The Sun Daily-final edition-08_08_2023-complete

TELLING IT AS IT IS ON TUESDAY AUGUST 8, 2023 No. 8325 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my ICONIC RIDE ... One of the four new ferries that began servicing the Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda-Sultan Abdul Halim route in Penang yesterday. Commuters will enjoy free fares until Sept 7. – BERNAMAPIC Berjaya founder demands apology, RM200m compensation from Sanusi KUALA LUMPUR: Berjaya Corporation Bhd founder and advisor Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Berjaya Land Bhd have demanded a public apology and compensation of RM200 million from Kedah caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over his remarks relating to the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) Project. At the “Jelajah Mega PN Best”/“PN BEST Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera mega tour” event on Aug 2, Sanusi delivered a speech that was deemed politically motivated, slanderous, plainly false, untrue, unwarranted, unsubstantiated, malicious and mischievous against Tan and Berjaya Land, directly and/or indirectly pertaining to the SMG Project. In a press statement issued by Berjaya, the following excerpts extracted from the speech were said to be defamatory: a) “Menteri ‘cokia’ ni dengan Mr Tan dengan sebuah Syarikat MBI Selangor, macam mana satu projek di sekitar Sungai Klang tu akan merugikan Kerajaan negeri Selangor paling busuk RM180 juta…”; b) “Macam mana 600 hectar akan diberi percuma kepada taukeh ini…”; c) “Macam mana taukeh ini mengambil alih Syarikat MBI 55%...”; d) “Kita tak akan belah “taikoh-taikoh” besar Vincent Tan ka… kita tak akan belah, kita tak akan beri perhatian…”; e) “Vincent Tan nak buat projek sungai sepuluh bilion, nak dapat dapat tanah 600 hectar di Selangor, sungai Klang, dia punya pasal. Itu “cokia” punya MB dia punya “taukeh”…”; f) “Kami tunggu benda ini melutup, kami tengok muka dia letak di mana…”; and g) “Harta-harta Selangor nak terlepas kepada taukeh ini…”. The allegations have been denied by Berjaya Land and a point-by-point rebuttal has been issued via a press statement by the company on Aug 4 to correct the statements made by Sanusi. A letter of demand, through lawyers representing Tan and Berjaya Land, was served on Sanusi on Aug 5 to: 1. unequivocally remove and retract all the defamatory statements in the MB’s speech referring to Tan and Berjaya Land; 2. provide an unequivocal public apology in respect of the MB’s speech on terms to be dictated by the lawyers, to be published immediately by Sanusi on any platform that the lawyers determine; 2 page INSIDE Amirudin factor in Selangor’s success 3 page Groundwork needed for special school plan: Expert oParties urged not to use bad language or insult opponents when campaigning because they (some opposition leaders) have been charged in court for corruption, that was not my decision. I was in and out of prison and spent almost 11 years in prison. “I’m a prime minister now, not a job to be cruel. Why did Allah put me through so tough a test? Not only me (but also my wife) Wan Azizah, my children, family and friends,” he said, adding that the unity government has never denied the rights of any of the races in PETALING JAYA: Entering the second round of the election campaigning in six states, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim advised all contesting parties, including the Opposition, to campaign prudently and not insult opponents. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said they should use the election campaign as a platform to explain current issues to the people. “In politics, you can be firm, but don’t swear. I heard in a ceramah (political talk) recently words like ‘Anwar is treacherous, Anwar is an idiot’. My advice is, let’s not be too arrogant. “They (the Opposition) want to criticise, it’s alright. What I do may not be right all the time, (they) can criticise and can give views. But don’t insult. “Campaign well, no need to curse and no need to insult because in the end, we are friends, family too,” he said at the Unity Public Talk at Dataran Anak Muda here on Sunday night. Anwar also refuted claims that he and members of the unity government were arrogant and cruel, and stressed that he and his Cabinet members constantly strive to be leaders who are just, look after the welfare of the people and reject corruption, Bernama reported. “Now they (the Opposition) call us tyrants, Don’t swear: Anwar the country. “I am a Muslim, my religion does not teach me to insult people because of their skin colour and race. If it is right (good for the people), we will support it. “Allocations for the Islamic agenda, raising the dignity of the Malays, has been increased. All these, Anthony Loke (DAP secretary-general) does not object. He supports it because he understands the country’s needs.” Turn to — page 2 Turn to — page 3

2 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Amirudin factor in Selangor’s success SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari may not have an economic background, but he has succeeded in driving Selangor to become the most advanced state and main contributor to the nation’s economy since helming the administrative leadership in 2018. Several players in the economic sector are of the view that the strict financial and economic management practised by Amirudin has enabled him to govern the state well since Selangor was taken over by Pakatan Harapan about 15 years ago, Bernama reported. Universiti Tun Abdul Razak economic analyst Prof Dr Barjoyai Bardai said Amirudin was wise to blend with fresh ideas the traditional economic and financial management implemented by the previous menteris besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali. oStrict financial, economic management and fresh ideas among ingredients in winning formula used by MB: Analyst Meanwhile, at the Ceramah Mega Perdana programme in Ukay Perdana, Selangor, Anwar reiterated the unity government’s commitment to end hardcore poverty this year, even if additional funds are required for the purpose. “Do you think that I, as prime minister, can sleep soundly and not be bothered that those people (the poor) are neglected? Never! My friends, (if ) RM100 million is not enough, then RM200 million. I don’t care. I will find (the funds) … that’s my promise,” Anwar said. “Call me (whatever you want), insult me, even if you say I’m ‘stupid’, I don’t care. I will continue to do my best for the people and the country. I’m sure we can (do it). “That’s why I said I don’t want to merely build landmarks and have Malaysia known only for great landmarks. The first thing I want to solve is the people’s problems ... the issue of hardcore poverty,” he said. I want to solve people’s problems: PM This resulted in Selangor’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increasing to 25.5% last year. He said in the five years since 2018 through Amirudin’s economic planning, Selangor’s GDP contribution rose from 23.7% to 24.3% in 2020, a time when the country was threatened by the spread of Covid-19. He said this was much better than the performance recorded during Mohamed Azmin’s administration which was 23% and a drop from the 23.7% recorded during Abdul Khalid’s time as the menteri besar. “With continuous prudent financial management, fiscal discipline and good governance, the state’s reserve savings increased (up to RM3.4 billion), apart from surpassing its revenue target (through other investments),” he said. Barjoyai added that through Amirudin and his exco members’ vision, Selangor remained the preferred destination for investors in the manufacturing and service sectors. “This, as well as its geographical advantage as the main gateway to Malaysia through two international airports, a container port and highway network connectivity, has propelled Selangor to be Asean’s trade gateway. “This is a privilege that other states may not enjoy and with these advantages, I see that Selangor is also able to choose or determine which are the sectors and industries that have high added value to invest in the state,” he said. Meanwhile, Invest Selangor Berhad (Invest Selangor) chief executive officer Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris said in terms of investment, Selangor last year was second overall, with approved investments of RM60.1 billion, surpassing Sarawak’s RM28.2 billion. He said although Selangor was behind Johor, which recorded approved investments of RM70.6 billion in the same year, its achievements should be commended after it successfully attracted 1,392 projects that resulted in 89,568 job opportunities in the manufacturing sector since 2018. Hasan Azhari is also confident that the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) 2021-2025 conceived by Amirudin can be used as a guide to drive the state’s socioeconomic growth to a higher level for the next few years. “RS-1 was developed based on short, medium and long-term strategies and initiatives to achieve the vision of making Selangor a smart, prosperous and habitable state by 2025,” he said. Amirudin, who is the incumbent Sungai Tua assemblyman, was sworn in as menteri besar of Selangor on June 19, 2018. In the state election on Aug 12, Amirudin, who will face a threeway fight for the seat, is up against Perikatan Nasional candidate Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin from PAS and G. Suman, who is standing as an independent. Anwar speaking at a ceramah in Hulu Kelang, Gombak on Sunday. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN TVET expanding horizons for tahfiz students SUNGAI PETANI: The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme introduced in tahfiz centres is aimed at empowering students and providing them with skills for wider career opportunities, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud. “We can produce not only hufaz, who have memorised the Quran but also skilled individuals we can brand as ‘Madani technocrats’, in line with our Malaysia Madani concept. “We do not want them to become only imams, religious teachers or just involved in the management of mosques, but they can also be electricians and so on,” he said after officiating the Ahmadiah Vocational Tahfiz strategic partnership with the Kepala Batas Industrial Training Institute here yesterday. Ahmadiah Vocational Tahfiz head Fadzil Noor Sahani said the tahfiz centre received support from the Kepala Batas Industrial Training Institute to conduct mechanical courses for its students. Meanwhile, Mohammed Firdaus Johari, who is the Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Gurun seat in the state polls, said the effort is part of his state election manifesto to empower youths. “This especially involves tahfiz students in the area, with TVET training. The TVET programme will widen opportunities for tahfiz students, who can also participate in the MyFuture Jobs programme under the Social Security Organisation. “Many private companies offer job opportunities through this programme and it presents excellent opportunities for tahfiz students,” he said. – Bernama From front page Cheaper internet prices by September KUALA LUMPUR: All broadband internet service providers have been instructed to reduce internet prices starting September, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said the matter was in line with the implementation of the Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing, which would lead to a reduction in internet wholesale prices and cheaper packages. “To ensure that the people can enjoy the best internet services, the government has worked on many things, including cheaper prepaid internet. It used to be RM10, now it’s RM5, even broadband internet is cheaper,” he said at the Ceramah Mega Perdana in Ukay Perdana on Sunday. Meanwhile, Fahmi said there are still parties who exploit issues touching on race, religion and the royal institution when campaigning in the state elections. “As communications minister, I must issue this warning, but some people are still ignoring it,” he said, adding that action would be taken against any quarter that touched on these issues. – Bernama Safety prioritised at all schools GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry always prioritises safety in schools, including its infrastructure and buildings, said Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying. “Apart from safety and ensuring that students and teachers are safe in school, the ministry is also concerned about the problem of dilapidated and damaged schools (infrastructure and school equipment) and we will try to take immediate action to repair them for their comfort. “Each school under the ministry will also be allocated RM70,000 for the maintenance of school toilets for the comfort of students. We will consider all matters related to the safety and comfort of our children,” she told reporters after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Lanchang yesterday, Bernama reported. Her visit was to inspect repairs and improvements done to the ceilings and roof of 10 classrooms that had been damaged. The ministry had provided an allocation of RM100,000 for this purpose. RM10 phone bill rebate for civil servants PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants will enjoy a monthly rebate of RM10 for their postpaid mobile packages under the Rahmah Civil Servants Postpaid Incentive, effective Aug 31. “This means that civil servants will save RM120 annually on postpaid package payments,” Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement yesterday. He said the 5G Rahmah package is a 5G device bundle data plan priced at RM60 a month, with the choice of either a Samsung A14 5G or Honor 90 Lite 5G at prices as low as RM240. “The 5G Rahmah package is open to all Malaysians,” Fahmi said, adding that the first 100,000 subscribers from the B40 group will get to enjoy the package with the smartphone priced as low as RM120 instead. The package, which has a 24- month subscription contract, will also come with an extended warranty of two years for the smartphones. – Bernama

3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s desire to introduce a new type of school specifically for students from hardcore poor families proves its seriousness in eradicating poverty. However, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Centre of Education and Diversity senior lecturer Dr Anuar Ahmad said targeted actions need to be taken first by the Education Ministry, such as building quality hostels for each school. “We know that poverty will cause dropout problems, academic decline and lack of learning facilities at home, which are seen as the main factors in educational failure. “Therefore, the government’s proposal would be more practical and effective if there were better and quality hostels with various facilities to attract the interest of students.” He said hostel living could also help shape a student’s personality not only through learning but also through communication between other students of various backgrounds, races and religions. Anuar also suggested that the government develop special programmes in schools nationwide, with funds for students from poor families, Bernama reported. “For example, there are poor students who are interested in sports. So, how can schools help them through special programmes to achieve success in those fields instead of building special schools for them? “This is to avoid any perception and labelling that could cause psychological effects on students.” Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession president Aminuddin Awang said the ministry could also think of other ways to increase interest in learning. “Skills should also be emphasised (instead of ) focusing only on subjects. Usually, when we talk about poverty, we often focus on those who live in rural areas. Let’s not forget that there are also urban poor groups. Hopefully, the government could also look at (helping) them,” he said. On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the introduction of the new type of school will be based on a framework of science-based secondary and fully residential schools catered for the target group. He emphasised that everyone should have access to equal educational opportunities so that no group is left out of the democratisation of quality of education. ‘False, damaging statements will not be tolerated’ 3. provide a written undertaking that Sanusi will not repeat the publication and/or utterance of these or similar statements made in the MB’s speech concerning Tan and Berjaya Land; 4. provide a written undertaking that Sanusi shall forthwith cease and desist from publishing, uttering, posting, sharing, republishing, reposting and/or resharing in any manner whatsoever the statements and/or words and/or identical statements or those of a similar nature in the MB’s speech in any manner whatsoever; and 5. agree to pay a sum of RM200 million as compensation to Tan and Berjaya Land. If Sanusi fails to comply with the demands by close of business today, legal action will be taken, the statement said. Meanwhile, Tan and Berjaya Land have also lodged several police reports against Sanusi, bloggers such as Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard) and Raja Petra Kamarudin over the publication of similar remarks relating to the SMG Project, which may be considered as an offence of criminal defamation under Section 499 of the Penal Code, that upon conviction may be punished with imprisonment of a term of up to two years or a fine, or both. “These defamatory statements have tarnished my and Berjaya Land’s integrity, credit, reputation and image,” said Tan. “These accusations have cast doubt and raised unwarranted suspicions over our legitimate business endeavours and philanthropic activities. We want to send a strong message that anyone making false and damaging statements about us will not be tolerated and we shall hold them accountable for their actions.” Groundwork needed for special school plan oExpert suggests addressing hostel issue first to ensure success of initiative for poor students EC staff making preparations at the Kuala Terengganu police headquarters yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Early voting for police, military personnel today KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 97,388 individuals consisting of military and police personnel as well as their spouses will fulfil their responsibility as early voters in the six state elections today. Early voting will also involve the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election following the decision of the Terengganu Election Court on June 27 to annul the victory of PAS candidate Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim in the 15th general election after finding that corruption had taken place. According to the Election Commission (EC), the latest electoral roll that has been updated as of June 21 will be used for the Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan state elections and the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election. Early voting will see 49,660 military personnel and 47,728 police personnel as well as their spouses cast their ballots at 260 early polling centres. Meanwhile, early voters for the Kuala Terengganu by-election will involve 1,362 policemen and 35 military personnel and their spouses. Four early polling centres will be opened at the Kuala Terengganu police contingent headquarters. All early polling centres for the six state elections and the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election will open simultaneously at 8am and will close in stages according to their locations. In Kuala Terengganu, polling centres for the Batu Buruk state constituency will be the first to close at noon, followed by the one at the Bandar state constituency at 2pm and finally, the centre at the Ladang state constituency will close at 5pm. There will be no early polling centres for the Waqf Mempelam state constituency. The EC has set Aug 12 as the polling date for the state elections and the Kuala Terengganu by-election. The elections in the six states involve 36 state constituencies in Kedah, 45 in Kelantan, 32 in Terengganu, 40 in Penang, 56 in Selangor and 36 in Negeri Sembilan. The campaigning period was set for 14 days starting from nomination day on July 29 and will run until 11.59pm on Aug 11. – Bernama Big loss if S’gor not run by unity govt: Zahid KUALA SELANGOR: Acknowledged as the country’s economic powerhouse that contributed 25.5% of last year’s gross domestic product, Selangor stands to lose out if it does not remain under the unity government’s administration after state elections take place on Aug 12. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid said Selangor has developed into a state that has helped changed the lives of many Malaysians with high-paying jobs, thanks to the huge amount of foreign investment. “So, it will be a waste if Selangor can’t be retained as a state under the unity government, that practises the Malaysia Madani concept,” he said at a thanksgiving prayer session in conjunction with National Month on Sunday. Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the strength of the combined parties in the unity government in Selangor can be seen through the openness of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership in allowing BN to contest more seats in the state election. “Before the state assembly was dissolved, BN had only five seats. But thanks to the kindheartedness of PH, we are contesting 12 seats, which proves the sincerity of their friendship with us,” he said. Prior the state assembly dissolution, PH held 40 seats (PKR-19, DAP-15, Amanah-six), BN had five, Bersatu held four, Parti Bangsa Malaysia had two while PAS, Pejuang and Warisan had one seat each. Another seat was held by an Independent assemblyman. – Bernama Patriotism programme for ministries KUALA LUMPUR: An inter-ministry programme is being held in conjunction with the National Month celebrations, which give civil servants the opportunity to show their patriotism in addition to boosting team spirit. Communications and Digital Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa said the programme involves 25 ministries, and each will be assessed based on three aspects – creativity, innovation and added value – which are combined with National Day themed decorations at their respective premises. “We emphasise using recycled materials such as water bottles and boxes because creativity is not confined to the quality of the material alone but by the way it is used and translated, in line with the theme of the celebration. “The evaluation will also cover all levels of officers, which means there is involvement from all parties because what is important is teamwork,” he said yesterday. – Bernama From front page

4 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME Health risk from traffic pollutants KUALA LUMPUR: Asthma is among the world’s major non-communicable diseases, having affecting an estimated 262 million individuals and led to over 45,000 deaths in 2019, according to the World Health Organisation. Consultant respiratory and internal medicine physician Dr Jurina Mohd Hassan said the prevalence of asthma in the adult population ranges between 3.4% and 7.5% nationwide. She cited global reports last year, that outlined nearly two million new cases of paediatric asthma caused by traffic-related air pollutants, particularly fossil fuel emissions from vehicles. “Those with asthma are at greater risk of breathing in small particles that could worsen their condition.” Jurina added that the long term effects of air pollution, especially oCarbon monoxide from fossil fuels could trigger asthma, heart disease and lung cancer: Respiratory expert carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, on such patients include heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. “Some scientists suspect that air pollutants cause birth defects. I have seen an increase of asthma exacerbation cases in the urban population, more so during the haze.” Jurina said such phenomena cause immediate and delayed effects on mortality, with more than 10,000 respiratory deaths recorded during 88 days of haze between 2000 and 2007, Bernama reported. She suggested that asthma patients limit their time outdoors, especially from 11am to 8pm, during periods when high air pollution index levels are recorded. Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Earth Sciences and Environment Department senior lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir said odourless and colourless CO is produced during the incomplete burning of fossil fuels such as petrol, gas or coal. “When the gas enters through the respiratory system, it competes with oxygen to bind to the haemoglobin. Thus, our blood cannot efficiently carry oxygen throughout the body, especially to the brain. “If the CO level in the blood is high, organs and tissues would not receive enough oxygen to function properly, which could lead to serious health problems, including brain and internal organ damage.” Mohd Shahrul said it is essential to install sensors in vehicles, houses and other frequented premises to prevent CO poisoning, adding that current Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things technologies have generated advanced sensors for real-time CO concentration detection. Fatalities from CO poisoning are not unheard of in Malaysia. It was reported in 2020 that three college students died from CO poisoning while another survived, following a leak in the exhaust system that pumped the gas into the car cabin on their way back from vacationing in Pulau Jerejak, Penang. NGO assists group in scam probe KUALA LUMPUR: Police have received additional statements from more than 150 individuals affected by investment scam companies, to assist in their investigations. Representing the group, Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the statements would aid the probe into the firms involved and bring the culprits to justice. He added that the statements were submitted under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code and received by Commercial Crime Investigation Department (Syndicated Investments / Electronic Cards / Other Crimes) assistant director ACP Ahmad Azizul Mohamed. “It is hoped that the statements provided would facilitate their investigation process,” he said yesterday at Bukit Aman. Contractor Fazlifah Awang, 48, said she made a report in March and expressed hope that police could quickly investigate her case. She added that a lawyer letter had been sent to the company she dealt with, but it often changed lawyers, which resulted in the legal process having to be repeated. – Bernama Insp Sheila in court over criminal intimidation charges KUALA LUMPUR: Police inspector Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar will submit preliminary objections to three charges she is facing, which include criminal intimidation against a police lance corporal, said her lawyer M. Manoharan during the case mention at the Selayang Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Chai Guan Hock yesterday. He said the charges against his client lack basis and were frivolous, adding that the objections were related to constitutional issues. DPP Anis Farhah Ahmad Hilmi earlier said the prosecution had submitted some of the case documents to the defence, except for a video. Sheila, 35, is charged with committing criminal intimidation against M. Silverkoomarie, 69, at around noon on June 15 at No. 8, Jalan SG 1/1 in Taman Sri Gombak. The offence, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, carries a penalty of up to two years’ jail, a fine, or both. – Bernama RM17.6m cocaine seized at KLIA NILAI: The Customs Department seized 88kg of cocaine, valued at RM17.6 million, during an Aug 1 raid at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Air Cargo Complex in Sepang, Selangor. Customs Director-General Datuk Zazuli Johan said a team from the narcotics branch of its headquarters confiscated four boxes with 995 glass bottles suspected to contain capsules filled with cocaine. “The modus operandi to elude detection was to declare the shipment as supplements. “This is the first time that a syndicate used such a method. It also named a fake company as the recipient on the shipping documents.” Zazuli said initial investigations found that the goods were imported from the Netherlands and meant to be distributed in the domestic market. “Investigations under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 are underway to track a suspect, who is believed to be a local.” He added that the department had confiscated RM180.5 million worth of drugs in 382 cases nationwide from January to July, with ecstasy seizures recording the highest value at RM96.2 million, followed by cocaine at RM61.6 million and methamphetamine at RM10.5 million. Zazuli urged those with information on smuggling activities involving drugs and contraband such as cigarettes, liquor and firecrackers to contact the Customs toll free line at 1-800-88-8855, or the nearest Customs office, adding that their identities would be kept confidential. – Bernama Patriotism promotion at Ipoh eatery IPOH: Restaurant owner Mohammad Zarilan Ellias is offering discounts of up to 20% to customers who visit his outlet while wearing Jalur Gemilang themed clothes or accessories or other similar patriotic emblems. The operator of Terengganu Corner, which is located at a food court in Jelapang, said the special offer is also extended to customers born on Aug 31 or whose birthday falls on a Sunday during National Month. Having worked at the National Archive for 39 years, Mohammad Zarilan, 60, said he has always been inspired to keep the sense of patriotism alive. “I have just retired and throughout my service, I was involved in various Independence Day activities and programmes at public and private offices, schools and higher learning institutions. “So, I want to continue this legacy until the day I die. I must cultivate the spirit of independence, devotion and unity, especially among the younger generation.” Mohammad Zarilan, who is from Penang, said the restaurant operates from 6.30am and serves a variety of popular dishes from Terengganu, Penang and Perak. “Our specialities are Terengganu delicacies, which include nasi dagang, nasi kerabu and laksa.” A check at the premises found the entire outlet brightly decorated with the Jalur Gemilang and most of its customers dressed in patriotic themed attire and accessories. Customer Saifurnizam Ya’akob, 33, said he was thrilled to be part of the initiative as he has never come across such a promotion during National Month. “This is the first time that those showing their patriotic spirit are being rewarded. It builds momentum and adds excitement ahead of Independence Day.” Silibin resident and fellow customer Ismail Muhd Bayudin, 42, said the discount draws people to the restaurant and expressed hope that such events would continue on other special occasions. – Bernama Customers dressed in Jalur Gemilang colours enjoying a meal at Terengganu Corner. – BERNAMAPIC

theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 5 Unlocking SME growth under Belanjawan 2023 financial schemes in Belanjawan 2023. Interested individuals who wish to obtain more information or apply for benefits may visit belanjawan.mof.gov.my/manfaat/. Belanjawan 2023 provides countless benefits to support SME that suffered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Other than tax reductions and guarantees on loans, the government has implemented subsidy schemes for MSME to help them compete again post-pandemic. The subsidy programmes will be monitored by the Unit for the Implementation and Coordination of National Agencies on Economic Stimulus Package. The government has constantly prioritised the interests of MSME and one way of extending aid is through subsidies. They are important to help MSME get back on their feet and be competitive post-pandemic. Through Belanjawan 2023 and other programmes, the government will provide various types of subsidies to a wide range of sectors. The first subsidy provided will be targeted towards exporters through the Exporters’ Development Incentive Scheme, which subsidises financing rates by 1.5% for financing of up to RM10 million for a tenure of seven years. Wages and training fees are mostly subsidised for employment related and upskilling and reskilling programmes. Initiatives such as the Kerjaya Madani and Program Daya Kerja will offer wage subsidies and incentives for differently-abled persons, the hardcore poor, paroled individuals and other targeted groups. There will also be incentives for employers who have hired graduates from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) backgrounds through the Kerjaya TVET employment transition option. An electric bill subsidy will also be implemented, which maintains the current electric tariff for all domestic users and SME, but tariffs for large corporations other than those in the food and agriculture sector will be increased. A subsidised diesel control system will be implemented by the government to reduce leakage, and there will be increased enforcement efforts by government agencies and industry players. The implementation will be carried out in stages and focused on ensuring an affordable cost of living, especially for those in the B40 group. The government will continue to upgrade the cooking oil stabilisation system, which will manage the subsidy quota and monitor sales of cooking oil across all supply chains. In addition, the government has devised a comprehensive strategic plan that focuses on strengthening communications infrastructure, cybersecurity and fostering the growth of the digital economy. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) under the Communications and Digital Ministry, will be at the forefront of driving Malaysia’s digital economy forward and its purpose is to accelerate the country’s digital transformation. Through Malaysia Digital, a national strategic initiative launched in 2022 to succeed Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia, nine promoted sectors presenting high growth potential, opportunity and importance in driving Malaysia’s next transformation in the digital economy have been identified. Cybersecurity is recognised as a vital tech enabler and MDEC has prioritised cybersecurity and data privacy in the formation of its Environmental, Social and Governance Roadmap. Cybersecurity plays an important role in Malaysia’s digital economy development, especially in fostering trust, driving innovation and sustaining the growth of the digital landscape. The digital economy contributes 22.6% to the country’s GDP and is projected to grow to 25.5% by 2025. Cybersecurity failure could derail the objectives of the national digital economy blueprint. It is crucial to approach the issue holistically at the national level via the Malaysia Cybersecurity Strategy. MDEC will take Malaysia’s digital economy forward by drafting four initiatives to develop the cybersecurity industry. The initiatives include nurturing home-based cybersecurity companies, driving SME awareness programmes, creating a cybersecurity workforce and collaborating with key stakeholders in the digital economy by formulating progressive policies and industry best practices. To nurture home-based cybersecurity companies, MDEC, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Agency, will initiate the National Cybersecurity Innovation Challenge Programme. Awareness is also provided by MDEC through programmes such as Digital Up, a reskilling and upskilling incentive, and Let’s Learn Digital, an initiative that provides free training for digital skills. PETALING JAYA: In presenting the first budget of his unity government in February themed “Developing Malaysia Madani”, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is committed to protecting the livelihood of the rakyat, upholding integrity and enhancing a caring and compassionate society. “Belanjawan Madani reflects the principles of accountability and a pure value system that can address current challenges, including the highly uncertain global economic situation,” he said. Micro and small and medium enterprises (SME), among the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, came under the spotlight as the government announced a raft of measures to nurse them back on their feet. “There is great importance placed on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and how they contribute to the people. Therefore, the government continues to support the viability of businesses and their potential to grow,” said Anwar, who is also finance minister. “The government is aware that there are still businesses that are affected by the pandemic, especially MSME. Belanjawan 2023 will ensure local MSME are once again competitive and able to increase their business capacity because various facilities will be made available to support them.” The government has set out a comprehensive list of measures to help encourage business owners and entrepreneurs to increase capacity and provide relief. As one of the many incentives for MSME, the government lowered the rate of taxable income to 15% from 17% for the first RM150,000 in revenue. The rate for the remaining taxable income will be maintained at 17% and 24%. This would benefit more than 150,000 MSME and involve tax savings of up to RM3,000 per business to ease their financial burden. MSME entrepreneurs will be provided with access to financing facilities through Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Bank Simpanan Nasional and Tekun Nasional, with funds totalling RM1.7 billion. The funds will be used specifically to benefit women and youth entrepreneurs from underprivileged backgrounds. For SME, BNM is providing almost RM10 billion to reduce the financial burden they face and to encourage their business development. Funds under BNM are aimed at providing financing at reasonable costs for SME in all economic sectors. Some funds have also been enhanced to provide relief and to support the recovery of SME. The assistance will be channelled through participating financial institutions comprising banks, prescribed development financial institutions and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Along with the RM10 billion provided by BNM, Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Berhad will guarantee up to RM20 billion in SME loans. In the spirit of inclusivity under Malaysia Madani, SME in all economic sectors will be able to secure government guarantees of 80% to 90%. Any credit company with a valid money lending licence under the Local Government Development Ministry will be eligible to participate in the scheme, and it is open to any cooperative registered with the Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission. The decision to expand guarantees to financing by non-banking financial institutions was made to specifically benefit small businesses that lack the funds to apply for loans. Small and medium businesses that are struggling are urged to seize the opportunity to benefit from the

6 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Scouts evacuate South Korea camp as typhoon looms SEOUL: Organisers of the World Scout Jamboree asked host South Korea yesterday to “urgently” evacuate tens of thousands of children from their campsite ahead of a typhoon, just days after a heat wave caused mass scout illnesses. Typhoon Khanun, which killed at least two people in Japan, is due to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday, near where some 43,000 scouts have been camping in North Joella province for their problem-plagued jamboree. Korean media have called the jamboree “a national disgrace” after an extreme heat wave caused hundreds of scouts to fall ill, and prompted American and British scout groups to withdraw as criticism grew over conditions at the campsite. Media had reported on poor drainage at the site, rudimentary showers and toilets, and gruesome bug bites affecting the mostly teenage participants. Organisers had insisted the event would continue but the World Organisation of the Scout Movement said yesterday Seoul had told them that “due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun, an early departure will be planned for all participants”. “We urgently call on the government to expedite the plan for departure and provide all necessary resources and support for participants during their stay and until they return to their home countries.” Some 36,000 participants from 156 countries will begin evacuating from the campsite at 10am (9am in Malaysia) today, Vice-Minister for Disaster and Safety Management Kim Sung-ho said yesterday. South Korea’s weather agency said Khanun is forecast to bring heavy rain across the Korean peninsula, including winds powerful enough to derail a moving train. The jamboree was scheduled to run until Aug 12. South Korea’s presidential office has suggested that its contingency plan is for the tens of thousands of young people to be relocated to Seoul for the rest of their stay. “We will do our best to ensure the programme continues for the remaining five days,” Kim said. – AFP Philippines summons China envoy over water strike on boats MANILA: Manila summoned Beijing’s envoy yesterday after the China Coast Guard blocked and water cannoned Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said. The incident happened on Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted charter boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies for Filipino military personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. The Philippine military had accused the China Coast Guard of breaking international law in blocking and firing water cannon at the resupply mission, which prevented one of the charter boats from reaching the shoal. Another charter boat was successful in unloading its cargo. China said it had taken “necessary controls” against Philippines boats that had “illegally” entered its waters. “Our secretary of foreign affairs summoned Ambassador Huang Xilian today and gave him a note verbale including pictures, video about what happened and we are awaiting their reply,” Marcos said. “The position of China, of course, is they say ‘this is ours so we are defending it’ and we, for our part, are saying ‘no, we own it so we are defending it’. So that becomes a grey area that we are discussing.” – AFP Cambodia king appoints Hun Manet as premier PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s king appointed Hun Sen’s son the country’s new leader yesterday, beginning a handover of power that ends nearly four decades of rule, but the outgoing premier promised this was “not the end” of his political career. King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree appointing Hun Manet as prime minister, after Hun Sen had announced last month that he was stepping down and handing power to his eldest son. Hun Sen – one of the world’s longest-serving leaders – made the oHun Sen to become Senate president early next year Flash floods, landslides kill eight in Vietnam HANOI: Flash floods and landslides have killed at least eight people across northern Vietnam, disaster officials said yesterday. After months of prolonged heat waves and drought, downpours that began at the beginning of August have damaged hundreds of homes and destroyed crops. Eight people, including at least two children, were killed last week across the northern mountainous provinces of Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La and Thai Nguyen, the Hanoi-based disaster control authority said in an online report. State media published pictures of houses collapsing into muddy water and roads blocked or split by soil and fallen trees. Access to some mountainous ethnic communities have been cut off. Landslides have also hit central parts of the country. In the town of Dalat in the Central Highlands, three policemen and one civilian were killed when a police station was buried by falling soil in July. The Central Highlands and southern Vietnam have seen 5% to 10% more rain than usual since the rainy season began in May, according to authorities. In northern Vietnam, record high temperatures and an unprecedented drought in May and June caused rolling blackouts and sudden power outages leading to serious losses among local firms and foreign manufacturers. – AFP TOP GUNS ... Moroccan horsemen firing their rifles during a performance to celebrate the annual Moussem festival in the city of El Jadida. – AFPPIC announcement days after a landslide victory in July polls that were widely decried as a sham, after main challenger the Candlelight Party was barred from participating. To officially assume the post, Hun Manet, 45, and his cabinet must win an Aug 22 vote in Parliament, where his father’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has all but five of 125 seats in the lower house. Hun Sen has for years pursued a ruthless campaign against any opposition, banning parties and forcing adversaries to flee abroad. While insisting he would not interfere with his son’s rule, Hun Sen said yesterday he would continue to play a prominent political role. “It is not the end yet,” he said, adding he would continue serving in other positions until at least 2033. After stepping down, Hun Sen has said he will become president of the Senate early next year, making him acting head of state when the king is overseas. In a letter to the king, Hun Manet thanked him for “the great chance to serve the nation”, pledging to maintain peace, push for development and improve the standard of living in the country. Longtime opposition politician Sam Rainsy, self-exiled in France, said any hopes for more freedom under Hun Manet or that he might distance the country from major benefactor China were misguided. “I think this is pure illusion. “You can change leaders many times but nothing will change because the system remains the same.” The incoming government will usher in a crop of young ministers, with some taking posts vacated by their fathers. Despite being groomed for years, Hun Manet remains untested in the political arena and relatively unknown beyond it, said Hun Sen’s Cambodia author Sebastian Strangio. “It is very hard to determine any distinctive national vision.” Hun Manet was educated in England and the US, but there are few signs he would bring his country closer to Western powers. “I have not seen any evidence that Manet has either the ability or the desire to push Cambodia in the direction of significant reform,” Strangio said. He said Hun Manet’s decisions would be “dictated by” the country’s rigid political system, requiring him to maintain the loyalty of the political establishment, business elite and security forces. – AFP B R I E F SHK MAKES NEW BID TO BAN PROTEST SONG HONG KONG: The Department of Justice said yesterday the government would appeal a High Court judgment that had rejected its application to seek a legal injunction to ban a popular protest song Glory to Hong Kong. Hong Kong High Court judge Anthony Chan on July 28 had dismissed an application by the government to ban the protest song Glory to Hong Kong, saying such a prohibition on the playing and distribution of the tune could undermine freedom of expression and cause potential “chilling effects”. But a Department of Justice spokesman said in a statement it would appeal the decision given the need to safeguard national security, claiming the song had been used to incite secession and sedition. – Reuters 14 DEAD IN DELUGE IN NORTHEASTERN CHINA BEIJING: Fourteen people were reported to have died over the weekend in the Chinese city of Shulan due to flooding caused by Typhoon Doksuri. Northeastern China, Beijing and Hebei province have seen heavy rainfall and floods since the typhoon made landfall in southern Fujian province two weeks ago. The deaths in Shulan, in northeastern Jilin province, add to the more than 20 who died last week in Beijing and Hebei. Three officials were among the dead in Shulan, including a vice-mayor of the city of about 587,000 people, state media reported late on Sunday. Water levels in the city have receded to safe levels and emergency response efforts have been mobilised to relocate residents and repair infrastructure. – Reuters

7 * NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Niger junta closes airspace NIAMEY: Niger closed its airspace due to the “threat of intervention” as the junta defied a deadline from the West African bloc Ecowas to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible military action. Ecowas issued its ultimatum a week ago, demanding the generals relinquish power by Sunday. Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency. “Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday ... for all aircraft until further notice,” the junta said in a oRuling council says two Central African countries preparing for military action Pakistan investigators scour train wreckage ISLAMABAD: Investigators scoured the wreckage yesterday of a weekend train derailment that killed at least 34 people, the latest deadly crash to hit Pakistan’s antiquated railway network. More than 1,000 passengers were aboard the Hazara Express when it came off the tracks in a flat, rural part of Sindh province near Nawabshah, around 250km by rail from the southern port city of Karachi. It was winding its way north on a 33-hour journey to Havelian in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when disaster struck near Sarhari around lunchtime. “I was sitting in my shop ... suddenly, there was a huge bang,” said Azmat Ali, 25, who has a store near the crash site. “We immediately thought an accident had taken place. We started running and when we arrived ... we pulled out bodies and injured people from the wreckage.” Pakistan Railways spokesman Muhammad Afzal Kolachi told AFP yesterday the death toll had risen to 34. Hospitals in the area declared an emergency as they struggled to deal with dozens of passengers brought in with severe injuries. Local residents, some who waded through waist-deep water in a canal that runs alongside the railway track to reach the crash site, were praised for their heroic response. “Despite Sarhari being a backward area, the locals swiftly arrived at the scene to provide assistance,” said 28-year-old rescuer Zulfiqar Ali. “Whoever heard the news – even women and children – came here. I saw local farmers reached the spot to take part in rescue efforts.” Railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Sunday that no faults had been reported on the stretch of line where the accident happened, but some residents said it had been affected by the monsoon floods that engulfed a third of the country last summer. “The track is in a bad condition due to last year’s flood,” said local policeman Ali Dost. Khawaja promised a full investigation. “There can be two reasons: first that it was a mechanical fault or the fault was created, it might be a sabotage. “We will investigate it.” – AFP 76% of children in South Asia face extreme heat: UN NEW DELHI: Three-quarters of children in South Asia are already facing dangerously high temperatures, the highest level worldwide, as the impact of climate change grows, the United Nations warned yesterday. About 460 million children are exposed to extreme heat in South Asia, or 76% of children, compared with a third of children globally, UN children’s agency Unicef said. “With the world at global boiling, the data clearly show that the lives and wellbeing of millions of children across South Asia are increasingly threatened by heat waves and high temperatures,” said Unicef regional director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera. The UN warns children in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan are at “extremely high risk” of the impacts of climate change, defining extreme high temperatures as 83 or more days in a year over 35°C. Children cannot adapt as quickly to temperature changes, and are not able to remove excess heat from their bodies. “Young children simply cannot handle the heat,” said Wijesekera. “Unless we act now, these children will continue to bear the brunt of more frequent and more severe heat waves in the coming years.” – AFP B R I E F S31 MIGRANTS MISSING IN ROUGH SEAS OFF ITALY ROME: At least 31 migrants are missing following two shipwrecks off the Italian island of Lampedusa as rescuers on Sunday winched to safety 34 others stranded on the rocks by rough seas. Around 28 people were reported lost at sea by survivors on one boat, while three were reported missing from the second, after both went down in stormy weather on Saturday. Both were rickety iron boats believed to have set off from Sfax in Tunisia on Thursday. Italy’s coast guard said it had saved 57 survivors from the two shipwrecks, and recovered the body of a woman and a child. – AFP IMRAN’S LAWYERS TO CHALLENGE SENTENCE ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s lawyers were attempting yesterday to launch legal challenges against his three yearsentence for graft that has ruled him out of contesting national elections. His lawyers have so far been denied access to him at Attock Jail, 60km west of Islamabad. Petitions were being filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts demanding power of attorney for Imran which would allow lawyers to challenge his conviction. A petition has also been filed to request that Imran be held in an ‘A-class’ cell, more comfortable than other quarters and usually reserved for VIP inmates. – AFP statement released shortly before the deadline passed. Any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”, the statement added. Early yesterday, there were no aircraft operating in Niger’s skies, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24. In a separate statement, the now-ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) said there had been a “pre-deployment in preparation for intervention” made by two Central African countries, without naming them. “Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent,” it warned. Thousands of coup supporters had gathered on Sunday in the capital Niamey to cheer on the CNSP. At the 30,000-seat Seyni Kountche Stadium, named after Niger’s first coup d’etat leader in 1974, CNSP leaders, including Gen Mohamed Toumba, greeted a jubilant crowd. The venue was draped in Russian flags and supporters carried portraits of CNSP leaders. Ecowas military chiefs of staff agreed on Friday on a plan for a possible intervention to respond to the crisis, the latest of several coups to hit Africa’s Sahel region since 2020. “We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them (the military) that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done,” Ecowas commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah said. But he warned that “all the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out”, including how and when force would be deployed. Former colonial power France, with which Niger’s new rulers broke military ties after taking power, said it would “firmly” back whatever course of action Ecowas took after the deadline expired. In the dusty alleyways of Niamey’s Boukoki neighbourhood, residents were defiant at the prospect of an armed intervention by Ecowas. “We’re going to fight for this revolution. We’re not going to retreat faced with the enemy, we’re determined,” said Boukoki resident Adama Oumarou. – AFP NEW DELHI: India’s main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was restored to Parliament yesterday after the Supreme Court last week suspended his defamation conviction over political comments criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi is the scion of India’s premier political dynasty and his reinstatement was welcomed by other members of the Congress party, which was once dominant but has lost the past two elections to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gandhi’s disqualification “has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements”, lower Parliament house secretary-general Utpal Kumar Singh said in a statement. The 53-year-old Congress party leader was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in March in a case that critics flagged as an effort to stifle political opposition in the world’s largest democracy. The conviction stemmed from a remark made during the 2019 election campaign when Gandhi had asked why “all thieves have Modi as (their) common surname”. His comments were portrayed as a slur against the prime minister and against all those with the same surname, which is associated with the lower rungs of India’s caste hierarchy. Anyone sentenced to a custodial term of two years or more is ineligible to sit in India’s Parliament, forcing Gandhi’s expulsion from the body in March. He was turfed out of the legislature as a result but stayed out of jail while appealing to the Supreme Court in New Delhi. Congress head Mallikarjun Kharge said it was “a welcome step”, and called on the government to concentrate on “governance rather than denigrating democracy by targeting opposition leaders”. Many Congress leaders posted videos and messages hailing yesterday’s order. Dancing supporters waving flags gathered outside Congress headquarters in New Delhi, shouting slogans backing Gandhi and thumping drums. India’s top court suspended Gandhi’s defamation conviction on Friday and said the initial trial had failed to justify imposing the maximum sentence for his campaign rally comments four years ago. “The order of conviction needs to be stayed pending final adjudication,” Justice B.R. Gavai said in his ruling. – AFP Indian Parliament reinstates Gandhi as lawmaker Train carriages are being lifted by cranes at the accident site near Nawabshah. – AFPPIC

