and curse partner to join a family picture of shirt in the cabinet next to the Asia, Indonesia included. anymore, but it’s about being safe.”
them with a swollen penis. because it will end the relationship. bed,” Hernia said.
Yogyakarta-born Yogha Prasid- “There are so many ghosts in Java “For example, when a driver
dhamukti Wicaksana said he did it “When I was in my 20s, I took my “When I asked why she did it, she alone, let alone all over Indonesia,” passes a bridge, he would honk his
out of manners. girlfriend at the time to take part in said so I won’t have to come back to horn,” referring to a belief that
“You’re urinating in places you a family photograph, and not long the hospital.” quiet spots such as bridges have
shouldn’t be, so it makes sense to after we broke up,” Khemod said, supernatural residents, and honk-
ask for permission,” the 34-year-old Now, Harnia does it out of habit ing is a polite way to ask for permis-
said. “I usually just say it in my “The strange thing was, the rela- when she has to stay somewhere sion.
head.” tionship received full blessing from she would not like to return to.
It is one of possibly hundreds, if the families, and we all thought a Toetik continued, “He doesn’t
wedding was on the cards, but then According to Harnia, it is a belief have to do it, but it doesn’t take a lot
the relationship just ended. that has been passed down from of effort. And the most important
her great-grandparents, and that thing is the relief he feels after
her grandmother used to serve for doing it.” — The Jakarta Post/ANN

16 StarAsean+ THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Facing ‘back to office’ jitters Cambodia

returning to work emerges as new anxiety after pandemic ‘Stop Covid’ app
wins UN award
Vietnam After months of changes if necessary. Days at home three months of lockdown. simistic views about the future.
working from made me realise that everything rebuilding old working habits is not Concern about health and safety The “Stop Covid” Qr
home, some Ho Chi Minh City resi- could be done efficiently in the easy,” he said. Code – a location and
dents are reluctant to return to comfort of my own space. Privacy is another factor in keeping people contact-tracing app – has
their workplace. and flexibility have indeed boosted “Being present at the office home. won the Global South
even though the city has reo- my creativity,” she said. doesn’t guarantee top notch perfor- Covid-19 digital Innovation
pened and companies have started mances. Mindful planning does!” Anh tuan, 35, said that he Challenge award from the
to welcome employees back to the “I wouldn’t complain if my com- wouldn’t want to risk being infected International Telecom-
office, many people told Vietnam pany asks me to continue working Ky also pointed out that as Covid- with Covid-19 at work and carry the munication Union, a Un
News that the pandemic had essen- from home.” 19 had altered people’s perceptions virus home to his children. specialised agency for ICT.
tially wrecked their daily routines about how to go about life, another It is the first time Cambo-
and anxiety had emerged as they Gia Ky, 26, who works at a media change might mentally push people “things are different when you dia has won a world-class
had to rebuild old working habits. company, shared a similar experi- to their limit. It’s obvious that many have kids. Given the current situa- award in the ICT sector,
Ngoc Anh, 27, a graphic designer, ence. He said that applications such people tended to avoid new events. tion, being able to book an appoint- said the Post and Telecom-
said that she was able to keep up as Zoom, teams and Google Meet ment with doctors now is a privi- munications Ministry.
with her heavy workload during played a crucial role in keeping According to research by Unicef, lege. We have to undergo quite a — Phnom Penh Post/ann
months of lockdown. communication between his team the impact of Covid-19 on the men- number Covid-19 tests and adminis-
“I used to visit the company six members going. tal health of adolescents and young trative tasks to be able to bring Laos
days a week and be on my laptop 10 people between 13 and 29 years old them in,” tuan said.
hours a day. there I would con- “Despite initial struggles and dis- is clear. Child services
stantly receive feedback and make comfort, and the fact that media-re- “It may sound silly but the pan- gets a boost
lated jobs usually involve a lot of While many were reported to demic has taught me to be a better
offline interactions, I have become have experienced anxiety, others parent. I’ve learned to put my fami- UnICeF has provided IT
used to working remotely after felt less motivated to do activities ly before everything else.” — equipment and personal
they normally enjoyed and had pes- Vietnam News/ANN protection supplies to en-
sure the continuity of child
Most Thais Cambodia protection services with a
worried focus on hotline counsel-
reopening ling and support to quaran-
will trigger tine centres during the
new outbreak pandemic. The items were
donated to the Lao Peo-
Thailand A reCeNt survey ple’s revolutionary youth
shows that more Union on Wednesday.
than 70% of thais are worried that — vientiane Times/ann
today’s reopening will spark a new
wave of Covid-19 infections, espe- Brunei
cially if pubs, bars and entertain-
ment venues are reopened from Adolescents
Dec 1. to get jab soon
However, more than half of the
respondents said they hoped the heaLTh Minister dr
reopening will kickstart thailand’s Mohd Isham Jaafar said
economic recovery. the Covid-19 vaccination
the poll was conducted by drive for adolescents is
Bangkok University’s Bangkok Poll expected to commence
and covered 1,173 respondents soon. he said this during
from across the country. Weathering the times the 72nd session of the
the survey showed that 46.3% of World health organisation
participants believe thailand’s residents resting while being surrounded by floodwaters on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, following heavy regional Committee for
overall condition will improve after monsoon rains. Continuous torrential rainfall has led to serious flooding in Phnom Penh’s Kamboul and the Western Pacific held in
the reopening, 27.5% believed the dangkor districts and Kandal province’s Kandal Stung district. More than 1,000 people had been evacuated himeji, Japan. — borneo
situation would worsen and 26.2% from their homes. — aFP bulletin/ann
said nothing will change.
the survey also learned that Philippines
51.1% hope thailand’s economy ‘Not all can cope at Covid-19 ICU’
will improve once it is reopened, Frontliners await
while 43.4% hope the reopening booster shots
will help restaurants and retail out-
lets and 42.7% hope the reopening Singapore “PAPA, wake up. this is when compassion fatigue FronTLIne healthcare
will create more jobs and boost Papa, it’s me, may set in. workers are anxiously
people’s income. please wake up.” awaiting the green light for
However, 72% said they were these are some heart-wrenching Dr Hoi said the management the rollout of booster or
very worried that thailand’s reo- moments nurses caring for inten- looks out for this and will give the third shots of the Covid-19
pening today will spark new infec- sive care unit (ICU) patients have to nurse a day off and psychiatric vaccine as added protec-
tions, while 28% were only slightly deal with, aside from the normal counselling if needed. tion especially for people
worried. stress of their job. exposed to the coronavirus
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Commu- Doctors and nurses working in Compassion fatigue is different like them and for indivi-
nicable Disease Committee is being the ICU take care of the sickest from burnout, which is more duals vulnerable to break-
urged to let Internet cafes and video patients, who might require contin- A group of leading Asian work-related, she said. through. — Philippines
game arcades reopen from Nov 15 uous care throughout their shift. newspapers working daily Inquirer/ann
provided they implement strict dis- In the Covid-19 ICU, there is the that happens when nurses “no
ease prevention methods. added burden of infection control, toward improving coverage longer find meaning in what they
the Bangkok Metropolitan where they have to don personal of Asian affairs. are doing, and are just going
Administration said that most stu- protective equipment. through the motions of nursing”.
dents between the ages of 12 and 18 Dr Hoi Shu Yin, tan tock Seng www.asianewsnet.net
in schools under its jurisdiction Hospital’s chief nurse, said a nurse “We always need to know that we
have received at least one Pfizer may spend the entire shift in PPe in “It can be very scary,” she said. are nursing a patient who is some-
jab. More junior high-school stu- the patient’s room, with only short As Covid-19 patients are not body’s father or sister,” she said.
dents will receive their second jab intermittent breaks. allowed visitors, the nurses may
between Nov 8 and 10. If the patient is more stable, they help facilitate video calls with their the hospital provides engage-
restaurants and eateries in may need to go in once every hour families. ment sessions for new ICU nurses
Bangkok will be allowed to serve or two, to turn the patient, give “It’s tough, seeing loved ones cry- and they have “buddies” to help
alcoholic beverages until 9pm, pro- medicine or insulin, and hook them ing over the phone,” said Laura Ho, them cope.
vided they meet all prevention on to a dialysis machine if their kid- deputy director of nursing at ttSH.
measures and SOP standards, it neys are failing. Geeta Pattath raghavan, assis- But sometimes, after three to six
added on Saturday. Senior staff nurse Queennie Lee, tant director of nursing at ttSH months, a nurse might ask to be
Pubs, bars, karaoke outlets and who was deployed to the ICU from a who has worked in intensive care transferred out.
other entertainment venues remain general ward, said not all nurses for 25 years, said it is painful to see
closed. — the Nation/ANN can cope. a patient die, and nurses are affect- But then there are nurses like
ed. Geeta who prefer to stay.

“I want to be in the ICU only,
where I see very sick patients
become better,” she said.

“It’s very satisfying to see them
transfer to a general ward.” — the
Straits times/ANN

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 StarAsean+ 17

Caught in the cross hairs Journalist
Junta accuses anti-coup fighters of Chin state town razing gunned
down at home

Myanmar THE junta has Philippines A REPORTER
accused anti- has died after
being shot multiple times in his
coup fighters of razing a restive home, police said, becoming the
western town where a Save the latest in a long line of journalists
Children office was located, as the slain in the country.
region sees increasing conflict Casualty of Orlando Dinoy, a reporter for
between the military and dissi- conflict: Smoke online outfit Newsline Philippines
dents. plumes billowing and anchor for Energy FM, was shot
The South-East Asian country has from the fire six times by a gunman who barged
been in chaos since a February burning in the into his apartment in Bansalan
coup, with more than 1,200 people town of Thantlang town, Mindanao island, local police
killed as the military cracks down in the chief Major Peter Glenn Ipong said,
on nationwide dissent, according to northwestern adding Dinoy died immediately.
a local monitoring group. state of Chin. “One of the angles we are looking
So-called “people’s defence forc- More than 160 at is his work as a media man ... but
es” (PDF) have sprung up across the buildings in the no one can give us a concrete lead
country to take on the junta, escalat- town, including so far,” Ipong said of the ongoing
ing attacks and bloody reprisals. three churches, investigation.
On Friday, local media and wit- have been Dinoy was the 21st journalist
nesses reported that junta troops destroyed by fire killed since President Rodrigo
had shelled the town of Thantlang caused by Duterte took power in 2016, the
in western Chin state after a con- clashes between National Union of Journalists of the
frontation with a local self-defence government Philippines said.
force. troops and National police chief General
Locals said a fire then engulfed dissidents. — aP Guillermo Eleazar ordered a thor-
the town of some 7,500 residents, ough investigation into the case,
destroying dozens of homes and Most of Thantlang’s inhabitants and vowed to protect the media
structures – including a Save the fled the town during clashes last from attacks.
Children office in Thantlang, the month, many of them crossing the In a report this month, the New
London-based charity confirmed in Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun one soldier was killed in the melee. border to India. York-based Committee to Protect
a statement. told local media the military’s role “It was the PDF who burnt (the Journalists listed the Philippines at
The junta’s information team in Thantlang’s razing was “ground- Save the Children, in a statement seventh place in its Global Impunity
confirmed on Saturday that two less accusations”. town), not our Tatmadaw,” he said, on Friday, said the town was “large- Index, with 13 murders of journal-
churches and 70 homes were burnt referring to the military by its ly deserted” when the shelling ists still unsolved.
down in Thantlang, accusing the “Our security forces and civil Myanmar name. occurred. — AFP The nation has been a mainstay
PDF of the blaze after security forc- servants tried to stop the fire, but in the annual index since it started
es had clashed with their fighters. they could not do it as those PDF Reports from the remote region in 2008. — AFP
attacked them,” he said, adding that could not be independently veri-
fied.

Jokowi on first overseas trip since pandemic broke out

Indonesia PRESIDENT Scotland to attend the highly antici- Business Jet (BBJ) 2 presidential air- health protocols, including during his ministers or welcoming visiting
Joko “Jokowi” pated UN Climate Change craft that experts say is better suited transit,” Heru said on Friday. foreign dignitaries into the country.
Widodo has finally stepped out of Conference (COP26) today and for domestic travel.
the country after more than 20 tomorrow, before they fly to the Cutting down on the time spent The trip to Italy is further incen-
months of domestic duties, as he United Arab Emirates to attend the The head of the Presidential on long-haul flights has been a con- tive for economy-focused Jokowi, as
headed overseas to attend a string World Expo in Dubai and partici- Secretariat, Heru Budi Hartono, told stant problem for the Jokowi admin- received the reins to the G20 yester-
of high-profile events in a week- pate in Jokowi’s first bilateral visit reporters ahead of the journey that istration, considering the President day, the first time Indonesia has
long, three-nation tour. after nearly two years. the main reason for the choice of is known not to be keen on trave- held the presidency since the forum
Jokowi is participating in the aircraft was convenience in main- ling long distances. was established in 1999.
Group of 20 Summit in Rome, Italy, For the entirety of this trip, the taining health protocols and budg-
over the Halloween weekend. President has chosen to fly with a etary efficiency. Since Covid-19 broke out in early “This is an honour for us, for
From there, the President and his wide-body Boeing 777-300ER air- 2020, Jokowi became one of a few Indonesia, and at the same time a
entourage of ministers and Cabinet craft owned by state flag carrier “We must remember that this is global leaders to have never left the big responsibility that we must
staffers will head to Glasgow, Garuda Indonesia, heeding previ- the President’s first trip overseas in country, having handled most of his carry out well,” the President said
ous calls to swap out the Boeing pandemic times, so we have to be duties on home turf, whether via in a statement before boarding the
extremely careful in observing online meetings, delegating tasks to plane. — The Jakarta Post/ANN

18 StarAsean+ THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

How Halloween helps artists survive the pandemic

Indonesia WhO (or per- Jelila began renting out halloween She added that the opportunity to and Jelila had to find a different thing we could offer that the people
haps what) do costumes and accessories last year live out a fantasy and express one- market. here would want,” she explained.
you want to be this halloween? through her cafe and selfie venue self during halloween has become
Count Dracula? A werewolf? Or Ubud Fairy Village. even more relevant since the start “The tourist customers we had “And it proved to be quite suc-
perhaps an alien? of the pandemic. expected were slashed from thou- cessful and fun.”
For some people, the world-fa- Staying true to her roots as an sands to around zero. So we had to
mous celebration observed on Oct artist, Jelila features lively and “I think (the escapism that find a different market and settle on Jelila also gets creative with her
31 is an opportunity to be creative inspiring fairy attractions at her cafe halloween provides) is really neces- locals and expats and their chil- designs, which run the gamut from
and make connections. – where she also gives craft classes. sary for people’s mental health. dren,” she added. props, ears, headdresses, crowns,
“What I enjoy (during halloween) People have been so worried and so wands, wings to masks.
is the playfulness of dressing up Jelila loves “the joy” that she feels stressed – they need peace, relaxa- Jelila found later that – albeit
and transforming,” Bali-based when people at her cafe “light up” tion, laughter,” she added. slowly – offers were beginning to “Our costume pieces now are
British artist Jelila said. as they put on certain clothes or pick up. The cafe began renting out either repurposed finds or are
Jelila is a long-time resident of accessories that really suit them. Jelila opened her cafe and work- halloween costumes in October made by us – and also made by the
Ubud in Gianyar, Bali. shop in March 2020 – during the 2020 – the first since they opened – children and parents who come in
having lived there for 24 years, She remarked that with the ongo- pandemic. Since she had planned to with a collection created from and make costumes with us. (The
ing pandemic, people could find the focus on tourist customers, the ini- Jelila’s personal wardrobe. other day) a seven-year-old made a
therapeutic values of dressing up as tial business plan was decimated rainbow unicorn devil’s trident!”
a form of escapism. “We were just looking for some- she said. — The Jakarta Post/ANN

Focus on digital economy France and
Indonesia to
Xi urges G20 to establish global rules for innovation-driven growth work on ‘true
strategic
Beijing: President Xi Jinping has China attaches great importance rules based on extensive participa- partnership’
stressed the need for G20 econo- to international cooperation on dig- tion and broad-based consensus to
mies to discuss and develop inter- ital economy, and has decided to foster an enabling environment for Indonesia FRENCh
national rules for digital govern- join the Digital Economy Partner- innovation-driven development,” President
ance and actively foster an open, ship Agreement, he said, adding he said. Emmanuel Macron and his
fair, just and non-discriminatory that Beijing stands ready to work Indonesian counterpart Joko
environment for digital develop- with all parties for the healthy and “Forming exclusive blocs or even Widodo vowed to work towards a
ment. orderly development of digital drawing ideological lines will only “true strategic partnership”,
economy, he said. cause division and create more France’s presidency said, after Paris
Xi made the appeal in a speech obstacles, which will do no good but was locked out of a defence pact
delivered via video link at the first “The G20 should join forces to only harm scientific and technolog-
session of the 16th G20 Leaders’ unleash the potential for innova- ical innovation,” he added. — China
Summit on Saturday. tion-driven growth and draw up Daily/ANN

between the US, UK and Australia.
Since losing a major submarine
deal with Canberra, which joined
an AUKUS alliance, France has
sought solace in leading South-East
Asian nations for deeper strategic
ties in the Pacific region.
On the sidelines of the G20 sum-
mit in Rome, Joko and Macron met
for half an hour discussing the grow-
ing economic clout of the region.
They “decided to work on a true
strategic partnership in the Indo-
Pacific,” said the French side yester-
day.
It would notably “cover the ques-
tion of the ecological transition, of
support for employment and
growth in Indonesia and the
post-Covid-19 revival”, the French
presidency added.
The talks came ahead of a Jakarta
visit by French Foreign Minister
Jean-Yves Le Drian with Indonesia
due to take over the rotating G20
presidency after Italy.
Macron was again expected to
raise Indo-Pacific issues during
talks with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Joko and his French counterpart
Boo-tiful celebration also reviewed coordination at
Asean, South-East Asia’s regional
(Clockwise from top) visitors posing for photos near Halloween decorations at a shopping bloc, where Indonesia, with a popu-
mall in beijing. a man imitating a ‘LeaveHomeSafe’ app, a government app to do contact lation of more than 270 million,
tracing, in Hong Kong. a woman holding a pastry plate for her dog that is dressed up in a plays a pivotal role.
costume at a dog event in beijing. While Halloween is not traditionally celebrated in China, France assumes the rotating EU
businesses use the celebration to bring in customers. — aP/reuters presidency in 2022. — AFP

Daily Covid-19 deaths hit new record as data reclassified

Philippines ThE country 43,044 deaths, the Philippines has that its use was not backed by sci- Since July 3, 2020, when jeepneys install plastic barriers inside their
reported its South-East Asia’s second highest ence. and buses were allowed to return to vehicles.
highest single-day coronavirus infections and casualties, next to the streets through a gradual reo-
deaths, mostly due to the reclassifi- Indonesia. “Drivers and operators can pening of routes nationwide, PUV however, he did not discourage
cation of previous cases, the health already remove them because there drivers had been using plastic bar- jeepney drivers from using them.
ministry said. But it is gradually loosening curbs are no medical findings, based on riers to separate passengers inside
In a bulletin, the ministry record- to further reopen the economy as our studies, that they can prevent their units and to comply with the Doctors had long been recom-
ed 423 Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, cases have eased to a daily average the spread of Covid-19. Instead, the 50% capacity rule in public trans- mending the removal of plastic bar-
eclipsing the 401 casualties report- of roughly 7,700 in October from virus could stick to them,” said port. riers inside PUVs because they are
ed on April 9. the peak of nearly 18,600 daily con- Assistant Transportation Secretary useless without physical distanc-
however, 373 cases previously firmed infections in September. for road transport Mark Steven In September that year, Land ing.
tagged as recoveries were reclassi- Pastor. Transportation Franchising and
fied and added to the death toll on Meanwhile, the Department of Regulatory Board chief Martin In August, Philippine College of
Saturday, it added. Transportation (DOTr) said plastic however, the DOTr stressed that Delgra clarified that there was no Physicians president Dr Maricar
With nearly 2.8 million cases and barriers for separating passengers health safety measures would still official policy from his agency and Limpin said the virus might stick to
inside public utility vehicles (PUVs) be strictly implemented in all public the DOTr that required jeepneys to the plastic and infect people. —
were no longer required, admitting transport. Reuters/Philippine Daily Inquirer/
ANN

THE STAR, MondAy 1 novEMbER 2021 19

Top leader makes rare appearance
Taliban chief seen in public for the first time since taking control of group in 2016

Kabul: Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Hakimah madrassa to “speak to his brave gious figure to leader of the Taliban in a swift leadership had hidden the death of their
Akhundzada addressed supporters in the soldiers and disciples”, according to the intro- transition of power after a 2016 US drone founder Mullah Omar for years.
southern city of Kandahar, officials duction to an audio recording circulated by strike killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar
announced, his first public appearance since Taliban social media accounts. Mansour. His public profile has largely been limited
taking control of the group in 2016. to the release of messages during Islamic hol-
Akhundzada is referred to as “Amirul After being appointed leader, he secured idays, and Akhundzada is believed to spend
Akhundzada has been the spiritual chief of Momineen”, commander of the faithful, the the backing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawa- most of his time in Kandahar, the main city in
the movement since 2016 but has remained a rank conferred on the late Taliban founder hiri, who showered him with praise – calling the Taliban’s southern Afghan heartland.
reclusive figure, even after the Taliban seized Mullah Omar by his supporters. him “the emir of the faithful”.
power in Afghanistan. Last week, Mullah Yussef Wafa, the Taliban
Akhundzada is thought to have been select- This endorsement by Osama bin Laden’s governor of Kandahar and a close ally of
His low profile has fed speculation about ed to serve more as a spiritual figurehead heir helped seal his credentials with the Akhundzada, said he was in regular contact
his role in the new Taliban government, than a military commander, but his unusual- Taliban’s long-time allies. with his mysterious chief.
formed after the group took control of Kabul ly public statements will fuel speculation that
in mid-August – and even rumours of his he now plans to take a more central role in Akhundzada was tasked with unifying a “We have regular meetings with him about
death. leading the new government. Taliban movement that briefly fractured dur- the control of the situation in Afghanistan
ing the bitter power struggle after Akhtar’s and how to make a good government,” he
On Saturday, he visited the Darul Uloom Akhundzada rose from low-profile reli- assassination, and the revelation that the said. — AFP

Trump does racist gesture at game

WasHINgtoN: Former US president Donald heritage, with some groups calling for it to be
Trump performed the controversial retired.
“Tomahawk Chop” cheer – denounced as a
racist gesture by Native Americans – in sup- Racism targeting Native Americans hit
port of the Atlanta Braves while attending home with MLB this year as the Cleveland
game four of baseball’s World Series. Indians retired their nickname after years of
complaints, and are now referred to as the
Trump joined thousands of Braves fans in Guardians.
making the chopping motion with his right
arm before the team faced the Houston Astros But the “Tomahawk Chop” remains a popu-
in the Major League Baseball game. lar gesture among sports fans. MLB
Commissioner Rob Manfred backed it this
Trump was joined by his wife Melania in week, saying Native Americans in the Atlanta
the cheer, which Native Americans have area are “fully supportive of the Braves’ pro-
deplored as a racist insult to their culture and gramme, including the chop”. — AFP

Standing tall

The Christ the Protector statue is seen under construction in Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul
state, Brazil. The statue will be larger than Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer and the
third-largest in the world. — AFP

Bollywood superstar’s son
freed from jail in drug case

NEW DElHI: Bollywood megastar Shah Free man: Aryan (centre) walking towards
Rukh Khan’s son walked out of jail and was a car after his release in Mumbai. — AP
greeted with dancing and firecrackers, over
three weeks after his arrest during a drug tact with drug dealers were untrue. He called
raid on a cruise ship party in Mumbai, the the arrest “arbitrary” and said the agency did
country’s financial and entertainment capi- not conduct a medical examination to show
tal. he had consumed drugs.

The Bombay High Court granted bail to The case has dominated headlines and
23-year-old Aryan Khan on Thursday but he social media in India, with fans of the actor
spent two more nights in the city’s Arthur demanding Aryan’s release while others call-
Road jail because his papers did not reach the ing for a boycott of his father’s films.
prison authorities by the deadline of 5.30pm
Friday. The 55-year-old megastar is India’s most
loved actor and is known as the “King of
Hundreds of fans of Shah Rukh Khan, who Bollywood”. He has starred in more than 105
found himself at the centre of a boycott cam- movies over nearly three decades. — AP
paign on social media due to the high-profile
drug case, lined up to greet Aryan as he
arrived at his home in Mumbai. Some danced
and lit firecrackers in jubilation.

Aryan and seven others were detained on
Oct 3 when narcotics agents raided a party
and seized drugs on a luxury cruise ship off
the Mumbai coast. He was held in the jail
since Oct 8.

India’s narcotics agency said it has evi-
dence in the form of WhatsApp messages that
Aryan was involved in illicit drug dealings.

Mukul Rohatgi, Aryan’s lawyer, told the
court that the agency did not find any drugs
on Aryan and allegations that he was in con-

20 StarWorld THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Japan elections under way Baldwin:
Ruling party’s dominance will be tested in polls Shooting
was ‘one
Tokyo: Japanese voters hit the pandemic on the world’s third-larg- Take your pick: es,” said Chihiro Sato, 38, a house- in a trillion’
polls with Prime Minister Fumio est economy. voters looking at wife and mother of a toddler.
Kishida hoping to win over a pan- an election poster Los AngeLes: US actor Alec
demic-fatigued public as his He has also outlined plans to bulletin board for But engineer Hiroyasu Onishi, 79, Baldwin, in his first public com-
long-ruling conservatives battle to combat inequality heightened by House of said he was more concerned by “the ment on his fatal shooting of cine-
preserve their commanding majori- the business-friendly policies of representatives military threat from China”. matographer Halyna Hutchins with
ty in parliament. Suga and his predecessor Shinzo election a prop gun on a movie set said that
Abe, saying he will distribute wealth candidates at Japan’s 106 million voters have the tragedy was a “one in a trillion
Kishida became leader of the more fairly under a so-called new an entrance of a “struggled to get excited about the episode.”
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) a polling station in new prime minister”, said Stefan
month ago after Yoshihide Suga Tokyo. — aFP Angrick, a senior economist at In footage aired by TMZ, Baldwin
resigned just a year into the job, Moody’s Analytics. and his wife Hilaria spoke to report-
partly due to public discontent over capitalism, although details so far ers who intercepted them in
his response to the Covid-19 crisis. remain vague. “Kishida will need to convince Manchester, Vermont. The
the public and younger members of Hollywood star declined to com-
Despite a steep drop in cases, the Voters in Tokyo said the pandem- his party that continuity does not ment on the investigation of the
LDP – which has held power almost ic was an important factor in their mean status quo, but rather main- shooting on the set of the 19th-cen-
continuously since the 1950s – is decision. taining what has worked and tury Western “Rust” on October 21.
likely to lose seats in parliament’s improving on what has not,” added
lower house, analysts say. “The economy is suffering Angrick. Baldwin has previously tweeted
because of the coronavirus, so I to express his grief over the tragedy,
Even if Kishida wins, a poor compared the politicians’ respons- Kishida has not enjoyed a politi- and said he is cooperating with
showing could threaten his longevi- cal honeymoon, with approval rat- police investigating the killing.
ty as leader of a country with a long ings around 50 percent, the lowest
history of revolving-door premier- in two decades for a new adminis- “She was my family,” he told the
ships. tration in Japan. reporters in the footage.

The soft-spoken moderate, 64, has He has set a comfortable target of “There are incidental accidents
pledged to issue a fresh stimulus winning 233 of the 465 lower-house on film sets from time to time, but
package worth tens of trillions of seats -- a simple majority including nothing like this. This is a one in a
yen to counter the impact of the lawmakers from the LDP’s junior trillion episode.”
coalition partner Komeito. — AFP
Calls have grown since the inci-
S. Korea former leader gets final send-off dent for better control of weapons
on Hollywood sets, and Baldwin
seouL: Dozens of relatives and In loving memory: roh’s hearse leaving the olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea. — reuters said the effort was “something I am
dignitaries gathered in South extremely interested in.” But he
Korea’s capital to pay their final funeral procession, honor guards Then they headed toward south- two children, Roh Soh-young and could not say whether he would
respects to former President Roh wrapped Roh’s coffin with the ern Seoul for a funeral service at a Roh Jae-heon, sat quietly in chairs ever work with firearms on a set
Tae-woo, a key participant in a 1979 national flag and placed it into the square at Olympic Park, a venue distanced apart, looking solemnly again.
military coup who later won a land- back of a limousine. built for the 1988 Seoul Olympic at the ground.
mark democratic election before Games held during the first year of He also said that production on
his political career ended with The vehicle then rolled out of the Roh’s presidency. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, “Rust,” which was suspended imme-
imprisonment for corruption and hospital and followed a black con- Seoul’s No. 2, said in a speech that diately after the killing, would not
treason. vertible topped with a huge por- The funeral’s participants were Roh will be remembered for his resume.
trait of Roh in a motorcade that limited to 50 people, including rel- many accomplishments as presi-
Pandemic restrictions limited drove toward his house in north- atives, government officials, reli- dent, including the successful host- Baldwin, who was a producer as
the size of funeral services for Roh, ern Seoul. gious leaders and foreign diplo- ing of the Olympics, expanding well as the lead actor in the film,
who died Tuesday at age 88 from mats, because of Covid-19 con- relations with communist nations fired a live round from a Colt .45
complications from various illness- Family members quietly toured cerns. and easing tensions with North during a rehearsal on the set of
es. the house, led by a grandson who Korea. — AP “Rust.” The round passed through
carried a smaller portrait of Roh. Roh’s wife, Kim Ok-suk, and their Hutchins’ body and struck director
Doctors said his condition wors- Joel Souza in the shoulder. — AFP
ened in recent years because of a
degenerative disorder. Two wedding
guests killed
President Moon Jae-in’s decision over music
to hold a state funeral for Roh was
controversial because of Roh’s kAbuL: Taliban fighters shot dead
links to the coup and a bloody sup- two wedding guests who were lis-
pression of pro-democracy protest- tening to music, local officials and a
ers in the southern city of Gwangju witness said, forcing Afghanistan’s
in 1980 that killed around 200 peo- new government to insist such
ple and injured hundreds of oth- attacks are not authorised.
ers.
A relative of the victims said
Gwangju and several other cities Taliban fighters had opened fire
and provincial governments while music was being played at a
refused to raise flags half-staff or wedding in Sorkhrud, in Nangarhar
set up memorial altars for Roh in province in the east of the country,
accordance with state funeral pro- killing two and wounding two
cedures. more.

Moon, who did not visit Roh’s Music was banned the last time
memorial altar at a Seoul hospital the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and,
before leaving for Rome on while the new government has not
Thursday for meetings with Pope yet issued such a decree, its leader-
Francis and G20 leaders, said ship still frowns on its use in enter-
through his office that Roh made tainment and sees it as a breach of
“significant contributions to Islamic law.
national development despite
many historical wrongdoings.” “The young men were playing
music in a separate room and three
On the final day of a five-day Taliban fighters came and opened
fire on them. The injuries of the two
Delivery riders law gets mixed response wounded are serious,” he told
reporters.
MAdrid: Just weeks after Spain employees instead of self-employed firms to seek legal loopholes while tant improvement for delivery rid-
became the first EU member to give freelancers as before. others have entered into talks with ers whose working conditions have Qazi Mullah Adel, spokesman for
delivery workers labour rights, unions. Unions argue the law has been very precarious.” the Taliban governor in Nangarhar,
firms that employ them like Uber This means app-based food deliv- improved the lot of couriers, whose confirmed the incident but did not
Eats or Just Eat are still struggling to ery firms must pay employee con- numbers have exploded in recent “But we must remain vigilant provide further details. A security
adapt to a new law which may tributions for benefits like sick leave years in Spain to around 30,000 because there are still problems to source said the two men who
become a model for the rest of and protections against dismissal. according to industry associations. be resolved,” he added. attacked the wedding are now in
Europe. custody.
The firms say the so-called “Rider “All these people now have social Portugal’s leftist government fol-
From Aug 12, when the law came Law” – which only applies to food protection,” said Carlos Gutierrez of lowed Spain’s lead and earlier this In Kabul, government spokes-
into force, couriers who deliver couriers and not other gig workers the Workers Commission union. month approved a similar draft Bill man Zabihullah Mujahid said he
food, mostly on bicycles and motor- – threatens the 700-million-euro that will order app-based food could not confirm the incident, but
cycles, must be recognised as (RM3.35bil) industry in Spain. Ruben Ranz of the UGT union delivery firms to employ couriers as promised that it was not Taliban
agreed, saying the law “is an impor- staff. — AFP policy to execute music lovers.
The reform has prompted some —AFP

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 21

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22 Sport THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Canada’s Pendrith grabs three-stroke lead in Bermuda Double
duties for
MIAMI: Canadian Taylor low 61 on Friday that gave him a Barbasol Championship. ied the fifth and seventh holes Djokovic
Pendrith reeled off four consecu- one-shot lead, stumbled early He expects a challenge not before taking a bogey at eight, in Paris
tive birdies on his way to a with a bogey at the fifth hole but which he followed with three
six-under 65, to seize a three- responded with four birdies in a only from rivals but from pre- birdies in a row starting at the MUMBAI: Novak Djokovic has
stroke lead after the third round row starting at the par-five sev- dicted windy and rainy condi- ninth as well as birdies at 14 and signed up for both singles and dou-
of the US PGA Bermuda enth. tions for the final round, which 17. bles duty at next week’s Paris
Championship. was moved earlier to try and Masters, as the Serbian world num-
He added birdies at the par- finish before the worst storms. The 25-year-old is a two-time ber one returns to competitive
The 30-year-old newlywed three 13th and 16th holes, sink- European Tour winner, having action for the first time since his
from suburban Toronto, who ing a 40-footer at the latter for “It’s going to be tough. taken last year’s Dubai Desert defeat in the US Open final to
barely practised before the event only the fourth birdie of the day Anything can happen. It’s going Classic and the Irish Open this Russian Daniil Medvedev.
began, stood on 17-under 196 at 16, and tapped in for birdie at to be probably a crazy day,” past July.
after 54 holes at Port Royal Golf the par-five 17th. Pendrith said. Djokovic, who is level with Roger
Course in Southampton. “It’s definitely a big thing to Federer and Rafa Nadal on 20 major
“It’s definitely nice to get a cou- “It’s nice to be a couple ahead. have won before and know what titles, has not played since coming
New Zealand’s Danny Lee was ple late in the round,” Pendrith I’m just going to try and grind it it takes to win. I’ve got some up short last month in his bid for a
second on 199 after a 65 and said. “To see that 40-plus footer out and make a few pars and see experience there,” Herbert said. calendar Grand Slam, losing in
Australian Lucas Herbert go in was a nice bonus.” what happens. I’ll try and stick to straight sets to Medvedev at
matched his career-low PGA what I know. It’s going to be a “But Taylor is a great player. Flushing Meadows.
round from Friday with a 65 to Pendrith, ranked 239th in the hard day out there.” There are some good names right
stand third on 200. world, is chasing his first PGA there. Experience is good but I’m The 34-year-old will be the top
title. He managed his best PGA Herbert, who broke the head going to have to play well to beat seed at the Masters 1000 event in
Pendrith, coming off a career- finish of 11th in July at the of his driver on the range just 12 them.” — AFP Bercy, where he is a five-time cham-
minutes before teeing off, bird- pion, and will also team up with
countryman Filip Krajinovic with an
Game of laughter eye on some practice ahead of the
Tiafoe stays cool by cracking jokes to win semi-final tie Davis Cup at the end of November.

VIENNA: American qualifier Jester at work: Frances Tiafoe said he joked with the fans to stay calm during his match against Jannik “We don’t often
Frances Tiafoe battled from a set Sinner in the vienna open. Top seed Simone Halep (inset) powered into the Transylvania open. — agencies see him play
and 3-0 down to stun in-form Jannik doubles, so we’re
Sinner and reach the Vienna ATP title of the season. an hour. final tomorrow.” delighted. It’s rare
final, crediting his victory to telling n CLUJ-NAPOCA (Romania): “I really wanted to play the final She will face second seed Anett to see a No. 1
jokes to the Austrian crowd. playing a Masters
Top seed Simona Halep dropped here,” Halep said on-court after the Kontaveit. 1000 in doubles.”
Tiafoe, the world number 49, just one game as she cruised match. The Estonian made slightly hard-
clinched a hard-fought 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 through her Transylvania Open Guy Forget
win to reach his first final of the semi-final against Marta Kostyuk. “It’s a home tournament and er work of her semi, dropping five
season where he will face German always when I come here, I feel games as she beat Swede Rebecca “He’s going to play with
second seed Alexander Zverev who The local star beat the Ukrainian great. I’m really happy, motivated Peterson 6-3, 6-2 in 63 minutes. — Krajinovic, his buddy from the
downed Spanish teenager Carlos teenager 6-0, 6-1 in a minute over and I’m looking forward to play the AFP Davis Cup,” tournament director
Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3. Guy Forget told reporters.

“It has been a long week for me,” “He said he would commit him-
said Tiafoe after taking 11 of the last self to play for the Davis Cup for his
13 games against Italian Sinner, the own country. This is why he wanted
champion in Antwerp last weekend to play doubles here.
and chasing a spot in the ATP Finals.
“We don’t often see him play dou-
“I tried to have fun with it and get bles, so we’re delighted. It’s rare to
the crowd involved and could see if see a No. 1 playing a Masters 1000
he would get a little nervous. in doubles.”

“I know how to get the crowd After a first round bye, Djokovic
behind me, few jokes and that and will open his Paris Masters singles
then I started to play unbelievably. campaign either against Fabio
The crowd made the difference. I Fognini or Marton Fucsovics. —
felt because of them I started to lock Reuters
in harder.”
RESULTS WORLDWIDE
World number four Zverev ended
Alcaraz’s Austrian adventure in BASKETBALL
straight sets. NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Washington 115 Boston 112 (OT), Detroit 110 Orlan-
The 18-year-old Alcaraz stole the do 103, New York 123 New Orleans 117, Toronto 97
show this week on his way to a first Indiana 94 ,Philadelphia 122 Atlanta 94, Chicago 107
ever ATP 500 semi-final appearance. Utah 99, Miami 129 Memphis 103, San Antonio 102
Milwaukee 93, Golden State 103 Oklahoma City 82,
He had held his nerve in the final Denver 93 Minnesota 91.
set tiebreak in Friday’s quarter-fi- GOLF
nals to beat Wimbledon runner-up BERMUDA CHAMPIONSHIP
Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 Leading third round scores (US unless stated): 196:
(7-5). Taylor Pendrith (Can) 70-61-65; 199: Danny Lee (Nzl)
67-67-65; 200: Lucas Herbert (Aus) 70-65-65; 201:
But he was unable to deal with a Patrick Rodgers 68-64-69, Vincent Whaley 66-67-68;
dominant Zverev who secured vic- 202: Justin Lower 67-68-67, Peter Malnati 70-65-67;
tory with an ace after one hour and 203: Curtis Thompson 69-67-67, Patrick Flavin 69-
eight minutes. 66-68; 204: Garrick Higgo (Rsa) 67-72-65, Dylan Wu
69-69-66, Graeme McDowell (Nir) 70-67-67, Adam
Zverev is on the hunt for his fifth Svensson (Can) 68-68-68, Peter Uihlein 71-65-68,
Chad Ramey 65-71-68, David skinns (Bri) 67-67-70;
Spurs upset champs Bucks, Wizards win in double OT 205: Jonathan Byrd 72-68-65, Greyson Sigg 68-71-
66, Stephan Jaeger (Ger) 72-67-66, J.J. Spaun 73-65-
LOS ANGELES: San Antonio used a what,” said Murray, who finished has an injured knee. finds a way to step up and make a 67, Patrick Reed 68-69-68.
balanced attack to beat the reigning with nine assists. “I take pride in In Washington, Bradley Beal play for us.” TENNIS
NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks being a pass-first point guard, but COURMAYEUR OPEN
102-93, snapping a four-game losing also being ready when my number scored a team-high of 36 points and Also, Jerami Grant scored 22 Semi-finals: Donna Vekic (Cro) bt Jasmine Paolini (Ita)
skid with their first road victory of is called.” Kyle Kuzma grabbed a career-high points and NBA Draft top overall 6-2, 6-0; Clara Tauson (Den) bt Liudmila Samsonova
the season. 17 rebounds as the Washington pick Cade Cunningham made his (Rus) 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a Wizards continued their hot start to NBA debut as the Detroit Pistons SAINT PETERSBURG OPEN
Point guard Dejounte Murray game-high 28 points and grabbed the season by beating the Boston beat the Orlando Magic 110-103. Semi-finals: Marin Cilic (Cro) bt Botic van de Zand-
and reserve Bryn Forbes led the 13 rebounds for the injury-hit Bucks Celtics 115-112 in double overtime. schulp (Ned) 6-3, 6-3; Taylor Fritz (US) bt Jan-Lennard
charge as five players, including who were missing Brook Lopez Cunningham was sidelined for Struff (Ger) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.
two off the bench, scored in double (back), Jrue Holiday (ankle) and Both Kuzma (17 points) and the first four games with an ankle TRANSYLVANIA OPEN
figures for the Spurs, who improved Donte DiVincenzo (ankle surgery). Montrezl Harrell (20 points, 14 injury. He played 19 minutes, most- Semi-finals: Simona Halep (Rom) bt Marta Kostyuk
to 2-4 on the season. rebounds) finished with double ly in the first half, and shot one-for- (Ukr) 6-0, 6-1; Anett Kontaveit (Est) bt Rebecca
The Spurs were playing the third doubles as the Wizards improved to eight from the field while scoring Peterson (Swe) 6-3, 6-2.
Murray scored a team-high of 23 game of a road trip and coming off a 5-1 for their best start since the two points. He added seven VIENNA OPEN
points, Forbes had 16, Derrick White disappointing 104-99 loss to Dallas. 2005-06 season. rebounds and two assists. Semi-finals: Frances Tiafoe (US) bt Jannik Sinner (Ita)
delivered 17 and Keldon Johnson 3-6, 7-5, 6-2; Alexander Zverev (Ger) bt Carlos Alcaraz
finished with 12 points and 11 San Antonio’s mostly inexperi- “It just shows our resilience,” Kelly Olynyk contributed 18 (Spa) 6-3, 6-3.
rebounds for the Spurs. Thaddeus enced squad outscored Milwaukee Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. points, five rebounds and four
Young came off the bench to score 10. 33-26 in the final quarter. said. “I keep using that word, but it’s assists, while Josh Jackson tossed in
who we are and who we have to be. 13 points with seven rebounds for
“I love having the ball, no matter The Spurs played without start- And every night somebody else Detroit. — AFP
ing forward Doug McDermott, who

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Sport 23

Bayern rebound from Cup rout by hitting five in Berlin Tuchel:
James
BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski net- “It’s annoying that we conceded Erling Braut Haaland remains side- Germany’s top flight this season with shoots
ted twice as Bayern Munich respond- two goals, but we are happy to have lined by a hip injury, stay second and a 3-1 win at Greuther Fuerth. like a horse
ed to their German Cup disaster in shown a response,” said Bayern cap- a point behind Bayern after their 2-0
midweek with a 5-2 win over Union tain Manuel Neuer. win at home to Cologne. Wolfsburg’s new head coach NEWCASTLE: Thomas Tuchel said
Berlin to stay top of the Bundesliga. Florian Kohfeldt made a winning in the build-up to Chelsea’s trip to
The Bavarian giants ended Union’s Thorgan Hazard and Haaland’s start, ending the visitors’ four-match Newcastle that winning the Premier
Three days after being thrashed run of 21 league games unbeaten at replacement Steffen Tigges scored as losing streak with a 2-0 win at Bayer League title was like running a
5-0 at Moenchengladbach in the sec- home as Leroy Sane, Kingsley Dortmund warmed up for Wednes- Leverkusen thanks to goals by marathon but after a 3-0 win, and
ond round of the cup, Bayern Coman and Thomas Mueller also day’s Champions League match at Maximilian Arnold and Lukas with their rivals dropping points, his
bounced back with two quick goals grabbed goals, while Julian Ryerson home to Ajax. Nmecha. side stole a march in the race.
as Lewandowski converted an early and Niko Giesselmann scored for
penalty, then drilled home a free- Union. Third-placed Freiburg, who play Leipzig missed the chance to go Even with a long list of players
kick. Bayern in Munich next weekend, fourth after a 1-1 draw with Eintracht unavailable, including all their
Dortmund, whose star striker remained the only unbeaten team in Frankfurt. — AFP recognised forwards, Chelsea
showed a clinical edge with three
el Choli-two A CALCIOLEG ilteaalgiaune goals in 16 minutes after the break
SERIE A to ease to victory.
Brace for it: verona’s Giovanni Simeone celebrating scoring the first of his two goals against Juventus. — ReSultS & StanDingS
reuters Chelsea were rock solid against a
AtAlAntA 2 lAzio 2 very limited Newcastle side and
VEronA 2 JuVEntuS 1 waited patiently until right back
torino 3 SAmpDoriA 0 Reece James smashed home the
opener in the 65th minute and
NAPoLi p W D l F A pts doubled their lead 12 minutes later
10 9 1 0 22 3 28 with another emphatic finish.

MiLAN 10 9 1 0 23 9 28 “He shoots like a horse,” Tuchel
iNtER 10 6 3 1 26 12 21 said of James who also scored in
last week’s 7-0 thrashing of
RoMA 10 6 1 3 18 10 19 Norwich.
AtALANtA 11 5 4 2 20 14 19
Jorginho added a spot kick and
LAzio 11 5 3 3 22 19 18 with news of champions Manchester
FioRENtiNA 10 5 0 5 13 13 15 City losing and Liverpool drawing,
Chelsea suddenly have a little
VERoNA 11 4 3 4 24 20 15 daylight in the title race, although
JUVENtUS 11 4 3 4 15 15 15 Tuchel was quick to play down the
significance of Saturday’s results.
SASSUoLo 10 4 2 4 14 13 14
toRiNo 11 4 2 5 15 11 14 “We need to keep our feet on the
ground. I am happy with the team
EMPoLi 10 4 0 6 14 20 12 effort today, we don’t celebrate
BoLoGNA 10 3 3 4 15 22 12 other teams’ results,” the German
told reporters.
UDiNESE 10 2 5 3 12 14 11
SAMPDoRiA 11 2 3 6 14 23 9 “You can lose in this league any
match at any minute. So we focus
VENEziA 10 2 2 6 8 17 8 on us and keep going.
SPEziA 10 2 2 6 12 23 8
“Let’s see where it goes, but it’s a
GENoA 10 1 4 5 15 22 7 long way. It’s too early and we want
SALERNitANA 10 2 1 7 10 22 7 to focus on ourselves because what
goes around comes around.” — AFP
CAGLiARi 10 1 3 6 12 22 6

verona’s Simeone condemns Juve to another defeat

MILAN: Giovanni Simeone struck with 10 minutes left when Weston former Juve assistant Igor Tudor in behind. RESULTS woRLdwidE
twice as Verona beat Juventus 2-1 in McKennie found the back of the net. mid-September. The ex-Croatia Pedro gave the visitors the lead in
Serie A to hand Massimiliano international served as deputy to English Championship: Fulham 3 West Brom 0, Bristol
Allegri’s struggling team a second After recovering from a dreadful Andrea Pirlo in Turin last season. the 18th minute when he drove in a City 2 Barnsley 1, Derby 1 Blackburn 2, Huddersfield
loss in four days. start to the season with four straight rebound from a close-range shot by 1 Millwall 0, Hull 0 Coventry 1, Middlesbrough
wins, Juve have picked up just one Atalanta scored in added time at Immobile. 0 Birmingham 2, Preston 2 Luton 0, Sheffield
Simeone, the son of Atletico point from three matches and sit the end of each half to salvage a 2-2 United 0 Blackpool 1, Stoke 3 Cardiff 3, Swansea 3
Madrid coach Diego, put Verona ninth, 13 points behind Napoli and home draw against Lazio that pre- At the end of the half, Zapata Peterborough 0, Reading 0 Bournemouth 2.
ahead when he turned in a rebound AC Milan at the top. vented either team clambering into shrugged off Adam Marusic and Leading standings: Bournemouth 37, Fulham 32, West
on 11 minutes. the top four. powered in a shot that Pepe Reina Brom 28, Coventry 27, Huddersfield 24.
“What can I say? Words are reached but could not save. French Div 1: Metz 1 St Etienne 1, Lyon 2 Lens 1.
The Argentine also known as El meaningless right now. We’re in a Duvan Zapata scored with the Leading standings: PSG 31, Lens 21, Nice 20, Marseille
Cholito, added a quick-fire second bad situation, we have to accept the last kick of the first half to cancel In the 74th minute, substitute 19, Lyon 19.
with a curling effort from 20 metres, reality that right now we are a out an early goal by Pedro. Toma Basic found Immobile in the German Div 1: Borussia Dortmund 2 Cologne 0, Bayer
giving him six goals in his past two mid-table team,” Allegri told DAZN. middle of the box and the striker Leverkusen 0 Wolfsburg 2, Union Berlin 2 Bayern
starts having scored four times Then Marten de Roon struck in put the ball over the diving Juan Munich 5, Freiburg 3 Greuther Furth 1, Arminia
against Lazio last weekend. “We will drag ourselves out of the fourth minute of second-half Musso. Bielefeld 1 Mainz 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 1 Leipzig 1.
this situation. There’s no point feel- added time to level after Ciro Leading standings: Bayern Munich 25, Borussia
Paulo Dybala hit the crossbar just ing sorry for ourselves, that won’t Immobile had scored. It was Immobile’s league-leading Dortmund 24, Freiburg 22, Bayer Leverkusen 17,
before half-time for a Juve side help.” ninth goal of the season and also the Mainz 16.
missing the injured Federico Chiesa, Atalanta stayed fifth, level on 31-year-old’s 159th for Lazio, who Scottish Div 1: Aberdeen 2 Hearts 1, Celtic 0
but the visitors pulled a goal back Verona have won all four home points with fourth-placed Roma. he joined from Sevilla in 2016. — Livingston 0, Dundee United 0 St Johnstone 1, Ross
games since the appointment of Lazio remained sixth, a point AFP County vs Hibernian postponed, St Mirren 0 Dundee
1.
Barca held by Alaves in first game after Koeman’s dismissal Leading standings: Rangers 24, Celtic 23, Hearts 21,
Dundee Utd 21, Hibernian 15.

MADRID: Barcelona dropped more out by an equally impressive run and fin- lSepaagnuiSeh
points in La Liga after failing to beat ish from Alaves’ Luis Rioja.
Alaves as their first game since the sack- ReSultS & StanDingS
ing of Ronald Koeman ended in a disap- “What I have to do is win over the play-
pointing 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp. ers, make them believe in themselves,” ElChE 1 r. mADriD 2
said Barjuan. SEVillA 2 oSASunA 0
Sergio Aguero had to be taken to hospi- VAlEnCiA 2 VillArrEAl 0
tal for tests after suffering breathing prob- After three league games without a win, BArCElonA 1 AlAVES 1
lems during the first half of the game. Barcelona stay ninth, eight points adrift of
leaders Real Madrid, who earlier defeated R. MADRiD p W D l F A pts
Aguero was able to walk off the pitch Elche 2-1 thanks to two goals from Vinicius 11 7 3 1 26 12 24
and Barca’s interim manager Sergi Junior and aided by a red card for Elche’s
Barjuan said afterwards: “I asked him and Raul Guti. SEViLLA 11 7 3 1 19 7 24
he told me he was dizzy. I was told he R. SoCiEDAD 11 7 3 1 16 9 24
went to hospital. I don’t know anything Vinicius’ sensational start to the season
else.” continued in Madrid’s victory over Elche R. BEtiS 11 6 3 2 19 12 21
to ensure the rested Karim Benzema was R. VALLECANo 11 6 1 4 18 12 19
Gerard Pique was also taken off with a not missed.
calf strain and, along with Aguero, will A. MADRiD 10 5 4 1 15 10 19
now be a doubt for tomorrow’s crunch Vinicius had already given them the oSASUNA 12 5 4 3 14 15 19
Champions League game away at Dynamo lead when Elche’s Guti was sent off in the
Kiev. 63rd minute and he added a second soon A. BiLBAo 10 4 5 1 10 6 17
after with a superb chipped finish into the BARCELoNA 11 4 4 3 16 12 16
Xavi Hernandez is expected to be corner.
appointed Koeman’s successor this week VALENCiA 12 4 4 4 18 17 16
but with the details of his move still to be Real made life difficult for themselves ESPANyoL 11 3 5 3 11 11 14
agreed with Qatari side Al Sadd, Barca B late on when a Casemiro mistake allowed
coach Barjuan has been put in temporary Pere Milla to pull a goal back but Elche’s R. MALLoRCA 11 3 4 4 10 16 13
charge. brief hope of a comeback came to noth- ViLLARREAL 11 2 6 3 13 12 12
ing.
Yet the removal of Koeman, and even CELtA ViGo 11 3 1 7 10 14 10
the prospect of Xavi, produced no obvious “We were very practical,” said Real ELCHE 12 2 4 6 9 15 10
uplift as a superb second-half strike from coach Carlo Ancelotti. “After only two
Memphis Depay was quickly cancelled days rest it’s not possible to play with ALAVES 11 3 1 7 6 14 10
intensity and energy.” — AFP GRANADA 10 1 5 4 8 14 8

take cover: barcelona’s alejandro balde tries to shoot past CADiz 11 1 5 5 10 18 8
alaves goalkeeper antonio Sivera. — aFP LEVANtE 11 0 6 5 11 20 6

GEtAFE 11 0 3 8 4 17 3

24 Sport THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Arsenal’s Ramsdale delighted with Leicester heroics Klopp blasts
players’
LONDON: Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron come up against him a couple of times in the The saviour: arsenal goalkeeper aaron ramsdale attitude
Ramsdale said his superb performance in league and training with the Under-21s so I saving a free-kick taken by Leicester’s James Maddison. after draw
the 2-0 Premier League victory over Leicester was worried he was going to reverse it,” — aFP
was a case of everything working in his Ramsdale told BT Sport. LIVERPOOL: Juergen Klopp criti-
favour while manager Mikel Arteta called cised the way Liverpool responded
on the 23-year-old to remain grounded. “He didn’t have too much pace on it which to squandering a two-goal lead as
allowed me to get there, but it was just one Brighton claimed a 2-2 draw at
Ramsdale was in inspired form at the King of those days where it seemed like I was Anfield.
Power Stadium as Arsenal, who had to saving everything which was thrown at me
endure a difficult start to the campaign after and the lads were blocking everything – top Jordan Henderson and Sadio
finishing eighth last season, made it nine day all round.” Mane had put the Reds 2-0 in front
matches unbeaten in all competitions. after 24 minutes but Graham
Arteta said Ramsdale, who has yet to win Potter’s team fought back with goals
His acrobatic leap to keep James a full international cap, must keep working from Enock Mwepu and Leandro
Maddison’s free-kick out before half time hard. Trossard either side of half-time.
was a contender for save of the season, as he
palmed the ball away in spectacular fashion “I think when you dream big, it’s always It was just the sixth time Liverpool
to stop it going into the top corner. positive. Keep your feet on the ground,” failed to win a Premier League
Arteta said. home game after leading by two
That effort left former goalkeepers includ- goals.
ing David Seaman and Peter Schmeichel “He needs to be doing what he’s doing
awestruck while Arsenal supporters chant- every day. Train the way he does, work as “In the second half, we were not
ed “England number one”. hard as he does, look after himself, have the good enough. The body language I
mentality he has, and good performances ... didn’t like it all,” the German said.
“Maddison is a top free-kick taker. I’ve the rest will come.” — Reuters
“It was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s really
The Ole one-two tough’. Yeah, it was clear before the
game.
Solskjaer: ronaldo, Cavani’s experience key to MU response
“The best way to defend Brighton
LONDON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Devils’ delight: edinson Cavani celebrating scoring Manchester United’s second goal with Cristiano ronaldo is to have the ball and play in the
said the experience of Cristiano and teammates against Tottenham. — reuters spaces where they are exposed, but
Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani was we didn’t do that and that’s a prob-
key to Manchester United’s 3-0 win Pep rues ref’s decisions in shock loss lem.”
at Tottenham as they bounced back
from a humiliating 5-0 thrashing by LONDON: Manchester City manag- referee,” said Guardiola. they disallowed it for nothing and Mane and Mohamed Salah had
Liverpool six days ago. er Pep Guardiola questioned the “Playing 11 against 11 or 11 at the end it was more difficult,” goals ruled out for handball and
key decisions that went against his added Guardiola. offside respectively as Liverpool
After a week of intense specula- side in the 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace against 10 it is different but the ref- dominated but failed to blow
tion over his future, Solskjaer got all at home but refused to blame the eree took that decision. We created “I imagine the line said offside Brighton away in the first half.
his major calls right as Ronaldo and referee for defeat in his 200th more than them with 10 against 11. but we didn’t lose because of that.
Cavani, at a combined age of 70, Premier League match in charge. We created enough with those cir- Against Brighton the line said their Klopp’s side remain second but
both scored after being paired up cumstances.” goal was offside but that stood ...” missed the chance to keep pace
front together for the first time. City were trailing 1-0 after with leaders Chelsea, who moved
Wilfried Zaha had struck early City found their groove in the Palace’s Conor Gallagher added three points clear following their
A switch to a back three, aided by when centre back Aymeric Laporte second half but were unable to to Zaha’s first-half effort with a 3-0 win at Newcastle and
the return of Raphael Varane from was sent off just before half-time for break down a stubborn Palace smart finish in the 88th minute to Manchester City’s shock 2-0 defeat
injury, also helped Solskjaer’s men hauling down the Palace winger, defence. They came the closest at give the London club only their sec- to Crystal Palace.
register just a second clean sheet in who was adjudged to have been the hour mark when Gabriel Jesus ond win of the season.
22 games. clear on goal. turned in a delightful dink from “It feels like a defeat, not only
Phil Foden but the goal was ruled It was City’s second defeat this because we were 2-0 up and didn’t
“We’ve built this performance on “This afternoon Jonny Evans (in out for offside. week, following their League Cup win. It’s because we scored two of
hard work, discipline and keeping Leicester’s game against Arsenal) exit against West Ham. They remain the most beautiful goals I’ve ever
the ball away from our goal,” said with the same action got a yellow “After the sending off it was more third in the league standings with seen us score, which were disal-
Solskjaer. card. It is interpretation from the difficult. We did a good second half 20 points – five behind leaders lowed,” added Klopp.
for 25 minutes. The goal again – Chelsea – from 10 games. — Reuters
“We worked on this this week. Liverpool hosts Atletico Madrid
The boys were brilliant, they took it in the Champions League on
on board. Wednesday before visiting fourth-
placed West Ham. — AFP
“Raphael Varane is a top player.
He reads the game well. He’s quick Zaha suffers
and so experienced. To get him racist
back is massive for us.” abuse online

The signings of Ronaldo, Varane LONDON: Crystal Palace forward
and Jadon Sancho were expected to Wilfried Zaha has been subjected to
turn United into title challengers racist abuse online and the 28-year-
this season. old shared screenshots of some of
the comments after the 2-0 win over
Instead, they are eight points Manchester City.
adrift of Premier League leaders
Chelsea after 10 games, but did Zaha, who scored the opening
move up to fifth thanks to a first goal of the game, was brought down
league win in five games. by Aymeric Laporte which resulted
in the City defender receiving a
The impact of Ronaldo’s arrival straight red card in first-half stop-
on the balance of the team has been page time.
questioned.
The Ivory Coast international,
But there is little doubting the who has previously been targeted
five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s fin- online, posted images of the racist
ishing as he volleyed in his seventh messages that he received on
goal in 11 games since returning to Instagram after the game and asked
the club, to settle United’s nerves. social media companies to take the
problem seriously.
Ronaldo then turned provider for
Cavani to double United’s lead with “This message isn’t for me to get a
a deft chip over Hugo Lloris in the million messages saying ‘we stand
second period. with you’ and ‘it’s disgusting’ or
about me getting sympathy,” Zaha
“The experience came through,” wrote on Instagram. “I’m not here
said Solskjaer. for all the nonsense that’s being
done instead of fixing the actual
“I was told that’s the oldest team problem.
I’ve picked for Man Utd and it was
time for it. “I don’t mind abuse because now-
adays it comes with doing the job I
“I’ve been here three years and do even though it’s not an excuse
Tuesday’s training performance by but my colour will always be the
Cavani was the best training perfor- real problem but it’s fine because
mance anyone has put in here. I’ll always be BLACK AND PROUD.