8 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 SPEAK UP Is sports reporting being weaponised? AS the Paris Olympics draws closer, we will see not only sporting news dominate the headlines but also the inevitable nationalistic reporting on it. It is well known that sports, more than any other social activity, facilitate breast-beating and flag-waving, and provide the basis for rivalries to be conducted at the individual, collective, national and international levels. Hence, it is not surprising that a significant portion of sports reporting is influenced by politics and economics. The opening shot on what we can expect from crass nationalism, making its presence felt in the forefront of sporting news, can soon be seen from a news report by what is claimed to be Australia’s number one commercial news site. The story from the World Aquatic Games Championship, recently concluded in Fukuoka, had the headline: “American broadcasters change World Championships medal tally to show America on top, despite fewer gold medals than Australia.” According to the report, eagleeyed fans noticed a humiliating image with details that proves “America cannot handle the truth about Australia’s (apparent) swimming dominance”. The televised image, provided by American broadcaster NBC, displayed the US medal tally arranged by total medals earned rather than the traditional order of gold-silverbronze. As a result, Team US remained on top of the tally instead of the Australians. It was noted that NBC had begun televising the event using the traditional order but then switched to total medal tally when it became apparent that the Americans kept losing to the Australians. After the initial posting of the article, it was not found on the reporter’s Twitter account as it was not easily available from the news source archives. So much for the claim of the website providing “open, fair and balanced coverage”. (https://www.news.com.au/help). An Australian fan, critical of the move by American broadcasters, Evolution of educational tools EDUCATIONAL tools have evolved from blackboards and chalk to whiteboards and drywipe pens. The advancement of technology has paved the way for the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). Historically, AI found its applications in various domains, including robotics, smartphones, autonomous vehicles and smart home technologies. However, it has now made its entry into the realm of education. The integration of AI in education can help streamline the learning process, support teachers and minimise the time spent on information retrieval. Technology has profoundly impacted how students learn and educators teach in higher learning institutions. It has provided new opportunities and enriched educational experiences, from online learning platforms to interactive tools. One of the most significant influences of technology on education is the availability of information. With the internet, students have instant access to a vast array of information. They can easily conduct research, acquire knowledge and deepen their understanding of any subject through quick access to online libraries, databases and search engines that provide a wide range of resources. Technology has also facilitated the dissemination of educational materials beyond the confines of traditional classrooms. Consequently, education has become more accessible to individuals who may not have had the opportunity before, thanks to online courses and virtual classrooms. With the removal of geographical barriers and the provision of flexible learning options, students can enrol in university courses from their homes. As advancements in AI continue to unfold, they hold the potential to revolutionise various aspects of higher education, including learning, teaching, research and administrative processes. In terms of learning, AI can analyse vast amounts of data about individual students, such as their preferences, strengths and weaknesses, enabling personalised learning experiences for each individual. The ability to tailor educational content and delivery methods to suit different individuals can enhance student engagement, improve learning outcomes and provide targeted support throughout a student’s academic journey. For educators, AI plays a vital part in transforming their role as instructors through intelligent tutoring systems. This frees up their time from simple tasks, such as providing real-time feedback and answering student questions, allowing them to focus on higher-order tasks, such as critical thinking, discussions and mentoring. In other words, technology serves as a valuable assistant to educators, enabling more efficient, effective and up-todate teaching practices. However, it is important to acknowledge the challenges associated with technology in education. The digital divide remains a significant issue, with unequal access to technology and internet connectivity across different regions and socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition to the advantages technology and AI can provide, they can also threaten future job employment and labour. Industries that can potentially be taken over by AI in the future may experience job losses. Similar to the introduction of automation in factories, new skills will be demanded while certain labour skills may be phased out from production. The writers are Senior Lecturers at the Faculty of Business and Communication, Universiti Malaysia Perlis. Comments: [email protected] COMMENT by Dr Faiz Masnan and Dr Mohd Shahidan Shaari ANOTHER TAKE BY LIM TECK GHEE noted that “even when they (the Americans) are not number one, they can confidently rely on the fact that most of their population is not data literate”. But it is not only Americans who are not data literate. Australians are too. Cancelling China’s championship performance The top nation in the world championship for aquatics, not just swimming, is China and not the US or Australia. This is news that is hard to find in the Australian or any other Western media. According to the official competition website, China had 20 gold and a total of 37 medals. In comparison, Australia had 15 gold and a total of 25 medals while the US had four gold and a total of 37 medals. (https://www.worldaquatics.com/ competitions/1/world-aquaticsc h a m p i o n s h i p s - f u k u o k a - 2 0 2 3 / m e d a l s ? d i s c i p l i n e s = ) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =EtH-ITN-YaI) It is clear that even in sports, the Western media is not able to engage in honest and fair reporting when it comes to news about China. As noted by social media commentators following the competition, “when the West is not on top, sportsmanship goes out the window. No media will cover the results”. Western media reporting The truth about the Western media today, whether on sports or any other subject matter, is not much different from 140 years ago. In 1883, John Swinton, an American journalist and newspaper publisher, who was the chief editorial writer of the New York Times in the 1860s, delivered a speech at a press dinner which he is most famous for today: “There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is out in country towns. You are all slaves. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to express an honest opinion. If you expressed it, you would know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid US$150 (RM682) for keeping honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things. If I should allow honest opinions to be printed in one issue of my paper, I would be like Othello before twentyfour hours: my occupation would be gone. The man who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the street hunting for another job. The business of a New York journalist is to distort the truth, lie outright, pervert, vilify, fawn at the feet of Mammon and sell his country and his race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same – his salary. You know this, and I know it; and what foolery to be toasting an ‘Independent Press’. We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping jacks. They pull the string and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes. Asia’s media practitioners would do well to reread Swinton’s speech before going overboard on reproducing foreign-based media sources, including from the West. Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: [email protected] “It is clear that even in sports, the Western media is not able to engage in honest and fair reporting when it comes to news about China. As noted by social media commentators following the competition, ‘when the West is not on top, sportsmanship goes out the window. No media will cover the results’.

9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 THE state visit by the Sultan of Brunei underscores the growing importance of bilateral ties that will form one of the cornerstones of regional solidarity and cooperation. It coincides with the 24th MalaysiaBrunei Darussalam Annual Leaders’ Consultation, which is a crucial annual platform to enhance bilateral and regional cooperative framework and strengthen joint understanding and synergy of capacities. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s trip to Brunei earlier this year proves the importance of maintaining a forward-driven relationship based on the longstanding historical bond, trust and confidence, aimed at fostering mutual interests and collaborative endeavours. The economic front is of strategic importance for both nations as they face new non-traditional challenges in the form of economic uncertainties, supply chain resilience, food and energy security and climate impact. Both countries also face similar challenges in security settings, especially in the South China Sea and rising regional and global geopolitical rivalry and tensions. In 2022, Brunei was Malaysia’s 26th largest trading partner and the sixth largest within Asean, with a total trade amounting to US$2.98 billion (RM13.6 billion), an increase of 68.4% compared with the year before. Both countries are also in the midst of transforming key economic fundamentals that will create a sustaining shield in facing future headwinds, especially in energy transition and carbon initiatives. As Malaysia and Brunei rely heavily on oil and gas to fuel economic needs and progress, both will need a strategic synergy of interdependence and cultivation of shared interests and advantages to face future regional and global risks and challenges as a united front. Areas of low-hanging fruits include spearheading greater exchanges in talent and expertise, economic and investment opportunities that will have strategic spillover effect, critical research and higher education mobility, tourism and greater people-to-people connections. The shift toward a digital and knowledge-driven economy based on the high-impact value chain of key sectors and technologies, such as green and renewable energy, the chip and semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence and digitally-driven innovation as well as scientific research, including space and quantum technologies, forms the foundational impetus for the transformative leap forward. Both countries need the necessary tools and elements to propel the transition away from the conventional models and methods of economic growth. The Brunei-Malaysia relationship holds considerable untapped potential, promising greater returns, especially in economic and security developments. Both nations are in the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia– Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework, which is an intergovernmental economic cooperation programme geared to promote growth led by the private sector and driven by market forces. Launched in 1994, the BIMP-EAGA initiative consists of Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with the objective to boost growth in trade, investments and tourism by creating new intra-regional shipping routes and air connections as well as power interconnection projects. Other key areas of cooperation include agribusiness, tourism, the environment and socio-cultural education. Clean and renewable energy sectors have gained importance in this context, and the four nations strategically complement each other in forming a credible bulwark of strategic interdependence across key sectors, which will have lasting impact on regional growth and contribute to the economic development of the Asean region. The new prospect for enhanced economic and progressive development in Indonesia’s Nusantara capital relocation will add long-term value to this initiative and spur economic and infrastructure development in bridging the rural-urban divide, improve literacy and digital rate and enhance joint progressive development models in producing impactful and targeted Intellectual prowess in public administration TRUST, as a fundamental component of effective governance, plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, citizen engagement and the overall health of a democratic society. In recent years, Malaysia has faced a growing challenge of diminished trust in its administration and governance systems. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, Malaysia’s Trust Index Score declined by three points from 2022, averaging 62 points this year. Consequently, Malaysia dropped three places from its position last year and now ranks ninth on the Global Trust Index. Malaysia’s core institutions saw a decline in trust, with the government slipping below the trusted region (above 59 points) into neutral territory, at 54 points. Addressing a gathering of Public Service Department scholars at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on June 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the diminished trust issue and assured that the government is doing its best to address it. One approach to tackle the issue of trust is by leveraging the intellectual capabilities of public administrators. An important avenue to address the issue of trust lies in harnessing the intellectual prowess of public administrators. By emphasising knowledge, proficiency and professionalism, the prospect of restoring trust, credibility and confidence in governance can be realised. Intellectual prowess encompasses the cognitive abilities and intellectual agility that empower public administrators to maintain a balanced perspective in decision-making and day-to-day work. This aptitude for intellectual acumen will encourage autonomous thinking and critical analysis, allowing public administrators to adeptly question presumptions and explore alternative perspectives and solutions when necessary. At the same time, intellectual prowess plays a crucial role in promoting constructive dialogue between public administrators and their stakeholders. Equipped with knowledge and expertise, public administrators will be able to engage and communicate fluently, yet respect others’ views and perspectives in discussions. In turn, this will cultivate a culture of constructive discourse and collaboration among public administrators and stakeholders. To foster intellectual prowess, adopting an empirical approach that incorporates global perspectives, wisdom and experiences is essential. By prioritising intellectual capital through a conceptual and methodological shift, public administrators can ensure that the decisions they make are grounded on evidence-based research and expertise, rather than being driven solely by factors, such as political interests or personal biases. Simultaneously, public administrators should embrace comparative public administration. Engaging in dialogues on shared values, norms and structures will enable administrators to be exposed to a variety of perspectives, practices and approaches in governance and public service delivery. This will enable them to remain adaptable and relevant in developing practical solutions to public policy challenges, thus, enhancing public administrators’ decision-making abilities and overall utility in service delivery. In this context, the National Institute of Public Administration offers a diverse range of programmes, including lectures, workshops, forums and conferences, covering essential areas, such as governance, public policy, leadership, ethics and integrity, finance, economy and project management among others. These programmes aim to equip civil servants with the necessary knowledge for effective decision-making in meeting the needs of the people they serve. As the global landscape continues to evolve, public administrators must uphold professionalism and navigate the public administrative spectrum intelligently. By striving for intellectual growth and development, public administrators can advance public interest effectively, leveraging technical expertise, wisdom and affability. Sound knowledge and clear communication are indispensable skills that public administrators are required to have to avoid ambiguity and safeguard against the risk of inefficiency in service delivery. In conclusion, the significance of intellectual power among public administrators cannot be overstated. To effectively navigate the ever-changing landscape globally and at home and implement effective policies, public administrators must possess strong intellectual capacity by continuously embracing new perspectives and engaging with global scholarship. By doing so, they can drive positive change, upholding the public interest with integrity and efficiency. The writer is the Head of the Corporate and International Unit at the National Institute of Public Administration. Comments: [email protected] COMMENT by Dr Treesna Nadira Johar COMMENT by Collins Chong Yew Keat The state visit by the Sultan of Brunei underscores the growing importance of bilateral ties with Malaysia. – BERNAMAPIC Forging crucial partnership progress in the area. Brunei and Malaysia are also in the Washington-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. This serves as the cornerstone for spearheading a value-based development model and upholding the main pillars of this framework, which include fair and resilient trade, supply chain resilience and infrastructure, clean energy and decarbonisation. These elements provide a credible support for creating new incentivisation tools that prioritise progressive economic development in key future growth areas. This is crucial not only for Brunei and Malaysia but for regional stability. Malaysia remains one of Brunei’s closest and most crucial partners in maritime security. Brunei’s 2021 Defence White Paper underscores the strategic significance of its maritime region, in light of increasing security risks and vulnerabilities. Brunei has also enhanced its partnership with Malaysia in this regard. Examples include the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercise with the US, focusing on the full spectrum of naval capabilities and featuring cooperative evolutions that highlight the ability of the US and Brunei to work together towards ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific maritime security environment. Given the swift evolution of the security landscape in the South China Sea, Asean and its associated conflict prevention mechanisms remain one of the most important regional platforms for both countries. These platforms yield economic and peace benefits and will persist as vital avenues not only for safeguarding the interests of both countries, but also for maintaining a unified and harmonious stance in ensuring stability, prosperity and adherence to rules by external powers and internal stakeholders. Enhancing the synergy and integration of collaborative endeavours for mutual benefits will stand as a cornerstone, underscoring the significance of common origins, trust and understanding, while capitalising on collective strengths. The relationship between Malaysia and Brunei demands further augmentation and safeguarding as it remains the bedrock of bilateral and regional strength. The writer is the Foreign Affairs and Security Strategist at Universiti Malaya. Comments: [email protected] “Enhancing the synergy and integration of Malaysia-Brunei’s collaborative endeavours for mutual benefits will stand as a cornerstone, underscoring the significance of common origins, trust and understanding, while capitalising on collective strengths.

10 HEALTH & WELLNESS theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Strawberries aid cognition IN salads, smoothies, or straight from the tray, strawberries are a summertime treat for young and old alike. And that’s good news, considering that they’re packed with health benefits, as revealed by a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition. In fact, regular consumption of strawberries could improve cognitive function and lower blood pressure. We all know that it’s recommended to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to benefit from their fibre, their vitamin and mineral content, and, by extension, their health benefits. This is undoubtedly easier in the summer when a wide variety of fruit is available to help pair nutrition with pleasure. Strawberries are definitely high on the list of tasty summer treats! And that’s just as well since a new study sheds light on their many health benefits. Conducted by researchers at San Diego State University, USA, and presented at the Nutrition 2023 event, this study builds on previous research reporting benefits for metabolic, cardiovascular, and cognitive health. Although the study involved a small sample group of 35 men and women aged 66 to 78, it nevertheless demonstrates the potentially positive impact of strawberries on many aspects of health. The researchers asked participants to consume either 26 grammes of freeze-dried strawberry powder, corresponding to two servings of strawberries, or a placebo, without being told which they were taking, every day for eight weeks. The scientists report that strawberry consumption increased cognitive processing speed by 5.2%, lowered systolic blood pressure by 3.6%, and increased antioxidant capacity by 10.2%, compared with the placebo group. “This study demonstrates that consuming strawberries may promote cognitive function and improve cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension,“ said San Diego State professor and principal investigator on the study, Shirin Hooshmand, quoted in a news release. “We’re encouraged that a simple dietary change, like adding strawberries to the daily diet, may improve these outcomes in older adults.” Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, strawberries may not only play a role in cognitive function and cardiovascular health but also help boost the immune system and protect cells from free radical damage. As for the fibre they contain, like many fruits, it facilitates intestinal transit and, more generally, improves digestive health. - ETX STUDIO According to a new study, eating strawberries on a daily basis may improve cognitive function. – PIC BY 123RF TikTok’s ‘girl dinner’ trend could be a cause for concern ON TikTok, a bizarre trend is taking over with the rise of the “girl dinner.” The idea here is to show off what’s supposedly a typical “girl” kind of meal. From snack plates of deli meats, pickles, and tomatoes to a can of sweetcorn for dinner, everything and anything goes. But this strange trend has quickly taken a more problematic turn because of the message it A “girl dinner” could be a plate of cold cuts, olives, pickles and other snacks. – PIC BY 123RF sends to women. Lately, you might have noticed women on TikTok sharing their charcuterie boards loaded with tomatoes, pickles, toast, or fruit. It’s all part of a concept known as the “girl dinner.” And it’s become a viral trend on the Chinese social network, with the hashtag #girldinner now racking up 400 million views. While the trend was first and foremost aesthetic, it subsequently inspired other internet users to share their zany food combinations and offbeat meals. For example, a user by the name of Karma Pill posted a video of her meal consisting of a bowl of chipotle, praline peanuts, and carrots with peanut butter. While another serves herself baby porridge for dinner. All this is accompanied by an amusing jingle in the background of the videos. It all started with a video posted in May by Olivia Maher, a 28-yearold American influencer. Inspired by the food of medieval times, which consisted mainly of cheese and bread, Maher turned this into a “girl dinner,“ which she also called a “medieval peasant” meal. And while the trend seemed innocent enough at first, it gradually took a more problematic turn. In their videos, social media users have taken up the concept but shifted the focus to a more restrictive diet. Some eat nothing more than a piece of bread, a small can of sweetcorn, or simply some pickles. Others make do with a glass of ice cubes instead of food or simply a Coke Zero, like a TikToker called benisetmb. The latter examples, however, could be viewed as jokes, with a more ironic slant. Glorifying disordered eating? But if one thing seems certain, it is that showing off these minimal, poorly nourishing meals leads many people to worry that this is becoming a new way of glorifying disordered eating. “Girl dinner does not mean disordered eating dinner,“ says TikTok user Meija. She continues: “I know it’s meant to be jokes, but it is glorifying disordered eating as a cute little girly thing.” Another internet user, Lexie Firment, also criticises the potential consequences of the “girl dinner” trend in a video. “Girl dinner is breeding negative thoughts around food. Girl dinner is literally set up like girls eating snack plates for dinner with like four crackers, two pieces of ham, five pickles, and maybe some olives. What it’s really lacking is substance and calories. And while it’s really cool to see that these girls are actually eating, they’re not eating enough. At least, that’s in my opinion.” For dietician Esther Tambe, a snack plate might work as a convenient solution for those who don’t have time to prepare a full meal for themselves. However, the expert believes that it could convey a dangerous message to young people: “We don’t know what age group or who’s watching these videos and thinking, ‘This is the thing to do,‘” she told Buzzfeed. “Once we start having this type of messaging that can be in someone’s mind, ‘I shouldn’t eat this’ or ‘this is too much, that can lead to disordered eating.” The dietician also states that framing these kinds of meals as “girl” things might lead to a situation where women feel that “they have to eat a certain way”, or that, essentially, they “need to eat less than males.” She continues: “You should be eating what actually provides you with full, adequate nourishment, which may be more than that for some people, but that may be sufficient.” - ETX STUDIO