“They played well together, they “Speak to me when you actually
have loads of respect for each other. take this issue seriously.” — Reuters
We have loads of talented players
but they have to learn from those
two.

The work rate they put in, the
quality they put in is second to
none.” — AFP

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Sport 25

Youngsters’ five-star show leaves Neitzel with enviable options

PETALING JAYA: Selangor rode on half, but a half-time team talk was MALAYSIA CUP
the strength of their youngsters to enough to push these boys. They kept
crush Kuching City 5-1 in their to the team’s style and didn’t show rESULTS &
Malaysia Cup Group B encounter. any nerves at all. So it was really STAndIngS
good. I’m happy.”
The club fielded seven Under-22 GROUP A
players and one of them, winger Neitzel said the club had options
Ahmad Danial Ahmad Asri, 21, with their young players but wanted K. LUMPUR 4 SARAWAK UTD 0
scored two goals in the 60th and 80th them to be consistent. PAHANG 4 PENANG 0
minutes at the Petaling Jaya Stadium
on Saturday. “The boys have a good attitude, K. LUMPUR P W D L F A Pts
but I want them to be consistent. We 3 2 1 0827
As for 20-year-old Hein Htet Aung, must maintain this in the upcoming
he made an immediate impact when games,” he said. SARAWAK UTD 3 2 0 1 4 5 6
he netted in the very first minute and PAHANG 3 1 0 2543
was truly sensational with his play- “Sometimes, these players will
making abilities throughout the play well in one game and then PENANG 3 0 1 2641
game. The other goals came via mid- struggle in another. They must learn
fielder Safuwan Baharuddin and and be better. We will work on that.” GROUP B
winger Sean Selvaraj.
Easy does it: Selangor’s two-goal hero ahmad danial ahmad asri (left) Meanwhile, Selangor have been PERAK 1 TERENGGANU 4
Nigerian striker Michael Ijezie celebrating with teammate Sean Selvaraj. — Selangor FC boosted by the return of striker SELANGOR 5 KUCHING CITY 1
scored Kuching’s only goal in the Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi, who has fully
11th minute. impressed him during their last two superb. That same form was shown recovered from a fibula injury. P W D L F A Pts
friendlies against Sarawak United against Kuching. Even after Kuching TERENGGANU 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
Selangor coach Karsten Neitzel and Petaling Jaya City during the equalised, we kept our composure,” He came on in the 80th minute,
was happy with the youngsters for break. said the German. and with his return, Neitzel will have SELANGOR 3 2 0 1736
showing the same form that more options up front in the upcom- PERAK 3 0 1 2371
“In the friendlies, they were “We struggled a little in the first ing games.
KUCHING CITY 3 0 1 2 3 9 1

Well-Brad Tigers We love this
Maloney hails City! Good
players for vibes bring
performing out the best
like pros from Morales
to reach asian
Cup Finals PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur’s Romel
Morales has been having the best of
By T. AVINESHWARAN times with his club and that is reflected
in his strong showing in the Malaysia
PETALING JAYA: The success of We defied the odds: Coach brad Maloney (centre) hugging his players after they qualified for the aFC Under- Cup.
Malaysia’s Under-23 football team 23 asian Cup.
in Mongolia is special for coach On Saturday, he gave a superb
Brad Maloney. with weather dropping as low as “I have said it all make too many saves. performance as a striker and playmaker
-8° Celsius, the Malaysian boys along that I have The influence of captain and when he scored a brace to help the City
Despite playing under chilly con- showed great fighting spirit to earn incredible belief Boys beat Sarawak United 4-0 in their
ditions and on a tough artificial the opportunity to face some of in this group of midfielder Mukhairi Ajmal Group A encounter at the Cheras Football
pitch, the Harimau Muda held their Asia’s biggest sides in June. players.” Mahadi, 20, was also telling as he Stadium.
own to hold regional rivals Thailand led the team effectively in the
0-0 at the MFF Stadium in Ulaan– “We had a lot of plans in place brad Maloney defensive and attacking transi- He fired two quickfire goals in the fifth
baatar yesterday to top Group J but had to alter it due to the pan- tions. and 11th minutes against Sarawak, who
with seven points in the AFC Asian demic. It did not deter the team as They maintained great disci- looked listless throughout the match.
Cup qualifiers. all of us stuck to what we know pline, communicated well, and His partner Nik Akif Syahiran
best - our style of play that led to frustrated strikers with their solid Nik Mat, 21, also impressed with The other scorers were winger J.
And it was good enough to seal this good result.” defending. his commitment and drive despite Partiban (55th) and Ryan Lambert
their spot in the AFC Under-23 Asian the loss of his father Nik Mat Yusof, (60th).
Cup in Uzbekistan in June. Twenty-year-old striker Nur And thanks to them, goalkeeper who died in an accident two days
Azfar Fikri Azhar emerged as the Azri Ghani, 22, did not have to before his flight to Mongolia. KL are now top of the group with
Malaysia had beaten Laos (1-0) star after scoring both of Malaysia’s seven points and to make it even more
and Mongolia (1-0) earlier, and it’s goals in the qualifying campaign. It is hoped that these boys will special, they have extended their
only their second qualification for continue to grow in strength and unbeaten run at home to 18 matches.
the Asian Cup after the 2018 edi- The performances of centre- make Malaysia proud next June.
tion. backs Ahmad Zikri Khalil, Harith Romel said his performance was a
Haiqal Adam and Azrin Afiq In the last edition in 2018 in result of a good vibe in the club.
“It’s a fantastic achievement. I Rusmini, all only 19, should also be China, the team, then led by Datuk
have said it all along that I have lauded as they were the pillars at Ong Kim Swee, reached the quar- “Honestly, I’m enjoying every moment
incredible belief in this group of the back in all three matches. ter-finals before losing 1-2 to South with this team,” said the 24-year-old, a
players. They’ve performed as pro- Korea. Can Maloney do better? former Melaka and PKNS player.
fessionals,” said Maloney.
“We’ve continued our unbeaten run
“We did not concede a goal in the and are top of the group. When
competition, and we didn’t lose. As everything goes your way, the flow will
a coach, I couldn’t be prouder. be there.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to guide “We beat a side who were really good
these players in their mission to in the first two games. Our team brought
Uzbekistan.” their A-game at home.

The qualification means a lot to “It’s great to score for the team. It has
Maloney and the boys as the lead- given me the extra motivation to help the
up to the qualifiers wasn’t smooth team go all the way to the final.”
sailing for the team.
In another Group A match, Pahang
The coaching staff had planned finally got their first win when thrashed
training camps in central Asian Penang 4-0 in emphatic fashion at the
nations but it had to be scrapped Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on
due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Saturday.

And they could only hold their Winger Abdul Malik Mat Ariff netted
training camp in Kuala Lumpur two two goals in the 11th and 55th minutes
weeks before the qualifiers and had while Manuel Hidalgo (47th) and
to scramble to organise several Abubakar Yakubu (72nd) were also on
friendlies with local clubs. target.

Malaysia were also the last team Coach Dollah Salleh said he had not
to arrive in Ulaanbaatar as Laos seen the Elephants put up such a good
and Thailand were there earlier to performance for a long time.
acclimatise to the conditions there.
“We were different. The boys have
Despite all the challenges and trained well the last one month and they
were in high spirits. Our game came alive
and we showed what we were capable
against Penang,” he said.

“The players were eager to erase the
memory of losing the first two games. In
training, they communicated well with
the coaches and gave lots of suggestions
to improve the team.

“I told Malik to watch (Mohamad)
Salah’s games for Liverpool, on how he
opens up spaces and scores goals. Malik
did well to elevate the team’s
performance.”

26 Sport THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Painful flashback
aaron-Wooi yik suffers another meltdown in Paris

French toast: Soh Wooi yik By TAN MING WAI Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen lem soon. We can’t afford such laps- SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
(front) and aaron Chia went out in PETALING JAYA: Top doubles pair in the last 16. es in concentration.”
the semi-finals. Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik immedi- Men’s singles: Kanta Tsuneyama (Jpn) bt Kento
ately felt a sense of deja vu after col- In that match, they led 14-8 in the In the first round, Aaron-Wooi Yik Momota (Jpn) 24-26, 21-11 ret.
lapsing in the French Open. third game before caving in. survived a scare when they scram- Men’s doubles: Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol (Kor)
bled from a 15-20 deficit against bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) 14-21, 21-10,
On Saturday, the world No. 8 Aaron was not shy to admit that compatriots Goh V Shem-Low Juan 24-22.
crashed out in the semi-finals 21-14, this was a long-standing problem Shen before taking the opening Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt An Se-
10-21, 22-24 to South Korea’s former they had been dealing with. game 25-23. young (Kor) 21-18, 21-19.
world champions Ko Sung-hyun- Women’s doubles: Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong
Shin Baek-cheol thus preventing “We still find it difficult to keep Although they have been put (Kor) bt Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) 21-17,
them from reaching their fourth our nerves in check when we’re through mental conditioning by the 21-19.
World Tour final. leading and this has cost us dearly. National Sports Institute (NS) psy- Mixed doubles: Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje
With such a lead, we could have chologists, Aaron said: “The expert (Den) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet 21-11, 21-15.
In the match, they squandered an sealed it,” said Aaron. can only help us so much. We need
18-13 lead and failed to convert any to do our part too.” to-back Indonesian swing in Bali,
of their three match points in the “In 2019, we went through the starting with the Indonesian Masters
deciding game. same problem twice. Once against The semi-final outing was still a from Nov 16-21 and then the
Astrup-Rasmussen also in the positive response from the duo fol- Indonesian Open.
Two years ago in the French capi- French Open and another against lowing their dismal show in the
tal, they were also booted out in an China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen during Thomas Cup Finals and Denmark Currently ranked 21st, they still
almost similar fashion, losing 19-21, the Sudirman Cup (led 11-6 in the Open. stand a chance to make the top-eight
21-13, 21-23 to Denmark’s Kim decider, only to lose 21-18, 14-21, cut for the lucrative season-ending
22-24). They will now take a two-week World Tour Finals from Dec 1-5.
break before returning in the back-
“We have to overcome this prob- “Our position should improve
after this week,” added Aaron.

Eight is more than
enough for Tze Yong

PETALING JAYA: A delighted Ng 23-21 semi-final win over Japan’s Pay day: Tze yong posing with the belgian International winner’s
Tze Yong gave himself eight out Yusuke Odonera which lasted cheque.
of 10 points after capturing the over 78 minutes.
Belgian International title in RESULTS (Tpe) 12-21, 21-16, 23-21.
Leuven. “I think my recovery was real- Women’s doubles: Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi
ly good. I felt great in the final,” Final (Jpn) bt Julie Macpherson-Clara Torrance (Sco)
On Saturday, the 21-year-old he said. Men’s singles: Ng Tze Yong (Mas) bt Ajay Jayaram 21-12, 21-15.
outclassed India’s former world (Ind) 21-14, 21-14. Mixed doubles: Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito
No. 13 Ajay Jayaram 21-14, 21-14 “If there’s one thing that I did Men’s doubles: Pramudya Kusumawardana-Ye- (Jpn) bt Jesper Toft-Clara Graversen (Den) 21-18,
to make up for last week’s agonis- not do better, it has to be my lack remia Rambitan (Ina) bt Shohibul Fikri-Bagas 21-9.
ing title miss at the Czech Open. of focus. In the semi-finals, I had Maulana (Ina)) 21-18, 22-20.
a 17-12 lead but lost the opening Women’s singles: Riko Gunji (Jpn) Hsu Wen-chi
“I’m very happy that I was able game. It happened again in the
to redeem myself. I tried hard not rubber when I could not capital-
to think about what happened in ise on the 12-7 and 20-18 advan-
the Czech Republic,” said Tze tage, luckily I managed to pull
Yong, who has now won two through.”
titles from three finals this year
having bagged the Polish Open A buoyed Tze Yong will now
title in March. take a deserving two-week break
before bidding to reach two more
“I’m quite pleased with my finals in the Irish Open (Nov
performance throughout the 17-20). and Scottish Open (Nov
tournament. I would give it an 25-28)
eight as the field is quite compet-
itive. “It was mission accomplished
to nail one title in two finals,”
“I actually thought it will be added Tze Yong.
tough for me to win as the
Japanese sent almost their entire “We will train in Ireland for
B team here.” two weeks for the Irish Open. I
should climb to No. 68 after my
Out of his five matches, Tze Belgium victory. Hopefully a cou-
Yong encountered one tough bat- ple more strong results will help
tle and it was his 20-22, 21-15, me reach nearer to the top 50.”

Asian champ Timmy now eyes world domination

Time to roar: Timmy out to make it PETALING JAYA: National bowler Timmy Tan “Even podium finishes will be great as I did
count in his fourth world meet. is ready to pick up where he left off two years not even come close in my last three outings.”
ago when he competes in the World
Championships in Dubai from Nov 6-15. The revamped International Bowling
Federation (IBF) world meet replaces the World
It will be his first tournament since his Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and will
superb showing in 2019 en route to winning introduce a format that will prioritise match
two golds at the Asian Championships in play over total pinfalls.
Kuwait in November and another two at the
Philippines SEA Games in Manila six weeks Competitiors will now bowl a total of 12
later. games to decide who will advance to the
round-robin group stage. For instance, in sin-
The 27-year-old said he is the same deter- gles, 32 qualifiers will be divided into four
mined bowler and ready to make up for the groups where they will play a of total of seven
loss time caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. matches.

“Despite the long wait, I still have the fire and A match win is worth three points and one
fighting spirit when I last won in Kuwait and for a draw. The group winners and runners-up
the Philippines. It didn’t fade,” said Timmy, will progress to the knockout stage.
who was undoubtedly the most outstanding
national team member before the outbreak. In team events, the Baker format will be used
to add more thrill to the contest.
“It’s obviously frustrating to lose two good
years but it happened to everyone. Now’s the Under the system, all team members take
time to make up for it.” turns within one game as opposed to bowlers
playing separate games in the regular format.
Timmy heads for his fourth world meet with
an eye on a podium finish as it’s the only tour- “I’m in favour of the change. I think IBF are
nament he has not won a medal. making great efforts to make the sport more
interesting for the audience to watch,” added
“Having emerged as Asian champion three Timmy.
times (he also won the singles gold in 2016), I
certainly want a world title,” he said. “Hopefully these changes will push bowling
to get into the Olympics one day.”

THE STAR, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Sport 27

Boon Siew Honda’s Zaqhwan
a class above on his new bike

PETALING JAYA: Boon Siew Honda Racing demic, this was the first time the Honda rider Speed master: Zaqhwan Zaidi celebrates
Team rider Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi ruled the had the chance to be competitive on the bike. on the podium after winning the overall title
Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) in the Malaysian Superbike Championship
1000 by making a clean sweep of all races in “We got some excellent mileage with the 1000 class.
Round Three en route to winning the overall bike this weekend. Kudos to my team for their
title. superb engineering in getting the bike in race
shape within a record time. I can’t wait to race
Zaqhwan was truly unstoppable over the this bike in the ARRC next year because I
weekend with his new Honda CBR1000 RRR SP believe that this will make me super competi-
machine as he rightfully earned the coveted tive.”
Shogun trophy.
Ibrahim Norrodin was on song in the MSBK
Yesterday, he endured a tough battle against 600 category when he picked up his hattrick of
Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin to win Race Two wins over the weekend. The SIC Racing Team
at the Sepang International Circuit by posting rider won both Race Two and Race Three.
a time of 21:30.721 while Kasma finished a
close second in 21:31.313. However, it was Ibrahim’s teammate Mohd
Syarifuddin Azman who had the most to cele-
But Zaqhwan made it look easy in Race Three brate.
when he capped off a successful win with a
lights-to-flag victory with a time of 21:27.869s, Despite not winning a single race through-
4.2 seconds ahead of the rest of the grid. out the two rounds in 2021, Syarifuddin’s play-
it-safe strategy paid off when he took the title
“I am so thrilled and pleased with the out- with 105 points.
come this weekend. Finally, I’ve won the over-
all title with the new bike,” said Zaqhwan, who Syarifuddin finished on the podium in five
won Race One on Saturday. out of six races. The only race where he was
absent from the podium was the final race of
The new bike was slated to be Zaqhwan’s the season. He crossed the finish line in fourth.
ride in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship
but with the event cancelled due to the pan- Boon Siew Honda Racing Team rider Mohd
Izam Ikmal won the MSBK 250 title,

RESULTS MSBK600: 1. Mohd Ibrahim Norrodin (Yamaha, SIC Racing)
21:56.275, 2. Mohd Adam Norrodin (Kawasaki, SIC Racing)
RACE TWO 21:57.478, 3. Mohd Helmi Azman (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing
MSBK 1000: 1. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Team) 21:57.750.
Racing Team) 21:30.721, 2. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Yamaha, MSBK250: 1. Mohd Hakim Danish Ramli (Kawasaki, SIC Racing)
Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN) 21:31.313, 3. Azlan Shah Kamaruzam- 20:05.564, 2. Mohd Izam Ikmal (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team)
an (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) 21:37.225. 20:05.565, 3. Mohd Danial Syahmi (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) 20:05.730.
MSBK 600: 1. Mohd Ibrahim Norrodin (Yamaha, SIC Racing) FINAL STANDINGS
21:57.215, 2. Mohd Syarifuddin Azman (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) MSBK 1000: 1. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda
21:57.385, 3. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) 116 pts, 2. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ONEXOX
Racing Team) 21:57.428. TKKR Racing Team) 110, 3. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Yamaha,
MSBK 250: 1. Mohd Danial Syahmi (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN) 101.
20’06.673, 2. Mohd Izam Ikmal (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing MSBK 600: 1. Mohd Syarifuddin Azman (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) 105,
Team) 20:06.696, 3. Mohd Idlan Hakimi Raduan (Honda, Boon Siew 2. Mohd Ibrahim Norrodin (Yamaha, SIC Racing) 95, 3. Mohd Helmi
Honda Racing Team) 20:07.091. Azman (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) 89.
RACE THREE MSBK 250: 1. Mohd Izam Ikmal (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing
MSBK 1000: 1. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Team) 128, 2. Mohd Danial Syahmi (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) 122, 3.
Racing Team) 21:27.869, 2. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ON- Mohd Hakim Danish (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) 89.
EXOX TKKR Racing Team) 21:32.126, 3. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin
(Yamaha, Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN) 21:32.315.

Yuen: Ivan
the biggie

Squash player hopes winning minor
meets will set him up for major title

By T. AVINESHWARAN

PETALING JAYA: National squash player was reaching the semi-finals in 2017.
Ivan Yuen (pic) hopes that small successes On his match against Syafiq, Ivan, who was
will lead to big wins.
the top seed, said the turning point came in
Ivan is waiting patiently for a career break- the second set.
through at the prestigious Malaysian Open
from Nov 23-27 at the National Squash Centre “The last time I met Syafiq was in the SRAM
in Bukit Jalil. PSA 1 final (April), so it took a while for me to
to adjust to his game style here,” he admitted.
On Saturday, the world No. 52 Ivan was on
a roll when he lifted the SRAM PSA 6 title after “Syafiq was leading 9-6 in the second set,
downing world No.98 Mohd Syafiq Kamal and that’s when I ramp up my game and man-
11-5, 11-9, 11-0 in a 34-minute final in Kuala aged to win 11-9.
Lumpur.
“I guess that gave me the confidence to go
It was his third title this year as he has also all the way, and I’m happy to have won my
pocketed the SRAM PSA 1 and SRAM PSA 5 third straight local title. I hope to bring that
crowns. momentum to the next local meet too.

And did not drop a single set in the recent In the women’s final, Aifa Azman show-
tournament and looks set to continue his cased a superb performance to down Chan
domination in the local circuit when he gets Yiwen 11-5, 11-1, 11-3 in 19 minutes for her
into action in the SRAM PSA 7 from Nov 6-9 at second title of the month.
the same venue.

Ivan, who won US$6,000 (RM24,845) for the
feat, is proud of his performances so far but
knows that he has to raise the bar higher and
aim for the major tournaments.

“For me, all these small victories are impor-
tant as it help build my confidence as I pre-
pare for the bigger ones,” said the 31-year-old
Ivan.

“I want to focus on my preparation for the
Malaysian Open and try to go all the way.”

Ivan’s best showing in the Malaysian Open

THE STAR, MondAy 1 novEMbER 2021

thEeairrsntirnipges
all for the flag: The Malaysian players posing with the Jalur Gemilang after qualifying for the Under-23 Asian Cup Finals. — FAM

MALAYSIA Under-23 team coach Brad Maloney saluted his players for ‘performing like professionals’ after they qualified for the
AFC Asian Cup Finals. The Australian said he couldn’t be prouder of the Harimau Muda, who endured chilly conditions and a
tough artificial pitch in Mongolia to hold Thailand 0-0 to secure their ticket for the competition in Uzbekistan next June.
> Story by T. AvInESHWARAn on Page 25

eNGLisH
PreMier LeaGue

resuLts & staNdiNGs

Leicester 0 ArsenAL 2
BurnLey 3 Brentford 1
LiverpooL 2 Brighton 2
MAn city 0 c. pALAce 2
newcAstLe 0 cheLseA 3
wAtford 0 s’hAMpton 1
tottenhAM 0 MAn united 3

Chelsea p w d L f A pts
10 8 1 1 26 3 25

Same problem liverpool 10 6 4 0 29 8 22
again for Man City 10 6 2 2 20 6 20
Aaron-Wooi Yik. >26
West haM 9 5 2 2 16 10 17
Man Utd 10 5 2 3 19 15 17

In CR7 arsenal 10 5 2 3 12 13 17
we trust Brighton 10 4 4 2 11 11 16

tottenhaM 10 5 0 5 9 16 15
everton 9 4 2 3 15 14 14

leiCester 10 4 2 4 15 17 14
Wolves 9 4 1 4 9 9 13

Brentford 10 3 3 4 12 12 12
C. palaCe 10 2 6 2 13 14 12

s’haMpton 10 2 5 3 9 12 11
aston villa 9 3 1 5 13 15 10

Watford 10 3 1 6 12 18 10
BUrnley 10 1 4 5 10 16 7

leeds 9 1 4 4 8 16 7
neWCastle 10 0 4 6 11 23 4
Klopp slams
players for norWiCh 9 0 2 7 2 23 2
home hiccup. >24
today’s Fixtures

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating after scoring the opening goal against Tottenham. — AP WoLvES vs EvERTon
>See Page 24 (4am tomorrow)

Published by Star Publications Sdn Bhd (202001037064) (1393385-K), Menara Star, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Printed by Star Media Group Berhad (197101000523) (10894-D), 2 Jalan Astaka U8/88, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Copyright ©

THE STAR, MondAy 1 novEMbER 2021

Women on board of public listed companies G-20 heads
(%) Top 100 All PLCs endorse
global
30 tax accord

24.4 26.4 25.4 25.3 25.5 FRANKFURT: Leaders of the world’s biggest
17 economies formally backed an ambitious
25 plan to overhaul the way countries tax multi-
national companies in a bid to stem competi-
20 19.2 tion for the lowest rates.

15 13.2 16.6 15.7 16.7 17.2 17 All of the leaders at a Group of 20 (G-20)
12 summit in Rome endorsed the new rules on
14 13.3 Saturday, “including a global minimum tax
that will end the damaging race to the bottom
10 10.7 on corporate taxation,” United States Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
10.2
A senior US administration official, travel-
5 ling with President Joe Biden, earlier called
the plan a historic reshaping of the rules for
0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 March 2021 June 2021 the global economy that will force corpora-
2014 tions to pay their fair share of taxes.

Top 100 PLCs: 38/100 All PLCs: 160/926 That echoed previous comments by Yellen,
4 261/926 whose support helped push forward a deal
• No. of companies with 30% or more women on boards: • No. of companies with 30% or more women on boards: that languished during the administration of
• No. of companies with zero women on boards: • No. of companies with zero women on boards: President Donald Trump.

Source: Securities Commission graphics The pact won support in principle from 136
governments in October under the auspices
The 30% Club Malaysia is striving to achieve the target of a 30% representation of women on the boards of public listed companies of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
(PLCs) over the next few years. > See page 3 and Development (OECD).

StarBiz Special G-20 finance ministers endorsed a frame-
work for the agreement in July.
Crude oil
heading north The G-20’s endorsement of the deal stands
Prices to stay high on global supply shortfall out at a summit that looks unlikely to produce
any additional substantial agreements.
oil and gaS for the ringgit as Malaysia is a net exporter of “Oil prices will meander around US$77
the commodity, hence strengthening the local (RM319) to US$107 (RM443) per barrel by Leaders have failed to make serious pro-
by dALJIT dHESI currency and improving the government’s next year, based on the premise that demand gress on other prominent issues, including
daljit@thestar.com.my fiscal position albeit the build up of inflation- will outpace supply due to a lot of supply dis- climate change and debt relief for low-in-
PETALING JAYA: Crude oil prices are expect- ary pressures. ruptions in the energy market. come countries.
ed to remain elevated at between US$77
(RM319) and US$107 (RM443) a barrel until Economists and industry observers agree “We could foresee a repeat of 2008 when oil The tax pact has two sweeping objectives. It
sometime next year amid the shortfall in the there would be upward pressure on oil prices was trading at US$147.23 (RM610) per barrel intends first to halt the effort by multinational
supply of the commodity. going into 2022 due to, among others, the on July 11 of that year. companies to shift profits into low-tax havens
depletion of coal reserves, production cuts through a new global minimum tax of 15%
The strong price of crude would bode well and geopolitical risk. “Oil prices have gone up from US$37 for multinational companies.
(RM153) a barrel to over US$86 (RM356) in
Juwai IQI global chief economist Shan just 19 months. It’s quite a turnaround, almost It also attempts to address the increasingly
Saeed told StarBiz he expects oil prices to digital nature of international commerce by
head north moving into 2022. > TuRn To pAGE 2 taxing companies, in part, on where they do
business instead of where they book profits.

While the deal has overcome some major
impediments – such as getting low-tax Ireland
to sign on – it faces several potential snags
before it comes into force and proves effec-
tive, including the creation of a credible dis-
pute resolution mechanism.

Signatory countries must also follow
through by enacting domestic legislation to
implement the new tax rules and by formally
approving a multilateral convention, to be
drafted by the OECD.

The US and five European governments
helped the agreement along with a side deal,
announced Oct 21.

It allows the European countries to retain,
for now, so-called digital services taxes on
technology giants like Facebook Inc and
Amazon.com Inc, which US officials said
unfairly discriminated against American
companies. — Bloomberg

2 News STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

invesTmenT EPF to rebuild members’
retirement savings
KUALA LUMPUR: Following the special Future withdrawals have to be carefully considered
withdrawal facilities due to the Covid-19 pan-
demic, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is members now have less than RM10,000, funds to retire above the poverty line,” it some way towards addressing the needs of
now focused on assisting members to rebuild and two million or 25% have less than said. the rakyat.
their savings for their retirement future. RM1,000.
The EPF estimates that members will need Meanwhile, Bernama quoted EPF chief
The withdrawal facilities were exceptional The bottom 40% of EPF members (about to work between an extra four and six years strategy officer Nurhisham Hussein as saying
in nature and were introduced considering five million members) saw their savings drop to rebuild the savings that have been utilised that the Covid-19-related withdrawals result-
the circumstances at the time where the pan- by 38% to just RM8bil, translating into a medi- during the pandemic, which has also led to a ed in many members below age 55 having
demic severely impacted the local economy, an savings balance of RM1,005. significant drop in the percentage of mem- critically low EPF savings.
the fund said. bers meeting the basic savings threshold
The middle 40% also suffered a decline of (RM240,000 at age 55) from 36% in 2020 to an “Even with Covid-19, 80% of Malaysian
These withdrawals, namely i-Lestari, i-Si- 18% to RM155bil, or a median balance of estimated 27% by the end of this year. men and 90% of Malaysian women will reach
nar and i-Citra, resulted in a total of RM101bil RM24,995. age 60, while one out of three men and two
being disbursed to over 7.4 million members, Against this need to safeguard members’ out of three women will reach age 80.
which is close to half of all EPF members. Only the top 20% of members aged below future and rebuild their retirement funds,
55 saw an increase in savings but this trans- future exceptional withdrawals will need to “We now estimate that only 3% of
“While they provided some financial relief lates to a median of RM152,043, or equivalent be very carefully considered, it said. Malaysians can afford to retire,” he said at the
to members during the pandemic and vari- to just RM633 per month for 20 years. Perdana Fellow Alumni Association Speaker
ous movement control orders, the withdraw- With the measures put in place to support Series webinar.
als have inevitably led to 6.1 million members “The three exceptional withdrawals have the recovery of the economy and spur
now having less than RM10,000 in their EPF left 73% or nearly three quarters of mem- employment, the fund hopes that this will go Nurhisham was one of the panellists at the
accounts, of which 3.6 million have less than bers in a serious state of having inadequate webinar, titled “Healthcare in Focus”.
RM1,000, leaving them vulnerable and unpro-
tected for their retirement,” it said in a state-
ment.

The drop in savings is particularly worry-
ing for bumiputra members, as they made up
78% or more than three quarters of the with-
drawal applicants.

As a result, 4.4 million or 54% bumiputra

The Week Ahead

OPR to take centre stage growth path for the economy, according to potential induced financial volatility in the overall manufacturing activity.
Kenanga. financial and foreign exchange markets will It added that other economies in Asia could
BANK Negara’s sixth monetary policy meet- also be one of the key aspects under the cen-
ing will take centre stage this week. However, it said despite a positive econom- tral bank’s monetary management. see improved activity after relaxing mobility
ic outlook, Bank Negara’s decision on the OPR restrictions.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) remains subject to the pace of labour market AmBank Research is maintaining its infla-
meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, with recovery, the trajectory of headline inflation, tion projection at 2.6%-2.8%, with no change IHS Markit said the focus will be on how
most economists expecting the central bank domestic Covid-19 situation post-reopening to the OPR outlook of 1.75%. individual regions fared into the start of the
to maintain the overnight policy rate (OPR) at and further progress on the National Recovery fourth quarter, with a particular focus on
1.75%. Plan. Meanwhile, the IHS Markit Manufacturing Asia, and China in particular, for a steer on
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for global supply.
UOB Global Economics and Markets Socio-Economic Research Centre expects October 2021 is expected to be announced
Research projects the OPR to remain Bank Negara to keep the OPR at 1.75% until today. GDP results
unchanged until mid-2022, and thereafter it mid-2022 to support a firmer revival in
will be raised by 25 basis points to 2.00% in domestic demand. Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be HONG KONG and Indonesia are expected to
the second half of 2022. closed on Thursday in conjunction with release their third-quarter GDP results this
It said the continued low interest rate com- Deepavali. week.
Kenanga Research said Bank Negara is like- plements the targeted fiscal support to secure
ly to keep the OPR unchanged at 1.75% in the a sustainable recovery path. PMI readings Bloomberg estimates Hong Kong to post a
next six to nine months. 5.7% growth year-on-year from a 7.6% expan-
The overall economic growth and infla- OCTOBER’S manufacturing and services sion in the second quarter.
As Malaysia prepares to shift from the tion outlook, as well as financial stability Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) will be
pandemic to endemic phase of Covid-19, risk, will be carefully assessed in a balanc- released this week. ING said Indonesia is forecast to post a
helped by the country’s high Covid-19 vacci- ing act to time the starting of interest rate 3.5% year-on-year expansion, a slowdown
nation rates, the central bank is expected to normalisation. ING said the PMI readings could give an from the previous quarter, after surging
hold the OPR at 1.75% until at least the sec- indication as to whether the global supply Covid-19 cases prompted authorities to
ond quarter of 2022 to support a steady It added that the uncertainty of the mone- chain bottlenecks are beginning to feed into heighten mobility curbs during the quarter.
tary path in some advanced economies and

Geopolitical risk is getting deeper into energy market

> FRom pAge 1 “In short, Opec+ is not overly concerned after a disastrous 2020. could stir consumer inflation and hence, slow
a 71% increase year-to-date.” about the current price trend driven by the He said it is likely that 2022 would be even down consumer spending and temper global
demand effects. recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic.
He said oil market is in a backward phase better, with the full recovery of production
as the spot price is higher than future price, “And that reflects as to why the Opec+ min- beyond pre-pandemic levels or above 100 “This will reduce demand for oil. On the
noting that there is a supply shortage of 1.5 isters have not challenged the market narra- million barrels per day. supply side, Opec+ may decide to ramp up
million to two million barrels in the market. tive which assumes tight balances and lack of production to help soften the high oil prices.
spare capacity as a result of prices to remain But in the medium to long term, he said
Furthermore, Shan said geopolitical risk is elevated for a longer period,” Dass said. crude oil is still a sunset business as the world “The reduction of market liquidity due to
getting deeper into the energy market, adding renews the calls to decarbonise by 2050 or the tapering of the Federal Reserve’s assets
that Saudi Arabia and Russia are calling the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research earlier in order to deal with climate change. purchase and the normalisation of interest
shots and the Organisation of Petroleum (Mier) head of research Shankaran Nambiar rates may reduce speculative buying in the oil
Exporting Countries (Opec) remain relevant expects oil prices for next year to range from He noted that many countries are facing an market,” Lee said.
in the global market. US$77 (RM319) per barrel to US$90 (RM373) energy crisis now like Brazil, China and the
as the shortfall in supply is likely to run into UK. On the ringgit, Shan expects the currency to
As at press time, Brent crude, the interna- the first half of 2022. bounce back stronger against the US dollar in
tional benchmark, was trading at US$84.38 “The core of the problem is that invest- 2022, underpinned by higher commodities
(RM349.33) per barrel. He said there are several factors that add ments in fossil fuels are going down because prices and solid foreign direct investment
upward pressure on oil prices, adding that of the push to decarbonise the economy and inflows into the economy.
AmBank Group chief economist and mem- there is less confidence that the United States- their lower long-term growth prospects in a
ber of the Economic Action Council Secretariat Iran nuclear deal would come off with a satis- net-zero emissions world but renewables are He expects the ringgit to trade around 3.65
Anthony Dass said the upside to crude oil factory resolution. not yet mature enough to fully replace them. to 4.10 to the US dollar by next year.
price remains strong, moving forward.
“Coal prices are at a record high with the “This is the time to put in place policies that He said Bank Negara would continue to
For 2021, crude oil price is likely to settle rains and floods in China. Indonesia is also are aligned with this emerging energy econo- consolidate foreign exchange buffers to with-
around US$68-US$71 (RM282-RM294) per affected by rains, affecting production. Russia my and are resilient to the climate challenge stand currency volatility in the global finan-
barrel. and Mongolia have logistics issues creating we face. cial markets.
constraints for the timely delivery of coal
Looking into 2022, he said oil price is supplies. “In particular, the aspiration to be net zero The central bank would be able to meet its
expected to move higher to around US$77- by 2050, as expressed in the 12th Malaysia mandate of price and growth stability target
US$80 (RMRM319-RM331) per barrel, driven “The call to stop investing in hydrocarbon Plan, is a start but it needs to be followed up for next year, he noted.
by a continued recovery in demand that supplies is neither wise nor timely at this soon with a concrete roadmap to boost invest-
would widen the “persistent” supply short- point. Going green and switching to alterna- ments in green economy,” Renato said. Dass said higher crude prices would bode
fall. tive sources of energy is definitely a long- well for the local currency besides strength-
term priority. Meanwhile, Socio-Economic Research ening the government’s fiscal position.
Besides, he said, at the moment the Opec+ Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie
is not seeing US$80 (RM331) per barrel as a “But depressing traditional sources of ener- expects crude oil price to average US$71 “A 1% increase in oil prices also results in a
ceiling. So, it is less likely for it to cool prices gy at a time when there are supply con- (RM294) per barrel in 2021 and US$68 0.04% increase in the stock market index and
in the near term. straints will only create higher energy prices (RM282) in 2022. 0.03% appreciation of the ringgit the next day.
and this may persist for a couple of years, if
This means Opec+ would prefer to have a not well managed,” Nambiar noted. He said the market’s narrative now is that “On aggregate, using monthly data, the
higher floor price than previously thought, he Opec+ is seemingly comfortable with the cur- local currency is expected to appreciate by
said. Renato Lima-de-Oliveira, an assistant rent level of oil price and would stay with its 0.45% from the appreciation of oil price by
professor of business and society at Asia plan for gradual additional production, rath- 10%,” he said.
“Furthermore, there is limited market School of Business and a fellow of the er than offering more supply to the market to
share threat from the US production growth. Centre for Market Education, said this year cool prices in the short term. Nambiar said that on the flip side, the high
This means there is no urgency for Opec+ has been a positive year for oil companies price of oil may steer the global economy to
producers to step on the gas. However, he said concerns over higher slip into a regime of stagflation. That, in turn,
energy prices along with other raw materials would not help propel a quick recovery for
the Malaysian economy.

STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 News 3

Touch ‘n Go On a mission to hire
announces more women directors
tie-up with Visa
Club championing for females on boards of PLCs
KUALA LUMPUR: Touch ‘n Go Group, via
the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, has entered into a corporate “our mission over the next
strategic partnership with Visa, the world’s 12 months will be to
leader in digital payments. By DALJIT DHESI continue mobilising the
daljit@thestar.com.my collective of chairs and ceos
The partnership will see Touch ‘n Go eWal- PETALING JAYA: The 30% Club Malaysia is to achieve the 30% pivotal
let join Visa’s Fintech Fast Track Programme, putting in motion various initiatives to have point among the top
which allows Touch ‘n Go to directly access more women on the boards of local public 100 pLcs.”
Visa’s global network of partners and affili- listed companies (PLCs).
ates. ami Moris
It is striving to achieve the target of a 30%
The programme forms part of Visa’s global representation of women on the boards of companies in the top quartile for gender to action before the deadlines, especially
strategy to open its network and support a PLCs over the next few years. diversity on executive teams were 25% more since MCCG does require all PLC boards to
broad range of players that are developing likely to have above-average profitability comprise at least 30% women directors or
new commerce experiences for increasingly The move to have at least one woman than companies in the fourth quartile. otherwise disclose its plans to achieve this
on-line savvy users. director for all PLCs under Budget 2022 is target within three years or less.
timely and a shot in the arm for a more rep- The Malaysia chapter of the 30% Club, she
The partnership will also include the devel- resentation of the gender at the board level. said along with some guided directions from “One of the successful initiatives that the
opment of a Visa prepaid card solution tied to the Securities Commission (SC) and Bursa 30% Club has carried out is the Board
the Touch ‘n Go eWallet. This solution is The government has made it mandatory Malaysia, has done a remarkable job at work- Mentoring Scheme, which was established in
expected to be available to Touch ‘n Go eWal- for all PLCs to comply with the ruling to have ing with the top 100 PLCs in the country. collaboration with PwC Malaysia in 2017.
let users in 2022. at least one woman director in all large cap
companies by September next year and in all “Our mission over the next 12 months will “The board mentoring scheme accelerates
“In today’s environment, strong partner- other listed companies by January 2023. be to continue mobilising the collective of the appointment of more women into board
ships and delivering clear value propositions chairs and CEOs to achieve the 30% pivotal positions as well as enhances diversity and
to customers and users is the only way for- The 30% Club Malaysia is part of a global point among the top 100 PLCs while starting inclusion in public listed companies. To date,
ward. This strategic collaboration between campaign led by chairs and CEOs taking to engage the next 100 PLCs and also the fast 68 women have successfully undertaken this
Touch ‘n Go and Visa will take the work action to increase diversity, equity and inclu- movers on Bursa Malaysia. nine-month mentoring scheme with 33%
between our companies to the next stage. sion (DEI) at board and senior management already appointed to company boards,” she
Both brands are customer focussed, and with levels. “Secondly, we will create awareness added.
Visa, we expect to continue to strongly deliver amongst startups and Leap market listed
a variety of value- added services to our eWal- The 30% Club new chair, who is also the companies, so they get started on the right As to the challenges of having more women
let users,” said Effendy Shahul Hamid, Group CEO of Maybank Kim Eng Group, Ami Moris foot by leveraging the “30% business case” to representation at board levels, Ami said the
CEO, Touch ‘n Go Group in a statement. told StarBiz that she is confident the target ensure they set the best foundation for future board and senior management of a lot of
would be met over the next few years. success,” she said. companies have been a man’s world for
According to the Visa Consumer Payment many years. But this is set to change, she
Attitudes study which was conducted between Highlighting on the data, she added that as Supporting the 30% Club missions, regula- noted.
August and September 2020, both contactless at July 1, 2021, women representation on the tors and investors are also helping to shape
cards (92%) and digital wallets (81%) are boards of the top 100 Malaysian PLCs stood at corporate behaviours. “There are two reasons for this change.
widely used in Malaysia. 25.5%, 4.5 percentage points away from Firstly, I believe a diverse board is more like-
reaching the 30% pivotal point. With both the Malaysian Code on Corporate ly to bring differing points of view to the
Data shows that 77% currently use both. Governance (MCCG) 2021 from the SC and table and to break away from group-think,
With the upcoming Touch ‘n Go Visa prepaid In addition, she noted that women occu- Ministry of Finance’s recently announced increasing chances of being more inclusive of
card, Malaysians can enjoy the best of both pied 17% of total board seats of companies PLC Transformation Programme driven by stakeholder interests.
worlds, as the card complements Touch ‘n Go listed on Bursa Malaysia, an increase of 6.3 Bursa Malaysia, Ami said much support
eWallet’s existing network of QR merchants percentage points from 2015. Currently, there could be counted on as they bring structure “Secondly, in order to harness diversity in
in Malaysia with Visa’s broad network of are four all-male boards in the Top 100 PLCs. to DEI. points of views, lone voices are likely to be
more than 70 million merchant locations less effective. One woman amongst a board
globally. Global data shows that companies with at “We hope the announcement under Budget of men, can be challenging. The 30% pivot is
least 30% women on their board deliver bet- 2022 encourages companies to recognise the designed to challenge the bias of group-
Ng Kong Boon, Visa country manager for ter results, Ami added. business value of a diverse boardroom, start- think,” Ami said.
Malaysia said, “As the Covid-19 pandemic is ing with gender diversity, and compel them
expected to accelerate the transition of our Boards with at least one-third women rep-
country towards a fully cashless society by resentation correlates with 38% higher medi-
2025, we are pleased to partner Touch ‘n Go an return on equity than boards with no
to enable more consumers to adopt digital women representation, according to The
payments through the issuance of a Visa Malaysia Board Diversity Study & Index
card. 2021.

“Through this partnership, we also look Based on the study, companies that have
forward to jointly launching a varied set of directors from more than three different eth-
financial service offerings with Touch ‘n Go nic backgrounds show stronger correlation
for the unbanked and underserved segments with higher valuations.
in Malaysia, leveraging the global accessibili-
ty of Visa’s network partners.” A research by McKinsey in 2020 noted that

TPM to develop OCBC Bank still hiring despite challenging times
new tech clusters
KUALA LUMPUR: OCBC Bank (M) Bhd is of our staff numbers, and this has been so the number of new Covid-19 cases are still
KUALA LUMPUR: Technology Park Malaysia boosting its staff strength with the hiring of since the pandemic hit us early last year. higher than we would like. So, we are ensur-
Corp Sdn Bhd (TPM) is set to act as the coun- more talents across the board despite the ing that those who can currently work from
try’s innovation ecosystem one-stop centre Covid-19 pandemic. The increases are mainly OCBC wants to continue to give our col- home continue to do so to enable a gradual
after being entrusted to set up the Industrial in business and consumer banking, compli- leagues the peace of mind that despite the easing back to normalcy.
Revolution 4.0 International Innovation Hub ance and technology. impact of these rather difficult times coupled
(IIH). with the uncertainties ahead, we will not be “A key priority for us was getting our
As one of the top foreign banks in the coun- leaving anyone behind. Where technology front-liners, particularly at branches, vacci-
As Malaysia’s innovation facilitator and try, OCBC is not planning to cut its workforce has helped us reduce manual work, we have nated as they deal with customers regularly;
technology enabler, TPM has been allocated or undertake any rationalisation of its work- actively retrained our staff to take on new so we were pleasantly surprised to see the
RM30mil under Budget 2022 to establish the force amid the tough business conditions. and forward-looking roles,” he said. backroom staff also moving in tandem.
IIH, which would act as a centre of excel-
lence (COE) and support the innovation eco- In spite of the pandemic, the number of Currently, about half the bank’s total staff “Despite strict adherence to SOPs at the
system by developing new technology clus- new hires against leavers continued to grow work from home on any given day. OCBC is workplace – where we are able to control
ters such as drones, robotics and autono- at a steady rate during the 18-month pandem- also actively encouraging its customers to, things a lot better – we can never tell for sure
mous vehicles. ic-centred period. The bank has more than where possible, use its innovative digital what dangers might lurk elsewhere, outside
5,000 staff at the moment. banking platforms – including its robust the bank’s premises. So, vaccination of our
“Through IIH, TPM aims to assist 10,000 mobile banking facilities both for corporate staff has been key to our gradual return to
entrepreneurs by providing them with access By the end of September 2021, the bank and retail customers – instead of making a normalcy in our operations,” he added.
to infrastructure and facilities, as well as had hired over 500 new staff either for fresh trip to the branch.
coaching, mentoring and training 5,000 entre- positions or to replace those who had retired He said that OCBC has also put in place
preneurs on market access,” said TPM chief or resigned. And there are almost 300 vacan- The bank has also attained a high vaccina- various financial relief measures to assist its
executive officer Dzuleira Abu Bakar. cies set to be filled before the end of the year, tion rate of well over 90% bank-wide after retail and small and medium enterprises
apart from a planned 5% headcount increase encouraging and supporting its staff to be (SMEs) customers to ride out the pandemic.
TPM also aims to enrol 7,500 participants in in 2022. fully vaccinated.
a Knowledge Exchange programme with “Our customers are our lifeblood, and it is
international research universities and insti- Speaking with StarBiz on its efforts to pro- Ong added the bank would only gradually imperative that all of us emerge from this
tutes. vide greater opportunities and spur on the bring staff back to the office with the neces- crisis as equal participants of the same virtu-
creation of new jobs, OCBC Bank CEO Datuk sary standard operating procedures (SOPs) in ous cycle. We continue to work hard to pro-
“We also hope to enlist 750 small and medi- Ong Eng Bin stressed that the bank would place including split team operations for the vide quick approvals for sign-ups to the ongo-
um enterprises, incubatees or start-ups in our continue to care for its main asset – its people back-end departments. ing moratorium programmes and related
facilities which will be fitted with 5G technol- – in these challenging times. financial assistance to individuals and SMEs.
ogy. “Being fully vaccinated means we are far We are still here to help – so no one gets left
“We leave no one behind. We have not laid better protected than ever before. But we are behind,” he said. — By DALJIT DHESI
“Drone development is another focus area, off and nor do we plan for any rationalisation mindful that the virus is still out there, and
in which we target to support 50 companies
through guidance and living lab drone facili-
ties,” she said. — Bernama

4 Insight STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

LEE HENG GUIE Will the expansionary
budget deliver?
Comment
reduction to meet the 12th Malaysia Plan’s broad-based consumption tax; plug the shad- improvement in the job market (estimated
IT is another year of expansionary budget to fiscal deficit target of between -3.0% and ow economy (estimated at 18.2% of GDP in unemployment rate at 4% in 2022 versus
soften the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. -3.5% of GDP in 2025. 2019) and cross-borders tax evasion. 4.6%-4.8% in 2021) and wage growth.

The budget’s expansionary stance is two- How worried should we be about the defi- Malaysia’s tax revenue to GDP has declined Continued cash handouts for the targeted
fold: First, securing the recovery with target- cit and debt and liabilities exposure (end- to 10.9% in 2020 from an average of 12.0% of households and individuals will provide a
ed and time-limited measures; and second, June 2021: Government debt stood at GDP in 2018-2019. Only 21% of registered temporary relief. We are less optimistic
rebuilding a more resilient economy and RM958bil or 63.3% of GDP; debt and liabili- companies and 15% of employees are sub- about the labour market condition as a
sustainable business through smart digital ties at RM1.3 trillion or 88.1% of GDP 2021)? ject to income tax. longer recovery in some services sectors
technologies and forward-looking invest- such as tourism, retail and aviation mean
ments. The International Monetary Fund’s Debt > Expenditure efficiency and rationalisa- slowing hiring.
Sustainability Analysis framework simula- tion: Review the bloated emoluments (37%
This means investing in green transition, tion demonstrates increased government of total operating expenditure) and right-size Repairing balance sheet
circular economy, embrace the environmen- debt vulnerabilities in the event of any the civil service based on a performance-re-
tal, social and governance (ESG) business shocks, thus limiting the fiscal space and the ward system. Review retirement charges Households and individuals have to repair
practices and 5G infrastructure for a better, ability to raise additional borrowing for from defined benefit to defined contribu- their balance sheet via rebuilding savings or
sustainable, greener and more innovative counter-cyclical responses. tion. accumulating more precautionary savings,
future. leaving some for discretionary consumption
Debt service charges > For prudent debt and fiscal risk manage- and spending. Increased prices of goods and
The Budget 2022’s total allocation of ment: Enhance the management of contin- services would reduce consumers’ real pur-
RM332.1bil or 20.3% of GDP marks a record Higher debt service charges have gent liabilities guaranteed by the govern- chasing power.
high, an increase of 3.6% from the revised restrained the budget’s capacity to allocate ment and commitment made under pub-
Budget 2021’s RM320.6bil. for other expenditures. Debt service charges lic-private partnership. The pandemic has caused a signification
had increased by 9% per annum in 2018- deterioration in household income. The per-
Development expenditure is budgeted to 2022 to reach RM43.1bil in 2022, making up Both the Treasury and Socio Economic centage of Malaysians living below poverty
increase strongly by 21.9% to RM75.6bil in 18.4% of total revenue. Research Centre (SERC) see the economy line (RM2,208 income per month) had
2022 (RM62bil in 2021), mainly for the trans- continuing to recover in 2022 but the increased to 8.4% (640,000 poor households)
port, education and training, housing, ener- This means that for every RM1 revenue Treasury’s estimates are higher than SERC’s in 2020 from 5.6% (405,000 households in
gy and public utilities and environment as collected, 18.4 sen go to service payment of (Finance Ministry 2022 forecast: 5.5%-6.5%, 2019); and 580,000 M40 households (20% of
well as security sectors. domestic and external loans. 2021 estimates: 3%-4% versus SERC’s esti- the middle-income group) have been pushed
mates: 4% in 2021 and 5.2% in 2022). down to B40 category.
It is questionable whether the ministries To deliver on fiscal consolidation, it
and agencies have the capacity to effectively requires either a drastic cut in spending and The Treasury’s estimate is banking hard The Treasury estimates headline inflation
implement and disburse the record-high expenditure rationalisation or a substantial on a strong rebound in private consumption to moderate slightly to 2.1% in 2022 (SERC:
expenditure. improvement in revenue buoyancy and also and public investment amid slower exports. 2.3%-2.5%) from an estimated 2.4% in 2021
broadening of the narrow tax base. (SERC: 2.5%).
Shortfall in expenditure There remain external and domestic fac-
As part of a wider agenda of budgetary tors that would continue exerting downside Cost-induced pressure keeps building up
Past records have consistently shown a reform, the enactment of Fiscal Responsibility risks to the domestic economy. We caution due to rising global energy prices, costs of
shortfall in expenditure of about 8%-10% in Act is vital to hold the government accounta- that global growth is projected to moderate raw materials, logistic cost and labour
2020-2021; 11%-16% in 2013-2016 due to ble for its stewardship of the public purse in in 2022; uncertainty in global monetary path crunch, pushing up wage rate for some
weak execution. a prudent and responsible manner to ease and inflation concerns could cause financial sectors.
the fiscal pressure for future buffer against volatility.
Expansionary spending will not necessari- external shocks. Cost increases leave manufacturers and
ly lead to a positive impact on economic Implementation delay businesses with no choice but to pass it to
output and income growth if the multiplier The Budget 2022 has proposed a review of consumers. The cost-induced inflation pres-
effect is restrained by inefficiencies, imple- tax treatment to increase tax revenue and Domestic concerns are resurgence of virus sure could set off higher inflation expecta-
mentation delays and cost overrun. tax compliance, namely the Special Voluntary cases; slower revival in domestic demand tions and a second-round effect.
Disclosure Programme for indirect taxes and due to weak job and income growth.
The Budget 2022 deficit target is set at the exemption of taxing foreign-sourced The Treasury is cautious about a revival in
RM97.5bil or 6% of GDP, down from an esti- income. A delay in the implementation of Budget private investment (2022: +2.6% versus
mated RM98.8bil (6.5% of GDP) in 2021. 2022’s projects and programmes – rising cost +1.4% in 2021) while expecting a robust
The government needs to quickly embark of raw materials and logistics as well as the rebound of 24.1% in public investment in
After taking into account a net revenue on fiscal reform and expenditure review to shortage of workers would dampen the 2022 (-1.9% in 2021).
gain of RM6.2bil arising from the proposed rebuild strong balance sheet for future recovery and earning prospects of some eco-
budget measures, overall deficit will be shocks. nomic sectors. The big boost to public investment comes
lower at 5.6% of GDP in 2022. from the continuation of large-scale trans-
> For the sustainability of revenue sourc- Malaysia’s potential output growth had port projects such as MRT2, LRT3, Johor
Malaysia had incurred uninterrupted 25 es: Broaden a narrow tax base through a slowed in recent years, from 4.9% per Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit Link System
years of fiscal deficit since 1998. annum in 2011-2019, to 3.3% in 2020 and and Pan Borneo Highway as well as new
3%-4% in 2021. Hence, a substantial improve- projects such as MRT3 and the upgrading of
We expect the task of budget deficit repairs ment in productivity, technology advance- Klang Valley Double-Track Phase 2 as well as
to begin after the economy is being revived ment and increase in capital efficiency is the Jendela digital infrastructure plan.
on stronger footing. needed to boost the country’s economic
growth potential. Lee Heng Guie is Socio Economic Research
As guided by the 2022-2024 Medium-Term Centre executive director. The views
Fiscal Framework, the fiscal consolidation The Treasury expects stronger consumer expressed here are the writer’s own.
trajectory will be gradual, with the overall spending (2022 forecast: 7.3% versus 2021
fiscal deficit averaging 5% of GDP in 2022- estimates: 4.1%) on some pent-up demand;
2024, which implies 1.5-2 percentage point

Supply chain disruptions easing gradually

YAp LENG KUEN “Disruptions will continue to plague world accounted for 31% and 14%, respectively, As major suppliers in the timber industry
trade at least until mid-2022,’’ said former of exports; for imports, it was at 30% and resumed operations, Southern Cable Group
Plain speaking Inter-Pacific Securities head of research 12%, respectively. Bhd, a registered supplier with Tenaga
Pong Teng Siew. Nasional Bhd (TNB) and other companies,
A problem which had plagued businesses While there are now less disruptions in had also resumed its production of wooden
during the lockdown, supply chain disrup- Companies with deep pockets attempt to the operations of its suppliers, bus manufac- cable drums since September.
tions are gradually easing although effects circumvent the problem but some smaller turer Gemilang International Ltd, which is
such as inflation are being felt in many areas. companies are still bearing the brunt of the listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is During the lockdown, Southern Cable had
problem. experiencing a tremendous rise in prices of experienced a shortage of sawn timber from
While pockets of disruptions still exist, commodities such as aluminium and steel, major upstream suppliers, which affected its
affecting growth, they will likely ease over Visible risks of higher infection numbers which it uses for building buses. production of wooden cable drums used for
time but the problem has put modes of trans- amid the need to reopen the economy is delivery of cables and wires.
portation into scrutiny. placing a dilemma on the government and “This has forced us to revise our cost and
businesses. selling prices every month,’’ said Gemilang With more states transitioning to phases
In plantations, worker shortages have International chairman and CEO Pang Chong three and four of the National Recovery Plan
driven crude palm oil prices up steeply Over time, we will need to reinvent the Yong. (NRP), Southern Cable is seeing a surge in
while disruptions in fertiliser exports from supply chain, potentially redirecting some of demand for cables and wires.
China are affecting plantation operations. the goods to other modes of transportation. Pang had faced risks of losing orders due
to difficulties in getting local supplies. “We also continued to secure new con-
Disruptions in magnesium supplies from “Excess capacity in the aviation sector can tracts from Telekom Malaysia Bhd and TNB
China are affecting the production of alu- be utilised to solve this problem but it will “Internationally, the imbalance in supply in September and October, respectively,’’
minium ingot, leading to disruptions in vehi- take time to build efficiencies and economies and demand of containers is not only killing said managing director Tung Eng Hai.
cle parts production in Malaysia as well. of scale,’’ said Bank Islam chief economist our profit margins but also delaying ship-
Mohamed Afzanizam Abdul Rashid. ping time and our production schedule,’’ Southern Cable is optimistic of greater
added Pang. demand for new cables and wires follow-
Malaysia’s international trade has been ing new projects in the power, renewable
concentrated on sea transport, which Gemilang International has a factory in energy, construction and infrastructure
accounted for 55% of total exports in the first Senai, Johor, and produces buses for mar- sectors.
eight months of 2021; this stood at 58% for kets such as in Singapore, Australia, Dubai
imports. and Hong Kong. > TURN To pAGE 6

In contrast, air and land transport There are some positive news though.

STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 News 5

CLEANER FUTURE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY CHOOSING A SUSTAINABLE
Solar power as an affordable, accessible and reliable source of renewable FINANCE PARTNER

WHEN former US president Jimmy Carter ECONOMICS OF solar panels has seen significant reduction of ONE of the biggest costs of doing business
installed solar panels to heat water in the almost 70% from 2010 to 2020. We believe is power supply, next to operational costs
White House in 1979, people probably SOLAR that the future is bright for solar power as and manpower.
thought he was mad. investing in clean and renewable energy is
POWER one of the many ways we can significantly By switching to solar power, it is possi-
After all, there was an abundance of reduce our carbon footprint.” ble to get substantial savings on your ener-
resources for fossil fuel that provided fuel for Solar power has become more gy bill, not to mention tax incentives from
cars and powered factories and buildings, so Businesses can look forward to cutting up the government such as the Green
generating domestic energy seemed like a AFFORDABLE to 25% of their electricity bill and reducing Investment Tax Allowance and Green
pointless endeavour at that time. carbon footprint, while being recognised as Income Tax Exemption as well as recogni-
Entry cost of green entities with the enhanced reputation tion as an environmentally-conscious enti-
The solar panels were eventually removed procuring a solar of employing green solutions. Households ty.
by his successor Ronald Reagan. But Carter power system reliant on electronic devices and appliances
was well ahead of his time; in 2017, he went with higher electricity consumption can see However, integrating sustainability into
on to lease a piece of land for a solar farm 70% electricity bill savings between 30% and 50% your set-up can be a complicated process
near where he lived in Plains, Georgia, and and reduced carbon emissions in switching to without the right guidance.
today it provides 50% of the small town’s from 2010 to 2020 a more sustainable source of energy.
energy. As one of Asia’s largest banks, United
Electricity COST SAVINGS Global renewable energy capacity of Overseas Bank (UOB) is well aware of the
Today, 80% of the world’s energy comes 2,351GW (+7.9% year-on-year) accounted for importance of long-term economic, social
from coal, oil and gas. However, as the nega- Landed Households nearly one-third of total energy generation and environmental well-being.
tive effects of petroleum-based products such capacity as at end-2018. Solar power, together
as air and water pollution, land deterioration 30% to 50% wind energy, accounted for 84% of all new It firmly supports sustainable develop-
and unhealthy carbon emissions further has- savings renewable energy capacity installed in 2018, ment and aligns its business strategies
ten global warming and the impact of climate and reduced the overall share of hydro ener- with the interests of business partners and
change becomes more apparent, it is timely to Businesses enjoy at least gy to below 50%. stakeholders in mind.
rethink our future source of energy.
25% savings Growth in solar energy capacity can be Businesses can build their sustainability
Closer to home, Malaysia’s energy mix is mainly attributed to grid parity through profile with help from UOB’s range of sus-
led by natural gas (41%), crude oil (26%) and Payback period lower levelised cost of energy, lower battery tainable financing solutions. The bank has
coal (22%), with renewable energy making up storage costs, smart grid and enhanced sus- simplified the process of adopting sustain-
the balance. Malaysia has started to embark 3 to 5 years tainability and green financing. ability by equipping businesses with the
on a mission of environmental preservation knowledge and insights of what is
through implementation of various policies ing job opportunities as more industries, busi- Green future ahead involved and customising solutions to
and regulations that govern green technology. nesses and homes look to renewable energy meet their needs.
It has made plans and is making good strides solutions and installations. Malaysia is targeting a 31% energy mix by
to enhance its share of renewable energy up 2025 and 40% in 2035 under its power gener- Leveraging on UOB’s sustainable
to 31% by 2025, and 40% by 2035 via its pres- Harnessing sun power ation plan. In addition, the Net Energy finance frameworks will also provide bet-
ent Green Energy Generation Plan. Metering (NEM) programme introduced in ter ease of access and lower entry costs.
From as simple as heating up water in a 2016 enabled consumers, especially business-
During the unveiling of the recent 12th home to solar transportation and even pow- es, to install solar systems on the roofs of their By obtaining valuable advice from
Malaysia Plan, the government announced an ering up an entire city, solar power is a ray of premises. They can, in turn, sell excess power UOB’s industry specialist teams, businesses
ambitious goal for Malaysia to achieve carbon hope. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generated back to the grid to offset their elec- can gain a better understanding of how to
neutrality by 2050 and affirmed its commit- are used to transform sunlight into electricity tricity bills. With a total quota allocation of up capitalise on this sustainable financing
ment to factor in environmental, social and to power some of our homes and industries, to 500 megawatts rolled out for NEM 3.0 in opportunity.
governance (ESG) principles in decision-mak- while solar farms using mirrors create larger April 2021, this may further boost demand for
ing process. Against this backdrop, we can supplies. Solar energy systems do not produce rooftop solar for companies looking to save UOB can help kick-start businesses’ sus-
expect to see tax developments that promote greenhouse gases nor other air pollutants, utility costs. tainability journey with competitive custo-
usage and implementation of renewable and as such are considered clean energy misable financing schemes and hassle-free
energy and green technology. sources. Advancing sustainability was identified as bundled packages through U-Solar –
one of the key drivers under the 12th designed for businesses and individuals.
What is renewable energy? Asean is predicted to become the world’s Malaysia Plan and was marked as a low-car-
fourth largest energy consumer by 2030. In bon, clean, inclusive and resilient develop- The U-Solar programme is Asia’s first
Defined as energy that comes from sources South-East Asia where there is sunlight ment plan. It sets to reduce up to 45% green- solar industry ecosystem to power the
that are replenished consistently, renewable almost all-year round, it makes sense to har- house gas emissions intensity to gross domes- development and adoption of renewable
energy can be obtained from various sources ness solar power to generate electricity. tic product by 2030 (based on emissions inten- energy across South-East Asia. Through
such as natural resources, as well as recycla- Annual solar radiation levels for the region sity in 2005) as part of efforts to attain a U-Solar – available in Malaysia, Indonesia,
ble and clean energy which does not release ranges from 1,460 to 1,900kWh/m2 with three low-carbon nation status by 2050 and transi- Singapore and Thailand – UOB offers busi-
harmful pollutants such as carbon dioxide. to six hours of sun daily. tioning to become a circular economy. nesses and consumers across South-East
Asia a suite of financial solutions to
Some examples of renewable energy Given the decreasing costs of solar equip- Financial intermediaries have a role to play encourage the development and adoption
include solar power, wind energy, geothermal ment and installation for rooftop solar panels, and help bridge the transition for the better- of solar power.
energy, tidal power and hydroelectric power. and favourable conditions in terms of incen- ment of the planet and its people. By ensuring
However, not every form of renewable ener- tives and regulations by governments in the that finance is tied to sustainable outcomes These solutions include providing cash
gy is green and clean at the same time as region, there has been tremendous growth in like renewable energy adoption, banks can management and green financing to solar
some may cause deforestation and environ- renewable energy capacity. help businesses keep their overhead expenses project developers, as well as end-to-end
mental damage. low while growing responsibly in the long contract-based financing solutions to engi-
“Solar power is an affordable, accessible term. neering, procurement, construction and
Why use renewable energy? and reliable source of renewable energy in commissioning (EPCC) contractors.
South-East Asia,” says UOB Malaysia deputy “Mother Earth is our home. The notion that
Fossil fuels that come from natural sources chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei. sustainability and profitability do not go hand Since the launch in October 2019 until
have a life span and will deplete over time. in hand has been proven otherwise in recent the end of September 2021, the U-Solar
Renewable energy, on the other hand, pro- “The entry cost of procuring and installing times. It is possible for businesses to do good programme in Malaysia has helped its cus-
vides a steady source of power without run- to the planet while creating value for them- tomers generate 90.1 gigawatt hours in
ning out, and also causes fewer environmen- selves,” Ng said. solar power. The programme has contrib-
tal damage such as harmful gas emissions uted to greenhouse gas reduction of 58.8
and fuel spillage. It will also reduce carbon Seeing how the progression in the solar tonnes of carbon dioxide in the country,
footprint and lower energy bills and import power industry and advancement in solar which equates to 972,507 tree seedlings
costs as we focus on producing energy using technology is pointing towards solar energy grown for 10 years and 12,791 cars taken
our own resources. The energy sector offers being a viable alternate energy option, renew- off the road for a year.
encouraging economic prospects and increas- able energy is expected to be the way forward
towards a greener future. With further supportive regulatory
environment and policies to be intro-
duced, coupled with accommodating tax
regime, UOB expects these measures will
further raise private sector participation
to invest in green technology and clean
energy.

6 News STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Money & You Disruptions
in FmCG
Millennials, Gen Z sector should
views towards investing ease soon

Many make cautious decisions based on online info FROm pAGe 4
In early August, even during phase one
By B.K. SIDHU tor (those interested to accumulate wealth Not having enough money is the top
bksidhu@thestar.com.my and determined to do so). reason for some of the respondents who of the NRP, Tuju Setia Bhd, which is
WHO do you listen to invest your money to do not invest in the capital markets, fol- involved in the construction of high-rise
accumulate wealth – are they friends and Whatever type you may be, financial lowed by not enough knowledge, and buildings as well as design and construc-
family, financial planners or the Internet? literacy is important as it equips a person other commitments in terms of loans and tion of hospitals and healthcare facilities,
with the right knowledge needed to man- debts. was allowed to operate due to the high
As surprising as it may be, nearly 70% of age your money and accumulate wealth. vaccination rate of its workforce.
respondents - millennials and Gen Z- in a Some of them are afraid to take risks in
recent survey said they preferred Internet ICMR said financial attitude and behav- the market and others are afraid of being “We are expecting improved billings in
and online sources as their main source iours is also often linked to their income, scammed. the fourth quarter, supported by our
of information for making investment financial knowledge, risk tolerance, and order book of RM1.2bil as of June 30,
decisions. confidence in financial knowledge. Some find the capital markets too com- 2021,’’ said managing director Wee Eng
plex. But many are open to investing in Kong.
However, relying on too much informa- The survey also revealed that 22% of the next five years.
tion from online platforms can also be the respondents do not invest in any capi- Tuju Setia’s projects in the designated
seen as a double-edged sword. tal market products, 33% invest in What they want is products that are green zones were allowed to operate at
Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) simple to understand, easier to purchase 60% workforce capacity.
While the abundance of financial edu- funds and unit trust, while the remaining and sell, allowed to invest in smaller
cation resources online is useful, it can 45% invest in capital market products, not amounts and allowed to change the As its retail and food and beverage cus-
also make investors more susceptible to limited to ASNB and unit trusts. amount invested each month. tomers start opening new stores and reg-
misinformation or choice overload, said istering more transactions on its cloud
Institute for Capital Market Research These were the findings of a survey Over 80% of the survey respondents felt portals, Radiant Globaltech Bhd is seeing
(ICMR) Malaysia. report titled “The Rise of Millennial and robo advisory services was an accessible quicker rollout of its hardware and soft-
Gen Z Investors: Trends, Opportunities, entryway into getting advice, particularly ware solutions.
The second most popular source of and Challenges for Malaysia” by ICMR. given its low cost and they preferred it
information was family and friends over human advisory services. Radiant Globaltech, which provides
according to nearly 60% of the respond- A total of 1,500 respondents aged 21 to retail and industrial technology solutions,
ents. 40 were surveyed across the country. The “Newer investors feel more comforta- is also seeing greater urgency by potential
idea of the survey was to understand the ble with robo advisors if their portfolio is customers on the need to digitalise and
“Trust and relatability are important financial attitudes and behaviours of mil- not large as they don’t feel judged for automate their processes.
values to the millennial and Gen Z cohorts, lennials and Gen Z investors. This is so having a smaller portfolio,’’ the report
and many seek out financial advice from since millennials and Gen Z are the larg- said. “We are optimistic of seeing greater
family and friends that they personally est generational cohorts with the power demand as we help businesses transition
trust,’’ said ICMR. to influence consumer and market trends There is also a shift towards investing to automated processes, lower operating
over the next decade, it said. for sustainability and good causes with costs and a smoother technology adop-
Peer group influence also plays an 70% of the respondents more likely to tion,’’ said managing director Paul Yap
important role in their decision-making invest in options to promote sustainabili- Ban Foo.
and many feel that conversations about ty, while 74% stated that they were more
money should be normalised, it adds. likely to invest in options that promote As the stocking season for Christmas
good causes. starts, short-term disruptions in the
Everyone wants to accumulate wealth, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sec-
some are willing to take more risk than Ideally, retirement planning should tor should ease over the next month.
others and how they get information start when you begin your first job. But
about investment is a key factor. Equally many of the millennials and Gen Z are Supply disruptions for durable goods
important is their emotional behaviour “generally not thinking about retirement. such as cars, where the industry is facing
towards investments. shortages of chips, should also ease as
To them retirement is “either a vague economies open up across Asia, except
Experts said there are four behavioral and distant notion, or there was a belief for China, said Etiqa Insurance & Takaful
investor types. that “things would fall into place” for Bhd chief strategy officer Chris Eng.
retirement purposes,’’ the report said.
They are the passive preserver (those China is pursuing a zero-Covid-19 poli-
who focus on financial security and pre- Of 32% of the survey respondents who cy and is still subject to numerous shut-
serving wealth), friendly followers (those are not contributing to the Employees downs; coupled with the power crunch to
with no investing ideas who often follow Provident Fund, only 5% have a private manage carbon footprint, parts supply
family and friends), independent individ- retirement scheme (PRS), the report said. from China remain uncertain.
ualist (those who have unconventional
views on investing) and active accumula- This indicates that there is a large seg- To minimise the potential inflation risk
ment not protected by either the manda- from high energy prices, the government
tory (EPF contribution) or PRS. should start strategising in view of the
growing number of countries facing this
New plant to cater for industrial gases demand problem.

By JACK WONG “The increasing pace of digitalisation and Tax incentives and further financial aid
KUCHING: Linde Malaysia Sdn Bhd has com- adoption of renewable energy has led to for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
missioned a new RM40mil air separation plant industry leaders in the electronics and solar will help, as cash terms are now pre-
to cater for increasing demand for industrial technology markets expanding rapidly.” ferred, leading to enormous cashflow
gases in Sama Jaya High Tech Park here. issues for SMEs.
anuj Sharma
The plant will supply high purity gaseous “With the high rate of vaccination, the
nitrogen through an extensive pipeline net- state-of-the-art technology with 30% better Gudang, steam reformers (hydrogen plants) government may also focus on ensuring
work to multiple customers, including Taiyo power efficiency, which is expected to reduce and nitrogen plants at strategic locations in the smooth running of agencies and bod-
Yuden and LONGi. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than Malaysia, pipeline networks for oxygen and ies such as Customs and licensing bodies,’’
6,000 tonnes per year. This is in line with nitrogen in various industry clusters in key said Pang of Gemilang International.
Taiyo Yuden, which produces multilayer Linde’s targets of reducing the GHG emissions industrial areas and a state-of-the-art cylinder
ceramic capacitors, is investing in a new plant by 35% by 2028. The plant will be connected to filling facility in Banting. The government should invest more
in the high tech park under the Japanese Linde’s remote operating centre located in resources in advanced contact tracing,
group’s medium-term management plan 2025. Hicom Shah Alam, Selangor and can be moni- Linde also manufactures medical oxygen targeted isolations and quarantine proce-
tored, controlled and operated remotely. and other medicinal gases at various locations dures, to avoid locking down entire sec-
LONGi Kuching, the sole overseas operation spread across West and East Malaysia. tors, causing substantial losses for many
of China-based world’s largest maker of solar Remote operations capabilities helps Linde businesses.
monocrystalline silicon products, has been to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar
expanding its production capacity to meet industrial and medical gases to customers Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said recently that Screening data can be submitted by
increasing demand for its products in recent throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Taiyo Yuden, LONGi, HGST Malaysia Sdn Bhd construction companies so that lockdown
years. According to Linde Malaysia managing and IMM Technology Sdn Bhd were planning can be implemented effectively without
director Anuj Sharma, the company’s new “I am proud to see this latest plant startup to invest a combined RM6.31bil in their busi- affecting the entire construction sector.
plant in Sama Jaya will also produce ultra-high with the latest and most efficient technology ness expansion in Sama Jaya High Tech Park.
purity liquid oxygen for customers in Kuching which will support the growth of our custom- More incentives can be given to accel-
and throughout the Asean region. ers. This major investment indicates our confi- Also, International Trade and Industry, erate technology adoption among enter-
dence in the Sama Jaya High Tech Park and Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur prises and micro businesses.
He said the latest investment has increased Malaysia,” said Sharma. Development Minister Awang Tengah said
Linde’s nitrogen capacity in the high tech park these companies have performed well even “The Malaysian Digital Economy Corp
to more then 18,000 Nm3 (normal cubic meter) Since 1960, Linde has invested in building during the pandemic due to the high demand can also consider expanding the number
per hour. numerous world-class facilities in Malaysia, globally for multilayer ceramic capacitors, of grants and incentives to help business-
including air separation units in Pengerang, solar products, aluminum substrates and cop- es speed up in this area,’’ said Yap of
“The increasing pace of digitalisation and Shah Alam, Samalaju in Bintulu and Pasir perfoil. Radiant Globaltech.
adoption of renewable energy has led to
industry leaders in the electronics and solar Even as things are gradually improv-
technology markets expanding rapidly in the ing, it is important to ensure smooth pro-
Sama Jaya High Tech Park. Linde has made gress in the rehabilitation of supply
multiple investments in recent years to chains, as any disruptions again with
support this growth.” he added. another surge in Covid-19 cases will mean
going back to square one.
The new plant will feature Linde’s latest Yap Leng Kuen is a former StarBiz editor.
The views expressed here are the writer’s
own.

STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 7

8 Billings STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

By DALJIT DHESI Positive disruption
daljit@thestar.com.my amid the pandemic
Things looking up for Initiative despite Covid-19
PETALING JAYA: The hostile economic cli-
mate exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic “By accurately engaging with – offering innovative solutions to meet the
has set economies spinning. leads and creating more most pressing needs of clients.
lookalike audiences for growth,
With disruptions to physical stores and clients will continue to stay Think big, build trust
supply chains, lockdowns limiting movement, relevant with their
rising costs affecting distribution, job losses communications with “In a time of uncertainty and distrust
affecting consumer spends and a highly com- culture at the core.” through the pace of change, Initiative’s main
petitive retail space, the game for brands was priority was to solidify relationships with cli-
a focus on short-term return on investment. darren yuen ents. For the bigger, more established brands,
the focus was on the big picture to further
Amidst this, Initiative, the media agency rolled out Customer Data Platforms (CDP) and changes in the market. fuel growth. For smaller clients, the priority
under the IPG Mediabrands network, looked data management capabilities to help clients “By expanding these services and becom- was to help build the right structure so these
within to question the disruption. understand how best to use their data to brands could thrive for the long term,” he
make predictive analysis and forecasts. ing cultural creators for brands, Initiative said.
Darren Yuen, CEO of Initiative Malaysia Studio covers the gaps for clients to build on
talks about how the agency challenged itself CDP is a marketer-managed system that quick unconventional storytelling with cul- Most importantly, the senior leadership
to build for positive disruption, bring back the creates a persistent, unified customer data- tural expressions within media led by data,” team, right down to the most junior member,
purpose of building brilliant brands, drive base that is accessible to other systems. This he said was equipped with the right knowledge base
cultural momentum underpinned by data, invaluable first party data stack can then be to build trust and maintain strong client rela-
and prove the value of the marketing dollar. utilised to draw relevant and direct insights to A catalyst of change tionships. This took the form of regular meet-
curate audiences for media targeting. ings, client updates on new innovations and
As a result, while agencies struggled to With these new capabilities in place, he trends, new tools and analytics, and any
counter a negative economy, Initiative was This is done by connecting data from differ- said the agency set up to continue to do good ammunition that helped clients move the
recently ranked number one on research ent sources (brand website, emails and data work through culture steeped in data. With needle on business objectives.
company Recma’s qualitative rankings, the bases, and bringing the data into a consistent each client conversation, each idea brought to
only agency to score a dominant profile and place to govern it. This data is then synthe- the table and each solution presented, culture Numbers don’t mean anything
improve scores for the year. sised into a single view that the agency can was front and centre, with data at its very without people
act across for advertising and customer rela- backbone.
This improvement of scores is in part relat- tionship management while being platform Cultural velocity is a passion for Initiative,
ed to agency structure improvements in rela- agnostic. This was demonstrated through Carlsberg he said. But it is a passion that lies in the peo-
tion to clients and business exposure, as well Adopt-a-keg, a digital push to drive awareness ple. To stoke the passion for the work done,
as a healthy new business balance, with The concept of “platform agnostic” refers to and show Malaysians how they can help sus- Yuen said it has been equally important to
Initiative bringing in new clients Vivo, Paynet, a set of specific design attributes and philoso- tain Malaysia’s bars and pubs. Not only did it look after the well-being of talents. The indus-
Lotus’s and Astro Go Shop over the course of phies normally associated with software drive sales, but it also fuelled a sense of com- try is a highly competitive one, with high
the year. products. An agnostic type of software would munity spirit of Malaysians helping a favour- turnover, and burnouts not uncommon.
in fact be free from any ties to a specific plat- ite brand through the pandemic.
Here, Initiative’s comeback journey is form or system and run equally well across Cultural Velocity focuses on how brands
tracked, showing how the agency reinvented more than one platform. Similarly, other firsts were introduced can create breakthrough ideas by decoding
itself to grow to the number one position through the pandemic. To speak to the digi- patterns from the most successful and cultur-
amidst a year filled with disruptions. He said the agency positions this as the tal-savvy target audience, U Mobile gamified ally relevant campaigns from across the
future of digital planning, and a proactive augmented reality technology on mobile. By world.
Before looking out, you need to look step in a cookieless world. connecting with the audience in a highly
within immersive and interactive way, the brand “Yet in the spirit of togetherness, the
Yuen said: “By accurately engaging with was able to generate high conversions and Initiative team prioritises mental health and
“‘Look within to find the answer’ is often leads and creating more lookalike audiences engagement, he said. well-being activities over the course of the
said. And Initiative did just that. Internally, for growth, clients will continue to stay rele- year – virtual movie nights, care packages
ways of working were relooked to challenge vant with their communications with culture And for client Hada Labo, a partnership sent to one another, mental health days to
existing marketing frameworks and category at the core. Alongside this, Initiative launched with Astro allowed a first of its kind switch off from work and fun virtual activi-
preconceptions. a new unit – Initiative Studio – a content and cross-country live stream with Hong Kong to ties such as cooking and coffee appreciation,”
creative department that sits alongside the gain market share while tapping into the he noted.
“The ways of brands and business had media offering, sharing the same DNA of growing men’s grooming category.
changed, and internal processes and method- Culture and Velocity Planning. Disruption can be positive
ologies needed to change too. With this integration of offerings across
“This major step in business direction was ecommerce, data, content and creative, Initiative has but one goal – to have their
Internally, talents were trained in Velocity in direct response to the pressing need of cli- despite a space of market contraction, clients feel the same infectiousness and pas-
Planning – a high intensity modular work- ents for a more integrated approach that Initiative has grown as business consultants sion for cultural velocity that they do. While
shop that is the solution to delivering brand allows better agility and responsiveness to the pandemic has proved a major disruptor, it
messages using cultural data signals to has blazed the path for new ambitions. And
embody culture and cultural relevance. with a strong talent commitment towards the
4Ds – Digital, Data, Design and Disruption, it
“Through these, internal plans were trans- has given Initiative positive momentum in
lated, becoming the backbone of solutions for 2021. A momentum that has bridged culture
use with clients and new business pitches, and data to springboard its clients’ businesses
with the conversation focused on effective- ahead of the game.
ness and growing audiences,” he said.

Putting disruptive profit models to
the test

Yuen said the need of the hour for Initiative
was generating a bigger impact for clients,
and this led to the introduction of new data
and martech services to expand Initiative’s
offering to clients.

Marketing technology (also known as mar-
tech) describes the systems and tools that
help marketers better engage with customers.

With clients shifting spends to digital and
moving at lightning speed to adopt ecom-
merce, he said the agency simultaneously

BoE rate hike hinges on views of deputy governors Changes may
dampen market
LONDON: The fate of a potential Bank of An external member of the MPC, Michael interview, Pill told the Financial Times on Oct sentiment
England (BoE) interest increase rate on Saunders has a reputation for moving quick- 21 that inflation could exceed 5% in the com-
Thursday could lie in the hands of two deputy ly. He’s been among the first to back rate ing months, a percentage point higher than KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed one-off
governors who have stayed silent during the hikes, or cuts, in the past. the current BoE forecast. He described the windfall tax called “Cukai Makmur” and pro-
crescendo of bets for an imminent move. decision this week as “finely balanced.” posed changes to the stamp duty on contract
He was concerned enough about inflation notes for listed share trading may lead to a
While traders are convinced that the UK to vote for an early end to the BoE’s bond-buy- The BOE’s governor Andrew Bailey has knee-jerk reaction and dampen market senti-
central bank will deliver its first post-pan- ing plan in August and September. been the most vocal MPC member since ment in the near term, says Malacca Securities
demic increase in borrowing costs on Nov 4, September, using a number of public appear- Sdn Bhd.
with mortgage lenders already raising the When he told The Daily Telegraph that mar- ances to make it clear he’s increasingly con-
cost of home loans in anticipation of a move. kets were right to price in a quicker pace of cerned about inflation. Under Budget 2022, the government has pro-
Economists see the decision as more finely tightening, that fuelled talk he’s ready to vote posed to impose the Cukai Makmur on compa-
balanced. for a hike. That reached a peak when he said the cen- nies (other than the micro, small and medium
tral bank will “have to act” to to curb price enterprises) that generate high income during
The result will depend how the nine-mem- Deputy governor Dave Ramsden voted to gains, supercharging investor bets on action the Covid-19 period effective the year of assess-
ber Monetary Policy Committee splits. Two curtail quantitative easing purchases last in November. Given that, it would be a bit of ment 2022. The chargeable income above
have already voted for tighter policy, albeit month, putting himself firmly in the hawkish a shock if he voted to hold, although HSBC RM100mil will be taxed at 33%, while a 24% tax
not through rate hikes, and another two, category. While he hasn’t made a major Holdings Plc predict he will hold off for now. rate applies for chargeable income of up to
including the governor Andrew Bailey, are speech since September, he’s previously RM100mil. “Around 15% of the public listed
expected to join them in a push for higher warned that he is worried about inflation. Deputy governor Ben Broadbent may be companies are having more than RM100mil
borrowing costs this week. That’s left economists placing him in the the key man next week. He hasn’t spoken pre-tax profit and the total earnings impact will
camp very likely to vote for an increase this publicly since the BoE’s last meeting. be roughly a decline by 10%-12% on the FBM
Three other officials have are seen as firm- week. KLCI heavyweights,’’ it said. — Bernama
ly dovish, leaving the balance of power in the A private roundtable where he spoke to
hands of Ben Broadbent and Jon Cunliffe, The BoE’s new chief economist Huw Pill bankers in October sparked a flurry of specu-
who haven’t spoken in public recently about was thought to have hawkish leanings when lation in markets – denied by the central bank
rates. he took up the role, and his comments since – that he had sounded a dovish tone. —
then have reinforced that view. In his first Bloomberg

STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Foreign News 9

Takeda to ride opening-up for bigger share in Chinese market

BEIJING: Bullish on China’s innovation-driv- “In the company’s global strategies, development of innovative products in the
en biopharmaceutical environment, Takeda China has always been an important country,” said Sean Shan, president of Takeda
Pharmaceutical Co vows to further enlarge its market. We have been increasing our China.
investment in China, a top official of the investments in China ever since 2015.”
Japanese drugmaker said. Last year, Takeda expanded its production
Sean Shan base in Tianjin, and in the same year, it
Takeda plans to raise its revenue growth in launched its five-year development plan in
emerging markets to account for one-fifth of Takeda Development Centre Asia was moved opment of China’s biopharmaceutical industry. China, Shan said.
its projected total by fiscal year 2031, up from to the Qiantan Centre Building in the China “In the company’s global strategies, China
the current roughly 13%, said Ricardo Marek, (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone on Oct 20, a According to the plan, the company will
president of Takeda’s growth and emerging move to take advantage of the development has always been an important market. We launch at least 15 innovative drugs and seek
markets business unit. of the country’s biopharmaceutical industry have been increasing our investments in to become one of the Top 10 multinational
to fulfill its commitment to Chinese patients. China ever since 2015. pharmaceutical companies in China.
China is the largest contributor in terms of
both size and pace of growth, and is on track The free trade zone is building a biopharma- “Between 2015 and 2020, we invested in It will increase market distribution chan-
to become Takeda’s second-largest market by ceutical industrial zone to promote the devel- China over 1.5 billion yuan (US$234.9mil or nels, and improve drug accessibility and
the 2031 fiscal year, Marek said. RM972.72mil) to accelerate the research and patient service capabilities to benefit more
than 10 million local patients.
“From the standpoint of our headquarters,
we are maximising capital allocation to China “In the future, we hope to ride Shanghai
such as increasing operational expenses, free trade zone’s high-quality opening-up to
number of people, expanding to third and accelerate the process of introducing innova-
fourth-tier cities and public hospitals,” he tive products and technologies to China, and
said. help Shanghai build a world-class biophar-
maceutical industry cluster,” Shan said. —
As part of Takeda’s headquarters in China, China Daily/ANN

Factory activity shrinks Sentiment
for second month worsens
amid rises in
Power shortages, commodity costs hit manufacturers resource prices

CHINA SEOUL: South Korea’s business sentiment
edged down in November due to increased
BEIJING: China’s factory activity contracted Tough spot: Workers produce national flags at a factory in Wuyi. Smaller businesses, prices of raw materials and energy, a local
for a second straight month in October, as which are mostly in downstream sectors, face greater pressure, as the sub-index for such think tank said.
electricity shortages and soaring commodity companies has stayed below the 50 mark for the sixth month. — aFP
prices continued to weigh on manufacturers. The business survey index (BSI) of the
greater pressure, as the sub-index for such more frequently and manufacturers are bat- country’s top 600 companies by sales stood at
The official manufacturing purchasing companies has stayed below the 50 mark for tling higher prices as commodity costs soar. 100.6, down by 2.8 percentage points from
managers’ index (PMI) declined to 49.2 from the sixth month, Zhao added. 103.4 in October, the Korea Economic
49.6 in October, the National Bureau of Consumers in general chose to spend the Research Institute (KERI) data showed.
Statistics (NBS) said yesterday. An electricity crunch that began in seven-day National Day public holiday at
September extended into this month, home or in nearby places due to virus and According to KERI, while the figure man-
That’s lower than the 49.7 median estimate although there are signs that it may have weather factors, Zhao said. aged to stay above the 100-threshold that
in a Bloomberg survey of economists. eased as the government rolled out a slew of shows optimists outnumbered pessimists, the
Readings below the 50-mark signal a contrac- measures to contain the crisis. The transportation industry expanded at a 2.8-point decrease reflects concerns over ris-
tion in output. slower pace than in previous years as a result, ing resource prices, and possible decreases in
On top of that, consumer spending remains he said, while the construction industry exports as South Korea’s major trade partner
The non-manufacturing gauge, which meas- weak as Covid-19 outbreaks are flaring up remained stable. — Bloomberg China is experiencing an economic slump.
ures activity in the construction and services
sectors, softened to 52.4 from 53.2 in September, The outlook for the coming month appeared
below the consensus forecast of 53. divided by industrial sector. The manufactur-
ing sector cast a gloomy outlook, posting 96.5
The weakening output sub-index and in BSI, while the non-manufacturing sector
rebounding output price gauge “confirm that raised the index figure to 105.9.
China’s economy is likely already going
through stagflation,” Zhang Zhiwei, chief KERI explained the high prices of raw
economist at Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd, materials and energy resources, including
said in a note. electricity, have weighed down on sentiment
for the manufacturing industry.
The pickup in output prices indicates infla-
tion pressures were passed from upstream to Concerns are also raised over reduced
downstream firms, which could lead to high- exports, as well as China, South Korea’s major
er consumer inflation and limit the space for export destination, which is also suffering an
monetary policy easing, Zhang said. economic downturn and energy shortage.

The decline in October’s PMI was because A relatively positive outlook came from the
“electricity supply was still tight, and prices of non-manufacturing sector, as prospects rose
some commodities climbed from an elevated for demand recovery amid accelerating
level,” Zhao Qinghe, a senior statistician at the nationwide vaccination drive and the coun-
NBS, said in a statement. try’s “With Corona” scheme to loosen social
distancing regulations, KERI said.
Manufacturing demand and production
both weakened, he said. Smaller businesses, “Supply disruption may occur as a price
which are mostly in downstream sectors, face surge in raw materials, including oil and elec-
tricity, will raise production costs and affect
the profitability of manufacturers,” a KERI
official said.