KLCI 1,445.81 0.60 STI 3,309.87 17.48 HANG SENG 19,537.92 SCI 3,268.83 NIKKEI 32,254.56 22.09 TSEC 16,996.00 152.32 KOSPI 2,580.71 S&P/ASX200 7,309.20 61.81 TUESDAY AUGUST 8, 2023 Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] Advertising Tel: 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] 5 MOST ACTIVES August 7, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) SAPNRG 468,552,100 5.0 +0.5 CLASSITA 290,162,400 13.5 -2.5 ASB 75,681,600 17.5 +1.0 WIDAD 55,320,500 43.5 +0.5 MSTGOLF 53,551,300 64.5 +5.0 EXCHANGERATES AUGUST 7, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.6110 4.4770 4.4770 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0510 2.9300 2.9070 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.4420 3.3420 3.3310 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.4440 3.3530 3.3470 1 EURO 5.0840 4.9200 4.8750 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8260 2.7230 2.6990 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.4420 3.3420 3.3310 1 STERLING POUND 5.8900 5.7070 5.6710 1 SWISS FRANC 5.2630 5.1420 5.1130 100 UAE DIRHAM 127.0400 120.4700 120.2700 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.2960 4.0310 3.8370 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 64.7500 62.0300 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 59.6800 56.7100 56.5300 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.6700 5.3200 5.1200 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0315 0.0285 0.0235 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.2600 3.1560 3.1290 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.6000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.6500 1.5400 1.3500 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.4000 7.9200 7.7400 100 QATAR RIYAL 127.9900 121.5000 121.3400 100 SAUDI RIYAL 124.3100 118.0100 117.8100 100 THAI BAHT 13.8900 12.3300 11.9500 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY August 7, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,618.00 +0.64 FBMKLCI 1,445.81 +0.60 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 556.36 +0.04 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 166.46 -0.04 CONSTRUCTION 169.72 +1.07 FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,172.20 +30.24 ENERGY 829.54 +3.18 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 579.80 -0.23 HEALTH CARE 1,727.56 -17.30 TRANSPORTATION 914.96 +3.72 PROPERTY 769.44 -1.36 PLANTATION 7,110.55 +29.84 FBMSHA 10,861.30 -10.20 FBMACE 5,253.39 -0.32 TECHNOLOGY 63.46 -0.25 TURNOVER VALUE 3.132 BIL RM1.344 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS August 7, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEXTECH 4,200 26.78 +0.74 MPI 137,100 28.40 +0.38 SUNMOW 4,000 1.55 +0.35 APOLLO 299,900 4.75 +0.22 HLFG 59,400 18.78 +0.18 5 TOP LOSERS August 7, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEIM 49,200 25.72 -0.14 KHIND 2,400 2.61 -0.10 PANAMY 15,200 20.10 -0.10 F&N 119,000 25.00 -0.08 IHH 1,225,000 5.93 -0.08 BNM international reserves at US$112.9b on July 31 PETALING JAYA: International reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) increased to US$112.9 billion (RM514.8 billion) as of July 31, compared with US$111.8 billion on July 14. The central bank said in a statement yesterday that the reserves position was sufficient to finance 5.1 months of imports of goods and services, and was 1.0 times the total short-term external debt. The main components of the international reserves were foreign currency reserves (US$100.7 billion), International Monetary Fund reserves position (US$1.4 billion), special drawing rights (US$5.7 billion), gold (US$2.4 billion) and other reserve assets (US$2.7 billion). Meanwhile, total assets stood at RM627.66 billion, comprising gold and foreign exchange and other reserves, including special drawing rights (RM529.26 billion), Malaysian government papers (RM12.59 billion), loans and advances (RM23.66 billion) land and buildings (RM4.14 billion) and other assets (RM58.01 billion). BNM said capital and liabilities comprised paid-up capital (RM100 million), reserves (RM183.56 billion), currency in circulation (RM158.44 billion), deposits by financial institutions (RM174.72 billion), federal government deposits (RM9.27 billion), other deposits (RM37.22 billion), Bank Negara papers (RM29.75 billion), allocation of special drawing rights (RM29.96 billion) and other liabilities (RM4.64 billion). – Bernama Rise in ATR awards reflects invigorated aviation sector PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) awarded 57 Air Traffic Rights (ATR) to the civil aviation sector between April and June, consisting of 45 international and 12 domestic routes. This was disclosed in Mavcom’s ATR report for the second quarter of this year (Q2’23). On a year-on-year basis, ATR applications saw a marked upswing in Q2’23 compared with the second quarter of 2022. There was a substantial increase of 87.5%, signalling an invigorated momentum within the aviation sector. While the aviation industry continued its recovery, the commission reported an 11.7% decrease in ATR applications in Q2’23 compared with the first quarter of the year. When compared with the second quarter of 2019 (pre-Covid-19 pandemic), ATR applications showed an increase of 5.3%. In Q2’23, there was a rise of 12 ATR awarded for the international sector compared with the same period in 2019, accentuating the expansion of the industry and a return to normalcy. Mavcom’s executive chairman, Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim, said: “As part of the commission’s continued efforts to ensure Mavcom says the significant increase in ATR applications and approvals bears testament to the industry’s inherent strength and its capacity to adapt and thrive. – BERNAMAPIC oMalaysian Aviation Commission approves 57 applications in Q2, enhances connectivity in Asean and beyond Yinson secures US$230m financing for FPSO KUALA LUMPUR: Yinson Production has secured a US$230 million (RM1.05 billion) term loan facility structured and arranged by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), in relation to the floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel, FPSO Maria Quitéria. In a joint statement issued yesterday, the companies said the loan facility marks the first transaction between Yinson Production and GIP that demonstrates the attractiveness and robust investment outlook of the FPSO industry within the global energy infrastructure market as well as Yinson Production. Yinson Production, the offshore production business unit of Yinson Holdings Bhd, was awarded the supply, operation, and maintenance of FPSO Maria Quitéria by Petróleo Brasileiro SA. in February last year. “The FPSO is destined for the Jubarte field as part of the Parque das Baleias Integrated Project offshore Brazil. “The construction of the FPSO is nearing 70% completion as of June 2023, which is in line with the project schedule. The FPSO is on track to achieve first oil in the second half of 2024,” the companies said. Yinson Production chief financial officer Markus Wenker said this transaction showcased the strength of Yinson Production in attracting highly sophisticated capital and its ability to broaden its funding base beyond Asia. “We are excited to continue building upon this partnership and further growing our network of lenders and investors globally to pivot to new opportunities in the FPSO market and create value for our shareholders,” he said. GIP credit managing director Jon Plavnick believed the investment further demonstrates GIP’s ability to provide customised capital solutions to top-tier infrastructure companies globally. GIP has about US$100 billion in assets under management. The company was joined in funding of the loan by other investors including Gramercy Funds Management. – Bernama 1.54 19.25 16.10 that Malaysia’s aviation industry remains dynamic and responsive to global travel trends, we have approved ATR for various new destinations as well as to establish new hub connections. These decisive measures are specifically tailored to enhance connectivity, spur economic growth, and catalyse the recovery of the aviation sector. We are particularly encouraged to see airlines seizing these opportunities for expansion. “The significant increase in ATR applications and approvals in Q2 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, bears testament to the industry’s inherent strength and its capacity to adapt and thrive.” AirAsia and its logistics arm Teleport, received 16 ATR for international and domestic routes. With 16 approvals, constituting 28% of the total 57 ATR awarded, AirAsia secured the lion’s share in the quarter. During the quarter under review, Batik Air was given ATR approvals to fly to new destinations including Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Okinawa, Japan via Taipei. Meanwhile, AirAsia X received ATR approval to service the Almaty, Kazakhstan, route. Concurrently, Teleport received ATR for routes encompassing Hong Kong and key sectors in Sabah and Sarawak, namely Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Tawau. In line with Malaysia Aviation Group’s strategy to position Kota Kinabalu as a regional hub for Firefly, ATR approvals was granted for flights from Kota Kinabalu to Narita and Taipei in May 2023. Complementing these expansions, Mavcom awarded MYAirline with ATR approvals to Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, broadening Malaysia’s connectivity within the Asean region. Meanwhil,e following approval given, MYAirline has been flying to Bangkok, Thailand, since June. Participation 34.2 43.3 22.5 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 447.9 593.1 303.8 1344.8 Sold RM m 471.7 570.1 303.0 1344.8 Net RM m -23.8 23.0 0.8 0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 7/8/2023

12 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 SUNBIZ /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME LGMS penetrates Cambodia banking cybersecurity market KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysialisted LGMS Bhd has penetrated the Cambodian banking market by helping ABA Bank to secure the international Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification. ABA Bank, a subsidiary of the National Bank of Canada, is Cambodia’s largest commercial bank with the most assets, deposits, loans and profitability based on the National Bank of Cambodia’s 2021 Annual Supervision Report. LGMS is one of Southeast Asia’s leading cybersecurity groups with a presence spanning 127 offices in 63 countries and 26 offices across 15 Asia-Pacific nations. LGMS chief operating officer Gilbert Chu, who was in Phnom Penh recently for the certification, said in a statement yesterday that the attainment of the PCI DSS oBursa-listed company helps ABA Bank to secure international certification certification not only underscored ABA Bank’s commitment to ensuring the highest security standards for online transactions and customer data protection but also attested to the quality of LGMS services. He said this placed ABA Bank in an elite group of global financial institutions whose commitment towards safeguarding cardholder information is certified. The process required a stringent audit conducted by LGMS, a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), of ABA Bank’s systems, policies and procedures to demonstrate the lender’s full compliance with rigorous international PCI DSS requirements. Chu said that as cyber threats continued to grow in scale and sophistication, robust cybersecurity measures were crucial in maintaining trust and confidence in digital transactions. ABA Bank chief information officer Galymzhan Temirov described the PCI DSS certification as representing the bank’s unwavering pursuit of excellence in secure financial services and upholding the highest standards in online transaction security and customer data protection. On LGMS’ strategic plans for regional expansion in neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam, Chu said that market trends and the increasing demand for cybersecurity services continued to drive LGMS’ growth strategy. “As more organisations prioritise corporate security and shift towards cloud computing, the demand for specialised cybersecurity services – including vulnerability management, incident response, digital forensics and cybersecurity consulting – has continued to surge,” he said. In April this year, Mitsui & Co Ltd, one of Japan’s most diversified conglomerates, became a substantial shareholder in LGMS with a 25% equity interest. Chu said following LGMS’ strategic partnership with Mitsui, the company has embarked on an aggressive expansion drive in Southeast Asia to meet the region’s evergrowing demand for cybersecurity services. – Bernama MASkargo equips cargo dollies with tracking solution KUALA LUMPUR: In optimising the use of its 20-foot dollies, MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) has incorporated the usage of a digital tracking solution in their operations. This digital system enables complete control over ground operations by increasing dolly utilisation, automatically allocating dollies within the airport to prepare for peak hours and enhancing ontime performance. “There are only 16 units of the 20 footer in our fleet and these are constantly in great demand due to their ability to take on more weight per trip. With a tracker on each dolly, we now have complete visibility of the dollies across the airport grounds”, said MASkargo’s ramp handling manager, Abu Bakar Kassim. “In line with our core belief of “Digital is our Universe”, MASkargo constantly strives for innovation and are on the lookout for unique and cost-effective ways to improve terminal operations. “In working with the LoraWAN gateway and AWS IOT platform, we have eliminated manual searches and are able to monitor the dollies inventory in real time for quick retrieval. This, in turn, translates to better customer service and more efficient operations”, he added. The system was handed over by Apecia Sdn Bhd senior IT consultant Tim Wong to Abu Bakar yesterday, upon the completion of device installation and testing for 16 units of 20-foot dollies in MASkargo. Complete with geofencing alarm with 1.5km coverage, the ground team can look at achieving higher levels of safety and functionality. Wong (right) and Abu Bakar at the handover ceremony. EVE Energy breaks ground for Kulim factory with initial US$422 million investment KUALA LUMPUR: Global lithium battery manufacturer EVE Energy Co Ltd yesterday announced the groundbreaking ceremony for its new manufacturing facility with an initial investment of US$422 million (RM1.924 billion) in Kulim, Kedah. Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said in a joint statement that the new factory, which will be EVE’s 53rd, will focus on the production of cylindrical lithium ion batteries to support power tools and electric twowheelers manufacturing in the country and across Southeast Asia. EVE Energy Malaysia Sdn Bhd director Joe Chen said the initial project will be constructed in phases and the construction period will not exceed three years. “This is an important milestone for EVE to expand our global businesses, enhance our comprehensive competitiveness and to further grow our global market share. “Relying on EVE’s domestic advantages and operational experience, we will build a cylindrical battery production base in Malaysia to support the electric two-wheelers and power tools in Malaysia,” he said. Meanwhile, Mida deputy CEO (investment development) Lim Bee Vian said the project aligns perfectly with the nation’s 12th Malaysia Plan and the National Automotive Policy 2020 towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “By establishing this cylindrical battery manufacturing plant in Malaysia, we demonstrate our commitment to competitiveness in the international market. “Today’s celebration marks a crucial milestone that not only benefits EVE but also paves the way for more companies to invest in Malaysia in the electric vehicle (EV) industry and its ecosystems,” she added. – Bernama inDrive.Freight arrives in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru PETALING JAYA: inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has launched its service for searching and ordering same-day and ondemand cargo transport for any 20+kg freight in Malaysia. Known as inDrive.Freight, the service is now available in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru, and the company plans to expand it to more cities. inDrive.Freight utilises inDrive’s unique peer-to-peer solution where users can set their own price for the transport service and allow movers to choose the most profitable delivery requests. inDrive business development representative (SEA & Oceania) Andersson Watulingas said the logistic solution is not only for everyday people but also for small and medium businesses in Malaysia. “Whether you need a vehicle to move out to a new place or to quickly fulfill a delivery order to your customers, inDrive.Freight will be able to connect you with movers and a wide range of vehicles instantly. “Our users also can get the most appropriate and fair freight options with the ability to set their own price for the service, a distinctive feature for all inDrive products,” Watulingas said in a statement. Recently, inDrive B2B segment introduced new solutions in inDrive delivery verticals (freight and couriers) by expanding the team and the acquisition of new tech solutions. The company completed a transaction with Master Delivery (MD), a SaaS platform for last-mile delivery. MD’s team in charge of global expansion will join inDrive to strengthen its capacity for segment development. The transaction also covers inDrive’s acquisition of MD’s exclusive technology and its integration into its existing offering to the B2B segment. inDrive said it is expanding its B2B offering to better meet the specific needs of business customers. As part of the effort, the company is looking to introduce a number of features, including a single business account, service level agreement (SLA) with an on-time delivery guarantee, courier management system, consolidated analytics, and more. inDrive added that it will better support SMEs and expand opportunities in the enterprise-grade delivery market, where speed, reliability, and quality are critical with the business-focused tools. Waqf can help ease govt’s fiscal deficit burden, says economist KUALA LUMPUR: Waqf, a charitable endowment in the form of funds or properties, has the potential to ease the federal government’s fiscal deficit burden and can act as an instrument to reduce the country’s spending and gradually minimise funding gaps. It could also complement fiscal policy as waqf helps to alleviate the financial burden among the needy; and if implemented correctly to reach certain economies of scale, it could ensure economic prosperity for all, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist and social finance head Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid. “That way, it may reduce the need for the government to introduce new taxes in order to address the widening fiscal deficits and debt burden,” he told Bernama. Malaysia’s fiscal deficit is expected to consolidate further in 2023 to 5% of gross domestic product, falling to RM93.94 billion from RM99.48 billion in 2022. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given assurance that the government could achieve the target of reducing the country’s fiscal deficit to 5.0% of the GDP in 2023 and to 3.2% in 2025. In Malaysia, waqf takes many forms, including funding mobile clinics and tahfiz institutions, land endowments for the construction of public amenities such as mosques and schools, or purchases of wheelchairs, hemodialysis machines, busses and even water filters. Securities Commission Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin said waqf has the potential to be an important Islamic social finance instrument to achieve socioeconomic development goals in addressing poverty, unemployment, and financing of healthcare, education and infrastructure development. In Malaysia, waqf assets are estimated to be worth more than RM1.3 trillion, said Awang Adek.