“The government should come up with
measures to stabilise, and minimise the
effects of the price increases”. — The Korea
Herald/ANN

Vietnam looks at boosting agriculture product exports to EU

HO CHI MINH CITY: Ensuring food safety, global trade in the products, the EU is a prom- increasingly attaching importance to food tics difficulties need to be resolved.
further enhancing product promotion by ising market for Vietnam, he said. safety and environmental protection, and Thai Xuan Dung, Vietnam’s Ambassador
attending prestigious fairs and cutting logis- vegetables and fruits not meeting these crite-
tics costs are among ways to boost exports of Pham Viet Anh, Vietnam’s ambassador to ria would not sell in the EU. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the
Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to the EU, the Netherlands, said although the Dutch is a Czech Republic, said logistics costs account
according to Vietnamese envoys to the EU small market, it has a very important position Meanwhile, major growing areas in for a high rate of the cost of fruit and vegeta-
and businesses. in Europe as home to wholesalers. Vietnam such as Bac Ninh and Bac Giang face ble products exported to the Czech market
challenges related to food preservation and but also the EU in general.
Speaking at a webinar last week on export- But very few Vietnamese fruit products are still use a lot of pesticides, he said.
ing fruits and vegetables to the EU market, available there due to a lack of reliable supply “Processed fruits and vegetables will bring
Vietnam’s agricultural counsellor to the EU, sources, high prices and poor preservation. He called for greater use of non-chemical higher added value and businesses need to
Tran Van Cong, said European countries are methods for crop protection and insect con- invest in technology and equipment to
currently in the process of economic and con- If Vietnam can increase its farming area trol for long-term benefits. improve the competitiveness of their prod-
sumer recovery. and meet the standards of the EU, more of its ucts and make use of the tariff incentives
vegetables and fruits could enter the market, Besides the food safety factor, the webi- under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement
With its annual fruit and vegetable imports he said. nar heard that to promote the export of to boost exports to the market.” — Viet Nam
of €35bil (RM167.7bil), accounting for 40% of fruits and vegetables to the EU, trade pro- News/ANN
Nguyen Trung Kien, Vietnam’s ambassador motion needs to be strengthened and logis-
to Austria, said European consumers are

10 Foreign News STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Richest man in Philippines set to see his supermarket IPO sizzle

MANILA: AllDay Marts Inc, a supermarket (IPO). They expect this will be another tripling its stores in five years, they said, as Group In report.
chain founded by the richest person in the MerryMart.” Villar can provide locations through his Vista It plans to use 20% of the net proceeds from
Philippines, is poised to jump in its trading Land & Lifescapes Inc, a builder of residen-
debut thanks to heavy retail investor interest. Its peer MerryMart Consumer Corp surged tial, office and retail developments in 147 cit- the sale of new shares to expand.
by the 50% daily limit from its IPO price in ies and towns nationwide. AllDay will use the remaining proceeds
AllDay’s offer was about four times over- each of its first three trading days in June
subscribed, with the company and billionaire 2020. Shares have tripled since they listed, AllDay’s IPO price of 60 centavos is “reason- from the new shares to pay down debt, help-
Manuel Villar raising a combined 4.52 billion though off their January peak. able” relative to MerryMart, which priced its ing save 206 million pesos in annual financ-
pesos (US$89mil or RM368.5mil) by selling float at 200 times forward earnings and had ing costs, according to its prospectus.
7.52 billion shares at 60 centavos (RM0.05) AllDay is debuting at a time when the just seven outlets when it went public, said AP
each. Philippine IPO market is booming. Six deals Securities’ Soriano. The reopening of the Philippines’ pandem-
have raised a record US$2.33 bil (RM9.65bil) ic-hit economy and increased campaign
Trading is scheduled to begin on Wednesday this year, Bloomberg-compiled data show. AllDay, which already has 33 stores, has a spending ahead of the May 2022 presidential
in Manila. multiple of 31.1 times its 2022 earnings at the and national elections are also favourable for
Villar, whose fortune is US$7.3bil offer price. AllDay.
“The interest from retail investors is quite (RM32.1bil) according to the Bloomberg
strong,” said Andrei Soriano, an analyst at AP Billionaires Index, is a draw for investors, The supermarket group targets the “afflu- “Reopening means more employment and
Securities Inc. said analysts, as is AllDay’s low nominal IPO ent mid-premium segment,” where its mar- consumer spending while the elections will
price. ket share has widened to 9.5% in 2020 from help boost spending capacity of households,”
“We got a lot of inquiries and many of our 6.9% in 2019, according to a COL Financial said Manny Cruz, a strategist at Papa
clients subscribed to the initial public offering The firm should be able to meet its target of Securities. — Bloomberg

Official: Nation fulfilled China
WTO commitments publishes
rules for new
overall tariff level down from 15.3% to 7.4% Beijing Stock
Exchange

CHINA “All those suggestions are important for SHANGHAI: China published a set of rules
BEIJING: China has fully and effectively ful- stabilising the multilateral trading system for the newly established Beijing Stock
filled its World Trade Organisation commit- and strengthening the WTO’s authority Exchange, moving a step closer toward the
ments (WTO) and earned wide recognition and effectiveness.” official launch of a market designed to fund
from the vast majority of WTO members, a innovative startups.
senior commerce official said. Zhou Mi
The exchange was set up last month in the
Since its accession to the WTO in 2001, narrow development gaps, he said, quoting Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS), Chinese capital, complementing two other
China has made vigorous efforts to align itself remarks by President Xi Jinping. which he said severely distort international bourses in the business hub of Shanghai and
with WTO rules, open its market and abide by trade in the sector. the southern city of Shenzhen.
WTO rules, Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of As a firm supporter and proactive partici-
commerce, said at a news conference on the pant in the multilateral trading system, China A number of developed members that have Establishing the Beijing Stock Exchange is
WTO’s eighth trade policy review of China, has strictly followed WTO rules and fulfilled high levels of AMS are able to provide very part of President Xi Jinping’s strategic scheme
conducted from Oct 20 to 22. all its commitments, making great contribu- high levels of subsidies to specific products. to develop China’s capital markets, and will
tions to the world economy and winning wide However, the majority of developing coun- support innovation and small and medium
China has received full recognition from respect, according to experts and business tries have no entitlement to AMS and can only enterprises, the China Securities Regulatory
the director-general of the WTO and the vast leaders. subsidise up to 10% of the product output Commission (CSRC) said.
majority of its members, said Wang, who is value, Wang said.
also China’s deputy international trade repre- They also said China’s stance on WTO The rules, which were released by the CSRC
sentative. reforms demonstrates its unwavering sup- China supports the elimination of the AMS following a public consultation, aim to regu-
port for multilateralism and development. provisions that have resulted in large amounts late public offerings, information disclosure
China’s overall tariff level has dropped of subsidies to severely distort trade, while and corporate governance for the Beijing
from 15.3% at the time of joining the WTO to Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese keeping the minimum domestic subsidies for exchange.
7.4%, lower than that of all developing mem- Academy of International Trade and agricultural products, he said.
bers and close to that of developed members Economic Cooperation, said China’s position They will take effect on Nov 15.
of the organisation, he said. reflects the core principles of the WTO to pro- He added that the latter have little impact China has stepped up support for SMEs
mote development and solve the common on trade but are crucial for safeguarding agri- struggling in a slowing economy, while
China also supports efforts to make neces- concerns of its members, while recognising cultural product supplies and agricultural cracking down on tech giants under
sary reforms to the WTO, such as reviving the differences in development levels. security, as well as the livelihood of small- President Xi’s vision of “common prosperi-
functions of its appellate body and establish- scale producers. ty”, a policy drive to narrow the gap
ing new approaches to make progress in China also wants new situations in interna- between rich and poor.
emerging areas including e-commerce, so as tional trade to be noted and taken into consid- Yan Dong, head of the Commerce Ministry’s Late on Friday, the CSRC published draft
to safeguard free trade and the multilateral eration. “All those suggestions are important Department of WTO Affairs, said China guidance that will require higher-quality
trading system and narrow development for stabilising the multilateral trading system believes discussions over provisions regard- information disclosure in companies’ pro-
gaps around the world, Wang said. and strengthening the WTO’s authority and ing industry and agriculture subsidies must spectuses under China’s registration-based
effectiveness,” Zhou said. be held as part of reform discussions to initial public offering (IPO) system, on
China believes the WTO reforms should ensure fair competition in both industrial and which the Beijing Stock Exchange will be
aim at facilitating market opening-up and Wang criticised some unfair rules on agri- agricultural sectors. — China Daily/ANN. based.
promoting growth, be conducive to safe- culture and provisions regarding the Shanghai’s tech-heavy STAR Market and
guarding free trade and multilateralism and Shenzhen’s start-up board ChiNext have also
adopted a US-style registration-based IPO
mechanism, which gives the market a bigger
role in evaluating and pricing IPOs. —
Reuters

Two-thirds of China’s top
developers breach ‘red line’ on debt

BEIJING: China’s indebted developers are Speculative-grade yields briefly topped Taking a hit: apartment buildings in Qidong. developers are facing rising financial stress
struggling to meet Beijing’s tighter financing 20% in October – the highest in a decade. as stricter rules around borrowing and a deleveraging campaign by authorities weigh on the
rules. sector. — bloomberg
The three lines are as follows, according to
Two-thirds of the top 30 Chinese property a state-media report on a government web-
firms by sales ranked by the China Real Estate site:
Info Corp have breached at least one of the
metrics known as the “three red lines,” > The property firms’ liabilities shouldn’t
Bloomberg-compiled data showed as of Oct be more than 70% of assets
29.
> Net debt shouldn’t exceed equity
Developers are facing rising financial stress > And cash should be at least equal to short-
as stricter rules around borrowing and a term borrowings
deleveraging campaign by authorities weigh A search of public statements by the gov-
on the sector. ernment didn’t turn up any concerning any
breaches of the red lines.
A liquidity crisis at China Evergrande Other firms with the largest amount of out-
Group has roiled markets, with the nation’s standing debt and liabilities like China
real estate sector making up almost half of Evergrande Group and China Railway
the world’s distressed dollar-denominated Construction Corp Ltd have also violated two
debt. red lines. — Bloomberg

STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Foreign News 11

All eyes on central bank

Corporate credit traders to watch for taper announcement at Fed meeting

WASHINGTON: Corporate credit traders will Combatting inflation: The Federal reserve building in Washington. The central bank is buyout by Platinum Equity.
watch for a taper announcement at the expected to outline plans for tapering its asset purchases in its meeting on Wednesday. — “It’ll probably be a robust month for issu-
Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting on Wednesday reuters
and any indications of a timeline. ance, but unlikely to be a record breaker
issuance drop by 20%-25% from October also due, and follows a recent US$21bil after such heavy supply this year and with
The United States high-grade debt sales levels,” said Art de Pena, head of loan syndi- (RM87bil) bond sale that was part of the upcoming holidays,” said Nicole Hammond,
should pick up next week with about US$25bil cate and distribution at Mitsubishi UFJ debt package. a senior portfolio manager at Angel Oak
(RM104bil) of expected supply, while the pipe- Financial Group Inc. Capital Advisors.
line for new leveraged loans and junk bonds Junk bonds may have suffered losses
looks lighter, according to surveys of bank Merger and acquisitions and leveraged recently, but investor demand for new issues “But issuers are still going to want to get in
analysts and underwriters. buyouts made up just over half of October’s remains mostly strong with just select strug- front of potential rate increases, and the pri-
US$78.5bil (RM325bil) priced loan volume, gling deals such as the US$1.1bil (RM4.6bil) mary market is open for almost anyone.”
Investment-grade borrowers will likely according to data compiled by Bloomberg. offering for debt-laden Brinks Home.
seek to get ahead of the Fed, making the week Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is also
frontloaded with new issues if the window is The month kicks off with at least six lend- After about US$30bil (RM124.2bil) of sup- in the market, tapping into growing demand
open. er meetings on deck, including the buyout ply in October, the high-yield calendar is for sustainability-linked debt with a US$4bil
financing for Vantage Elevator Solutions by light so far with just a couple of deals on the (RM16.6bil) debut issue.
Interest rates are rising in anticipation Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and agenda.
that the central bank, which is widely expect- some repricings. The bond deal, scheduled to price next
ed to outline plans for tapering its asset pur- Among them is portable potty rentals busi- week, aims at boosting access to medicines
chases, might need to accelerate the process A US$2bil (RM8.28bil) loan for aircraft ness United Site Services, which is selling a in low and middle-income countries.
of policy tightening to combat inflation risks. lessor AerCap Holdings NV to help fund its US$1.3bil (RM5.4bil) note and a US$1.25bil
acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services is (RM5.2bil) leveraged loan to fund its The next five trading days will see a flurry
This will help incentivise any issuers with of earnings reports from regular issuers of
funding needs to go as soon as possible. debt.

Estimates for investment-grade issuance “So far, they’ve been pretty good with few
for the full month ahead are around disappointments. Companies are talking
US$100bil (RM414bil), compared with the about supply chain issues, and they’re hav-
more than US$115bil (RM476bil) sold in ing to do more to access materials and
October, which was well above the top end labour, but it’s not having an impact on mar-
of forecasts of US$100bil (RM414bil) based gins as demand remains strong,” said
on surveys of syndicate desks. Hammond.

In leveraged loan new issuance, November Avis Budget Group Inc, AMC Entertainment
sales are projected at between US$30bil Holdings Inc, CVS Health Corp, KKR & Co,
(RM124bil) to US$45bil (RM186bil), accord- Marriott International Inc, Owl Rock Capital
ing to five Wall Street banks and research Corp and T-Mobile US Inc are among those
desks surveyed by Bloomberg. reporting.

US high-yield bond volume is expected In distressed debt, Sequential Brands
between US$20bil (RM83bil) and US$25bil Group Inc has a bankruptcy court hearing
(RM103bil), according to three of them with on Thursday to consider approving selling
another calling for as much as US$43bil Jessica Simpson’s name back to her.
(RM178bil).
That’s the same day LTL Management LLC,
“Smaller leveraged buyouts financings the Johnson & Johnson unit put into bank-
and more opportunistic trades such as ruptcy to halt baby-powder lawsuits, will be
repricings, add-ons, dividend recaps along in court in North Carolina to ask that the
with the Thanksgiving holiday will likely see claims against J&J be put on hold. —
Bloomberg

RBA faces credibility challenge US, EU end
Trump-era tariff
SYDNEY: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) “While underlying inflation has temporarily war over steel
chief Philip Lowe faces a major communica- returned to the target band, conditions for and aluminium
tions challenge tomorrow as speculation inflation to be sustained – a broad, sustained,
mounts he will scrap a bond-yield target pickup in wage growth – remain elusive.” ROME: The United States and European
after the central bank allowed a market Union (EU) have agreed to end a festering
selloff to continue without defending it. James McIntyre dispute over US steel and aluminium tariffs
imposed by former President Donald Trump
Yields started surging after data on just before Christmas. rarily returned to the target band, condi- in 2018, removing an irritant in transatlantic
Wednesday showed core inflation jumped Lowe has set out his stall as one of the tions for inflation to be sustained – a relations and averting a spike in EU retaliato-
back into the RBA’s 2-3% target for the first broad, sustained, pickup in wage growth ry tariffs, US officials said yesterday.
time since 2015. world’s most dovish central bankers, hav- – remain elusive,” said Bloomberg econo-
ing struggled for years to boost inflation. mist James McIntyre. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo
At one point on Friday traders drove up told reporters that the deal will maintain US
the rate on the April 2024 bond, which the He says Australia doesn’t face the sort The strong inflation reading appears to “Section 232” tariffs of 25% on steel and 10%
bank aims to keep at 0.1%, to more than of price pressures seen in the United have caught the RBA flat-footed in a aluminium, while allowing “limited volumes”
eight times that level as the RBA skipped States and Britain pre-meeting period during which it pre- of EU-produced metals into the United States
opportunities to hold the yield down. fers not to comment on policy. duty free.
He predicts interest rates will remain at
At least half a dozen economists now a record-low 0.1% until 2024, by which That has left a void to be filled by inves- It also ends one of the biggest areas of fric-
expect the RBA to drop the yield target at time a tight labour market should drive tors and economists until the central tion between the allies and allows them to
the meeting. faster wage growth for sustainable infla- bank gets its chance to explain itself focus on negotiating new global trade agree-
tion. tomorrow. ments to address global excess steel and alu-
One early pointer to a potential U-turn minium capacity mainly centred in China and
would be the announcement of a press In tandem with the bond selloff, swaps “The RBA had built a lot of reputational reduce the industries’ carbon emissions.
briefing after the meeting, which Lowe traders boosted bets on an early start to capital from its pandemic interventions.
typically calls when there is a major policy Australia’s tightening cycle. US officials did not specify the volume of
change. “But that risks significant undoing now duty-free steel to be allowed into the United
They’re pricing in a first hike by May if the framework is abandoned very States under a tariff-rate quota system agreed
“What is the point of having the target if and for the cash rate to reach 1% by the early,” said JPMorgan economist Ben upon with the EU.
you don’t defend it?” said Diana Mousina, end of 2022. Jarman.
senior economist at AMP Capital Investors Sources familiar with the deal, speaking on
Ltd. While most economists see the market He said the risk from scrapping the condition of anonymity, have told Reuters
bets in Australia as an exaggerated yield target tomorrow was that policy will that annual volumes above 3.3 million tonnes
“People will question their credibility, response to one inflation report many of prove to be less stimulatory in future would be subject to tariffs.
but at the end of the day they are still the them have also brought forward their downturns, “under the fear that commit-
central bank and people will still follow rate hike forecasts. ments can be pulled at short notice.” The deal grants an additional two years of
what they say and look at their communi- duty-free access above the quota for EU
cation very closely.” The median estimate among surveyed Yet even if the RBA decides to leave pol- steel products that won Commerce
economists is for a 15 basis point hike in icy and guidance unchanged this week it Department exclusions in the past year, US
The predicament the RBA finds itself in early 2023. will still come out bruised, according to officials said.
is the latest example of how unexpectedly Su-Lin Ong, head of Australian economic
strong inflation around the globe is put- Indeed, with vaccination rates surging and fixed-income strategy at Royal Bank The deal requires EU steel and aluminium
ting pressure on central bankers to and New South Wales and Victoria states of Canada. to be entirely produced in the bloc – a stand-
rethink their policy timelines as the emerging from protracted virus-induced ard known as “melted and poured” – to qual-
tradeoff between supporting pandem- lockdowns earlier than expected, the por- “The market would believe them even ify for duty-free status.
ic-hit economies and overjuicing prices tents for the economy’s rapid recovery less than they do now, if that is possible,”
shifts. are good. she said. — Bloomberg The provision is aimed at preventing met-
als from China and non-EU countries from
The Bank of Canada ended its bond-buy- “While underlying inflation has tempo- being minimally processed in Europe before
ing stimulus last Wednesday and the export to the United States. — Reuters
Federal Reserve is seen announcing a pull-
back of its debt purchases in the coming
days.

The Bank of England also faces inflation-
ary forces that have markets anticipating a
hike at Thursday’s meeting or the one

12 Foreign News STARBIZ, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

NEW YORK: Investors are weighing whether Stocks approach
momentum from the stock market’s historically strong period
record-breaking rally will continue in the last Fed taper looms as Wall Street look to end year on a high
two months of 2021, a traditionally strong
calendar period for equities but a stretch that “If the appropriate items fall into place also wary of proposals that might create
may carry more risks than usual this year. you could continue the seasonality of higher levies on corporate profits, income or
a year-end rally,” investments.
The S&P 500 has rallied 22.6% year-to-date,
its best January-through-October perfor- alan Lancz On Thursday, President Joe Biden was
mance since 2013, and November and dealt a setback as the House of
December tend to be among the strongest October, helped by a better-than-expected “So far they have maintained that this is Representatives abandoned plans for a vote
months for stocks. start to the earnings season. transitory, but if we see a change in the on an infrastructure bill. Some high-profile
wording around that, that could potentially investors see the potential for downside.
This time around, however, the year-end One major test for that run will come as spook the market a little bit,” Gaggar said. BofA Global Research this week called for a
period may have more than its usual share the Fed begins to taper its bond buying pro- year-end target on the S&P 500 of 4,250,
of pitfalls, as investors brace for the looming gramme, a move the central bank is expect- Investors are tracking volatility in the about 7.5% below current levels.
unwind of a US$120bil (RM497bil)-per- ed to announce at the end of its monetary bond market, which has come as rates for
month Federal Reserve (Fed) government policy meeting next week. short-term US government bonds soared in BofA analysts pointed to extended valua-
bond buying programme that has helped response to expectations that surging infla- tions, “near-euphoric” sentiment and a bevy
stocks more than double from their March While officials have telegraphed plans to tion will force the Fed and other central of risks to corporate profit margins, includ-
2020 lows. begin reducing bond buying as early as banks to tighten monetary policy more ing potential tax hikes and labour inflation.
November, investors will be listening for aggressively.
Many are also keeping a wary eye on ruc- signals that the recent surge in inflation may Lancz said that given the “phenomenal”
tions in the bond market, as well as worries force the central bank to taper and eventual- While those recent moves have not stock gains in October, those returns might
over looming inflation and a debate over tax ly raise interest rates faster than expected. weighed on stocks, surges in longer-dated be “borrowing a little bit from what we
legislation in Washington. Treasury yields could make equities less might see in November and December.”
The Fed’s communication about its view attractive for some investors.
“If the appropriate items fall into place on how sustained the recent surge in infla- Still, market declines have been met with
you could continue the seasonality of a year- tion will be is critical to markets, said Anu In Washington, legislation to increase swift buying in 2021. The S&P 500’s biggest
end rally,” said Alan Lancz, president of Gaggar, global investment strategist at spending on infrastructure could boost drop this year – a 5.2% fall from early
investment advisory firm Alan B. Lancz & Commonwealth Financial Network. some areas of the market, but investors are September to early October - was recouped
Associates in Toledo, Ohio. in just 13 trading days.

November traditionally has started a bull- “The market has, at every turn this year,
ish period for United States equities. Since surprised people,” said JJ Kinahan, chief
1945, the S&P 500 has climbed an average of market strategist at TD Ameritrade in
6.8% in the November-through-April period, Chicago. “Every time people leave it for
the highest average change for any rolling dead, the buy-the-dip mentality has contin-
six-month span, compared with an average ued to be strong.” — Reuters
1.7% gain from May through October,
according to Sam Stovall, chief investment
strategist at CFRA.

In particular, November and December
have been the S&P 500’s second-and third-
best months of the year since 1950, with the
index rising an average of 1.7% and 1.5%,
respectively, according to the Stock Trader’s
Almanac.

The benchmark index gained 6.9% in

WASHINGTON: Inflation is still raging in the Inflation builds in US and Europe Fortescue to
United States and Europe, especially in Spain supply green
where soaring energy costs are pushing Asia High costs: hydrogen to UK
broader price gauges higher. Gas prices
Economists have again lowered their eco- are shown at LONDON: Australia’s Fortescue Future
US employment costs rose at the fastest nomic growth forecasts for China over the a station in Industries will become the biggest supplier of
pace on record in the third quarter, while coming year amid power shortages and a Seattle. green hydrogen to the Britain after signing a
euro-area inflation breached 4% for just the worsening property market downturn. energy pric- deal with construction equipment compa-
second time ever. Japanese retail sales es are soar- ny JC Bamford Excavators Ltd and distrib-
advanced in September as Covid-19 cases fell, The economic gap between China’s less-de- ing in 2021. utor Ryze Hydrogen.
and consumers in India are spending healthi- veloped western region and the wealthier The energy
ly to kick off the festive season. eastern parts of the nation widened in the third sector has The deal, signed on the eve of the COP26
quarter as Beijing’s crackdown on property far outpaced summit in Glasgow, Scotland, unites two
United States and local government debt weighed on growth. the broader of the industrial world’s highest-profile
market this billionaires, JCB founder and chairman
Employment costs rose at the fastest pace Japan’s retail sales regained ground in year. — aP Anthony Bamford and Australia’s
on record in the third quarter as companies September following a sharp drop the month Fortescue Metals Group Ltd founder
across a variety of sectors raised wages before, an indication that shoppers felt more rebound in demand in September, helping keep Andrew Forrest.
against a backdrop of labour shortages. comfortable spending as virus infections start- the needle on a dial measuring so-called animal
ed to fall. spirits steady for a third straight month. Jo Bamford, Anthony’s son, is chairman
Personal consumption slowed sharply in of Ryze.
the third quarter, due in part to a drop in Emerging markets South Korea said it will speed up the introduc-
outlays for cars. That subtracted 2.39 percent- tion of wider borrowing restrictions to curb ris- The agreement could bolster Prime
age points from gross domestic product India showed more signs of a recovery taking ing household debt it called the economy’s “larg- Minister Boris Johnson’s case that the
growth and drove the decline in goods spend- hold as its consumption-driving festive season est potential threat.” United Kingdom can make good on its tar-
ing in the period, as automakers had a tough kicked off, keeping it on track to regain the title of get for net-zero emissions by 2050.
time keeping dealer lots full. the world’s fastest-growing major economy. World
And for Forrest, the deal goes a small
Europe An array of indicators pointed to a continuing Global supply chains will need an estimated way to helping his company meet an annu-
US$100 trillion (RM414 trillion) in investment to al target of 15 million tonnes of green
Economic growth in the eurozone acceler- achieve the planet’s goal of net-zero carbon emis- hydrogen production by 2030, rising to 50
ated in the third quarter following the sus- sions over the next three decades, according to million tonnes in the following decade.
pension of most Covid-19 curbs, with inflation new research that pins as much as half of that
reaching the highest level since 2008. price tag on small-to medium-size businesses. “Our agreement signals the first major
shift in the global commercial landscape
Eurozone inflation accelerated more than The pandemic has revived debate about the from fossil fuels towards the real, practi-
expected to breach 4% for only the second role of governments in the economy – and cal, implementable solution that is green
time ever, adding to the European Central inflation is part of that argument. hydrogen,” Forrest said in a statement yes-
Bank’s challenge in battling increasingly terday.
aggressive market bets for interest-rate hikes. This year’s supply-chain crisis has raised
questions about whether the quest for efficien- Some of the production will eventually
Spanish inflation accelerated to the highest cy and low prices has come at the expense of be in the UK
level in almost three decades, underscoring stability. — Bloomberg
the continent’s intensifying struggle with Forrest, who told Bloomberg TV this
soaring energy costs. month that hydrogen would rival coal as a
key part of steelmaking within a decade,
The rate jumped to 5.5% in October, the has set a 2040 net-zero target for Fortescue’s
highest since 1992. Spain is particularly vul- customers. — Bloomberg
nerable to energy shocks as it relies on gas
imports to generate electricity and power
links to other European nations are limited.

Oil majors won’t come running to help world facing energy crunch

NEW YORK: The world’s biggest energy com- on share buybacks and dividends. Capital fuel shortages prompted a massive upswing in nies’ significant climate risk.
panies are producing the most cash in years, expenditures will rise next year, but the capital spending. That boom ended painfully “It’s not so long ago they got creamed by
but don’t expect them to spend it on bringing increases come off 2021’s exceptionally low for the industry, with overproduction and a
on fresh supplies of oil and natural gas to com- base and within frameworks established lack of cost control. prices collapses so it’s not surprising they’re a
bat shortages in Europe and China this winter. before the recent surge in fossil-fuel prices. bit gun shy on capex,” said Stewart Glickman, a
This time around, Big Oil appears content to New York-based analyst at CFRA Research.
Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and It’s a step-change from previous energy ral- take the cash and hand it over to shareholders,
Chevron Corp confirmed last week that, for the lies, such the early 2010s when emerging who are both weary of poor returns over the “It’s almost like they’re stuck between two
most part, they’ll spend their windfall profits United States shale plays and fears over fossil last decade and concerned about the compa- extreme populations – the ESG crowd and cash-
flow hungry shareholders.” — Bloomberg

THE STAR, MondAy 1 novEMbER 2021

Call tolifestyle@thestar.com.my Content:(03)79671290Advertising: (03)7966 8388 careCustomer Service: 1300-88-7827

Local shops point out common phone problems plaguing customers
during the pandemic and how to side step them.

by AnGELIn yEoH “Oftentimes, it was because the child out of their pocket, says Azmi, who urges er if you have kids,” he says.
lifestyletech@thestar.com.my accidentally dropped the phone on a hard customers to check their warranty before Azmi recommends investing in a good
WHEN the Covid-19 pandemic hit, forcing surface. sending their phones for repair to a
people to rely on their devices for work, third-party shop. casing and screen protector to minimise
studies and entertainment, repair shops “In some cases, the child threw the damage from falls.
saw a spike in business. phone against the wall in anger due to a “I always advise the customer to check
disagreement with the parent,” he says. if their warranty covers cracked screens “It can happen to anyone. I’ve met cus-
Azmi Alias, who owns Phone Medic as some do, in which case it’s best to go tomers with brand new devices saying
Shah Alam, says most people don’t realise However, sometimes it’s just due to back to the outlet where the device was they regret not using a casing because they
how important their smartphone is until absent-mindedness, says Looi Chin Young, purchased. dropped their phones while taking selfies,”
something goes wrong with the device. 26, a technician with Phonfix Solution in he says.
Kuala Lumpur. “I will decline to fix the device as I don’t
“I’ve met a lot of customers who said want to do anything that could void the When it comes to screen protection,
they felt stressed and anxious when their “Usually the customer uses the phone warranty,” he says. Azmi recommends tempered glass as it’s
smartphones no longer work. while driving and then places it on the lap. more durable and does a good job of pro-
Muhammad Fawwaz Akif Nordin, who tecting the screen from cracking due to
“I’ve come to understand that most peo- “When the customer gets out of the car, runs FZRepairPhone in Bangi, Selangor, impact.
ple regard their phones as very precious,” he or she forgets to pick up the phone encourages customers to get their cracked
says the 29-year-old. before getting out. display fixed immediately. His other suggestion is a ceramic screen
protector – though it’s not as hardy, it’s
One of the main reasons customers “And it never ends well “A lot of users delay getting their phones flexible and fits curved screens better.
sought help during the movement control for the phone when it repaired because they think it’s nothing to
order (MCO), he says, was due to a shat- meets the road,” he says. be concerned about as long as the devices “When it comes to phone casings, I usu-
tered screen. continue to work. ally encourage customers not to use cas-
People with large ings made of rubber because they trap
Azmi says this was mainly due to par- phones have also “I’m worried that they may cut their fin- heat and make your phone heat up faster.
ents sharing their devices with their child. complained that gers as they perform actions such as swip-
their devices ing. This is especially important to consid- > TURn To PAGE 2
tend to drop

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2 Technology STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

> FROM PAGE 1

“I feel that hard cover casings with tiny Incidences of shattered screens increased a build-up of heat and gas.
perforations on the back are better for as parents lent their phones to their children According to the website iFixit, as the
devices,” he says. during the pandemic. — 123rf.com battery gets swollen due to a build-up of
gas, the battery may catch fire or
Those who want the best protection can malfunctions while they are working,” he
use casings with shock-absorbent material says. explode if the layers separating the inter-
but most customers can’t stick with it for nal parts of the battery become
long, he says. Fawwaz Akif too says water damage is a compromised.
common problem among his customers. “Budget constraints are the
“They find that it makes the phone main reason they avoid repair-
bulky and heavy, and end up discard- “We mostly get ladies coming in with this ing their devices and feel it’s
ing it after some time. issue. It’s usually because they used the okay to use them as long as they
phone in the shower or dropped it while are working,” he says.
“It’s really up to the person’s pref- taking pictures at places with water,” he “Some customers even let
erence. If you have a new phone, I says. their kids use their phone for
would recommend going for a an extended period while it’s
casing that offers better protec- He advises users to invest in a robust being charged,” he says.
tion,” he says. water-resistant casing if they plan to use It’s inadvisable to continue
their phone while having a shower or at using the phone for power-
Water, water everywhere the beach.
intensive activities like gaming when
Were you thinking of wash- When a phone ceases to function after the device feels uncomfortably hot,
ing your phone with water dur- getting wet, Azmi says the biggest mistake a says Fawwaz Akif, adding that it’s a
ing the pandemic to get rid of person can make is trying to turn on the good practice to take a break from
germs? You are definitely not device repeatedly. prolonged screen time.
alone. “Your device could overheat and turn
“Let it dry off completely for at least one itself off. In some cases, you may not be
Jasmine Cheong, an adminis- to two days. You can even put it in a bag of able to turn it on again if critical compo-
trative assistant at Phonfix rice to help absorb the water. nents were damaged,” he adds.
Solutions who works with Looi, Manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei
says the shop has had a lot of custom- “Don’t force the device to power up or and Apple will display a temperature warn-
ers complaining that their devices attempt to charge it as this could cause fur- ing to remind users to let their phones cool
won’t power up after cleaning them ther damage to the hardware,” he warns. down before they are permanently dam-
with soap and water. aged.
Customers have also told Looi that they Users should also avoid leaving their
Most users feel it’s fine to wash their have attempted to dry their wet phones phones in the car or places exposed to
phones and even take it with them to the with a hair dryer which he is strongly direct sunlight, says Fawwaz Akif.
pool, as many manufacturers claim that against. He also says some customers’ devices
their phones meet the IP68 standard – the were affected by the use of faulty cables
top rating in the Ingress Protection scale – “By doing that, you could end up blowing and chargers.
for water and dust resistance. more water into the phone instead of get- “I’ve had customers asking if it’s okay to
ting rid of it and causing more moisture to purchase third-party cables or chargers
However, they are not waterproof and build up inside,” he says. because they are more affordable. That’s
can only prevent water penetration up to a something I don’t dare recommend,” he
degree. Stop the bloat says.

For instance, one smartphone maker says If there is a problem that Azmi takes very Helping hand
its IP68 phones “are resistant to submersion seriously, it’s a phone with a bloated bat-
up to a maximum depth of 1.5m underwa- tery. Looi says he gets a lot of satisfaction
ter for up to thirty minutes”. from being able to provide assistance to
“When the battery starts bloating, I urge his customers.
Most companies also conduct their tests customers to get it fixed right away,” he
with freshwater and warn that the device is says, as otherwise many will choose to con- “They get a sense of relief when they get
not suited for beach or pool use. tinue using the device despite the risks. their phones back and see that it’s working
like normal.
Also, it’s important to note that most war- Bloated batteries could be the result of
ranties don’t cover damage from water overcharging, especially when an incom- “They feel like a huge burden has been
ingress even though the phones are rated to patible third-party charger is used, causing lifted,” he says, adding that most people
comply with the IP68 standard. opt to repair as they can’t afford to pur-
chase a new device.
“When we asked customers why they
washed their phones, they explained that Fawwaz Akif, who makes on-site visits,
they saw ads showing that phones work says he often listens to customers’ stories
even after being submerged in water,” says about how much the phones matter to
Cheong. them.

“There are brands that advertise their “Some customers have photos or videos
phones as being water resistant. When the that are irreplaceable and it means a lot to
device is new, some water exposure is okay. them to be able to get them back.

“But we find that the water resistance “After the repairs are done, I will advise
wears off over time and customers may not them to take care of the phone like it’s their
be aware of this,” she says. life,” he says with a laugh.

Cheong advises customers to clean their Azmi too finds his career rewarding.
phones using wipes with 70% alcohol. “It’s not unusual to meet elderly custom-
ers who have trouble using apps like
“We have to remind them not to use soap MySejahtera, especially with scanning QR
and water as it’s not necessary,” she says. codes.
“Usually it’s a problem with their camera
The iPhone support page also warns and I’ll replace the components to get it
users not to use products containing bleach working again.
or hydrogen peroxide to wipe their devices, “And I am always happy to help,” he says.
as abrasive cleaning products may diminish
the product’s coating.

Azmi has also seen an increase in cus-
tomers – mostly delivery riders – coming to
him to repair phones damaged from rain-
water.

“More people have been relying on
delivery services for their food during the
pandemic.

“However, delivery riders mostly use
motorbikes and have to use their phones
even when it’s raining.

“It can be really unfortunate if the phone

STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Technology 3

Phone Pushback against AI policing in Europe
damage
due to DAMIEN Sardjoe was 14 when the europe’s law enforcement authorities are increasingly using technolo-
rainwater Amsterdam police put him on the gies like predictive policing to profile people. — 123rf.com
is a com- city’s Top 600 criminals list, which
mon problem Looi, who has been sets people thought to be at risk of city to detect the make, colour and “always determinations made by
among delivery in the business for committing “high-impact crimes” route of cars carrying people sus- customers”.
riders, says three years, says he such as robbery, assault and mur- pected of what police call “mobile
azmi. — aZMI finds a career in fix- der on a regime of care and pun- banditry”. “The software is designed to
aLIaS ing devices very ishment. enable human-driven analysis for
rewarding. — LooI Merel Koning, senior policy a posteriori investigations (based
CHIn yoUnG That was when his life began to officer at human rights group on prior evidence) and not to pro-
Most customers are fall apart. Amnesty International, said the vide algorithmic-based predictive
grateful to have their system mainly targeted people policing capabilities,” he said.
phones fixed, says Sardjoe had previously been from east European countries and
Fawwaz akif, as they arrested for two street robberies – specifically Roma, referring to Seeking clarity
don’t want to lose one of which was violent. members of Europe’s largest eth-
their photos and vid- nic minority. Pushback against institutions
eos. – Photos: But his inclusion on the list and companies linked to “predic-
MUHaMMad meant police would raid his home But the focus was not in line tive policing” has gone so far that
FaWWaZ aKIF whenever a crime happened in with internal police crime figures digital experts say even the US
nordIn his area, he said, while officers for previous years, Amnesty says. firm which pioneered the tech,
routinely stopped him on the formerly called PredPol – short
Fawwaz akif street asking for ID. Dutch police spokeswoman for predictive policing – now dis-
says it’s inad- Mireille Beentjes said the project’s tances itself from the term.
visable to con- “I felt very spied on,” Sardjoe, scope went beyond pickpockets
tinue using a now a 20-year-old youth worker, and was not predictive as the data The company’s system uses
phone once said in a video-conferencing inter- used “always (had) a human algorithms to analyse police
the battery is view. check”. records and identify crime-ridden
bloated even if areas to proactively determine
the device is “I didn’t feel comfortable walk- “We know these kinds of crimi- when and where officers patrol.
still functional. ing on the street.” nals often come from eastern
Europe,” she said in an email. “However, what we do isn’t
Sardjoe’s older brother was ‘predictive’, what we do is create
placed on another automated list “However, an eastern European location-based risk assessments
– the Top 400 children at risk of licence by itself was never enough based on historical crime pat-
criminal behaviour – before he to draw our special attention. terns. This is why we changed our
had ever committed a crime, and More features were needed for name from PredPol to Geolitica
then went on to become involved that.” earlier this year,” said CEO Brian
in stealing scooters, he added. MacDonald.
The programme ended because
The “top criminal” tag felt the police did not have enough “Any of these approaches using
“almost like a self-fulfilling proph- capacity to follow up with project open, auditable data and algo-
ecy”, Sardjoe said. data, according to Dutch police. rithms to identify crime hotspots
will always be better than relying
Amid warnings from rights In Denmark, the Pol-Intel pro- on officer ‘intuition’,” he added in
groups that artificial intelligence ject, based on the Gotham system emailed comments.
(AI) technologies reinforce preju- designed by US data analytics firm
dice in policing, the debate over Palantir and operational since But police use of AI technology
systems like the Top 600 list 2017, uses a mapping system to is still “extremely controversial”,
kicked up a notch last month build a so-called heat map identi- said Tom McNeil, assistant police
when Member of European fying areas with higher crime and crime commissioner for the
Parliaments (MEPs) voted for a rates. West Midlands Police in Britain,
report proposing strict regulation which is working with about eight
of predictive policing. The data appears to include citi- types of automated modelling sys-
zenship information, such as tem.
Officials said the non-binding whether a person in the system is
report, which also calls to outlaw “a non-Western Dane”, according He called for more oversight in
the use of mass biometric surveil- to Matt Mahmoudi, an affiliated the way the technology is used by
lance, should become Parliament’s lecturer and researcher on digital authorities, adding that he per-
position for coming negotiations society at the University of sonally favours a ban on the use
on a new AI law. Cambridge. of live facial recognition surveil-
lance, as proposed in the
“We want to make sure certain “We want an indication of why European Commission’s AI Act.
types of AI, like facial recognition citizenship data – or non-Western
or predictive policing, cannot be data – matters in being able to “We need a (British) law to clar-
used easily because they affect produce a heat map,” he said. ify what should and shouldn’t be
fundamental human rights,” Petar allowed, including red lines over
Vitanov, the Socialist lawmaker Magnus Andresen, a senior when you shouldn’t be allowed to
who wrote the report, said in a Danish National Police officer, use facial recognition or (predic-
phone interview. confirmed that Pol-Intel contains tive) analytics,” McNeil said.
nationality and citizenship data,
The use of automated risk mod- but would not comment on why. In Amsterdam, Sardjoe has
elling and profiling systems to been off the Top 600 list for three
predict future criminal activity The police do not have any sta- years now and works in a pro-
has already been banned in cities tistics on the system’s effective- gramme encouraging others to
like Santa Cruz and New Orleans ness in combating terrorism or shun crime.
in the United States amid accusa- crime, Andresen said.
tions that they reinforce racist “There was a moment in my life
policing patterns. But he added it is being used to where I thought: ‘They already
support most of the force’s opera- think I’m a criminal, so I might as
“They treat everyone as sus- tional decisions, like “stop and well do criminal stuff’ – because
pects to some extent,” said Sarah searches”, through the use of a they don’t expect anything bet-
Chander, senior policy advisor at “finder function” which quickly ter,” he said wearily.
the European Digital Rights net- locates data on people, places,
work (EDRi). objects and events. “Right now, I’m helping boys or
kids who are going through what
“But (they) will be dispropor- Courtney Bowman, Palantir’s I went through because all I need-
tionately used against racialised director of privacy, said decisions ed then was a person who under-
people ... who are perceived to be on the data gathered by the stood that (experience).” –
potential migrants, terrorists, Gotham system – which has also Thomson Reuters Foundation
poor and working-class people, in been used by the European police
poor, working-class areas.” agency Europol and the Hesse
state police in Germany – were
The Netherlands police declined
to comment on the Top 600 and
400 schemes, referring inquiries
to Amsterdam’s city council,
which in turn said they were the
responsibility of the police.

Monitoring by algorithm

Europe’s law enforcement and
criminal justice authorities are
increasingly using technologies
like predictive policing to profile
people and assess their likelihood
to commit crimes, according to
Fair Trials, a partly EU-funded
civil rights group.

One much-criticised Dutch pro-
ject, which ran between January
2019 and October 2020, aimed to
counter crimes like shoplifting in
the southeastern city of Roermond.

The Sensing Project used
remote sensors in and around the

4 Technology STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Turning My Diary educational standpoint as it
the page increases participation.

dear diary: Forgive me, but I’m Not the last word
leaving you for a journal app.
A drawback of keeping a journal
YOUR first kiss. The time you not pressure you to make Graphics: Freepik.com without writing, Grabowski says, is
failed in maths. Diaries have tra- daily entries. that much of what “really” consti-
ditionally been the place to write instance, so that you could track in fact get by without the planning- tutes a journal will be missing, for
down your experiences, private The security of the on what days you listened to what intensive writing process,” says example, bringing to mind what
thoughts and secrets. data you store in the song while perhaps taking a long Joachim Grabowski, who does concerned you.
journal app is natu- walk to one of your favourite research on written speech pro-
Now, with the help of a journal rally very important places. duction and writing processes as a “If use of the app is designed for
app, you can easily keep a digital too. professor at the University of speed and practicality, then experi-
record of them and much more, You could then generate a per- Hanover’s Institute of Psychology
be it sporting activities, successful “Ideally, the sonal playlist for a particular time in Germany. ences aren’t really inter-
recipes or pleasant get-togethers journal entries period. preted and formulated
with friends. shouldn’t leave the He says it’s positive from an verbally.
device, but be “I see it as a plus that many apps “Rather, small, spotty
These apps can log, in a single stored and utilised reports or documenta-
place, not only events and activi- locally on your per- ry records are the
ties but also your ideas, moods sonal devices,” says result,” Grabowski says.
and personal goals, allowing you Pichler. People with a soft spot
to create a “life album” of sorts for “classic” journalling
that you can organise in different To ensure that the in a notebook proba-
ways with various points of entries aren’t lost, you bly won’t take to a
focus. should get an app that digital journalling
gives you the option of stor- app.
“An app, in my opinion, must be ing them in a personal Cloud. “If you like to
easy to use,” says app developer contextualise
Gregor Pichler, a mobile comput- Among the interesting features things or
ing specialist and lecturer at the of current journal apps include express your-
Upper Austria University of the ability to attach photos or self verbally,
Applied Sciences’ School of voice memos to the entries, and you’re more
Informatics, Communications and the integration of other tools and likely to stick
Media in Hagenberg, Austria. services, for example from the with a tradition-
sphere of music and vital data. al medium,” he
“The simpler and more obstacle- says.
free a journal app is, the better.” “For users who don’t want to Against the back-
write anything at all, it’ll be possi- ground of studies
In addition, he says, the app ble in the future to add songs in showing that writing
must have appealing graphics, a journal apps,” Pichler says.
simple design, not prompt you about traumatic, stressful or
unnecessarily for passwords and They could potentially be cou- emotional events improves both
pled with a pedometer, for physical and psychological health,
Germany passed a law in 2019
requiring statutory health insur-
ance companies to cover the costs
of certain health apps prescribed
by doctors.
Digital journalling, meanwhile, is
often touted for its potential men-
tal health benefits.
“I see (the law) as an important
signal, especially in regard to men-
tal health,” says Pichler. – dpa

Drone transports lungs for transplant Self-healing
smartphone screen
IN the dark of night, a drone takes
off from a Toronto hospital rooftop, regulatory changes expected in the coming years should allow greater A TEAM of researchers at energy and convert it into elec-
the hum of its rotors barely audible integration of drones into civil air space in Canada. — aFP relaxnews Concordia University in tricity when repeated move-
over the bustling sounds of the cars Montreal, led by doctoral stu- ment is applied.
and pedestrians below in Canada’s Two days later, in addition to densely populated city. dent Twinkal Patel, has devel-
largest metropolis. allowing him to breathe again, he In the event of a failure during oped self-healing polymer net- In other words, this could one
was reportedly well enough to works that are already produc- day let users recharge a device
On its maiden flight, with a attend via videolink his daughter’s flight, a ballistic parachute was also ing good results at room tem- battery automatically by simply
bird’s-eye view of the city’s glisten- wedding. installed that would deploy and perature. walking.
ing skyline as it glides over apart- gently bring the drone and the con-
ments, shops and office towers, the First flight tainer containing the organ to the If successful, this new tech- Research into self-repairing
drone is carrying a precious cargo ground. nology would not only benefit polymers has already led to a
– human lungs for transplant. “We’ve proven a very important mobile phone users and save first direct application at BMW.
point, that it’s possible to do this Transplant organs are normally them money, but also signifi-
The 15.5kg carbon fibre safely and (that) you could fly a flown to airports (if between cities) cantly extend device lifespans The German carmaker has
unmanned electric drone purpose- drone in the middle of downtown and transported by car to hospitals. and save raw materials by covered the front grille of its
built by Quebec-based Unither Toronto,” said Dr Shaf Keshavjee, reducing the number of replace- new BMW iX electric SUV with
Bioelectronics flew just 1.2km from who worked with a technical team Using a drone between hospitals ment screens produced. a polyurethane coating that can
Toronto Western Hospital on the for two years on the drone project. is more direct and saves time by automatically erase slight
city’s west side to the roof of the avoiding heavy car traffic. These new polymers could scratches within 24 hours at
downtown Toronto General The drone carried a refrigerated also be used to improve the room temperature or in less
Hospital. black container “which maintains “Now the issue is really how do lifespan of cell phone batteries than five minutes under hot air
the organ’s thermal parameters” so you scale this (up) to make it avail- in the future, as they can store (with a hair dryer, for example).
The trip at the end of September that the organ is “viable for trans- able to patients all over the world,” – AFP Relaxnews
took less than 10 minutes. plantation”, explained drone engi- said Keshavjee, a lung transplant
neer Mikael Cardinal of Unither specialist, describing lungs as researchers are working on developing self-healing polymers for
It was automated but kept under Bioelectronics. among “the most fragile of all mobile phone screens. — aFP relaxnews
the watchful eye of engineers and organs to preserve and transport”.
doctors. The successful flight, which
required advance approvals This innovation, which fills him
The drone delivery of transplant from health and civil air naviga- with pride, makes his partner in the
lungs marked a global first, accord- tion authorities, followed dozens project Cardinal believe that “the
ing to the company, but a similar of test runs as well as modifica- future is very positive” for this kind
flight in April 2019 delivered a kid- tions, for example, to prevent of technological advancement.
ney to a hospital in the US state of radio frequency interference in a
Maryland. According to Cardinal, regulato-
ry changes expected in the coming
On the Toronto General years will allow greater integration
Hospital’s rooftop, the drone was of drones into civil air space. – AFP
met by a surgical team that
whisked the package inside and
successfully transplanted the lungs
into a waiting patient, saving the
life of the 63-year-old man who
had been diagnosed with pulmo-
nary fibrosis.

The patient, by happenstance,
was an engineer himself who
expressed excitement to local
media about receiving organs
delivered by a drone.

STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Technology 5

sPyojnolidbciesccabatuemsst a joint operation between the Singaporean and
Malaysian police crippled two job scam syndicates.
Ten people in
Malaysia and 14 in By SHERMAINE ANG accounts to the syndicates for crime syndicates that target
Singapore were WHEN promised reimburse- monetary gains. our citizens”.
arrested in a joint ments and commissions were
operation. not paid, the victims smelled a The Singapore police said “We will also take firm
— rawpixel rat and made police reports. that since May, they had action against the money mules
received increased reports of in Singapore, who sell their
On Oct 26, the Singapore scammers posting job adver- bank accounts to these job syn-
police said they and their tisements on social media. dicates or actively help them to
Malaysian counterparts have launder their proceeds of
smashed two transnational job These advertisements said crime”.
the work involved helping to
scam syndicates which alleg- improve sales on online plat- The police said e-commerce
edly cheated more than 390 forms by ordering goods or lik- platforms would never ask
people in the island nation ing TikTok or YouTube videos. users to transfer money with
of S$5mil (RM15.38mil). the promise of a refund and a
Once these initial tasks were commission.
Ten people in Malaysia completed, the victims were
and 14 in Singapore were told that their account could be They also urged the public to
upgraded to get higher com- verify the authenticity of the
arrested in a joint opera- missions. job offer with official websites,
tion planned by the and not use their bank account
police in both coun- They were instructed to pay to conduct transactions on
tries. for the goods by transferring behalf of others as they may be
Preliminary funds to different bank unwittingly assisting to launder
investiga- accounts. money from criminal activities.
tions
showed They were promised reim- Under Singapore’s
that the bursements of the full sum and Corruption, Drug Trafficking
five men a 5% to 15% commission. and Other Serious Crimes
and five (Confiscation of Benefits) Act,
women aged While the scammers kept anyone found guilty of assisting
between 21 their word at first, they later another to retain benefits from
and 32 who were promised commissions only criminal conduct can be jailed
nabbed in Malaysia after a certain number of tasks up to 10 years, fined up to
had been done, and delayed S$500,000 (RM1.53mil), or both.
targeted Singaporeans payments.
and Malaysians, and laun- In September, its police
dered their criminal proceeds The victims realised they had warned that more people are
in Malaysia. fallen prey to a scam when falling for job scams, with vic-
The 12 men and two women they did not receive subse- tims losing at least S$6.5mil
arrested in Singapore – aged quent reimbursements and (RM20mil) in the first six
between 17 and 44 – allegedly commissions. months of this year.
facilitated the syndicates’
crimes by carrying out bank In the police statement, The biggest amount lost in a
transfers or fund withdrawals, David Chew, director of the single case was S$676,000
or relinquishing their bank Commercial Affairs (RM2.08mil). – The Straits
Department, thanked the Times (Singapore)/Asia News
Malaysian police “for their Network
strong support and commit-
ment in tackling transnational

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6 Technology STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

Big Tech’s
payment systems
under scrutiny
US consumer watchdog to probe
big Tech payment systems due to
potential antitrust concerns.

By KEN SWEET the Federal Trade
IN its first significant action under Commission where he
a new director, the US Consumer used his role to raise
Financial Protection Bureau is concerns about
ordering Apple, Amazon, PayPal anti-competitive behav- The CFPb is seeking more transparency, as well as more details
and other tech giants to reveal iour at large technology about what consumer protections have been put in place. — 123rf.com
how their proprietary payment
networks function. firms.
He also raised the Google Pay are often ments through services like Zelle, how their products store consumer
Apple Pay, Google Pay and other issue during his confir- embedded into smart they have struggled to keep up and information, how the data is aggre-
payment systems created by big mation hearing at the devices. Apple sells its do not have the integrated systems gated or sold or shared with other
tech companies now dominate Senate Banking Apple credit card product Apple or Google operate that is companies, as well as how consum-
large portions of e-commerce and Committee. right inside the iPhone, and seen as a competitive advantage. ers’ information may be used to
person-to-person payments. The CFPB has Graphics: if a consumer opens an Consumers can add their credit sell them additional products.
rescinded or Freepik.com account, it is automatically or debit cards to their iPhone or The Electronic Transactions
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra is scaled back a Android devices, but it usually
seeking more transparency, as well number of pol- integrated into the cus- Association, which represents
as more details about what con- tomer’s payment requires additional steps. Apple, Amazon, Google and other
sumer protections have been put icies put in options. “Since the Bureau was founded, technology companies when it
in place. place by the In many ways, a con- a growing share of banking activi- comes to payments, said they plan
Trump administration. sumer’s smartphone has replaced ty has occurred outside of the pur- to fully cooperate with the CFPB’s
The CFPB also raised potential And the bureau is adding staff in their wallet. view of leading regulators, putting order.
antitrust concerns. anticipation of taking a more While the innovation has been consumers and the resiliency of “The digital transactions indus-
active role in regulation and largely celebrated by those who the financial system at risk,” said try has a good story to tell about its
“Big Tech companies are eagerly enforcement, as it did during the use it, banks and consumer groups Richard Hunt, CEO of the efforts to protect consumer data.
expanding their empires to gain Obama administration. have raised concerns about tech Consumer Bankers Association, the “We look forward to working
greater control and insight into our In the past decade, technology companies running their own trade group for the United States’ with director Chopra and the CFPB
spending habits,” Chopra said in a companies have rolled out full- independent payment networks. big consumer banks. on this important effort,” said ETA
prepared statement. featured payment systems and ser- While banks have tried to com- In its letter to companies, the CEO Jodie Kelley in a prepared
vices like Apple Pay, AliPay and pete with Silicon Valley in pay- CFPB asked for information on statement. – AP
Before being confirmed as direc-
tor, Chopra was a commissioner on

Can an app help the homeless? Travelling beyond
our solar system
By BRANDON PAYKAMIAN The other group developed a
HOW can a mobile app make program called Periaid that helps
life better for a person with no users locate menstrual products,
home? That question is driving which can be hard to find for
the US Arizona State University homeless and indigent communi-
course that teaches students ties. IN less than 20 years’ time, could land on Mars in 2038 and
how to code and address differ- “They’ve spent the summer humans will walk on Mars, and do the same on Saturn as early
ent challenges faced by the actually working on coding their before the end of the century as 2086, if we have the means.
homeless population. prototype,” Borman said. they will also have set foot on
“They’re in the process of at least one satellite of Jupiter Humans could even one day,
The 15-week course, dubbed continuing to iterate and build or Saturn, according to fore- by 2254, succeed in going
“Coding for a Social Good”, was off their work. Hopefully, in the casts in a preprint paper from beyond our solar system, to ven-
launched by the Watts College of coming months, we’ll see the researchers at the Jet ture into Proxima Centauri, the
Public Service and Community first versions.” Propulsion Laboratory, a Nasa nearest planetary system.
Solutions. The course taught students space research centre.
with little to no programming As for meeting another form
In the course, students learn ohuhencoletmpssg,ewruloehsusiecpsrh.sd—celoavIcnelalybotaeepemhPdaaeravndnslttooarpuvfipa/nlUdtphnfrasootprdlt-ahseh experience about the ins and But perhaps the most tantalis- of “intelligent” life one day, the
how to create prototypes for outs of rudimentary coding. ing projection is that in a little researchers think that it could
applications that connect people over 350 years, around 2383, be feasible, projecting that it
with housing, food and health Students who have used humans may come into contact could be possible by the year
resources. Swift Playgrounds, known as with an intelligent life from out- 2383. It should be noted that the
Swift junior programmers, side our solar system. closest point considered likely to
Chris Hayter, an associate pro- assisted those with no host complex life would still be
fessor and co-instructor, said the knowledge. The study, which was revealed located some 14,000 light years
course began with students iden- “We spent several weeks of “Swift Playgrounds gave us a earlier this year, is quite serious. from the solar system.
tifying and researching “sub- our course throughout the entire good intro into coding and comput- It was conducted by Jonathan H.
challenges” associated with home- 15-week semester in the field,” she ing,” said undergraduate Huong Jiang, a scientist and group lead- As pollution and climatic
lessness. said. Dang in a news release. er in the Earth Sciences Section upheavals threaten the Earth,
“By working with community “Having this base knowledge of of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion envisioning an escape to another
From there, the class designed partners and individuals experi- the coding language has helped us Laboratory, and his team. Their planet is no longer simply look-
applications that can direct individ- encing the sub-problems students work with the Swift junior pro- equations suggest that humans ing like the stuff of science fic-
uals to the closest public restrooms tion. – AFP Relaxnews
and places where they can find
help with food insecurity, among identified, they came up with an grammer to code and develop our
other needs reported by homeless initial idea, got feedback from com- app.”
individuals in the Phoenix area. munity partners and moved for- Hayter said the overall goal of
ward into what we call a proof-of- the course is to combine elements
“Their solution had to manifest concept workshop, where they’re of social entrepreneurship with
in the app, and in order to do that, building out the framework of coding and to bring together stu-
they had to zero in on specific their idea and creating a dummy dents from different fields, from
aspects of homelessness,” he said. user interface for their app.” computer science to engineering to
Two teams of students were cho- business, to solve community prob- When
“They need to have their prob- sen to continue development of lems. reality meets
lem defined and present their ini- their app prototypes following the “We weren’t trying to create cod- science fiction:
tial solution within three to four course’s conclusion, according to ers per se,” Hayter said. humans could meet
weeks.” Borman. “We want these individuals to be other intelligent life
One group created a tool called good teammates who can work forms as early as
Bailey Borman, director of stra- USource, which aims to help with coders and understand the 2383. — aFP
tegic projects and initiatives and low-income students find afforda- overall process of value creation in relaxnews
co-instructor, said students learned ble housing, healthcare and finan- the social context.” – Government
about app development using Swift cial aid resources. Technology/Tribune News Service
Playgrounds, an interactive curric-
ulum platform that teaches the
basics of coding.

STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 People 7

Borne of a need
In the midst of the pandemic, a mother of two started a
welfare home after seeing an urgent need for it.