13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Automobile – a Toyota dealer serving customers in Penampang since 2005, has expanded from a 1S to 3S centre. The new centre was opened at Mile 6, Jalan Penampang, offering sales & s e r v i c e centre facilities to customers in Penampang and surrounding areas in Kota Kinabalu. The new 3S centre is equipped with 18 service bays to meet the needs of Toyota drivers. Over in Peninsular Malaysia, residents of Muar welcomed a new Toyota 4S centre when E.S. Yang Motor – a Toyota dealer since 1994, officially opened its new 4S outlet in Jalan Dato’ Haji Kosai, combining its previously separated 1S, 2S and body & paint outlets. The new 4S centre offers 14 service bays and 20 body & paint bays. BMW and Gentari in RE, green mobility collaboration KUALA LUMPUR: Clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari) via its wholly owned subsidiary Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BMW Group Malaysia (BMW) to explore the implementation of green mobility services and solutions, as well as renewable energy (RE) deployment. Gentari and BMW are currently actively working together to explore potential collaborations in areas such as installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at various facilities, including among others, the BMW network of dealerships; various EV fleet solutions in the Malaysia market; value-added services for BMW EV owners including EV charging subscription plans, electric forecourts, portable charging and mobile charging services; and deployment of joint renewable energy infrastructure. The signing ceremony held at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur was attended by Gentari deputy CEO & Green Mobility Sdn Bhd CEO Shah Yang Razalli and BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser. Shah Yang said, “We are thrilled Shah Yang (left) and de Visser during the signing ceremony recently. Change in socioeconomic picture as economy improves PUTRAJAYA: The key socioeconomic indicator for some states improved in 2022, buoyed by a 248.1% rise in domestic tourism expenditure reaching RM64.1 billion versus RM18.4 billion in 2021, according to the State Socioeconomic Report 2022 released by the Statistics Department Malaysia (DoSM). Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement yesterday that domestic visitor numbers spiked by 160.1%, reaching a record of 171.6 million visitors against 2021’s 66 million. “The resumption of Malaysia’s international borders and its transition to the endemic phase on April 1, 2022 profoundly impacted the country’s socioeconomic landscape,” he said, as reflected in Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) which rose 8.7% versus 3.3% in 2021, marking its best performance since 2000. Mohd Uzir said the reopening of all economic activities, particularly tourism-related industries, helped strengthen the country’s economy. “The permission for interstate travel and the implementation of various government initiatives to revitalise the tourism industry, which was affected the past two years, helped promote domestic tourism,” oBrighter landscape in some states as reopening of borders, pandemic transition revitalises tourism sector: Statistics Dept he said. He added Selangor received the most visitors with 22 million, followed by the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak each receiving 16.9 million and 15.5 million visitors, respectively. Domestic tourists rose 337.1% to 65.1 million against 14.9 million in 2021, with Pahang recording the highest growth at 511.8% with 7.8 million arrivals from 1.3 million in 2021, elevating Pahang’s GDP growth in arts, entertainment and other private services to 96.7%, Mohd Uzir said. This substantially improved living standards with the median monthly household income rising to RM6,338 in 2022 from RM5,873 in 2019. Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest median income growth at RM10,234, followed by Putrajaya at RM10,056, and Selangor at RM9,983, he said. The increase in income also influenced household expenditure patterns with Malaysian households spending RM5,150 per month in 2022 on average versus RM4,609 in 2021. Putrajaya registered the highest average monthly household expenditure at RM8,897. Other states that recorded household expenditures which exceeded the national average were Kuala Lumpur at RM7,823, Selangor at RM6,770, Malacca (RM5,707), Johor (RM5,342) and Penang (RM5,322), he said. Mohd Uzir said the surge in household income boosted consumer purchasing power which in turn increased the demand for goods and services. “This was one of the factors which contributed to the increase in consumer prices. This was apparent as Malaysia’s inflation rose to 3.3% compared to 2.5% in 2021,” he added. This was driven by an increase in the expenses related to the food and beverage group at 5.8%; restaurants and hotels at 5%; transportation at 4.7% and household furnishings, equipment and maintenance at 3.5%. Three states that experienced inflation rates that exceeded 3.3% were Putrajaya, at 7.3%, which was the highest, followed by Selangor at 4.2%, and Johor at 3.4%. On the other hand, Labuan’s 2022 inflation rate, at 2.4%, was the lowest and lower than the 3.3% national average. Mohd Uzir said the government’s proactive measures accelerated the economic transition from recovery to consolidation. “Economic recovery is not only translated through stronger economic growth. It is also reflected in an improvement in the community’s standard of living and social well-being,” he said. – Bernama Foreign buying streak on Bursa continues PETALING JAYA: Net foreign buying of equities on Bursa Malaysia continued into its fourth consecutive week, although at a more moderate rate of RM130.5 million last week, said MIDF Research. In its weekly fund flow, the research house remarked that it was a mixed trading week, with inflows recorded on Monday at RM280.9 million and Friday at RM42.3 million, while the rest of the week saw outflows. From Tuesday to Thursday, it said the foreign investors have net sold a total of RM192.7 million, primarily disposing of stocks in Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (RM46.6 million), CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (RM33.5 million) and PPB Group Bhd (RM28.3 million). “The top three sectors that saw net inflows were financial services (RM116.7 million), utilities (RM96.6 million) and plantation (RM81.1 million). “Sectors with net outflows for the week were consumer products and services (RM93.4 million), industrial products and services (RM65 million) as well as telecommunications and media (RM33.4 million). Year-to-date (YTD), foreigners have net sold RM2.93 billion,” it said in a statement yesterday. In contrast, MIDF said that the local institutions remained net sellers of domestic equities for the fourth week in a row after net selling RM122 million last week. “The majority of the outflows took place on Monday at RM255.4 million, whereby local institutions were mainly net selling Malayan Banking Bhd (RM50.6 million), Tenaga Nasional Bhd (RM43.4 million) and Public Bank Bhd (RM24.6 million). YTD, local institutions have been net buyers with inflows amounting to RM3 billion, MIDF said. In addition, it said that the local retailers net sold for the fourth consecutive week at a lower rate of RM8.5 million. YTD, local retailers have net sold RM76.4 million. In terms of participation, it said that there was a decline in average daily trading volume across the board, with retail investors (16.8%), local institutions (20.8%) and foreign investors (6.5%). to collaborate with a prestigious automotive brand like BMW to expand the accessibility of green mobility services and solutions in Malaysia. Additionally, Gentari’s capabilities in renewable energy will also help to establish a more comprehensive green electron value chain and together, we can pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future.” Hans de Visser, meanwhile, said, “As the leading premium automaker offering the largest portfolio of electric vehicles in Malaysia, we at BMW Group Malaysia are pleased to collaborate with Gentari to develop more mobility solutions, services as well as infrastructure to drive more clean and responsible technology, and practices for the automotive industry here. I can already envision this partnership shaping the future mobility landscape of Malaysia, offering more solutions created through the means of sustainable development and circularity.” Since its introduction in June 2022, Gentari has rapidly expanded its green mobility network. To date, Gentari through its affiliated entities, has deployed over 160 charging points in Malaysia and over 170 charging points in India. With a mission to be Asia Pacific’s most valued clean energy solutions partner by 2030, Gentari aims to capture over 10% market share of charge points and Vehicle-as-aService (VaaS) offering, across key markets in Asia Pacific. In the same vein of developing the EV ecosystem here, BMW Group Malaysia has also made over 1,000 charging facilities available in its network thus far. Access to over 400 of these facilities provided are through partnerships with ChargEV and Yinson Greentech, while the partnership with JomCharge enables access to over 100 charging facilities, Gentari with over 150 facilities as well as approximately 160 facilities from new partners such as Shell Recharge with ParkEasy, ChargeN’Go, ChargeSini, Go To-U and FlexiParking. Over 100 BMW i and MINI charging facilities are also available at most authorised dealerships, as well as partnering venues across the country, with more to come as part of the strategic infrastructure expansion plan set for the year ahead. UMWT year-to date sales total 57,008 units at end of July PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) reported a year-todate total sales of 57,008 units as of July 2023, compared to 52,548 units for the same period last year, marking an 8.5% increase. The sales for the month of July 2023 saw a 25.8% increase compared to July 2022. A total of 8,349 units were sold, comprising 8,200 Toyota and 149 Lexus. UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran K. said that, “To further expand the experience of driving a Toyota to more consumers, we are making Toyota ownership more accessible than ever with the growth of our sales and service centres, as well as our Extra Mile services together with monthly promotions that make it easier to purchase and own a Toyota.” On the expansion of its sales and service centres, Armada KK UMWT is expanding sales and service centres to make car ownership easier for all. – TOYOTA MALAYSIA WEBSITE

14 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 SUNBIZ China municipal debt comes out of the shadows BEIJING: China’s promised “basket of measures” to defuse local government debt risks is likely to include special bond issuance, debt swaps, loan rollovers, and something Beijing really loathes: dipping into the central budget. Local governments are fundamental to China’s economy, with Beijing tasking provincial and city officials with meeting ambitious growth targets. But after years of over-investment in infrastructure, plummeting returns from land sales and soaring Covid costs, economists say debt-laden municipalities now represent a major risk to China’s economy. Chinese leaders last month pledged, without detailing, to help ease their debts, signalling worries over a potential chain of municipal debt defaults destabilising the financial sector. Economists took that message as being more constructive than in April, when Communist Party leaders demanded “strict control” of local debts. The implication, they say, is that Beijing o‘Basket of measures’ to reduce risks could involve state bank loans and special bonds, say economists Credit Suisse to slash 80% of HK investment bank jobs HONG KONG: Around 80% of Hong Kongbased investment banking staff at Credit Suisse will be made redundant starting this week, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as part of the bank’s integration with UBS Group. Only about 20 bankers will be spared the cuts that will impact Credit Suisse’s 100-strong investment banking team in the territory, the people said, declining to be identified as discussions on the matter were private. Hong Kong accounts for Credit Suisse’s biggest share of investment bankers in Asia. Credit Suisse and UBS declined to comment. UBS closed a Swiss government-backed deal to buy its troubled peer in June after a series of soured deals sparked an exodus of clients. It has since said it would reduce risk in Credit Suisse’s investment banking operation. UBS laid off employees from Credit Suisse’s investment bank in New York last week, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the situation. UBS has also decided to close Credit Suisse’s office in Houston, the source said. Market participants expect UBS to provide more detail this month on its integration plans. Its targets and indications from insiders and analysts point to cuts amounting to about a third of the combined group’s global workforce. Reuters reported in June that UBS was looking to retain over 100 Credit Suisse investment bankers across Asia to shore up talent in markets where the latter has a stronger presence. Besides Hong Kong, other regional markets in which Credit Suisse has investment bankers include China, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, South Korea, Thailand and India. Its total investment banking headcount in the region was not immediately known. As part of the integration, most Credit Suisse investment banking teams in Hong Kong will be able to keep just one or two staff, though certain sector coverage teams will be removed entirely, the two people said. Those retained will mostly work on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), they said. Christian Deiss, head of Credit Suisse’s AsiaPacific M&A business since 2021, is leading the regional investment banking transition in collaboration with UBS, the people said. Deiss did not immediately respond to a request for comment. – Reuters Saudi Aramco second-quarter profit drops on lower oil prices RIYADH: Oil firm Saudi Aramco yesterday announced profits of US$30.08 billion (RM137 billion) for the second quarter, a sharp fall from the same period last year when prices surged after Russia invaded Ukraine. The 38% year-on-year decline “mainly reflected the impact of lower crude oil prices and weakening refining and chemicals margins,” the largely state-owned company said in a statement published on the Saudi stock exchange. The decline followed a drop of 19.25% in the first quarter. “Our strong results reflect our resilience and ability to adapt through market cycles,” CEO Amin Nasser said. “We continue to demonstrate our longstanding ability to meet the needs of customers around the world with high levels of reliability. For our shareholders, we intend to start distributing our first performance-linked dividend in the third quarter.” Production from the world’s biggest crude exporter was down after Riyadh in April announced cuts of 500,000 barrels per day, part of a coordinated move with other oil powers to slash supply by more than one million bpd in a bid to prop up prices. In June, the Saudi energy ministry announced a further voluntary cut of one million bpd which took effect in July and has been extended through September. The kingdom’s daily production is now approximately nine million bpd, far below its reported daily capacity of 12 million bpd. Saudi Arabia is counting on high oil prices to fund a sweeping reform agenda known as Vision 2030 that aims to shift its economy away from fossil fuels. Analysts say the kingdom needs oil to be priced at around US$80 per barrel to balance its budget. Prices are now above that threshold, a sign that the recent supply cuts are starting to have the desired effect. The cuts “show the lengths to which the kingdom will go to defend oil prices, as a slumping market for its lifeblood commodity is damaging to its ambitious economic diversification efforts,” said Herman Wang, associate director for oil news at S&P Global Commodity Insights. Aramco is undertaking investments to ramp up national production capacity to 13 million bpd by 2027. – AFP B R I E F STHAILAND’S RICE EXPORTS BENEFITTING FROM INDIA’S EXPORT BAN BANGKOK: Thailand is benefiting from India’s rice export ban and has no reason to halt shipments of the grain itself, its commerce minister said yesterday. The government would ensure sufficient rice output for both domestic consumption and exports, and also make sure domestic prices are not too high, minister Jurin Laksanawisit told a press briefing. In the first seven months, Thailand shipped 4.8 million metric tons, he said, adding monthly exports stood at 700,000 to 800,000 metric tons. Thailand, the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India, is expected to export more than 8 million metric tons of rice this year, up from 7.71 million last year. – Reuters UK HOUSE PRICES FALL FOR 4TH MONTH LONDON: British house prices fell in July for a fourth month and the slide looks set to extend into 2024, but the market showed some signs of resilience despite a rise in borrowing costs, mortgage lender Halifax said yesterday. Prices fell 0.3% from June, adding to similar falls since April, Halifax said. Britain’s housing market has slowed in the face of a relentless run of interest rate increases by the Bank of England since December 2021 aimed at reining in stubbornly high inflation. Halifax said prices were little changed over the last six months and demand from first-time buyers was holding up, with some of them seeking smaller homes to offset higher mortgage rates. – Reuters INDONESIA Q2 GDP GROWTH STRONGEST IN 3 QUARTERS JAKARTA: Indonesia’s economic growth in the second quarter accelerated unexpectedly to its highest rate in three quarters, shored up by strong household and government spending, and despite its exports weakening amid falling commodity prices. However, some economists still expect activity to slow in the second half of the year, with exports likely to fall due to weaker global demand and businesses potentially delaying investments ahead of general elections due in February 2024. – Reuters GERMAN INDUSTRY OUTPUT PLUNGES IN JUNE BERLIN: German industrial output plunged in June, official data showed yesterday, with the economy ministry warning of a gloomy outlook as high energy prices and interest rates took their toll. Output fell for the second consecutive month, but the drop of 1.5% from a month ago was wider than the 0.1% slip in May, according to data published by the Federal Statistics Office Destatis. It was also a bigger fall than expected by analysts polled by Factset, who forecasted a 0.5% decline. “The outlook for the industrial economy remains gloomy despite the rising demand, because these are strongly affected by fluctuations of big orders,“ said the economy ministry. – AFP Only about 20 bankers will be spared the cuts that will impact Credit Suisse’s 100-strong investment banking team in the territory. – AFPPIX has realised it needs to urgently throw cash at the problem. That could represent a major breakthrough in finding a way out of China’s municipal debt crisis, with Beijing having for years demanded that local administrations sort themselves out. “The local debt problem is complex so you cannot simply say you don’t want to take responsibility,” said Guo Tianyong, professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, explaining the politburo’s directions. The extent of any central government involvement, and any conditions attached to it, are still subject to debate, two policy advisers told Reuters. Whether the package of measures will be a short-term or multi-year plan also remains unknown. Local government debt reached 92 trillion yuan (RM58 trillion), or 76% of economic output in 2022, up from 62.2% in 2019. Part of it is debt issued by local government finance vehicles (LGFVs), which cities use to raise money for infrastructure projects. The International Monetary Fund expects LGFV debt to reach US$9 trillion this year. The central government, which has repeatedly warned about “hidden debt risks” worries the numbers are even higher when accounting for any debt issued outside municipal balance sheets. It is an unsustainable situation that puts Beijing in a bind: provide no help and the economic model unravels with severe consequences on growth and social stability, or step in at the risk of encouraging more reckless spending. “A principle should be established: not all debt will be assumed by the central government,” a policy adviser told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Most economists expect Beijing to instruct state-owned banks to keep rolling over maturing debt with longer-term loans at lower interest rates, a strategy often referred to as “extend and pretend.” The banks, however, need to be selective based on the magnitude and urgency of any refinancing task. Debt restructurings hurt their own balance sheet, hampering their ability to finance other parts of the economy. For many local governments “to keep vital functions you need transfers from Beijing and to develop you need to issue bonds – the central leadership is aware of that,” a source at a state bank told Reuters after a recent work trip to two indebted provinces. Local governments themselves will have responsibilities, above all to come clean. Local governments are likely to use left-over bond issuance quotas from last year to swap “hidden debt” with official bonds on their balance sheet, according to analysts, with up to 2.6 trillion yuan to be issued. – Reuters

8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 T U E S D A Y Inside: Secrets, horrifying revelations, a baby gender reveal, a shocking divorce.. and more...

16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 BELATEDLY, Serena Williams, the renowned pro tennis player, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, are expecting a baby girl. The couple shared the exciting news at a delightful “baby shower-slashgender reveal” party. Wiliams, dressed in pink and white, expressed her anticipation and nervousness about the baby’s gender. The outdoor celebration featured a vibrant rainbowcoloured balloon arch and a balloon bouquet resembling trees, creating a picturesque setting. The event was filled with dancing, music, and heartfelt moments of hugging among guests. However, Ohanian had a surprise in store: he ordered a yellow cake to playfully trick Wiliams into believing it was a gender reveal for “Jelly Bean”. To everyone’s amusement, Wiliams playfully smashed the cake into Ohanian’s face before they moved on to the real gender reveal. An exciting display of lights from drones spelled out “Girl!” as everyone cheered with joy. Serena, Alexis, and their daughter Olympia were overjoyed with the news of welcoming a baby girl to their family. Back in May, Serena shared the happy news of her second pregnancy on Instagram, along with pictures of her and Alexis. In the past, Serena had contemplated the idea of having children, unsure about bringing a child into a troubled world, but she now embraces the journey of motherhood with enthusiasm. Throughout her pregnancy, the family of three enjoyed a memorable European baby moon together, documenting their experiences on their respective Instagram profiles. The new addition to their family is sure to bring even more joy and love into their lives. Williams’ journey from tennis superstar to expectant mother has been a source of inspiration and joy for her fans worldwide. With the impending arrival of their baby girl, the Williams-Ohanian family is ready to embark on their next great adventure with smiles and excitement. READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Sofia and Joe’s shocking divorce oThe Modern Family star enforces prenup and asset protection ACTRESS Sofía Vergara aims to uphold her prenup with Joe Manganiello as they navigate their sudden divorce. In her response to Manganiello’s divorce filing, she also cites “irreconcilable differences” as the cause for ending their marriage, as per recently acquired documents from People magazine. The Colombian-American actress has requested the court enforce their prenuptial agreement and validate that specific assets, such as jewellery, artwork, and personal effects, should be recognised as solely hers. Additionally, she asserted that her earnings both prior to and during their marriage should be considered her personal assets. Manganiello, 46, and Vergara, 51, publicly disclosed their decision to divorce after being married for seven years. They made t h e announcement in a joint statement shared with the media on July 17. “We have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the couple said in t h e █ BYHAZIQUE ZAIRILL Lizzo faces harassment and discrimination charges IN a shocking turn of events, three former dancers of Grammy-winning artist Lizzo have filed a lawsuit against the singer, accusing her of sexual and racial harassment as well as creating a hostile work environment. The legal action was initiated in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and the dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley. The dancers – Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez – made disturbing allegations in their complaint. They claimed that during an event at a club in Amsterdam called Bananenbar, Lizzo coerced them into touching nude performers and engaging in sexually explicit activities. The dancers also stated that Lizzo subjected them to weight-shaming, creating a toxic and demeaning atmosphere. According to the lawsuit, Lizzo allegedly pressured Davis to touch one of the nude performers, even though Davis explicitly expressed her discomfort with the request. The singer purportedly went even further, badgering a security guard at the club to strip on stage and subjecting him to humiliation. The lawsuit didn’t spare Lizzo’s dance team captain Quigley, either. The dancers accused her of proselytising and moral policing, making judgements about people’s sexual activities, and oversharing personal details about her relationship with her husband. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the lawsuit also highlighted racial discrimination within the management of Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. The dancers claimed that the company’s Caucasian management treated Black members of the dance team differently, using derogatory language and making unfair accusations of laziness and unprofessional behaviour. Moreover, the dancers asserted that Lizzo and her team indirectly criticised Davis’ weight gain, leading her to divulge private and intimate details of her life to keep her job. These incidents allegedly contradicted Lizzo’s public image, which promotes body positivity and self-acceptance. The dancers, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams, originally joined Lizzo’s team after appearing on her Amazon reality show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, in 2021, but they were later terminated. Noelle Rodriguez, on the other hand, was hired after performing in Lizzo’s music video Rumors the same year, but she resigned in 2022, citing undisclosed reasons. The lawsuit includes additional allegations of false imprisonment and interference with prospective economic advantage, with each claim directed at specific defendants. Lizzo and her representatives have not yet responded to the allegations, leaving the public to await their official statement. Similarly, Quigley and the production company’s representatives have yet to address the accusations made against them. This disturbing lawsuit sheds light on the alleged misconduct occurring behind the scenes in the music industry. Serena reveals gender of second baby █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ █ BYTHASHINE SELVAKUMARAN The ex-couple had considerable differences despite a positive public image. – PEOPLE A happy Williams-Ohanian family. – PEOPLE The singer has been slapped with serious allegations. – INSTAGRAM statement. “As two people who love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect for our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.” Two days later, Manganiello filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the couple’s split. Manganiello listed the date of separation as July 2 and noted the pair had a prenup. Despite their mutual love and respect, a source revealed to People that Vergara and Manganiello had significant differences in their preferences and interests. Throughout their marriage, they made efforts to prioritise each other’s interests to make it work. However, they have experienced ups and downs for a considerable period of time. Despite any challenges they faced, they maintained a positive public image. On the day Vergara responded to Manganiello’s divorce filing, a source informed People that the actress is handling the situation remarkably well. “She is sad that her marriage didn’t work out, but she feels very fortunate anyway,” the source said. “She has a great life that she loves. She is staying at her house for now. Joe is living elsewhere.” The source also added that “no drama” exists between the f o r m e r couple.