By MING TEOH
lifestyle@thestar.com.my

ONE might wonder why Celemie Phang (left) helping to feed a resident at the centre. — Photos: Pusat
Phang, 37, started a home for the dif- Kebajikan Chen ai oKU
ferently abled during the Covid-19
pandemic when there were many a birthday celebration for one of the residents. smell,” she explains. “We also have tising and social distancing are a
restrictions and operations would be two freezers and refrigerators to must,” she says.
more challenging. majority of them have learning disa- MOUARLAYSIA store all the food for the residents,”
bilities. she says, adding that there are three Phang, who used to work in the
But the mother of two says that In good and bad times, our ties live-in staff at the centre to help with accounting line, says that her back-
Pusat Kebajikan Chen Ai OKU (Chen “There’s this mother and daughter with family and community the cooking and cleaning. ground has influenced how she runs
Ai) was established due to a pressing who both have a mild learning disa- bind and strengthen us. This Chen Ai.
need. bility. Since the father passed away, column celebrates how Doing the right thing
there was nobody to look after them Malaysians care for one “I’m rather particular about how I
The pandemic had affected many and they were brought to the centre. another and make this country Although this is the first time that manage this centre. We not only
breadwinners’ incomes, including They are inseparable and every better for all. Please share your Phang has started a charity, she is no want to make sure that we’ve
those who have family members moment is spent in each other’s inspiring Malaysian stories stranger to charitable acts. enough for the residents, we also
with disabilities or children with company,” shares Phang. with us. email us at want to make sure there isn’t any
special needs, and they were unable lifestyle@thestar.com.my. “Before we started the centre, my excess so that there’s no wastage
to pay for daycare for their loved “We also have a five-year-old boy the residents how to lead a meaning- friends and I would often visit and from spoilage or expiry of food or
ones. Many special needs care cen- with Down Syndrome whose single ful and active life,” says Phang. send groceries and supplies to other other perishable items,” she says.
tres were also closed during the mother has to work until midnight The centre also takes residents charity organisations,” says Phang,
movement control order. to support them. She can’t afford to who need medical care for their who works part-time remotely for a “If people wish to donate, we hope
hire a helper to look after him so she check-ups. freight-forwarding company. that they’ll call first to find out what
Phang herself has an eight-year- sent him to our centre.” “Some of the residents need medi- the centre needs because we’re
old special needs child, so she under- cine for hyperactivity, diabetes, high “That’s why when the MCO hap- accountable for the donations
stood how these families felt. When Another resident is a 21-year-old blood pressure or other conditions, pened and families were impacted, I received, whether in cash or provi-
her income was reduced due to the man who fell down and injured his so we will get it for them from the discussed with my friends and said, sions, and we want to manage it
movement control order, she could head when he was a baby. government clinic,” she says. “(The ‘Why don’t we set up a centre to look well.”
not afford to pay daycare fees for medicine) is usually free, but we after the disabled so that their fami-
her daughter, who has a speech “Due to a failed brain surgery, he’s bear the transportation costs.” ly members can (have peace of If they receive extra fresh produce
impediment and learning disability. no longer able to walk, talk, eat nor Monthly rental for the centre’s mind)?’ or perishable items, Phang believes
drink by himself, and needs to be premises is RM5,000 while utility in paying it forward and shares
“I realised that there were many fed and bathed,” says Phang. “There bills run up to around RM2,500. “They can go to work and earn a them with others in need.
people in the same boat as me. are also two uncles in their 50s who “This is mainly due to the house- living and not need to worry about
are bedridden because they had a hold appliances. We need to run the their loved ones who’ll be in good “We’ve sent vegetables to other
“These families needed a place stroke.” washing machine five times a day to hands,” she says. homes for the underprivileged and
where their loved ones would be wash all the residents’ clothing and toiletries to the low-cost flats in
safe and well-looked after,” she says. Phang adds that group activities bed linens. When visitors were not allowed Kelana Jaya,” she says.
are planned for residents who are “Some wet their beds and we during certain phases of the move-
So, together with six other friends, more mobile. need to make sure the environment ment control order, Phang says they Phang says there are many more
Phang started Chen Ai, which is is clean and that there is no bad helped family members keep in people in need.
located in Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya, “We have group exercise sessions touch with the residents via video
in June last year. such as walking around the centre, calls, photos and videos. “A lot of people have requested
cycling on the stationary bikes, and our help to take care of their loved
“We provide a clean and condu- even Zumba dancing,” she says. Although it’s a relief that move- ones, but I’ve had to turn them away
cive home, balanced meals and ment restrictions have now been lift- because we don’t have any more
activities for our residents, and we “For residents who are sedentary ed, she says they still need to be vigi- room. I need to make sure that our
don’t charge them or their families a due to stroke or physical disability, lant, especially when accepting visi- existing residents live comfortably
single sen,” says Phang, who is usu- we arrange for a massage therapist tors because the residents are in the and that the rooms aren’t over-
ally at the centre everyday from to come every Saturday to help vulnerable group. crowded,” she says.
10am to 5pm. improve their blood circulation and Visit facebook.com/chenaimalaysia/
flexibility. “Visitors need to be fully vaccinat- or chenaimalaysia.org/ for more
They carefully review each person ed, and of course, masks, hand sani- info.
for eligibility before accepting them. “We also have a special needs
teacher who comes to teach some of
“This is to ensure that we have
room for those who really need it.”

Chen Ai accepts individuals with
mental or physical disabilities.

According to Phang, most people
find out about them through word-
of-mouth, social media or referrals
from religious organisations.

Currently, the centre houses 23
residents – nine male and 14 female
– aged between five and 77. The

On a solo mission to set a new record originally sched-
uled to be back
ZARA Rutherford is freezing. “It is technical glitches that prevented John F. Kennedy Airport in New more challenging, says German in belgium by the
really, really cold here,” she says. her from fully extending the York among them, she says, her pilot Justin Steinke. beginning of
plane’s wheels. voice full of excitement. november,
That shouldn’t necessarily come “Such a small plane wobbles rutherford now
as a surprise as the teenage pilot is Having reached Alaska a bit She also has the luxury of time, much more than a big one.” looks more likely
currently stranded in Alaska. behind schedule, Rutherford’s visa when it comes to setting a new bar. to make it back
for Russia, her next stop, has now Before take-off, Rutherford had just in time for
Rutherford, 19, is no ordinary expired. The youngest female pilot to fly plenty to do, from acquiring spon- Christmas. —
youngster though. She is on a mis- solo around the world is currently sors to emergency training and nICoLaS
sion to become the youngest She does not seem to mind too American Shaesta Waiz, who was carrying out technical exercises. MaeTerLInCK/
woman in history to fly solo, or much, knowing this might be the 30 years old at the time. belga/dpa
“zolo”, around the planet. only time in her life she will get to But having set off, she is now likely to make it back just in time
spend time in the remote town of “I have 11 years to beat that taking it one day at a time and does for Christmas.
She started flying as a child. Nome. record,” Rutherford says and not plan ahead more than one day Rutherford is particularly look-
Now, having recently graduated laughs. in advance, she says. ing forward to seeing her family
from high school, she is hoping to “It is stunning. It is beautiful,” and cats again, along with home-
cover 52 countries and five conti- she says, showing a video of a glis- The youngest male pilot to fly Originally scheduled to be back cooked meals.
nents within less than four months. tening landscape taken from the around the earth by himself was 18 in Belgium by the beginning of “You’d be surprised at how
cockpit, while chatting via Zoom. years old at the time – which November, she now looks more quickly you’re done with restau-
She took off from Belgium on Rutherford sees as a sign of gender rants,” she says.
Aug 18. Touching down in Britain When flying, Rutherford is not inequality. She hopes her mission First, however, she will get the
on the way, Rutherford reached usually in a position to fully appre- will encourage more girls to pur- chance to get a taste of local cuisine
Iceland just one day later, accord- ciate the breathtaking views as she sue science and aviation. in Russia, Japan, Indonesia,
ing to the live tracker on her web- sails above them. Thailand and the Middle East – if
site Fly Zolo. Rutherford, who took her everything goes according to plan.
“You are able to take videos, but A-levels in Mathematics, Further – dpa
She then crossed the Atlantic via to just enjoy and to relax is rela- Mathematics, Economics and
Greenland to reach the United tively rare because there is always Physics, is travelling in a Shark
States, then made it to Alaska, after something going on,” she says. ultralight aircraft that is among the
an extensive detour down to South fastest in the world.
America and back up the West On top of these glimpses of some
Coast of the US. of the planet’s most spectacular Specially designed for such a
landscapes, other moments also journey, it can reach cruising
But there were obstacles along reward her bravery. speeds of up to 300km per hour,
the way, such as smoke billowing according to her website.
up from forest fires in California to Rutherford counts flying over
the Statue of Liberty and landing at But that also makes her mission

8 Living STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

IT’S the world’s longest certified The world’s longest race
foot race: a 3,100-mile (4,989km) Thousands of people have climbed Mount everest, but organisers say just
run that takes participants around 49 have completed the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile race.
the same New York block 5,649
times. said race director Sahishnu or worries or doubts,” said Marcato of Italy “I grew up here and had no
Szczesiul. Marcato, 39. after winning the idea that it was a race. I just fig-
Thousands of people have ‘Self-Transcendence ured they were really into jog-
climbed Everest, but organisers say Harita Davies, the sole woman of Meditating while navigating the 3,100 Mile race’, ging,” said 34-year-old Julio
just 49 have completed the Sri this year’s seven competitors, said 883m loop around Thomas A. the world’s longest Quezada.
Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100 the race takes a physical toll but Edison Career and Technical certified foot race,
Mile Race. “the kind of unbelievable thing is Education High School isn’t easy in the Queens bor- The race returned to New York
that as the days and weeks go by, though. ough of new york after occurring in Austria last
Runners finish more than two your body actually does adapt, you on oct 17. — ed year due to the pandemic.
marathons a day for almost two do get stronger”. Runners go past a busy highway JoneS/aFP
months, on less than five hours of and basketball and handball Marcato, from Italy, clocked his
sleep a night. Indian spiritual leader Sri courts. The route isn’t cordoned off The runners, who are also from 3,100th mile late Oct 17, complet-
Chinmoy, who lived in New York from everyday life and twice a day Japan, Taiwan, Slovakia, Ukraine ing the race in less than 43 days
They can’t rely on changing before his death in 2007, founded 2,000 school children flood the and Russia, have a small aid station with an average of more than 72
scenery to keep them motivated as the run in 1997. He advocated sidewalk. at their disposal where a doctor is miles (116km) per day.
the route is a half-mile loop on a “self-transcendence”, using spirit- on hand to tend to blisters and shin
concrete sidewalk around a high uality to go beyond the limits of Forty-seven-year-old New splints. Volunteers hand partici- He tore through some 16 pairs
school in Jamaica, Queens. what an individual thinks they can Zealander Davies listens to music, pants copious helpings of food – of shoes in the process and will
achieve. audiobooks and recordings of from healthy vegan meals and juic- receive a trophy but no prize
To mix things up a bit, they alter- inspiring quotes. es to donut holes, ice-cream and money.
nate daily between running clock- Runners in the 25th edition, sometimes Chinese takeout.
wise one day and anti-clockwise which began on Sept 5, said achiev- “When you first come here you “This is the ultimate. It was my
the next. ing a meditative state was key to think, ‘Oh my god, it’s a concrete An RV (recreational vehicle) with dream and here I am,” said the
completing the race. jungle’. But you can find beauty a bed provides for quick power passionate ultra-marathoner who
“Definitely monotony,” said this everywhere. You can look at the naps while a rickety scoreboard works for a plant-based food com-
year’s winner, Andrea Marcato, “If the mind is focused, you sky, the trees, the birds, the peo- displays the number of miles com- pany.
describing the biggest test of the don’t have other thoughts or fears ple,” she said. pleted by each runner.
race. “The last two laps I was com-
Achieving a dream pletely disconnected from my
“The first week is quite challeng- body. I didn’t feel any pain. It was
ing, especially for the mind. But Supporters come by to clap a really special sensation.”
after a while you get used to it. You while residents shout words of
have to accept that every day is encouragement, although not For New Zealander Harris, the
going to be the same,” he said. everyone is sure what is going race is an opportunity to “explore
on. the frontiers of my capacity and
Participants have 52 days to run potential” and “to make myself a
3,100 miles (4,989km), meaning better person”.
they must average 59.6 miles
(95.9km) every day. When it ends, the healing pro-
cess begins, which means lots of
They run, walk and hobble rest, sleep, food and patience.
between 6am and midnight, eating
as they go to make up for the esti- But one element of the recov-
mated 10,000 calories they burn ery is perhaps the hardest.
during every session.
“Getting used to being back to
For the day’s other six hours, regular life,” said Davies.
they sleep, wash and care for their
blistered feet in nearby accommo- “This race really simplifies your
dation. life because you don’t have to
think about anything else except
Only ultra-marathon veterans running.” – AFP Relaxnews
who have completed six-day races
are allowed to enter.

A meditative state

“It’s a test of stamina, strength,
inner determination and talent,”

The rise of underground bicycle parking

It takes just IN order to promote cycling in in the mall, but also stroll around But perhaps the most spectac-
under 700km city centres, while also clamping the city centre before returning ular example of underground
of cycling to down on theft, one currently to pick up their bike and go bike parking is found in Japan,
make a bike popular solution is to build large home. with huge underground ware-
permanently underground parking facilities. houses built to a depth of up to
carbon neu- The latest example can be found This parking lot can accommo- 10m. Here, the cyclist parks their
tral. — aFP in Utrecht, in the Netherlands. A date all types of bikes, including bike by placing it in a kind of ele-
parking garage with space for up cargo bikes and delivery tricy- vator, from where an automated
Offsetting your bike’s to 900 bicycles has just opened in cles. It is free most of the time, arm will automatically place it in
carbon footprint the basement of the prestigious namely during the mall’s open- a free space.
House Modernes mall. ing hours and for the first 24
hours of parking. To retrieve their bike, the
House Modernes recently reo- owner simply has to scan their
pened after a long period of ren- With this new infrastructure, subscription card to see their
ovation. The building now the city is clearly aiming to make cycle returned in the same way.
includes a special facility for the centre of Utrecht even more This system relies on placing a
cyclists. From this underground attractive for cyclists. The Dutch sensor on the fork, which identi-
parking garage, cyclists can evi- city is following a trend seen in fies the bike at every stage. – AFP
dently access the various stores many other cities throughout Relaxnews
Europe.

RIDING a bike for just under all owners of a new bicycle should The famous House Modernes mall in Utrecht, the netherlands, is home to a brand new underground
700km is enough to offset the choose their bike over their car bicycle park. — aFP
equivalent of C02 emissions into for short trips, if they want to
the atmosphere generated by its make their purchase carbon-neu-
construction, according to a tral.
report published by American
bike manufacturer Trek. The report also shows that car
travel is infinitely more polluting
According to Trek’s report, than travel by electric bicycle, the
manufacturing one of the brand’s only type of bicycle that emits
bikes emits, on average, the equiv- greenhouse gases, when their bat-
alent of 174kg of CO2. teries are recharged.

You would then have to travel An article in The Guardian,
430 miles, or 692km, choosing which compiles figures from
your bike over your car, to save Trek’s report and previous scien-
the equivalent in carbon of what tific studies, indicates that an elec-
it took to build it. Those 692km tric bike emits an average of 20g
are enough to compensate for of CO2 every 100km, while an
these emissions. electric sedan emits 50 times that
amount (about 1,000g).
Bicycles have the particularity
that their long-term use can com- The figure is especially impres-
pensate for the entire carbon sive when compared to a combus-
impact linked to their manufac- tion engine sedan or SUV, which
turing. Beyond that point, a bike’s respectively emit 11,000g and
carbon footprint becomes nega- 14,000g of CO2 every 100km, or
tive. up to 700 times more than an
electric bike. – AFP Relaxnews
The objective is therefore that

STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021 Family 9

Keeping music alive in exile
afghan all-female Zohra orchestra says its escape from Taliban rule is bittersweet as its members leave
behind friends and ‘old companions’ – their instruments.

FOR the first time in months, Members of Zohra orchestra, along with other members of the afghan music community who Safi, percussionist and conductor of the
members of Afghanistan’s all- escaped to Qatar, performed during a concert in doha recently. — Photos: aFP Zohra orchestra, plays at a concert in doha.
female Zohra orchestra have
reassembled in Doha, their music education have again been be out of Afghanistan. said he was happy to be making order has yet been issued.
once again filling the air as they abruptly curtailed. The 18-year-old told AFP of her music again. But after the Taliban’s last brutal
face an uncertain future.
It was difficult to be a working harrowing escape, with Taliban “We haven’t been able to play crackdown on culture in the 1990s,
While grateful to be safe in musician even before the militants manning Kabul airport for at least three months since they many musicians are now in hiding
Qatar, their escape from Taliban takeover, she said, with many before her evacuation flight. took Kabul. So it was a wonderful and some have abandoned their
rule is bittersweet, as the girls conservative Afghans believing opportunity, not just for me but for instruments. Music schools remain
leave behind friends from the that girls belong in the home. “The situation in Afghanistan the entire community to perform closed.
orchestra and their “old was really dangerous and it was again, to really make their dreams
companions” – their instruments. “When we’d go outside, people scary to leave,” she said. come true,” he said. Anwari said she was delighted to
would call us... ‘promiscuous’ and be playing the viola again in Qatar,
Last week marked the first time other such things,” said Anwari. The Taliban “didn’t know we Nawshad had to leave his wife but “heartbroken” for the loss of
in three months that Marzia were musicians”, she said, adding and two children behind, but her old instrument.
Anwari, along with other members The Taliban have been trying to that “if they had known”, they hopes to be reunited with them
of the Afghan music community win backing and financial support would have killed them. soon in Qatar or Portugal. “Even when I slept, it was right
who escaped to Qatar, played live for their regime, promising a above my head,” she said.
for an audience. more flexible rule than last time. ‘Beyond the borders’ “I love Qatar and I love the
people of Qatar... but I will never Anwari, Safi and Nawshad all
“Most of the girls from the Zohra But since they overthrew Qatar is hosting about 100 love it as much as I do Kabul,” he said they would continue to fight
orchestra are here with me in Afghanistan’s former US-backed students and teachers from the said, fighting back tears. for their homeland with their
Qatar, but some of them are still in government, high school girls Afghanistan National Institute of music, which ranges from
Afghanistan,” the 18-year-old have been blocked from returning Music (ANIM), which includes the While promising more traditional Afghan tunes to
violist said. to classes, while many women Zohra orchestra, until they leave moderation, the Taliban have Western classical music.
have been banned from returning for Portugal. made clear that they will run
“I hope that they can join us here to work. Afghanistan according to their “We will keep it alive, the rich
as soon as possible and we can be Among them is Mohammed interpretation of sharia law. cultural heritage of Afghanistan -
together and rebuild our Shogofa Safi, a percussionist Qambar Nawshad, conductor of and Afghanistan itself too,
orchestra.” and conductor of the Zohra the Afghan national orchestra, who The movement’s position on beyond the borders,” Nawshad
orchestra, said she was happy to music is inconsistent and no clear said. – AFP
Zohra, Afghanistan’s first all-
female orchestra, was established
in 2016.

The group of 35 young musicians
aged 13-20, some orphans or from
poor families, gave a culture-
crossing performance at the 2017
World Economic Forum in Davos
that overcame tradition and death
threats in their homeland.

Now in exile, and with new
instruments, the musicians are
hoping to keep their cultural
heritage alive after the hardliners
seized power in August.

Everything is forbidden

Music was banned when the
Taliban last ruled Afghanistan
from 1996 to 2001, and since their
return, women’s freedoms and

Fancy a stand-in ‘grandparent’? Tami and her hus-
A RURAL city in southeastern considerations are now being made at the local playhouse. band, dan, will
Indiana in the United States has to scale-up the Greensburg pro- The remote worker relocation “Once they’re here, our goal is to offer free babysit-
piqued the interest of hundreds of gramme, depending on housing make them feel welcome. We want ting and will fill in
families considering a move there availability. package is designed to recruit new them to be integrated in the com- on Grandparents
after it offered stand-in ”grandpar- residents to the city amid a growing munity in a way that makes it feel day at school as
ents” to babysit their children as Tami , 57, volunteered for the shift to permanent remote work like they’ve been here a long time,” part of a new
part of an incentive programme incentive programme through her that was accelerated by the Covid- said Greensburg Mayor Joshua incentive pro-
aimed at attracting remote workers. work as director of the Decatur 19 pandemic. The campaign is part Marsh. “We’re trying to create an gramme to attract
County Community Foundation and of a nationwide trend of workers instant community for them when remote workers to
A local couple, Tami and Dan said she and her husband “abso- moving to smaller communities they arrive, and to make sure their city. — aP
Wenning, volunteered to serve as lutely love” serving as grandparents with a more affordable cost of liv- they’re successful here.” smaller or rural, that offer similar
grandparents to children from the to their own kids already. They’ve ing. relocation incentives.
first five families that agreed to also offered their home to more A dozen other communities in Augusta, Maine; Newton, Iowa;
move to Greensburg under the pro- than a dozen foreign exchange stu- Hock said 70% of applicants to Indiana also offer incentive pro- and Morgantown, West Virginia,
gramme. If more new residents dents in recent years. the Greensburg programme are grammes to attract “knowledge are offering between US$12,000
make the move, other grandparents remote workers, and interest is workers”, who are educated and (RM49,760) and US$20,000
in the community “are more than “I’ve lived here my whole life, coming “from all over the country”, earn higher incomes, Hock said. (RM82,940). Rutherford County,
ready” to step in and help, Tami and I’m excited to share with the including Texas, California and New Tennessee, home to Middle Tennes-
said. people who want what we have, York. That includes southern Indiana’s see State University, will pay off
because what we have is special,” Daviess and Greene counties, which US$10,000 (RM41,470) in student
Greensburg, 80km southeast of she said. “We’re the perfect place “I think our aspirations just got a will give residents US$5,000 to loans. In Stillwater, Oklahoma, a
Indianapolis, will offer the free for somebody to raise a family, and lot bigger in the sense of, holy cow, move within the rural communities. monetary incentive is coupled with
babysitting service for the next six I cannot begin to imagine moving there’s all of these people that want Bloomington and West Lafayette, free coffee for a year and a free
to 12 months as part of the pro- away and being in a place where to move. Now, we’re figuring out both college towns, are also offering month of martial arts classes in
gramme it’s calling “Grandparents you don’t have that network of peo- how we find the folks that really do university resources such as exchange for workers to relocate
on Demand”. ple that, in a pinch, you’ve got want to move and want to move in co-working spaces and networking there.
somebody to rely on.” for the right reasons,” Hock said. opportunities to draw new talent. Hock said the pandemic-fuelled
Kids are also guaranteed to have “We want to find people that will exodus of remote workers from
a fill-in grandma and grandpa on The five spots in Greensburg are help diversify the economy, that MakeMyMove has identified larger metropolitan areas to places
Grandparents Day at school – a perk expected to be filled in the next 30 have remote jobs that they can more than 40 other communities like Greensburg “is a lasting trend”,
for those moving far away from days, Hock said, and new residents bring with them, who plan to stick outside of Indiana, many which are given that millions of workers have
family. will get assistance moving to the around in the community, long- been exposed to a new way of life
city over the next two or three term.” and the freedoms afforded by work-
Just two weeks after the initiative months. ing from home.
launched, more than 1,000 applica- Centrally located between “This is a new tool they have that
tions have rolled in, said Evan The relocation package also Indianapolis and Cincinnati, maybe they’ve never considered
Hock, co-founder of Indianapolis- includes US$5,000 (RM20,735) in Greensburg is home to about 13,000 before,” Hock said. – AP
based MakeMyMove, an online cash, invitations to home-cooked Indiana residents. The downtown
directory that connects remote meals at neighbours’ homes, a one- square is marked by dozens of
workers with such offers around year membership to the local storefronts. A tree growing from the
the country. Hock said the unique co-working space and YMCA, free Decatur County courthouse clock
incentive has been a “big contribu- gift cards to the seasonal farmers tower has earned Greensburg the
tor” to the influx of interest, and market, and tickets to productions nickname “Tree City”.

10 Showbiz STARLIFESTYLE, Monday 1 noveMber 2021

By ALISON DE SOUZA Global perspective
IN contrast to the usual rah-rah,
America-centric depiction of alien Seeing an alien Invasion from the viewpoints of people around the world.
invasions, a new television drama
imagines one from the perspec- In Invasion, Kutsuna (right) plays Mitsuki, a mission-control scientist working at Japan’s space programme. — Japanese films and television
tive of five people across the Handout shows as well as the Netflix crime
globe, from Afghanistan and the drama The Outsider with Jared
United States to Japan and Afghanistan, a young boy in Kinberg, who produced the “And one of the goals was to do Leto.
England. London and a mother and her Oscar-nominated space movie The an alien-invasion story with a
children in New York. Martian, says they also wanted to level of granularity and reality “And the showrunners really
And this meant a very interna- carve out a new niche within the that was grounded in a way we allowed us to express our opin-
tional cast for Invasion. “One of the things that was genre. haven’t seen in this genre before.” ions and what we thought might
exciting for us to explore was how be nice to include to make each of
One of the central characters is people from different back- Because “there are different Kutsuna vouches for the writ- our storylines more authentic.
played by Japanese actress Shioli grounds and ethnicities would tones and even different sub-gen- ers’ commitment to cultural speci-
Kutsuna, best known for her role deal with an epic antagonist like res for invasion movies”, he notes, ficity and nuance. “Even through “I’d never been in a process
as the mutant Yukio in the 2018 these aliens that come to Earth,” with 1996’s Independence Day the audition process, I spoke in where we were discussing and
superhero blockbuster Deadpool says Weil, who created the mys- more of a disaster flick and 2016’s both English and Japanese,” says rewriting some of the lines to
2. tery thriller Hunters. Arrival more of a character piece. the actress, who has appeared in make sure every word was right. I
think that was crucial in creating
The 28-year-old is Mitsuki, a a story like this,” she says.
mission-control scientist working
at Japan’s space programme and Having been born in Australia,
hiding a secret love affair with where she lived till she was 14
one of its astronauts, played by before moving to Japan with her
Pacific Rim star Rinko Kikuchi. Japanese parents, Kutsuna feels
people of different nationalities
Kutsuna says the series – which would react differently to aliens
co-stars Jurassic Park actor Sam landing on Earth.
Neill – takes a very different
approach from most movies and One can spot differences even
shows about extraterrestrial in how various countries have
arrivals. dealt with the coronavirus pan-
demic, she observes.
“The stories are all extremely
personal and it’s set as a global “Going through what we are
event, so there’s a lot of diverse going through in real life now, it’s
settings as well as characters and not an actual alien, but it’s almost
cultures,” she says in a video chat like a sort of invisible alien that
from Tokyo. “And it’s such a char- we’re fighting.
acter-driven drama set against a
massive alien invasion storyline. “And we were able to see how
each country dealt with that situa-
“But I think what audiences will tion differently,” she says.
notice is all these truly personal
stories and different characters. “So I’m sure there would be dif-
That’s what sets it apart from all ferences, and I hope people from
the other sci-fi alien-invasion sto- different places would pick up on
ries.” these kinds of small details when
they see the show.” – The Straits
David Weil, who co-created the Times/Asia News Network
show with Simon Kinberg, notes Four episodes of Invasion are avail-
that in previous invasion narra- able on Apple TV+ with new ones
tives on screen, “it was always premiering every Friday.
white Western men at the centre
of each of these tales”.

So he and Kinberg decided to
lean into the distinct backgrounds
of their protagonists, who include
a sheriff in Oklahoma, a soldier in

Seyfried tackles postpartum Adam Brody: The O.C. reboot wouldn’t work
depression in new film
AS reboots, remakes and reimagin-
HOLLYWOOD actor Amanda ings continue to dominate Cast of hit series The O.C, (from left) McKenzie, barton, brody and
Seyfried has gone to great lengths Hollywood, The O.C., one of the bilson. — Handout
to see her new movie A Mouthful of most popular teen dramas of all
Air about postpartum depression Seyfried (left) and her mum ann time, would certainly be ripe for a fans would want.” month, the streaming service
hit the cinemas. Seyfried attend a special screen- revival. But nearly two decades The O.C. followed a group of priv- renewed it for a second season.
ing of A Mouthful Of Air at The after the pop culture phenomenon
Based on the 2003 book of the roxy Hotel in new york City. — premiered, star Adam Brody says ileged high schoolers in Orange (For what it’s worth, in a real-life
same name by Amy Koppelman, aFP bringing back the show wouldn’t be County, centring around their dra- crossover moment, Brody is mar-
who wrote about her own experi- depressed, feel like sometimes in a good idea. matic personal lives. Ben McKenzie ried to original Gossip Girl star
ence, the film came to fruition after playgroup, they can say ‘I’m terri- starred as the troubled Ryan Leighton Meester, which he briefly
Koppelman heard a woman talking fied’.” “I kind of don’t think it can be Atwood, a teen who is adopted by a discussed on Bilson’s podcast.)
on the radio about having the con- done because socially we’re in a dif- wealthy couple, Sandy and Kirsten –
dition. She then reached out to The film was picked up for distri- ferent place and we’re in a more Cohen’s parents, played by Peter When Schwartz and Savage
Seyfried to see if they could make a bution by Sony Pictures and was conscious place,” Brody said on the Gallagher and Kelly Rowan. The rebooted Gossip Girl for HBO Max,
film to shed light on it. released on Oct 29. podcast Welcome to the OC, B*****, show launched the careers of Brody, viewers wondered whether a
hosted by his former co-stars Rachel Bilson, McKenzie and Mischa reboot of The O.C. would come next.
Seyfried and Koppelman man- Seyfried said she was lucky to Bilson and Melinda Clarke. Barton, who were all catapulted to
aged to secure funding for the film, have had a team of people to help super-stardom overnight, as the In early 2020, at the Television
but when it went into production, her through her suffering, and “While The O.C. claims to be – in show became a cultural sensation. Critics Association Press Tour,
Seyfried realised she had another wants more to be done to tackle a similar sense as a Gossip Girl – Schwartz said he’s been asked to
obstacle to overcome. postpartum depression. while it would sort of say it’s a cri- Over the years, the cast and crea- revive the series, but shot down the
tique, it’s not. It’s a celebration – it’s tors have been asked about a poten- idea, telling reporters, “For us, that
“I had to look a lot of my own “It’s going to help the audience a celebration of affluence in my tial reboot, but nothing has materi- was a very, very singular story. ...
mental illness in the eye. I suffer understand what a woman’s going opinion.” alised. We felt like we completed that tale
from OCD and panic attacks,” she through when she has a baby, by the end.”
said. “I had to portray that on when she has postpartum depres- The podcast marked a major The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz is
screen and that was tricky but I sion, when there’s trauma, all the reunion for Brody and Bilson, who no stranger to rebooting his hit In light of Brody’s comments,
could do it. I felt I was safe with issues that people are afraid to dis- made up one of the series’ fan- shows. Schwartz is also responsible Variety inquired about any current
Amy to go there and not be suffer- cuss. It’s still stigmatised. Why?,” favourite couples, Summer and for another major teen sensation, plans to develop a reboot of The
ing while I went there.” she said. – Reuters Seth. Brody, who played the lovable The CW’s Gossip Girl, a book series O.C., but Schwartz did not immedi-
Seth Cohen on the hit Fox show dur- he adapted for television with his ately respond for comment.
According to a study by the US ing its four-season run from 2003 to Fake Empire Productions partner
Centers for Disease Control and 2007, discussed the changing view- Stephanie Savage that ran from Warner Bros. TV, the studio
Prevention, about one in eight ing habits of audiences, who expect 2007 to 2012. The duo recently behind the series, declined to com-
women suffered depressive symp- more elevated content nowadays, in rebooted Gossip Girl at HBO Max ment on any future plans to devel-
toms during the postpartum period a politically heightened and socially for a new generation, and last op an O.C. reboot. However, Variety
in 2018. aware world. hears that nothing is currently in
the works. – Reuters
After a fruitless search for a The actor continued: “For me, in
director, Koppelman took the helm a post-Donald Trump America to
of the project despite having no go, ‘Let’s go back to Orange County,’
filming experience, because of her I feel like you have to have a real
understanding of the condition. reckoning politically and socially,
and is that what people want to see
Koppelman told Reuters via with this show? I don’t know. And
Zoom: “I hope that it lets women, is there a way to do both? There is,
whether they’re depressed or not I suppose, but in my eyes, I proba-
bly want to torch it more than the