17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 oA beloved local cult classic, Rahsia gets a contemporary reboot The revelation of a horrible truth █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL captivating beach sequences, and the enigmatic stone wall. Moreover, the reboot introduces novel aspects, featuring an updated storyline that resonates with contemporary audiences and an intricately woven emotional narrative that adds depth to the story. Executive Producer for Rahsia and Vice President, Malay Nusantara Business and Head of Astro Shaw, Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, said that the film was chosen for the reboot because it is a masterpiece and a cult classic with a storyline that remains relevant today. “It is a great film that is worth rewatching over and over again. When it comes to making quality films, a lot of effort is required,” she said. “We hope that this Rahsia reboot can satisfy fans of the original while attracting a new generation of audiences, once again creating a phenomenon like the original did back then.” Return of veteran talents The tale starts as Ramlah, a homemaker, returns to her father’s residence for his birthday during a holiday break. Accompanying her are her husband, Hamdan, a lecturer, along with their children, Marina and Saiful. However, a twist of events occurs when Saiful suddenly goes missing during a beach picnic. While the authorities conclude Saiful’s disappearance, Ramlah is troubled by glimpses of her child and uncovers the enigma behind Saiful’s vanishing act. The original Rahsia caused a sensation in 1987 with its mysterious and thrilling storyline. It achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first local horror film to clinch the Best Film award at the 7th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM7), securing seven additional accolades across various categories, including the esteemed title of Best Director. The Rahsia reboot also boasts an impressive group of actors, including notable names like Nabila Huda, Fikry Ibrahim, Eman Manan, Marsha Milan, Rashidi Ishak, Qistina Raisah, Syed Ali Murtadha, Mislina Mustaffa, Aloy Paradoks, and Nabil Zakaria. Furthermore, the film features special appearances by Othman Hafsham and Susan Lankester. Nabila Huda once again displays her exceptional acting skills and versatility in her portrayal of the character Ramlah. She infuses the role with her own unique personality and nuances. Notably, she shares the screen with the esteemed Eman Manan, making his return to cinema after a hiatus of over ten years. This dynamic pairing is bound to leave a profound and enduring impression on the audience. Be among the first to experience the film by attending the Sneak Preview on Aug 9, starting at 8pm. Rahsia will be officially released in cinemas nationwide beginning Aug 10. A horrifying secret unveils itself again. THE new horror film Rahsia, brought to the audience by the renowned production houses Astro Shaw and Five Star Trading, known for their achievements with hits like Dukun and Pusaka, is scheduled to hit 150 theatres across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei on Aug 10. The film marks a significant cinematic venture as it breathes new life into a beloved local cult classic from 1987 with the same title. Under the philosophical banner of Dia Takkan Pergi (It Will Not Leave), this reimagination is skillfully directed by Shamyl Othman. His involvement in the project carries a profound personal resonance, as he undertakes the artistic responsibility of revitalising a work of art deeply intertwined with his own lineage – his father being the original film’s director, Othman Hafsham. Bringing back the good stuff The screenplay is expertly crafted by acclaimed writer Alfie Palermo, known for creating the popular drama series One Cent Thief. This reboot preserves certain familiar elements and scenes from the original film, such as the selfmoving toy car, the mysteriously playing piano, the animated doll, the distinctive bungalow house, GET ready, as the charismatic Korean heartthrob, Kim Seon Ho, is about to whisk you away on a whimsical rollercoaster ride of emotions. The city is buzzing with excitement as the 2023 Kim Seon Ho Asia Tour in Kuala Lumpur “One, Two, Three. Smile” is just around the corner, powered by the dream team of entertainment geniuses: PULP Live World and Happee Hour. Kim Seon-ho, the man who has conquered hearts with his dazzling talent and boy-next-door charm, is set to grace the Mega Star Arena on Aug 18, at 8pm, and the fans are already counting the seconds. If you thought Kuala Lumpur’s weather was sizzling, wait till you witness the “Seonhohada” storm that’s about to sweep the city off its feet. T h i s e l e c t r i f y i n g heartthrob has carved a name for himself in the Korean entertainment realm with his magnetic on-screen presence and versatility that can make you laugh, cry, and swoon – all in a single breath. From his rib-tickling debut in Good Manager to capturing our hearts in Start-Up, where he stole the show and garnered a mountain of awards, Seonho’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of a blockbuster movie. The 2023 Kim Seon-ho Asia Tour in Kuala Lumpur “One, Two, Three. Smile” is not just any fan meeting; it’s a grand adventure into a world where dreams intertwine with reality and magic is simply a smile away. Rumour has it that the Mega Star Arena itself is brimming with anticipation, gearing up to be the stage for the most enchanting event of the year. The show is not just about watching Seon-ho dazzle on stage; it’s about becoming a part of his world and sharing laughter, joy, and precious moments. With surprises that will make your heart flutter and interactive sessions that will leave you star-struck, get ready to be swept off your feet by the actor’s bewitching charm. This one-of-a-kind spectacle is made possible by a stellar lineup of entertainment management companies: SALT Entertainment, APLANET Entertainment, ACO Media, and the legendary PULP Live World and Happee Hour, the rockstars of K-Pop concert experiences. So, dear Seonhohada, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for an enchanting journey that transcends borders and languages. Stay tuned to PULP Live World’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses and updates that will keep the excitement soaring until the big day. Kuala Lumpur, get ready to welcome Kim Seon-ho with open hearts and arms. This Aug 18, unleash your inner Seonhohada and join the epic meetand-greet. – BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN Kim Seon Ho comes to KL The charismatic star is ready to meet his fans. – PULP MEDIA Veteran actor, Eman Manan returns to film after ten years. Nabilah Huda excels in horror films. Playing the lead actor in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. – IMDB

18 FASHION & BEAUTY theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Balenciaga’s newest muse WITH an unprecedented twist on fashion promotion, Balenciaga is set to astound the world once again by enlisting renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert and multifaceted Thai talent PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn as its latest brand ambassadors. The luxury label, owned by Kering, deemed these two individuals perfect representatives of the modern Balenciaga This collaboration is set to redefine the boundaries of fashion. – INSTAGRAM oPP Krit Amnuaydechkorn chosen as brand ambassador █ BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN community due to their exceptional creativity, unwavering values, and unique approaches to life. While the brand has already garnered immense star power through collaborations with A-list celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Bella Hadid, and Justin Bieber, this bold move marks an entirely new chapter for Balenciaga. For the first time, the brand has chosen to appoint brand ambassadors to amplify its vision and message. In his statement to WWD, PP Krit expressed his deep admiration for Balenciaga’s innovative spirit and ethical foundation, which have allowed him to be his true self, showcasing his individuality to the world. Krit’s journey to becoming Balenciaga’s brand ambassador has been paved with remarkable achievements in both the entertainment and music realms. His breakthrough moment came with his appearance in the music video for MSN, a hit single by the band Helmetheads. Subsequently, his outstanding performances in acclaimed Thai series like I Told Sunset About You (2020) garnered him widespread recognition and adoration. Not stopping at acting, Krit ventured into the music industry under Nadao Bangkok’s music label, releasing his debut single It’s Okay Not To Be Alright in 2021, followed by another successful track titled I’ll Do It How You Like It. His undeniable talent and contributions have earned him a dedicated global fan base. Balenciaga’s daring move to appoint brand ambassadors signifies a groundbreaking shift in the fashion industry, merging artistry and fashion into a captivating and progressive narrative. By aligning with Isabelle Huppert and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn, the brand establishes a dynamic connection with its audience, reflecting the essence of the modern Balenciaga community and its everevolving vision. Barbie gives Birkenstock a boost SINCE the release of the Barbie movie, pink has invaded stores all over the world. And Greta Gerwig’s comedy hasn’t just boosted clothing sales but also shoe sales, particularly those of the famous Birkenstock sandals. The brand even saw its value soar ahead of its IPO. In the Barbie movie, the iconic doll played by Margot Robbie must choose between a pair of pink high-heeled pumps and a pair of Birkenstock sandals to go discover the real world. And that’s all it took for the latter shoe to become the must-have footwear of the summer. While several ready-to-wear brands have released collections featuring pink in honour of the latest film by Gerwig, the German brand is capitalising on its cinematic success. Thanks to its big-screen exposure, sales have increased, according to Bloomberg News. Indeed, the news agency states that “L Catterton [the brand’s main owner] is set to launch an initial public offering of Birkenstock as soon as September that may value the iconic footwear maker at more than US$8 billion (RM36.31 billion),” according to “people with knowledge of the matter.” The brand’s valuation could even reach US$10 billion (RM45.39 billion), according to Bloomberg News. According to Google Trends data, searches for Birkenstock peaked between July 9 and 15, prior to the movie’s US release (July 21). Still, the Birkenstock trend picks up every year as the warm weather approaches. Birkenstock revenue rose by 29% to around EU€1.2 billion (RM6 billion) in 2022, with adjusted earnings of EU€394 million (RM2 billion), Bloomberg News reports. – ETX STUDIO In Barbie, Robbie must choose between Birkenstock sandals and highheeled pumps. – ETX STUDIO Pushing beyond limits with PUMA FIT GLOBAL sports brand PUMA just recently introduced its latest training line, PUMA FIT, in partnership with Royal Sporting House, which will be distributing the collection in Malaysia. The PUMA FIT collection presents an exceptional athletic ensemble, featuring the revolutionary PUMA PWRFRAME TR 2 sneakers and an extensive selection of PUMA FIT training apparel designed for men and women. Combining performance and style, this collection offers technical pieces that not only feel great but also boast a striking appearance. With form-fitting designs, bold branding, and cutting-edge fabrics, the PUMA FIT collection is the perfect choice for PUMA X TRIBE. –PICS BY VOXEUREKA █ BY HAZIQUE ZAIRILL Exciting boxing sessions to celebrate the new PUMA FIT line. PUMA FIT apparel. Boxing sessions at TRIBE Studio. activewear, whether at the gym or not. At the core of the collection lies the PUMA PWRFRAME TR 2, a pair of training sneakers engineered with state-of-the-art technology. These sneakers provide unparalleled support through their PWRFrame, a 3D midsole frame system, along with EVA-PROFoam, which offers enhanced cushioning through highrebound properties. Additionally, PWRTAPE ensures targeted upper support and durability, while PUMAGRIP, a robust rubber compound, delivers exceptional multi-surface traction. These features make the PUMA PWRFRAME TR 2 a cutting-edge and highly functional choice for athletic training. To celebrate the release of the collection, PUMA Malaysia joined forces with TRIBE Studio at Tropicana Gardens Mall in Petaling Jaya from July 28 to 30. Over the course of the weekend, over 200 members of the public were treated to exhilarating boxing sessions to commemorate the launch of the new PUMA FIT collection. During these sessions, participants learned the most efficient boxing techniques, engaged in intense cardio workouts, and had the chance to win a brand-new pair of innovative PUMA PWRFRAME TR 2 training sneakers. The event was a thrilling celebration of fitness and style brought together by the innovative PUMA FIT collection. Take your workout to the next level with the PUMA FIT collection, now available at Royal Sporting House Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur, and Tropicana Gardens Mall, Petaling Jaya.

19 EDUCATION theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Diploma in Business Management, Bachelor of Business in Digital Marketing, and Bachelor of Business Marketing incorporate design subjects in the foundation, diploma, and degree business programmes. “As the gig economy grows, these inter-disciplinary skills are important as millennials these days prefer to either freelance or start their own businesses, having design as well as business management skills is important to succeed in the new world out there,” he said. Even Lim, who set up his own agency after nearly 30 years in the business of advertising and branding, winning international and local awards, said it was time to build a bridge b e t w e e n graduates and i n d u s t r y , New mentor on the block ALAN LIM, a branding and creative veteran who also founded an advertising agency today, has a new mission in life. As a newly-appointed mentor at Saito University College, his mission is to ensure that what is taught is relevant to the industry. “The business world changes every minute. Our students are taught to hit the ground running. I myself, during the course of my work as creative director, employed a Saito graduate, but he was so in demand that within a short while, he was offered higher pay and left,” said Lim, who believes relevancy is the key word. “You need a bridge from the University to the workplace. That’s my role as mentor,” added Lim, who recently joined Saito as mentor. Director of the newly revamped K2 School of Business and Design at Saito University College, Jonson Chong, said, “With all the rapid changes taking place in technology and society today, I believe the future that Saito graduates face is highly unpredictable and more complex and challenging. “Hence, our mission at K2 School of Business and Knowledge is to make all our graduates future-proof by combining business and design. This is why our programmes are not only designed to equip our graduates with the business know-how but also with the creative skills and courage to take on whatever challenges they may face and come up with innovative solutions confidently,” said Chong, who believes in the quote by the former Vice-Chair of General Electric in America, Beth Comstock. “What business needs now is design. What design needs now is to make it about business.” Chong feels it is important to guide Gen Y and Z, who represent the new age of millennials, to embrace knowledge of both disciplines in one degree, and Saito’s Foundation in Business, Lim, a mentor at Saito, plays a crucial role in bridging students to the workplace. – PICS BY SAITO Chong, Director of K2 School of Business and Design, is an educator who dares to think differently. making them more relevant and better prepared in the employment sector. “The main reason for the revamped syllabus is for students to experience the power of two degrees in one degree; it prepares students with the skills of the future by incorporating functional, key elements of both streams to nurture holistic graduates. “So whether Saito students are aiming to be a driver of innovation, owner of a creative agency, or leader of business and social change, the degree from K2 School of Business and Design will equip them with the necessary skills to succeed,” he said. Lim is fully aware of the importance of industry exposure, and students at K2 experience both, learning from both lecturers and industry experts. “At the K2 School, different Hubs have been created, and one such example is the Technology Hub with industry partners, where students are trained by industry partners and learn the tools and tricks of the trade in broadcasting, video-making, digital learning, as well as building online business platforms,” explained Lim, who, as a mentor feels this aspect is one of the most important of the programmes. Chong feels that with more and more millennials opening up businesses, especially digital-based ones, it is important for them to anticipate critical trends that impact businesses. This is possible with the Sustainability Hub. “With the growing focus on ESG, the Sustainability Hub is designed to develop diverse perspectives and problem-solving skills and keep climate change and social issues in mind,” added Chong, who had seen the most talented graduates not be able to run successful businesses due to a lack of awareness of current issues and trends. For those who signed up at Saito University College, the students would be entitled to attend a “Kursus Tiktok Influencer’” at no cost, where they would be trained to join the world of social media as successful TikTok Influencers. For more information on Saito University College and its programmes, please click on thesundaily.my/services/forms/the sun-saito-form oThe power of two in Saito’s K2 School of Business and Design Scan the QR code for more information █ BYDHARSHINI GANESON [email protected]

20 EDUCATION theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Zulkhairi. Lavanya Erajan with MH370 and Hannan Sofea Zainul Azhar with Jester, respectively, won for Best Menswear and Best Womenswear. Among the models was a SHCA amateuralumna-turned-pro from the Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism Management (Hons) programme. Preparing for the real world Being recognised as one of the top universities in Malaysia and the region, the University promotes excellence and advances quality education with a culture of industry and entrepreneurship embedded in ecosystems, research, innovation, and technology within the high-performance culture within the university. MSU currently ranks in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) among the Top 100 in the world’s top young universities, the QS Top 200 among Asia’s best universities, and the QS Top 30 among Southeast Asia’s best universities. QS Top 301+ for Graduate Employability Ranking, QS Top 621+ of the world’s best universities in the QS World University Rankings (WUR) 2024, and Times Higher Education Top 401+ for University Impact Rankings 2022. The 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, place MSU as one of the World’s Top 50 Universities for Hospitality and Leisure Management, a World Top 150 University for Art and Design, and a World Top 350 University for Business and Management Studies. When blending technical vocational education and training (TVET) with traditional academic curricula, MSU enhances competencies with industry internships, community and creative entrepreneurship, as well as global exposure, empowering MSU graduates with the well-roundedness desired and sought after by employers. All in all, as an applied, enterprise, holistic, and international university, MSU offers foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate, and flexible programmes through an entry system that facilitates admission of students from all walks of life, where it aims to Transform lives and Enrich the future. Don’t miss the opportunity to #beMSUrians MANAGEMENT and Science University (MSU) School of Hospitality and Creative Arts (SHCA) presented the collections of twelve final-year Bachelor in Fashion Design with Marketing (Hons) students at an Interfusion Fashion Show recently. While hosted at the Gemilang Runway on campus in Shah Alam Section 13, the SHCA Interfusion Fashion Show based its collections on the six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), as it was felt this was important for students. Fashion that matters While designing in the spirit of SDG 3 for Good Health and Wellbeing, Zahirah Zulkhairi caught the attention of the runaway with her Bat and Corset design. In Designing for Gender Equality (SDG 5), was Siti Nur Amalina Ahmad, with her inspiration Wearable Transforming Costume, and Nur Athirah Zahra Zakaria, with her inspiration Chess. For Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9) was Nur Nutailah Zamri, with her inspirational Harajuku Streetwear. Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) had Abdullah Iqbal Zulkafli, who was inspired by British designer Alexander McQueen, and Ian Syafiq Muhamad Azri, with his collection Fritilldea x Ian Syafiq, by Local Street Art. Lavanya Erajan designed the two dresses donned by MSU visiting professor Masue Kato to the METFEST Sounds of Malaysia concert last May, presented by Malay Traditional Wedding Dress; Ronald Henry Juak, by Iban Tribe; and Siti Fatema Habeeb Sheman, by Jaipur Motive x Indo Western. SDG 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production had Nurfarihah Aqila Azhar inspired by Corals and Amira Dayana Faizah Azlan inspired by The Birth of Gaia. The Designer for Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions of SDG 16 was Nur Iliyana Abdullah, with her colourful Dune (2021). The Best Collection 2023 prize went to Nur Athirah Zahra Zakaria for her Gender Equality Collection, Chess. Abdullah Iqbal Zulkafli bagged the Best Emerging Design prize, while Amira Dayana Faizah Azlan won for Best Coordination. A special award from Hazara Boutique for the Final Year Project 2023 went to Zahirah MSU’s fashion of the future oStudent designers impress at the Interfusion Fashion Show A designer and her models at MSU’s Interfusion Fashion Show. – MSU

21 * SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 Windies edge 2nd T20 against India A BRILLIANT 67 from Nicholas Pooran eclipsed a maiden international half-century from Tilak Varma as West Indies edged their way to a dramatic two-wicket win over India in the second T20 international against West Indies in Guyana yesterday. India struggled to 152-7 after winning the toss and batting first and, in spite of Pooran, appeared to be heading for victory when West Indies lost four wickets for three runs to slip to 129-8. However, tailenders Alzarri Joseph and Akeal Hosein kept their cool and slogged the winning runs to see the West Indies home with seven balls to spare. “We always knew it was going to come down to how we batted against spin,” said West Indies captain Rovman Powell. “It shows cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.” After winning Thursday’s opener in Tarouba by four runs, West Indies take a 2-0 lead in the fivematch series. The 20-year-old Varma made 51 from 41 balls before clipping left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein to fine leg where Obed McCoy pouched the catch. After the dismissal of Varma, it was left to skipper Hardik Pandya with 24 from 18 balls to drag the Indians towards a half-decent target. “That was not a pleasing batting performance by us,” said Pandya. “The wickets were falling and the track was on the slower side. We were not good enough to get to 160 plus.” DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KAJANG DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA GUAMAN SIVIL NO.: BH-A72NCVC-158-05/2023 ANTARA TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD [No. Syarikat : 199001009294 (200866-W)] …PLAINTIF DAN KANNAN A/L VIJAYAKUMARAN [NO. K. P.: 830514-10-5903] …DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTI-BENTUK IKLAN Kepada, KANNAN A/L VIJAYAKUMARAN [NO. K. P.: 830514-10-5903] No. 17, Jalan 11 Taman Cheras Jaya Balakong, Batu 9 43200 Cheras Selangor Darul Ehsan Dalam perkara Writ yang dikeluarkan pada 8 haribulan Mei 2023. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan Writ telah dikeluarkan terhadap Defendan dalam Mahkamah Majistret di Kajang dalam Guaman No. BH-A72NCVC-158-05/2023 oleh Tenaga Nasional Berhad [No. Syarikat: 199001009294] (200866-W)] di mana tuntutan Plaintif ialah untuk jumlah RM27,732.42, faedah ke atas jumlah RM27,732.42 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh pemfailan saman sehingga tarikh penghakiman, faedah ke atas jumlah RM27,732.42 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh penghakiman sehingga tarikh penyelesaian penuh dan kos dan adalah diperintahkan bahawa sesalinan Writ bertarikh 8/5/2023 dan Penyata Tuntutan bertarikh 8/5/2023 disampaikan kepada kamu melalui Penyampaian Ganti iaitu dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ dan Penyata Tuntutan tersebut di Papan Notis Mahkamah Kajang, ditinggalkan di alamat Defendan di No. 17, Jalan 11, Taman Cheras Jaya, Balakong, Batu 9, 43200 Cheras, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan juga mengiklankannya sekali (1) dalam surat khabar tempatan ‘The Sun’ dan saya percaya bahawa penyampaian itu menjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup ke atas Defendan tersebut empatbelas (14) hari selepas dari tarikh pengiklanan atau penampalan tersebut. Sekiranya kamu berhajat untuk membuat pembelaan terhadap tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah diwakili oleh Peguambela kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Majistret Kajang pada 4/9/2023 (secara E-Review), jam 9.00 pagi. Sekiranya kamu gagal berbuat demikian maka Penghakiman Ingkar boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 8 haribulan Ogos 2023 …..….………tt…….…….. Tetuan Sandosh Anandan Peguamcara bagi Plaintif Notis Penyampaian Ganti Bentuk Iklan ini dikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Sandosh Anandan, Peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di Unit A502, Blok A, Kelana Square, No. 17, Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-78065819 / 03-7804607 Fax: 03-78807409 (Ruj: SA/L/TNB/KANNAN/1891/2023/SA) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN THE FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) PETITION NO.: WA-28NCC-536-06/2023 In the Matter of Section 465 (1)(e) & 466(1)(b) Companies Act, 2016 And In the Matter of MYOWNHOME BERHAD (Company No.: 201601008280 (1179208-V)) Between HUA ENG GROUP SDN BHD (Company No: 201601005212 (1176138-T)) …Petitioner And MYOWNHOME BERHAD (Company No.: 201601008280 (1179208-V)) …Respondent ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the winding-up of the abovenamed company by the High Court was, on the 13th of June 2023, presented by Hua Eng Group Sdn Bhd, a Creditor that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur High Court at 9:30 o’clock in the morning, on the 3rd October 2023; and any creditor or contributory of the said company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is Unit 11- 09, Northern Tower, SS15 Courtyard, Jalan SS15/4G, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor The Petitioner’s Solicitor is Messrs Shu Yin, Teh & Taing whose address for service is at No. 8, (1st & 2nd Floor), Jalan SS15/4B, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan (Tel: 03-5636 2233; Fax: 03-5636 2232) [Ref: ET/3448/2023(wkc)]. -Signed- ……………………… Solicitors for the Petitioner Messrs Shu Yin, Teh & Taing NOTE:- Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on and send by post to the abovenamed, Messrs Shu Yin, Teh & Taing, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the firm, and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than 12:00 o’clock noon of the 2nd day of October 2023 (the day before the day appointed for the hearing of the petition). AKTA INSOLVENSI 1967 DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG DALAM PERKARA KEBANKRAPAN NO. PA-29NCC-176-05/2023 Per: WONG CHIN SANG (No. K/P: 840724-07-5529) …Penghutang Penghakiman Ex-parte: HONG LEONG ISLAMIC BANK BERHAD [NO. SYARIKAT: 200501009144 (686191-W)] ...Pemiutang Penghakiman NOTIS (Dalam Perkara mengenai Notis Kebankrapan dikeluarkan pada 22- 05-2023) Kepada: WONG CHIN SANG No. 55, Lintang Kurau 5, Taman Chai Leng, 13700 Perai, Pulau Pinang. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Notis Kebankrapan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu di Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang ini oleh Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad [No. Syarikat: 200501009144 (686191-W)] yang beralamat di Pungutan KonsumerOperasi Undang-undang, Level 2, Tower A, PJ City Development, 15A, Jalan 219, Section 51A, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan bahawa Notis Kebankrapan tersebut diserahkan kepada kamu secara penyampaian ganti dengan menampalkan satu salinan Notis Kebankrapan berserta dengan satu salinan Perintah yang dibuat di sini di Papan Notis Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Pulau Pinang, di premis alamat terakhir Penghutang Penghakiman di No. 55, Lintang Kurau 5, Taman Chai Leng, 13700 Perai, Pulau Pinang dan dengan mengiklankan satu Notis sekali dalam suratkhabar tempatan berbahasa Inggeris iaitu The Sun untuk satu terbitan dan penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut disifatkan baik dan memadai bagi penyampaian Notis Kebankrapan terhadap Penghutang Penghakiman tersebut selepas tamat tempoh empat belas (14) hari selepas tarikh akhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. Notis Kebankrapan boleh diperiksa oleh kamu atas permohonan di Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh pada 17 Julai 2023 t.t ……………………… SITI ZULAIKHA BINTI NORDIN @ GHANI Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya Georgetown Notis ini dikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Murad & Foo yang beralamat di Suite 10.01, Tingkat 10, MWE Plaza, No. 8, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Pulau Pinang Peguamcara bagi Pemiutang Penghakiman tersebut di atas. [Ruj: TLN/HLIBB/F.190/2020(BN)/ina] IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN THE STATE OF KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. WA-28NCC- 544-06/2023 In the Matter of Section 464(1)(c) & 549 & 554 (1) (b) & 554(2) of the Companies Act 2016 AND In the Matter of Companies (Winding-Up) Rules 1972 AND In the Matter of ASPIRASI DANAU SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 1026013- H) BETWEEN KATNIN BIN NASIR (NRIC NO: 600426-01-6077) …PETITIONER AND ASPIRASI DANAU SDN. BHD. (COMPANY NO.: 1026013-H) …RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the above named Company by the High Court dated 14 JUNE 2023 presented by KATNIN BIN NASIR, the above said Petitioning Company and that the said Petition is directed to heard before the Court sitting at High Court of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur at 9.30 A.M. on the 10 OCTOBR 2023; and any creditor or contributory of the said Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his Counsel for that purpose and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment to the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is No. 83-A, Felda Taib Andak, 81000 Kulai, Johor, Malaysia. The Petitioner’s Solicitors are Messrs Lim Chambers, Advocated & Solicitors address is at No. 19A, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor. Tel: 0167501800 Signed Messrs Lim Chambers Solicitors for the Petitioner Note – Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named Messrs. Lim Chambers, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitor (if any) and must be served, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than 9 October 2023(the day before the appointed for the hearing of the Petition) (Ref.: [LC-W-17-0423-WJ-Ywj] 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF PROSPER CHANNEL SDN. BHD. (1039626-U) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up) (Incorporated in Malaysia) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act, 2016 that a Final Meeting of the Contributories will be held at No. 1, Jalan Tawas Idaman 2, Taman Tawas Idaman, 30010 Ipoh, Perak on Saturday, 9 September 2023 at 2.00 p.m. for the following purposes :- 1. To receive and adopt the Final Accounts of the Liquidator showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to receive any explanation thereof. 2. To resolved under Section 518 (3)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 that the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator be destroyed immediately after the dissolution of the Company. 3. To approve and accept the resignation of Liquidator pursuant to Section 513(3) of the Companies Act 2016. LIM CHUN BUN Liquidator Dated : 8 August 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 and IN THE MATTER OF NT SOFTWARE SDN. BHD. Registration No: 199601009714 (382062-M) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the contributories of the abovenamed Company will be held at the Liquidator’s office at Wisma Goshen, 2nd Floor, 60, 62 & 64 Jalan SS 22/21, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan on Friday, 8th day of September, 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- 1. To lay before the meeting the Liquidator’s statement of account and to give explanations thereof. 2. To decide under Section 518(3) (b) of the Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company may be destroyed. Dated this 8th day of August, 2023. Tung Yoke Wai (f) Liquidator NOTE: A contributory entitled to attend and vote at the abovementioned meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy who need not be a member of the Company to attend and vote in his stead. The instrument appointing a proxy must be duly deposited at the Liquidators’ office, not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF GAHN CAPITAL SDN. BHD. REGISTRATION NO.: 201401027410 (1103496-X) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016, the Final Meeting of the abovenamed Company will be held at Unit 20-05, Level 20, Q Sentral, 2A Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur on 8 September 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes: 1. To receive the Liquidators’ Statement of Accounts showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and to hear any explanations thereof. 2. To determine by ordinary resolution the manner and period within which all the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidators, shall be disposed of. Dated: 8 August 2023 DENNIS THEAN CHONG JIN Liquidator Unit 20-05, Level 20, Q Sentral 2A Jalan Stesen Sentral 2 Kuala Lumpur Sentral 50470 Kuala Lumpur DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM NEGERI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (BAHAGIAN DAGANG) SAMAN PEMULA NO. WA-24NCC-356-06/2023 Dalam Perkara mengenai Sierra Appeal Sdn. Bhd. (No. Syarikat.: 199501026396 [355601-U]) Dan Dalam Perkara mengenai Seksyen 346 Akta Syarikat, 2016 Dan Dalam Perkara mengenai Aturan 7 dan Aturan 88 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA CHEAN PEI LI (No. K/P: 741129-14-5680) …PLAINTIF DAN 1. SIERRA APPEAL SDN. BHD. (No. Syarikat.: 199501026396 [355601-U]) 2. TEE CHOR LEONG (No. K/P: 621122-10-8119) …DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN NOTIS PENGIKLANAN Kepada:- TEE CHOR LEONG (No. K/P: 621122-10-8119) No. 11, Jalan Bidara 1/9 Taman Bidara, 68100 Batu Caves Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dalam Saman Pemula No. WA-24NCC-356-06/2023 oleh Chean Pei Li yang beralamat di No. 33, Jalan Cumarasami, Batu 3/½ Off Jalan Ipoh, 51100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, dalam mana relif-relif Plaintif untuk:- 1. suatu deklarasi (‘declaration’) bahawa Defendan Kedua telah menguruskan dan mengendalikan perihal Defendan Pertama, Sierra Appeal Sdn. Bhd. (No. Syarikat.: 199501026396 [355601-U]) (“Syarikat”) dan/atau telah menggunakan kuasakuasanya secara menindas (‘oppressively’) dan/atau dengan tidak mengambil kira dan/ atau bertindak dengan cara tidak adil yang memprejudiskan kepentingan Plaintif sebagai ahli Syarikat tersebut; 2. suatu deklarasi (‘declaration’) bahawa Defendan Kedua telah gagal, enggan dan/atau abai untuk mematuhi perjanjian di antara Plaintif dan Defendan Kedua bertarikh 12.12.2022 (“Perjanjian Pemegang-Pemegang Saham”), yang memungkiri Perjanjian PemegangPemegang Saham tersebut; 3. Suatu perintah bahawa: (a) sebuah firma akauntan dengan serta-merta dilantik oleh Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini (“Penilai Yang Dilantik Oleh Mahkamah”) sebagai penilai bebas untuk menyediakan satu laporan kepada Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini dalam sembilan puluh (90) hari dari pelantikan tersebut, atas nilai saham Plaintif dalam Defendan Kedua yang adil dan saksama sebelum tindakan-tindakan menindas (‘oppressive’) tersebut, dengan mengambil kira tindakan-tindakan menindas (“Saham-Saham Plaintif”) dan kesemua nilai aset-aset dan/atau wang yang telah dilupuskan, dialihkan dan/atau dikeluarkan daripada Defendan Kedua (“Nilai Saham Plaintif”); (b) Defendan Kedua, sama ada melalui mereka sendiri atau melalui ejen-ejen, penama-penama, pekhidmat-pekhidmat, pekerja-pekerja mereka, atau sebaliknya hendaklah memberikan bantuan dan kerjasama sepenuhnya kepada Penilai Yang Dilantik Oleh Mahkamah untuk melaksanakan dan/atau menjalankan tugas-tugas mereka di bawah Permohonan 3(a) di atas; 4. Satu perintah bahawa dalam empat belas (14) hari dari penentuan Penilai Yang Dilantik Oleh Mahkamah atas Nilai Saham Plaintif (“Tarikh Efektif”), Defendan Kedua hendaklah: (a) membeli Saham-Saham Plaintif pada Nilai Saham Plaintif; (b) membuat pembayaran penuh dalam satu (1) pembayaran penuh, kepada Plaintif dalam jumlah Nilai Saham Plaintif; dan (c) mengambil kesemua langkah yang perlu dan relevan untuk melaksanakan pemindahan Saham-Saham Plaintif, termasuk dan tidak terhad kepada penyempurnaan (‘execution’) dan penyerahan (‘lodgment’) borang pemindahan saham yang diperlukan dan kemas kini daftar ahli-ahli Defendan Pertama dengan Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (“SSM”); 5. Satu perintah bahawa dalam empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh Perintah ini, Defendan Kedua hendaklah: (a) mengambil kesemua langkah yang perlu dan relevan untuk melaksanakan pengeluaran(‘removal’) Plaintif sebagai seorang pengarah dalam Defendan Pertama, termasuk dan tidak terhad kepada penyerahan notifikasi yang diperlukan kepada SSM; (b) mengambil kesemua langkah yang perlu dan relevan untuk mengeluarkan dan/atau menggantikan Plaintif sebagai seorang penjamin kepada kesemua kemudahan perbankan yang diperolehi oleh Defendan Pertama yang memihak Defendan Pertama, jika ada; 6. Satu perintah bahawa atas pembelian SahamSaham Plaintif oleh Defendan Kedua pada Tarikh Efektif, Plaintif hendaklah dengan serta-merta dilepaskan daripada kesemua obligasi dan/atau liabiliti berkenaan dengan Defendan Pertama; 7. Sebagai alternatif, satu perintah bahawa Defendan Pertama digulungkan oleh Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini; 8. Kos dan kos yang disebabkan oleh Saman Pemula ini ditanggung sendiri oleh Defendan Kedua dan dibayar kepada Plaintif atas dasar tanggung rugi atau atas apa-apa dasar yang difikirkan sesuai dan wajar oleh Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini; 9. Kebebasan untuk memohon; dan 10. Perintah-perintah atau relif-relif lanjutan yang Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini fikirkan sesuai dan wajar. Dan bahawa telah diperintahkan bahawa penyampaian Saman Pemula bertarikh 28.6.2023, Afidavit Sokongan yang diikrarkan oleh Chean Pei Li pada 28.6.2023 dan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 27.7.2023 dalam tindakan ini kepada kamu kena dilaksanakan dengan memasukkan salinan notis pengiklanan ini di dalam akhbar tempatan “The Sun” untuk satu (1) hari dan bahawa pengiklanan tersebut hendaklah dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang baik dan cukup ke atas kamu dalam tempoh penamatan tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk memasukkan pembelaan dalam tindakan tersebut kamu mestilah dalam masa empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh tersiarnya iklan ini, termasuk hari penyiaran itu, memasukkan kehadiran di Pejabat Pendaftaran Mahkamah. Jika kamu ingkar untuk memasukkan apa-apa kehadiran yang demikian maka penghakiman dan/atau perintah boleh dibuat terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 8.8.2023 ...............t.t. ............... Tetuan W.J. Sia Law Chambers Peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif NOTIS PENGIKLANAN ini telah difailkan oleh Tetuan W. J. Sia Law Chambers, peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif yang mempunyai alamat penyampaian di B3-U2-13A, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. No Tel: 03-62119772 E-mel:[email protected] (Ruj: WJS/GP/2023/CPL-TCL) 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF JVC CAPITAL SDN. BHD. Company No: 201301012057 (1041895-D) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of JVC CAPITAL SDN. BHD. held on 07 August 2023, the following Special Resolutions were duly passed :- 1. “THAT the Company will be liquidated by way of members’ voluntary winding up pursuant to Section 439 (1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016.” 2. “THAT MR KAM CHAI HONG of C.H. Kam Consultancy (2005) Sdn. Bhd., 55-A, Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor be appointed as Liquidator to act for the purpose of winding up the company’s affairs and distributing its assets.” “THAT the Liquidator be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties in relation thereto.” LEE MENG CHANG Chairman Dated : 08 August 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF JVC CAPITAL SDN. BHD. Company No: 201301012057 (1041895-D) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Creditors of the abovenamed Company which is being voluntarily wound up, are required on or before 09 September 2023 to send in their names and addresses with particulars of their debts and claims and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned Liquidator and, if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, or by their solicitors or personally to come in and prove the said debts and claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. Liquidator Kam Chai Hong 55-A, Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru. Dated this 08th day of August 2023 SHORTS No Labuschagne in Aussie line-up MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE’S World Cup dreams are over after the batter was left out of Australia’s extended 18-member squad for the showpiece tournament in India later this year. Uncapped duo of leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie have been picked in the squad, which would later be trimmed to 15, Cricket Australia said in a statement yesterday. A five-match series in South Africa in September will be the first assignment of the Pat Cummins-led side, the cricket board said. Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott are the frontline seam-bowling all-rounders, while Ashton Agar and Sangha join Adam Zampa as their spin options. Skipper Cummins sustained a wrist injury during the recent Ashes series that will keep him out of the three-match T20 series in South Africa preceding the one-dayers. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell will miss the ODIs in South Africa as he expects the arrival of his first child, and will join the team in India for a three-match ODI series in September. Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Pakistan confirm World Cup participation PAKISTAN will send a team to India for October and November’s 50-over World Cup, ending months of uncertainty about their participation. The two sides have only played in World Cups and neutral venues since 2013 because of political tensions. “Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics,” a Pakistan foreign office statement said. They will meet in the Asia Cup on Sept 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. “Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sportsrelated obligations,” the statement added. The statement did not confirm, though, whether Pakistan are content to play India in Ahmedabad on Oct 15 as planned or whether they will ask for a change of venue. It did say Pakistan has “deep concerns” about security, adding: “We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities. “We expect that the full safety and security of the Pakistan cricket team will be ensured during its visit to India.” West Indies Nicholas Pooran in action during the 2nd ODI match against India. – AFPPIX

22 theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 SPORTS BRITAIN’S Dan Evans captured title with straight-set triumph yesterday at the ATP and WTA Washington Open. Evans dispatched 37thranked Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-3 at the hardcourt event, a US Open tuneup. Evans, a 33-year-old Englishman whose only prior ATP title came in a 2021 outdoor Melbourne event, became the first British champion in Washington since Tim Henman in 2003. Evans, with only eight tour-level wins this year entering the week, will advance to a new career high of 21st in the world after arriving in the US capital on a seven-match tour-level losing streak. “Thanks to everybody for staying, first and foremost,” Evans said. “I’ve been here a lot of times now and it gets better and better. “This year has obviously been amazing. I couldn’t have really thought about [winning] at the start of the week. Amazing week, ” Evans said. “It means the world to me. It genuinely does.” Griekspoor was denied his third career title after crowns at Pune in January and ‘sHertogenbosch in June. “First time in DC, making finals, not too bad I guess,” Griekspoor said. Griekspoor, 27, saved a set point in the 10th game with an ace wide but Evans broke him in the 12th game to take the first set when the Dutchman netted a backhand after 53 minutes. Evans had 14 winners to only three unforced errors in the opening set. The second set was halted at 2-2 by lightning and resumed after a delay of about two hours and 20 minutes. Evans broke at love for a 5-3 lead, a backhand winner and backhand lob winner setting up a break the Dutchman surrendered on a double fault. The Englishman saved four break points in a tense ninth game and after nearly 10 minutes blasted a service winner on his first championship point to take the title after one hour and 41 minutes. After beating Griekspoor, Evans poked fun at the Dutchman. The Brit also paid tribute to an ‘amazing’ week, having picked up the biggest tournament win of his career with his secondever ATP title. Evans will jump up to 21 in the men’s world rankings after his dream run at the Citi Open. Big wins over Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov set up Sunday’s clash with Griekspoor, where he came through in straight sets. Subsequently turning the attention to his beaten opponent, Evans cheekily added: “Tallon, sorry but… you’ve had enough (wins) this year. Tallon’s team – great guy, great week. To my team, thank you so much, it genuinely means the world to me. Thank you.” An improbable win in Washington DC leaves Evans in good shape heading into the Canadian Open, where he is due to face Gabriel Diallo, and the US Open which gets underway later this month. The Brit has never made it beyond the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, or indeed any Grand Slam tournament. Having jumped up the world rankings, Evans is now within touching distance of Cameron Norrie in the fight to be British No 1. – AFP/Express Newspapers @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Evans claims biggest title of career US teen star Coco Gauff captured her fourth career WTA title yesterday, defeating Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 to win the Washington Open. The 19-year-old American, the first WTA teen finalist at Washington’s hardcourt event, added to a trophy haul that also included 2019 at Linz, 2021 in Parma and this past January at Auckland. The success came after a firstround exit at Wimbledon last month. “I’d like to thank my father God after this (victory),” Gauff told reporters. “After losing the first round of Wimbledon, it was a tough situation. We were all feeling it and I’m glad that I was able to bounce back.” World No. 7 Gauff, last year’s French Open runner-up, had lost four of five prior matches against Sakkari, who fell to 1-7 in WTA finals with her sixth consecutive loss in a tour championship match. “It’s pretty disappointing, but a month ago we didn’t think I’d be here,” said the ninth-ranked Sakkari. Gauff, who didn’t drop a set all week, won the first in 42 minutes but Sakkari broke her to begin the second. They exchanged service breaks in the fourth and fifth games but Sakkari double faulted away another break to lift Gauff level at 3- 3. Gauff held, broke in the eighth game when Sakkari swatted a forehand beyond the baseline, and held to complete the victory after 84 minutes on a backhand winner. Sakkari, 28, won her only prior WTA title at the 2019 Morocco Open. In between tournaments, Gauff recently added former tennis pro and well-versed coach Brad Gilbert to her team. Gilbert, who has also served as an analyst for ESPN, also previously coached Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. Agassi won six of his eight Grand Slams under his guidance, and Roddick won the 2003 US Open. “It’s our first tournament as a full team. I’m glad that we were able to make this result. Thank you for sticking with me,” Gauff said during the trophy ceremony. Gauff added: “(Maria) is an incredible fighter. She’s one of the players that I look up to on tour, to be honest. She was one of the nicest people when I was first coming on, and the color of the conversation she had with me made it less scary. So thank you.” – AFP/Express Newspapers Gauff beats Sakkari to win Washington title Alcaraz hopes for Canadian breakthrough WORLD NO. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to make amends as he plays an ATP Masters 1000 event in Canada for only the second time in his career. The Wimbledon champion made a poor start a year ago in Montreal, losing his opening match to American Tommy Paul in his ATP debut in the country. The 20-year-old Spaniard, who will defend the 2022 US Open crown in New York starting later this month, opens as a title favourite this year in Toronto. Alcaraz said he’s aware of the need to address the pressure he will face as the top target from Monday. “I remember last year I didn’t have a good tournament in Canada. I have come this year to change it,” he said after arriving in North America. “I hope to go far, do better than last season. A year later, I think I’ve learned a lot from that situation, how to deal with pressure.” In addition to becoming a two-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz has won five other titles in six finals appearances since last year’s Canada event, including crowns this year at Argentina, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid and Queen’s. “I’ve been playing in big stadiums, big games, fighting for big things. I think that helped me a lot to grow as a player, as a person,” Alcaraz said. “A year later, I’m totally different.” The Spaniard will be competing for the first time this summer on hardcourt after stepping back onto clay for the Hopman Cup team event in Nice. DeChambeau fires rare 58 BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, the 2020 US Open champion, fired a rare 58 in the final round to win the LIV Golf Greenbrier title yesterday. The 29-year-old American had 13 birdies against a lone bogey to shoot 12- under and finish on 23-under 187 for the 54-hole event at the resort in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. That was enough for a six-stroke victory over Chile’s Mito Pereira, who fired a closing 63. “It’s beyond words,” DeChambeau said. “I’ve been working so hard for a long time and I knew something special was going to come at some point. I just didn’t know when.” DeChambeau called it “probably the greatest moment in my golfing career.” “I had something special going today and I just felt super comfortable over tee shots,” he said. “I just kind of felt everything clicking. Missed it in the right places when I needed to and putted beautifully.” DeChambeau’s score at the Old White course on the upstart Saudi-backed circuit matched the lowest round in US PGA Tour history, the 12-under 58 fired by American Jim Furyk in 2016 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. “Being a part of the same agency, as well, is kind of fun,” DeChambeau said of the elite-level 58 club. The Old White hosted a PGA event from 2010 to 2019 and Australian Stuart Appleby fired a 59 in the final round of the inaugural tournament to win the title. DeChambeau birdied 22 of his last 34 holes on The Old White for his first victory since the 2021 PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. “Just having my place in history here is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life,” DeChambeau said after his courserecord effort. Asked if the 58 might bring a call from US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson to play next month against Europe in Italy, DeChambeau was matter of fact about the prospect. “If I do get a call that would be awesome,” he said. “If not, I’ll be rooting them on over in Rome.” SHORTS Glover captures Wyndham American makes FedEx Cup playoff as Thomas and Scott fail to qualify LUCAS GLOVER waited out a weather delay, received a lucky bounce on the last hole and claimed his fifth career PGA Tour title by winning the Wyndham Championship on Sunday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. Glover followed a third-round 62 with a 2-under 68 on Sunday to finish at 20-under 260, two strokes better than Russell Henley (69) and South Korean Byeong Hun An (67). Billy Horschel (72), who shared the lead with Glover after three rounds, faded to fourth place at 16-under. Winning the PGA Tour’s regular-season finale launched Glover from 112th place in the FedEx Cup points standings to No. 49, qualifying him for the playoffs that begin next week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn. “Last time I played Memphis, I played very well, so excited to get back there,” Glover said. “Just let this soak in and get my body and my mind right and get back to work on Tuesday or Wednesday.” Inclement weather forced a delay that lasted two hours and three minutes when the top four players had just four holes to play. At that time, Glover and Henley were tied for the lead at 20-under, two strokes ahead of An. Henley came out of the delay with a shot of momentum, making a two-putt birdie at the par-5 15th hole for the outright lead. He then missed the green at the par-3 16th and wound up finishing his round with three successive bogeys. “Just never got comfortable (after the restart),” Henley said. “Felt a little jittery out there, just never got into a good sync with my swing, felt kind of rushed from the top of my swing. Just didn’t do a good job of handling the restart.” Glover’s drive at the par-4 18th missed left but bounced off the side of a volunteer’s cart, preventing his ball from ending up with an even worse lie. Knowing he had a two-shot lead, Glover laid up, reached the green in three strokes and rolled in an 8-foot par putt. “To be honest I’d have probably laid it up anyway,” Glover said with a laugh. “Just might have been a harder lay-up. But I didn’t know (about the cart bounce) officially – I thought somebody was joking when they said it.” He said Sunday would have been his late grandfather’s 97th birthday and credited him for starting him playing golf. “He was my mentor and my hero and all that stuff,” Glover said. “Tried not to think about it too much until the end there. I like to think I had a leg up on everybody today because of that.” An earned his best finish of the season and his second top-three finish in three starts. Horschel needed to finish no worse than a twoway tie for second to make the FedEx Cup playoffs; instead, he will miss out after only moving to 90th in the standings. The top 70 in points will play next week in the first leg of the playoffs. Former World No. 1 and two-time major winner Justin Thomas was the first man below the top-70 cut line. His T12 finish (11-under) only moved him up from No. 79 to No. 71 in the standings. Thomas shot a final-round 68 that included a dramatic moment at the 18th hole. He had a long way to the hole for his third shot and pitched his ball toward the pin. After three hops, the ball bumped off the bottom of the pin and stayed out. Thomas collapsed to the ground and covered his eyes in disbelief. “I did my part,” Thomas said. “I played the best I could and I fought as hard as I could and shot the lowest I possibly could.” Adam Scott of Australia shot a final-round 63 to tie for seventh at 12-under, but his standing only improved to No. 72. – Field Level Media Lucas Glover of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club yesterday in Greensboro, North Carolina. – AFPPIX

23 * SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | AUGUST 8, 2023 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Practice makes perfect England down Nigeria in penalty shootout to advance into last eight ENGLAND’S Chloe Kelly said plenty of penalty practice had paid off after scoring the winning spot-kick to send the Lionesses into the World Cup quarterfinals after a nervy 0-0 draw against Nigeria. The European champions had to survive extra-time a player down after Lauren James was sent off towards the end of 90 minutes for violent conduct. Georgia Stanway then fired England’s first penalty wide, but Bethany England, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Kelly found the net to prevail 4-2 in the shootout and prevent a huge upset in Brisbane. “It’s amazing, anything that’s thrown at us we show what we’re capable of,” said the Manchester City forward, who scored the winning goal in last year’s European Championship final. “We’ve been practising a lot and it’s working. “This team is special,” added Kelly. “We keep pushing forward. There is more to come from this special team.” Sarina Wiegman’s side will face Colombia or Jamaica in the last eight and are among the favourites to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time. But they were fortunate not to follow the likes of Germany and United States from crashing out early as Nigeria enjoyed the better of the game and hit the crossbar through Ashleigh Plumptre in the first half. “The first thing is we really stuck together as a team,” said Wiegman. “It was a very, very hard game, then we had a red card but we made it through extratime and then won on penalties. “How we did that, and how the team just kept going, I’m so proud of them. “It says so much about this team. Not one game has been easy and we knew and knew before this game it will not be easy.” In the build-up to England’s last-16 tie there was plenty of praise for James, who has been simply sensational so far in Australia. But the 21-year-old struggled to get on the ball in the first half as England’s build-up play was slow and disconnected. As the game wore on several England players became frustrated. They were fortunate James’ reactionary stamp did not prove too costly and they showed the type of resilience that has formed since Wiegman’s arrival in September 2021. James will miss the quarterfinals and could face a longer suspension should FIFA deem it worthy. Her loss will certainly be felt given she is England’s leading scorer at the tournament, having also popped up to provide the winner in the 1-0 victory over Denmark in the second group game. In the later match, Sam Kerr came off the bench as Australia surged into the last eight with a 2-0 win over Denmark in front of nearly 76,000 fans in Sydney. To cap a good night’s work for the Matildas, talismanic striker and captain Kerr came on with 10 minutes left to huge cheers for her first action of the tournament after a calf injury. Caitlin Foord terrorised Denmark throughout and scored a fine first after being set up by Mary Fowler on 29 minutes. Hayley Raso grabbed a second to make the game safe 20 minutes from time. – AFP/Agencies LEEDS UNITED made a dramatic return to the Championship as new manager Daniel Farke saw Crysencio Summerville’s added-time equaliser cap a fightback from 2-0 down to draw with Cardiff City. The Bluebirds, also under the guidance of a new boss in Erol Bulut, had to withstand heavy Leeds pressure but clinical counterattacking goals by debutants Josh Bowler and Ike Ugbo had given the visitors a convincing halftime lead. A towering header by Leeds captain Liam Cooper early in the second half fuelled a resurgence from the dominant hosts, who missed several chances. Just as it looked like Cardiff would cling on for a memorable victory, Summerville finished superbly five minutes into time added on to spark jubilant celebrations at Elland Road. A point was the least Leeds deserved. The statistics told the story of their supremacy: 72% possession, 25 shots to Cardiff’s seven and six on target compared to their opponents’ two. And yet for all that, Bulut’s side will feel crushed that their resolute defensive display – and ruthless finishing on the break – was not enough to win. “I think the draw is a fair result for us. If we saw the second half, how much pressure we got, but we managed it really well in defence,“ Bulut said. “On one side, if you get a goal in the second half when the game restarts and then 90+5, you never like it. I never like it. “We played against a really good team today in Leeds. Individually they are really, really good. They put us under pressure in the second half.” The other main negative for Cardiff was losing captain Joe Ralls to a firsthal f injury. “He had something with the abductor or hip. It was painful so that’s why we changed him,“ said Bulut. “When he has a scan, we will know more about the injury. I hope it is not serious.” – Agencies MANCHESTER UNITED manager Erik ten Hag admitted that his side conceded a “stupid” goal against Athletic Bilbao yesterday’s pre-season match. The 1-1 draw was blighted by a costly error as Harry Maguire gave the ball away which directly led to his side falling behind. As the Premier League season draws closer, Maguire will have been keen to avoid gaining attention for the wrong reasons. The England international has already been stripped of the captaincy this summer after being left on the fringes for much of last campaign. It therefore could not have been worse timing when Maguire was left squarely to blame for United conceding first against Athletic in Dublin. A slack pass from the 30-year-old saw Nico Williams played in behind, and the youngster poked past goalkeeper Tom Heaton. A stoppage-time equaliser from Facundo Pellistri spared Maguire’s blushes, but only partially as Ten Hag opted not to mince his words after the final whistle. “It was a stupid goal,” the Dutchman told MUTV. “We went down, but we scored (late on). We showed character, and we need that for the season.” Maguire has been the subject of transfer interest from West Ham this summer, although their opening £20 million (RM116m) offer was quickly turned down by the Red Devils. It remains to be seen whether another mistake prompts United to reconsider their stance. With competitive action just around the corner, Ten Hag handed minutes to a selection of promising youngsters against Athletic including Pellistri, Omari Forson and Alvaro Fernandez. “My players don’t give up, they fight until the end,” added the former Ajax boss. “I’m happy we got the equaliser and we had to fight for it. (The youngsters) deserve (the minutes), otherwise we don’t line them up. “In pre-season, we have to give them opportunities. But they have to take it. Be brave and show yourself if you want to stay in the first team.” A battling draw with Athletic caps off a lengthy pre-season for United, which started with a 2-0 win over Leeds almost a month ago. Victories over Arsenal, Lyon and Lens have been recorded since then, although Ten Hag oversaw defeats against Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. – Express Newspapers Ten Hag rubs salt into Maguire’s wounds ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 2 Coventry 1, Leeds 2 Cardiff 2, Sunderland 1 Ipswich 2. Varane hits out at FA MANCHESTER UNITED star Raphael Varane has hit out at the FA for appearing to not listen to players’ concerns ahead of the new season. The Frenchman insists longer games caused by additional stoppage time will have a detrimental effect on him and his fellow professionals. “We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules,” Varane tweeted. “From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players physical and mental wellbeing. “Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard? “As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game. “I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best.” – Express Newspapers Messi stars again for Miami LIONEL MESSI scored twice, including a brilliant late equaliser, as Inter Miami advanced past FC Dallas to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup on penalties after an enthralling 4-4 draw. A trademark curling freekick in the 85th minute took the game to penalties after the Argentine’s side had trailed 4-2 with 10 minutes to go. “It’s obvious that for him a freekick around that area is like a penalty kick for another player,” said Dallas’s Spanish coach Nico Estevez of Messi’s superb strike. Miami’s Argentine coach Gerardo Martino said that Messi’s magic and the result should not disguise the clear deficiencies in his team. “Obviously being 4-2 down in the 80th minute and then coming back like that, we are very happy with the result,” he said. “But the fact that we have gone through, shouldn’t let us lose sight of the things that we have to improve.” Special moment for Pedros MOROCCO’S presence in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup is a dream come true for the tournament debutants, and a clash with a much-fancied France side makes today’s (7pm Malaysian time) game a particularly special occasion for their coach. Reynald Pedros, 51, is a former France international midfielder who played alongside Zinedine Zidane in the team that reached the semifinals at Euro 96. In recent years he has made a name as a coach in the women’s game, spending two seasons in charge of Lyon, the club that has dominated in France and Europe over the last decade. He won back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles in charge of Lyon, with a side containing the likes of Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer, Selma Bacha and Amel Majri – who will all feature for France in Adelaide today. “I know this France team perfectly, which is an advantage,” Pedros said. “They are a very strong team with experienced, top-level players. We are going to try and cause them a few problems,” Pedros said. Sweden keeper ‘in the zone’ SWEDEN goalkeeper Zecira Musovic says she is “in the zone” at the Women’s World Cup after a succession of crucial saves denied the United States in an ominous sign for quarterfinal opponents Japan. The Chelsea stopper exploded on the global stage with her breathtaking performance in their penalty shootout win against the defending champions in Melbourne on Sunday. The 27-yearold produced 11 saves, many world-class, to keep the Americans at bay over 120 minutes of action. “You can only love the feeling of when you’re in the zone and stuff is happening in a way that you’re just doing it,” said Musovic. “I had a really good feeling before the game. We had a good feeling in the squad, we know what we are capable of.” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson will be banking on Musovic once again when the world No. 3 meet inform Japan in Auckland on Friday, with a semifinal berth at stake. RESULTS SIDENETTING Cardiff blow two-goal lead to draw with Leeds Cardiff City’s Ike Ugbo (left) and Karlan Grant.

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME TUESDAY • AUGUST 8, 2023 Postecoglou aims swipe at Bayern over Kane transfer saga TOTTENHAM boss Ange Postecoglou insists only one transfer deadline counts as he aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Bayern Munich’s public pursuit of Harry Kane after the forward scored four goals against Shakhtar Donetsk. Kane put the uncertainty over his future to one side to produce a classic display of predatory finishing in what could prove to be his final appearance in Spurs’ colours. Bayern are reported to have lodged their latest offer for Kane on Friday and an apparent self-imposed deadline of midnight was set by the German club, but there has been no further news on the outcome of that bid and Kane grabbed a hattrick in 55 minutes of a 5-1 friendly win over Shakhtar. Kane added another goal in the 79th-minute before he left the pitch a minute later to a standing ovation following more chants of “he’s one of our own” and at the conclusion of the clash the club’s record goalscorer walked around the pitch to clap all four corners of the ground in what felt a significant moment. “We know there’s one deadline and that’s the end of the transfer window,” Postecoglou pointed out. “Beyond that, I’m in open dialogue with Harry and with the club on a regular basis. I’ve said to them that if the status quo changes then inform me. “I don’t need to know about the comings and goings in between. I just want to deal with what’s in front of me because, irrespective of the outcome of that, I’m building a team here. I can’t wait (around) for a decision either way to get going. “We don’t have the time or the luxury to do that. I’m working with what’s in front of me. You saw today that Harry certainly is invested in what we’re doing and we’ll keep on doing that unless something changes.” Bayern have been public about their desire to sign Kane all summer, with their honorary president Uli Hoeness and president Herbert Hainer talking openly in the media last month about trying to sign the England captain. Postecoglou added: “That’s up to Bayern to decide. If that’s the way they want to conduct things, it’s not up to me to judge that. “It doesn’t affect me. I don’t sit there on a daily basis and worry about what other clubs are doing.” While a lot of the focus yesterday was on Kane, amongst the spectators at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was Wolfsburg centreback Micky van de Ven. Netherlands defender Van de Ven is scheduled to have a medical at Spurs’ training ground today. But asked about Van de Ven, Postecoglou replied: “It hasn’t been done yet, so it’s not right for me to talk about but there’s no doubt we need some bolstering in that central defensive area. “Hopefully we’ll get one or two done in the next couple of days to bolster us in that area.” While Van de Ven’s future looks certain to be at Tottenham, Kane’s club for this campaign remains up in the air. Postecoglou refused to be drawn into the significance of Kane walking alone to applaud all four corners of the stadium at full-time. “You are reading something into it, aren’t you,” he added. “I don’t even know what’s in Harry’s mind, let alone anyone else’s. I think all these things will obviously play out over the next period, we’ll deal with what happens from there. “From my perspective, I’ve got a team to build here. Today showed me that we’ve made some progress but there’s still a lot of work to do. “There were areas today I wasn’t delighted with, so we need to make sure we focus on getting this team right. We’ll see what happens after that.” – The Independent █ GEORGE SESSIONS Winds of change PERHAPS David Raya would have saved it. It was a tame penalty, after all. But Aaron Ramsdale did save it, blocking Julian Alvarez’s lacklustre effort, punching the air, just as he had when Kevin de Bruyne thumped the underside of the bar with his spotkick. Whichever, it amounted to a response from Ramsdale. A seeming success story of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, the goalkeeper signed from relegated Sheffield United, who seemed the spirit animal of a young, hungry side who went on to top the table for 248 days. And who, then, suddenly, brutally, seemed undermined when it emerged Arsenal were bidding for Brentford’s Raya. But Ramsdale brings character. The sense is that he will not surrender his position without a fight, even if the Gunners do land Raya or another potential No. 1. A Community Shield triumph and a third trophy of Arteta’s reign came courtesy of two of his saves. The first, stopping Phil Foden from doubling Manchester City’s lead, had a hint of fortune, the ball striking the inside of his leg and then rolling past the post. Fortune may have favoured Arsenal again with the goal that secured a shootout. The 101st-minute strike may become a more frequent phenomenon as the amount of added time mushrooms this season. De Bruyne’s miss and Ramsdale’s save afforded Fabio Vieira the chance to win it: his namesake, Patrick, had decided a shootout against a Manchester club in the 2005 FA Cup final and history repeated itself. At the end of it, Arteta had just a second win in 10 managerial meetings with Pep Guardiola: on penalties, with the aid of added time and deflections, but after losing three previous games in 2023 and eight in all, any victory was welcome. “It feels great. I don’t think it gets much better than winning a trophy at Wembley against the best team in the world, and especially the way we have done it,” said Arteta. “It’s great if the players are convinced they can beat every team. I think we showed a real determination and fight to win the game. “The reason why we are here to win trophies for this club and make it successful. I have seen so many happy and proud people.” Arteta was the first victim and the first beneficiary of the new law changes. He was booked in the first half by referee Stuart Attwell for protesting a decision, part of the new clampdown on the touchline behaviour of managers. But the fiery Spaniard was celebrating after the new law on timewasting and keeping the ball in play – meaning extended periods of stoppage time – allowed his side to equalise deep into stoppage time. “It is really good to do that,” he said. “It was going too far and now teams are going to have to think twice. We have to prepare to play 100 minutes. It is going to happen every single week.” Guardiola felt the amount of stoppage time was excessive even before the initial eight minutes stretched to 13 after a clash of heads between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey. City’s treble-winning boss now also expects matches to regularly extend to 100 minutes and even longer. “We have to get used to it,” he said. “I had the feeling, not because we were winning 1-0, but that not much happened to extend it for eight minutes.” City lost last year’s Community Shield to Liverpool and although they did not do too badly over the rest of the season, Guardiola was still irritated by the defeat. “(We’ve lost) three in a row,” he added. “We came here to win it. We were so close, but winning or losing, I know the position of the team. “We would love to win today but sometimes you have to accept that.” – The Independent Ramsdale, Arsenal make case for major trophies after Community Shield win Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale poses with the trophy after winning the English FA Community Shield beating Manchester City at Wembley Stadium yesterday. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. – AFPPIX